“Who are you?” Jedidia’s voice cut through the chamber, and his angry visage ended the grins.
“One of your most loyal subjects, My Lord.” The man bowed. “My name is Kedor of Sushan. I’m a trader. I’ve lived here for almost forty years, when I’m not aboard my boat.”
“You claim to speak for the Akkadian scum who burned our ships?”
“No, My King.” Kedor bowed again. “Your soldiers, in their haste, misunderstood my words. I told them I bore a message from the King of Akkad, to be given only to King Jedidia of Sushan and ruler of the Elamite Empire.”
Jedidia glanced toward his advisors, but no one met his eyes. The prisoner. . Kedor?. . waited patiently.
“How did you come by this message from the Akkadians?”
“My King, I was taken prisoner by the Akkadians at the beginning of the war, at the supply cove, just south of Sumer. The enemy swept down on the beach, killed everyone, and captured all the boats and supplies.”
Jedidia had heard all about that surprise attack, and how the cunning Akkadians had emerged undetected from the impassable foothills to fall upon the landing site. After that, the destruction of Grand Commander Chaiyanar and his invading army had inevitably followed. At least the Sumerians had rid Jedidia of one problem — Chaiyanar’s death solidified Jedidia’s grip on the Elamite kingship. “And yet you survived?”
“Yes, My Lord. I’d taken refuge underneath some sacks of cargo on my boat. By the time I was discovered, the killing had stopped, and the bulk of the Akkadian horsemen had moved on, to attack our soldiers besieging Sumer. The Akkadians left a few hundred men to sail the boats. Their leader, a man named Daro, is one of King Eskkar’s senior commanders. He took charge of the vessels, and has been using them to capture and sink our ships ever since. Daro is the man who led the raid last night that burned our ships. He set me ashore, just before his ships departed, to deliver the message.”
“And why are you so favored by our enemies?” Jedidia’s snarling words would have intimidated anyone. “Perhaps I should have your tongue removed for daring to speak for them.”
Kedor ignored the threat. “After the Akkadians discovered I owned several boats, Daro held me aboard his ship for ransom. When word arrived of Eskkar’s victories over our forces at Sumer and the Dellen Pass, Commander Daro also received new orders. He decided instead to use me to carry the message from King Eskkar to My Lord.”
“Of course you decided to cooperate with the pirates?”
“My Lord, when you’re surrounded by dead bodies, and a grinning soldier puts a knife to your throat, you do what you’re told.” Kedor shook his head. “Besides, I had nothing of value to tell them. Their plans had been made months before. They knew about the landing cove, they knew there would be boats there, and they intended to capture those boats, and use them to cut the supply line from Sumer. Everything proved easier than they expected, and Commander Daro soon expanded his raids all the way to Sushan’s coast. They sank, by my count, at least thirteen boats, and captured another nine. With all their cargoes. They put every boat captain and seaman to death.”
Jedidia knew all about that, too. The loss of those experienced sailors and their knowledge of the Great Sea was devastating. With effective training, soldiers could be quickly replaced, but it took years for a man to learn a sailor’s skills. Even if Jedidia ordered the immediate construction of new ships, he would have no crews to sail them.
“My Lord, is there any reason to keep my hands tied?” Kedor raised his bound hands. “I am loyal to my King.”
“I’ll decide that,” Jedidia said. “What is the message?”
Dropping his hands in resignation, Kedor glanced at the advisors.
Jedidia understood the look, but decided to ignore it. Whatever the message, the advisors would learn of it sooner or later. “Get on with it.”
Kedor took a breath, straightened up, and paused for a moment to clear his thoughts. Then he began his recitation.
“Greetings from Eskkar of Akkad, and greetings from all the cities of the Land Between the Rivers, to King Jedidia of Susa and Elam. It was unfortunate that you were prevented from passing through the Jkarian Pass, and that I did not get a chance to face you in battle. However, my son, Sargon of Akkad, did oppose you outside the Dellen Pass. You were wise to avoid battle with him and the horsemen of the steppes, as they would have surely slain you and all your men.”
Jedidia ground his teeth at the boastful lie. He had outnumbered the barbarians almost five to one, and without doubt could have destroyed them. But even then the prize of Elam’s kingship beckoned, and he had no intention of wasting more than half his valuable soldiers killing ignorant barbarians.
Kedor saw the look on the King’s face, hesitated, and then continued his delivery.
“I, Eskkar of Akkad, intended to come to Elam and kill the dog Shirudukh and his minion Modran by my own hand. But since you, Great King Jedidia, have saved me the journey, for which I give thanks, I offer to you this one, and only one, chance to end the war between Elam and the Land Between the Rivers.”
This time Kedor paused to take a full breath.
“The cities of Akkad, Isin, Sumer, Uruk, and Lagash were put to much trouble and expense by the dog Shirudukh. That expense must be repaid. The sum of twenty thousand gold coins, each coin the equal to one of Akkad’s own gold coins, or the equivalent in gold or silver ingots, is to be paid within twenty days. My ships that attacked your harbor will return on that date to collect payment.
“If payment is not received at that time, I, Eskkar of Akkad, will lead the soldiers of the Land Between the Rivers into the lands of Elam. I, Eskkar of Akkad, will unleash the warriors of the steppes on your northern territories. I, Eskkar of Akkad, will have my ships burn your harbors and sink your ships. I, Eskkar of Akkad, will destroy every city that resists me, yet I will spare and reward every city that joins with me to hunt down King Jedidia of Elam. My soldiers in their just anger will not stop until the head of King Jedidia rests at my feet. This I, Eskkar of Akkad, swear to you and all the gods, and most especially to the wise Goddess Ishtar and the great God Marduk, who will always defend and protect the Land Between the Rivers. I, Eskkar of Akkad, also declare that if any soldiers from the land of Elam ever dare to set foot on our lands again, I will bring war and destruction upon you, until all your cities are destroyed. There is no more to be said.”
Silence filled the Council Room. None of the advisors dared to meet the King’s eyes. After a moment, Kedor spoke again, this time in his normal voice.
“My Lord, I was given a gold coin by Commander Daro, as a sample of what was required. However, one of your guards took it from me. You may want to get it back. Daro also insisted I was to be returned with the ransom, alive and unharmed. If I am not, the amount of gold demanded is to be increased by an additional one thousand coins. If you accept the terms, a signal fire is to burn all through the night tomorrow, at the mouth of the Karum River.”
Kedor paused, as if unsure whether he should speak again. “My Lord, I was also told to inform you that this message would be delivered to the other cities of Elam, so that all would know the devastation that awaits them should they ever wage war again on the Land Between the Rivers.”
“Get out.” Jedidia found his left hand had tightened on the hilt of his sword. He wanted nothing more than to hack Kedor’s body to pieces. “Get him out of here.”
The wide-eyed commander hustled Kedor from the chamber. The heavy door swung closed with a thud, leaving Jedidia and his six guards alone with the four members of his Council of Advisors.
Jedidia faced them. “Well, you heard Eskkar’s demands. What do you suggest?”
No one spoke. He saw the trembling of their hands, and not one of them met his gaze.