Nine days later, Yavtar once again guided his boat toward the dock at Akkad, though this time he arrived just after midday instead of the dead of night. He captained a different ship as well, a fine vessel newly purchased, and one of the largest that plied the river. It boasted a bright white sail twice as tall as a man, a long steering oar extending from the stern, and carried a crew of two men and a boy to work the ship. Today Yavtar’s cargo differed as well; instead of grim fighting men and their weapons, he carried passengers and trade goods.
Only a single berthing place stood empty at Akkad’s dock, and another boat, this one coming upriver, also wanted to land. Yavtar’s curses echoed across the rapidly diminishing gap between the two ships, as both captains sought to secure the berth. The two craft nearly collided before the other vessel’s captain yielded, as much to Yavtar’s bellowing as to the Hawk Clan banner flying from the masthead.
The wet oars flashed in the bubbling current as they caught the sunlight, struggling against the river’s force as the boat crept closer to the shore. With one last frantic pull of the oars, Yavtar’s boat slid into the berth, its journey ended.
Yavtar grunted in satisfaction when his new ship bumped against the jetty, safe at last from the river’s motion. One crewman leaped nimbly onto the wharf and fastened the holding ropes fore and aft to the well-worn stanchions. The other crewmen stowed the sail around the mast, clearing the way to unload passengers and cargo.
His latest voyage completed successfully, Yavtar intended to get decently drunk for a few days while he enjoyed the spoils of war. The great battle to liberate Akkad had proved lucrative to the old sailor. He alone of Eskkar’s force had entered Akkad with a well-filled sack of gold, payment received in advance for the use of his ships and for transporting the soldiers. The day after the battle, while most of the soldiers fi lled the alehouses and rejoiced at their victory, Yavtar had visited the countryside, and used his new riches to buy a good-sized farm a few miles outside the city. He then traded one of his two ships, plus a stash of gold and silver coins he’d managed to loot unnoticed from a dead Egyptian in the tower, for the proud craft he now commanded. If nothing else, this war had made Yavtar a wealthy man.
“Safe and sound, a smooth voyage just as I promised,” Yavtar said, his voice brimming with pride.
“So you did, master boatman,” Alexar agreed, standing in the prow of the craft and trying to stay out of the crew’s way. “But I’d rather travel by horseback any day, or even walk.”
“The more fool you, then,” Yavtar said, his smile softening his words.
“I’ll see you tonight at Zenobia’s. You can pay for the wine, too.” He leapt lightly to the dock, and searched for the dockmaster to declare his cargo and complete his business. The crowded dockside bustled with afternoon trading traffic, busier than usual since Korthac’s attempted coup. Yavtar had purchased two dozen sacks of grain while in Bisitun, and he expected to sell them for a good profit, an extra bonus to supplement the generous fee Lord Eskkar offered for the boat’s hire.
Alexar, shaking his head, watched Yavtar disappear into the throng of activity. For a moment he ignored the crowd of idlers enjoying the spectacle of the river and the men working it, and stared at the city wall and gate. From here, no sign of the recent confl ict remained. Already the fighting seemed something from long ago.
Alexar had dwelled in Akkad for the last two years, laboring at any task he could find, and more often than not, going to bed hungry. When the Alur Meriki swept toward the city, he joined Eskkar’s soldiers, as much to secure a steady source of food as to fi ght against the barbarians. To his surprise, Alexar found that soldiering agreed with him; he trained hard and listened to his instructors. In little more than six months, he’d risen from recruit to soldier to leader of ten, and now to the lofty position of commander, one of those reporting directly to Lord Eskkar and a member of the elite Hawk Clan.
Like many of his Hawk Clan brothers, Alexar had wandered through many lands before he settled in Akkad. Now he thought of the city as his home and knew he would never leave its crowded and noisy lanes, always bustling with activity and purpose. Unlike most of the other villages he’d seen, dreary places where most people struggled even to survive, here in Akkad a man could improve his life, plan for the future, and perhaps leave something of himself behind someday. Whatever the coming years might bring, he would follow Eskkar’s path, no matter where it led.
For now, however, Alexar followed Yavtar’s example. He, too, jumped onto the jetty, grateful to feel something solid underfoot, then looked down into the boat to inspect those entrusted to his care.
“Up you go, then,” a crewman said as he guided Lani up onto the narrow plank pushed into place by the ship’s boy and connecting the boat with the shore.
Alexar extended his hand and took Lani’s as she stepped cautiously onto the shifting gangplank.
“Thank you,” Lani said, when she reached the safety of dockside.
Alexar repeated the process for Tippu, who gazed nervously at the rau-cous villagers. After both women disembarked, he relaxed for the fi rst time since leaving Bisitun with his charges, grateful that the voyage had ended.
