The noonday sun shone straight down on Bisitun before Eskkar sat down for the first time. He stretched weary legs straight out and let himself relax for a moment. Since the sunrise capture of Ninazu, Eskkar and his men had rushed about the village, scarcely pausing to scoop a cup of water or a fistful of bread. Chaos ruled all morning, with a hundred tasks demanding his attention.
While Sisuthros worked on securing the village, Eskkar rounded up every horse he could find and put them under guard. Mounted Akkadians already ringed the palisade to make sure no bandits escaped. Sentries stood watch at the two gates as well, while the rest of Eskkar’s men guarded prisoners.
Eskkar had escorted Ninazu, his arms bound tightly to his sides, back to his own house. The sight of the bandit leader being led through the lanes helped restore order to the village. Once there, Eskkar ordered one of Ninazu’s legs broken, to make sure he didn’t attempt to escape.
Meanwhile Hamati took a squad of men and searched every house and hut, looking for bandits trying to hide within the dwellings or on rooftops.
That took most of the morning. When they finished, they’d discovered and captured nearly a dozen more of Ninazu’s men scattered through Bisitun, cowering in corners or huddled under blankets. One bandit attempted to fi ght his way out, killing an innocent villager in the process. Mitrac killed the bandit with an arrow when he refused to surrender.
By midmorning Eskkar felt satisfied his men had captured or killed all of Ninazu’s men. Gradually a sense of relief settled over the village.
The women stopped their screaming, the men their cursing. Still, most of Bisitun’s frightened inhabitants stayed in their huts, wondering what new woes these Akkadians from the south would bring to them.
Eskkar dispatched men to locate and gather the village elders and leading merchants, though few enough of them remained. At the same time, three messengers on captured horses rode out into the countryside, to spread the word of Ninazu’s overthrow and bring in the more substan-tial farmers, so that everyone could see what Bisitun’s new leaders had accomplished.
As the populace realized they would not be pillaged and raped, they gathered their courage and headed for the market area, empty except for Eskkar’s men and a few horses. In prosperous times, it would be filled with carts selling all manner of crops, animals, and goods, but for most of the morning, not a cart, vendor, not even a beggar, could be seen.
The marketplace, an irregular rectangle formed by dwellings of every shape and height, was accessed by half a dozen crooked lanes. That left plenty of room for the inhabitants, and soon more than a hundred people filled the square. To Eskkar’s eyes, they looked little better than the inhabitants of Dilgarth. Though surrounded by fruitful farmlands, food remained scarce in Bisitun, with Ninazu’s men taking most of what the local farmers delivered. Many villagers showed bruises on their thin bodies, marks from the bandit’s brutal treatment. Most wore simple tunics that needed washing. Only a few possessed sandals, though Eskkar recalled that almost all of Ninazu’s men had worn them.
The demands for vengeance against Ninazu and his followers mounted, with the village’s women shouting the loudest. Dozens, raped by the bandits, their husbands murdered, or both, cried out for Ninazu’s blood. Those outcries only stopped when Eskkar assured everyone that punishment would be meted out soon. Then the villagers pleaded for food. Ninazu hadn’t bothered to secure enough provisions for the siege, and most of what he had stored went to his men, with little left over for Bisitun. Fortunately, the handful of dead horses would provide a decent meal to most. Eskkar dispatched more riders to the countryside, to let the farmers know they could once again bring in their crops with safety, while receiving a fair price.
By noon Eskkar’s men patrolled the streets and lanes, the gates stood closed and guarded, and villagers labored to repair the burned-out section of the palisade. Fifty-seven of Ninazu’s followers had died, and forty-one taken prisoner. Some of these, the least violent and most tractable, would become slaves. With the mark of Akkad branded on their foreheads, they would live out the rest of their lives working in the fi elds and canals. The rest would be killed.
No one, including Eskkar, felt the slightest sympathy for any of them.
They’d chosen to live by the sword at the expense of their neighbors. The captured bandits deserved a sentence of slavery, if for nothing else than to make amends for their crimes.
Another thirty or more bandits had slipped away in the confusion.
Eskkar’s men had reported hearing splashes in the river, so no doubt many had risked their hand at swimming. Those that made it across the river would offer no threat to Bisitun for quite some time. One or two might still be hiding within the village, but Eskkar’s men would soon discover any that remained.
Surprisingly, Eskkar had lost only six men in the fighting. Two of those had climbed the palisade with Eskkar. Sisuthros had lost the others repulsing Ninazu’s sortie or storming the gate. Eight more had taken wounds, but with luck would survive. To the soldiers of Akkad, it seemed an incredible accomplishment. Outnumbered, and with minimal losses, they had defeated an entrenched and determined enemy in the space of a few hours. Eskkar’s reputation among the soldiers as a canny leader who cared about his men grew even greater.
The inhabitants of Bisitun appeared as impressed. Ninazu had lied to them, told them that the Akkadians would kill everyone in the village, just as he’d told them that the village couldn’t be taken.
Eskkar and Sisuthros had plenty of work to do. The scribes arrived from the encampment, and set about making lists of those villagers killed or robbed by Ninazu and his men. Eskkar sent a rider to Akkad to inform Trella and Gatus that Bisitun had been freed. He spoke with more than a dozen men imprisoned by Ninazu, and released all of them. Using one of the scribes, Eskkar made an account of the loot found at Ninazu’s house.
