The pregnancy progressed normally, and Eliana scarcely noticed the months passing. She continued to be summoned to Samsu, to attend audiences, and to learn how to be a mother as Sarri and Kisuri demanded ever-more of her attention.

Her body thickened, growing heavy and cumbersome. It irritated her that she was no longer lithe and agile enough to flit through the gardens like a hummingbird or run and climb amongst the trees. She was sure that Kisha never grew this fat when she was pregnant.

She missed her sister more than she could admit – to herself or to anyone else. If she thought too deeply on it, she would open the floodgates and the tears might never stop. She needed Kisha's calming presence at her side, to hold her hand and tell her everything would be fine. To be with her through the birth, to give advice, to reassure her... to see how fast her little girls were growing up.

Sarri was almost two years old now, and stubborn as an ox. She spent a lot of time in the gardens, and was constantly running back to show Eliana and Mari what she had found. A curious child, she was making extensive use of her new favourite word: 'why?'

Eliana always tried to answer patiently, remembering how frustrating she had found it as a child to ask a question and be answered with 'just, because'. But as her pregnancy grew increasingly exhausting and she became more irritable, it was more difficult to keep a good humour. This was something that Kisha would have excelled at, she knew.

Kisuri was still small for her age. She tired easily, and still shuffled around on her stomach rather than attempting to crawl. She coughed frequently, and Eliana could not help but be worried for her health.

She worried about both girls, and whether Susa would target them in her campaign against Eliana. They were probably safe, as nothing but daughters of a dead concubine. They were no threat to Ashan's position. Still, they were a weapon that Susa could use against her at any time, and she could not rest easily when she thought of them.

She knew that Susa suspected the identity of her child's father; but in that, at least, she was safe. Ashan was Susa's ticket to power, and she would never put him in danger, even if it meant destroying Eliana. She would keep the knowledge as quiet as Eliana herself did. She hugged the secret to herself, telling no-one, not even Mari. Especially not Mari. It was her secret. Hers and Ashan's. The knowledge may make Susa feel powerful, but she could do nothing with it.

The pregnancy neared full-term, though the palace believed that she had another month to go, and she began to miss Ashan so much that it hurt – a deep ache within her that she was reminded of with every kick from his baby. The ordeal of childbirth drew nearer, and she needed him at her side. Though, with every day that passed, she began to feel a little safer from Susa – she had surely left it too late to act against Eliana now. She would not be able to kill the baby without killing the mother too, and Mari still tasted everything, despite her own pregnancy.

Just three months behind Eliana, Mari was also beginning to get too big to chase around after the energetic Sarri. She was more cheerful about her pregnancy now – Asag had agreed to acknowledge the child. Eliana thought that he was secretly grateful to have found a woman to bear his child; few women would be able to look past his ugliness. His skin had the colour and pitted texture of a sun-baked brick, his nose and lips were too large and thick for his face, and a battle-wound had taken off part of his right ear. Mari was not a beauty, but she was attractive enough, with a pleasant face, rosy cheeks and kind eyes; Eliana hoped for the child's sake that it would have its mother's looks.

She was considering asking Samsu for another maid. With Sarri's increasing energy and Kisuri's need for constant attention, and two more babies coming to the nursery within the next few months, she was not sure how they would manage.

As she eased herself into the bed with just weeks of her pregnancy remaining, she winced as her baby gave her a strong kick in the ribs. She would be black and blue inside – it was definitely time to beg another maid from her husband. For Mari's sake as much as hers. They would both need looking after.

Exhausted, she settled into the bed, propping a pillow under the great mound of her belly. Within minutes, she was drifting into uneasy sleep.

It felt like she had barely been asleep for five minutes before she awoke in a panic, sitting bold upright in the bed, her heart racing. She pushed her unruly curls back from her face and listened – had she heard a noise? What had woken her?

'Mari?' she called.

She waited. There was no response. She listened for a few moments more, before putting it down to a movement from the baby. Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to restore her heart rate to normal.

She was about to lie down again when her eyes snapped to a movement in the shadows. A huge form stepped out, silvered by moonlight, the dagger in his hand flashing as it reflected Suen's rays.

His silhouette was unmistakeable. The Brute.

Every muscle in her body tensed. She froze, her limbs turned to stone, too terrified to scream.

He laughed aloud, dragging Mari out into the light beside him. She was gagged, her hands bound behind her, eyes huge and frantic with fear. The Brute pushed her down onto a stool, advancing slowly on Eliana.

'The Princess will not risk you having a boy child, whore. She has paid me well to ensure that it never happens.'

Eliana willed herself to move, but she was paralysed by panic. 'You – you would never dare to – to hurt me. Samsu would kill you if ... if you harmed his child.' The words staggered out like a drunkard, she was furious with herself to let him know she was afraid.