Alexar’s first assignment after his promotion to commander took him to Bisitun. Eskkar had asked him to escort Lani and her sister to Akkad, as soon as a suitable vessel could be found. The easy errand gave Alexar the chance to rest for a few days. He knew his new duties in Akkad would soon occupy all his time. Eskkar had an army to rebuild and a city to defend, and Alexar knew much would be expected of him.
The two soldiers who’d accompanied him upriver followed the two women ashore, each soldier carrying a large cloth sack that contained the women’s belongings in addition to their own weapons. The ever-helpful crewman leaned over the boat’s side and handed up the last piece of cargo to Alexar: a good-sized cage containing a miserable-looking cat that hissed at its latest indignity. With a prayer of thanks to the river gods for his safe deliverance, Alexar led the little cavalcade off the jetty.
The trip downriver from Bisitun had gone without incident, but it had still taken three days, and Alexar felt anxious to deliver his charges to Eskkar’s house, and start his new duties.
After he finished his commission, Alexar, too, intended to spend the rest of the day and evening drinking wine at Zenobia’s Pleasure House.
For the first time in his life, he had enough gold in his pouch to pay for the exotic services Zenobia’s girls provided. Zenobia had just opened her business when Korthac seized the city, and his Egyptians had commandeered the establishment for their own gratification. Takany, one of Korthac’s commanders, had forced Zenobia to service him, before taking most of the other girls. Alexar found the Egyptian second in command dead in Eskkar’s courtyard, one of Mitrac’s arrows in his belly.
Despite all the chaos, Zenobia had somehow reopened her pleasure house for business the day after Eskkar’s return, after gathering her girls and spending a whole day cleaning her establishment of its “Egyptian stink.” That was the same day the council put Korthac and the other traitors to the torture, and Alexar had commanded the soldiers who guarded the Egyptian. Zenobia, accompanied by three of her girls, had joined the chorus of those denouncing Korthac, though she and her girls would have preferred torturing Takany. One of the girls, a brown-haired beauty named Malika, winked enticingly at the newly promoted Alexar, so that evening he visited Zenobia’s for the first time. Malika kept him awake most of the night, and in the morning he’d barely reached the dock before Yavtar sailed, his pouch considerably lighter after enjoying the good food, fi ne wine, and Malika’s pleasant and energetic company.
Thinking of Malika made him quicken his steps. The sooner he delivered his passengers, the sooner he could avail himself of her services.
On the riverbank, an old woman sat in the shade of the wall and watched the passengers disembark. For two days, Uvela had waited there, observing boats come and go, an agreeable enough assignment from Lady Trella. Uvela’s daughter, Shubure, stopped by occasionally to keep her company. Uvela was proud of Shubure, the very first person in Akkad to acknowledge Trella as the head of Eskkar’s household. Shubure, now pregnant and married to a prosperous shopkeeper, still worked in secret for Lady Trella, gathering information.
Uvela had never met the two women who walked together, holding hands and glancing around in fascination at all the activity. Nevertheless, she recognized the Hawk Clan emblem on Alexar’s shoulder, and knew these must be the passengers Lady Trella sought. Before Alexar and his charges reached the gate, Uvela stood in his path.
“Good day, Commander Alexar,” she said with a bow, her voice qua-vering a little. A scarf struggled to contain the long gray hair that flowed around her head, but her lively eyes more than made up for a weak voice.
“My name is Uvela. Are these the women from Bisitun summoned by Lord Eskkar?”
“Yes, elder,” Alexar replied politely, surprised that anyone at the dock would know his business. “Why do you ask?”
“A place has been prepared for them by Lady Trella. I am to take you there.”
Alexar looked more closely at the woman. He’d never seen her before, but guessed she must be one of the many women working for Lady Trella.
“Then we’ll follow you, elder,” Alexar said, giving her a nod. He trailed Uvela away from the docks, through the rear gate and into the city of Akkad, the women and soldiers following behind.
They wound their way through the narrow lanes, passing the barracks area before moving into the better quarter of the city, toward Eskkar’s house. As they drew closer, Alexar thought Uvela intended to take them to Eskkar’s home. But a few doors away, the old woman turned left instead of right, and passed into a walled courtyard.
A bored young soldier stood guard a step inside the narrow gate. He smiled at Uvela, then straightened up and greeted Alexar respectfully when he recognized him. They entered a private garden scented with jasmine, and scarcely big enough to hold all six of them. Despite the diminu-tive garden, Alexar knew this must be one of the better houses in the city.
