The wide ditch that encircled the city was once again dug out, and in many places lined with stones from the river. The irrigation masters made their own preparations to flood both the ditch and the countryside around Akkad. At the first approach of the enemy, the water would flow to impede the invaders’ efforts.
Nor could the people fail to notice Trella’s agents in the marketplace and dock yards, buying grain, and assembling ever larger herds of sheep and cattle across the Tigris, just to the west of the city. Despite the rumors of war, trade flourished, both over the land routes and along the Tigris, as supplies of all types flowed into the city.
Prices rose on food, livestock, and grain driven by the sudden scarcity of these goods, as most were diverted to either Akkad’s storehouses or the soldiers’ training camps. The number of Akkad’s soldiers increased as well. Since maintaining fighting men and their equipment demanded plenty of gold and silver coins, that fact alone warned the people that a great conflict approached.
Fortunately, the Kingdom still received a steady supply of silver from the mine at Nuzi. The bright silver disks, marked with the symbol of the City on one side and the outline of a hawk on the other, flowed from hand to hand, from traders to merchants, from farmers to laborers, and even to the ale houses frequented by the soldiers.
Only one thing remained certain — the many years of peace were coming to an end. Once again war menaced the Land Between the Rivers.
Eskkar continued to ignore the rising tide of questions and kept his attention focused on the soldiers and their training. He knew Trella and her hundreds of clerks and scribes could manage the myriad details needed to prepare the city to withstand an extended siege.
She would see to it that Akkad’s soldiers received all the food and equipment they needed to fight. Bantor, as Commander of the city’s defenses, prowled the walls every day, searching for the slightest weakness that an opposing army might try to exploit.
In the last year, six training camps had been established, all on the western side of the Tigris, and all within twenty to thirty miles of the city. Spearmen, archers, and slingers practiced their craft in these outposts, less than two days march from Akkad. More camps lay farther to the north. The cavalry trained their mounts and men in these, fighting mock battles and galloping over the countryside.
Horses, ever in short supply, arrived in steady streams from the far western lands. Uruk and Lagash traded with the western desert nomads for fresh animals that soon found their way to Akkad’s training camps. The rulers of those two cities also supplied plenty of grain and additional weapons. Trella’s envoys had explained the situation to those cities and the need for them to do their utmost. They understood that, while they might not feel the first blows of the invading Elamites, they stood little chance to resist the enemy if Akkad and Sumer should fall.
Trella’s supply masters and counting house clerks knew their business. They had, after all, fought two major wars in the last twenty years. Food, weapons, horses, clothing, even ale and wine, poured into Akkad and its supply depots. Arrows by the tens of thousands were crafted, and the sound of new bronze swords and axes being forged and tested echoed in every camp.
Each day Bantor, Annok-sur’s husband, worked to improve the City’s fortifications. The oldest of Eskkar’s commanders, a fall from a horse five years before left Bantor unable to fight on foot or with the cavalry. But his experience with two sieges of Akkad now served him in good stead. Wakannh, the Captain of Akkad’s Guard, maintained law and order within the city. Both men were determined to ensure that Akkad’s defenses would be well organized and supplied.
When the fighting began, no matter who the enemy might be, Akkad, its soldiers, and its inhabitants would be ready.
Trella’s hard work left Eskkar free to concentrate on the army. After years of secret planning, the appointed day to meet with Akkad’s senior commanders arrived at last. Until now, only Hathor, Alexar, Bantor, and his wife Annok-sur knew the full extent of the threat and the measures Eskkar and Trella had initiated. Some commanders knew part of the plan, and the others had guessed what might be approaching.
The time had come to tell all the leaders everything that lay in store for them, and the role each would play in the coming conflict.
The morning after Sargon and Draelin reached Akkad, Eskkar summoned his commanders and trusted friends to the Compound. Just after midmorning, on a beautiful summer day, the leaders climbed the stairs to Eskkar’s private quarters.
One by one, the commanders filed into the Map Room. They took their places around the long table, its surface covered by a detailed map of the Land Between the Rivers, from the northern mountains to the Great Sea. The women had already taken their seats, with Trella at the far end of the table. Annok-sur and Uvela sat beside her, along with Ismenne, the Map Maker.
Draelin, Daro, Wakannh, Yavtar, Shappa, Drakis, Muta, and Mitrac occupied the center seats. Hathor, Bantor, and Alexar took their places near the head of the table, as Eskkar and his son Sargon entered. Sargon chose a place beside Draelin. Every eye studied the heir to the city, searching for any hint of weakness. But they found none. All they saw was another soldier, tough and battle hardened despite his youth.
Eskkar closed the door behind him. His Hawk Clan guards remained at their station on the floor below, to make sure no one could approach the Map Room.
As Eskkar took his place at the head of the table, he faced Trella at the opposite end. For a moment, he studied their faces, as they in turn studied his. All of them knew the threats of war had once again gathered at Akkad’s gates. In the last few months, most had guessed the name and plans of the enemy, but none had talked, either openly or in secret, about the coming conflict. Each one knew the importance of keeping his thoughts to himself.
“The Elamites have been preparing to invade our lands for nearly three years,” Eskkar began without any preamble. “In that time, they have dispatched many spies to Akkad, as well as to Sumer and Isin. They have also bribed many in Akkad to provide information about our strengths and weaknesses. To conceal our strength as much as possible, we’ve kept you and our soldiers moving from camp to camp. It’s also the reason why Trella and I kept our plans hidden even from you, the men who must lead the fight in the coming war.”
Taking his time, Eskkar outlined the situation that Akkad faced. “We will be greatly outnumbered, by well trained and equipped soldiers. We will also have to fight the invaders on two fronts. However, Annok-sur’s spies and Yavtar’s traders have collected much information about the Elamites’ plan. Through their efforts, we know when and from what directions the enemy will come.”
No one spoke, but every man kept his attention focused on Eskkar’s words. These were all tough, battle-tested men who had fought Akkad’s enemies before, some of them many times.
“The Elamites will strike from three directions, and at nearly the same time. One force, probably horsemen only, will come through the Jkarian Pass to the north. They will send between five and seven thousand men to devastate the farm lands that supply Akkad’s grain and livestock, then turn south and move toward our city. On their way, they will collect food and herds for the besiegers. Many of the people will be rounded up and sent back to Elam as slaves.”
The commanders glanced at the map. The Jkarian Pass lay almost a hundred and eighty miles north of Akkad.
“The main thrust will be toward Akkad,” Eskkar continued, “through the Dellen Pass. These soldiers, between twenty-five and thirty thousand men, will be well prepared to assault Akkad. The Elamites have captured many cities in the east, so they know all about sieges.”