The bandit leader had taken over the largest structure in Bisitun for his residence, and Eskkar saw no reason to let it go to waste, claiming it as his headquarters.
The villagers, organized in small parties, began to bury the dead and repair the damage caused by the fighting. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until midday that Eskkar felt confident enough to order everyone to the market square to hear his words. If so many villagers hadn’t been killed or driven out, the square could never have accommodated them. Even then, the rooftops seemed as crowded as the streets.
Eskkar hated giving speeches, but the people of Bisitun needed to hear and see him. But they, like the villagers in Dilgarth, needed to know who he was, why he’d come, and what their role would be in the future.
When he looked over the crowd, he saw shock and fear still gripped most of them. The crowd quieted when he climbed on a cart and raised his hand, as the soldiers ringing the square called out for everyone to keep quiet. He waited impassively until the chattering turned into murmurs, then into silence.
In a loud voice, Eskkar announced that Bisitun had come under the rule and protection of Akkad, and that from this day, Sisuthros would command here in Akkad’s name. A new village council, to include craftsmen and farmers as well as merchants, would be established to handle local matters, including justice for the bandits and their victims. The same customs governing Akkad would be established here, and would apply equally to all, just as they did in Akkad.
“What are these new customs?” a voice in the crowd shouted out.
“The council,” Eskkar said, raising his hand for silence, “will set the prices of grain and other goods. The council will also set the penalties for crimes, from theft to murder. The council will decide what rules the people in Bisitun need, and those rules will apply to everyone in the village and the surrounding farms, including the members of the council. Persons who feel themselves treated unjustly can appeal first to the council, and then to Sisuthros. He will decide anything of import, or, if he thinks necessary, Sisuthros can refer the matter to me and the council back in Akkad for a final decision. You will be governed justly and fairly.”
The villagers looked at each other, no doubt wondering what that really meant, but a few cheered at Eskkar’s announcement.
“The new customs,” Eskkar added, “apply to my own soldiers. They’ve received strict instructions to take no liberties with the local people. Starting now, Sisuthros will provide soldiers for protection not only of the village, but enough to begin regular patrols of the surrounding farms. More soldiers and craftsmen will arrive from Akkad over the next few months, to strengthen the palisade and provide more security. Restoration of the farms to their rightful owners, and assistance with the canals and irrigation will be given the fi rst priority. Taxes, in the form of goods, will be sent to Akkad on a regular basis, to pay for the protection and safety Akkad will supply.”
Eskkar didn’t speak long, just expanded on the same speech he’d given in Dilgarth only a few days ago. He turned the crowd over to Sisuthros, leaving him to take the brunt of the inhabitants’ questions. Hours passed.
Sisuthros explained the new ways of Akkad in detail, interrupted constantly to answer question after question. He had trouble keeping the crowd under control at first, but when everyone realized their voice would be heard, they quieted somewhat and learned to raise their hands when they wished to be heard.
Sisuthros consulted with the local people and tradesmen, as well as the few farmers who had taken shelter within Bisitun. He took nomina-tions for the council, and promised to begin the distribution of stolen lands and goods tomorrow morning. When he finished, he dismissed the villagers and told them to return to their homes or farms. Then, ignoring the pleas and questions that still lingered, he gathered those who would become the council of elders and departed for one of the houses a little way off the square.
Eskkar breathed a sigh of relief as he watched them go, most of the crowd following after Sisuthros. He and Grond entered Ninazu’s former home. Someone had stocked the table with food and drink, and the two men emptied their water cups even before they sat. Until now, there’d been little time to eat or rest since the attack began the night before.
“By the gods, I’m glad that’s over!” Grond said, as he banged down his cup. “I thought the questions would never stop.”
Eskkar laughed. “They won’t. Not for a few weeks at least.” He refilled his cup from the pitcher. “If they’re anything like the people of Akkad, they’ll drive Sisuthros crazy with their complaints and quarrels.”
“I still can’t believe how quickly Ninazu’s men collapsed,” Grond said, shaking his head and yawning. “It’s going to take a day or two before everything calms down.”
“Longer than that,” Eskkar said, lifting his feet onto the table. “Remember, we have to settle the countryside as well as the village. We need those crops in the ground as soon as possible.”
In the last few months Eskkar had learned all about the mysteries of the farm. Now he understood that real wealth flowed from the crops in the fields, that gold merely transferred that wealth from one person to another.
When the farms produced in plenty, gold would flow into Bisitun and Akkad. However, without the farms, there would be little gold, no trade, and no prosperity.
The talk died out as the two men picked at the food spread before them. There was wine and bread, as well as cheese, dates, and honey. Ninazu had stocked his house well, with luxuries long absent from the villagers’ tables. Eskkar mixed a splash of wine in with his water. The long night had tired him more than he would admit, and he didn’t trust himself with too much strong drink.
He looked up when two women entered the room, passed in by the Hawk Clan guard who stood at the door. One carried a large wooden platter holding half a dozen slices of roasted horsemeat. The other held a small plate stacked with sweetened cakes. The women bore a strong resemblance, and Eskkar guessed them to be sisters.
The older of the two put a slice of horsemeat on each of the men’s plates, then left the platter in the center of the table. She took the sweet cakes from her sister and placed it before them as well, her eyes carefully appraising Eskkar as she did so. Then she bowed, looked at Grond, and both women left the room.
Grond cleared his throat. “Captain, I forgot to tell you, when we searched this house, we found six women here. Ninazu’s women. Four have returned to their homes or families. But these two…” He shrugged.