'Samsu will never know,' sneered the Brute. 'I will make it look as though she did it,' he jerked his head towards Mari, 'and then killed herself. Breeding puts all sorts of strange madnesses into women's heads. It is known that they are often beset by demons when a child grows within them.'

He approached the bed, his dagger glinting.

The baby gave another strong kick, spurring Eliana into action. Her limbs sprang free, and she threw off the blankets and tried to scramble away.

He really means it. He's going to kill me. He's not just here to scare me. Oh, gods, help me! Strike him down! Send me a weapon! Anything.

As she tried to roll away, her huge belly got in the way; he caught her by the ankle and dragged her back, his eyes glittering sharp as black diamonds in the moonlight, a smile on his lips. 'I love nothing more in this life than seeing the spark of fear in a woman's eyes. Apart from watching the life ebb out of them. I will be almost sorry to kill you, I've had so much pleasure out of you.'

Her stomach lurched sickeningly – it made her nauseous, how he revelled in cruelty and misery.

He pressed his dagger against her belly, hard enough to split the skin a little. Blood seeped out and stained her nightdress. She knew that he only wanted a more fearful reaction from her. She would not give him the satisfaction.

Drawing on reserves of courage she didn't know she had, she drew back her hand and struck him. He hardly seemed to notice, just laughing.

She did not dare to try to wriggle free – she had learned her lesson about that in the past, and she would not risk accidentally plunging the dagger into herself.

He chuckled. 'Do you have anything more to do or say before I cut this child from you and send you to the underworld with it?'

Desperately, she spat, 'you'll never get away with this! Samsu will find out. You'll regret it.'

The Brute merely laughed again. 'Dead women tell no tales.'

He tensed as another blade appeared at his own throat, 'and dead men tell no lies,' growled Ashan.

Eliana's heart leapt. Ashan! The gods had heard her prayer, and sent her a weapon.

He did not acknowledge her in any way, every ounce of his attention focused on his opponent, ready for a counter attack.

'Don't be stupid, boy,' snarled the Brute. 'What matter to you if the whore lives or dies? Her child threatens your place.'

'It matters to me because it matters to Samsu. And it matters to Asag whether his child and its mother live or die.'

Asag stepped forward from the shadows, his bow and arrow trained on the Brute.

Ashan's voice was low, taut with danger as he said, 'unless you are going to disarm and kill all four of us, perhaps arrange us in a pretty tableau for Samsu, you should leave now. Perhaps there'll be no need to involve the prince if you comply. You might escape this mess with all your body parts intact.'

Giving Eliana a look as hard and cold as iron, the Brute turned on his heel and marched from the room without another word; Asag followed him to the door, bow and arrow still ready, to ensure that he did not try to harm the girls as some sort of consolation prize.

Ashan went to cut Mari's bindings, and Eliana exhaled deeply, her breath shaking. She unclenched her fists, realising that her hands were trembling. 'How did you know?' she whispered.

'I have spies in mother's household,' replied Ashan, shortly. 'I have only been back from Lagash for a couple of hours. My servant gave me the report as soon as he could – I went running for Asag as back up, and we came straight here. Just in time, by the looks of it.'

Asag came back in, his bow lowered and at rest. He went straight to Mari; Eliana was surprised to see him take her tenderly into his arms, as though he really cared for her. In the past, she had only ever seen him acting on Samsu's orders, trying to be a soldier as hard as the rest of them. The more she looked at him, the more she saw a gawky boy with an unfortunate face, who had probably fallen in love with the first woman ever to be kind to him.

As her panic began to subside, she became aware of a warm fluid soaking the sheets between her legs, now cooling. She blushed a brilliant crimson, thankful that nothing could be seen in the black and silver of the dead of night.

Shameful, to wet herself in fear. She had not even felt it happen.

Suddenly, an agonising pain gripped her belly, like an eagle's talons embedding themselves into her womb – she cried out in shock.

'What's happening?' asked Ashan, urgently. 'Did he hurt you? I swear to Marduk, I'll kill the bastard with my bare hands.'

Eliana could not reply, gritting her teeth against the spasms.

Mari's voice came out of the darkness, quiet and wavering still. 'She's in labour.' The girl was pale and shaking, but she took charge as though nothing happened. 'You had better leave before anyone finds out you've been here. Bring a bowl of clean water, some sheets and some wine, then go. This is women's work.'

Ashan knelt beside the bed and gripped Eliana's hands in his. 'You'll get through this, brave and beautiful one. I'll be back with you soon.'

And our child, the words remained unspoken, but Eliana heard them. She nodded nervously. He wished he could say more, she knew, but they could not be too cautious, even in front of Mari and Asag.

Giving her hands a final squeeze and beckoning to Asag, Ashan left, pausing in the doorway for one last look back at her as Mari set to work.