Gilgamesh Immortal (Chronicles of the Nephilim) by Brian Godawa

Sinleqiunni nni gave his characteristic teacherly throat clearing and spoke up, “My, king, trees are not all that Humbaba guards.”
    Gilgamesh waited with curiosity. But as the king’s scholar continued, he lost track of what was being said.
    Sinleqiunninni said, “The Cedar Forest is actually two hundred leagues in extension, not ten thousand as Enkidu claimed with his hyperbole. It contains not merely cedars but juniper, cypress, acacia, myrtle and olive trees. And it surrounds Mount Hermon, which rises approximately five thousand, eight hundred and seventy one cubits high into the air and is part of the Sirion mountain range that extends for thirty one leagues in a northeast southwest direction.”
    It was amazing. The king’s scholar could deaden any discussion by simply speaking. It was as if this man of knowledge made knowledge boring. It was worse than Enkidu’s flatulence.
    Gilgamesh determined to keep the assembly focused before Sinleqiunninni distracted them to oblivion. “Well, what is the point, scholar? Is there a point here?”
    Sinleqiunni nni finally got to the point, “Mount Hermon is the home of the gods.”
    “I would appreciate it if you do not rattle off the list of gods who reside there as we do not have all day,” said Gilgamesh. Sinleqiunni nni sat down, quieted.
    Enkidu said, “What will you do, O king, when the gods discover that you have killed their Guardian?”
    “I do not know, Enkidu, but do you not desire to know why they hide away in their cosmic mountain with such timidity? This is more than an heroic adventure of killing a giant and establishing a name. This is a search for the gods in whose hands is eternal life.”
    Enkidu said, “But you are already two thirds god.”
    “And one third human,” added Gilgamesh. “So death still has its claim on me.”
    Enkidu considered his words carefully. Gilgamesh continued, “You have transformed from an animal into a man. Would you not want to transform from a man into a god?”
    “But is it for man to do so?” asked Enkidu.
    “Join my side, Enkidu, and together we shall see,” said Gilgamesh.
    There was no stopping him. Gilgamesh would answer each objection that Enkidu could come up with, and defy any technical fact the king’s scholar could muster until every defense was worn down. It was sheer will power and Gilgamesh had more of it than everyone in the room combined.
    Enkidu resigned himself to his fate, stood up and announced to the assembly, “Noble counselors, I know the route to the Great Cedar Forest, and I know the wiles of Humbaba. If you will grant your blessing, I will accompany King Gilgamesh on his journey for the greatness of Uruk and his good name.”
    And so they received the blessing of the assembly who charged Gilgamesh not to trust his strength, but to trust his Right Hand to lead the way and his skill of fighting to make each blow hit its mark.
    But such a mighty quest of mighty deeds would require mighty weapons of special handiwork.
     
    Gilgamesh and Enkidu oversaw the forging of battle axes of three talents each. Men of normal human strength could not wield them. Their swords with gold hilts weighed two talents each, their girded kilts were fifty minas. A war net of two talents completed their battle gear that totaled ten talents each. Gilgamesh also brought along his magical animal skins that took away the fear that animals and predators had of man. But he told no one about his special talisman, not even Enkidu, his most trusted ally.
     
    Then Gilgamesh and Enkidu went to the town square near the main gate. Gilgamesh blew his horn to gather the men of the city. He called for fifty warriors to join their journey to the Cedar Forest.
    “But this quest is the most dangerous I have ever performed,” Gilgamesh told them. “So if you have a wife, return to your wife, and if you have children, return to your children. For I require warriors who have no family to suffer loss.”
    Among the champions who