“They say they have no place to go.”
Eskkar shook his head. He’d be dealing with Ninazu’s legacy for months, one thing after another. Even the bandit’s loot had become a problem. They’d found a small, windowless room in the house containing four sacks crammed with gold, jewelry, and other valuables, Ninazu’s personal share of the booty. Many of the coins bore the marks of villages to the north and west, so the bandit had obviously accumulated plenty of booty even before arriving in Bisitun.
Ninazu remained with his plunder, though no doubt it gave him less pleasure today, sitting on it with his leg broken. Still, a Hawk Clan soldier stood constant guard over Ninazu and his gold. The bandit chief seemed much too crafty and resourceful, and Eskkar didn’t want to take any chances with him escaping.
But until now, Eskkar hadn’t heard about any women, though it didn’t surprise him. Even a bandit needed someone to run his household, as well as needing women with whom to take his pleasures. Six women seemed quite a number for one man. Eskkar’s opinion of Ninazu increased.
“Well, they must have come from someplace.” Eskkar took his knife and sliced a bit of the warm meat and put it in his mouth. After last night’s slaughter at the corral, there would be plenty of horsemeat for the next few days. The steamy flesh tasted good, and he realized how hungry he was. Cutting up the thick steak, he alternated bites with bread, sweet and fresh, washing everything down with watered wine.
“Ninazu brought these two women with him when he rode into Bisitun,” Grond continued, as he worked at his own food. “Sisuthros asked me to take care of them. They offered to keep your house if they could stay here. I said that you would speak to them.”
Eskkar looked at his bodyguard in surprise, but the man’s attention remained focused on his plate. Grond had never offered to intercede for others with his leader, though more than a few in Akkad had sought him out, to try and take advantage of his friendship with Eskkar.
“I’ll talk to them later, then,” Eskkar said, as he finished the meat and selected some figs to finish the meal. He had never cared for the sweet cakes villagers devoured at every opportunity, thinking them somehow unfit for a warrior, a concept that dated back to his barbarian days. Trella had smiled when he told her about it, but she ate them only infrequently herself.
When he finished eating, he drank another cup of water, then stood up and stretched. The heavy meal sapped whatever strength remained and he felt exhausted. More than a day had passed since he’d slept, and even that had been cut short. He felt the heaviness in his legs, and cursed his own weakness.
“Grond, I’m going to get some sleep. Get some rest yourself. We’ll probably be up late tonight as well, with all these villagers pestering us.
Tell the guard to wake me in three hours.”
Eskkar had explored the house earlier. It possessed five rooms. The common room ran the length of the house, and took up half the structure.
One end contained a fireplace and a work table for preparing meals; the other held the large table where the previous owner had taken his dinner.
Four chambers, varying in size, took up the rest of the dwelling, all of them accessed from the main room.
The master’s bedroom occupied a corner of the house, with a solid door a few steps from the table. Inside, Eskkar found a large, comfortable-looking bed. A thick wooden bar leaned against the wall, and he used it to secure the door, knowing he’d sleep sounder with the door fastened.
He heard Grond giving instructions to one of the soldiers to stand guard, more to keep anyone from bothering their leader than from any need for caution. Stopping only to unbelt his sword, he dropped gratefully on the bed, threw an arm over his eyes to block out the light, and fell asleep in moments.
The knocking on the door shook the wooden panels, and when Eskkar forced his eyes open, he realized the pounding had gone on for some time.
Grond’s voice called to him through the door, but it took a real effort to clear his head and force himself to sit up. A glance at the window told him several hours had gone by. He shouted at Grond to stop beating on the door, then went and opened it.
Grond had already gone, replaced outside the door by the two women who had served the meal earlier. One carried a tall pitcher of water in both hands, while the other held a large clay bowl. Both had drying cloths across their arms. They moved past him while he stood there, trying to comprehend their presence, and they placed their burdens on the small table near the bed. The older girl turned toward him and bowed.
“Lord Eskkar, I am called Lani. This is my sister, Tippu,” she added, nodding to the younger girl, who bowed even lower than her sister. “Grond asked us to attend to you when you woke up.” When he didn’t answer her, she went on. “Would you like some water, lord?”
Still not fully awake, Eskkar tried to clear his mind. The offer of water made him realize his thirst, so he nodded. The younger girl took an or-nately carved cup from the table and poured water into it, then handed it to him. He drained the cup before handing it back to Tippu.
“Lord, would you permit us to help you with your… bath?” Lani inquired. “Your tunic is filthy and covered with blood, as are your hands.
You should wash and put on clean clothing before you appear again before the villagers.”
For the first time, he noticed the stink of blood and sweat on his body.
“Is there a well nearby?” Eskkar asked, the dryness gone from his mouth.
He certainly didn’t plan on letting two strange women clean him. His thoughts flashed back to Trella, and the first time she had washed down his naked body, the first time any woman had ever done so. It had been intensely erotic, and now even the remembrance sent a shiver of pleasure through his manhood.
“Yes, lord, there is a well across the square, but right now it is crowded with villagers gossiping about the men from Akkad.”
Fully awake now, Eskkar noticed how tall Lani stood, and how attractive, with a full, graceful figure, topped by soft brown hair. She’d rimmed her brown eyes with a trace of ocher, which added an intriguing reddish tint to them. Many of the wives of the well-off merchants in Akkad did the same, to enhance their beauty, though Trella never did.
