Adversaries Together (44 page)

His face tightened, then relaxed. As he
opened his eyes, he did see the distant square of blue sky but
rather Umma’s face, inverted and grinning cheerfully at him. He
didn’t flinch as he sat up from the stone bench, making room for
her beside him.

“
Am I being summoned?”
Amar-Sin spoke, the weariness thick in his voice.

Umma sat, said nothing, and continued to grin
at him.

“
I thought I could at least
have a morning to myself.”

Looking down at the bench, Umma ran her hands
on the stone. “You’ve made it so warm. How long have you been out
here?”

“
I came after waking.” He
stared out into the garden. “It was dark. There were still gems in
the sky.”

Umma made a face, “That’s a queer thing to
say.”

Not looking at her or giving any outward
reaction, he merely muttered, “I suppose it is.”

“Erudu needs you to speak to Tibir. Tibir
wants Larsa to drop his petition. Larsa has gained Kish’s support.
Adab has actually decided to take action herself and has instructed
her caravans to double their exports. There is a debate going on
right now in the chamber between Sippa and Ruppik that is about to
explode into a proper quarrel.” Amar-Sin raised a hand for Umma to
stop. The two sat in the quiet listening to the babble of the
fountains.

Umma didn’t let the stillness linger, “Erudu
believes Tibir will challenge Sippa’s place. That the challenge
will sway enough of the rest to either follow Adab’s example or
join Larsa.”

Amar-Sin stood up and sighed. “What of the
northerly traders?”

“
The spies.” Umma said
matter of fact. Amari-Sin nodded and motioned for her to follow him
as he began to walk down a slate path that snaked through the high
hedges.

“
From what Kish has
reported, they apparently weaseled their way into his registry by
impersonating dignitaries from The Cathedral.”

“
It never occurred to Kish
or his officers that we have never done direct business with the
Cassubians before?”

“
He clearly thought he
could orchestrate some sort of windfall.” Umma smirked.

“
So it was this that
emboldened Larsa and Adab?”

Umma nodded, “They wouldn’t have let such an
opportunity pass them by.”

“
My question now is ‘what
is the count?’”

As they neared the towering terraces the
garden thinned somewhat but mosses and ivy were up at least three
stories. They came to a large bronze door upon which was a
seemingly infinite design of squares within squares. Umma reached
out, her small hand taking ahold of a large knocker. She raised it,
then let it fall sending a dull, but deep and lasting knell. The
silence between them was pure, Amar-Sin was waiting patiently but
it was clear Umma was avoiding answering his question.

The door slowly opened away from the two
revealing a lone sentry dressed in a black cataphract holding a
golden staff with a rounded tip. He stood motionless as Amar-Sin
gestured for Umma to go ahead of him. As she stepped forward the
sentry spun in its heel and began walking down the torch lit stone
hall. The hall ran parallel to the gardens for about forty feet
until it terminated in an open platform. The sentry folded back a
gate and stood awaiting the two to step inside.

“
We will need to secure at
least five more while keeping our current bloc of eight intact.”
Reluctantly, Umma spoke up as she stepped onto the platform.
Amar-Sin stood before her just outside of the platform, his hands
clasped behind his back. He nodded slightly, his expression
emotionless as he stared at her. Umma met his gaze with hers of
clear irritation. Finally, Amar-Sin stepped onto the platform. The
sentry almost immediately pulled the gate closed and came over to
stand next to a winch on the inside; his hand griped it and
waited.

“
The seventeenth terrace.”
Amar-Sin said and the sentry began to crank the winch. The platform
didn’t move until the sentry was finished and had released another
lever. There was the briefest tremor as the platform began slowly
to rise. An intricate latticework resembling the design on the
bronze door made up the wall facing the garden and Amar-Sin stood
before it watching the garden below shrink away.

“
I will tolerate no more
dissension.” He spoke evenly and without malice. “If they do not
see fit to support our decision let them know that their partage
will be purchased by me and they will be manumitted from any
further obligation to the cartel.”

