by Sam Barone
Neither Eskkar or Trella ever volunteered any information about their past. The less said about Eskkar’s days as a wandering rogue and bandit the better. Nor did Trella want any more known about her early life, and the fact that she came to Akkad as a slave.
“Ah, yes, the Elamites. I was telling Eskkar that they plan to move against this land, once they have finished consolidating their conquests east of the Indus.”
Bracca repeated what he’d told Eskkar before she arrived.
“Why would they want to invade our land? I’ve heard that the lands of the Indus are vast and fertile, full of many different peoples.”
“Indeed they are, Lady Trella. But the constant fighting has drained every city of its wealth. Meanwhile they have a large army eager for war and glory, with leaders that demand ever more loot. And each conquest only serves to whet their appetite for the next. If the Elamites wish to survive, they must add to their empire, and so they now have cast their eyes to the west.”
“The Sumerians sent over twenty thousand men against us in the war against Sumer,” Eskkar remarked.
“I know, and you defeated them at Isin. The Elamites will field two or three times that number. And these men are well trained and well supplied, not like much of the rabble Sumer sent against you. I know all about that effort. I delivered many of the weapons that King Shulgi used to arm his men against you.”
“The fight at Isin was no hillside brawl,” Eskkar said, annoyed in spite of himself at his friend’s knowledge.
Bracca raised his palms. “I meant no offense, Eskkar. I know how hard you and your men fought to win that victory. But this coming fight will be different. This time the men you will face are battle-tested veterans, conquerors of many cities. Already the first few spies are in Akkad, Sumer, and Isin. They will lie in wait, until the time comes to strike. I know. I helped put them in place. Soon more will come.”
“If you know so much about these spies,” Eskkar said, “perhaps you can tell me their names?”
The moment he finished asking the question, Eskkar regretted it. If Bracca were going to reveal their names, he would already have done so. A quick glance at his wife confirmed it. Trella had not asked the obvious question, because she knew what Bracca’s answer would be.
“Well, that’s something I cannot tell you.” Bracca sent his eyes from husband to wife. “If I did, suspicion would fall on me, and I can’t have that. Besides, the Elamites would only find others to serve them, and you would be no better off.”
Eskkar frowned. His thoughts returned to the idea of the torturers, and their ability to extract information. Trella, meanwhile, began asking questions about the Elamites, their customs, the way they lived, how they were ruled. Soon she’d drawn Bracca into giving more than just brief answers. Eskkar listened, but kept his attention on Bracca. The man had always been devious, capable of anything. Yet the more Eskkar saw and heard, the more he felt the man could be trusted, at least in part. For some reason, Bracca wanted to help.
Bracca’s answers grew shorter, and at last he lapsed into silence.
“Your warning is well delivered, then,” Trella said, “and again you have our thanks. We will be on our guard. Will it be possible for you to provide us with more information when you next visit Akkad?”
“It is unlikely that I will visit your city again anytime soon. I do, however, journey to Sumer at least once a year, sometimes more often.”
“We have friends in Sumer,” Trella said. “If you wish, you could send a message to Eskkar through one of those.”
“Perhaps. Though most of your agents in that city are known to . . . the Elamites. Perhaps, if it could be managed safely, I will consider it.”
Trella caught Bracca’s slight pause, and understood its meaning. Bracca knew the names of her spies in Sumer. Which also meant that at least one or two of them were in his pay as well as hers.
“I think it could be arranged.” Trella kept her face as neutral as her voice. “Such a man would have no dealings with any others. He would wait only for you to contact him.”
Bracca considered her words, weighing the risks. He would be placing himself in danger. “How soon can you give me your man’s name?”
“I can tell you his name now.” Trella chose a name from those she and Annok-sur had selected. “It is Steratakis, a trader from the city of Lagash. It will be a few months before he is established and in place. He will make himself known to you.”
“I make no promises, but I will see what can be done.” Bracca drained his ale cup and stood. “I must return to my inn. We depart for Sumer at first light.”
He turned to Eskkar. “I said before that you had done well. Now I see that you’ve done far better than that. Just watch your back.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay and join us?” Eskkar rose as well. “You were always handy in a fight.”