He didn’t see a private well, but that minor inconvenience didn’t detract from the house. In this part of Akkad, with living quarters scarce and expensive, his charges would enjoy pleasant surroundings.
Alexar put down the cage and dismissed his men; he escorted Lani and Tippu inside, carrying their possessions himself, and depositing their sacks in the chamber Uvela indicated. The residence, a medium-sized, single-story structure, enclosed four small bedrooms set off from a comfortable-sized communal room.
“Good-bye, Lani, Tippu,” he said. “I must report to Lord Eskkar.”
“My sister and I thank you for your help, Alexar,” Lani said. “You have been more than kind. May the gods keep you in their favor.”
“Lord Eskkar is not in the city,” Uvela offered. “But at this hour Captain Gatus should still be at the council house.”
“Then I will find him there.” Alexar bowed to all of them and disappeared into the garden.
“These two will be your rooms,” Uvela began as soon as Alexar left, indicating two adjoining rooms farthest away from the kitchen area. “I suggest you take the larger one, Lani.”
So Uvela knew who Eskkar had chosen. Lani wondered what else the people here knew about her and Tippu.
“This house is owned by Lady Trella,” Uvela went on, “and is reserved for important visitors and guests. One room is vacant, and the other is occupied by a trader from the south. He will be leaving in a few days, so you should have the house to yourselves. Lady Trella asked me to meet your boat, bring you here, and help with whatever you need.”
“You are most kind, Uvela,” Lani answered courteously, “but what we both need more than anything is a bath, if such a thing is possible. We have been journeying in the company of men for more than three days.”
Uvela nodded her understanding. Traveling for women remained a difficult and dangerous task, even by river. “It’s best to bathe in the Tigris.”
She gathered up two blankets from a small table next to the bed. “Leave your things here. They will be safe. The guard is always here, and no thief would touch the property of Lord Eskkar. Follow me.”
“The cat,” Lani said, “Lord Eskkar said to bring the animal. Can we get food and water for the poor creature? It’s been caged up the whole trip.”
Uvela nodded. “I’ll tell the guard. But it might be better to keep it in the cage for a few more days, until it gets used to its new surroundings and learns its new home.” She told the guard what was needed, and they left the garden.
As the three women walked back toward the river gate, Lani looked about at the crowded lanes, fi lled with people and animals, all busy about their own business. She’d never seen a city so large. “How many people live here, elder?”
“They say almost five thousand now,” Uvela answered, moving steadily through the throngs.
Lani wanted to know more about Akkad, but that could wait until later. “How long have you served Lady Trella?”
“Since she first came to live here, Lani. It was called Orak then. My husband died, my only granddaughter fell ill, and we had nothing to pay a healer. We couldn’t even feed ourselves. Lady Trella sent a healer to us and paid the bill herself. Thanks to her, my granddaughter recovered.”
“Lady Trella must be a great lady. Does she help many in the city?”
Uvela slowed and turned to meet Lani’s eyes. “She looks after those who are her friends. Those she dislikes find it better to leave.”
Plain enough, Lani decided, but she had one more question. “And where is Lord Eskkar today?”
“Lord Eskkar rode out with some soldiers this morning.” Uvela saw the disappointment on Lani’s face, and softened her next words. “I don’t know where he is, but I think he’s expected back tonight or tomorrow.”
Lani felt her sister’s hand tighten. It took only a glance at Tippu to know what she wanted. “Uvela, do you know anything about Grond, Lord Eskkar’s guard? My sister… We heard he was wounded in the fighting.”
Alexar had known of Grond’s wounds, but could only tell Tippu that Grond was still alive when he left for Bisitun.
Uvela saw the look of worry on Tippu’s face. “Grond lost much blood, but he is recovering from his wounds. The healer said Grond would heal faster away from the city, so Lord Eskkar had him carried to Noble Rebba’s farm to recover. It’s just a short distance from the city,” Uvela added, “and I’m sure you can visit him tomorrow, if you like.”
“Thank you,” Tippu said, the relief plain in her voice, but her hand still clutched Lani’s.
By then they had returned to the river gate. Once past it, Uvela turned to the left, away from the crowded docks, and guided the women about two hundred paces downriver. The Tigris turned in here, out of sight of the docks, and an eddy pool, bounded with hedges that marked the women’s area, provided a somewhat private place to bathe. A half-dozen women stood in the water, washing themselves, their children, and even some clothes. No one took any particular notice of Uvela or her companions.
Leaving Uvela on the bank, Lani and Tippu disrobed and entered the water. Both girls could swim, but heeding Uvela’s warning, they stayed close to the riverbank and within the eddy pool. When they finished cleaning themselves, Uvela helped rub them dry with the blankets.
