She seemed confused at his explanation at first, then she looked happy. That was why he got confused when she told him to leave. Leave, but then to come back. That did not make much sense to him at all.
Nergal was going to refuse. He had just gotten her back into his arms and he was not very inclined to give that up so quickly. But she said to go and then to come home again. Home. With her. If only such a thing were possible.
He sighed heavily and released his love and headed out of the throne room. “I am not certain what the point is to this exercise, but I will always do as you ask.” He smiled at her before he walked out of the throne room and started back down the path he had just fought his way through.
As he passed each of the broken gates, the Sebitti asked if they were leaving to return to the Heights Above. Nergal told them each to hold their position, as he was not yet certain as to just what was going on. Whatever it was, he was not going to be caught by any surprise attack,
He finally passed through what had been the first gate and exited the boundaries of Irkalla. Nergal turned in a slow circle before heading back to Ereshkigal again. He was a little annoyed about the time that had been wasted while he took that walk. There had been other things he would have liked to have done with the time. Things that would have kept him close to Ereshkigal.
“I have done as you asked, my love,” he said when he finally walked back into the throne room. “But as much as I want it to be true, we both know that this can never be my home.”