Korthac’s men, and now he has close to two hundred of them, terrorize the villagers. There have been many rapes and much looting. Any that resist are killed horribly in the marketplace. All the merchants and craftsmen must pay a tax just to stay alive and remain in business.” He looked across the flickering lamp at Eskkar. “You must gather more men, then find a way to drive them out.”
“I intend to do that, Rebba,” Eskkar said. “But you haven’t seen Trella?”
“No, but she is in her room, with Annok-sur, giving birth.” Rebba saw the look on Eskkar’s face and realized he had left something out. “Lady Trella went into labor this afternoon. I don’t know how…”
“Trella is well, you say?”
“Yes, that’s what I heard today,” Rebba replied. “But we hear only rumors from the servants. Trella and Annok-sur are confined to the upper rooms of your home. Korthac uses the outer room during the day, but sleeps downstairs at night. He has taken a few young boys and girls as bedmates, they say.”
“I don’t care who he sleeps with,” Eskkar said, his hands clenching into fists. “He’ll be dead as soon as I get my hands on his throat.”
“It won’t be easy, Eskkar.” Rebba shook his head. “The gates are heavily guarded and the walls are patrolled day and night, as much to keep the people in as intruders out.”
Bantor rapped his fist on the table. “We just need to get inside, Captain. Ariamus’s men spend their nights in the alehouses, drinking their fill.
We’ll kill them easy enough. My men have practiced each day with bow and sword.”
“You said Gatus is in hiding with Tammuz?”
“Yes. Rebba’s men found him there two days ago,” Bantor said. “Gatus sent three men out here as soon as he learned we were here.”
“What else did he say?” Eskkar knew Gatus well enough.
“Two days ago, he sent word that Tammuz has been watching the sentries. Gatus says that Butcher’s Lane is the way in. He’ll help us, if we send word.”
Eskkar smiled at that. Butcher’s Lane was where, during the siege, the Alur Meriki had almost carried the wall in a night attack. He’d considered using the same location to scale the wall on the journey downriver. But there was no time to send word. They could be discovered at any moment.
He counted the men he had at his command. “So we have your twenty men, Bantor, and my thirty-nine. That gives us…”
“Sixty-two men, Captain,” Yavtar broke in before Eskkar could complete the sum in his head. “That includes me, and two of my boatmen, willing to gamble their miserable lives for a fistful of gold. The rest will stay with the boats, in case we need them. I told you I intend to fight with you. I know how to swing a sword.”
“I’m sure you do, Yavtar,” Eskkar said, then he stopped for a moment.
He had been struggling with ideas about how to get into Akkad, how to climb the wall. He doubted he could get sixty men inside without alerting Korthac’s sentries, no matter how many throats they slit in the darkness.
Yavtar’s presence suggested another, better way.
“Then, Yavtar, I have a task for you, if you’re willing. A dangerous task.” He looked around the table. “Here’s what I want you to do.”
He explained his plan, his men leaning closer, intent on every word.
Eskkar had thought about little else most of the day, and now Bantor and Rebba had supplied the final bits of information he needed. Yavtar’s volunteering to join the battle provided yet another option.
When Eskkar finished, his commanders began to fill in their parts.
They had all fought together before, working on defenses during the siege, and planning attacks on barbarians and bandits. They knew what to do and what to suggest to each other.
Eskkar said little while they spoke, and Bantor, Alexar, and Mitrac all made their suggestions and asked their questions. The whole process didn’t take long. The subcommanders knew how to prepare their men. In less than an hour, they were all ready.
Rebba listened without speaking during the process. Now he shook his head as they began to get up from the table. “You really think this plan will work? Why don’t you wait until tomorrow night? That way we can get some help from Gatus and others inside the city who are willing to fight.”
Bantor answered even before Eskkar could speak. “No. Eskkar is right.
We must go now. Anything can happen in a day. We might be discovered here, or word might reach Korthac that Eskkar is on the way. If they suspect we’re here… no, we must attack tonight.”
“It will work, Rebba,” Klexor added. “Those men are bandits, and they’re not even from the same clan. Half of them will run at the first sign of trouble.”
“Even if half do run,” Rebba answered, “you’ll still be outnumbered.
And Korthac’s men are trained fighters, not bandits. They won’t run. If we wait another day or two, we can get many of the citizens to join with us.”
“We’ll be discovered,” Bantor said, his fist again striking the table. “Besides, we don’t need them. We just have to get over the walls, and when we do, I will put my sword in Ariamus’s guts and watch him die for what he did to my men.”
Eskkar stared at his subcommander, surprised at Bantor’s intensity.
He remembered the gossip about Ariamus and Annok-sur; he’d forgotten about it until now. Eskkar realized the anger that must still burn inside the man’s heart.
“At least keep your forces together, Eskkar,” Rebba pleaded. “Splitting them up will…”
“No, Rebba. What’s important is to get inside Akkad.” Eskkar spoke with certainty. “If we stay together, and can’t get in, then we’ve failed. This way, even if only half of us succeed, we can rouse the city. Besides, you say that Korthac’s men are scattered all over Akkad. The more places we attack, the greater their confusion.”
And gives me the best chance to rescue Trella. Eskkar had made that decision on the river, too. If he could get her out safely, he didn’t care if the rest of the attack failed. The people of Akkad could live with the demon Korthac for all he cared.
Silence settled over the table. Either none of Eskkar’s commanders found fault with his plan, or they just wanted to get on with the fight.
“Then I will go with you,” Rebba said, the sound of resignation in his voice. “No matter what happens, I’m committed. If you fail, I will be killed and my estates confiscated. So I’ll walk the streets, to rally the people behind you, even as you fight Korthac’s soldiers. The people will recognize me, and many will heed my words, when I tell them Eskkar has returned to free them.”
Eskkar understood Rebba’s situation. If Eskkar failed, Korthac would learn of Rebba’s involvement. They would all risk their lives tonight. He looked about the table, but no one said anything further.
“Tell your men to kill the Egyptian soldiers first,” Eskkar said, picking his words carefully. “The rest of the rabble will break. Make sure our soldiers shout their heads off. Let your battle cry be ‘Let None Escape.’
That will strike fear into the hearts of these bandits.”
“We need another one,” Klexor offered. “ ‘Eskkar has returned.’ I think that will rouse the people.”
Eskkar nodded his approval. “Good. Two battle cries will make us sound even stronger.”
The night was slipping by, and the time for words had passed. “Then let us begin. We still have things to prepare, and I don’t want our enemies enjoying too much sleep before we awaken them.”
21
Korthac woke a few hours after he’d finished taking his pleasure with the young girl, who still lay in a heap on the floor, her legs streaked with blood. He’d told her not to move, and enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing she’d learned obedience.
Too young for the love act, she had sobbed at the pain. He’d enjoyed that, too, watching the fright in her eyes that terrorized her as much as the suffering. For the last four nights he’d taken a fresh young bedmate, alternating between sexes, enjoying at last the opportunity to satisfy himself without restraint. Not that Korthac ever felt driven by such basic needs, as most men were. He’d spent months in the desert without companionship of any kind, and considered it only a minor inconvenience. Nevertheless, now that he had all of Akkad at his feet and eager to please him, he intended to make up for being deprived.