Lani’s deep voice sounded pleasant to his ears, and she wore a dress of fine quality, no doubt plundered from somewhere by her former master. Now that he had time to study her, he guessed her age to be about twenty-fi ve seasons.
She noticed his stare and lowered her eyes. “Your pardon, lord, but we do not know what you wish. Please, instruct us.”
Either her words or her tone aroused him further, so he walked to the bed and sat. He looked down at himself and saw that, indeed, his tunic remained spotted with blood and dirt, and that his brief moments at the well earlier in the morning had not removed all the blood from his hands.
Glancing at the now-soiled bedding, he decided this Lani spoke the truth.
He considered going down to the river, but that would be a long walk from Ninazu’s house, and no doubt he’d be pestered every step of the way by villagers. Eskkar would have to use the cloths and water bowl after all. He could do it himself, but…
“Is there a clean tunic I can wear, Lani?”
She pursed her lips for an instant. “You are much taller than Ninazu, but perhaps we can find something in the house.” Lani turned to her sister.
“See what we have here. If there is nothing that will fit, we will have to send out to the market.”
Tippu put down her drying cloths, glanced nervously at Eskkar, and left the room.
Eskkar stood up, and pulled his tunic up over his head, then tossed the dirty garment on the floor. “Your sister does not talk much.”
“She has been through a great deal, and is afraid, Lord Eskkar,” Lani said calmly, as she poured water from the pitcher into the bowl. “As am I.
We are both frightened of what is to become of us.”
Eskkar watched her movements as she soaked one of the washcloths in the water, then wrung it out. Her hands were quick and sure. “You have nothing to be afraid of, Lani. No one will harm you now.”
She turned to face him, looking into his eyes. “You should remove your undergarment, Lord Eskkar. I fear that needs changing as well.” She wrinkled her nose as she spoke, but didn’t say anything else.
For a moment, Eskkar hesitated. Damn the woman, treating him like a child. He stood, then loosened the garment and pushed it to the floor.
She moved it aside with her foot, then took the washcloth and began cleaning him. She started with his face, scrubbing hard to get all the surface dirt and rubbing his beard to clean it as well. Then she began on his neck and shoulders, rinsing the cloth again, turning him around to do his back.
Standing naked in front of this woman, he felt himself begin to stiffen. She ignored his growing erection as she rinsed out the cloth again and again, moving lower until she knelt before him, her face inches away from his now-firm manhood. But she gave it no attention, except to wipe it gently with the cloth, before scrubbing his legs vigorously.
“Please sit down, Lord Eskkar, so I can clean your feet,” Lani said, rising to rinse out the cloth yet again. She knelt and started cleaning his feet.
Tippu returned, carrying a tunic. If she thought it strange to see her sister on her knees before a naked man with an erect penis, she said nothing, didn’t even meet Eskkar’s eyes.
Lani turned to her. “Lord Eskkar will need a fresh undergarment.
Bring one.” Tippu again left without a word.
Apparently there was no shortage of undergarments in the house, Eskkar decided.
When Lani finished his feet, she asked him to stand again, and dried his body with a clean cloth, rubbing gently on his face, then briskly on his chest and shoulders, then gently again around his still-firm manhood.
Again, she asked him to sit, then she wiped his feet dry.
“There, my lord, at least you’re clean enough to meet your subjects.”
Suddenly she reached out and brushed his penis with her fingers. “If my lord would like a woman, I or my sister would be glad to pleasure you.”
This time she met his eyes, waiting for his answer.
Eskkar noticed a slight change in her voice, something that made the offer more than just a duty. To his surprise, he wanted her, and not only for the physical need. Something about her aroused him. “You’ve seen me naked, Lani. Now let me see you. Take off your dress.”
She wiped her hands quickly on the drying cloth, lifted her dress up over her head, and tossed the garment over the foot of the bed. She shook out her hair to straighten it, then just stood there.
For the first time he saw her as a beautiful woman. His manhood surged as he stared at her lush body, all softness and curves.
Once again the door opened, and Tippu slipped back into the room, closing the door behind her. She barely raised her eyes to take note of the two of them.
“Bring the garment here, Tippu,” Eskkar said, without taking his eyes off Lani. “Put your dress back on, Lani.”
He took the undergarment from Tippu and pulled himself into it, grunting a little as he forced his still-erect penis into the clothing before lacing it tight around his waist. Tippu handed him the clean tunic, and he pulled it over his head. He noticed its quality, a fine garment more suited to a rich merchant than a soldier. Nonetheless, it fit well enough, though a little tighter than he liked, and reaching only to midthigh. By then Lani had put her dress back on, and again she knelt at his feet, this time to fasten his sandals. He helped her with the lacings, and she lifted her eyes to him as their hands touched.
A loud knock on the door startled both of them. Grond entered without waiting for permission. “Are you well rested, Captain? You slept half the afternoon.”
Eskkar did feel better, much of the tiredness gone from his body and mind. A quick glance at the window showed about two hours of daylight left, still plenty of time to meet with Sisuthros.
“Yes, Grond. I think I needed the rest.”
“Lord, may I speak with you for a moment?” Lani asked, her eyes downcast and her tone respectful.
He thought for a moment. No doubt Grond had told her Eskkar would speak with her. But she hadn’t reminded him of it, merely asked for permission. Eskkar glanced at his bodyguard, but saw the man staring at Tippu.
