Parthian Dawn (52 page)

‘If any engineers still live,’ I said to Domitus, ‘they are to be separated from the rest. I will have need of them and their siege engines.’

‘They may not wish to serve you.’

‘Better that than death,’ I snapped. ‘Now go.’

He raised an eyebrow but said nothing, merely saluting and striding away.

Orodes walked up, leading his sweat-lathered horse behind him. ‘I salute you, Pacorus, you have won a fine victory.’

I looked around at the broken bodies littering the earth, and heard the pitiful cries of the wounded and dying and the moans of injured animals. ‘At this moment, my friend, it is hard to tell the difference between the victors and the vanquished.’

Behind me the cataphracts began to dismount and take off their heavy scale armour, dumping the suits on the ground then relieving their horses of their armoured protection. The squires began arriving from camp to attend their masters, riding on horses and pulling camels behind them. As one squire led his master’s horse to the river to drink, the other loaded the scale armour for horse and man on to the camel. Tonight they would be sewing plates of armour back onto the thick hide coats, sharpening blunted swords and maces and knocking dents out of helmets. Others would be building funeral pyres for their lords, for we too had lost men this day.

Surena appeared before me on his horse, his face flush with victory, streaked with sweat and dirt, and his tunic torn.

I took off my helmet and armour and dumped them on the ground.

‘Help me with Remus’ armour,’ I said to him.

He jumped from his horse and began unbuckling the straps that held the armour in place.

‘I ordered you to stay in camp,’ I said.

‘I could not stand idly by while you were fighting.’

‘If you had been killed, I would have no squire,’ I rebuked him.

‘But, surely, you wish for me to learn about war.’

Despite his dirty appearance there was not a scratch on him, and he seemed to be oblivious to the horror around him. ‘You cannot learn anything if you are dead.’

‘Let the boy be, Pacorus,’ said Orodes, who was being assisted by his own squires, ‘let us be thankful that we are all still alive.’

I pointed at him. ‘I’ve got a little task for you, Surena.’

He flashed a smile. ‘Yes, lord.’

‘Go and find the body of the Roman general that the queen killed, then cut off its head and bring it back to me, but not before you have crucified the body.’

He looked perplexed. ‘How am I going to crucify the body?’

‘You will have to ask General Domitus if you can borrow some of his men to prepare a cross and acquire some ropes and nails. And tell him that you are carrying out my orders.’

I pointed towards the river. ‘Erect the cross near the water’s edge. Now go, and don’t forget to bring me back the head.’

He nodded his head and scurried off to find Domitus.

Orodes looked at me but said nothing. Domitus, however, had plenty to say when he stormed back with a sheepish Surena in tow. He jerked his thumb at my squire. ‘This little whelp has just tried to order me to give him some of my men, said he had a very important task to perform for the king, and that he could not waste time explaining to me what it is.’

I shook my head in despair. Surena had a talent amounting to genius for annoying people. I held up my hands to Domitus.

‘I apologise, Domitus. I asked him to ask you for your help, not to order you.’

Domitus fixed Surena with his stare, who stared insolently back. I held my head in my hands for I knew what was coming next. Domitus smiled at Surena.

‘You know the disadvantage with having long hair?’

Surena looked bemused. ‘No.’

As quick as a striking snake Domitus grabbed Surena’s hair with his right hand and yanked the boy down onto his knees. He moved his face to within a few inches of Surena’s.

‘All those pretty flowing locks are easy to get hold off.’

Surena’s face was contorted in pain. ‘Let go of me, barbarian,’ he squealed.

Domitus let go of his hair and stepped back. ‘Barbarian, am I? You need a lesson in manners.’

Surena jumped to his feet and drew his
spatha.
Aghast, I stepped between them.

‘Surena put away your sword. Now!’

He looked at Domitus standing before him with only his cane in his hand, then at me, and then reluctantly replaced his sword in its scabbard. I then smiled at Domitus, who was far from amused.

‘Whatever you wanted me to do,’ he said to me, ‘you can attend to it yourself. I’m not some slave to be ordered about by some young dung shoveller.’ He then pointed at Surena. ‘You stay out of my way, boy, if you know what’s good for you.’

He turned and strode back to his legion.

