“Well, Rebba, can you tell me what is going on? On my way to Akkad yesterday, my men were attacked by a group of bandits. They were led by Ariamus. You remember that coward, I’m sure.”
“Bandits? Well, I wouldn’t call them bandits, exactly,” Rebba said with a grim laugh. “And Ariamus? He’s one of the new rulers of Akkad.”
Not too long ago, such words would have infuriated Bantor. But too many men had died in the siege, and death had brushed by him too many times to worry him now. “Is he? So who else rules in Akkad?”
Something in Bantor’s tone gave Rebba pause, until he remembered that this man had been away trailing the barbarians for more than a month.
“Who else but Korthac.”
Rebba noted the puzzled look. “Ah, yes, that’s right. Korthac arrived after you left for the south. He claims he’s a merchant, a trader, but he has the look of a soldier about him. He arrived about six weeks ago, just after Eskkar headed north. Korthac comes from the distant west, possibly even from the land of Egypt. He’s taken control of Akkad. It seems that Trella’s spies failed to uncover the plot.”
“And when did all this happen?” Right now Bantor had no interest in anyone’s spies.
“Two nights ago. Just after sunset, Ariamus rode up to the river gate from the south. Korthac had men waiting inside, near the gate, with weapons hidden in bundles. They killed the gatekeepers and captured the gate without anyone raising the alarm. Ariamus and more than a hundred men ran in uncontested. Joining with Korthac’s Egyptians, they attacked the barracks and caught many of the soldiers asleep. At the same time, they overpowered Trella’s guards and seized her house. By now, Korthac has at least a hundred and fifty bandits and thieves in his service, with more swearing allegiance to him every day. He’s paying well for men willing to follow orders, and killing anyone who disobeys his commands.”
“Only a hundred and fifty!” Bantor exclaimed. “There are more than three thousand people in Akkad. Surely they won’t submit to this Korthac and a few bandits.”
“Most of the soldiers are dead or captured, Bantor. A few may be in hiding. Anyone who speaks out or even raises his eyes is killed. Korthac holds Trella prisoner in her own house. Korthac’s house, now, I suppose.
I don’t know what happened to Gatus. My grandson brought word of all this last night, along with a midmorning summons for me. All the big farm holders are ordered to come into Akkad today, to meet with our new master, Korthac.”
“Will you still go?”
“Of course I must go. I was getting ready to leave when you arrived.
I want to get there early, to see Nicar first and find out what he thinks.
He’ll know more of what is happening.” Rebba looked closely at his visitor, who stood there looking blindsided at all these happenings. “Are you alone?”
The question brought Bantor back to the present. “No, I’m not alone.
I have sixteen men with me, and they’re all looking for vengeance. So go to the city, Rebba, and talk to Nicar, but don’t tell anyone we’re here. Not even Nicar. Not if you want to keep your family alive.” He fingered his sword. “Ariamus will die, and any that stand with him. I’ve sent word to Eskkar. He will be here in a few days. With his seventy men, we’ll brush aside this Korthac like a fly.”
“They say Eskkar’s dead, and his men butchered. Even if he’s alive, he’ll be outside the walls, the same walls that just held off thousands of barbarians.”
Bantor laughed, throwing his head back, but the sound had a trace of danger in it. “Eskkar’s not easy to kill. Besides, do you think the wall will stop him?” He smiled grimly at the old noble’s reaction. “Tell me, who would you rather have as your enemy? Eskkar, or this Korthac? Do you really think these bandits will stand up to Eskkar’s soldiers?”
“Didn’t these bandits kill most of your men?” Rebba countered.
“We were ambushed by sixty or seventy men, caught by surprise on tired horses. Even so, we killed more of them than we lost. We drove them away, Rebba. They ran from us, remember that.”
“That’s not how Ariamus described the battle.” Rebba sighed. “Anyway, many in Akkad have no love for Eskkar and Trella.” The noble paused, considering his words. “But many more will follow him, that’s true enough.
If he’s still alive.” He sat down on a stool. “Let me think a moment.”
Bantor bided his time, gripping his sword hilt and staring at the master farmer, as the moments passed.
“You have forced the choice on me, Bantor. I was going to Akkad to find out which way the wind blew. Now I must throw in my lot with you and Eskkar. Even if you didn’t hold my family hostage, Korthac would never trust me again, once he finds out you and your men came to me.
He’ll be looking for any excuse to confiscate land and property, to execute a few landowners as an example. So I can’t tell him you’re here.” He shook his head at his predicament, then stood. “I have to go. The sooner I know what’s going on, the better we’ll know what to do.”
Bantor didn’t like having to trust the old noble, but this Korthac had summoned Rebba, so he must go, before someone came out looking for him. No important landowner could ignore such a summons, and Korthac would certainly notice if Noble Rebba didn’t appear as ordered.
“Gather your family fi rst, Rebba, and talk to them. I’ll keep all of the women and children here in the house. I’ll kill them myself, Rebba, if you betray me.”
“Save your threats, Bantor. I know what must be done. Still, the women and children will be safer indoors for the next few days anyway. I’m sure Ariamus’s men will be wandering the countryside, looking for loot and women.”
“Then I’ll make sure they’re safe, Rebba,” Bantor said.
“And I’ll explain everything to my sons.” Rebba started toward the door, then stopped to stand directly before Bantor. “I’ll assure them you’re here to protect them. Remember that, before you do anything foolish. I think you would be wise to wait for Eskkar, if indeed he is coming.” Without pausing for a reply or approval, he walked past Bantor and stepped outside, calling to his sons and grandsons.
Bantor followed him and waved his arms toward the river. His men appeared, alert, with their bows strung, and moved toward the house.
As Bantor stood there, Rebba explained the situation to his family. His sons and grandsons, their women and the frightened servants, all glanced apprehensively first at Bantor, then at the dirty, hard-looking armed men striding past them, hands on their weapons. Every man’s eyes remained watchful and wary. Rebba, fi nishing with his sons, called the older women to his side and spoke to them as well. When he fi nished, the women gathered up the children and moved back toward the house.
Rebba, accompanied by two of his sons, began his journey toward Akkad. The city lay just beyond the curve of the river, little more than two miles away, but it would take them most of an hour to reach it, at the old man’s slow pace.
As he watched them depart, Bantor felt the helplessness that comes when another controls your fate. Then a young girl, barely old enough to walk on her own and oblivious of his frown, slipped away from her mother and ran up to him. The mother, carrying another child on her hip, looked at Bantor nervously as he scooped the giggling girl up and carried her into the house.
Inside, another girl, a few years older, asked him if he and his men had eaten this morning.
“No, girl. We’ve not eaten since last night.” Bantor lowered the little girl to the floor and let himself relax. He glanced down the trail through the doorway and took one last look at Rebba, walking south. Bantor had done all he could do, and would just have to wait. The last of his men filed into the house. The siege of Akkad had begun.
Bantor tried to rest as the long day dragged by. One of the women examined his shoulder, and declared nothing broken, though the pain felt as sharp as ever. He spent most of the afternoon pacing back and forth between the main house and the sentries he’d posted around the farm’s outskirts, watching the path to Akkad. He’d expected Rebba to return by midafternoon, but as the sun began to set, the noble hadn’t returned, and Bantor wondered if the old man had betrayed him. He met with Klexor; they spoke about what they’d do if attacked, and how they’d fight their way to the boats and cross the river.