Umma blinked startled, “They’ll certainly
realize that even you don’t have enough to expel them.”

“
I do have enough.”
Amar-Sin said. “I have more than enough to not only buy out the
undecideds and our bloc but to excise nearly all those that oppose
us.”

“
They why don’t you?” Umma
asked.

Amar-Sin gave another heavy sigh, “For the
exact reason I am standing against these fools.” He turned to face
Umma, “It is vital that we have the stores we need and the
necessary leverage over our clientele to be maintain the conditions
we have grown accustom to.”

Umma nodded. He continued as he stepped
closer to her, standing shoulder to shoulder, “The bithumin is all
but exhausted. I’ve already spent a ridiculous amount effort
convincing these fools of a plain fact. I will not relent now and
allow us to give into our fear. Especially for merely more
coin.”

“
It would be a mistake to
underestimate just how much the new partners covet the northerly
gold.” Umma whispered more to herself than to Amar-Sin.

“
I underestimate no one.”
He swiftly replied turning slightly toward her but still not
looking at her with is hand raised. He kept a single finger in the
air pointing to nothing, “I have devised a definitive method for
securing our future. It tolerates no hesitation, admits no doubt,
and abides no irresolution. This shall happen. That is the end of
it.”

“
I wish you would’ve been
this unyielding when they first dissented.” Umma
smirked.

“
I am no absolutist.”
Amar-Sin scoffed just as the platform ached to a stop. The sentry
pushed in the lever and jerked the winch apparently locking it in
position. He moved deftly, unlatching and opening the gate for the
two.

The hall that opened up before them was airy,
full of light, with similarly dressed sentries every fifteen feet.
Umma and Amar-Sin stepped out walking side-by-side. After they
passed the second sentry, Amar-Sin gently took Umma’s hand.

“
And of these
interlopers?”

“
They are likely dead.”
Umma answered.

“
Likely?” Amar-Sin felt her
tense.

“
They were pursued into the
Ura vein; our enkaras assured me that the two were severely
wounded. It was decided to allow the mine consume them.”

Amar-Sin nodded, “You, of course, remembered
that the Ura vein emerges nearly halfway to the Avostos.”

Umma grimaced, “There’s no way they’d be able
to find their way.”

“
We were fairly certain
that there was no way outsiders could steal their way into our
registry. And yet…”

“
What would you have me
do?” Umma snapped.

They reached the end of the hall and stood
before a black oaken door that seemed to shine it was so well
polished. A smile crept across Amar-Sin’s face, “You will have Rava
Din follow up on the enkaras’ pursuit.”

Umma shook her head, “No, that’s not needed.
We can easily…”

“
He can easily and quickly
accomplish the task. You will.” Amar-Sin nodded to the sentry at
the door who laboriously opened it. The minute it cracked open, he
could hear animated voices on the other side. They were rising and
falling in a bizarre back-and-forth with each voice buttressed by
indignant choruses.

“
Now, I will explain to
these fools, yet again, what will happen should we toss away our
only bargaining chip.” He turned his back to her, “And after you
assign Rava his task, you will explain to these people what will
happen if they continue to stand against the inevitable.” He stood
still as the door was opened completely and the sentry moved
forward into the room announcing his entry. Amar-Sin turned his
head slightly looking back at Umma, “Do you understand?”

Her eyes burned a hole in his back but her
tone betrayed nothing of her rage, “I understand. It will be done.”
She turned and walked back down the hall as Amar-Sin entered the
chamber to a pregnant silence.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daniel Casey has a MFA in
Creative Writing-Poetry from the University of Notre Dame. He's
been an adjunct English instructor, a soccer journalist, and a
literary magazine editor.

Special Thanks
to Jessica Bazely Utrup and Logan Ryan Smith who
volunteered after I hastily published Adversaries Together to
proofread the manuscript helping to create this cleaner
edition.