It is already late at night, but Queen Shagshag has too much on her mind, finally back home again. After the impromptu meeting on the road the rest of the trip passed uneventful and she will now need to set about preparing the city for the war. She is unsure if battle is required but will be ready if need be....

If she only had more experience in those matters… but Lagash has been at peace for a long time, being on friendly terms with Kish, Ur, Eridu and of course Babylon and increasing its wealth by trading all over Mesopotamia. But if it was true what she has been told she needs to consider her every move with the utmost caution… She has already arranged for a meeting with the head of her intelligence service.. his reports about what is going on in Persia and Elam will be vital. And then she needs to inspect her armies together with General Ugurnaszir who is as loyal to her as good Niduntulugal…

A smile plays around her lips as she thinks back to how Niduntu had described the man she was about to meet. In times of war the looks of possible friends or foes did not really matter, so why did he mention this at all? But he had definitely been right – that man was not a plain emissary but his charisma and attitude clearly revealed the leader. Well, a queen deserved nothing less after all. The information he had provided was most interesting and scary at the same time. It seemed that she needed to take a decision soon about which side to take. She feels a loyalty towards the Lion King of Babylon, but then she has to think of the welfare of her people….