“And why might he do that?” asked the king.
“Your Excellency, with your permission, I want him to answer.”
“Granted.”
Antonius spoke up, “Your Excellency, that night, he was the only person who could save the ship. And I – we – have all had many reasons since to be glad I saved him.”
“Thank you, Antonius. Continue, Ibrahim.” Aulus thought he detected just the glimmer of a smile on the king’s thin lips, but he wasn’t sure.
He talked about their truce and eventual alliance. “Hasdrubal’s treachery wrecked my plans to dispose the ship’s wealth in Africa. I could not go there, because it was no longer secure, and I could not continue on without their assistance and cooperation. So, our relationship went from an uneasy truce, to an alliance negotiated by Gaius Lucullus. “Your Excellency, that is how I went from being the man who hijacked one of their ships, to the man who is honored to have them call me friend. It is in your power to have me executed, or to hand me over to the many people who would like to execute me, as you wish.”
Aulus spoke up, this time without waiting for the king to give him permission to speak. “Your Excellency, on one other occasion, we put all our lives on the line to protect one of ours from an unwarranted execution. If it is necessary to put our lives again on the line for our friend and colleague Ibrahim bin Yusuf, who has himself saved our lives and is responsible for our arriving here safely, then we shall do so again, gladly.”
Aulus waited in silence while the king studied him intently. Then King Vima said, “And what do you intend to do with this notorious pirate when you return to Roman territory?”
“Your Excellency, I intend to seek a full pardon and citizenship for him from Emperor Trajan, for extremely valuable service to the Principate.”
At last the king smiled, and even chuckled a bit. “Well, let us hope the rest of your story is as interesting as its beginning. Thank you, Ibrahim. You have not committed any crimes in my empire, at least any of which I am aware, and I see no need to hand you over to others, as your friends speak so highly of you. Aulus, how did you come to be reunited with the rest of your party?”
Thank the gods Ibrahim handled that so well. Aulus related their rescue at Masirah, the decision to continue on with Asia and Africa, the Africa’s detachment to return home at Muziris, and then learning of the Europa’s location in Taprobane. “We got there to find she had sailed, but apparently there had also been some sort of internal war, and Galle had been devastated.”
“Yes, about two years ago. Something about a Roman invasion. Was that you?” There was that hint of a smile again.
“Your Excellency, we may have been the excuse.”
“Interesting. And what happened when you got to Luoyang, Senator Aulus?”
“Your Excellency, at first nothing. I thought we would meet with the Emperor shortly after we arrived, but nothing happened. Then he went south for the winter, and we did more of nothing. We could not meet with any of the ministers, or observe the army, or travel outside of Luoyang, until we met with him.”
“Who was the Parthian ambassador?” asked the king.
“Cyrus Mithridates, if my memory is correct.”
“It is. He is a scheming bastard, always cooking up intrigues. He was posted here for several years and I was glad to see him become Emperor He’s problem. And of course, he no doubt became yours. Emperor Pacorus of Parthia is not happy to see Rome establishing friendly ties with the Han Empire. I also have a presence, official and otherwise, in Emperor He’s court, and I assure you, Mithridates was behind much of your troubles.”
I wonder if he will elaborate on that later! “Your Excellency, thank you. Just prior to Emperor He’s return, there was an incident involving Marcia Lucia, Si Huar by her Hanaean name. She was at that time concubine to our Hanaean delegate returning with us by sea, and in Luoyang she was falsely accused of infidelity and attempted murder of her consort. As she had dual status as a Roman citizen by ancestry, I felt obliged to defend her before Emperor He. He felt otherwise, and condemned all of us to death.”
“And were these charges false?”
“Infidelity? Absolutely. Attempted murder? She was attempting to defend herself while being beaten.”
“Hmm… my sources indicate that Emperor He was not happy to have her case disrupt proceedings with you that he felt were of far greater importance. They say he intended to pardon all of you at a large public ceremony. He was impressed with your sense of honor, though not with the way you challenged him before his court.”
