Eskkar stepped to the nearest merchant’s cart, and climbed onto it, letting his eyes sweep the gathering. “You know what happened here last night. This morning word came that Bantor has been ambushed, and half his men killed. It may be that some enemy has seized control of Akkad.”
His words shocked them into silence. He went on before the questions could start.
“I’m taking forty men with me to Akkad, all volunteers. I intend to kill whoever started this. The rest of you will stay here with Sisuthros, and…”
Shouts rose up, everyone speaking. They all wanted to go.
“Silence!” Eskkar put all the force he could into the word. “Listen to me, men. I know you all want to go. But you can’t. First of all, there aren’t enough boats. And I’m only taking men who can swim. The rest of you will have to stay here and fortify the village. There may be more attacks here, and the villagers will need your protection. Sisuthros and Hamati will be staying in Bisitun, and will need your help.”
“But what about my family?” The voice came from one of the younger archers. “My wife and…”
“The men I bring with me will protect all your families, I promise you that. You’ll have to trust them as you’ve always trusted each other. They won’t fail you. And I pledge that we will do everything we can. You’ve trusted me before. Don’t fail me now, when I need your loyalty and courage.”
Groans of disappointment filled the market as the men realized that some would have to stay behind. Eskkar let the rumblings go on for a few moments, then raised his hand.
“Whatever has happened in Akkad will be dealt with, I swear it,” Eskkar said. “Our city will not fall into an enemy’s hands.”
A shout of approval echoed around the square.
“The time for talk is over,” he said. “Now it’s time to avenge Bantor’s dead and rescue our kin. The faster we can get started, the sooner we’ll reach the city. Are you with me?”
A roar of assent followed his words, and for a moment Eskkar thought five hundred men had answered him, and the clamor continued until he held up both hands.
“Then let’s begin. Sisuthros, secure the boats and crews. Hamati, start gathering supplies. Mitrac, see to the weapons. Grond, find out who can swim and who knows the river. Drakis, get what we need from the villagers. Start moving!”
Soldiers and villagers worked like slaves for the rest of the morning.
Eskkar and his commanders selected the men who would accompany him, a process that took longer than he expected because a few soldiers tried to claim they could swim. Everyone wanted to join him and recapture Akkad.
To his surprise, many of the soldiers had lived on and around the river for most of their lives, and more than a few knew how to swim.
Obtaining the boats proved more difficult. Even for gold, two boat owners refused to help, and Sisuthros simply commandeered their boats.
In the end Sisuthros selected six boats. Each vessel would need a crew of two, and could carry at least half a dozen men, plus their equipment.
Crewmen utilized every rope and cord they could find in Bisitun, to lash down swords, knives, sandals, food, anything that could be lost. That way, even if the boat capsized, a not unexpected event, the food and weapons would be secure.
Mitrac ordered the bows coated with grease, then wrapped in rags and bound with cords. A short immersion in the water wouldn’t weaken them too much. The master archer packed all the bowstrings into two small clay jars, then sealed them with plenty of wax and bundled them with blankets and straw, much the way the traders shipped beer or wine. The jars, too, were fastened down throughout the craft, in the safest and most secure places. The bowstrings had to be kept dry at all cost. If they got wet, it would take most of a day to dry them out, and the bows would be useless during that time. A little water wouldn’t hurt the arrows, Mitrac decided.
Nevertheless, they stored them in jars as well, though they didn’t bother sealing these as tightly.
All this took time. The village square and the docks looked like a ser-pents’ pit with everyone scurrying around. Lani organized the women to cook as much food as possible. Every chicken they could lay their hands on ended up on a spit, and the aroma of roasting meat wafted throughout the dockside. The men would eat a big meal before they left and have more to take with them. The women fired up the morning ovens once again and began baking more bread. Lani supervised the collection of fruits, dates, and any other edible items that wouldn’t be ruined by water, gathered them together, and sent them to the boats.
Counting Eskkar, Grond, and Alexar, thirty-nine men assembled at the jetty, ready to board. Eskkar mustered all those selected. “Quiet now,” he ordered. “Yavtar will speak to you. Listen carefully to what he says.”
Yavtar owned two of the boats, and would command one of them.
Sisuthros had dealt with the ship owner turned trader several times during the last month, and suggested Yavtar be put in charge of the whole expedition. A big man, with thick arms from years of handling an oar, Yavtar pushed his way into the center of the Akkadians. He had dirty blond hair tied at the back of his neck, and wore nothing but a skirt and a belt holding a knife. When he spoke, his deep voice carried across the docks.
“You men are going on my boats,” he began, “and you’ll follow my orders exactly. Anyone who doesn’t will find themselves swimming. My orders, remember that, not Lord Eskkar’s, not anyone else’s. On the river, you’ll answer only to me.” He paused to stare at Eskkar, who nodded agreement.
“All these boats will be heavily loaded,” Yavtar continued, “and I don’t want some fool tipping one over. No one is to move without asking permission of the boat captain. All of you will be given paddles, and you’ll be expected to use them. Your lord here,” Yavtar pointed to Eskkar with his thumb, “has promised me a bonus if I get all of you to Akkad as soon as possible. So you’ll paddle when I tell you, you’ll sleep where, when, and if I tell you, and you will not move about unless I tell you.”
Yavtar turned back to Eskkar. “Is that as we’ve agreed, Lord Eskkar?”
Eskkar raised up his voice. “All of us will do what we’re told by the boat captains. Obey them as you would me. We want to get to Akkad as soon as possible.”
Yavtar glanced at the sun, already approaching its high point, then turned to his men, who stood lined up against the water’s edge. “Get the men onboard,” he ordered, and walked off. The embarkation of the soldiers began. The boatmen had already stowed and lashed down the food and weapons.
Eskkar felt a hand on his arm and turned to find Lani there. “Lord Eskkar, take this with you. You may want it later.”
The basket held more food, collected at the last moment. Eskkar hadn’t spoken to her since early morning. Taking her hand, he led her away from the jetty. The sounds of activity rose up all around them, but no one paid any attention to the couple.
“Lani,” he began, “I don’t know what will happen at Akkad. But I’ll send for you as soon as I can. Otherwise, Sisuthros will make sure you’re cared for, and…”
Lani shook her head. “Eskkar, you needn’t worry about me. Secure your wife’s safety. She needs you now. Do what you must. I’ll wait for your summons.”
He pulled her to him for a moment, felt her hands go around his back as she pressed herself to him. Then he stepped back and met her wet eyes.
“I will take care of you, Lani, for as long as you want me to. Remember that. You have my word.”
He turned and returned to the boats. Yavtar stood waiting for him, and the sailor extended his hand to guide Eskkar down into a rocking craft, the largest of the six vessels.
“Can you swim, Lord Eskkar?”
“Well enough,” Eskkar said, grateful for the skill learned as a boy. “But I prefer to do my swimming near the riverbank, not out in the current.”