“Grond, wait outside. Take Tippu with you.”
While Tippu gathered up the pitcher, cloths, and the washing bowl, Eskkar fastened his sword around his waist, then sat on the bed. “Go ahead, Lani. What is it you wish to say?”
She stood in the same spot she had stood unclothed a few moments ago, but her voice remained calm. “My Lord, my sister and I were captured by Ninazu and his men four months ago. My husband was killed, as was Tippu’s betrothed, along with our servants. Ninazu took both of us for his pleasures. He favored Tippu, and would have turned me over to his men except for Tippu’s pleadings. I made myself useful by cleaning up after him, and keeping track of his women and his affairs. After a while, he came to depend on me, and once we came here, I managed his household.”
She paused for a moment, as if remembering. “I think I would be dead if Tippu hadn’t saved me.”
She took a deep breath, as if to put the past behind her. “Here in Bisitun, we are called Ninazu’s whores. The village women he took hated us as much as they hated him. This morning, one of them said we would be dead by nightfall. Ninazu’s other women have returned to their families, but we have nowhere to go. Our village is many miles away, to the northwest, across the Euphrates. Even if we could return, there is no one there who would take us in, dishonored as we are, and with nothing but the clothing on our backs.”
“So what do you want from me, Lani? No one will harm you here. My men will protect you from the village women.”
“That is what I want, lord, your protection, that, and… This morning … I… I heard this morning that you will soon return to Akkad. I would ask that you take us with you. This place is hateful to us.”
She saw the frown that crossed his face at her suggestion, and went on quickly. “We can be your servants, lord, as well as your concubines. I have skill at running a household, and Tippu can weave and sew. We will do anything you ask, any work. Just take us away from this place. Please, lord.”
Her eyes lifted to his, and he could see her lip trembling. He saw that she held back the tears, the first time she’d shown any emotion. She might be right about the village wives. They would abuse and torment Ninazu’s women, at the very least, especially one who acted in Ninazu’s name. The sisters would be safer in Akkad, and Trella could find good use for someone like Lani, whose wits seemed sharp enough. Thinking of Trella made him feel uncomfortable for a moment. He hadn’t thought about her much in the last few days.
Lani waited patiently, but he saw the fear in her face. She thought he was going to refuse.
“Lani, you can return with me to Akkad. And I will place you under my protection there as well. No one will harm either of you. But I warn you that I may not return to Akkad for some time, and I may have to send you on ahead. My wife, Trella, will find a place for you.”
Speaking Trella’s name aloud helped clear his own head, though it didn’t quite drive away thoughts of Lani’s body. “And you need not be a concubine for me or anyone else, Lani, neither you nor your sister.”
With a small cry of relief, she went down on one knee and took his hand, then kissed it. “Thank you, lord. Thank you.” Her body shook slightly, the words catching in her throat.
Eskkar stood up. Women’s tears made him uneasy. He touched her head and left the room, stepping into the main chamber of the house. The common area ran the length of the structure, and the five bedrooms along the wall all faced the center of the house. The room he’d slept in, by far the largest sleeping chamber, occupied a corner of the home. The dining table stood only a few steps away. Sisuthros sat there, along with Grond, Hamati, and Drakis.
“Did you get some rest, Captain?” Sisuthros asked.
Eskkar opened his mouth to make some careless rejoinder, before he realized Sisuthros appeared really concerned about him. Eskkar saw the same look on Grond’s face, and even on the other commanders. They knew he had slept little in the last three days, and they worried about him.
He softened his voice. “Yes, Sisuthros, I slept very well. Now I’m hungry again.”
Food covered the table, and the smell of horse steaks cooking wafted in from outside and made his mouth water. His stomach rumbled with hunger, even though he’d eaten only a few hours ago. He sat down at an empty place, but before he could reach for anything, Tippu arrived at his side and placed a clean earthen plate and wooden cup before him. She filled it halfway with water before leaving. Grond took another pitcher, one that held wine, and poured some into Eskkar’s cup.
As he put the cup down, Lani came in from outside, carrying two steaks that still sizzled on a wooden trencher. She slid them both onto his plate, then turned to him.
“Is there anything else you need, lord?”
She stood at his side, and when he turned his head, he found her bosom only a handbreadth away. The picture of her naked body crossed his mind, and he felt the urge to take her back into the bedroom. Somehow she managed to project sexuality into a few words, words directed only at him.
“Nothing now, Lani. Thank you.” He spoke the words carefully, in a neutral voice. When she stepped away, he remembered his promise and turned to Sisuthros. “I’ve given my protection to Lani and her sister,” he told those at the table. “Make sure all the men know it, and you’d better tell these villagers, too.”
“I’ll tell the council today, and make sure they spread the word throughout Bisitun,” Sisuthros said.
Eskkar took a sip of his watered wine. “Now, tell me what has happened while I slept.”
In a moment, all thoughts of Lani vanished. Sisuthros had met again with the newly appointed village elders. By tomorrow morning the most influential farmers would arrive, and they could select the fifth and last of the council members. The elders could then start governing the village’s affairs.
They would begin with the execution of Ninazu and the disposition of his men. With Ninazu’s head on a lance above the gate and the worst of his followers dead, Eskkar’s men would be freed up for other duties, instead of wasting time guarding prisoners night and day. As for the rest of Ninazu’s men, they’d be branded and put to work.
