Two other Hawk Clan soldiers, Trella’s usual guard, waited there as well.
Another soldier stood watch outside the house.
Trella leaned back in her chair as she felt the child within her moving about. At least the business of the day had nearly finished. “How are the plans for the new wall, Corio? Are you any closer to completing your design?” Trella knew he had been meeting every day for over a month with all the master builders and artisans in Akkad.
Corio stood, then moved around to the other side of the table, so he could face them more easily. A tall man with large hands, he preferred to talk while standing. “We argued all day and into the night about it, until there was no more oil for the lamps.” He shook his head as he remembered. “No one is really satisfied. But based on what everyone needs and how much Akkad is expected to grow in the next few seasons… we finally agreed to begin.”
“And where will this new great wall be placed?” Gatus asked, his voice already rising. In addition to providing soldiers to maintain order during the building process, he would have to develop and train additional men to defend the expanded city in the event of another attack.
Corio shook his head ruefully. “You won’t like it, Gatus. The new east wall will be eight hundred paces from the present one. The north and west walls will remain as they are, but the south wall will also need to be shifted.
The area enclosed by the extended walls will be more than three times greater than what Akkad is today.”
“And how long will it take to build this wonderful new wall? Trella will be a grandmother before it’s finished, I’ll wager.”
Trella smiled at the old soldier’s words. He thought of her almost as a daughter, and considered himself one of the few in Akkad that didn’t need to use a title when he spoke to her, though in formal occasions he still addressed her properly.
“The new walls will be thirty-five feet high,” Corio said, “but ten of those will be belowground. With the many towers that you and Eskkar have demanded, it will take at least three years to build.” The value of towers that projected above and over the wall was no longer questioned-they had learned that lesson the hard way during the Alur Meriki siege.
Trella showed no surprise, though privately she thought it would take closer to five years to complete. She’d attended many of the discussions, and knew that Akkad’s need for new space would be great. It would be a huge project and take many years, and she worried more about where the gold, soldiers, and laborers would come from. With the new wall in place, Akkad would be the greatest and strongest city in the world, and her child would be safe within its mighty walls.
Gatus slapped his hand on the table in disgust. “Three years! That’s if we can find soldiers and workers aplenty to work on it. More likely twice that, if you ask me. I doubt I’ll live long enough to see it built.”
Trella placed her hand on top of his and smiled. “You will see it, Gatus, as will all of us. Corio will build a great city for us. We must be patient.” She held him in as much respect as the soldiers did, though for a different reason. The soldiers honored his experience and his years. Not many fighting men survived past their fortieth season. For Trella, Gatus had proven his loyalty to her and Eskkar more than once.
She turned to Corio. “I am glad all of you have agreed on what is needed. As always, you have done well, Master Builder.” She stood, grateful for the chance to ease her back and already looking forward to returning home.
A shadow crossed the open doorway and one of the attending scribes appeared, a young man with the sallow face of one who rarely saw the sun.
He had a thin beard and a high-pitched voice. “Lady Trella… Captain Gatus, there is one more waiting to see you, a stranger from the far west.
The messenger from Noble Eskkar was brought in ahead of him. Shall I tell him to return tomorrow?”
Trella felt tempted to do exactly that, but the far west meant the stranger came from the land beyond the other great river. They seldom met travelers from the region west of the Euphrates. She saw the same curiosity on Corio’s face and changed her mind. “No, we will see him now.
Please send him in.”
By the time she and Corio had taken their seats again, the stranger stood before them. Trella guessed that he neared his thirtieth year, though his smooth, unblemished face made him seem younger. Not much taller than her own height, the man had a slight build, though he seemed sturdy enough. His garments appeared worn but well made, his features smooth and even. Except for his gray eyes and darker complexion, nothing distinguished him from any local trader. He bowed politely, turning to face each of them as he did so.
“I thank you for receiving me, Captain Gatus.” Korthac spoke softly, with a pleasant voice, and even though he had a strong accent, his meaning was clear. “My name is Korthac. I realize it is late in the day, and I saw that Noble Eskkar’s messenger was unexpected. I can return tomorrow, if you wish.”
Gatus turned toward Trella, but she gave no sign, just studied the stranger. The old soldier nodded formally at the visitor. “No, we can speak now. And there is no need to stand.” Gatus waited until Korthac took a seat facing them across the table. “This is Corio, our master artisan, and this is Lady Trella, the wife of Eskkar, our ruler. You say you’re from the lands west of the Euphrates?”
“Yes, Captain. From beyond the great desert. I arrived yesterday with a small caravan. I am a trader, and I would like to establish a House here in Orak… I mean, Akkad.” He smiled at his mistake. Everyone seemed to have trouble getting used to the city’s new name.
“What kind of trader?” Corio leaned forward on the table. The question was more than just idle curiosity. Every trader had his own contacts and trade secrets, and if this man truly came from across the desert, he might bring new trading links to the city.
“Noble Corio, I deal in gemstones and other small items that can be traded profitably. I plan to bring such goods across the great desert, and trade in emeralds, onyx, rose quartz, peridot, amethyst, and glass beads.
To make a profit over such a great distance, the items traded must be small and easily carried, as I’m sure you understand.”
“Jewelry made from beads of glass is very rare here,” Corio mused.
“They are much prized for their beauty and healing properties. And peridot is in short supply as well, since it has the power to dissolve enchantments.”
“Then perhaps I shall do well in Akkad,” Korthac said politely, his smile showing white and even teeth. “If, Noble, I am permitted to open a House of my own.”
“There is a tax that must be paid before you can establish a trading house,” Corio said, glancing at Trella before answering. “You understand, Korthac, we have just defeated a barbarian invasion, and at great cost to all of us, I might add. Newcomers must pay to do business under Akkad’s protection. There are other taxes and rules as well.”
A frown passed briefly across Korthac’s face. “I hope that such fees will not be too great, Nobles. I have had to struggle across a great distance and my own expenses have been high.”
Trella cut in smoothly. “Perhaps you can tell us a little about the lands to the west. What are they like? Are there many people there?”
“Once you get across the great desert, to the land called Egypt, there are many villages and great numbers of people,” Korthac answered.
“Villages as great as Akkad?” Gatus had more than a hint of doubt in his voice. “Distant lands are always magical or mighty, it seems, but I traveled widely in my younger days and never encountered a city with as many people as Akkad.”
“Oh, no, none so great as Akkad,” Korthac said. “Akkad is a mighty …”