Bracca shook his head with a hint of sadness. “Not this time, friend Eskkar. This time, you’re on your own. But I see you have a better companion to help you.” He faced Trella. “Keep him safe, and watch for your own safety.”
Bracca drew his cloak close, and lifted the hood up over his head. “I’d better leave.” He bowed a farewell to Trella.
Eskkar stepped around the table, and placed his hand on Bracca’s shoulder. “Before you go, I want to thank you for seeing me safe to Orak. Without you delivering me to the healers, I would never have met Trella. And now I have to thank you again for warning us.”
Bracca, half way to the door, halted. “It’s nothing that you wouldn’t have done for me, if you had the chance.”
Eskkar laughed. “Don’t be so sure. But you can consider your debt at Marcala paid.”
“Well, then I’ll sleep better tonight.”
“I’ll see that Annok-sur passes him through the gate.” Trella moved beside their visitor.
Her voice told Eskkar that she wanted a moment alone with Bracca. Eskkar stayed behind as the two of them stepped out onto the landing, and he heard their footsteps on the treads. A murmur of voices floated to him, then silence.
Eskkar went to the table and poured himself another ale. He rarely drank more than a single cup, but tonight was no ordinary night.
He raised the cup to his lips, then hesitated. For a brief moment, Bracca had been alone in the room, while Eskkar went to summon Trella. More than enough time to slip a bit of poison into his cup.
“Damn the gods.” Eskkar poured the contents of the cup back into the pitcher. The ale, the wine, even the water, would all have to be discarded, just to be safe. He didn’t think Bracca had done any such thing, but the man had warned Eskkar of the very possibility. And it was just the sort of devious thing that Bracca would do.
Eskkar muttered an oath at the evil gods who bedeviled him. Once again, events outside his control were trying to take over his fate. Soon new enemies would be coming for him, eager to strike him down and take by force what he and Trella had labored so long to build. And this time they would move in secret.
Poison, a knife in the back, an arrow from a rooftop, any of a handful of ways to kill a man. And starting tomorrow, Eskkar would have to guard against them all.
He blew out three of the candles, returned to the window and stared down into the garden once again. The watch fire in the courtyard provided enough light to see the leaves on the trees, the branches swaying gently in the night breeze. Bracca had spoken the truth. Eskkar had never admitted it to himself, but Bracca should have stayed at Eskkar’s side, either to nurse him back to health or see to his burial.
Eskkar’s only friend had broken the sacred code of the warrior, something Eskkar had never done. No doubt the failure to stand by his friend and brother in arms had gnawed at Bracca over the years.
In a way, that proved the man’s worth. A lesser man would have soon shrugged off any concerns. Add to that whatever guilt Bracca felt over the fight at Marcala, and the result had brought Bracca to Eskkar’s house, to pay his debt to the man he once called his friend.<
br />
“What are you thinking, Husband?” Trella closed the door to the Work Room and moved to his side.
“That we’ve enjoyed many years of peace. That all the problems we’ve faced since the war with Sumer now seem insignificant. Now threats of war and invasion will change our lives once again.”
“Yes, but thanks to your friend, at least we are forewarned. With that knowledge, we can do much to prepare.” She laid a hand on his shoulder. “You were glad to see your friend. You tried to mask your feelings, you both tried, but the friendship was there. Bracca felt it, too.”
“Well, I suppose. But one thing hasn’t changed. Wherever Bracca goes, trouble follows.”
“Even so, I’m thankful that he came. Will this change your plans for the Alur Meriki?”
Eskkar considered that for a moment. “No, Bracca’s warning only makes the conflict with them even more important. One enemy will be bad enough. The sooner the barbarians are dealt with, the better.”
He placed his arm around her shoulder and drew her close. “And now I will have to worry about you every time I leave the city.”
“Do not fear for me, Eskkar. Annok-sur and I will take extra precautions. And King Shirudukh of the Elamites may find that Akkad is not as easily taken as the cities of the Indus. He may even find that he is not as safe on his throne as he thinks.”
