He looked about, but didn’t see his hostess. “Is Lady Trella unwell?”
“No, she’s resting upstairs,” Annok-sur said with a smile of her own.
“She’d be pleased if you wish to visit her. She enjoys your stories about the land of Egypt.”
And always interrupted each story with a dozen questions that probed for any detail of his past life, Korthac recalled. “Of course. Who would resist such a generous hostess.” He turned to Hathor. “Wait here.” He didn’t like leaving the man alone, but it would look odd to bring him into the house.
Annok-sur weaved her way through the crowd, and Korthac trailed in her wake, annoyed that he had to follow in any woman’s footsteps. He’d never been inside Eskkar’s house before. Looking about, he saw the great room as crowded as the courtyard. Most of the guests stayed close to a long table loaded with wine and food, trying to get as much of the free fare as they could.
A guard kept the stairs to the upper rooms clear, but he stepped aside and nodded at Annok-sur as they passed. Another guard stood at the top of the landing. Looking about, Korthac studied Trella’s private quarters as he entered, quarters that would soon be his. Benches and stools lined the walls, and a small table held pitchers of wine and water, but no food.
Korthac recognized the captain of the guard, Gatus, sitting next to Trella near to the window. Corio stood nearby, with his wife and two sons, talking to one of the nobles who operated several boats that plied the river trade.
Nicar, his wife, their son, and daughter-in-law stood together, talking excitedly among themselves.
Trella rose from her seat as Korthac crossed the room. Surprised by her size, he realized her pregnancy had progressed since he’d last seen her. Even the loose-fitting dress she wore couldn’t conceal her condition.
He’d always found pregnant women distasteful, unclean somehow. Their bloated bodies should be hidden away, out of sight, until they produced their offspring, preferably without annoying their betters. Korthac had fathered more children than he could remember, but had never cared for any of them or their mothers, either. A woman’s children made her weak and easy to manage, and he looked forward to Trella’s delivery.
“Greetings, Lady Trella.” He bowed low to show his respect.
“Welcome to our home, Honorable Korthac.” She bowed politely to him, like any respectable wife greeting her husband’s guests.
“A blessing to the goddess Ishtar for your future family, and for your invitation to share in her blessings,” he intoned, fulfilling the courtesy the celebration required.
“You learn our customs well, Honorable Korthac.” She turned to Gatus. “Can our guest take your seat for a moment, Gatus?”
“Yes, he can have it,” Gatus replied, getting up and stretching. “I need something solid to eat, anyway. I’ll take your leave, Trella.” He bowed to her, then to Korthac.
“Sit beside me,” Trella said, resuming her seat again. “I find I tire easily, and preparing for the feast has kept me busy since early this morning.”
“The city is praising your name, Lady Trella, and thanking you for the gifts of food and wine.” For a city reputed to be pressed for gold, Trella had managed to buy enough food to give nearly everyone in Akkad a good meal and enough ale to wash it down.
“And you, Korthac, have you decided to remain in our city?”
He’d spread the word that he considered living in the countryside, or perhaps even downriver. The news had sent a dozen traders to his door, entreating him to stay and trade his gemstones in Akkad. The simple rumor had helped him make a dozen new friends.
“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.
