thief sell anything stolen from you? He’d have to leave Akkad, and hope not to be caught or robbed on the road.”
Anyone trying to take his gems would wind up dead, Korthac knew.
He’d selected only those quick and efficient to guard his person, and his guards knew all about thieves and assassins.
“You seem to care more for tradesmen and farmers than for the wealthy traders, Lady Trella.”
She laughed at that, a pleasant sound that made everyone’s eyes turn in her direction. “Perhaps that’s because the wealthy and prosperous need little from me. It’s only those that suffer privation who need help and guidance.”
Her concern was genuine, Korthac noted, surprised in spite of himself. In Egypt, rulers had claimed to lead the people as a wise father guides his family, but in truth, they’d done little more than take advantage of anyone weaker than themselves. And that, Korthac thought, was why he’d win here. The common people couldn’t be depended on, didn’t have the strength to endure hardship or difficulty, or the courage to face up to their conquerors. Once again he wondered about Eskkar, wondered if he, too, had the same feelings about the common rabble. Not likely, Korthac decided. Barbarians, he learned, had little use for anyone not of their own kind, anyone weaker than themselves.
“The people of Akkad are fortunate in their ruler, then.”
“The city is indeed blessed by the gods,” Trella said. “And, now, Honored Korthac, I must leave you. There is another meeting of the council this morning.”
He bowed, and she returned the gesture, before walking away, her guards forming around her. In a moment, she’d passed through the gate and disappeared. The few laggards on the dock who’d wasted time watching their discourse turned away, and returned to their own business, Lady Trella’s visit to Korthac and his tiny stall already forgotten.
Korthac swept the gems off the table and back into his pouch. Turning away from the gate, he stared at the sunlit river, not really seeing it, instead thinking of his words with Trella. She had her wits about her, he decided. Any other women in the city would have been pawing over the gems, commenting on their beauty, admiring them against the soft skin of their breasts. After a single glance, Trella had ignored the sparkling gems, keeping her eyes on his, and searching, he knew, for any hint of weakness.
Since he’d left Egypt, he had conversed with no one as an equal, but this slave girl knew something about the ways of men. If she wasn’t carrying another man’s whelp, he might even keep her on as his concubine, to amuse his thoughts and challenge his wits on occasion. After he trained her properly, of course. But, unfortunately for her, she was much too popular. Instead, she would play another role in his city, proving for everyone to see that he ruled here absolutely. It was a role that would see her dead at his feet soon enough.
16
Five more days went by without event, and already a fortnight had passed since Ishtar’s feast. The late afternoon sun drifted toward the western horizon, and En-hedu considered packing up her wares for the day a good hour earlier than usual. This day, like all the other days and weeks before it, had brought little out of the ordinary. Business always slowed down in the late afternoon, when people, tired after a long day’s work, worried more about eating their dinner than buying trinkets.
She’d only sold one belt all day, and that before the noon hour, to a trader whose own had split.
She’d arrived in the lane at first light, just in time to watch Korthac head toward the river, a little earlier than he normally did. But he returned at noon, his regular hour, to take his midday meal in private. Korthac had moved into his new quarters two weeks ago, a few days after Ishtar’s festival. His new residence consisted of three small houses in a row, all attached together, with the central one slightly larger than the other two.
En-hedu had started selling her wares in Korthac’s lane two days before he took possession of his new house. By the time the Egyptian moved in, she’d become just another woman selling goods, her wares displayed only a few paces away from a farmer’s wife selling vegetables. At least half a dozen pushcarts lined the lane every day, sometimes blocking traffic as the vendors moved and shifted their carts and goods about, or their owners took time to gossip.
After so many days at her post, En-hedu knew the name of every one of the seventeen Egyptians, and spoke to all of them whenever they passed. But only if their master were absent. She’d soon learned not to call attention to herself, not with Korthac nearby. None would dare venture into the lane or even acknowledge her greeting.
The only small exception to that rule was Hathor. A serious-looking man who seldom smiled, he functioned as senior steward to Korthac. Or acted as occasional bodyguard, depending on the need. When Korthac left the house, Hathor took charge, and he spent his time moving between the three houses, checking on the men and maintaining order. That brought him out into the lane, and occasionally he would smile or nod a greeting to En-hedu as he passed. Twice he actually bought something from her cart.
A belt one time, and a wrist guard the other. He made other purchases for the household as well, sometimes in the lane, but more often in the marketplace, which held a better selection of goods.
To her surprise, he’d picked up the local language very well, and even ventured to ask about her other wares. En-hedu tried to draw him into conversation, but he never stayed long, or spoke much. He never acknowledged her presence if Korthac accompanied him.
The Egyptian leader remained as elusive as ever. After taking his midday meal, Korthac usually returned to the docks. Boats that had started their journey toward Akkad at dawn often arrived in the afternoon hours, and trading could be brisk until late in the day. Today, though, Korthac remained within his walls. Then in the middle of the afternoon, two men she had never seen before walked up to Korthac’s house. The door wardens recognized them and passed them inside, without the usual challenge. The strangers, hard-looking men in dirty tunics, remained less than an hour, then departed, walking toward the river gate.
As they did so, several of Korthac’s men began passing from one house to the other, and the attitude of the guards changed. Those stationed at the doors seemed more tense, and the quick smiles they often directed at her disappeared. That piqued En-hedu’s interest even more than the strangers’ visitation. She changed her mind about quitting early, and began working on another belt, using a tiny bronze needle to etch a design in the soft leather. The simple pattern occupied her hands and still let her watch the lane, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
You say Ariamus is ready to cross the river?” Seated on a small stool, Korthac’s words sounded harsh in the small, windowless chamber he used when he desired complete privacy.
“Yes, lord,” Rihat answered, sitting cross-legged on the floor before Korthac. “All the men are in place, hiding in the hills just across the Tigris.
Ariamus said to tell you we can attack today, or wait until tomorrow, if you need more time.”
“No, we will attack today, at dusk, just as we planned. You’re sure no one saw our force?”
“None that we left alive, lord.” Rihat licked his lips. “Ariamus was very careful. We traveled most of the night, then took shelter in the hills. We saw only a few herders, tending their flocks.”
Korthac studied Rihat with care. One of Ariamus’s subcommanders, Rihat appeared to have his wits about him, though he looked nervous at finally meeting Korthac face to face. Not that that meant anything. Korthac knew he made most men uneasy. The man showed the fatigue of days of hard traveling. His face covered with sweat, he gulped another mouthful of water from the cup. He glanced from Korthac to Hathor, the only other man present in the room.
“Listen to me very carefully,” Korthac said, speaking with delibera-tion. “Tell them they’re to cross today, an hour before sunset.” He kept his eyes locked on Rihat, probing for any signs of inattentiveness or fear.
“Then you’ll approach the city from the south, and wait for my signal.”
“Yes, lord. Takany and Nebibi explained everything. They made sure everything was prepared before they sent me on ahead.”
Both Takany and Nebibi knew the penalty for failure to obey orders exactly. Korthac worried more about Ariamus and his men. They represented the unknown quantity, and if they failed, Korthac might be left trapped in the city.
