barracks, where the heaviest fighting would occur, but the man had survived without even a scratch.
“You did well, Ariamus,” Korthac had said afterward, grunting his approval at his newest subcommander’s efficiency. “Now take your men and destroy the Akkadians returning from the south. Then you will have your reward.”
Relishing the praise, Ariamus had bowed politely, gathered his men, and departed, as eager as Korthac to finish off the returning soldiers. He and his men camped for the night a few miles ride from the city, and Ariamus sent out scouts to look for the approaching Akkadians. A successful ambush of Bantor and his troops would ensure Korthac’s confi dence, and earn Ariamus an even bigger share of the loot waiting back in Akkad.
The moment to earn that reward had arrived. The men from Akkad marched unsuspectingly toward their fate. In a few moments, Ariamus would destroy Bantor’s soldiers, leaving no organized force to rally support against Korthac. The handful of men Eskkar had with him up at Bisitun would be no problem to defeat. Ariamus knew he could raise, recruit, and train an equal number in the week or ten days it would take for Eskkar to reach Akkad. And with any bit of luck, the barbarian would already be dead, struck down by Korthac’s assassins.
As soon as Ariamus returned to Akkad with the news of Bantor’s destruction, Korthac’s rule would be secure. The Egyptian would proclaim himself sovereign of the city, and Ariamus would stand at his side. With enough men to guard the walls, no power could force them out.
Assuming Ariamus could keep his men under control, he reminded himself. He’d readied his men for the ambush more than an hour ago.
Even after yesterday’s success in Akkad, many of the men looked nervous, and he saw fear on the faces of more than one. The sooner he got them into battle, the better. He wished he’d had a few more weeks to train them… but Korthac wouldn’t wait. News of Bantor’s approach had forced Korthac to move a little earlier than he planned. The city had to be taken the day before Bantor arrived. So far, everything had gone exactly as the wily Egyptian had planned.
Ariamus heard his men talking again, their voices quickly rising and threatening the whole plan. They kept testing his patience. Shifting their feet, they whispered to their neighbors and boasted about what they would do in the coming battle. His hand twitched at his sword, and he resisted the temptation to kill one as a lesson. Half- trained and lacking discipline they might be, but he’d worked with worse, and right now he needed all of them.
“Demons take you all,” he said. “Keep silent!”
Gritting his teeth at the fools who couldn’t keep still, he walked back and forth along the line, hand on his sword, urging them to stay ready, shut their mouths, and look to their mounts. Not that Ariamus cared how much his men twitched and worried, but he didn’t want the horses picking up their riders’ fears and getting spooked.
Two days ago he’d had to kill a slow-witted fool who disobeyed him once too often, and hopefully that memory remained fresh in their minds.
Just so long as they followed orders. Ariamus didn’t care how much they feared the enemy, as long as they feared him more.
Nevertheless, most of these bandits had little experience in attacking battle-hardened men. Fresh from Akkad’s capture, they now fancied themselves fearsome fighters. Almost all had seen some fighting, or raided enough farms and small caravans to convince themselves of their bravery, but Ariamus knew they could never stand against the Alur Meriki. Even facing the soldiers from Akkad, most of this rabble would be dead in moments. Still, Ariamus had more than enough men to do the job, and if he could surprise Bantor, the combination would guarantee victory.
The men’s talking grew louder, and Ariamus turned to see his scout trotting toward them. At least the man, one of Korthac’s subcommanders, had remembered his orders to raise no dust trail and to make sure he wasn’t seen. Ariamus turned back toward his still-mumbling men, and again put his hand on his sword. They fell silent under his glare. The sooner the attack got under way, the better.
“Well, Nebibi, are they coming?” Speaking in the language of the Egyptian, Ariamus didn’t even wait for the man to dismount.
“Yes, Ariamus. They’re but moments behind me. Their horses look weary, and they suspect nothing. All ride with bows slung.”
“You’re sure? No scouts out to the front or flanks?”
“None,” Nebibi replied. “Only a rear guard of three men. They’re trailing a good distance behind the column, but that’s all.”
Ariamus grunted in relief. If he and his men had been spotted..
Korthac had warned him not to challenge the Akkadians’ bows. If Ariamus couldn’t smash them before they could bring their bows into play, he would have to return to Akkad and get more men.
“Good work, Nebibi. Return to your men and make sure they know what to do. Try to keep the fools quiet.” Nebibi had charge of one-third of the men. Rihat, Ariamus’s other subcommander, commanded another third.
“Rihat.” Ariamus called out to his other commander, now speaking in their native tongue. “Get the men ready. They’re almost here.”
Ariamus walked up and down the line one last time, looking each man in the eye, and making sure each knew his orders. The veterans, spread throughout the line, would steady the fools and urge them onward. They lined up the horses almost shoulder to shoulder, with the men standing beside them, waiting. Ariamus could still hear some men whispering. He swore to himself, but said nothing. Anything he did now might spook the horses even more than his men’s talk. Besides, the beasts appeared to have grown used to the incessant chatter.
Nevertheless, now was not the time to take chances. “Nebibi, Rihat, I want absolute silence. Kill the next man who opens his mouth.” Both subcommanders drew their swords, and Ariamus nodded in satisfaction. “Remember, men, we’ll be watching you. Any man who breaks too soon, or disobeys orders, dies on the spot. Now mount up, and ready your weapons.”
Their smiles disappeared, and silence came at last over the group. He smiled in approval at their fear. That fear would drive them forward, which was all he wanted. Destroying Bantor’s force meant everything, and he would take any casualties to accomplish that end. Low sounds of men and horses rippled up and down the line for a few moments, before stillness again fell over the group. Ariamus scanned the line one last time-men, horses, and weapons-they were ready.
Ariamus climbed the low rise, lying flat on the ground to make sure he wouldn’t be seen as he peered through the tall grass. The path Bantor followed remained empty in front of him, no other travelers or dust trails in sight in either direction. He turned his gaze to the south and waited. He checked the sun’s progress and cursed at his enemy’s slow approach. Dusk would be on them in little more than an hour.
At last, the head of the column appeared, as if rising slowly out of the ground. The Akkadians walked their horses two abreast, the men relaxed, talking to each other, their bows slung across their backs. They would be tired, hungry, and thirsty. No doubt all of them looked forward to an evening of food and ale in Akkad.
Behind him he heard the faint whispers of his subcommanders as they kept the men in check, each man attending to his beast, making sure it didn’t whinny at the scent or sound of the approaching horses and men.
No wind blew, and even the occasional breeze came from the south. He counted the men as they appeared, and ended at forty-six, with three more for the rear guard. Ariamus knew that fifty-three men had gone south with that fool Bantor weeks ago. The missing soldiers had probably returned to Akkad earlier or, even more likely, deserted.
He could hear the Akkadians now, the horses plodding along. Ariamus wanted to return to his horse, but he didn’t want to move until the very last moment, to make sure none of his men charged out before the column reached the spot directly in front of them. Ariamus waited those last few moments, then slipped backward down the hill before rising to his feet and walking calmly to his horse. He jerked the halter free and swung onto the animal’s back.
The whole line began to move a little, back and forth, and the animals started pawing the earth and snorting, but it no longer mattered. Ariamus tightened his knees on his horse’s back.
“Attack!” he shouted, and the whole line of his fighters burst into motion. In an instant, they raced up over the top of the rise and charged at the startled column of men in front of them.
Bantor rode with Klexor at the head of the column, while Alexar, another leader of ten, rode behind the column, with the rear guard.
Bantor felt as weary and thirsty as his horse. Earlier in the day, everyone had spoken of getting home, women, warm beds, hot food, and thick ale.
