"Better to die after I kill you, you filthy !"

Eskkar knew better than to heed an enemy's words. He struck first, jabbing the lance toward Shulgi's face. The shield rose to deflect it, and Eskkar struck at Shulgi's left leg with a vicious overhand stroke from his sword. But the Sumerian recovered and shifted away before the blow could strike, though the blade knocked a clod of dirt and sand from the earth.

Shulgi laughed and circled to his right. "You're slow, old man, with your clumsy weapon. I've killed a dozen horse-fighters with their long swords."

Behind Eskkar, the sounds of battle began to fade. More and more men joined the circle, to watch the two leaders fight. Even a few Sumerians, having thrown down their weapons in surrender, now stood on the ring that encircled the two fighters. Eskkar gritted his teeth. No matter what the cost, he could not allow Shulgi's taunts to continue.

At least Eskkar had recovered most of his breath. He attacked again, sword and lance, thrusting and cutting, shifting his feet, even leaping over a body. But Shulgi danced away each time, using his shield and short sword effectively, counter-striking at every opportunity.

Eskkar kept up the attack, trying to overwhelm the younger man with sheer strength. Blade clashed against blade, and this time Shulgi stood toe to toe. Twice he used his shield to force Eskkar back. The b.l.o.o.d.y gra.s.s littered with weapons and debris hindered both fighters. Eskkar knew what would happen to the first man to slip and fall.

"Better summon your archers to finish me, barbarian, before it's too late."

Shulgi attacked for the first time, his short sword flashing in the sun as it sought to weave a deadly web of bronze around his enemy.

After three hard strokes, Eskkar broke off the contact, leaping back and to his right, away from Shulgi's sword arm. The Sumerian's strokes were too quick, too powerful for Eskkar's long sword to counter for long. By now his chest again heaved with the exertion.

"Too proud to call on your men, old man?" Shulgi taunted. "They see what's happening."

Eskkar used his anger to attack, but Shulgi met his advance, his shield absorbing the vicious overhand strike of Eskkar's blade. Only the slim lance in Eskkar's left hand kept Shulgi's sword at bay. Another four or five hard strokes forced Eskkar to give up the attack, once again moving back and to his right. His right arm was weakening, and he knew Shulgi could feel it, too.

And then he remembered. Many years ago Eskkar had fought a skilled and powerful swordsman, a warrior so strong that even Eskkar's strength and youth could not defeat the man. A trick had saved Eskkar's life then, a gamble that would leave him open to a deadly stroke if it failed. Still, he felt the sword growing heavier in his hand, the blade sagging a little lower after each attack. Eskkar realized he would not last much longer against his younger opponent. He took one deep breath.

"Time to die, boy king!"

As the last word left his lips, Eskkar attacked with a ferocity that took every bit of his remaining strength. The blades clashed again and again, mixed with the dull thud of sword against shield. Stroke followed stroke, until Eskkar felt himself weakening. He threw himself back and to the side, as he'd done twice before.

Shulgi had waited for the same moment. As soon as Eskkar shifted, Shulgi, moving with a blur of speed, turned to his left, lunged forward, and struck at where Eskkar's unprotected sword arm would be.

But Eskkar had not fully shifted his body, and instead of dodging to the right, he flung himself forward and to his left, diving under Shulgi's overhand swing that would have cut Eskkar's arm in two if he'd moved as Shulgi expected. Instead, Eskkar slid onto his left knee, and thrust the point of his sword into Shulgi's exposed armpit, the weapon's tip piercing the laces that bound Shulgi's breastplate and stopping only when the blade bit against the shoulder bone.

Shulgi whirled around and struck downwards, but Eskkar had already rolled away, wrenching his sword loose and regaining his footing. Blood poured down Shulgi's side as he advanced again. He lunged at Eskkar's head with his sword, and Eskkar nearly failed to raise his blade in time to parry the stroke.

The Sumerian king tried to raise his sword for another attack, but his arm muscles refused to obey, and Eskkar struck the weapon aside with his own. Shulgi flung himself forward, raising his shield and trying to smash into Eskkar and bring him to the ground.

Eskkar closed in, lowering his left shoulder and smashing his body against the shield. Shulgi, moving slower, couldn't shift to the side as he done before. Eskkar's weight now flung Shulgi backwards. The Sumerian's heel caught on the outflung leg of a body and he crashed onto the trampled earth. The sword fell from his hand. Shulgi looked up, unable to lift his right arm, already growing weak from the blood loss that streamed down his right arm and side.