“He did not share that plan with us while we were in his jail, your Excellency. “
“The one thing that my sources could not find out was how you managed to just walk out of prison and the North Palace, unobserved.”
“We can thank Demosthenes and Ibrahim. Demosthenes was, at that time, a Buddhist monk, who found us imprisoned. Since Buddhist monks have free run in Luoyang, after he and Yakov overpowered the guards, he had us put on yellow robes, shave our heads and just walk out, begging our way to a waiting oxcart, arranged by Ibrahim. We left town chanting and praying. I think we picked up ten or fifteen copper coins escaping.”
For the first time, Aulus saw a full smile light up the King Vima’s face. Then the king slapped his knee and laughed loudly. “That is the most outrageous story I ever heard! And no man in his right mind would make up a concoction like that, so it must be true!” He continued laughing, wiping his eyes, and when finished, he was visibly less formal. “Come, come! I am a terrible host, and have had you standing this whole time. Sit down!”
King Vima clapped his hands and servants appeared with silver goblets, distributing them to each and filling them to the brim from silver pitchers. “Drink up, our best Kapisan wine! To my Romans and their friends!” He lifted his glass in salute, and everyone rose.
Aulus returned the toast. “To our most gracious host, Shaonan Shao Vima Kadphises!” They then reseated themselves. Aulus found the wine to be a delightful red, dark and full-bodied. He noted it had not been watered.
King Vima continued his questioning, though now less hostile. He fixed his gaze on Marcia and smiled broadly. “And you, Marcia, you are a charming beauty, Hanean face, but blue eyes, a Latin name and Roman garb. And a Roman citizen, no less.”
Marcia flushed, but did not lose her control. She smiled and said, “Your Excellency, we have met before, though I doubt you remember. We visited you about six years ago with Gan Ying’s party going west.”
“With the Gan Ying party?” King Vima thought for a moment, his hand pinching his bearded chin thoughtfully, eyes screwed shut. Then he smiled and said, “Yes, yes! I do remember, for there was but one girl in that party. I remember that distinctly. That was you?”
“That was me, your Excellency. I was not allowed to say much, and in fact could speak neither Greek nor Bactrian.”
“And you were just along as concubine?”
“No, sir. I and my brother, and eight others from my home in Liqian, were translators, since we were fluent in Latin and Hanaean since birth. One of us for each delegate. I, of course, was my consort’s translator.”
“How did that unique combination of languages happen?” He leaned forward, interested.
“In Liqian in Gansu province. We are descendants of Romans captured by Parthians, and given to Hanaeans as mercenaries. We kept our language and traditions for more than a century. My father used to tell me, semper memento, romana es, always remember, you are a Roman girl.” She smiled wistfully at Papa’s memory.
“So Gan Ying made it to Rome, and you with him?”
“Yes, Your Excellency. And met with Emperor Trajan.”
“I see!” He paused. “What happened to the Gan Ying expedition?”
“Your Excellency, I don’t know. We were a party of thirty, ten delegates and translators, and ten military escorts. Five of us translators were given to Senator Aulus for his expedition, along with my consort as government representative
to guide him through the Hanaean ports. The rest returned overland. They had not yet reached Luoyang when we left.”
“I don’t think they will.” King Vima, in contrast to his formal stiffness, was a very animated talker informally, constantly moving his hands, grabbing the throne’s arm rests, or stroking his beard. “I also, of course, have a presence in the Parthian court. They made it to Ctesiphon, ummh, five years ago, and met with Emperor Pacorus. They never crossed into my territory. I was very interested in how it went, as I had a hand in setting that expedition up. Do you know Ban Chao?”
“Not personally, your Excellency. He is a very senior counselor to Emperor He.”
“His senior military man. Fifteen years ago, he was very active here in Bactria as Hanaean western military commander, running a cooperative campaign with me to quell some of the more obnoxious nomadic tribes in the area. We met frequently, and I told him about the great empires to the west, Parthia and Rome, and I suggested to him that they should get acquainted with Rome. I said it was like China, but bigger, Da Qin I think is the Hanaean phrase.”