After the sisters dressed, Uvela guided them back to the house. Lani realized she could never have found the place by herself. Her mind couldn’t comprehend Akkad’s size in such a short time.
“You both should remain inside, until you are summoned,” Uvela said.
“I will return shortly.” The old woman left, stopping at the gate to speak to the guard.
So they would be summoned. Lani expected it. Wherever Eskkar might be, Lani realized that she and her sister were in Lady Trella’s power.
For weeks she had asked everyone she met about Akkad, Eskkar, and, of course, Trella. All accounted Trella as being a fair and decent woman, and more than a few depicted her as the city’s real ruler.
And soon Lani, Eskkar’s new concubine, would be presented to the second most powerful person in the city. Lani did not think she would be welcomed with open arms by her lover’s wife.
Nevertheless, she and Tippu made good use of their time. Vigorous toweling with another set of blankets Lani found within the house dried their hair, and Tippu used the big wooden comb to arrange her sister’s soft brown tresses. Lani clothed herself in her best gown, the one she had worn the first night for Eskkar.
From her bag Lani extracted her pot of ochre, and she and Tippu took turns applying the stain to their eyes. Another vial provided perfume for each, and a small sachet held a store of mint leaves that they both chewed to sweeten their breath. Lani added a simple ring to each hand, and a single gold pin in her hair.
Tippu examined her sister and proclaimed her ready. As for Tippu, she needed little artifice to enhance her own beauty.
They fi nished their preparations just as they heard Uvela’s voice outside, speaking to the guard. Lani saw the look of fear in Tippu’s eyes.
“Don’t worry, Tippu,” Lani said. “Whatever happens, Eskkar will see you safely to Grond.”
“And you? What will happen to you?”
“Whatever is meant to happen,” Lani answered, trying to sound more confident than she felt. “Remember, Eskkar sent for us.”
By then Uvela had entered their room. “Lady Trella wishes to see you both,” Uvela said. “I’ll take you there.”
Lani didn’t know what to say, so she forced a smile to her lips.
As they stepped into the lane, every man’s eyes turned toward them, admiring their beauty and wondering who these unfamiliar women might be. It took only a few steps before they reached the courtyard of Trella’s home. Lani could not help but be impressed at the size of the house, almost hidden behind a wall taller than her own height. Two soldiers guarded the big wooden gate. Freshly painted and decorated, it swung open for them, and they passed into an expansive courtyard that seemed large enough to hold half a hundred people.
Uvela gestured them toward the main house. They entered into a large communal room, empty now, except for two servants who stared curiously at them. Lani looked in wonder at the stairs that led to the upper chambers. She’d never entered a house with a second story.
Single file, Lani and Tippu followed Uvela up those stairs and into a spacious and well-ventilated room that held two beautifully carved tables and a half-dozen chairs. Three walls showed fresh plaster, a soft white color that soothed the eyes, while the fourth wall, with its door leading to another room, had been colored a pale blue. Two women sat behind the larger table, their backs to the second doorway, waiting.
For a brief moment, Lani could not trust her eyes. The dark-haired girl looked so young that Lani found it hard to believe this was Lady Trella.
She didn’t even look as old as Tippu.
Lady Trella wore only a silver fillet to hold back her hair, but her dress boasted a soft weave as fine as the one Lani wore, a deep crimson that complimented Trella’s hair and skin. She wore no makeup of any kind, no rings or bracelets. But her tresses had been combed and brushed into a lustrous wave that cascaded about her shoulders and onto her full breasts.
Trella stood as the three women approached the table.
“My thanks to you, Uvela. You have done well. Please wait downstairs.”
Trella sat back down, but did not offer chairs to her guests. Lani realized the gesture of respect had been intended for Uvela, not as a greeting to her visitors. Trella’s voice surprised Lani. Not the voice of a girl but of a woman full grown, one with the force and habit of command.
Uvela left the room, closing the door behind her.
Lani felt Trella’s gaze upon her. Akkad’s ruler took her time, examin-ing Lani at length before she turned to study Tippu, an inspection that lasted only a few moments. Trella returned her eyes to Lani. “You are Lani, from Bisitun?”
Lani bowed respectfully. “Yes, Lady Trella, and this is my sister, Tippu.
May we give thanks to you for the rooms you provided?”
For the first time Lani looked directly into Trella’s eyes, and Lani saw this was no mere girl who faced her. Trella’s face revealed no trace of emotion. Instead Lani saw strength there, and power, but no hint of what she might be thinking. And whatever Trella’s age might be, her eyes announced that she saw everything, knew everything.
