Battle For Empire

4

Two days after Eskkar’s departure, Trella climbed the stairs and entered Eskkar’s Workroom, the frown on her face deepening when she realized she had kept her guests waiting. She’d asked them to join her at midmorning, and the sun’s rays showed that time had come and gone. The two women awaiting her made no comment, of course. Both knew Trella rarely arrived late for any meeting, especially one she had called herself.

Annok-sur occupied the same chair that Bracca had used a few nights before. Tall and spare, she had almost twice as many seasons as Trella. Despite the age difference, the two had forged a strong friendship. Annok-sur guided the large number of agents who collected information not only within Akkad’s walls, but throughout the land.

She also made sure that trouble-makers, or those that might present a threat to Eskkar and Trella’s rule, left the city. Not all of those who departed did so voluntarily. Those too stubborn or stupid to accept Annok-sur’s suggestions to move on found themselves, in the darkest hour of the night, floating face down in the Tigris.

Rumors whispered about bodies found miles downstream from Akkad, many bearing signs of being tortured. Troublemakers who chaffed under Eskkar’s rule soon learned to keep their discontent to themselves. The people of Akkad might respect Eskkar, and revere Lady Trella, but they feared Annok-sur, whose network of spies and informers blanketed the City.

Beside Annok-sur sat a much older woman. Uvela believed she had nearly sixty seasons, though she could not be certain of her age. Unkempt gray hair cascaded over her shoulders and reached nearly to her waist. A worn and faded brown dress served her well enough, and helped her blend into Akkad’s poorest districts.

No beauty even in her youth, Uvela’s face now displayed the lines and creases that came from spending her days in the sun. She had survived many years of hard physical labor. She’d seen two of her children die from hunger, and another daughter, Shubure, raped and sold into slavery. Nevertheless, at an age that few women ever reached, Uvela remained both alert and spry, and her sharp eyes missed nothing. She could still put in a full day’s physical labor if called for.

While yet a slave, Trella had met Shubure, Uvela’s daughter. Trella had befriended the girl, and that act of kindness had saved Shubure’s life. Soon afterwards, mother and daughter became the first of many women Trella relied on to gather information useful to the future rulers of Akkad.

Even now, Uvela remained the most important of Trella’s eyes and ears within the city of Akkad. Uvela possessed an incredible memory for faces. She spent her days at the docks, watching people come and go into the city. Whenever Trella and Annok-sur wanted someone found, information gathered, or someone watched, they turned to Uvela.

Trella closed the door and took her seat across the table, her back to the wall where Eskkar kept his swords. With the Hawk Clan guards at the foot of the stairs, no one could overhear their conversation. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. There was a. . problem with Sargon.”

She didn’t need to say more. Trella’s oldest son, Sargon, had entered into his fourteenth season a few months ago. At that age most sons were well prepared to work beside their fathers or carry on whatever trade they had mastered.

Sargon, however, had grown openly rebellious of his mother’s wishes, and even Eskkar’s admonishments had little effect on the boy. Sargon preferred the company of his companions to working beside the soldiers and planners who had built and defended Akkad. Nevertheless, he remained a favorite of those living in the city, and most inhabitants took a tolerant attitude toward the heir’s youthful wild streak.

Annok-sur and Uvela held a different outlook, as did most of those working or living within the Compound. They understood that Sargon’s indifference and lack of diligence promised trouble as he grew older, which did not bode well for the City’s future.

“It’s of no matter, Trella,” Annok-sur said, clearing the air. Whatever new trouble Sargon had gotten himself into didn’t concern them, at least for this meeting. “We’ve been talking about Uvela’s new great-granddaughter.”

That brought a smile to Trella’s face. Uvela lived with her daughter and her extended family.

Composed now, Trella shifted to face Uvela. Despite the steady influx of newcomers to Akkad, Uvela knew more people within the City’s walls than anyone. Now that knowledge would be put to use.

“We have need of your skills once again,” Trella said. “And this time it may be even more vital to Akkad than ever before.”

For more than ten years, Annok-sur and Uvela had helped Trella plan for the continued growth of Akkad, and their influence helped create the policies and laws that guided the city’s growth. Their most important function, however, was to insure that Eskkar and Trella’s grip on the city remained unassailable. To accomplish that, Annok-sur and Uvela maintained and controlled the large numbers of spies, mostly women, who moved quietly about the city.

