Dawn of Empire Read Online Free PDF

most important and richest man in the village looked him over.
    Esk kar realized Nicar was studying him with the same care used when selecting the best slave from a bad lot.
    Nearly three years ago, Esk kar had limped into Orak, with nothing but a sword on his back and an infected leg wound. Since then he’d seen Nicar many times, but Orak’s most important person had never paid any particular attention to the tall, dark - haired subcommander who rarely spoke and never smiled.
    When Nicar finished his scrutiny, he turned away and looked out over the village. Suddenly Esk kar felt uncomfortable in his shabby tunic and worn sandals.
    “Well, Nicar, what do you want?” The words came out harsher than intended.
    “I’m not sure what I want, Esk kar,” the merchant answered. “You know Ariamus is gone?”
    Esk kar nodded.
    “You may not know that the barbarians have recently crossed the Tigris, far to the north. The killing and burning have already begun there.”
    It took a moment before Nicar’s words struggled through the vapors cloud-ing Esk kar’s mind. Finally he understood their meaning. So rumor spoke the truth for once. He leaned heavily against the balcony wall, aware of his aching head. His belly cramped painfully, and for a moment he thought he would vomit. Esk kar struggled to keep control of his thoughts and his stomach.
    Nicar continued. “From the far north, through the foothills, then down the plain toward the river.” He hesitated, to give Esk kar time to comprehend his words. “They’re moving steadily south. It’s likely they’ll turn in this direction, though it will be months before they arrive.”
    Nicar spoke calmly, but Esk kar heard a faint hint of fear and resigna-tion in his voice.
    Esk kar ran his fingers through his unruly hair, then fingered the thin beard that outlined his chin. “Do you know which clan?” Even after all these years, the word barbarian grated on his ears.
    “I believe they’re called the Alur Meriki. They may be the same clan that raided here last time.”
    Esk kar grimaced. His own birth clan. Not his people anymore, not for many years, not since they’d cast him out. “The Alur Meriki are a fierce clan with many men and horses.”
    “What clan are you from, Esk kar? Or is that a question I shouldn’t ask?”
    “Ask what you like. But I never raided this place, if that’s what you wish to know. I had barely started riding with the warriors when they killed my family.”
    “Is that what happened? Is that why you left?”
    Esk kar bit his lip, cursing at himself for even mentioning his past. Even the ignorant villagers knew warriors never left their clans willingly, only in disgrace.
    Nicar let the silence lengthen, until Esk kar felt compelled to answer.
    “I didn’t leave, Nicar. I ran for my life. I was lucky to get away.”
    “I see. You’re right, it makes no difference.”
    Esk kar’s thoughts returned to the Alur Meriki. So his family’s clan marched toward Orak. No, marched didn’t properly convey the slow and steady movement of the steppes people. Migration came closest to a real description of the steady movement that might take months to advance but a few miles. “How long have you known of their coming, Nicar?”
    Nicar stroked his gray - speckled beard. “Word came to me three days ago. I told only Ariamus. He cautioned me to tell no one for a few days while he considered how to defend the village.”
    Esk kar jerked his head in derision, the sudden movement sending a wave of sharp pain through his head that made him regret the gesture.
    Ariamus, as leader of the village’s small garrison, had certainly planned well. But his plans hadn’t been for the defense of the village, nor had they included Esk kar, his lowly third in command. The second in command, one of Ariamus’s fawning friends, had died a week before from the pox.
    Esk kar already knew he would not be promoted. He’d never bothered to toady up to Ariamus.
    Instead, two