Eskkar kissed the top of her head. “Then starting tomorrow, we will begin preparing Akkad for war.”
“Yes, and just like last time, no one must know what we are doing.”
“Bracca’s spies will soon know what we are up to. He said Elamite spies are already here. He could have named them.”
“No, not without putting himself at risk. And we may need his help in the future for more important tasks. I will think about that tonight.” Trella leaned her head on his shoulder. “Tomorrow Annok-sur and I will consider what to do. Perhaps we can find a way to take care of the Elamite spies in our city.”
In spite of the grim prospect that faced them, Eskkar managed a smile. From tonight on, Trella would turn all her thoughts and efforts into meeting this new threat. Whatever might come from those plans, Eskkar had no doubt that Trella and Annok-sur would teach the king of the Elamites a thing or two about terror.
3
Three days later, in the first light of dawn, Eskkar led a column of horsemen out of Akkad and headed north. The spring morning air still held a chill, but that would soon fade as the sun rose higher. Once again, the long sword jutted up over Eskkar’s right shoulder, and it hung as easily as in his younger days.
The smooth-gaited stallion between his legs felt natural, too, the result of many days working with the animal over the last two years. Eskkar always remembered one of his father’s sayings – when you ride to war, better to leave behind your sword than your best horse.
Two summers ago, Eskkar had selected the stallion from a string of animals brought down from the mountain country. A group of twenty animals arrived at the cavalry barracks just north of Akkad, and by chance Eskkar happened to be there that day.
Like every person born on the steppes, fresh horses always aroused his interest. He had joined the other horse trainers and handlers as they drifted over to examine the new stock.
Destined to be ridden by the senior commanders, all of the horses represented fine breeding, tall, powerful, and sleek. Except for one, which appeared stunted compared to the others. This bay looked blunt and coarse, with a shaggy coat and a sad little tail that scarcely reached its hocks.
The four horse trainers inspecting the animals gave the odd-looking bay the briefest glance before moving on. Eskkar agreed. The bay didn’t belong with this group of fine horseflesh, and he wondered if perhaps an animal had fallen ill or gotten injured, and some clever trader had foisted off an inferior beast on Akkad’s buyer.
Trailing behind the trainers, Eskkar stopped in front of the rejected animal. The horse, which appeared too sleepy to pay any attention to those examining it, lifted its head high and eyed him with an expression of superiority out of place with its lowly status. Man and horse stood sizing each other up, and neither showed the slightest intention of lowering their gaze first.
“What do you think of him, My Lord?”
The voice at Eskkar’s side belonged to the horse master who had delivered the animals. Eskkar turned to face the man, who had the dark features and short stature that often marked those born in the southern lands of Sumeria. Since almost all the men who worked Akkad’s horses came from the northern lands, the Sumerian seemed as out of place as the bay.
Nevertheless, Eskkar knew that many fine horses came from Sumeria, though they tended to be small and fast, more suited to the desert than the mountains. Eskkar recalled seeing the Sumerian once before, and even managed to remember his name, Dimuzi.
“An odd horse to bring to Akkad’s barracks, Dimuzi. My commanders need strong warhorses. This one looks more suited to pull a cart than carry a fighter.”
The Sumerian refused to acknowledge the rebuke. “There is more to A-tuku than you might think, My Lord.”
Eskkar had spent many years in Sumeria riding with his old companion Bracca, and had learned most of the dialects spoken in the southern lands. A-tuku was the Sumerian word for “strength.”
Dimuzi unfastened the horse from the holding rail, and turned the animal around. “Look at these hind legs, My Lord. What do you see?”
And Eskkar had looked. A casual glance turned into a studied examination. Muscles bulged in its hindquarters, which, now that he saw the horse from the side, appeared oversized. Eskkar ran his hand down the horse’s flank. Hard as bronze.
Interested now, Eskkar inspected every aspect of the animal. He saw a wide chest concealed under the shaggy brown coat that turned black down the legs. Deep hooves that would not wear under heavy riding joined to thick fetlocks that indicated the animal would not go lame easily. Forearms and shoulders showed plenty of power, and the wider than usual nostrils would provide plenty of air for the animal’s lungs.
