Trella had learned of Lani’s activities even before Gatus. One of the first messengers from Bisitun had mentioned Lani to his woman, who immediately relayed the information to Trella. At first she hadn’t been concerned, but as the weeks passed, she felt her concern growing. Still, she gave no indication to anyone that she worried about Eskkar’s dalliance.
“I’m sure you’re right, Gatus. But since he remains away, I’m uneasy about the countryside. Could you move the patrols out farther from the city? Say another twenty or thirty miles in every direction?”
“Well, it would take more men and horses. And I’d need more messengers riding back and forth. Do you really think it’s necessary?
“Humor me, then,” she said, leaning toward him and touching his arm.
“And you can tell your riders there will be extra silver for their labors. A few more sweeps before Eskkar returns. Have them increase their distance at least thirty miles.”
“For extra silver, they’ll ride an even larger circle,” he laughed. “I’ll send them out in a day or so…”
She touched his arm again. “Send them tomorrow, Gatus, as soon as they recover from the feast.”
“You’re that concerned about this Korthac?”
“It’s not just him. Besides, you must bear with a pregnant woman. As you say, Eskkar will be back soon, but until then, I find myself often worrying.” She laughed at her own weakness. “Oh, and there’s one more request.
I want a rider for a special assignment, to journey to the far northwest. Do you have anyone you can trust? He’ll need to be a strong horseman and have his wits about him.”
“Will he have to do any fighting?”
“No, merely gather some information. You can offer a gold coin in addition to his regular pay.”
“For that, I’d almost go myself. I’ll talk to some of the men tomorrow, and find one to your liking.”
“Then once again you have my thanks, old friend.” She stood. “And now it’s time to begin the feast. I’ve kept you away from the food and wine long enough.”
She escorted him to the door, and they descended the stairs together.
Annok-sur waited there, along with the servants. The workroom would also be used to entertain guests, and they needed time to prepare it. Trella planned to meet with Korthac there.
As he’d already become one of the city’s more important traders, Korthac had received and accepted her invitation. The Egyptian remained a mystery, keeping to himself and staying aloof from the usual Akkadian ways. Her informers had learned nothing useful.
She wanted to understand Korthac better, to learn firsthand what drove the man. Only then would her curiosity be satisfied. Trella hoped to draw him out during today’s festival. Perhaps wine and exotic foods would help loosen his tongue.
14
Korthac didn’t bring any of his usual bodyguards to the feast.
Instead he brought Hathor, the only one of his three subcommanders who’d accompanied him into Akkad, and the only one with the wits and self-control to act the part. Aside from Hathor’s trips downriver, his primary responsibility entailed keeping the men under control, away from wine, and apart from the locals. Every day that task grew harder, and the men more difficult to keep under discipline. They’d earned their silver, survived the desert, and now wanted to take some leisure in this strange new city whose pleasures beckoned them. Fortunately the men respected Hathor, who urged them to control themselves a little longer. Korthac knew he needed to keep the men restrained.
With only a handful of men in Akkad, Korthac had too much to lose to take any chances with a drunken soldier getting into trouble. He’d ordered one whipped last week. Only yesterday Hathor had knocked another to the ground. Both Korthac and Hathor reminded their men again and again that, in a few weeks, they’d have plenty of gold and unlimited opportunities to enjoy the women of Akkad.
Korthac’s other two subcommanders, Takany and Nebibi, remained across the river with Ariamus, keeping a watchful eye on the man and helping raise and train the desperate men they recruited. Korthac felt certain he could rely on Ariamus, at least as long as the gold kept flowing.
More than six weeks had passed since Korthac arrived in Akkad, and he’d received a report each week about Ariamus’s progress.
Korthac’s business as a trader provided a legitimate reason to spend hours at the docks with a few of his men, meeting ships as they arrived, doing a little trading here and there.
Occasionally a boat carried one of Ariamus’s men, who would sit with the Egyptian and report. Korthac made sure the messenger got right back aboard a ship heading south. With Trella’s spies everywhere, there must be no boasting words or smug looks to give away his plan.
According to Hathor’s latest report, the former captain of the guard had already mustered over ninety men, almost all of them mounted, and most of them claiming to have fighting experience. Ariamus had dispensed plenty of Korthac’s gold and silver, along with promises of future loot to recruit these men. Korthac doubted they would come close to the quality of his Egyptians, but right now he needed bodies. With enough men who could at least swing a sword, Korthac would seize power in Akkad.
More than half the city’s soldiers were away, either with Eskkar or Bantor. That meant, on any given day, less than a hundred men maintained order, watched the walls, and manned the gates. Korthac had no doubt his seventy Egyptians could take the city from within, as long as they didn’t get involved in an archery battle. He’d watched the Akkadian soldiers practice, and seen what they could do with the bow. But in close-up fighting, his men would prevail. Holding Akkad would be another matter, and for that he needed Ariamus and his men, and, equally as important, their horses.
In a few more weeks, as the entire city knew, Bantor and his men would return from the south. Korthac wanted to act before their arrival. Eskkar, proving as unpredictable as everyone said, lingered in Bisitun. Nevertheless, the barbarian might return to Akkad at any time, probably bringing with him at least half his forces. If he stayed away a few more weeks, Korthac’s work would be much simpler. He’d been in Akkad long enough to understand local politics. The nobles who formed the ruling council were merely traders, men who dealt with buying and selling, not fighting, and all of them intimidated by Eskkar’s soldiers. Several chafed at Eskkar and Trella’s new restrictions on their authority. The people wouldn’t rally around any of them. A few public executions, followed by distribution of a few gold coins, would silence both traders and nobles, and bend them to his rule.
Trella might provide such a rallying point, but he intended to take care of her when the time came. And without Eskkar here to rouse the inhabitants and give them the will to resist, the city would fall like an over-ripe apple from a tree into Korthac’s waiting hands.
Eskkar would have to die, of course, but that could happen just as easily in the north as here in Akkad. As soon as Ariamus raised another twenty or thirty men, Korthac would strike. He’d take the city, then destroy the rest of Eskkar’s forces piecemeal. Only a fool divided his forces.
In his many battles, Korthac had learned one thing-concentrate his fighters and overwhelm his enemy. It had worked in Egypt and it would work here. He looked forward to teaching this Eskkar the same lesson.
Putting such ideas out of his mind, he thought about today’s cele-bratory feast. Korthac could smile at that, the futility of the men of this land relying on Ishtar, a female deity, for protection. As foolish as the men of Akkad relying on Trella. Eskkar’s wife had planned a special repast at her home to celebrate some incomprehensible aspect of Ishtar’s power, though the occasion also gave thanks for the deliverance of the city from the barbarian invasion, and for Eskkar’s recent success in Bisitun.