“I think I’ll stay in Akkad, Lady Trella.” He might as well tell her the truth. She knew no merchant would willingly leave the city and all its advantages. “I’m still looking for a new house, perhaps something like this one. I heard this once belonged to a merchant?”
“Yes, but Nicar loaned it to Eskkar for the siege. Afterward, my husband paid Nicar for it.”
“When does your husband return, Lady Trella? I’m looking forward to meeting him, if even half the stories I’ve heard are true.”
She laughed. “That’s what they are, Honorable Korthac, half-true. But he is a strong leader who cares for his people. I think you will like him.”
“I’m sure I will, Lady Trella.” I’ll like him better when he’s dead, which will be soon enough, Korthac thought, and then he’d wipe that smile off her face. He hated having to restrain himself around anyone, let alone an upstart young girl.
“Now tell me, Honorable Korthac, when are you going to let your men move about the city? I hear they spend all their time cooped up inside that dreadful inn.”
“My servants are uncouth men. Many are not even used to living in a village, let alone a city like Akkad. But they were all I could find to accompany me on my journey.” Korthac kept his tone soothing. His time would come soon enough. “I would prefer to keep them out of trouble, at least until they’ve learned to speak your language and understand Akkad’s customs. A week or two after I’m established in my new home, they’ll be ready to go about on their own.”
“The merchants will be glad to see them.”
“As glad as my men will be, I can promise you that.” He saw a hint of disbelief in her eyes, and wondered if his words sounded too con-descending.
“Have you been able to sell your gemstones for a fair price?”
“That’s hard to say, Lady Trella. Some of my pieces have moved quickly enough, but others”-he shrugged-“I’m not so sure. Until one has lived in a place for some time, it is hard to know what makes for a good trade. It’s difficult enough for me to know an honest price. That’s why I’m keeping a close watch on my men, to make sure they aren’t cheated.” And meanwhile giving away most of my jewels for far less than what they’re worth.
“You’ve picked up our language well, Honorable Korthac. You speak with only the slightest accent. It’s hard to believe you’ve learned it so quickly.”
“A trader must master many tongues, as I’m sure you know. And aside from trading, I’m spending most of my days learning your language and customs.” He reached inside his tunic. “But I’ve nearly forgotten.” He brought out a small cotton pouch laced shut with a thin strand of dark leather. “This is for you, Lady Trella. A gift from the land of Egypt.”
He handed her the pouch, watching her deft hands as she untied the knot and upended the contents into her palm. An emerald the size of a man’s thumb, cut into a square shape and banded with a strip of gold attached to a thick golden chain, glistened in the light.
“Honorable Korthac, this is… I’ve never seen such a stone.”
Korthac relaxed as his hostess stared at the jewel, fascinated by its deep green color. As well she should, he thought. These lands produced very few of them, and those were mostly small and of poor quality. He remembered lifting the jewel from the neck of a rich merchant’s wife in Egypt. On her knees, she pleaded with him not to take her favorite possession, so he handed it back to her, watching her eyes fill with gratitude.
He let her hold it for a moment, until he plunged his sword into her belly.
Then he took it from her and dangled it in front of her face, while she watched her blood stain the ground until she died.
“It is a beautiful gem, Lady Trella, but who else in Akkad should have it, if not you?”
“I’m honored, but I cannot accept this. It’s much too valuable.”
“Lady Trella, I insist. I have others, just as fine. By wearing this one, you’ll encourage all the other women in Akkad to buy my stones. And perhaps, if I need help in some matter or another, I can turn to you.” He watched her eyes linger on the stone. No woman could refuse such a gift, he knew. He’d always found it so easy to manipulate women.
Trella stared at the stone for a moment, then returned it to the pouch.
“It is too much, but I thank you for this gift. It’s the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen.” She turned to him and smiled, a smile full of warmth that he hadn’t seen before. “But, Honorable Korthac, I will not wear the necklace until after the child has been born. Otherwise the gods might be jealous.”
Korthac concealed his disappointment. He would have preferred to have her flaunt the jewel at today’s feast, making everyone aware of his gift and his special place in her favor. But it didn’t really matter. He’d take the stone back from her soon enough, and when he did, his pleasure would not be so easily satisfied.
“May your child bring you great happiness, Lady Trella.” For as long as it lives, he thought.
On the other side of Akkad, no lamps or fires burned in Tammuz’s alehouse. The sun had gone down moments ago, but for once the alehouse stood empty. The usual customers had departed, to partake of the food and ale that fl owed freely today in Ishtar’s honor, thanks to Lady Trella. A few would undertake to help themselves to goods left unat-tended, especially when their owners grew lax from too much wine. En-hedu heard laughter and the sound of loud voices coming from the lane, rising and falling as people passed to and fro.
Since there were no customers, En-hedu asked Tammuz if he would close the alehouse for a few hours. He suggested they walk the lanes and enjoy the crowds, but En-hedu asked him to wait. She left their chamber and went into the common room, closed the door to the lane, and set the bar in its groove. When she returned to the bedroom, Tammuz started to rise from the table.
“No, don’t get up. There is something I wish you to do for me,” she began, rushing the words a little more than she’d wanted.
There was just enough light for her to see the puzzled look on her master’s face.
“Why, what do you need?”
She stood directly in front of him. “I want you to take me to bed.” En-hedu had forced the words out, and now they couldn’t be called back. She pulled her dress up over her head, and stood there, not even a step away.
He’d seen her without her clothes many times, but she’d never displayed herself like this, never simply stood there for him to see. And enjoy. She took a deep breath, and moved her legs a little apart.
His eyes caressed her body, lingering on her breasts and the jutting mound of hair beneath her belly.
“En-hedu,” he began, “are you sure…”
“Yes, I’m sure. I need to be your woman, to bring you the pleasure of the gods, and to give you children. More than that, I want to please you.
You are a good man, and I want to stay with you forever.”
He stood and took her in his good arm. “You will never leave me, En-hedu. I want you with me always. And you do not have to…”
She leaned closer and kissed him, a long kiss that silenced him. When the kiss ended, he had her breast in his hand, causing her to gasp with pleasure.
“Your clothes, master,” she said huskily, feeling a wave of pleasure run through her body. Her head felt light, and she wondered if she would fall when he released her. She led him to the bed, then helped him with his tunic, for once her fingers moving clumsily instead of with their usual efficiency. Then they tumbled onto the bed, her head swimming with new sensations. This time he kissed her, and something shot through her like a tongue of fire. She felt herself grow moist between her legs, accompanied by an unfamiliar flash of warmth that excited her even more.
Now his hands roamed her body, exploring, squeezing, touching. He moved along her body, and she felt the heat of his skin against her. She moaned when he stroked her mound, and he stopped.
“Don’t stop,” she gasped, as surprised at her words as the speed at which she uttered them. “Don’t stop.” She pressed his hand against her, holding him there until his fingers slipped inside her. Never had she felt this way. There was no pain, no roughness to make her wince or cry out.