Then the newly formed council would address the matter of the stolen property, what Ninazu had taken, and how what remained would be allocated back to its original owners. Akkad would take two-tenths of each allocation, as a restoration fee. Sisuthros guessed that it would take another day to divide the loot, including what he’d taken from the prisoners and added to Ninazu’s storeroom.
With Ninazu and his stolen gold out of the way, the soldiers, villagers, and slaves would be put to work rebuilding Bisitun and the surrounding farms, clearing the land outside the palisade, repairing the damaged irrigation ditches, and any other tasks necessary to get the community back on a road to prosperity. Once that effort had commenced, the council could begin to take up all the smaller issues that would fill its days in the coming weeks, settling disputes and hearing appeals for justice.
Eskkar listened to Sisuthros’s orders for the men, before speaking to Hamati and Drakis about their roles. By the time the meal ended, he announced himself satisfied with Sisuthros’s plans and dispositions.
“As soon as Ninazu and his men are dead, I’ll take Grond and some men and begin riding out into the farmlands. I want to see for myself how the farmers and their crops are faring, and how well the herds of sheep and goats are doing.”
If any at the table thought it unusual to have the leader of Akkad visiting farmers, they kept the thought to themselves. But Eskkar knew that Trella and the nobles back in Akkad needed that vital information.
They couldn’t complete their own plans until they knew what could be expected from the north country, and when. Without the steady supply of flax, grain, and livestock, trade at Akkad would slow, and that must not happen, not with so much rebuilding underway. The real goal of Eskkar’s efforts remained back in Akkad, not here.
Eskkar stood and stretched. He felt relaxed now, his stomach full and with enough sleep to get him through the evening. “Has Ninazu said anything useful?”
Sisuthros shook his head. “We haven’t even had time to put him to the torture.” Sisuthros sighed as he contemplated yet another task. “I’ll talk to him.”
“No, Grond and I will deal with him. You keep your thoughts on the villagers.”
Grond led the way to the other end of the common room, to the bedroom farthest away from where Eskkar had slept. This windowless room had only a tiny aperture near the ceiling for light and ventilation.
It possessed the only other solid door inside the dwelling, the still-fresh wood indicating a recent improvement. A soldier guarded there, sitting on a stool, but he rose up as the two men approached.
Grond pushed the door open. Inside, another guard, this one from the Hawk Clan, sat on a chest, his short sword unsheathed across his lap, facing Ninazu. The prisoner had a large bruise on his forehead, where Eskkar’s sword hilt had struck, and the side of his swollen face showed cuts and bruises from Grond’s fist. They’d trussed Ninazu up like a chicken, his hands tied behind his back and his arms tied to his sides. The silver bracelets he’d worn were gone, given to Grond and Sisuthros as gifts. Another rope looped around his neck, the other end knotted around a second wooden chest.
Ninazu’s legs remained free, but his captors had smashed his right shinbone. The swelling on the leg had bruised to a deep blue, with blood crusted along its length. Whoever had done the work knew his job. No one bothered to set the bone straight. Ninazu would be dead long before he could walk or die from infection. For a moment, Eskkar almost felt sorry for the man, a daring bandit who had gambled for a rich village and lost.
Ninazu turned toward the door, his eyes alert, as Eskkar entered. The expensive tunic told him all he needed to know about his visitor.
“Greetings, Ninazu,” Eskkar began. When the man didn’t answer, Eskkar reached out with his sandal and touched Ninazu’s right leg. That sent a jolt of pain through the prisoner, and he couldn’t control a sharp intake of breath. Eskkar turned to the guard. “Has he been given anything?”
“Some water this afternoon, Captain. Nothing else.”
Eskkar nodded in satisfaction. Give him just enough water to keep him conscious, so he could feel his pain and worry about the future.
“We’ll give you more water later, maybe even some wine, if you tell us what we want to know,” Eskkar went on. The man said nothing, just looked up at Eskkar with hatred in his eyes. “Your brother looked at me that way before he died, Ninazu. He took the torture for a long time, before we gave him over to the women of Dilgarth, who took hours killing him. He told me all about you and your men.”
Ninazu flashed a look of hatred at his captor, but said nothing.
Eskkar leaned against the wall and looked about the room. Two chests were crammed with dozens of golden statues, bowls, and other valuable items, most of the wealth of the village. Four good-sized sacks contained gold, silver, and copper coins, as well as jewelry, gemstones, and even some fi ne leather goods. Ninazu remained surrounded by his loot, at least until tomorrow.
“In the morning the village elders and I will sentence you to death, Ninazu. It’s up to you how much you suffer between now and then. There isn’t much we need to hear from you. If you tell us what we want to know, you will be given as much wine as you can handle, and you’ll feel less pain.”
Eskkar paused a moment. He didn’t hate the man, nor even condemn what Ninazu had attempted to do. Many others would have done the same, including Eskkar in his younger days. Now those days seemed from the distant past, the days before Trella had explained the ways of power and the mysteries of farm and village. “Or, we can just give you plenty of water, to make sure you enjoy every sensation. The choice is yours, Ninazu.
Your brother chose the wine, but too late, and he suffered much.”
“Who are you?” Ninazu had a deep voice, one filled with anger and hatred. “Why did you come to Bisitun?”