‘You had a lucky escape, Surena,’ remarked Orodes.

‘Come with me,’ I said, ‘and don’t say anything to anyone.’

With Surena trailing behind me I organised a group of my cataphracts to find the body of Lucius Furius and drag it by horse to the edge of the river. Surena decapitated it with an axe and the carcass was then nailed to a cross at the edge of the River Euphrates. I led Remus downstream so he could quench his thirst and gave orders that the head was to be taken back to the city and preserved in salt.

Gallia and her Amazons arrived as I threw my tunic on the ground and stood in my silk vest drenched in sweat, leggings and boots. She vaulted from Epona, took off her helmet and then kissed me on the lips.

‘You smell like a bullock,’ she whispered.

‘A handsome bullock, I hope.’

Gallia untied her plait and shook her long hair free. Praxima and the other women also took off their helmets and Surena’s eyes lit up as he beheld the mounted women warriors before him.

‘You have won a great victory, lord,’ shouted Praxima, to which the others cheered and raised their bows.

‘I am glad you are all safe,’ I replied, my arm around Gallia’s waist.

Surena had probably never seen a blonde, blue-eyed woman before; certainly not one like Gallia and certainly not this close up. He walked up to her and smiled.

‘I am Surena of the Ma’adan. I have heard tales of your beauty and they have not been exaggerated.’

Gallia eyed him coolly and then looked at me.

‘He is my squire. It’s a long story. I will tell you later.’

The arrival of Nergal signalled a touching reunion between husband and wife as he and Praxima embraced each other. I smiled. For a brief moment we were back in Italy. As we chatted and gave thanks for our survival, Surena reached out and touched Gallia’s locks. She spun round instantly and held her dagger to his throat.

‘Do you not know that it is death to touch the person of your queen, boy?’

For the first time this day Surena looked alarmed, especially as Praxima hissed and drew her sword to protect her friend. I placed my hand on Gallia’s dagger.

‘He meant no offence, my love. He is from the marshlands many miles from here and his manners require polishing.’

‘He is an arrogant puppy,’ growled Gallia.

‘Perhaps so, but you would not rob my of a good squire, would you?’

Her eyes darted between me and Surena, and then she sneered at him and put her dagger back in her boot. Praxima sheathed her sword.

Gallia vaulted onto the back of Epona.

‘We ride back to the city.’ She pointed at Surena. ‘Teach that one some manners.’

Then she and the Amazons were gone.

‘That’s the second time you have come close to death today,’ I said, ‘and whereas for most of us it is the enemy who presents the greatest danger, you appear intent on being killed by your own side.’

‘Do you really think that I am a good squire?’ asked Surena.

I cuffed him round the ears. ‘Shut up. Tonight you will join the burial details to collect the dead.’

After Remus had been watered and rested I rode him back to the city. When I arrived at the Citadel, Gallia, her Amazons, Godarz and Rsan were waiting at the foot of the palace steps, as were a host of black-clad Agraci warriors. Each one had black tattoos on their face in a similar fashion to those sported by Malik. I embraced Godarz.

‘It is good to see you, old friend.’

‘You too, Pacorus.’ He released me and stared. ‘You have lost weight and look weary.’

‘Now I am home, I can rest,’ I replied.

Rsan bowed his head formally. ‘It is most excellent to see you again, majesty.’

I looked past him at the doors of the treasury, both of them shut and secured with heavy chains. Domitus was right about Rsan — it would take more than a besieging army to tear him away from his hoard of silver and gold.

I dismissed them all and went with Gallia straight to the palace balcony where Dobbai held the sleeping Claudia in her arms, the old woman gently rocking the child and humming a soft tune to her. It was remarkable that one so foul and ferocious could be so tender. Dobbai saw me and nodded, then handed me my child. I brushed Claudia’s face with a finger and kissed her forehead. I said nothing for a long time as I sat holding my daughter, day turning to night, with Gallia and Dobbai seated beside me. I stared into the distance, across the calm, mirror-like waters of the Euphrates and into the black void beyond. To the north of the city funeral pyres burned brightly as thousands of corpses were consigned to the flames. At length Gallia came to my side and whispered that it was time for Claudia to be placed in her cot. I kissed her small cheek and handed her to my wife.