Shulgi tried to recover his sword, but Eskkar placed his left sandal on the blade, pinning it to the ground. He had to take two breaths before he could get control of his words. "I told your father . . . he should have stayed in Sumer. You should have learned from what happened to him."

Blood now soaked the ground beneath Shulgi's arm. The Sumerian glanced at his right arm, already covered in blood, and then laughed. "A trick . . . to keep yourself alive. The mighty Eskkar." He coughed, tried to laugh, then coughed again, this time spewing blood from his mouth onto his chest.

"Enough talk, Sumerian." Eskkar thrust down, not with his sword, but with the lance in his left hand. The slim bronze tip tore into Shulgi's throat and buried itself in the earth. His eyes bulged with pain, then rolled up into his head. The body twitched for a moment, then lay still. The boy king of Sumer had at least died bravely, fighting to the last. A warrior's end, and better than his father's.

Eskkar didn't care. He straightened up, letting go of the lance, and looked around the circle of men. It had grown in depth, and it seemed as though half the Akkadian army had stopped and watched the brutal demise of Shulgi's ambitions.

A cheer started, at first just a few men, then more, until everyone joined in. The realization that they had not only won the battle, but destroyed the enemy and killed its king sank in. They had survived and would live. The jubilation rose in intensity, until every voice shouted the same refrain. "Akkad! Akkad! Akkad!"

He let the chant go on, until their voices ran out of breath. Eskkar raised his sword, forcing himself to keep the blade steady. "You've won a mighty victory!" Another cheer answered him. "Now on to Sumer!"

This time the roar shook the battlefield. A new cry went up. "Death to Sumer! Death to Sumer!" It went on and on, this time accompanied by the clamor of men crashing swords against shields, until the sound came from every voice and floated from horizon to horizon on the warm air.

Two miles away King Naxos of Isin sat on his horse, his advisor Kuara at his side. The two men had slipped out of the city, and ridden south before swinging around to the east, taking care not to be seen by the handful of Eskkar's men still guarding the ditch. All over the horizon, they saw hundreds and hundreds of men running or riding away, all of them heading south. Many would flee to Isin, but Naxos had already given orders to admit only those who could prove they lived there.

Suddenly, a roar ascended into the heavens, a mighty cheer that echoed over the ground.

"That will be Shulgi's death knell," Kuara said, shaking his head in disgust. "His army is destroyed. Now Eskkar will march to Sumer and tear it down."

Naxos shook his head. "I doubt it. The Sumerians would be fools to resist, and Kushanna is anything but a fool. She'll slip away, or come up with some idea to turn aside the Akkadian's sword."

"Well, if anyone can talk their way out of trouble, she's the one. Do you think Eskkar will turn his fury on Isin?"

"He may be a barbarian," Naxos said, "but he's no fool, either. He knows he'll need as many allies in Sumeria as he can get. With Larsa gone and Sumer's wealth exhausted, Akkad needs our trade to recover, just as we need theirs. No, he'll keep his word and spare our city."

"Then we'll have to ally ourselves with him." Kuara sighed. "Still, it may not be so bad, if Akkad directs its trade to Isin. In a few years, we'll be strong again."

Naxos had reported his encounter with Eskkar to his advisor, but hadn't mentioned that Eskkar had invited him to visit Akkad. "Perhaps I will visit the barbarian's city for myself."

Kuara glanced at him. "You'd put yourself within reach of Trella's power? Why would you risk your life to go there?"

"Ah, to meet Lady Trella, of course." Naxos laughed. "Sooner or later, Eskkar is going to get himself killed. Some day she may need another strong leader to protect her."

Kuara shook his head. "If what Eskkar told you is true, you just escaped Kushanna's poison, my king. I don't think you should be taking yourself from the path of one viper and placing your neck in front of another."

"Well, we'll see about that. After all, only the G.o.ds know what the future holds."

"I doubt if that particular future is in the stars."

Naxos laughed. "Well, the years will tell us. Now let's get back to Isin. We've got to fill in that ditch as soon as possible."