It would be a waste of time to explain Akkad’s plans to Ninazu. “I came to claim the land for Akkad, and I have done so.” Eskkar turned to the guard. “Give him as much water as he wants.” He glanced about the room, filled with the bandit’s booty. Such things meant little to Eskkar, now that he’d learned the ways of power. Gold had its uses, but it didn’t put strength into a man’s sword arm, or even crops in the earth. He nodded to the guard, and stepped back into the common room, closing the door behind him. Eskkar and Grond passed out of the house, into the
village square. The afternoon sun had dipped below the horizon, and soon another night would begin.
“Grond, there must be more loot somewhere, and Ninazu’s subcommanders might have hidden their own valuables. Make sure he tells us what we want to know. Start on him in the morning, right after the morning meal. Remember he has to last into the afternoon, so not too much wine.”
“This one will talk, Captain. He’s finished, and he knows it. Shulat could at least hope for his brother’s revenge, but Ninazu has nothing to live for. By tomorrow the fever will weaken his will.”
“The sooner he’s out of the way, the sooner the villagers can get on with their lives.”
Eskkar spent the rest of the evening with Sisuthros. Eskkar encountered three of the new elders, but they only wanted to talk about how much they had suffered under Ninazu, and Eskkar could only stand so many hours of that kind of talk. Leaving them with Sisuthros, Eskkar and Grond, accompanied by two soldiers, toured the village, checking on the guards, the horses, and the men.
That task finished, they found a small tavern, well lit and filled with the sounds of singing and laughter. Packed to overflowing, happy villagers celebrated their deliverance from Ninazu. Eskkar and his men entered, received a drunken cheer that went on as the happy patrons made room for them. Eskkar spent an hour there, squeezed behind a table, buying drinks for everyone and talking with the common people. But he drank only one cup of ale. Grond had two, and, after the second one, mentioned that he thought Tippu the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
By the time they returned to the marketplace, most of Bisitun had prepared itself for bed. Even from Ninazu’s house, only a single oil lamp burned. Few people had the wealth or reason to burn oil or candles long into the night, not when the moon and stars shone brightly overhead. The big well in the market square’s center stood deserted for the first time all day, and Eskkar stopped to drink some fresh water and wash his face and hands.
At the house, two soldiers stood guard, and inside, he found Hamati asleep sitting at the big table, his sword beneath his hand. Eskkar stopped to check on Ninazu, and found the prisoner had fallen into a restless sleep.
Nevertheless, his guards remained alert, watching their charge through the open door.
Sisuthros had taken one of the bedrooms for himself, and gone to bed an hour earlier, his snores audible in the common room.
Eskkar bid good night to Grond and entered his room. He didn’t bother with the lamp, just left the door open. The soft glow from the main room gave him enough light to see the bed, covered with fresh linen. He unbelted his sword and pulled the weapon from its sheath and laid it on the low table that stood beside the bed, then sat to unlace his sandals. He went back to the door, pausing for a moment to make sure he knew where everything in the room was placed. Eskkar closed the door and dropped the wooden bar to seal it. Pulling his tunic over his head, he tossed that on the foot of the bed, and sank tiredly onto the bed.
He thought he would be asleep in moments, but instead he lay there, staring up at the faint moonlight that shone in through the tiny window set high in the wall. A long day had finally ended, but everything had worked out well enough. Bisitun would enjoy its first night of freedom. Now he just needed… He sat up in the bed, his hand reaching for his sword.
Something moved at the window, and his hand tightened on the hilt of the sword as the movement repeated itself, a darker blackness against the night sky. The shadow moved, and he heard the thump of something landing on the floor next to the bed. Still, Eskkar had caught a glimpse of it as it jumped down.
The cat had green-gold eyes that gleamed in the faint light, and Eskkar saw them watching him. For a moment he considered taking a swing at the creature, thinking it might be some demon sent by Ninazu. Then he reconsidered. The animal seemed to think it belonged, as it sat down in the middle of the floor, a dark shadow without color, except for its eyes, which stayed focused on the bed. As Eskkar’s eyes grew more accustomed to the darkness, he saw that the cat looked alert, but not frightened.
Eskkar muttered to himself and put the sword back on the table. The creature had climbed into the room. It could get itself out again. “Stay if you will. Just let me sleep.” Nothing much bigger than a cat could get inside, he felt certain of that. He fell back on the pillow, let his breathing relax, closed his eyes, and soon began to drift off into sleep.
The soft knock at the door had him moving in an instant, on his feet and up from the bed, his hand again finding the sword without any fumbling. He stood by the door. “Who is it?”
“It is Lani, lord. I’ve brought you some wine.”
She kept her voice low, and he could barely hear her through the door.
He didn’t want any wine. He wanted to tell her to go away, but instead he opened the door. Lani and her sister both stood there, Lani’s face flickering behind a small candle that she carried on a tray. Behind them, Eskkar saw Grond watching from the table.
“May we come in, lord?” Lani asked.
He hesitated, not sure that he wanted to see her, but he opened the door wider and stepped back. The tray that Lani carried held a pitcher of wine and a cup, while Tippu carried a bowl filled with water and some cloths. Lani stepped into the room, almost as if she worried he might close the door once again. Tippu followed, though more slowly. He watched them pass by him. The cat had vanished, no doubt leaving the way it entered, and just as silently.
“We thought you might want some wine before bed, or that you might wish to wash your hands and face.” She put her things down on the table, then went to the door and closed it, though Eskkar’s hand was still on it.