Aulus interjected. “That is what they call all Romans now, Da Qin! So that is how the name got started!”
“Perhaps! But the Gan Ying party apparently met with some misfortune. I wonder what he would have told Emperor He about Rome.”
“His report was very favorable. He gave my consort a copy, in case something happened to him, and my consort gave it to the Emperor.”
“Very good!” he paused, waved a hand, and a servant refilled his cup. He took a sip and continued, this time losing the animation, and fixing Marcia with an intense look. “So how does your consort feel about your marriage to Antonius?”
Marcia paused and took a deep breath. “Your Excellency, he no longer cares what I do, and I no longer care what he might think.” Aulus noticed the very hard edge to her voice.
The King turned his gaze from her to look around the room studying each in turn. Everyone had fallen quite still and silent. Then he refocused on her again. “Wang Ming journeyed to Liqian with the party bearing your official pardon. Did you discuss your marriage with him then?”
Another long pause. “We did.”
“He never returned to Luoyang. Do you know where he went?”
“I don’t know what became of him,” she said, much too calmly.
“Travel can be dangerous.” King Vima relaxed a bit, and so did Aulus, screwed tight along this line of questioning. What the hell does this bastard know? One more push and she may just say she killed him and is glad she did. The undercurrent of movements that goes with normal conversation resumed. “You will be happy to know that Wang Ming’s cruelty to you was a scandal in the court, and the subject of an imperial edict last year. Cruelty toward spouses, concubines and children is inharmonious, and should not be tolerated. So your suffering was not without benefit. Antonius, you are a lucky man! To a long, happy marriage!”
“Aye, sir, aye and surely! Your Excellency!” Antonius raised his cup, then pecked his wife on the cheek, to the delight of King Vima and everyone else.
CHAPTER 75: THE PRINCESS
Formal introductions out of the way, King Vima became considerably less formal, chatting casually with Aulus’s entourage about various points of interest on their trip, the state of affairs in Rome when they had left, and their observations of Luoyang. Servants quietly circulated around the room with silver jugs, each uniquely and ornately engraved, making sure that no one’s wine cup remained empty for more than a few heartbeats. Marcia, however, nursed just a single cup, uncharacteristically silent and withdrawn into herself. She studied the naked goddess on the wall, noting that her cup had an identical engraving, also anatomically correct. She had never thought of it until now, but of all the female sculptures she had seen in her travels, they had all been sexless, the pubic region completely blank. This one, however, had her pudendal slit carefully inscribed, surrounded by carefully etched pubic hair.
King Vima noticed her studying the goddess. “My dear Marcia, that is our fertility goddess Anahita of the Pure Waters. She rides a chariot drawn by four horses, Wind, Rain, Cloud and Sleet. Our scriptures describe her as ‘the great spring, the life-increasing, the herd-increasing, the fold-increasing who makes prosperity for all countries, wide flowing and healing’. She is also our warrior goddess, an odd role for a goddess.”
Antonius spoke up. “I am married to one of these warrior goddesses, Your Excellency!” Marcia very much did not want him to bring that subject up, and quietly pinched his arm in silent protest, too late, for the King had already focused on Antonius’ praise.
“A warrior bride, you say? Taught by you, I suppose?” King Vima asked.
“And others. Tell us your story, Marcia.”
“Well, it is a long trip, Your Excellency, and a woman must be prepared for all things,” she answered, with a great deal of reluctance. This line of conversation was too close to Wang Ming, and what the king knew, or didn’t know, about his disappearance.
Antonius looked at her with some concern. She had never before been reticent about her fighting skills. “She can take care of herself, your Excellency. Quite handily.”
“That is good,” said the king, and returned to the topic of the goddess. “I am sure you men have noticed that Anahita is, shall we say, a complete woman in all respects? I don’t understand the Greeks at all. They will depict statues of men with all their paraphernalia, but leave women a blank slate, as though they fear that orifice from which we all came, and to which we return from time to time to share in the pleasure of creation.”