In a world ruled by men, women were considered of little use other than to provide comfort to their husbands or masters, work hard from dawn to dusk, and produce children. In consequence, men spoke freely in front of their women. Since Trella had done so much to protect the safety of women, they were grateful enough to help her whenever they could, even if it meant spying on their husbands.

The network of agents also extended far beyond Akkad’s walls. Every village in the Land Between the Rivers had at least one of Trella’s agents, watching and listening for threats against Eskkar’s House. Spies also reported on activity in Sumeria. The southern cities of Sumer, Isin, Uruk, Lagash, and Nippur all contained elements hostile to Akkad and remained a constant peril to its dominance.

Anyone who might threaten that authority was noted, observed, and in some cases, eliminated. Women, it turned out, had proved especially adept at adding a drop or two of poison to a man’s ale.

Trella understood well the uses of power and terror, and she used both of them to keep agitators and troublemakers under control. Thieves, pickpockets, even murderers had little to fear from Trella’s informants. But threats to her husband, her family, or her city would never be tolerated.

“I asked you here, Uvela” Trella began, “because a new enemy has arisen that threatens not only Akkad, but all of us and our children. Eskkar has learned that a mighty empire exists to the east, and this enemy plans to invade our Land Between the Rivers. Based on the little that Annok-sur and I could discover in the last few days, the Elamites, that is their name, intend to conquer or destroy Akkad, and subject her and all the other cities in these lands to their rule. The Elamites will demand tribute, gold, and slaves in large quantities to feed their growing empire.”

Trella paused a moment to let her words sink in. The pleasant expression on Uvela’s face vanished, replaced by shock and surprise.

“When these Elamites capture a new city, many of its leading families are killed outright,” Trella continued, “especially those that resisted or might threaten their rule. For those families permitted to live, hostages are taken back to the land of the Indus. In this way, the Elamites intend to ensure that Akkad and the other cities they capture will remain docile under their rule. Of course many of their soldiers are stationed in each city to enforce the Elamites’ rule. They kill or torture any who fail to obey, often along with their families.”

Uvela took only a moment to comprehend the danger. “When will this happen?”

“As far as we know, not this year, and probably not the next,” Trella said. “But within two years, the Elamite army will be on the march to our lands. Akkad will likely be their first destination. If they can capture this place, the other cities will either be destroyed in turn, or forced to submit to their rule.”

“How did Eskkar learn of this?” Uvela’s calm expression had returned. “How certain is he that they will come?”

“I cannot tell you how we learned of this. That is a secret that must be kept. In fact, it must even be kept secret that we know of this at all. But Eskkar and I believe that this warning is true.”

“Well, if we have a year or two to prepare,” Uvela said, “then there is much you and Eskkar can do to ready Akkad’s forces.”

“Our soldiers may not be enough,” Trella said. “The Elamites have many thousands of trained soldiers, far more than can be raised in this land. Akkad’s walls and defenders may not be enough to withstand their greater numbers.”

She told Uvela about the Elamites’ habit of striking early, and of their practice of infiltrating the cities of their victims.

“It is likely. . no, it is almost certain, that there are already one or two Elamite spies living within Akkad, and probably Sumer and Isin as well. These are the closest cities to the eastern borders. And it is also likely that Eskkar and I are first on their list for assassination. Annok-sur’s role in the city is well known, and she would likely be another target for assassins. The Elamites prefer to strike down those who they think will be most dangerous to them long before their armies appear outside the city’s walls.”

“Then these spies will have to be found,” Uvela said. “We can start by looking at anyone who recently arrived in Akkad.”

“Yes, we must do that,” Trella agreed. “But many of their spies may have been living here for years. They might not even be from the land of Elam. Any Akkadian might now be in their pay. Not to mention that every merchant, trader, boat captain, anyone who travels to the east and south, may be willing to sell information. Even loose talk may help the Elamites learn of our strengths and weaknesses. And once an Akkadian takes their gold, he may be unable to stop spying for them.”

“There are many Akkadian traders doing business with the eastern lands, perhaps fifty or sixty,” Uvela said. “If we add in their caravan masters, ship captains, guides, overseers. . we may be talking about hundreds of people, perhaps more. For a handful of gold, any one of them might become a paid informer.”

Trella and Annok-sur had come to the same conclusion. The problem seemed insurmountable.

