Empire Rising by Sam Barone

Author:Sam Barone [Barone, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

one of the seventeen Egyptians, and spoke to all of them whenever they passed. But only if their master were absent. She’d soon learned not to call attention to herself, not with Korthac nearby. None would dare venture into the lane or even acknowledge her greeting.

The only small exception to that rule was Hathor. A serious-looking man who seldom smiled, he functioned as senior steward to Korthac. Or acted as occasional bodyguard, depending on the need. When Korthac left the house, Hathor took charge, and he spent his time moving between the three houses, checking on the men and maintaining order. That brought him out into the lane, and occasionally he would smile or nod a greeting to En-hedu as he passed. Twice he actually bought something from her cart.

A belt one time, and a wrist guard the other. He made other purchases for the household as well, sometimes in the lane, but more often in the marketplace, which held a better selection of goods.

To her surprise, he’d picked up the local language very well, and even ventured to ask about her other wares. En-hedu tried to draw him into conversation, but he never stayed long, or spoke much. He never acknowledged her presence if Korthac accompanied him.

The Egyptian leader remained as elusive as ever. After taking his midday meal, Korthac usually returned to the docks. Boats that had started their journey toward Akkad at dawn often arrived in the afternoon hours, and trading could be brisk until late in the day. Today, though, Korthac remained within his walls. Then in the middle of the afternoon, two men she had never seen before walked up to Korthac’s house. The door wardens recognized them and passed them inside, without the usual challenge. The strangers, hard-looking men in dirty tunics, remained less than an hour, then departed, walking toward the river gate.

As they did so, several of Korthac’s men began passing from one house to the other, and the attitude of the guards changed. Those stationed at the doors seemed more tense, and the quick smiles they often directed at her disappeared. That piqued En-hedu’s interest even more than the strangers’ visitation. She changed her mind about quitting early, and began working on another belt, using a tiny bronze needle to etch a design in the soft leather. The simple pattern occupied her hands and still let her watch the lane, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

——

236

SAM BARONE

You say Ariamus is ready to cross the river?” Seated on a small stool, Korthac’s words sounded harsh in the small, windowless chamber he used when he desired complete privacy.

“Yes, lord,” Rihat answered, sitting cross-legged on the floor before Korthac. “All the men are in place, hiding in the hills just across the Tigris.

Ariamus said to tell you we can attack today, or wait until tomorrow, if you need more time.”

“No, we will attack today, at dusk, just as we planned. You’re sure no one saw our force?”

“None that we left alive, lord.” Rihat licked his lips.

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