Empire Rising (31 page)

The gold and silver coins taken from Ninazu provided another source of contention, the difficulty being to establish how much had been taken from any one person. Acting together, the council made those decisions, often after appealing to the villagers, who made dispositions based on what they thought a man might have possessed.

At last the sun began to sink below the western horizon, and Sisuthros announced the end of the day’s proceedings. Another assembly would convene the next day, starting at midmorning. The council of elders would meet earlier, an hour after sunup, to go over what would be the next order of business—restoring the productivity of the farms, the shopkeepers, and the merchant traders.

The crowd began to disburse, heading to their homes for supper. Even after most departed, guards were posted at Eskkar’s door to keep a few overeager supplicants away from the leaders of Akkad.

“Marduk take all of them,” Sisuthros said, his voice hoarse. He lifted his feet onto the table as he leaned back against the wall. “Another day like today, and I’ll run off and become a bandit myself.”

Eskkar felt every bit as tired. The constant arguing grated on his Empire Rising

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nerves, wearing him down. Yet he had to remain alert, to study those as they spoke, in order to determine who might be lying from those who had little skills with speech. He’d stayed out of it as much as possible, but he had intervened twice when Sisuthros looked toward him for help. Eskkar attempted to follow Trella’s advice. “Be aloof. Do not deal in common matters. Leave those to your commanders. That way the people will know you concern yourself with far more important things than some farmer’s cow or the innkeeper’s bill.”

“Tomorrow will be easier, Sisuthros. At least you’ve got the gold out of the way. They’ll quiet down as soon as they get back to work. You’ll be besieged with requests for men, to help rebuild the farms, the ditches, the shops, the boats, everything damaged or destroyed by Ninazu.”

“Captain, I don’t know how you and Trella stand it. Better a hard fight against the barbarians any day.” He shook his head. “I don’t think we have enough scribes and traders, let alone soldiers.”

Lani approached the table, carrying a tray of wine, cheese, and bread, the first part of the evening meal. Eskkar mixed himself a cup of watered wine. Sisuthros was right. They would need more help, and they wouldn’t be able to trust anyone from Bisitun for months.

“I’ll send word back to Akkad, Sisuthros. Maybe Nicar or Corio has someone else they can spare to help you. Perhaps Trella knows of someone.”

He didn’t mention Sisuthros’s wife. Far too shy and retiring, she wouldn’t be able to deal forcefully with determined villagers.

Eskkar watched Lani as she moved gracefully about the cooking area, giving directions to the two women preparing the food. He knew she could be of use to Sisuthros, but the people of Bisitun would never accept her in that role. To them, no matter what Eskkar had said today, she would always be Ninazu’s woman. Besides, he had promised her protection in Akkad.

Hamati, Drakis, the scribes, and a few of the other senior men sat down at the table, everyone hungry for their dinner. Lani and Tippu returned, carrying more trays laden with food, helped by the other women, who had done a good part of the cooking in their own homes.

No fancy fare yet. Food would remain in short supply in Bisitun until the market reestablished itself. Nevertheless, in the next few days farmers would be bringing in whatever they could spare, to sell to the soldiers and villagers. So for tonight’s dinner, the men ate a stew made from two 170

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chickens, chopped into tiny chunks, and mixed with fresh vegetables. Four loaves of bread fresh from the ovens helped soak up the stew, and watered wine completed the meal. Not much food for fighting men, but most of Bisitun would not eat as well tonight. At least no villager would starve in the next week or ten days, though plenty would go to bed hungry.

The meal finished, Eskkar and Sisuthros took another walk about the village. Both men felt the need to stretch their legs after sitting or standing all day with solemn looks on their faces. Accompanied by Grond and three other guards, they spent hours poking about until darkness made it too difficult to see anything.

Eskkar took every opportunity to talk with the villagers. Such casual speech didn’t come easy to him, but Trella had gotten him used to making small talk with the common folk, asking about their homes, their families, their needs, and their hopes. He’d learned that people provided the real basis for his rule, and he worked hard at building a bond between himself and those he ruled.

