Parthian Vengeance (68 page)

‘How tedious,’ remarked Gallia.

‘Tedious or not,’ I added, ‘Surena’s victory in Gordyene has assisted us greatly.’

‘Us? Do not you mean you?’ said Dobbai.

‘Me?’

‘Of course, for you now rule Gordyene as well as Dura and have an army in each kingdom.’ She rose from her chair and walked to the balustrade to gaze at the marble-smooth waters of the Euphrates bathed in the pale glow of a full moon.

‘The recent strife in the empire has weakened all the kingdoms except Dura. The kingdoms in the west have seen their lands despoiled while those in the east have lost many sons during two years of bloodshed. Only Dura and Hatra remain unscathed.’

‘And Mesene,’ I added.

She looked at me and laughed. ‘Mesene is poor and stands only because of its Duran and Agraci allies. Above all Mithridates and Narses wanted you dead, son of Hatra.’

‘You say the most reassuring things,’ I quipped.

‘But they failed and now they are weaker and you are stronger.’

‘Will you take Gordyene for your own?’ asked Gallia.

‘He already has, child,’ said Dobbai before I could answer.

‘It does not belong to me,’ I said.

Dobbai threw up her hands. ‘Then who does it belong to, Mithridates?’

‘He sent a demand to Surena for him to hand it over,’ I replied. ‘Surena told him he would have to take it by force.’

‘Ha!’ Dobbai was delighted. ‘A most appropriate answer. The boy obviously has some steel in him. But you have not answered my question. What are you going to do about Gordyene?’

‘I will decide after the wedding.’

I was referring to the final wedding that we would be attending, that between Vata and Adeleh which would be taking place at Hatra in a month’s time.

‘I will be attending,’ Dobbai suddenly announced.

I looked at her in disbelief. For years now she had hardly ventured beyond the confines of the Citadel, being content to shuffle around the palace and spend most of her time with our children.

‘Are you sure?’ I queried. ‘You have not left the palace in an age.’

‘I am quite capable of sitting on a wagon for the duration of the journey, unless you do not wish me to attend.’

‘He course he does,’ said Gallia. ‘Don’t you, Pacorus?’

I held up my hands. ‘Of course, the more the merrier. We will have to take the children, then. Claudia and Isabella won’t stay here if Dobbai is not with them.’

Gallia frowned at me. ‘Then we will take them as well. Your father’s palace is large enough to accommodate us all.’

‘I have business to settle at Hatra,’ muttered Dobbai.

I shook my head and finished my wine. What business could she possibly have at Hatra? It was sad to witness her wits slowly diminish.

As we prepared for our journey life at Dura continued as normal. Regular deliveries of weapons were made to Alexander and Aaron’s treasury filled with Jewish gold. The trade caravans continued to pass through Dura and brought with them news of what was happening to the east of the Tigris. We heard that the court at Ctesiphon was riven with fear and loathing and that courtiers were pressing Mithridates to move further to the east, to Susa or even Esfahan. They feared that they were too near the western kingdoms whose kings might assault them. They were right about that at least. But Mithridates would not abandon the empire’s symbolic seat of power, not least because he desired to launch a fresh attack against those who were now in direct rebellion against him. Because the kingdoms of Mesene, Babylon, Hatra, Media and Atropaiene, as well as my own, refused to pay their annual tribute to Ctesiphon, Mithridates railed against them and threatened reprisals. But we heard that the eastern kings had no stomach for another great war, especially after their recent losses.

Of the Romans we heard little save what Byrd told us when he visited Dura. He had expanded his business interests and had established new offices in Damascus. Despite his wealth and importance he still rode a shabby horse and dressed in faded robes. He told me that Egypt was now a protectorate of Rome following a series of internecine struggles and I shuddered. Though Roman Syria was quiet I knew that the caravans that traversed the Parthian Empire before entering Syria or Egypt would also tell the authorities of those two regions that the Parthians had weakened themselves through years of civil war. It would surely be only a matter of time before Rome sent its legions against the empire.

It was a blisteringly hot morning when we set off for Dura. Initially we had determined to depart a day earlier but word came from Uruk that Nergal and Praxima had also been invited to Vata’s wedding. I had no idea why this should be so as Nergal had never known Vata but Gallia was delighted and insisted that we wait for them to reach Dura so we could all make the trip together. Dobbai and the children travelled in a large four-wheeled wagon on which Marcus had erected a metal frame so it could be covered with canvas to make a shaded interior. It was pulled by six mules and led two camels that carried our own tent and Dobbai’s. She also insisted that there should be three hammocks inside the wagon: one for her, one for Claudia and one for Isabella, in addition to Eszter’s cot. I had never seen Marcus so flustered as she ordered him around in the days preceding our departure. I think he was glad to see the back of us.

