At last, Eskkar rested his hands on his knees. “And where is Sargon?”
Subutai’s face lost a bit of its good humor. “He is at his tent, Eskkar, with his wife. Sargon has taken my daughter, Tashanella, as his bride. I asked him to join us, but he said he preferred to remain in his tent.”
Eskkar had assumed that Sargon was away from the camp. Eskkar knew his face betrayed the surprise and anger that surged through him. First, the boy had married without his father’s consent, a serious affair. And Sargon had declined to attend the meeting, a clear breech of familial duty that bordered on insolence.
Now Eskkar had to deal with the fact that everyone present must know all about the family’s troubles. He glanced down and saw that his left hand had clenched into a fist. It took a moment before Eskkar could control the urge to rise and stalk away, find his son, and give him a good beating.
“Well, perhaps a wife will help Sargon become a good warrior.” Hathor spoke for the first time, to end the uncomfortable silence.
Eskkar saw that impassive looks had appeared on every face. No one wanted to say anything further about his son, until they saw the father’s reaction. “What is your daughter’s name?”
“Tashanella.” Subutai, too, wanted to end the awkward silence that had greeted his words. “She has wisdom beyond her years, much like your own wife, Lady Trella.”
The mention of his wife’s name did little to calm Eskkar’s rising anger. “And how did Sargon come to choose her as his bride?”
“As a proven warrior, he had earned the right to take a wife. He chose Tashanella, and she agreed to the marriage. So I gave my permission. But even many days before that, he and my daughter had spoken to each other.”
Eskkar opened his mouth, then closed it. The phrase “spoken to each other,” meant that a great deal of words and probably more had passed between boy and girl. Eskkar knew he couldn’t, after all, complain about his son’s choice of a bride when she happened to be Subutai’s daughter. Obviously, a lot more had gone on than he knew.
The girl probably meant nothing to Sargon, who would likely discard her soon enough, creating a host of new problems. Eskkar took a deep breath. All this could be discussed later, when he and Subutai were alone.
“Then I’m glad my son has proven his courage.”
“If I may speak.” Bekka leaned forward, his face suddenly grave. “Your son did more than just prove his courage. He met with the Council of the Alur Meriki with honor, and talked of a new alliance with Akkad. He spoke to us as your eldest son, the heir to the ruler of Akkad, and as your representative. If his promises are not to be taken as your own, then we may have more to discuss.”
Eskkar met Bekka’s eyes. “No, Chief Bekka, whatever my son Sargon has said, you may take as if I had spoken. He was here, at the point of the battle, and whatever promises he made are binding on me. But you and I will speak of such things in the morning.”
“Then tonight we feast, to celebrate your arrival,” Subutai said, no doubt glad to change the subject. “We can meet tomorrow to speak of the future.”
Sargon must have acted wisely, Eskkar decided. Otherwise Subutai would have sent word to him. Eskkar might not fully trust his son, but he could rely on the Sarum of the Ur Nammu. If Subutai had not found fault with the boy’s decisions, then Sargon must have handled himself well.
Eskkar forced a smile to his face. “I am a little surprised at Sargon’s decision to marry. But as Subutai says, he is a warrior now and can make his own choices.”
The clan leaders and those who had gathered around them relaxed. They, too, knew that a crisis between father and son had passed, at least for the moment.
“Well, then, perhaps it is time that I visit my son and meet his wife. Afterwards, I am sure that Chief Bekka, Chief Subutai, and myself have much more to discuss.”
Eskkar glanced at Subutai, who nodded approval. This was, after all, his Council meeting and he made the decisions as to when those attending came or left. As Eskkar rose, a woman appeared before him. She bowed low in a sign of respect, and spoke.
“Lord Eskkar, perhaps you will permit me to guide you to your son’s tent.”
Eskkar recognized Petra, Subutai’s senior wife. For some reason, she wanted to speak to him. Otherwise a messenger boy could have guided Eskkar just as well. “Yes, of course.”
“With your permission, Husband?”
Subutai nodded.
Hathor had also risen, to accompany his friend, but Eskkar placed his hand on the man’s shoulder. “You might as well wait here until I return.”
Petra led the way. As soon as they passed beyond the area marked off for Subutai’s use, another woman joined them.
“I am Roxsanni, Lord Eskkar.” The woman bowed and fell into step beside them. “I am second wife to Subutai, and mother of Tashanella.”
Roxsanni’s appearance was not by chance. The women wanted a chance to speak with him alone. He wondered if Subutai knew what was happening.
“Your son has become a great and wise warrior,” Petra began. “He saved the lives of all of us.”
“And put an end to the blood feud with the Alur Meriki,” Roxsanni added.
“And now Sargon wishes to remain with your people,” Eskkar said. “Your daughter, Roxsanni, must be both beautiful and persuasive.”
“She is. But Petra is as much her mother as I.” “We have both raised her,” Petra said. “Every family in the clan has always thought of her as if she were one of their own.”
They reached the edge of the camp and Eskkar stopped. Unless Sargon had moved in among the Alur Meriki, the women had led him away from Sargon’s tent.
Petra moved to face him. “If you would permit, Lord Eskkar, we would speak to you about your son and his bride. This marriage can be good for both the Ur Nammu and the people of Akkad. I have spoken several times with your wife Trella over the years. If she were here, and knew about Tashanella, I am sure your wife would give her approval. In many ways, our daughter is much like your wife. Tashanella has eyes that see more than just the ground beneath her feet.”
Or as the dirt eaters would say, she didn’t need to fall down a well to find water. Eskkar shrugged. “Perhaps. But now it matters not. Sargon has made up his own mind.”
“Yes, he has.” Roxsanni moved beside Petra. “But now everything is up to you. You must find it in your heart to accept this union, though I see in your eyes that you disapprove. If you continue your quarrel with Sargon, you will lose him. He still feels much anger at you for removing him from Akkad. That is why he did not attend the Council Meeting.”
“He is still very young,” Petra said, “and he has much to learn. But in time, he will forget his anger. He will return to take his place in Akkad. And he will bring Tashanella and his sons with him.”
Eskkar felt his temper rising. He didn’t like being accosted by these women. They were, after all, seeking to advance the station of their daughter. If they weren’t Subutai’s wives, he would have ordered them to keep silent.
“And what does Subutai say about all this?”
“My husband is a good and brave warrior, who leads his people well,” Petra said. “He will be content if Sargon spends the rest of his days among us. Already he looks forward to his daughter’s children. But Tashanella can bring a new future for our people, a real alliance with Akkad that will ensure our people, and all our children, survive. You know in your heart there will come a day when Akkad and our clan will clash, either over land or some other dispute.”
“And when that day comes, the Ur Nammu will lose,” Roxsanni said. “Though our warriors refuse to admit it, Akkad has grown too strong for any clan to oppose. Even the Alur Meriki understand this. That is why Chief Bekka is here, waiting to speak with you. He, too, will want to strengthen his alliance with Akkad.”