There would have been no dispute at this meeting whether Ishtar was present or not, because even Enki believed that Ishtar would definitely side with Enlil. Enlil stood at the head of the assembly with utter confidence, looking down upon all the gods.
Enki's expression was terrifyingly grim, but there was nothing he could do.
He had only just stepped through the doors of the Nanshe Moon Temple when Enlil announced that a Conference of Destinies would be held. Nanna promptly threw him out. That old moon god would never give anyone face. Ishtar's willfulness had been inherited from Nanna; he had chosen Enlil's side simply because he feared trouble.
He hated trouble and liked no one, not even his own children. Thus, he would only stand with whoever could spare him the most trouble, and Enlil was clearly that person.
Other than the Seven Principal Gods of Fate, with Ishtar absent, the vast majority of Mesopotamia's gods had gathered here.
They were not qualified to voice their opinions at the Conference of Destinies, but they were permitted to observe.
Enlil swept his gaze across the great temple and discovered that an unexpectedly large number of gods had come this time.
None could match Enlil's wisdom. He could not help but sneer softly and shake his head.
He knew all too well what his descendants were thinking.
They wanted Annanu and Enkidu dead.
The very existence of Annanu and Enkidu represented a threat. If they had not still borne the task of returning the Wedge of Heaven to the embrace of the gods, the gods would never have allowed things that threatened their safety to be born.
But an accident had happened.
The Key of Heaven and the Chains of Heaven had actually been granted sentience by that damned divine