The first thing Razrek felt was a fly buzzing around his face. He lay flat on his back, something hard pressing against his spine. His eyes refused to open, and all he could make out was a reddish haze. Blood, he decided. It took all his strength to raise his hand and rub it across his eyes. First one eyelid, then the other broke loose from the dried blood, and the fierce mid-morning sun nearly blinded him. Razrek closed his eyes and tried to ignore the pain. Something had struck his head, but he couldn't remember . . .

The silence washed over him. He heard no sounds of fighting, no horses crying out, nothing. Razrek used the pain to force himself fully awake. The battle had ended. No matter which side had won, he had to get to a horse.

"Here's another one still alive."

Razrek squinted into the sun, but couldn't see the speaker. He tried to sit up, but a foot planted itself firmly on his chest.

"This one's a commander, at least," another voice remarked. "Look at that fancy knife!"

Razrek twisted his head and gazed upward. A boy had moved into view over him, a bulging sack slung over his shoulder and a long knife in his hand.

"Should be good for a few coins."

Another boy joined the first, his shadow blocking out the sun. Razrek saw a sling hanging from the second boy's neck. He, too, carried a long knife in his hand. Both blades, Razrek realized, were stained with fresh blood.

"Should we take him to Shappa? He may be someone important."

"And give up what he's carrying? Your wits are slow today, little brother."

Before Razrek could reach for his knife, the second youth dropped down and thrust his blade into Razrek's neck. The powerful stroke sent the sharp point straight through the flesh and into the earth.

Pain lanced through Razrek's throat and head. He flailed his arms, trying to grasp the knife, but already he felt blood gurgling up. Choking, he thrashed about, but the pressure on his chest increased. His muscles failed him, and the pain slipped away. His eyes remained open, and words still reached his ears.

"Look at this purse! We'll never have to work again!"

"Hurry, before anyone sees! Strip the body. He may have more concealed in his tunic."

For Razrek, the bright morning sun faded to darkness as the two slingers finished looting his dead body.

By sundown the Akkadians had established a camp about a mile north of the battlefield, every man and beast stumbling wearily northward until they reached the chosen site. The burst of energy after the defeat of the Sumerians had faded. Exhaustion set in, as well as sadness. Many in Eskkar's army had died, though not as many as he'd expected. The wounded and there were many needed to be cared for. With the river now clear of Shulgi's men, more riverboats arrived to deliver food and take those who could not walk back to Akkad.

Eskkar sat before the fire, staring into the flames. Every muscle in his body ached. His right arm still felt numb, and he'd had trouble controlling his horse on the brief ride upriver.

A wine skin lay close at hand, and he'd already finished at least two cups of the strong drink. One more and he'd sleep well tonight, though he'd pay for it in the morning. Right now, it didn't seem to matter.

Alexar limped up, as weary as any man in the army. He had taken a spear in his leg. Despite that, Alexar had been the first to recognize the black mood that descended over Eskkar after Shulgi's death. Alexar regrouped the men and organized the brief march north. He slumped to the ground beside Eskkar.

"I've got a rough count of our dead, Captain."

"How bad?" Another grim aftermath of every battle the dead friends and companions, the wounded who would die later. Eskkar knew there was no escape from Alexar's tidings.

"About two hundred cavalry dead. Less than fifty archers, and almost half of those died on the boats. The slingers did better than anyone expected. Only forty dead."

"The infantry?"

"Two hundred and forty dead. Many of the survivors took wounds."

Including Gatus, who had died with Eskkar's arms around his shoulders. Eskkar had wept for the old soldier, who had flung his life into the battle to save his line from breaking. At least he died as he would have wanted, standing alongside his men and fighting to the end.

Grond had died as well, overwhelmed by a dozen men after he raised a mound of dead around himself. And probably still struggling to reach Eskkar's side. Klexor had died, too, riddled by enemy spears when his horse went down almost as the fighting ended. Muta had taken his command when his leader fell. A dozen paces away from where Eskkar sat, Drakis lay wrapped in bandages. Four years ago the man had nearly died fighting in Akkad, and now he was gravely wounded again. He would be on the first boat returning to Akkad in the morning.

The list of dead could have been far worse, Eskkar knew. The G.o.ds had favored him once again. Either that, or Gatus's training had kept most of the men alive, including himself. The slim Akkadian lance had kept Shulgi's sword at bay just long enough.

