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what I expected from Eskkar. He’s a barbarian who believes in closing with his enemy or giving way. That is the way the Steppes horsemen fight. They attack when they have the advantage in numbers, or retreat when the situation is unfavorable to them. When Eskkar does neither, then I worry.”
    Eridu selected a plump date from the platter beside him. He didn’t bother to offer any to his visitor. “Eskkar’s men are tired. Perhaps he is just resting them before he decides to retreat. We can wait one more day. Without food, he can’t stay where he is, while we have plenty of supplies. And if he comes south, he falls into our trap. The chosen battleground is but a half day’s march from here. By midday tomorrow, I’ll be there waiting for him. Once he enters that valley, we will destroy him.”
    Razrek hesitated. Eridu’s words made sense, but still Razrek felt uneasy. “It may be as you say. But I came to warn you to stay vigilant. Keep your men ready for anything. Eskkar is cunning, and by now he may even know about your presence. Still, if the Akkadian doesn’t start moving tomorrow morning, I will try and engage his horsemen, to see if I can lure them away from the archers.”
    “My men are keeping a close watch to the north. I’ll double the men on watch tonight. We won’t be surprised, Razrek, you can be certain of that. And I’ve trained them hard enough these last few days.”
    While you took your ease with your women, Razrek thought. “Then my doubts are resolved, my king. I’ll send word in the morning as soon as I see which way he’s moving.”
    “Good. If Eskkar continues to come south, we’ll meet him at the ambush site. If he decides to return to Akkad, you will have to slow Eskkar down until my soldiers can fall on him from behind. By then his men willbe growing weak from hunger. The sooner we finish the barbarian off, the quicker I can claim these lands and get back to Sumer.”
    Razrek rose. “Of course, my king. I’ll return to my men, and leave you to your pleasures.”
    He gave Eridu a brief bow and swept from the tent. Outside, Razrek found his second in command, Mattaki, frowning at Eridu’s guards while he waited for his commander.
    “Anything new?” Mattaki handed Razrek the halter.
    “No, but at least I’ve warned him. He’ll start moving north in the morning, which should be safe enough. He’ll still be at least a good day’s march from the Akkadians, maybe more, unless he learns how to drive his men faster. Eridu should have brought his son with him. The men would fight harder for the son than the father.”
    “Isn’t Shulgi too young for this? That’s what Eridu said.”
    “Shulgi has almost seventeen seasons,” Razrek said. “He helped recruit and train most of these men. And he knows how to swing a sword, which is more than Eridu can say.”
    “So why didn’t he bring him?”
    “And risk sharing the glory? If Eridu beats Eskkar, he can claim to be a great warrior king. With Sumer and control of the river under Eridu’s thumb, and the border area opened up, all the other cities will fall to their knees and accept his leadership. That’s why Eridu wants this victory so bad he can taste it.”
    “While we do all the work and take all the risks,” Mattaki said, spitting on the ground.
    “That’s what you’re getting paid for. Besides, we outnumber Eskkar’s forces almost four to one. Even if we lose half our force crushing him, we’ll still come out with plenty of gold.”
    “And we can always recruit more men,” Mattaki said. He received a share of the gold Eridu paid for each new farm boy eager to become a soldier.
    In a moment both men were back on their horses, and Razrek led the way as they galloped through the camp, heedless of Eridu’s soldiers, who were forced to leap out of their path.
    Nevertheless, Razrek couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He’d spoken to anyone and everyone who’d ever been to Akkad or knew anything