“Does my father wish me to return to Akkad?”
More than two years ago, Eskkar had delivered his rebellious son Sargon to the Ur Nammu. The Clan agreed to teach him the way of the warrior, although both Subutai and Eskkar knew that Sargon’s death would be the most likely result. But the headstrong boy found the path to honor. Instead of death or dishonor, he helped save the Ur Nammu from invaders, and at the same time reconciled them with the Alur Meriki, long their bitter enemy.
Accepted as a warrior by the Ur Nammu Clan, Sargon took Chief Subutai’s daughter, Tashanella, as his wife. Over the course of time, she helped Sargon make his peace with his parents. Though he remained with the Ur Nammu, Sargon had regained his position as heir to the Kingdom of Akkad.
Nevertheless, relations between father and son remained delicate, and neither wanted to provoke a quarrel.
Draelin, of course, knew the whole story. “He thought you might ask that. The King said you should do whatever you think best, but that he hoped — that’s the word he told me to use — you would at least come back with me for the meeting he’s arranged with all the commanders. After that, you can return here. Or if you decide to fight at his side, you will be considered a leader of two hundred, under the command of Muta. Or you can ride with Hathor in the south.”
Muta was second in command of all of Akkad’s horse fighters, under Hathor. The last time Sargon had visited with his father, they had spoken of such an arrangement. Sargon had expected a direct order to return to Akkad, but instead Eskkar had merely said that he trusted Sargon’s judgment.
“You will do what is best, Sargon,” his father had said at their last meeting. “If you choose to fight with Akkad’s cavalry, you will have a real command, with all the responsibilities that go with it.”
In the last few months, Sargon had thought long and hard about those words. But in the end, he had chosen to stay with the Ur Nammu. When the time came for battle, no one else would have as much influence with the Clans as Sargon possessed, not even his father.
Eskkar had defeated the Alur Meriki in battle, and won from them a promise to fight Akkad’s enemies when called upon. The Alur Meriki would fulfill their oath, but Sargon had managed to transform their pledge into an alliance, one that now benefitted both the Ur Nammu and Alur Meriki.
“If my father wishes me to join the commanders’ meeting, I will return with you, Draelin. I will tell him in person that I have decided to ride with the Ur Nammu and the Alur Meriki.”
Draelin grinned his approval. “I thought as much. You’ll have good hunting, I’m sure.”
“Tell Eskkar that the Ur Nammu will be ready.” Subutai, too, had a smile on his face. “In two months, I will have almost two hundred and fifty warriors ready to ride.”
“I will carry your words, Chief Subutai,” Draelin said, bowing his head in respect. “Oh, there is one thing more. I brought a prisoner with me. Annok-sur’s guards grabbed him up coming out of a tavern in Akkad. She said Yarna would be happy to teach you the language of the Elamites, and that you could set him free after three months, if he pleases you. Or just kill him. He’s so terrified of the Ur Nammu that his knees were shaking. I would have conveyed him here, but I thought it best to give him some time to control his fear. His name is Yarna, an Elamite trader from Susa, and he’s waiting with my men.”
Sargon had no doubts about the man’s willingness to help. A few sessions with Annok-sur and her torturers would make any man eager to follow her bidding. Of course, whenever anyone spoke about Annok-sur, they really meant Sargon’s mother. Regardless, Trella believed that learning the Elamite language might prove useful, and Sargon agreed.
By the time Yarna found his way back to Elam, the war would be over. Nor would the prisoner be eager to tell anyone where he’d been or what he’d been doing. “Tell Annok-sur I am grateful,” Sargon said. “It may help all of us.”
“Then my duties here are finished,” Draelin said. “If it does not give offense, I would like to depart as soon as possible. The faster I get back to Akkad, the quicker I can begin whatever assignment your father has waiting for me. He said it’s important.”
“You may leave whenever you wish,” Subutai said. “My men will give you whatever food or provisions you require.”
“I will need a few moments to prepare for the journey, Draelin” Sargon said. “With your permission, Chief Subutai?”
“Granted. And Draelin, bring your prisoner to me. I will make sure he is taken care of. In fact, I think Garal should also learn to understand and speak the language of the Elamites. The more we know the ways of our enemy, the better.”
“Chief Subutai, please tell Garal why I could not wait for him.” Sargon stood. “Now I must talk with Tashanella.”
He preferred not to leave his wife, but it would only be for eighteen days or so. Both Tashanella and Sargon knew how important this meeting of Eskkar’s commanders would be. She would want Sargon to stand at his father’s side before the other leaders. Such a gesture would reaffirm her husband’s position as Eskkar’s heir.
“Then I’d better prepare as well.” Draelin stood. “Good hunting to you, Chief Subutai. May your ride bring you even more honor and glory.”
Subutai shrugged. “I have had more than enough glory in my life. But honor, that is something else. We owe much to the people of Akkad, and now we will honor the friendship between our two peoples. Tell Eskkar that we will ride in his service with pride.”
Chapter 10
While Draelin galloped north to find Sargon, Eskkar rode out of Akkad to visit the training camps. In the last two years, he’d spent time at each camp, meeting with the commanders and observing the men, their equipment, and their morale. Eskkar wanted his subcommanders to know that the time for training had passed. War loomed on the horizon, and he wanted to make sure every one of his soldiers had what he needed to fight.
It took fourteen days, but Eskkar visited every camp. He spoke to each commander, inspected the soldiers, and made sure that the men were being properly trained. Now the time had come to start implementing the plans he and Trella had prepared to repel the coming invasion.
Wild rumors of war floated throughout the land, almost all of them carefully nurtured and disseminated by Trella and Annok-sur’s agents. Akkad was going to attack Sumer. Akkad would assault the city of Isin. Lagash and Isin had decided to invade Sumer. The barbarians would return from the north and overrun the land.
Other, wilder tales circulated about an invasion from the west, or one from the lands across the eastern mountains. These whispers came and went so fast that soon few of Akkad’s inhabitants believed any of them. Conflict of some kind appeared certain, however. The provisioning and arming of the soldiers couldn’t be concealed. Every night, the lanes and taverns of Akkad filled with many more soldiers than usual.
The time had come to sow the final seeds of deceit into the minds of any travelers or spies returning to Elam. Annok-sur wanted the last traders leaving Sumer and Akkad to bear witness to the chaos and turmoil in the Land Between the Rivers. By the time these conflicting reports reached the east, it would be impossible for Elam’s generals to ascertain the truth. Instead they would have a picture of a confused and frightened Akkad, one without the will to resist.
Meanwhile, Corio and the builders strengthened Akkad’s walls, and the city’s soldiers trained constantly. Increased numbers of alert soldiers manned the walls or practiced their bowmanship. At the same time, large contingents of men and cavalry moved between Akkad and the surrounding camps.
Eskkar brushed aside all these rumors, refusing to confirm or deny any of them. But the people of Akkad and those from the surrounding farms noted the preparations. The ones who remembered the original siege by the Alur Meriki, or the war against Sumer, nodded knowingly. They watched as the scattered huts and tents that somehow found a way to creep closer to the city’s outer walls were torn down.