Despite its personal discomfort, the wet weather could be considered a gift from Ishtar, the Goddess who oversaw Akkad’s welfare. The rains came from the east, and would have likely slowed the Elamites as well, burdened with food and weapons, in their march toward the Land Between the Rivers. The Akkadians, traveling across a much shorter distance and less rugged terrain, would not be as affected.
The dark clouds stayed overhead during most of the day’s miserable ride and the evening’s wet camp. The next morning, however, the gods finally answered the priests’ prayers, and the sun shone bright in a cloudless sky. By noon the ground had dried enough for a quicker pace, and the Akkadians pushed their horses.
Two more days of hard riding and fast walking followed, but by alternating horses, Eskkar’s troop made good progress over the rough ground. They traveled almost a hundred and twenty difficult miles as they headed for the eastern mountains and the Dellen Pass.
Just before noon of the fourth day after setting out, Eskkar reached the top of a small hill, and saw the looming foothills and the mouth of the Dellen Pass in the distance. He smiled in satisfaction, and thanked the gods for the speedy trek. Only two animals had gone lame during the journey, forcing their cursing riders to fall behind and catch up when they could.
From his vantage point, Eskkar studied the approaches to the Dellen Pass. The mouth of the Pass splayed out from the foothills, spreading wide, the ground appearing as if the gods had poured the liquid earth from a pot, letting it scatter across the ground. The trail itself disappeared into the foothills, wending its way eastward. It finally emerged, more than a hundred miles later, on the far side of the mountains.
On this side, after exiting from the Pass, the traveler had a choice of three trails. One, the least used, led to the northwest. The second went due west, the favored approach for those traders heading for the Euphrates. The third, and most traveled, wended its way southwest. On that path lay Akkad, the gateway to the Tigris and the southern cities. And the intended destination of the invading Elamites.
Gazing toward the foothills, Eskkar watched what appeared to be an endless caravan creeping toward the Dellen Pass. The army of Akkad had arrived as well, strung out for miles to the south. Soldiers and their supplies made up the brunt of those on the march, but there were hundreds of pack animals and even more porters and livery men trudging along, mixed in with the fighting men.
The army had followed the main trail from Akkad. However Eskkar and his men had taken a shorter, though more difficult route to the same destination.
“We couldn’t have timed it any better, Captain.” Drakis guided his horse alongside. “Doesn’t look like much of an army, though.”
Eskkar smiled. “No, more like a village on the move. There may be more porters than soldiers.”
“Well, they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t needed.” Without conscious thought, Drakis rubbed the scar on his cheek, just below his left eye. He’d taken an arrow in the face during the battle to recapture Akkad from the Egyptians, and nearly lost his eye.
“No sign of the Elamites,” Eskkar said, scanning the countryside. A few hundred enemy horsemen could tear to shreds the clumsy, strung-out column. “Better uncover the pennant, before our men think we’re an enemy patrol.” He eased his horse ahead, angling his approach to meet the head of the column.
Eskkar’s eight personal guards closed up behind him. Their duties had returned, guarding the King from any and all danger.
Meanwhile, Drakis ordered the Hawk Clan pennant uncovered, and the weary troop made its way toward the Akkadian army. By the time they reached it, Alexar, in command of the slow-moving Akkadian force, had galloped up from the rear of the column and waited to greet them.
“Good to see you, Captain. We were starting to think you weren’t coming.” Alexar moved away from the line of march and eased his horse to a stop. “The men were starting to worry. Is there any word from the north?”
River boats could carry information faster even than the speediest horse. “Yes, Sargon left to join the Ur Nammu and ride with them. They should be nearly through the mountains and into Elam soon. All is well with you?”
“Other than being at least a day, maybe two behind schedule, everything is as we expected. Lady Trella’s preparations were so thorough that the soldiers haven’t started complaining yet.”
Eskkar glanced down the column. “Where’s the cavalry?”
“Already in the pass,” Alexar said. “I sent Muta and most of the horsemen on ahead, with orders to hold off the Elamites until we arrive.”
Muta, Hathor’s second in command during the war with Sumer, had charge of Akkad’s remaining cavalry. Nevertheless, his eighteen hundred horsemen weren’t going to stop the Elamite army for long. Still, if Akkad’s luck held, only a few more days would be needed for Eskkar to get his men into position.
“Are we staying with the column?” His voice as cheerful as ever, Drakis clasped arms with Alexar.
“No, Drakis,” Eskkar said. “You take twenty of my guards up into the Pass and join Muta and his men. Tell them I’m on my way. But tonight I’ll stay with Alexar and the infantry.”
With a wave, Drakis turned aside, shouting to his men to follow. They rode off toward the Pass, facing another stretch of hard riding.
“I’ll take the lead, Captain,” Alexar said. “You probably should spend some time with the men. They’ve been wondering about you.”
Both men understood how important it was for Eskkar to be seen by his men, and even the porters. He would have preferred to ride on ahead with Drakis, but it would be the infantry that would bear the brunt of any fighting, and they needed to see their leader.
Eskkar touched his heels to his horse and rode toward the irregular column. As he approached, the soldiers struggling under their heavy burdens of weapons and supplies recognized their commander and gave a ragged cheer. The sound followed him as he paced his horse down the line of march, waving to the men. His presence gave them reassurance and confidence. They knew that where he led, others could follow.
As he rode, he studied the faces of the soldiers and laborers turned toward him. A company of spearmen marching together, strong and husky, carrying shields and spears. Archers, tall and lithe, with powerful arms, bearing bows and at least two fat quivers of arrows. Slingers, who appeared to be little more than boys, each laboring under the weight of two sacks of bronze bullets and struggling to keep up with their taller and stronger companions.
Aside from their primary weapon, each soldier carried a sword or in the case of the slingers, a long, curved knife. Sacks of bread and dried meat hung from wide belts that sagged under the weight. Armies, Eskkar knew, needed food and water as well as weapons if they were to fight effectively. Fortunately, thanks to Trella’s meticulous planning and effort, a vast amount of supplies traveled with the army, with more already on the way from Akkad.
Such planning and preparation had helped win the war against Sumer. Since then, Trella and her clerks had grown even more efficient. Eskkar and his soldiers would have all the supplies they needed for this campaign.
Eskkar smiled and waved at each company of men, making eye contact with as many as he could. He knew the names of more than a few leaders of ten and twenty, and he called out to those as he moved down the line. Despite their youth, these men would soon be fighting and dying under his orders, and he recognized the debt he owed them. They would be the ones who saved Akkad, though he doubted many of them understood the hard decisions that had brought them to this day.