The three men were yawning when they returned to the square, for once empty of villagers.

After such a long and exciting day, everyone would be in bed, eager for sleep. Eskkar, Sisuthros, and Grond washed at the well, stripping down and pouring water over their bodies. It didn’t feel as refreshing as a good swim in the river, but Eskkar promised himself that luxury tomorrow, come what may.

Carrying their clothes, the three of them walked back inside the house. The big room, empty of servants, held only two soldiers standing guard just inside the door. Eskkar spoke to both of them, to make sure they stayed alert. Though Sisuthros had distributed much of the loot, the house still held the gold destined for Akkad.

Eskkar had just entered his room when Lani appeared, carrying a pitcher of wine, another of water, and a single cup. She’d no doubt heard the men cleaning themselves at the well, so she brought no washing bowls.

Splashing a bit of wine into a cup, she added water before handing it to him. Already she had learned that he drank his wine well watered.

“Thank you, Lani,” he said, breaking the silence. She probably thought he expected her to attend him. She wore the same soft robe she wore last night when she came to him, and already he wished she would unfasten it.

He took a sip from the cup.

“Lani, you don’t have to be here. Your sorrow for your husband is . . .”

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She touched her finger to his lips. “My husband has been dead for over four months. Today . . . watching Ninazu die, I put an end to my grief.

Now I have to care for my sister.”

“Then she’ll need you tonight, Lani. Stay with her. She doesn’t have your strength.”

“Tonight she has Grond to comfort her.” She saw the look on his face.

“No, lord, she went to him willingly. It’s time she ceased being afraid of men. And I think Grond is the right man for that task. He ignores her dishonor, and treats her with respect. His presence reassures her more than my words ever can. She knows no one will hurt her now.”

True enough, Eskkar thought. Only a foolhardy man would offer any insult to a woman under Grond’s protection.

Lani turned away and went to the door. She closed it, then placed the wooden bar across the frame. Turning back to face him, she lifted her head high. “I think it’s time that I, too, went willingly to a man’s bed. I would stay the night with you again, lord, if I do not displease you.”

He looked at her, and his resolve vanished. She had some essence, something that made him want her, and he knew it was more than just her skill in pleasuring him. Eskkar sat down on the bed, more than a little unsure of himself.

“You know I want you, Lani. But I won’t take you with a lie on my lips. My life is back in Akkad, with Trella. And I’ll be going back soon enough.”

“Then I only ask that you keep your word, lord, to take me and my sister back to Akkad with you. Until then, you will need someone to manage your household, care for you while you are here, and hold you in the darkness of the night.”

“You do not need to call me ‘lord,’ Lani. My name is Eskkar. I am just a simple soldier. One trying to rule a city and a land full of problems.”

She stepped toward him, stopping just out of reach, and began to unfasten her dress. “No, Eskkar. I heard you in the square today, and saw what you did. You gave the villagers honesty and justice, something they haven’t seen in many months. Despite their complaining, they already accept you as their ruler, and trust you to protect them. You are a great lord, to have such power over men.”

The robe untied, she slipped it over her shoulders, letting it hang from her arms, the same as she’d done last night. She closed her eyes to his gaze, but her body trembled as if she could already feel his hands upon her.

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He shook his head. No one had ever called him “great” before. If he ever ruled this land, it would be Trella who deserved that honor. He couldn’t explain all that to Lani, not now. He stood and reached for her, taking her in his arms and catching her hair in his hand. He kissed her upraised lips, and heard the robe slip to the floor. She tasted sweet to him, and he kissed her even harder, letting his other hand find and fondle her breast until she caught her breath.

“What can I do to please my lord tonight?” She kept her voice low, but he could hear the passion in it.

He swung her around, and pushed her gently down on the bed. For a moment he felt tempted to leave the candle burning, but the sight of her body already burned in his memory. He leaned over and blew out the flickering light. Despite his passion, he took the time to unsheathe the sword and lean it against the wall before sliding into the bed.