Trella ignored the polite question. “This is my friend and advisor, Annok-sur. She is also the wife of Bantor, commander of the gate.” Annok-sur did not stand, but nodded her head the slightest amount. “She is still recovering from a wound she received in the struggle.”
Bowing to Annok-sur, Lani saw no kindness there, only determination and toughness. She recalled the story she had heard from Alexar about the fighting that had taken place in this house, in this very room. Annok-sur, too, had fought against the usurper. Lani looked around for any signs of the struggle, but nothing remained. Still, Korthac had been wounded and taken captive right in this very spot. “I heard there was a great fi ght in the house of Eskkar. Alexar said that Lady Trella was also injured?”
Trella smiled briefly. “Yes. It is twice now that I have been stabbed since I came to Akkad. Soon I will have as many scars on my body as Eskkar.”
Lani saw no sign of any wound, but Trella’s loose-fitting gown revealed little, though she did look a bit pale. Alexar had mentioned that Lady Trella had lost a lot of blood during the birthing, in addition to the wound. Still, the battle had ended ten days ago, and both women had time to heal. Lani started to speak, but the soft cry of a baby in another room interrupted her.
Annok-sur rose from her seat, wincing as she did so. “I’ll tend the child, Lady Trella.” She passed behind Trella’s chair and went into the other room.
“May I offer felicitations on the birth of your son, Lady Trella?”
Trella acknowledged the compliment with another brief smile. “Sargon grows in strength each day. He will bring honor to his father, I am sure.” For a moment she turned toward the inner room, but the crying stopped, so she again faced the two sisters.
“Eskkar has told me the story of your plight, Lani, and you, Tippu,” she said, acknowledging the younger sister for the first time. “You both have suffered much at the hands of villains, and I’m glad Eskkar was able to release you from your captivity.”
Lani lowered her eyes at the mention of her past but quickly lifted them again. “Lord Eskkar freed us from… our captor, and protected us from the wrath of the villagers. We owe him our lives.”
“You seemed to have repaid him well enough, Lani. I learned of your … activities weeks ago.”
Lani lifted her head a little higher. “I do not regret what I have done, Lady Trella. Lord Eskkar had fought a hard battle. He needed someone to look after him and take charge of his household. It is not so strange that he should want a woman to comfort him.”
Trella sighed and pursed her lips for a moment. “A woman to comfort him I can understand, Lani. But somehow you managed to do more than that. Not to mention that you saved his life.”
So Trella knew about the fight in Bisitun. Lani shook her head. “It was little enough that I did, Lady Trella. I fell to the ground and one of his attackers tripped over me.”
“Eskkar described it somewhat differently. And he also told me that he cared for you.”
A thrill went through Lani at the words. “As I care for him, Lady Trella.
He saved more than our lives.” Lani bit her lip, then decided she might as well say everything on her mind. “You are the one he loves, Lady Trella.
The moment he heard that you might be in danger, he had no thoughts for me or anyone else.” She paused. “He has never told me that he loves me.”
“And what do you feel toward my husband, Lani? Do you merely seek his protection? Perhaps you just wanted someone to comfort you in the night? Or do you love him?”
“When I was with Ninazu, I swore that if I escaped somehow, I would never let a man touch me again. When the soldiers came and I pleaded for mercy, Lord Eskkar looked at me, the way any man looks at a woman. But instead of taking me or Tippu, or giving us to his men, he put his protection around us. That surprised me, Lady Trella, that a great warrior could want someone, but not take advantage of our weakness. So I went to him, just to serve him, and… he was tired and dirty… and somehow I knew he was different… from the others.”
Her voice trailed off, and Lani realized she had avoided answering Trella’s question. She lifted her chin and spoke firmly. “Yes, Lady Trella, I do love your husband.”
She watched Trella shake her head, as if in disbelief, but then Trella smiled, and for the first time her face showed the warmth of a young woman.
“A man should be more than just an animal. Isn’t that right, Lani?”
Lani felt confused, both by Trella’s smile and her strange words. “I do not understand, Lady Trella. I…”
“No, of course not. But I do understand, Lani. I once had much the same feelings toward Eskkar myself. I think it’s the barbarian in him that appeals to women. The savage horse fighters apparently honor and respect their women more than city dwellers, who seem to be crueler and harsher to us than any barbarian.”
Annok-sur slipped back into the room, partially closing the inner door so that the conversation would not wake the child. “Sargon is asleep, Trella, but I think he will need to nurse again soon.” She stared at Lani, but said nothing.
Trella’s eyes brightened at the thought of feeding her child. “We will be finished soon, Annok-sur.” Then she turned to Lani again. “Do you have any children, Lani?”
