Gilgamesh Immortal (Chronicles of the Nephilim) Read Online Free PDF

hurt their king, he would justly execute him for treason. He was after all the king, and the king was the law. They should thank me for being kind and tender with their women, he justified to himself. I choose such graciousness, it is not my obligation.
    The crowd tried to ignore what was happening by giving their attention to their feasting and fellowship. The bridegroom took the bride in his arms and raised her veil. She was weeping. He too had tears of pain rolling down his cheek. But this was their fate. They would simply have to accept the violation as the price they paid for being subjects of the greatest city of Sumer. He kissed her, whispered a promise of hope in her ear, and led her into the hands of Gilgamesh, who gently led her away to have his privilege with her. The bridegroom downed a half dozen goblets of beer in order to numb himself to the incomparable personal injury he and his new wife would experience. They had no choice in the matter. Gilgamesh was their king.

Chapter 4
    The next day, the Game of Champions took place in the huge clay pits. Because of the gradual slope of the incline , the pits made a natural amphitheater that could easily seat thousands of the citizenry as viewers of the spectacle that took place a hundred cubits below. The brick-making tools and equipment were cleared away to make room for the warriors to fight. It was a near-daily event consisting of warriors fighting against the King. It was not a duel to the death. It was a contest of strength, wit, and strategy, but it often ended in broken bones and unconsciousness.
    Some thought it was only a staged spectacle to glorify the king — until they joined it themselves and had their back broken or their nose flowing with blood. It was mandated by Gilgamesh in order to give an outlet for his pent up energy that made him restless, impatient, and prone to hot-tempered outbursts.
    Every tournament consisted of three or four men challenging Gilgamesh in boxing, wrestling, or staffs, rods, and other non-lethal weapons. Because of his superior size, strength, and skill as a Gibbor, Gilgamesh had to increase the number of his opponents to even the odds. The tradition had started innocently enough with the challengers holding back or feigning attack wary of the consequences of defeating or hurting their King. But Gilgamesh could not abide such half-heartedness and soon demanded the warriors truly seek to conquer him.
    He up ped the stakes by offering them the Right Hand of his kingdom and commensurate wealth if they could but pin him, knock him unconscious, or break a bone. The office of the Right Hand of the king was the highest honor in the city. The king’s Right Hand acted in the name of the king, carrying out his wishes with the complete authority of the state assembly behind him. The only one with more authority was the king himself.
    Gilgamesh swore upon his holy honor that the victor would truly be granted this authority. He even did so in the temple of Inanna and the altar of Shamash in the presence of the entire city as well as his mother Ninsun. Gilgamesh was a hard taskmaster, and aloof from those whom he ruled, but one thing he was not was a liar. If he gave his word, he would honor it if even just to magnify his reputation of integrity.
    It had the desired effect. Warriors not only gave their all in sparring with their ruler, they even practiced, planned, and strategized with one another before the Games with the hope of outwitting Gilgamesh. And all for the prize of being the Right Hand of the King. Unfortunately, the fighting would sometimes get out of hand as warriors were pushed to desperation. But when it did, Gilgamesh would meet them with equal ferocity. That is when the broken bones and other damages resulted. A couple of times Gilgamesh had accidentally killed a contestant. He paid the family proper compensation, and a glorious burial, but it was still not good for his legacy.
    He had been so invigorated by his recent