Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 169

Chapter 169

The two hid in a spot thick with date palm trees and dense grass. The konka they brought, perhaps being a warhorse, obeyed well. Following their owners silently, the konka allowed the two to quietly observe the enemy. The Hittite scouts had come close to the border, spying around the area.

“Are they scouting?”

“It’d be stranger to think they’re not.”

Medeus crouched low and answered. Nataek held his breath and swallowed hard. Perhaps knowing their intention added to the tension, but even without that, the scouts did not appear to be on a simple reconnaissance mission.

After seeing with his own eyes, Nataek was even more convinced. They were observing enemy movements just before an invasion.

We must capture them.

“How do we bring them back?”

At that moment, Medeus took out the bow he carried on his back and nocked an arrow. Then he nodded to the right.

“I’ll shoot on this side; you aim for the konka on the left. You don’t need to hit exactly—just scare the konka so they shake off the riders.”

Nataek quickly grabbed his bow. Both drew their bows simultaneously, and the result was predictable. Startled by the arrows from two marksmen, the konka caused chaos. As they fired arrows at the reins hands trying to restrain them, the unsuspecting soldiers tumbled to the ground.

From then on, the plan proceeded perfectly. Nataek and Medeus rode the konka, surrounded the two, and while Nataek kept them aimed with his bow, Medeus tied their hands and strapped their bodies to the palm tree trunks. It was a perfect setting for interrogation.

“How far have the Hittite forces come?”

“What do you mean? We were just scouting!”

“Scouting this close?”

However, the captured soldiers were reluctant to talk. When Nataek was on edge guarding them,

“Teresi.”

“Yes?”

“Cover your ears and turn around.”

“Eh?”

Given the unclear meaning, Nataek tilted his head. Medeus freed one tied soldier and laid him on the ground.

“Me-de…!”

Nataek had no time to stop him. Medeus held the soldier’s cheek, forced his mouth open, and vertically pushed the knife tip inside. Frozen, Nataek watched. The soldier cried out.

“Speak. Now.”

Medeus pushed the knife deeper, then nodded to the opposite side. Nataek had no choice but to turn around. Then the full interrogation began. Medeus spoke in a voice lower than usual.

“If you don’t want to feel your throat being slit alive, you’d better talk.”

Slowly, Medeus pushed the blade into the soldier’s molars.

“U-uuu!”

Medeus glanced at the other soldier.

“They seem to struggle to talk. You should be the one to speak.”

“I know nothing. I was only scouting…”

Medeus pushed his sword further into the soldier’s mouth.

“Uuuuu!”

Such cruel method was rare for Medeus. It meant breaking the enemy’s silence was crucial. When Nataek tried to turn around, Medeus stopped him.

“Teresi, watch the outer perimeter, not here.”

“Yes.”

Whether to keep Nataek from witnessing or to have him actually keep guard was unclear, but Nataek intently watched the border area as instructed. The interrogation continued.

“Whether you speak or not, I will not let you go. Kish already anticipates the Hittite invasion. The only reason you are caught is to confirm facts more clearly. Your choice is not to speak or not, but to live humanly or suffer torture enough to prefer death. So speak honestly.”

The knife tip was nearly inside the mouth. The soldier beneath screamed and gasped. The one continuously tied with lips sealed finally broke silence.

“I’ll speak! I’ll tell! Please spare my comrade!”

Medeus pushed the blade deeper.

“Uuuu!”

“Speak.”

“The Hittite army is close!”

Only then did Medeus withdraw the blade. Sitting over the soldier’s chest who struggled to breathe, Medeus softly called Nataek.

“Teresi, you can look now.”

Nataek slowly stared at Medeus. Seeing the crying soldier under Medeus, he guessed why Medeus had made him look away.

Approaching Medeus, Nataek heard the Hittite plan. Nothing surprised him; everything was within their expectations.

The Hittites will invade. Surely.

