After a while, Eskkar leaned back, only half hearing their words. He knew the battle plan. He, Trella, and Hathor had gone over it often enough back in Akkad. Now his concern focused on his commanders.
They would be the ones that would make the plan succeed. Eskkar studied their faces. No one showed any trace of fear or doubt. Each of these men, some as mere boys, had followed Eskkar into battle against vastly greater odds before. They all trusted him, his judgment, and battle skills. They knew he would not risk their lives on some foolish expedition. And their belief in his luck gave them confidence.
The torches burned themselves out, and still his commanders talked, argued, and explained. The shadows beneath the shelter grew deeper, until none could see the map before them. When the last question had been asked and answered, the moon had risen well into the sky.
“Get some sleep.” Eskkar stepped from beneath the linen and drew in a deep breath of the fresh night air. Like the others, he would sleep under the stars tonight, rain or mist not withstanding.
No leader worth his salt would take advantage of a shelter while his men had only the hard ground for their rest and their horse blankets to keep off the wet. Eskkar watched his commanders, yawning now, as they moved off to check on their men one last time before bedding down for the night.
Hathor lingered behind. “Well, we’re committed now. Will it be as close a fight as I think?”
“Yes, it will. No Alur Meriki warrior will refuse to face a smaller force, no matter what position we hold. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t bring more men. We must make this encounter a challenge to Thutmose-sin, one he dare not avoid.”
The name of the great chief of the Alur Meriki, Thutmose-sin, had struck terror and fear into the hearts of his enemies for many years. He would not let a force of dirt eaters defy the Clan. Such a challenge could not be ignored.
Eskkar clasped Hathor’s shoulder. They had fought together once before against overpowering numbers, and that had strengthened the bond between them. Eskkar counted the Egyptian among his closest friends, just as Trella considered Hathor’s wife, Cnari, one of hers.
“You and your men will be well tested, Hathor. These fighters are not like any we faced at Isin. They will not break easily, nor will they turn and run. We will have to kill them all.”
“My men are ready, Captain.” He placed his hand over Eskkar’s. “We will not let you down.”
“I hope so. Otherwise our wives will never forgive us for getting ourselves killed.”
4
Two days after Eskkar’s departure, Trella climbed the stairs and entered Eskkar’s Workroom, the frown on her face deepening when she realized she had kept her guests waiting. She’d asked them to join her at midmorning, and the sun’s rays showed that time had come and gone. The two women awaiting her made no comment, of course. Both knew Trella rarely arrived late for any meeting, especially one she had called herself.
Annok-sur occupied the same chair that Bracca had used a few nights before. Tall and spare, she had almost twice as many seasons as Trella. Despite the age difference, the two had forged a strong friendship. Annok-sur guided the large number of agents who collected information not only within Akkad’s walls, but throughout the land.
She also made sure that trouble-makers, or those that might present a threat to Eskkar and Trella’s rule, left the city. Not all of those who departed did so voluntarily. Those too stubborn or stupid to accept Annok-sur’s suggestions to move on found themselves, in the darkest hour of the night, floating face down in the Tigris.
Rumors whispered about bodies found miles downstream from Akkad, many bearing signs of being tortured. Troublemakers who chaffed under Eskkar’s rule soon learned to keep their discontent to themselves. The people of Akkad might respect Eskkar, and revere Lady Trella, but they feared Annok-sur, whose network of spies and informers blanketed the City.
Beside Annok-sur sat a much older woman. Uvela believed she had nearly sixty seasons, though she could not be certain of her age. Unkempt gray hair cascaded over her shoulders and reached nearly to her waist. A worn and faded brown dress served her well enough, and helped her blend into Akkad’s poorest districts.
No beauty even in her youth, Uvela’s face now displayed the lines and creases that came from spending her days in the sun. She had survived many years of hard physical labor. She’d seen two of her children die from hunger, and another daughter, Shubure, raped and sold into slavery. Nevertheless, at an age that few women ever reached, Uvela remained both alert and spry, and her sharp eyes missed nothing. She could still put in a full day’s physical labor if called for.
While yet a slave, Trella had met Shubure, Uvela’s daughter. Trella had befriended the girl, and that act of kindness had saved Shubure’s life. Soon afterwards, mother and daughter became the first of many women Trella relied on to gather information useful to the future rulers of Akkad.
Even now, Uvela remained the most important of Trella’s eyes and ears within the city of Akkad. Uvela possessed an incredible memory for faces. She spent her days at the docks, watching people come and go into the city. Whenever Trella and Annok-sur wanted someone found, information gathered, or someone watched, they turned to Uvela.
Trella closed the door and took her seat across the table, her back to the wall where Eskkar kept his swords. With the Hawk Clan guards at the foot of the stairs, no one could overhear their conversation. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. There was a. . problem with Sargon.”
She didn’t need to say more. Trella’s oldest son, Sargon, had entered into his fourteenth season a few months ago. At that age most sons were well prepared to work beside their fathers or carry on whatever trade they had mastered.
Sargon, however, had grown openly rebellious of his mother’s wishes, and even Eskkar’s admonishments had little effect on the boy. Sargon preferred the company of his companions to working beside the soldiers and planners who had built and defended Akkad. Nevertheless, he remained a favorite of those living in the city, and most inhabitants took a tolerant attitude toward the heir’s youthful wild streak.
Annok-sur and Uvela held a different outlook, as did most of those working or living within the Compound. They understood that Sargon’s indifference and lack of diligence promised trouble as he grew older, which did not bode well for the City’s future.
“It’s of no matter, Trella,” Annok-sur said, clearing the air. Whatever new trouble Sargon had gotten himself into didn’t concern them, at least for this meeting. “We’ve been talking about Uvela’s new great-granddaughter.”
That brought a smile to Trella’s face. Uvela lived with her daughter and her extended family.
Composed now, Trella shifted to face Uvela. Despite the steady influx of newcomers to Akkad, Uvela knew more people within the City’s walls than anyone. Now that knowledge would be put to use.
“We have need of your skills once again,” Trella said. “And this time it may be even more vital to Akkad than ever before.”
For more than ten years, Annok-sur and Uvela had helped Trella plan for the continued growth of Akkad, and their influence helped create the policies and laws that guided the city’s growth. Their most important function, however, was to insure that Eskkar and Trella’s grip on the city remained unassailable. To accomplish that, Annok-sur and Uvela maintained and controlled the large numbers of spies, mostly women, who moved quietly about the city.
In a world ruled by men, women were considered of little use other than to provide comfort to their husbands or masters, work hard from dawn to dusk, and produce children. In consequence, men spoke freely in front of their women. Since Trella had done so much to protect the safety of women, they were grateful enough to help her whenever they could, even if it meant spying on their husbands.