The question caught Lani by surprise. “No, Lady Trella. Ishtar has never blessed me with a child, though I sacrificed to her often when.. when I was married.”
“Perhaps the fault was with your husband,” Trella offered.
Lani’s eyes widened. The scandalous words could never be said in front of a man. Every husband knew that if a woman didn’t conceive a child, it was her fault.
“No, I was his second wife. His first wife died in childbirth, and the babe was lost.” Then Lani understood. Trella wanted to know if she might be carrying Eskkar’s child. “I carry no child, Lady Trella. The moon has risen for me since Lord Eskkar left Bisitun.”
Trella said nothing, just sat there for a long moment, staring down at the table. When she spoke, her voice took on a gentler tone. “I am sorry to have kept you standing, Lani, and you, too, Tippu. You must both be tired after your long voyage. Please sit down.” She turned to Annok-sur. “Give our guests some wine, Annok-sur, and a small cup for me.”
The other table held two pitchers and a half-dozen dark green glass goblets.
Lani and Tippu glanced at each other, then took seats across the table from Trella. Something must have satisfied Trella, Lani decided. Servants and inferiors stood in the presence of their betters. Annok-sur poured wine into a pair of goblets, diluted them with water, and handed them to Lani and her sister, before pouring a third glass for Trella.
“Welcome to Akkad, Lani… Tippu,” Trella said, her voice low.
Lani looked down at the dark wine glinting in the green glass, and wondered if it contained poison. She saw Tippu’s hand trembling with the same thought. Trella had not raised her glass. Still, Lani had no choice, not really. If Lady Trella wished them both dead, they would die, one way or another.
Lani lifted the glass to her hostess. “To Akkad,” and drank deeply, emptying half the contents before she put the goblet back on the table.
Tippu watched her for a moment, then took a small sip from her own glass.
“Drink up, Tippu,” Lani said. “The wine is very good.”
“You do not fear poison, then?” Trella asked drily.
“No, Lady Trella. If you wish to kill me, then I am in your power and at your mercy. But I would remind you that my sister has done nothing to offend you.”
“You are both safe, Lani, though I must admit there were nights when I was jealous of my husband in your arms. Would you like to know what I did about it?”
“Did about it? I don’t understand?”
“No, you could not. As soon as I learned you were more than a casual bed partner and that Eskkar was growing attached to you, I sent a rider to your birthplace. I wanted to learn about you. The rider returned only three days ago. Do you know what he told me?”
“I… My land is very far away. How could you send… I don’t know what to say, Lady Trella.”
“He reported to me that your husband was an honorable man of a respected family, and that you were reputed to be a good and decent wife, who prayed each day at Ishtar’s feet for a child. Your whole village mourned when they heard of Namtar’s death and your capture. They thought you dead as well.”
The mention of her husband’s name sent a tremor through Lani’s body. Then she understood the full import of Trella’s words. This girl had dispatched a rider on a long and dangerous journey of nearly three hundred miles, simply to gather information. All this at the merest hint of a rival for her husband’s affections.
For the first time Lani realized that all she had heard about Trella must be true, that the ruler of Akkad had sharp wits and would be dangerous to offend. More important, she had the power to do whatever she wished, even to send forth a man on such a difficult errand. Lani recalled how easily Alexar had turned her and her sister over to Trella’s woman.
He had done it without question, so certain of her authority.
“And I’ve spoken to many from Bisitun about you, Lani,” Trella went on when Lani didn’t answer. “You are important to my husband, so I needed to learn as much about you as I could.” Trella paused for a moment, giving Lani time to comprehend. “Now I have some questions for you, Lani. And let me say that Eskkar and I have spoken much about you, and he asked me to make whatever arrangements for you that I saw fit.”
Lani nodded her head in understanding. As soon as Alexar turned her over to Trella’s woman, she knew her fate rested in Trella’s hands, not Eskkar’s. He had risked his life to rescue his wife and his newborn son. He wasn’t likely to offend her now, not over some captive, ill used by Ninazu for his amusement.
“So, what is it you wish to do now that you are in Akkad? Would you have me find you a new husband? There are many good men in Akkad who would look with favor on you, and you could have your pick of several.
Or do you want to live by yourself for a time? That, too, can be arranged.
Eskkar has set aside enough gold for you to do whatever you choose.”
Gold meant freedom, protection, even for two women alone. Lani could get a house, servants… she could choose her own life. It sounded too good to be true, and yet…
Trella waited a moment, but Lani said nothing. “Or do you wish to remain as Eskkar’s concubine?”
Lani didn’t hesitate. “Lady Trella, if I could be permitted to remain as Lord Eskkar’s concubine, I would pay anything, do anything..”