‘You do not seem pleased with your great victory, son of Hatra,’ observed Dobbai.

I looked at her black eyes. ‘I’ve beaten Romans before.’

‘There is something else. What is it?’

I turned away from her. ‘It is of no consequence.’

She persisted. ‘If it is of no consequence, then why does it eat away at you like maggots in a rotting corpse?’

Gallia returned from our bedroom. ‘I know there is something wrong, so you might as well tell us.’

‘Indeed,’ added Dobbai, ‘for it is unbecoming for the king to sulk like a small boy.’

I stood up and pointed at her. ‘Remember that I am your king and could have your head for your impertinence.’

Gallia was outraged. ‘Do not speak to Dobbai like that. You would not be king were it not for her.’

Dobbai grinned. ‘It is all right, child, the king has other things on his mind rather than adorning his walls with my ugly old skull. Is that not so, son of Hatra?’

I slumped back in my chair and told them of Furius’ words just before he had been killed, of how Dura had been given to the Romans in exchange for Gordyene. I could not hide my disappointment that bordered on despair.

‘And you believed him?’ asked Gallia.

‘Why would he lie?’

Her eyes narrowed. ‘Because he is a Roman. And that particular Roman would say anything to rile you.’

I laughed, the first time I had done so that day. ‘That was my initial thought, but now I am not so sure.’

‘The Roman spoke the truth,’ said Dobbai.

‘How do you know this?’ I asked.

‘Because giving away Dura is a small price to pay to solve a far bigger problem.’

My limbs were starting to ache and I had no time for Dobbai’s word games. ‘You speak in riddles, old woman. What bigger problem?’

She shook her head. ‘For a great warlord you have the brains of a camel. You, son of Hatra, are the problem.’

‘Clearly,’ I retorted, ‘what little sense you had has finally deserted you. In case you have not noticed, I have just defeated an invading army and can now go to Hatra’s aid, which is under assault from another Roman army. I hardly think that makes me a problem, more like a saviour.’

‘To some, perhaps, but to others your ability on the battlefield is no cause for celebration. You have greater enemies than the Romans.’

‘Narses and Mithridates,’ the names stuck in my throat.

‘Exactly,’ said Dobbai. ‘Your success here will be like taking a poison for them.

‘When the army is rested and has recovered its strength,’ I said, ‘I will take it east and destroy Narses, and this time I will kill him.’

‘Why must
you
do it?’ asked Gallia. ‘There are other kings who also have armies.’

I held her face and kissed her on the lips. ‘Because it is personal between him and me.’

‘You might find it more difficult than you think,’ muttered Dobbai.

‘What do you know of war?’

She held up her hands to me in mockery. ‘Nothing, mighty one, nothing.’

The next day I surveyed the damage the Romans had done to the city’s defences. Aside from the minor battering the western wall and gates had taken from stone shot and ballista bolts, the other defences were almost untouched. As Domitus had predicted, the enemy had attempted to take the city by storm after they had first arrived.

I stood with Gallia beside the stone griffin at the Palmyrene Gate looking to the west.

‘They came in great waves, the front ranks carrying scaling ladders and their archers and slingers covering their approach.’

She cast me a sideways glance and smiled. ‘We had no one exposed on the walls, but as soon as they came within range we threw the Chinese liquid you obtained at them. As we were taught we loaded it into earthen pots sealed with wax and with pitch-soaked rags attached, which we then lit. After the pots had been launched they shattered on impact and sprayed their burning contents on to the enemy. It was horrible.’

‘But effective,’ I said.

‘Yes, the sticky liquid that cannot be put out disrupted their attack, and then my girls began shooting arrows at them from within the towers. That brought their attack to an end.’

‘Did they try any other attacks?’

‘One more, but again it was stopped by Chinese fire and arrows. Then they settled down to starving us out.’

I ran my hand over the stone griffin. ‘Not a scratch on him.’

Gallia smiled. ‘Dobbai says that no mortal weapon can mark him.’

I nodded. ‘So it seems. Why are Haytham’s men here?’

‘They arrived two days before the Romans. Their commander brought a message from Haytham saying that as we had protected his daughter, it was only fitting that he should return the courtesy. They even brought their own food so they would not sap our supplies.’