They held each other, neither one saying anything, just kissing and touching for a long time, until his excitement grew. When Lani moved to pleasure him as she had done the night before, he held her down, kissing her neck.

“Oh, no, Lani. Not tonight. Tonight I will give you pleasure.” He lay on his side and began caressing her, sucking and biting on her nipples while his fingers probed and teased her body. At first she seemed uncomfortable with the attention, but gradually she relaxed, letting him arouse her.

His lips moved up and down the length of her body, tasting her, kissing her, and she began to moan from the pleasure he gave her. He resisted her first pleadings, ignored the way she pushed her body against him, held back until her hand tightened so much around him that he thought he would burst.

Finally he moved atop her and slid deep into her body. A long sigh of pleasure escaped her lips, and she locked her legs around him.

He began to move against her, and she matched his movements, pushing herself against him. Before long she cried out, her arms and legs fastening themselves around him, her sounds of passion coming faster and faster until she gave a little scream into his neck as her body overwhelmed her.

Trembling, she could do nothing but hold him fast; he increased his thrusts against her and soon he, too, cried out as he gave her his seed, his face and mouth buried in her hair.

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the touch of her body. When he moved beside her, she moaned a little. He took her in his arms and held her. Her whole body shook, and he tasted the salt of tears on his lips when he gently kissed her cheek.

“Did I hurt you, Lani?”

“No, lord.” Her arms pulled tight around his neck, and she buried her face against his. “These are tears of happiness.”

10

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I n Akkad, the days passed swiftly for Tammuz. Overnight, the addition of En-hedu to his household made the gloomy place seem brighter, and its dull routine soon disappeared, as she set about improving the alehouse. Neither Kuri nor Tammuz had ever bothered trying to keep the place clean, but she soon made up for their past neglect. She traded a few cups of ale to a carpenter who lived nearby. He labored there whenever he had no work of his own, or if he’d worked up a thirst. An hour at a time, over the course of a week, he fixed the rickety benches and tables, and built a new shelf to hold the few cups and plates the alehouse possessed.

At Tammuz’s suggestion, the carpenter also rebuilt the tavern’s two doors, making the outer door more solid, and repairing the inner one that led to Tammuz’s private room. When the craftsman finished, the two doors hung properly, swung freely, and both could be fastened securely. For working on the doors, the carpenter asked for a payment of five copper coins in addition to his usual libations; he had to shape some cast-off bronze strips for the hinges, make a dozen nails, and rebuild the outer door’s lintel. For the satisfaction of sleeping safer at night, Tammuz agreed to the sum. In his neighborhood, inhabitants paid any price for the chance to sleep in safety at night.

A few days later, when the carpenter completed his tasks and emptied his last cup of free ale, the alehouse looked much better. For a finishing touch, En-hedu, using some red dye bought at the marketplace, sketched a wine cup and the barley symbol on the outer wall, so that passersby could tell at a glance what the establishment sold.

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While all this was going on, Tammuz watched in astonishment as En-hedu began ordering the patrons around. First she made them stop urinat-ing against the alehouse’s outside wall. The regular customers soon grew tired of her berating and scolding, and went down the lane and around the corner to relieve themselves. Newcomers were warned, and if anyone forgot, she told Kuri to keep them out until they learned their lesson.

In a few days, much of the rank odor disappeared from the outside of the alehouse. At the same time, with Kuri’s assistance, she cut a small hole through the ceiling of the public room, giving the stale air and cooking smoke a chance to escape, a good trade-off for the occasional rain that would find its way inside. For another copper coin, two barrows loaded with clean sand arrived. Tammuz watched as En-hedu efficiently spread the contents over the dirt floor. That helped keep the bugs and insects under control.

With these and other improvements En-hedu suggested, the establishment took on a somewhat more reputable appearance. The number of customers increased as well, which not only helped profits increase, but provided more of a cover for the half-dozen or more thieves who habitu-ated the place. Since Tammuz kept his ale prices low, his clientele soon increased, and most of the patrons knew each other. That kept the fights to a minimum, and Kuri had fewer problems keeping order.