“There is nothing to pay, Lani, and the gold is yours already. However, there are rules if you are to be his concubine. So you must think hard about this.”
Trella leaned forward, and her voice took on a harder edge. “There must be no issue from your womb, Lani. If you become with child, you must take the herbs to force the child from your body. If that fails, and a boy is born, you must give it up. Sargon is to be the only heir to his father.”
She waited for Lani to speak.
“That is very hard, Lady Trella.” Lani felt the tears start and bit her lip to stop them. She would not cry in front of this girl. “But I do not think I will conceive…”
“No, Lani, that is not what you must say,” Trella cut in, her voice firm.
“You will not be a wife, and there will not be a son. You must agree to that.
If you hope for a child of your own, then you must give up Eskkar and seek another man to father it.”
The tears started, and this time Lani couldn’t stop them. To never have a child was a terrible curse for a woman. The only thing worse than such an evil would be to give a child away.
She looked up at Trella, surprised to see sadness and sympathy in her eyes. Trella had just delivered her own baby, and knew what she asked. But Lani hesitated only a moment.
“I will take the herbs, Lady Trella. If I bear a son, I will give him up.”
“I am sorry to do this to you, Lani, but I must. Sargon needs protection, as do Eskkar and I. As will you, if you are to be his companion. We still have many enemies. You must swear to do all that you can to protect and serve all three of us.”
“What can I do to protect you and Eskkar?” Lani heard the confusion in her voice. How could she do anything to protect anyone?
“More than you realize, Lani. Much is at stake here, too much to tell you about now. But you know we barely survived a siege by the barbarians, and then this attempt by Korthac to kill us all and seize control of Akkad.
There will be more such strife in the future, and I… we will need all the help we can find.”
“I will do whatever you ask, whatever I can to protect all of you. What else must I do?”
“As Eskkar’s concubine, you will see no other man, only him. And you will only see him once or twice a week, or when the moon does not permit me to be with him. Your role will be to share pleasure with him, to soothe and comfort his body, and ease his mind. I love him too much to give up more of his spirit.”
So Lani would become a consort, a pleasure girl, little better than a hired prostitute or slave, whose only business would be to please and satisfy her lover. It would be a bittersweet role to play. Trella would be his wife, his lover, his companion, the mother of his children. Lani would be almost nothing, have nothing.
Trella saw the struggle in Lani’s eyes and leaned forward across the table. “You do not need to accept this, Lani. I know this is very hard to bear. All I can say is that, if you do accept, you will be helping Eskkar and myself. If this role becomes too difficult, you can stop being his concubine, and we will find another place for you, another task, or a husband of your own.”
Lani heard the words. More important, she realized that, for some unknown reason, Trella wanted Lani to agree to this, wanted her to continue as Eskkar’s concubine. It must mean a great deal to Trella, though Lani didn’t understand why. She could turn down this role, but that thought was too awful to bear. Lani remembered the pain in her breast as Eskkar sailed away from Bisitun, likely going to his death. She’d been willing to kill herself at that moment, rather than face life without him. At least this would be better than that fate. And if it helped Eskkar…
“I will do whatever you ask. I will be his concubine, if he so chooses.”
The words came out almost without volition. Lani’s love for Eskkar gave her no choice. She watched Trella lean back in her seat, a hint of fatigue in her face. Lani remembered that in the last few days, this girl had delivered a baby practically in the midst of a battle, been wounded, and then had to fight to save her own life and the life of her child.
“Then I’m glad you’re here, Lani. I welcome you to Eskkar’s household. There will be much for you to do, and much to learn. We will speak often in the coming days. Go now and rest. Tonight, when Eskkar returns from the countryside, I will send him to you. Now, dry your eyes.”
Lani’s tears came without stopping. She felt Tippu’s arm around her shoulders, but still Lani found it difficult to stand.
Trella turned to Annok-sur. “Can you help her, while I attend to Sargon?”
Annok-sur arose and took a square of linen from her dress. “Your eyes are very beautiful, Lani,” she said, her voice surprisingly gentle, the hardness gone from her face. “Your tears will spoil your eye coloring.” She dabbed gently at Lani’s cheeks. “I’ll take you back to Uvela.”
Somehow Lani got to her feet and let herself be escorted to the door.
Blurred by tears, her eyes refused to focus properly. She had to hold on to Annok-sur’s arm to make sure she did not fall going down the stairs, Tippu following anxiously behind them. Lani struggled to hold back most of her tears until they left the house, keeping only one thought in her mind-that Eskkar would come to her bed tonight, and that once again she would be safe in his arms.
