Sisuthros spent the remaining daylight dividing up the goods and animals recovered from Ninazu. Despite recovering much of what Ninazu’s men had taken, many valuables couldn’t be located. Of course several villagers claimed the same items, causing arguments to erupt. Even with fair dispositions, the rightful owners argued about the part taken by Akkad.
Everyone claimed that two-tenths for Akkad was far too great a portion, until Sisuthros threatened to take everything from the next man who protested. He reminded them that they would have nothing if the Akkadians had not rescued both them and their goods, and that Akkadian soldiers had died freeing them.
The gold and silver coins taken from Ninazu provided another source of contention, the difficulty being to establish how much had been taken from any one person. Acting together, the council made those decisions, often after appealing to the villagers, who made dispositions based on what they thought a man might have possessed.
At last the sun began to sink below the western horizon, and Sisuthros announced the end of the day’s proceedings. Another assembly would convene the next day, starting at midmorning. The council of elders would meet earlier, an hour after sunup, to go over what would be the next order of business-restoring the productivity of the farms, the shopkeepers, and the merchant traders.
The crowd began to disburse, heading to their homes for supper. Even after most departed, guards were posted at Eskkar’s door to keep a few overeager supplicants away from the leaders of Akkad.
“Marduk take all of them,” Sisuthros said, his voice hoarse. He lifted his feet onto the table as he leaned back against the wall. “Another day like today, and I’ll run off and become a bandit myself.”
Eskkar felt every bit as tired. The constant arguing grated on his nerves, wearing him down. Yet he had to remain alert, to study those as they spoke, in order to determine who might be lying from those who had little skills with speech. He’d stayed out of it as much as possible, but he had intervened twice when Sisuthros looked toward him for help. Eskkar attempted to follow Trella’s advice. “Be aloof. Do not deal in common matters. Leave those to your commanders. That way the people will know you concern yourself with far more important things than some farmer’s cow or the innkeeper’s bill.”
“Tomorrow will be easier, Sisuthros. At least you’ve got the gold out of the way. They’ll quiet down as soon as they get back to work. You’ll be besieged with requests for men, to help rebuild the farms, the ditches, the shops, the boats, everything damaged or destroyed by Ninazu.”
“Captain, I don’t know how you and Trella stand it. Better a hard fight against the barbarians any day.” He shook his head. “I don’t think we have enough scribes and traders, let alone soldiers.”
Lani approached the table, carrying a tray of wine, cheese, and bread, the first part of the evening meal. Eskkar mixed himself a cup of watered wine. Sisuthros was right. They would need more help, and they wouldn’t be able to trust anyone from Bisitun for months.
“I’ll send word back to Akkad, Sisuthros. Maybe Nicar or Corio has someone else they can spare to help you. Perhaps Trella knows of someone.”
He didn’t mention Sisuthros’s wife. Far too shy and retiring, she wouldn’t be able to deal forcefully with determined villagers.
Eskkar watched Lani as she moved gracefully about the cooking area, giving directions to the two women preparing the food. He knew she could be of use to Sisuthros, but the people of Bisitun would never accept her in that role. To them, no matter what Eskkar had said today, she would always be Ninazu’s woman. Besides, he had promised her protection in Akkad.
Hamati, Drakis, the scribes, and a few of the other senior men sat down at the table, everyone hungry for their dinner. Lani and Tippu returned, carrying more trays laden with food, helped by the other women, who had done a good part of the cooking in their own homes.
No fancy fare yet. Food would remain in short supply in Bisitun until the market reestablished itself. Nevertheless, in the next few days farmers would be bringing in whatever they could spare, to sell to the soldiers and villagers. So for tonight’s dinner, the men ate a stew made from two chickens, chopped into tiny chunks, and mixed with fresh vegetables. Four loaves of bread fresh from the ovens helped soak up the stew, and watered wine completed the meal. Not much food for fighting men, but most of Bisitun would not eat as well tonight. At least no villager would starve in the next week or ten days, though plenty would go to bed hungry.
The meal finished, Eskkar and Sisuthros took another walk about the village. Both men felt the need to stretch their legs after sitting or standing all day with solemn looks on their faces. Accompanied by Grond and three other guards, they spent hours poking about until darkness made it too difficult to see anything.
Eskkar took every opportunity to talk with the villagers. Such casual speech didn’t come easy to him, but Trella had gotten him used to making small talk with the common folk, asking about their homes, their families, their needs, and their hopes. He’d learned that people provided the real basis for his rule, and he worked hard at building a bond between himself and those he ruled.
The three men were yawning when they returned to the square, for once empty of villagers.
After such a long and exciting day, everyone would be in bed, eager for sleep. Eskkar, Sisuthros, and Grond washed at the well, stripping down and pouring water over their bodies. It didn’t feel as refreshing as a good swim in the river, but Eskkar promised himself that luxury tomorrow, come what may.
Carrying their clothes, the three of them walked back inside the house. The big room, empty of servants, held only two soldiers standing guard just inside the door. Eskkar spoke to both of them, to make sure they stayed alert. Though Sisuthros had distributed much of the loot, the house still held the gold destined for Akkad.
Eskkar had just entered his room when Lani appeared, carrying a pitcher of wine, another of water, and a single cup. She’d no doubt heard the men cleaning themselves at the well, so she brought no washing bowls.
Splashing a bit of wine into a cup, she added water before handing it to him. Already she had learned that he drank his wine well watered.
“Thank you, Lani,” he said, breaking the silence. She probably thought he expected her to attend him. She wore the same soft robe she wore last night when she came to him, and already he wished she would unfasten it.
He took a sip from the cup.
“Lani, you don’t have to be here. Your sorrow for your husband is …”
She touched her finger to his lips. “My husband has been dead for over four months. Today… watching Ninazu die, I put an end to my grief.
Now I have to care for my sister.”
“Then she’ll need you tonight, Lani. Stay with her. She doesn’t have your strength.”
“Tonight she has Grond to comfort her.” She saw the look on his face.
“No, lord, she went to him willingly. It’s time she ceased being afraid of men. And I think Grond is the right man for that task. He ignores her dishonor, and treats her with respect. His presence reassures her more than my words ever can. She knows no one will hurt her now.”
True enough, Eskkar thought. Only a foolhardy man would offer any insult to a woman under Grond’s protection.
Lani turned away and went to the door. She closed it, then placed the wooden bar across the frame. Turning back to face him, she lifted her head high. “I think it’s time that I, too, went willingly to a man’s bed. I would stay the night with you again, lord, if I do not displease you.”
He looked at her, and his resolve vanished. She had some essence, something that made him want her, and he knew it was more than just her skill in pleasuring him. Eskkar sat down on the bed, more than a little unsure of himself.