Nataek and Medeus mounted one prisoner each on their konka and returned. As soon as they entered, they quickly convened a military meeting. Thanks to the soothsayer ready and waiting, the meeting proceeded smoothly.

All with speaking rights were present, including the soothsayer representing Umma’s lord. Upon entering the Agade meeting hall, the soothsayer winked. Nataek frowned, kneeling the Hittite prisoner in the middle. The last to arrive, Samuagon, wore a shocked expression.

“Are these not Hittite soldiers?”

Samuagon’s face paled.

“Medeus, why have you brought these here?”

Not only Samuagon but all ancient attendees knew the implication, their faces darkened. Medeus grabbed the prisoner’s hair and tilted his head back.

“These are scouts sent by the Hittites.”

“Do you understand what bringing enemy soldiers means?! Medeus, why…!”

“Ensi, the Hittites have made ready to invade Kish.”

Medeus tapped the prisoner’s neck with the back of his sword, urging him to speak.

“Explain why you were near the border.”

The prisoner, with a scab on his lip, spoke faintly.

“To observe the situation just before the attack…”

When he hesitated, Medeus twisted the sword, pressing gallingly. The soldier then continued.

“This was the last reconnaissance…”

Murmurs grew. Gumutahn was the first to speak.

“Ensi, our troops are not fully reorganized. Half of our forces have been casualties. We must avoid conflict with the Hittites.”

A noble nearby suggested,

“Perhaps send an envoy first?”

This change from previously bellicose voices surprised Nataek. Samuagon and these ancients desired only the unification of Mesopotamia. They had no ambition to swallow Hittites, Egypt, or the Guti, though their defense may be cautious due to recovery needs. Beyond that, no drive was seen. Nataek clenched his fist.

These fools! No matter what envoy or actions are sent, the Hittites will invade!

He thought they’d start preparing for battle at once after evidence was brought, but these power-hungry men only sought to avoid friction. It maddened him. Hearing this, Medeus spoke.

“This is no time to discuss envoys. The Hittites have decided to attack Kish. Sending envoys changes nothing.”

Samuagon dismissed Medeus’s warnings as implausible. To him, capturing scouts ignited war and Medeus had ruined any chance to stop it.

“Medeus, if you hadn’t caught these soldiers, we might have found peaceful solutions!”

Nataek found Samuagon’s words most absurd, as Medeus led efforts and was a key figure unifying the land. It hurt to see Medeus chastised despite victory. Samuagon’s attitude shocked the soothsayer, too. Medeus continued,

“Ensi, the Hittites likely planned invasion long ago. Such foes hold no room for negotiation.”

“That chance vanished when the scouts were caught. How could you be so reckless!”

Nataek bit his lip. Medeus’s only act was trusting Nataek and stepping forward in his stead. In a sense, Nataek bore some blame. Unable to watch any longer, he confronted Medeus.

“Ensi, I suggested capturing the scouts, not General Medeus acting alone. If this is wrong, blame me.”

“Inanna’s messenger, is that true?”

“Yes. Conflict with the Hittites is an inevitable disaster. We must hasten preparations.”

Samuagon looked solemnly between Medeus and Nataek. Medeus attempted to dissuade Nataek. Nataek looked back into Medeus’s eyes and recalled when he first arrived to Kish.

‘Descendant of Anu!’

‘Kish’s former ruler did not want the land to tremble. He agreed with me to punish Akkaldia village. But there were survivors.’

‘Only one hero will unite this fertile land. Only I possess the power!’

Samuagon had tried to kill Medeus at their first meeting due to his Akkaldian origin. Nataek had prevented it, bringing Medeus here. But in their journey, Medeus showed such prowess and skill that he earned the ancients’ trust.

Nataek believed Medeus’s situation and surroundings had improved. Yet after experiencing the meeting’s hesitation toward Nataek’s words over Medeus, he realized Medeus’s position in the ancient civilization had not changed at all despite great deeds.