Each day Esk kar learned something new, looked at someone or something differently, gained a new insight or made some mistake. Each day brought a dozen different decisions, a dozen situations for which he had no experience. He had no sympathy for his commanders when they erred, and he was harder on himself.
The worst of his errors were those he was unaware of. Those Trella or somebody else pointed out to him were bitter in his mouth. He forced himself to listen to Trella’s explanations, silently vowing never to repeat the same mistake again.
Nothing in Esk kar’s life had prepared him for this situation, and more than once he considered leaving it all behind, taking a horse and just riding off. But always the thought of Trella kept him to his task.
He now wanted the future she foresaw. He also knew that slowly, subtly, he was changing, learning to think before he spoke, to consider before he acted, and, most of all, to listen to and take the advice of others. Somehow he knew the gods had linked his fate to hers, and that both of them would face whatever future the barbarians brought to Orak. And each day, the wall continued to grow.
Those same weeks passed even faster for Trella, who set for herself an even more diffi cult task, one she could not go about openly. That task began after they’d moved into Drigo’s house. As soon as she finished her morning duties, Trella spent two or three hours walking through the village. Accompanied always by a guard and dressed in the old shift she’d worn in Nicar’s house, she talked to the women at the market, helped with their laundry at the river, even visited with the women working in the fields or on the wall.
She did more than visit. Her own labors at the wall were as strenuous as any man’s, though she seldom worked more than a few hours. She carried stones and bricks, or dug in the trenches along with the other women. The first time Corio noticed her working, he tried to get her to stop.
She refused, saying what she did was little enough compared to the other women.
Even that first day, groups of curious women gathered wherever she went, eager to speak to her and as eager to offer advice. After the first week, Bantor’s wife, Annok — sur, began to accompany her.
A plain, practical woman a few seasons younger than Esk kar, Annok sur showed she had the skills and experience needed to manage a large household. The two soon transformed the former house of Drigo not only into a home for Esk kar and his men but into a planning center for Orak’s defense.
Between them, they organized the servants, assigned the day’s tasks, and established a routine that began to run itself. Despite their age difference, they became friends.
Trella sat at a small table in her bedroom, while Annok — sur combed Trella’s hair. Neither of them thought it the least bit strange for a free woman to comb the hair of a slave.
“Mistress Trella,” Annok — sur said, keeping her voice low out of habit, though they were alone on the second floor, “your walks among the villagers have become the high point of the day for many of them. They stop whatever they’re doing and wait for you to pass by, disappointed if you choose another street.”
“I like to meet with people, Annok — sur. There is much to learn from them about Orak.”
“Perhaps you’re teaching them more than they realize. So many of them ask for your advice or help. And you give many of them copper coins. Why are you so generous to everyone?”
Trella countered with a question of her own. “You’ve been married to Bantor for a long time. It’s a hard life, isn’t it, being the wife of a soldier?”
“Very hard, mistress. My fi rst two children died, one in childbirth and one a few months later. Only Ningal, our daughter, has survived.” She sighed. “Bantor is a good man who works hard, but sometimes he is a little slow of thought. Until Esk kar promoted him, we had very little and no hope of improvement. There were many bitter things I had to do to help Bantor and Ningal survive.”
Things better left unspoken, Trella thought. “But now life is better, is it not?”
“Yes, for now. But after the barbarians are defeated, then I fear the hard times will come again.”
“You are certain that we’ll defeat them?”
“No, of course not. I know how strong they are. But if our men fail, then it won’t matter. If we’re not killed out of hand, you and I will become slaves in some warrior’s tent, taken and beaten at his pleasure. No, what I fear most is growing old with only a soldier’s pay, with no dowry to find Ningal a good husband. Since Esk kar became captain, my husband’s future seems blessed by the gods. Bantor is very loyal. We both know what Esk kar has done for him.”
Trella reached up and touched Annok — sur’s hand, taking the comb from her and turning to face her. “I, too, am the woman of a soldier. And I have the same fear as you, Annok — sur, that when the barbarians are driven off, things will return to the old ways. Esk kar is powerful now, but when Orak is no longer threatened, then perhaps the nobles will not need so strong a captain of the guard. Perhaps they will not need so many soldiers, either, especially those they did not raise up themselves.”
“So this is why you walk through the village, mistress, to gain the friendship of the people? Their friendship won’t be enough to protect your master.”
“There’s much more I want from the villagers. And there’s much you can do to help me, if you choose. Such help would not be forgotten in the future, Annok — sur.”
“I will help you gladly, Trella. You won’t be a slave for long. Everyone knows that. No, you will be a great lady in Orak, and Esk kar will found a great House. And as he rises, so may Bantor.”
“Then there is much to be done to ensure that future. We must use the people to help secure Orak after the barbarians are defeated. The villagers must bind themselves to Esk kar and his future so that one cannot be without the other. There must be no return to the old ways.”
“You see a way to make this happen? The nobles would not like to hear of such things.”
“No, they wouldn’t. There would be much danger, in fact.” Trella said nothing further, just waited while Annok — sur considered.
“I don’t wish to return to the old ways. Tell me what I can do to help you.”
Trella spoke of her plans. When she finished, the older woman took her hand once again and squeezed it. “It can be done, Trella. We can make these things happen. I’ll do whatever is needed.”
“Help me, Annok — sur, and you will have a great House of your own someday. I promise it.”
11
More weeks passed, with Esk kar too busy to notice Trella’s quiet maneuverings or to care about them if he did. Instead he worried about Jalen. Almost three weeks overdue, Esk kar feared not only had he lost a capable commander, but that he lacked any information about the barbarians’ progress or location.
An even gloomier thought troubled him-if they’d captured and tortured Jalen, the Alur Meriki would know all about Esk kar’s plans.
He didn’t want them sending a raiding party early, before they fi nished the wall.
Whatever Jalen’s fate, Esk kar needed to send out another patrol, one he’d lead himself. The barbarians must be located, and he didn’t trust anyone else to do it. Men continued to arrive with stories of barbarian hordes only a few paces behind them, but almost all their sightings had no value.
As each day passed, Esk kar worked harder to appear confident.
More than two months had elapsed since Esk kar became captain of the guard. Each day he met with Corio and Sisuthros to talk about the wall’s progress. Their work proceeded smoothly, and Esk kar had no doubt the wall would be completed in time. Nevertheless he needed Jalen’s information. He decided to wait three more days for Jalen. Then he’d lead the second scouting party himself.
This morning’s training had gone poorly. Esk kar’s worries distracted him, and a sword swung by an eager recruit had struck Esk kar’s head and knocked him to the ground. If the blade had been bronze instead of wood, he’d be dead.
A few hours after the sun reached its zenith, one of Bantor’s messengers found Esk kar at Corio’s side, inspecting the day’s progress. “Captain, Bantor asks you to come to the gate. There are travelers there who wish to speak with you.”
“Tell Bantor I’m on my way.” Esk kar smiled at the grinning youth, who dashed off at a run to return with this new message. Esk kar bade goodbye to Corio, then followed the path to the main gate, where he found Bantor and two guards speaking to three strangers.