“What does it matter what information these spies pass to their masters.” Uvela shifted in her chair. “Even I can estimate the number of soldiers in Akkad’s army, how they are organized, where they are stationed. I suppose that information could be just as easily obtained about Isin and Sumer and the other cities. During the Sumer War, we had a good grasp of our enemies’ forces, as they did of ours.”

“That’s true enough.” Trella brushed a few strands of hair away from her face. “But I think there are several problems that need to be addressed. First, we need to gather as much information about our enemy as we can. That must be done as quietly as possible. Annok-sur and I are meeting with Yavtar tomorrow. He knows some traders who may assist us.

Yavtar, once a river trader and now one of the wealthiest men in Akkad, had twice fought at Eskkar’s side. Yavtar had also developed the fighting boats used during the Sumerian war, and knew much about the trading routes that extended to the far eastern lands.

“Meanwhile,” Trella went on, “we don’t want to let the Elamites know that we are aware of their intentions. In this conflict, they already have the advantage of knowing more about us than we do about them. That must change.”

“And then,” Annok-sur said, speaking for the first time, “we will need to expand the protection around our most important leaders. Trella and Eskkar, of course. Also Bantor and the other commanders. That will include the Noble Families and a few others.”

Nine families now comprised the Council that advised Eskkar and Trella. Their advice and influence were important parts of the strength of the City.

“Can we trust the Noble Families?” Uvela’s oldest daughter had suffered under one of the ruling families before Eskkar came to power. “Some of them may be willing to take gold from these Elamites.”

“We must trust them, to a certain extent,” Trella said. “We have to in any case, since they will learn sooner or later about the threat.”

“Most are loyal to Eskkar.” Uvela paused for a moment, as if considering each of the Families. “But what if the Elamites offered to make the head of any Noble Family the next ruler of Akkad, in return for his support and help? That kind of offer can tempt almost anyone, including any of the younger and wilder sons of the Nobles.”

And Sargon could be counted among that number. Trella put the painful thought aside.

“That will have to discussed.” Trella smiled at Uvela’s quick grasp of the situation. “But right now I am more concerned with finding a way to turn our enemy’s strength into a weakness. Eskkar and Bantor will prepare our soldiers for battle, of course. As we gather knowledge of the Elamites, we will also prepare for the invasion. When it comes, we must try to guide the war so that our soldiers are victorious.”

“How will we do that?” Uvela’s voice sounded dubious.

“Eskkar gave me the idea years ago,” Trella said, “when we fought the Alur Meriki at the walls. We will make our strengths seem like our weakest points, and at the same time we will ensure that our weaknesses appear much worse than they are.”

“After all,” Annok-sur said, “it will still take months for information, or perhaps I should say misinformation, to make its way back to the Elamites. This war will not be like the war against Sumer. In that conflict, news could travel from Akkad to Sumer in a matter of days. By the time the Elamites discover they have been misled, it will be too late.”

“If we can guide the course of the war in our favor,” Trella said, “we may help bring victory to our men.” She glanced at each of the women. “What we discuss here must never leave this room. Right now, only Eskkar and Bantor know what we know.”

Uvela nodded in understanding.

“Then we are agreed.” Trella leaned back in her chair. “Tomorrow we will make lists of those traders and merchants who deal with the eastern trade. We want to know everything about them, especially if any seem to be in possession of extra gold, or whose sons are quarreling with their fathers or brothers.”

“That will be a long list.” Uvela shifted in her chair. “What will we do when we discover who they are? Kill them?”

“No, not yet.” Trella’s voice took on a hard tone that few ever heard. “I want to use them. But first you must find them for us, Uvela. Once we know who they are, we will observe them and discover who else is in their pay. Only when we are sure of ourselves will we get rid of them.”

“Meanwhile,” Annok-sur placed her hand on Uvela’s shoulder, “you will start your most trusted informers searching for any foreigners who have moved into Akkad in the last year or two. Strangers and newcomers must also be found and watched. In the coming months, we must learn much not only about our enemy, but what his plans are.”

“All this may take longer than a few months,” Uvela said.

“Yes, but we have time.” Trella took a deep breath. The war had indeed begun. “Just not any to waste. We have much to do, and it must start with you. Find them for us, Uvela. Find them all. After that, we will watch them, and then we will decide their fate.”