Trella sighed when the door closed. She regretted hurting someone like that, a good woman who had done nothing wrong, but it needed to be done. From her own sources, from Eskkar, and from what she had just seen, she realized that Lani possessed a strong mind, with wits sharp enough to see what the future would bring.
Trella didn’t like sharing Eskkar’s affections, but anyone could see that Lani loved Eskkar, and Trella saw just as clearly that Eskkar possessed more than a little love for Lani, even if, as she claimed, he had never said the words.
In the coming days, as Lani learned more about the ever-present dangers that surrounded them all, Trella knew Lani would do everything in her power to protect Eskkar, and that would soon include Trella and the child. In a few months Lani would become a firm supporter of Eskkar’s House, and she would be useful in many other ways. Eskkar had told her about Lani’s skills in running the household, and of her suggestion that he use the river to return to Akkad. And for that alone, Trella might owe Lani her own life, and the life of her child. Another few days delay in reaching Akkad, and Korthac might never have been toppled.
After a time, Lani might even tire of being Eskkar’s concubine. Still young, she would want children of her own. When that day came, Trella would make sure the right man stood beside her, someone who could give Lani the happiness she deserved. But until that day, Lani would join with Annok-sur, Gatus, Bantor, and even Corio and Nicar, and others, all those who depended on Eskkar’s continuing reign over Akkad.
Lani would fit in well with Trella’s plans. There were few enough Trella could trust, and she had to make the most of each of them. She searched constantly for sharp-witted women like Lani who could think for themselves. En-hedu gave promise to be another such one, and Trella had already worked out a new role for her and Tammuz.
And it would be good for Eskkar to have another woman once in a while. A strong and powerful man, her father used to say, needed more than one woman anyway. But in the future, Trella would ensure Eskkar took only women that she approved of, pliable ones that she could bend to her will. She would speak with Zenobia about supplying just the right kind of woman every few months. Empty vessels, her father called them-women with beauty but few wits, docile and easily forgotten. Men of power or wealth always found themselves sought after by every woman eager to expand her own prestige or influence. With Lani, this would never happen, because her only goal would be to make Eskkar happy, and Eskkar could be truly happy only with his wife and son.
So even Lani would help bring about Trella’s vision of the future, the future that Trella and Eskkar would build for their son, Sargon. Five years, she decided. In five years, their position would be secure. Akkad would grow great and powerful, and everyone in these lands would attribute their wealth and safety to Eskkar. The expansion and consolidation of all the farms and villages between Akkad and Bisitun would hasten that process, and all would benefit from the new prosperity and security. With a code of laws established and honestly enforced, the people would soon forget the old and confusing days when powerful merchants ruled unchecked. More than half the city’s inhabitants had arrived within the last year, and had little connection to the old days.
Five years from now, everyone would have forgotten about Eskkar’s barbarian origin and her own days as a slave. The people of the city would look to Sargon as their future ruler, one of their own and born in Akkad.
When that day finally arrived, she and Sargon would be safe, surrounded by the new and still-unraised walls and hundreds, no, thousands of soldiers to protect them.
From the other room, she heard the baby crying. She stood, stretching her back, and went into the bedroom. She took the mewing child from its cradle, ignoring the pain in her side as she bent over to lift him, and sat down on the bed. Trella slipped one arm out of her dress, wiped the tears from Sargon’s eyes, and let the boy nurse, enjoying the feel of him against her breast as the milk began to flow. She gently rocked back and forth, thinking about his future.
Tonight she would be alone with Sargon, and she would spend the time resting and talking to her son. Tonight Eskkar would be with another woman, but he would return to her in the morning. With a certainty that she couldn’t understand, she knew he would always come back to her.
They had been through too much together, had fought and bled together.
The gods had interwoven their life-strands, created an alliance between them stronger than any bonds of family, friendship, or even the marriage bed. The road ahead might be perilous and uncertain, but their spirits and blood had strengthened the very walls of Akkad, and nothing could separate them, either from each other or from their fates. She and Eskkar would rule together, or not at all.
She smiled at the suckling child and leaned down to kiss his head.
The helpless infant in her arms would reign one day, perhaps over an even greater expanse than Trella could envision. More important, Sargon would carry their blood down through the ages yet to come. She’d seen the look in her husband’s eyes when he held their child. The boy’s birth had changed Eskkar yet again, made him stronger, even as it drew him closer to her. And that was as it should be. Eskkar had risked his life for her and their son, and she knew their love for each other remained strong. She would give up one or two nights each week to ensure her husband’s love and affections went no further.
Thus she reasoned with herself, though she suspected that, in the darkness, she would awake alone and wish Eskkar back in her arms. But the morning would come, Eskkar would return, and the new day, and those that followed, would find them together.