Gallia took the Amazons as her personal bodyguard. I told her this was unnecessary, as I had already organised a hundred cataphracts to escort us to Hatra. But now that Praxima was also with us it was an opportunity for her and Gallia and the rest of the female Companions to be united once more. Nergal brought a hundred of his horse archers with him, which meant our party numbered two hundred horse archers, two hundred squires and a hundred cataphracts. This number increased when we left Dura and passed over the pontoon bridge to the eastern side of the Euphrates where we had agreed to link up with the party of Orodes and Axsen who were also travelling to Hatra. The rulers of Babylon were escorted by one hundred royal guards attired in dragon skin armour. Axsen had inherited her father’s penchant for taking large numbers of servants on campaign, and so in addition to her royal guards there were cooks, the queen’s female attendants, grooms, slaves and farriers. I think Orodes was embarrassed by the massive entourage but seemed very happy with his new wife.

We all rode in one group as our small combined army made its way north, the Amazons riding directly behind us and a long line of horses and camels following. There must have been a thousand camels in our great expeditionary force.

Axsen found it most strange but was also intrigued. It was the first time she had ridden with Gallia and Praxima, both of them dressed in their mail shirts and fully armed, though because of the heat they were wearing their floppy hats and not their helmets. Axsen was most excited that Dobbai was travelling with us.

‘Perhaps your sorceress would dine with us tonight, Gallia,’ said Axsen as sweat poured down my neck and soaked my shirt. I would have to have words with Vata about getting married in the middle of a Mesopotamian summer.

‘I can ask her,’ replied Gallia.

‘I doubt she will agree,’ I said. ‘She hates the heat and she hates travelling, which means she is as ill-tempered as a angry viper at the moment.’

‘Is she really a sorceress?’ asked Axsen.

‘She is beloved of the gods,’ replied Gallia.

‘She predicted that you and Orodes would be married,’ I added.

‘And she saw Pacorus in danger when Narses and Mithridates had him surrounded and sent Gallia to rescue him,’ offered Praxima.

I grinned at Nergal’s wife. ‘Thank you for reminding me of that.’

‘I must meet her,’ implored Axsen.

‘Why don’t you visit us when we have made camp tonight,’ said Gallia. ‘I fear she will ignore any invites to a feast.’

Axsen was delighted. ‘We will come. How exciting.’

I was exhausted by the time we had travelled a grand distance of fifteen miles in the stupefying heat, and by the end of the day my clothes were drenched in sweat and I felt both tired and irritable. The Durans made camp well away from the large pavilion that housed Babylon’s royal couple, though Nergal and Praxima pitched their tent close to ours. The squires erected our tent first, which was similar to Domitus’ command tent to accommodate the children; then Dobbai’s, a black camel hair affair that was like the Agraci tents; and then put up the tents of the cataphracts. As usual the latter were laid out in a neat row with the squires’ own tents pitched in another row immediately behind.

Despite dozing in their hammocks the children were exhausted by the journey and fell asleep almost immediately after we had eaten a meal of salted mutton, water and biscuits. The night was very warm though mercifully not intolerably hot and a slight easterly breeze was most welcome. After the children had been settled Dobbai relaxed with Gallia and me in front of her tent. We sat on stools while she reclined in her favourite wicker chair that she had ordered Marcus to pack on the wagon. For the journey Dobbai had half a dozen stable hands from the Citadel to attend her, drive her wagon, ensure none of my children fell off it during the day and water and feed the mules. The boys walked beside the wagon during the day, taking it in turns to drive it. They were beside themselves with joy when Dobbai gave each of them a piece of red coral, an ancient talisman to protect the wearer from evil spirits.

Orodes and Axsen appeared out of the darkness an hour later with a score of guards, half of them carrying torches. Axsen was dressed in a simple purple shirt and tan leggings, Orodes in his silver scale armour cuirass and sword at his hip. Dobbai’s eyes were closed as we embraced them and their guards retreated from our presence. Axsen grinned girlishly at Gallia and then looked at the seemingly sleeping Dobbai.