Eskkar's own victory over Shulgi counted for little. Every man watching had seen the younger man wear down his older opponent. In truth, Eskkar had won only by a trick, a desperate gamble that should have failed the first time he tried it, let alone the second. It bothered him that he hadn't been able to kill Shulgi outright, but staying alive was what counted, not how you did it. Eskkar knew what Trella would say when he told her. "In time they will only remember that you faced the king of Sumer in battle and slew him."

He would send her word of the victory tomorrow. She'd had her own victory over the Alur Meriki to celebrate. That didn't matter, either. Only that the city would remain safe and free, and that Sargon would grow stronger every day. The threat from Sumer had been eliminated. Once Eskkar stamped out Kushanna and her nest of snakes, peace would return to the land, at least for a time.

In the morning, Hathor would take the brunt of the cavalry and ride south. Despite today's victory, Eskkar intended to give Sumer no time to recover, raise more troops, or prepare a defense. Hathor had somehow come through the fighting almost unscathed. His dark Egyptian G.o.ds must still be protecting him. He would ravage the lands around Sumer, and seal it off from any river traffic. By the time Eskkar's army arrived, the city might have already surrendered.

"Drink some more wine, Captain, and get some sleep," Alexar said. "You need the rest."

Eskkar glanced up. Alexar's voice showed his concern. It always surprised Eskkar when others showed honest affection for him. And Alexar had his own wound to prove his courage. At least his commander knew how great the danger had been, and how lucky they were to survive it.

Without stopping, Eskkar emptied the wine cup, tossed it aside, then fell back against the hard ground. More than two years had pa.s.sed since this war began, but it had finally ended. Once again Trella would be kept busy helping the city recover. Better than anyone, she knew how to heal the wounds in the countryside and in the city. But peace would soothe the pain, and in time, Akkad would grow strong again, with its walls raised ever higher until, like mighty arms, they spread their protection around Trella, their son, and their children yet to come.

Eskkar looked up at the stars blazing overhead. Now he knew what they foretold. Long life for himself and Trella. A son to carry on their line, other descendants who would live through them and through the ages. Most of all, Akkad would grow strong and prosperous again. The empire encompa.s.sing all the land between the two rivers would be ruled from Akkad, not Sumer. And that, Eskkar decided before he fell into an exhausted and troubled sleep, made all the fighting worthwhile.

61.

In Sumer, the days rushed by, each filled with excitement. The war talk dominated every conversation. Rumors abounded about King Shulgi's army, its mighty size and power, its rapid march to the north. Everyone spoke proudly of how the other Sumerian cities already acknowledged Sumer's leadership. Others boasted about the coming destruction of Akkad and the creation of a mighty Sumerian Empire that stretched between the two rivers all the way to the far north.

When word of the fall of Kanesh arrived, the city's inhabitants celebrated. The fertile fields of the north would soon supply Sumer's every need, and slaves from the Akkadian lands would abound in the slave market.

Nevertheless, many suffered hardship. With the resumption of hostilities, trading ceased almost at once. Every boat that arrived at the docks was taken into King Shulgi's service, as the soldiers commandeered every craft. Wine and ale, grain and bread, chickens and herd animals, all were rushed aboard boats and sent north. Since the only vessels moving on the river carried cargoes to support King Shulgi's army, food supplies within Sumer grew scarce. Queen Kushanna's men had already emptied the city's storage places to feed the ravenous army. And still supply caravans departed each day, taking what little remained and collecting supplies along the way.

The shortages caused every merchant to raise prices, though few buyers had enough coins remaining to purchase anything but necessities. Even En-hedu's ma.s.sages slowed, as the tight-fisted upper cla.s.ses, staggering under Kushanna's ever-rising taxes, ordered their pampered women to cut back. Without a steady supply of ale, business at the Kestrel dropped off as well, and En-hedu and Tammuz suddenly found they had plenty of time on their hands.

Still, the mood in Sumer remained jubilant until the ninth day after the start of hostilities. Late in the afternoon, boatmen returning from Kanesh reported the disquieting news that Eskkar's army had slipped by King Shulgi's forces at Kanesh. The Akkadians were reputed to be marching toward Larsa or possibly even Sumer. Before the sun set, word had reached every hut in every lane. Many refused to believe it. For the first time, worried looks appeared on many faces. The city's soldiers doubled their efforts to strengthen the walls.