Before she shut the door, Eskkar caught another glimpse of Grond standing there, a frown on his face. Eskkar turned to Lani, and for the first time he noticed that she’d changed her dress from the one she’d worn earlier. A much finer garment, and one woven from something softer than the usual linen, and not one that you pulled on over your head. Instead, it looked as if it would open from the front, the two edges crossing over her breasts and tied together at her waist.
Eskkar had drunk more spirits tonight than he usually allowed himself; he didn’t plan to drink anything more. In the old days he’d guzzled as much as he could afford, which had only allowed him to get properly drunk two or three times a month. Trella had changed all that, and he’d sworn never to lose control of himself again.
“No, Lani, I don’t need any wine.” He smiled at her. “And I washed up at the well before I returned. You and your sister can go.”
She peered at him in the fl ickering light, almost as if checking to see if he had really washed. Lani went on as if she hadn’t heard him. “Perhaps you would like one of us to stay with you… to pleasure you tonight? If you prefer Tippu, she is more pleasing to look at, or… or we could both remain, if that is your wish.”
He looked at Lani, then Tippu. In the light from the tiny flame, Lani’s eyes met his own, while Tippu stared at the floor. The thought of both of them in his bed sent a wave of desire through him. Eskkar had always taken a woman after every fight. Even during the fighting for Akkad, he’d taken Trella after every encounter. He remembered Lani’s naked body, and the temptation surged through him. Battle did that to a man, made him want a woman just to prove he’d survived while others had died. Another thought struck him.
“Tippu,” he began, and thought he saw Lani’s lips compress for a brief instant, “Tippu, my bodyguard is outside. He is more than my bodyguard, he is my friend as well. And he has looked at you with longing, and told me of this. Perhaps you could spend tonight with him.”
Tippu looked at her sister without showing any emotion, and waited until Lani nodded approval. “Yes, lord, I will go to your friend,” Tippu said. She began putting down the bowl and cloths she still held.
“And I, lord? What should I do?” Lani asked.
He wanted her to stay, but his days of taking women against their will had passed. If she thought she had to please him to get what she wanted, he would send her away. But he didn’t want to do that, not yet.
“If you like, Lani, you can stay with me tonight. But only if you want to. You already have my protection, and I don’t need you in my bed to remind me of my promise.”
“I will stay, lord.” Lani called after her sister. “Wait, Tippu. Go to our room. I will send Grond to you there. Treat him well, Tippu.” She guided her sister to the door, opened it for her, and followed her out.
Eskkar watched in surprise as Lani crossed the room and spoke to Grond, who still sat at the table. Lani spoke to him for some time, before gesturing toward the room that her sister had just entered. Grond answered Lani, then listened for another moment before nodding his head.
Lani came back to the bedroom, and this time she dropped the bar across the door. She moved within arm’s length, and began untying her dress.
He reached out and took her hands, then pulled her closer to him.
“You don’t have to do this, Lani. I don’t take women against their will, or because they are afraid.”
“I know, Lord Eskkar. I spoke with many of your soldiers today. They told me much about you, about Akkad, and about your wife.”
She pulled her hands free from his grasp and continued untying her dress. When the knot came undone, she opened the dress wide and pushed it back over her shoulders, letting it hang from her arms as if to frame her body. “They told me so much about you that I feel safe in your care. But I also saw in your eyes today that you wanted me.”
Eskkar started to say something, but she put her finger up to his lips, the movement swirling the dress around her. “There is nothing to say, Lord Eskkar. I want to be in your arms and in your bed.” Lani took her hand away, and this time the dress fell to the floor. She stood on her toes and put her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder.
He inhaled her hair and noticed she smelled faintly of cinnamon, a delicate perfume that mixed with the warm, musky smell of a woman. She made a small sound as she felt the pressure of his erection, and moved her hips against him.
“I do want you, Lani,” he whispered into her ear. “And you are wrong.
You are much more beautiful than your sister.”
She lifted her head up and he kissed her, a long, lingering kiss that aroused him even further. When the kiss ended, she leaned down to blow out the candle. As the darkness enveloped them, she began unfastening his undergarment. Soon that dropped to the floor, and they lay down on the bed, their arms wrapped around each other.
In the dark, her body felt soft and full, her full breasts brushing against his chest whenever he took his hands from them. She kissed him with abandon, almost possessively, until he grew more and more aroused. At last she moved on top of him and guided him inside her moist body.
Lani gave a long sigh of pleasure when he slid deep within her and for a few moments, she stayed still. He pushed up against her and she began to move, slowly at first, then faster, stopping often to let him kiss her breasts or leaning down to find his mouth with her own, while she squeezed her muscles around his penis.
Fully aroused now, Eskkar’s hands tightened around her waist, and she moved against him, forcing him deep inside her, pushing herself against him until he thrust up hard against her and cried out as he emptied his seed, both hands grasping her breasts, her hands on his chest. She stayed atop him, holding him tightly inside her, until he began to soften. Then she lay next to him, in his arms, letting him touch and caress her.
“Lani,” he began, but she kissed him again to stop his words.
“Tomorrow we can talk, Lord Eskkar. Tomorrow. Now you need your sleep. Let me stay with you.”
She shifted her position on the bed, wrapping her arm behind his head, letting his face fall on her breast. At first he kissed her, one hand caressing her stomach, but soon he stopped, as the long day’s effort washed over him.
Just before he drifted off, or in his dreams, he couldn’t be sure which, he heard her voice again. “I will stay with you, lord.”