The oil lamps flickered faintly in the slight breeze as we all regarded the apparently dozing Dobbai, who suddenly spoke without opening her eyes.

‘Cannot an old woman get any peace in this world?’

Axsen moved two steps towards her, Orodes remaining a few paces behind.

‘Forgive us, lady, we did not mean to interrupt your evening.’

Dobbai opened her eyes and looked at Axsen.

‘Of course you did. Why else would you bring a host of soldiers with you to make a noise like a herd of bulls if not to disturb me?’

Axsen was taken aback, not least because she was unused to being spoken to thus by anyone, least of all an old crone. Axsen ignored Dobbai’s impertinence and smiled.

‘Your name is known throughout the empire, lady, and I would like to make your acquaintance.’

Dobbai grunted. ‘You want something from me, Queen of Babylon. What is it?’

Axsen glanced nervously at Orodes who shrugged, and then looked back at Dobbai.

‘They say that the gods reveal the future to you.’

Dobbai leaned forward in her chair. ‘They reveal things that will come to pass and other things that may come to pass. What of it?’

Axsen smiled at Orodes. ‘I heard that you predicted my marriage to Orodes.’

Dobbai pointed at Orodes. ‘Step forward, King of Babylon, so that I may see you both together.’

Orodes moved to Axsen’s side and held his wife’s hand. Then Dobbai looked at me and nodded.

‘They have a regal appearance, I grant you that. There are worse choices you could make.’

‘I do not understand,’ I said.

Dobbai cackled. ‘Of course not, but it does not matter.’

She looked at Axsen and Orodes again. ‘You have a crown, Queen of Babylon?’

Axsen looked quizzically at her. ‘Of course, I am a queen.’

‘You will be leaving Babylon and will require it no longer.’

The colour drained from Axsen’s face and Orodes looked most concerned.

‘Is Babylon in danger?’ he asked.

Dobbai frowned. ‘Did I say that? All I said was that your wife will not need Babylon’s crown much longer. She will have a new one to wear.’

Now Axsen was intrigued. ‘What crown?’

Dobbai waved her hand at her. ‘All will be revealed. Did you know that the King of Dura has no crown? Is that not correct, son of Hatra?’

‘It is true,’ I replied. ‘I have never seen the need.’

Dobbai began to rise from her chair, whereupon Orodes walked forward and assisted her to her feet.

‘Thank you, Orodes. I always knew you would make a good king and now you stand on the brink of becoming one.’

Orodes smiled at her. ‘You are mistaken.’

‘He is already a king,’ said Axsen.

‘Not until the son of Hatra makes him so,’ replied Dobbai. ‘And now I am tired and bid you goodnight.’

She turned and shuffled into her tent. She stopped and pointed at Axsen.

‘And you will make a good queen.’ And then she disappeared into the tent and closed the camel hair flap.

Axsen was confused and slightly disappointed while Orodes whispered to me that he believed that Dobbai’s senses were failing her.

‘She did not realise that I was the King of Babylon,’ he said. ‘How sad it is when old age addles us so. Alas for Dobbai.’

It took us twelve days to reach Hatra and on the last day of our journey Vistaspa, accompanied by two hundred of my father’s bodyguard, met us ten miles from the city. He informed me that we were the last of the wedding guests to arrive and would we mind riding through the southern gates of the city to the palace quarter that was located in the north. My father wanted to impress the inhabitants with a show of strength, and also the many merchants and foreign traders in the city, including a few Romans. In this way news would spread far and wide of the assembly of kings at Hatra.

No doubt my father also intended to send a message to Ctesiphon, Syria and Armenia of the gathering strength at Hatra, and was using Vata’s wedding as a statement of intent. However, it was still intolerably hot and the cataphracts sweated in their full-face helmets and scale armour on the morning we rode towards the city’s southern entrance. Pennants sporting the red griffin flew from every
kontus
and every Amazon wore her helmet with its cheekguards tied shut. Because I was the heir to Hatra’s throne my cataphracts rode in the vanguard. Next came the royal party of Gallia, myself, Axsen, Orodes, Nergal and Praxima, the latter wearing her Amazon uniform. Behind us were our banners and next trundled the wagon carrying Dobbai and my children and behind that the Babylonian guard. Nergal’s horse archers brought up the rear. The squires and camels remained in camp but would be relocated later that day to outside the city’s northern gates, nearer to the palace quarter.