A king's messenger arrived the next day demanding more troops. Half the city's remaining garrison departed, ordered north to protect the caravans moving supplies. For En-hedu and Tammuz, that resulted in one piece of good tidings Jarud was promoted to Captain of the Guard. He celebrated with his friends and companions at the Kestrel the next evening.

Three days later, a boat carrying no cargo docked with word of the fall of Larsa. The grim news swept through Sumer. Over the next few days, more reports arrived, many of them conflicting, all of them adding shocking details about the destruction of Larsa. King Shulgi remained in pursuit of Eskkar's forces, but now that meant little to the city's inhabitants. Rumors insisted that the Akkadians were on the march to Sumer, intending to tear down the walls and kill everyone within.

The inhabitants started h.o.a.rding what little they had. Many shops and stalls in the lanes closed. Dozens left the city, before Queen Kushanna ordered the gates closed. No one was allowed to depart the city without her permission. The mood in Sumer turned sullen, as hard-eyed messengers from King Shulgi returned and departed, forbidden by Kushanna to speak to any. Desperate people, trapped in the city without any means of livelihood, formed gangs that roamed the lanes at night, searching for anything of value or even food to eat.

The gloom worsened when Sumer learned of the raid on Uruk, the city burned and its inhabitants driven into the countryside by Eskkar's hors.e.m.e.n, who had magically appeared out of the desert, wreaked their havoc, and disappeared. Everyone agreed that the king of Akkad was a demon from the underworld. How else could his armies be in so many places, and move about unopposed?

Twenty days after the start of the war, hors.e.m.e.n arriving at midday brought word of a mighty battle outside Isin, and the destruction of the Akkadian army. Eskkar's soldiers had been crushed and the survivors driven into the Euphrates to drown. The welcome news swept through the city like the fresh breeze from the Southern Sea. Smiling and relieved people gathered in the marketplace and outside the queen's quarters to give thanks, happy to learn that their sons and husbands would soon be returning home victorious over their enemy. En-hedu and Tammuz cheered as loudly as any.

"This is bad," Tammuz said when they were alone.

En-hedu shook her head. "No, it's just another rumor. Even if Eskkar were defeated, he would not have let his army be completely destroyed. He's far too good a fighter to let that happen. Eskkar may have lost a battle, but we mustn't give up hope yet."

That evening a good number of customers returned to the Kestrel, eager to drink to the success of Shulgi's soldiers.

Later that night, as the raucous patrons began to depart, Jarud strode into the Kestrel accompanied by three of his men. En-hedu took in their scowling faces and felt her heart jump, afraid that she and Tammuz had been discovered. But the newly appointed Captain of the Guard called out for ale, and plenty of it, as he slumped onto a bench.

En-hedu carried a pitcher with the last of the night's brew to the table, and filled everyone's cups. "You look too serious to be celebrating, Captain. Is anything wrong?"

Jarud downed his ale before replying. "Nothing to celebrate." He ignored her questioning look for a moment. "d.a.m.n all the demons! I just found out . . . you'll hear the news soon enough." He lowered his voice. "A handful of soldiers from the north arrived this evening." He filled his cup. "Not soldiers any more! Rabble. King Shulgi's army was defeated at Isin. King Naxos and the rest of his traitors refused to fight, and the Akkadian sc.u.m caught Shulgi unprepared. Our soldiers broke and ran. Hundreds, maybe thousands are dead, including the king."

Eyes wide, En-hedu sank down on the bench beside Jarud. "Are you sure? I mean . . ."

"I'm sure. I spoke to some of the sc.u.m myself. The army was . . ." Jarud couldn't find words to describe what he felt.

Tammuz joined them, and she whispered the news to him. It didn't matter. The remaining patrons needed only a look at Jarud and his companions to guess the worst. Then faint shouts from the lane could be heard. The news had already begun to spread.

En-hedu clasped her hands to her bosom. "The G.o.ds preserve us! What will happen now?"

"Who knows?" Jarud shrugged. "Whenever he's ready, Eskkar will march on Sumer. The last messenger brought news that Isin has changed sides and is now supporting the Akkadians. King Naxos will allow free pa.s.sage across his lands, the filthy coward."

"Sumer will not fall," En-hedu declared. "It's walls are high . . ."