Subutai accepted the grim assessment. “It is as I thought. Still, we are grateful for your help, Sargon. And we understand the problems that face your father.” He glanced around the circle. “It seems that we will have to survive on our own, at least until Akkad can aid us.”
“What are we to do?” Skala’s usually brash voice sounded subdued.
“We will break camp in the morning,” Subutai said. “We will load the women and children on the horses and leave everything else behind. I want the entire clan to be on the way south by midmorning. The closer we can move toward Akkad’s lands, the safer we will be.”
The clan leader’s voice held a trace of finality. Sargon looked around the circle of warriors. The grim situation left little to say.
“Sargon’s words have given me an idea.” Namar broke the silence. “There is another force that could help us drive these invaders back.”
Subutai turned to face the older man. “Who?”
“The Alur Meriki.”
Mouths opened and jaws dropped. Sargon knew the Alur Meriki were the most hated and dreaded enemy of the Ur Nammu. For almost two generations, the Alur Meriki had hunted down and almost wiped out the Ur Nammu. The two tribes had fought many battles, and they despised each other.
“Why would they help us?” Subutai voice remained flat.
“The Alur Meriki are drawing closer to the pass that opens into these western plains,” Namar said. “Already our riders have glimpsed their advance scouting parties. Sooner or later, they will have to confront these invaders themselves.”
Sargon wasn’t the only one surprised by the news about the Alur Meriki sightings. Chinua and Skala also turned toward Subutai.
“Fashod’s riders have twice seen Alur Meriki riders. They recognized our warriors as well, but did not show any signs of hostility. Whether that is a result of the oath Eskkar made their new Sarum swear, we are not sure.” Subutai shrugged. “But before he left our camp, Sargon’s father advised me to make sure we offer no provocation to them in their passage.”
“When they come out of the mountains,” Fashod said, talking almost to himself as to the others, “they will still be far to the north, too far away to help us. The invaders would have to turn toward the northeast to confront them.”
“Even so, it would be good for us if the Alur Meriki would face them,” Subutai said. “But even if they honor their pledge not to attack us, neither will they do anything to help us, of that I am certain. Nothing we could say to them would change that.”
He took a deep breath and shook his head. “Our best chance is to move south, toward Akkad’s lands, and hope that we can stay ahead of the Carchemishi until Eskkar and his soldiers reach us.”
Sargon saw Chinua and Fashod slowly nod in acceptance. The blood feud that existed between the two clans could never be satisfied until one or the other race was destroyed. Jennat and Skala kept silent. Both were good warriors, but Sargon knew they lacked experience in matters that affected the entire clan.
Then Sargon realized that Namar had not responded to his Sarum’s words. The old warriors eyes remained fixed on Sargon.
Subutai also noticed Namar’s stare. “What is it you wish to say?”
“Nothing.” Namar dropped his gaze from Sargon and stared at his hands resting on his lap. “Perhaps I spoke foolishly.”
With a sudden insight, Sargon realized what the old warrior intended. Subutai had made his decision. The Ur Nammu would depart tomorrow and head south, but long before they could reach the safety of Akkad’s outlying forts or any approaching reinforcements, the clan would be overtaken by the Carchemishi cavalry.
The warriors would fight to the death, might even manage to hold off the enemy horsemen. But when the Carchemishi foot soldiers caught up with their cavalry, the Ur Nammu would be destroyed. The women and children who survived would be raped and tortured. Most would then be killed, and the rest taken as slaves.
Tashanella. She would be one of those taken. Sargon’s thoughts flashed to an image of her on the ground, naked and bleeding, with a sword thrust through her stomach. Slowly he lifted his gaze to meet Namar’s eyes. “They might listen to me.”
Subutai had started to rise, signifying the end of the discussion. Instead he sank back to the ground. “What did you say?”
“I said. .” Sargon had to clear his throat, “I said the Alur Meriki might listen to me. I mean, to the son of the King of Akkad.”
Namar nodded. “Indeed they might.”
“They might just as likely take Sargon hostage to threaten his father,” Subutai said.
“And what if they did?” Sargon had no illusions about what his parents would do if that threat came to pass. Eskkar would never deal with anyone who showed such treachery. He would raise another army to destroy the Alur Meriki, and if his son were killed, Eskkar would shrug his shoulders and add that to the reasons to destroy them.
Sargon put that thought out of his mind. “Besides, is it not in their interest to fight these Carchemishi? They will have to fight them sooner or later. Would it not be better for them to do it now, with our help?”
“The Alur Meriki have just fought a battle with your father,” Fashod said, leaning forward in his excitement. “They lost many men. They may not have enough left to defeat these invaders without our help.”
Subutai looked dubious. He turned to Namar. “What do you think of this idea?”
“I think the Alur Meriki will have to cross the lands that these Carchemishi have just traversed. Even if they avoid fighting, they will find the land empty, already stripped bare, if what we heard is true. How then will they eat? Where can they turn for food?”
Sargon knew the answer to that question. The one thing Akkad had in plenty was food, in the form of grain and livestock. If these lands were bare, the Alur Meriki would have to turn to the south. “Akkad could supply both the Alur Meriki and the Ur Nammu with plenty of food. They should understand that.”
“They might at that,” Subutai said. His voice, too, now held a trace of hope. “I could ride with Sargon and we could. .”
“No!” Fashod shook his head. “You cannot go. You are needed here, to lead the Clan and to prepare for the battle.”
“Fashod is right,” Chinua said. “You must stay here. I will go with Sargon.”
“Fashod should go,” Namar said, speaking quickly before Subutai could start an argument with his second in command. “I would ride with them, but I am too old for such a long and hard ride. It must be Fashod. As your second in command, he can speak with your authority.”
“I will go with Sargon,” Chinua said. “He has been my responsibility for. .”
“No.” Subutai’s tone allowed for no opposition. “With Fashod gone, I will need you here.”
“I will accompany him,” Jennat said.
“As will I. He will need a strong warrior beside him.”
Those last words came from Skala. Sargon could scarcely believe his ears.
“That is brave of you, Skala,” Subutai said. “But I will need my strongest fighters at my side. Jennat will go. He and Sargon spoke to the Carchemish together, so it is best he accompany Sargon once again.”
He turned to Sargon. “Are you sure you wish to do this? There is a good chance you will be going to your death. The Alur Meriki swore no oath to you, even if you are Eskkar’s son. Many of their warriors are dead because of your father. You could end up stretched out on the ground and tortured by their women.”
Not a pleasant prospect, Sargon knew. All the same, the time to back out had passed long ago. “I will go. You have taken me into your tent, and I have ridden with your warriors. Besides, there is no one else who can ask them to do this.”