Sam Barone: Empire Rising

Lani bowed respectfully. “Yes, Lady Trella, and this is my sister, Tippu.

May we give thanks to you for the rooms you provided?”

For the first time Lani looked directly into Trella’s eyes, and Lani saw this was no mere girl who faced her. Trella’s face revealed no trace of emotion. Instead Lani saw strength there, and power, but no hint of what she might be thinking. And whatever Trella’s age might be, her eyes announced that she saw everything, knew everything.

Trella ignored the polite question. “This is my friend and advisor, Annok-sur. She is also the wife of Bantor, commander of the gate.” Annok-sur did not stand, but nodded her head the slightest amount. “She is still recovering from a wound she received in the struggle.”

Bowing to Annok-sur, Lani saw no kindness there, only determination and toughness. She recalled the story she had heard from Alexar about the fighting that had taken place in this house, in this very room. Annok-sur, too, had fought against the usurper. Lani looked around for any signs of the struggle, but nothing remained. Still, Korthac had been wounded and taken captive right in this very spot. “I heard there was a great fi ght in the house of Eskkar. Alexar said that Lady Trella was also injured?”

Trella smiled briefly. “Yes. It is twice now that I have been stabbed since I came to Akkad. Soon I will have as many scars on my body as Eskkar.”

Lani saw no sign of any wound, but Trella’s loose-fitting gown revealed little, though she did look a bit pale. Alexar had mentioned that Lady Trella had lost a lot of blood during the birthing, in addition to the wound. Still, the battle had ended ten days ago, and both women had time to heal. Lani started to speak, but the soft cry of a baby in another room interrupted her.

Annok-sur rose from her seat, wincing as she did so. “I’ll tend the child, Lady Trella.” She passed behind Trella’s chair and went into the other room.

“May I offer felicitations on the birth of your son, Lady Trella?”

Trella acknowledged the compliment with another brief smile. “Sargon grows in strength each day. He will bring honor to his father, I am sure.” For a moment she turned toward the inner room, but the crying stopped, so she again faced the two sisters.

“Eskkar has told me the story of your plight, Lani, and you, Tippu,” she said, acknowledging the younger sister for the first time. “You both have suffered much at the hands of villains, and I’m glad Eskkar was able to release you from your captivity.”

Lani lowered her eyes at the mention of her past but quickly lifted them again. “Lord Eskkar freed us from… our captor, and protected us from the wrath of the villagers. We owe him our lives.”

“You seemed to have repaid him well enough, Lani. I learned of your … activities weeks ago.”

Lani lifted her head a little higher. “I do not regret what I have done, Lady Trella. Lord Eskkar had fought a hard battle. He needed someone to look after him and take charge of his household. It is not so strange that he should want a woman to comfort him.”

Trella sighed and pursed her lips for a moment. “A woman to comfort him I can understand, Lani. But somehow you managed to do more than that. Not to mention that you saved his life.”

So Trella knew about the fight in Bisitun. Lani shook her head. “It was little enough that I did, Lady Trella. I fell to the ground and one of his attackers tripped over me.”

“Eskkar described it somewhat differently. And he also told me that he cared for you.”

A thrill went through Lani at the words. “As I care for him, Lady Trella.

He saved more than our lives.” Lani bit her lip, then decided she might as well say everything on her mind. “You are the one he loves, Lady Trella.

The moment he heard that you might be in danger, he had no thoughts for me or anyone else.” She paused. “He has never told me that he loves me.”

“And what do you feel toward my husband, Lani? Do you merely seek his protection? Perhaps you just wanted someone to comfort you in the night? Or do you love him?”

“When I was with Ninazu, I swore that if I escaped somehow, I would never let a man touch me again. When the soldiers came and I pleaded for mercy, Lord Eskkar looked at me, the way any man looks at a woman. But instead of taking me or Tippu, or giving us to his men, he put his protection around us. That surprised me, Lady Trella, that a great warrior could want someone, but not take advantage of our weakness. So I went to him, just to serve him, and… he was tired and dirty… and somehow I knew he was different… from the others.”

Her voice trailed off, and Lani realized she had avoided answering Trella’s question. She lifted her chin and spoke firmly. “Yes, Lady Trella, I do love your husband.”

She watched Trella shake her head, as if in disbelief, but then Trella smiled, and for the first time her face showed the warmth of a young woman.

“A man should be more than just an animal. Isn’t that right, Lani?”

Lani felt confused, both by Trella’s smile and her strange words. “I do not understand, Lady Trella. I…”

“No, of course not. But I do understand, Lani. I once had much the same feelings toward Eskkar myself. I think it’s the barbarian in him that appeals to women. The savage horse fighters apparently honor and respect their women more than city dwellers, who seem to be crueler and harsher to us than any barbarian.”

Annok-sur slipped back into the room, partially closing the inner door so that the conversation would not wake the child. “Sargon is asleep, Trella, but I think he will need to nurse again soon.” She stared at Lani, but said nothing.

Trella’s eyes brightened at the thought of feeding her child. “We will be finished soon, Annok-sur.” Then she turned to Lani again. “Do you have any children, Lani?”

The question caught Lani by surprise. “No, Lady Trella. Ishtar has never blessed me with a child, though I sacrificed to her often when.. when I was married.”

“Perhaps the fault was with your husband,” Trella offered.

Lani’s eyes widened. The scandalous words could never be said in front of a man. Every husband knew that if a woman didn’t conceive a child, it was her fault.

“No, I was his second wife. His first wife died in childbirth, and the babe was lost.” Then Lani understood. Trella wanted to know if she might be carrying Eskkar’s child. “I carry no child, Lady Trella. The moon has risen for me since Lord Eskkar left Bisitun.”

Trella said nothing, just sat there for a long moment, staring down at the table. When she spoke, her voice took on a gentler tone. “I am sorry to have kept you standing, Lani, and you, too, Tippu. You must both be tired after your long voyage. Please sit down.” She turned to Annok-sur. “Give our guests some wine, Annok-sur, and a small cup for me.”

The other table held two pitchers and a half-dozen dark green glass goblets.

Lani and Tippu glanced at each other, then took seats across the table from Trella. Something must have satisfied Trella, Lani decided. Servants and inferiors stood in the presence of their betters. Annok-sur poured wine into a pair of goblets, diluted them with water, and handed them to Lani and her sister, before pouring a third glass for Trella.

“Welcome to Akkad, Lani… Tippu,” Trella said, her voice low.

Lani looked down at the dark wine glinting in the green glass, and wondered if it contained poison. She saw Tippu’s hand trembling with the same thought. Trella had not raised her glass. Still, Lani had no choice, not really. If Lady Trella wished them both dead, they would die, one way or another.

Lani lifted the glass to her hostess. “To Akkad,” and drank deeply, emptying half the contents before she put the goblet back on the table.