1Ninlil reclined on the bed, her head propped up by two cushions.
2Ninlil laughed, and En-hedu joined in to the extent of a brief smile.
3Ninlil removed her covering, and flopped back onto the bed on her stomach.
4Back in the bedroom, they found Ninlil sitting up in bed.
5She opened her mouth to tell Ninlil what she found, then closed it.
6By now Ninlil had reached the peak of the massage.
7Be respectful to Mistress Ninlil, and do as she asks.
8The first thing she noticed was how soft Ninlil's skin felt to her touch.
9Ninlil pushed herself up to a sitting position, her head swaying at the movement.
10No doubt Ninlil would have protested if En-hedu's dress had touched anything else in the room.
11The conversation between Ninlil and Bikku turned to a new delivery of fine cloth from the east.
12My mistress, Ninlil, is his second wife.
13But mid-morning of the next day brought Ninlil's servant and his bodyguard back to the Kestrel's door.
14Ninlil expected to be feared and obeyed.
15The rest of the day brought no news of Joratta or Ninlil's other servants, no threats or complaints.
16Tammuz and En-hedu had a business to run, and its demands soon took their thoughts away from Ninlil.