Marcia smiled wanly, half listening to the conversations swirling around her, seeing Wang dying on the floor, cursing her to the end. The scar on her breast began to throb.
Rustam reentered the room, tapped Aulus on the shoulder and quietly whispered, “Senator Aulus, do you prefer to eat reclining, Roman style?”
Aulus snorted, “Rustam, it has been so long since I ate that way, I don’t think I would remember how! Seated is fine, please.”
Rustam nodded, and spoke with one of the servants, apparently the head steward. The steward left, and returned with ten more servants carrying a large table, which they placed on the floor lengthwise between the king and Aulus’s party. They left and returned with an ornately carved gilt chair with violet cushions filigreed with gold and silver, positioning it at the head of the table. These maneuvers were executed silently with well-rehearsed military precision, with barely a disruption of the ongoing conversations. Other servants put nine three-branched candelabras on the table, lighting each with a burning taper to burn with a whiff of sandalwood.
The steward indicated that the Roman party should rise, while servants repositioned their chairs, four on either side of the king, while other servants brought in carts loaded with dishes and linens, covered dishes, and silver jugs of wine.
When all was in place, the king stood and stepped down from his throne to take his seat. He clapped his hands. “Sit, let’s eat,” he said, “You have had a hard day and long trip!”
When everyone was seated and the servants were preparing to distribute the first course, the king spoke up. “I would like to set your minds at ease before we dine, as that aids digestion. It was necessary to interrogate you a bit at the beginning, because while apparently the Son of Heaven Emperor He has belatedly come to hold you in some esteem, my fellow King of Kings, the Shahanshah Pacorus of Parthia does not, and considers you to be enemies of the state. I did not take this seriously, as he considers all Romans to be enemies of his state, but then you introduced a known pirate as your shipping master! I had to determine quickly whether to offer you my hospitality, thereby sticking a finger in Pacorus’ eye, or ignore Emperor He’s request and turn you over to him. As you can see, you have won my confidence, and here I am seated next to your bloody pirate!” He raised his cup. “Here’s to you, Ibrahim.”
Everyone raised their cups, “Hear, hear!”
“Now, Demosthenes,
my fellow countryman. You are from Bactria, and a Buddhist monk, are you not?” the king asked amiably, directing his gaze at Demosthenes.
“I was, Your Excellency, but I fear I lack the detachment necessary to pursue perfection by that path,” Demosthenes answered softly, studying the dregs of wine in his cup intently.
“I thought your hair was a bit long,” laughed the king. “What happened?”
“I was taught that perfection lies in inaction, lest action invoke a karma, a consequence that demands further action, each action taking one further from the path of enlightenment. Yet had I not taken action, all of my friends to your right would be dead. But also because I took action, two guards were killed, I had to lie to protect my friends, and took up arms again. If I could replay those decisions, I could not choose to do otherwise. Inaction, it seems, has its own karma, and for me, that karma would have been worse than the karma of the action I took. I am still a follower of Buddha, but the path of a Bodhisattva, one seeking enlightenment, is closed to me for this lifetime. Perhaps in my next life!” He raised his glass, and the king did likewise.
“You took up arms again, you said,” asked the king, leaning forward with both arms crossed on the table. “You once before took up arms?”
“Yes, Your Excellency. I was a soldier with the Lions of Bactra, a medic and a fighter.”
“A fine unit, one of my best!” responded the king gleefully.
Antonius interrupted. “Your Excellency, I might add, he is a damned fine medic. He saved my life from an arrow in my gut two years ago. I am also a medic with the Roman army, but I don’t think I could have done as well by him.”
“Very good!” said the king, directing his gaze toward Antonius on the right. “How did that happen?”
“We were two months out of Luoyang in Shaanxi Our monks’ disguise had been discovered so we found a place to hole up to let our hair grow out. Bandits raided us and we fought them off, but I took a hit. He took care of me, just a little fever for a few days.”
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