“He might make a good mount.” Eskkar reached out and rubbed the horse’s neck, moving slowly so as not to upset the animal. At the touch, A-tuku turned to stare at him, as one equal to another.
“What would My Lord think if I said that A-tuku can run faster and longer than most of these other animals? He hates to be bested in a race, and he never gives ground. A-tuku is not aggressive, but every horse that has challenged him has regretted it.”
Eskkar knew that Sumerians could never resist bargaining, always pointing out the best features of whatever they happened to be selling. “Is there nothing wrong with him, Dimuzi?”
The man lowered his eyes. “He needs much work, My Lord, and patience. So far only I have been able to work with him. But in his heart, A-tuku is as brave as any horse I have ever seen. For the right rider, he might make a fine warhorse.”
Eskkar doubted that. While Dimuzi spoke, Eskkar had circled the animal, and now he stroked A-tuku’s forehead. The proud horse’s large eyes held his gaze for a moment, then reached out to nuzzle Eskkar’s cheek. The simple gesture ended Eskkar’s doubts.
“Bring him to my stable, Dimuzi.” Eskkar patted the horse’s neck one last time. “And I think you’d better plan on staying with him. At least until he proves himself one way or the other.”
The Sumerian and Eskkar had worked with A-tuku since that day. Dimuzi’s words had proven true. The horse could run, all day if necessary, and it would not quit as long as another horse challenged it. From the first, Eskkar knew he would have to earn the horse’s trust. Soon he spent almost every morning working with Dimuzi and A-tuku, teaching the horse the skills needed by a warhorse.
Despite being a hand’s width smaller than Eskkar’s other horses, A-tuku carried his master’s weight as easily as any. Eskkar quickly grasped that he possessed a unique animal, and soon a bond formed between horse and rider as close as any Eskkar had ever known. Together they had raced against every horse in Hathor’s ca
valry, and fought against them, too, in the mock battles so necessary to train horse and rider in the art of war.
A-tuku’s careless gait had proven faster than even Dimuzi had expected. While a handful of powerful warhorses in Eskkar’s stable had won races when carrying his weight, in any long run they had all been overtaken by smaller and lighter riders.
Dimuzi claimed that A-tuku had never been beaten when he carried the diminutive Sumerian. And that had proven true. But more impressive was the fact that A-tuku seldom lost even when Eskkar rode him. Eskkar’s eyes still gleamed with pride whenever he swung onto his new warhorse’s back.
Now the cares and worries of Akkad lessened with each of A-tuku’s long strides, as Eskkar left behind the petty problems of a growing and often chaotic City. Even the prospect of a hard fight couldn’t dispel the satisfaction he felt at abandoning the cares and endless disputes of the city. He sensed that A-tuku felt much the same, glad to be away from the usual training grounds and out riding free on the open grasslands.
Eighty of Eskkar’s best riders rode with him, twenty of them Hawk Clan, the elite force whose bravery had marked them above their companions. Formed as a band of brothers after Eskkar’s first battle as leader of Akkad, every Hawk Clan fighter had pledged his loyalty to Eskkar and to his comrades in arms. Hawk Clan warriors not only acted as bodyguards to Eskkar and Trella, but they also insured and enforced the King’s power in Akkad.
For this expedition, no new recruits or untested fighters accompanied Eskkar. Every highly trained rider in the troop had fought in at least one action. All of them knew how to fight on horseback. Whether sword, lance, or bow, these men had mastered them all.
The troop of horsemen traveled light, each carrying only his weapons and a water skin. In the preceding days before Eskkar’s departure, Trella’s clerks and supply people had labored efficiently to ensure that grain for the horses and provisions for the men awaited at each stopping point.
Without worrying about their next meal or what the hunt might bring, the riders covered the miles at a steady gait, pushing their mounts just hard enough to challenge the muscles of both man and beast. Once past the farmlands and irrigation channels that surrounded Akkad on all sides, Eskkar enjoyed the green and lush countryside. The occasional farm or herds of cattle and sheep only made the ride more pleasant.