by Peter Darman
She nodded and ordered Praxima and the rest of the Amazons to follow her towards the Palmyrene Gate. Behind them Kuban and his men followed in a long column. I also sent Vagharsh and my banner with Gallia to ensure that the garrison knew who was riding to the gates. This left me with around a hundred Duran horse archers, including Surena.
‘Feisty, the queen!’ he beamed.
‘Be quiet.’’
‘Did you see Viper when we were shooting arrows at them earlier? Beautiful. Do you think she would marry me?’
‘Not if she has any sense. Now stop daydreaming and concentrate on the task in hand.’
Orodes was cutting the enemy cavalry to pieces. A kontus can go straight through a wooden shield with ease, and through leather armour as well, and after the initial impact the cataphracts would go to work with their swords and maces, while the enemy would not be able to pierce scale armour or steel leg and arm armour. I rode forward with my greatly diminished command before encountering Orodes himself, who joined me with an escort of a dozen men. He raised his left hand, a blood-smeared mace held in the other.
‘Most of them are dead, the rest have fled south.’
‘Your own casualties?’ I asked.
He shrugged. ‘Insignificant.’
‘Well done. Get your men back to the city, they’ve earned their pay today.’
As Orodes rode back to his men I journeyed across the battlefield to join the Pontic Legion that was now marching at right angles to the enemy’s camp. Dura’s legion was still locked in combat with the Mesenians, but it was obvious that the latter had failed in their efforts. And from the other flank Atrax, Nergal and their horse archers were attacking the Mesenians. Soon Chosroes’ men would be assaulted on both flanks as well as fighting the Duran Legion to their front.
Seeing the Pontic Legion approaching from the south, the Mesenians attempted to form a line on their left flank. To their credit there was still a semblance of order within their ranks, but their fate was sealed when the Pontic centuries smashed into them. Assaulted on two sides by legionaries and on another by horse archers, they were slowly being squeezed into a densely packed square, from which there was no escape when I led my own horse archers against its rear. Those equipped with shields turned to face us and formed a front rank, ramming the ends of their shafts into the hard earth and levelling their points at us, daring us to ride forward and impale ourselves on the long spears held at an angle of forty-five degrees. We did ride forward, but loosed our arrows at them and then turned our horses away before they could get to grips with us. We were few and they were many, but it did not matter because they were stationary and in ranks — easy targets for our missiles. But then, after hours standing under a hot sun, having failed in their bold attempt to break through our lines, and now assaulted on four sides, their will suddenly collapsed and the Mesenians suddenly turned into a mass of refugees. Unfortunately, the only route in which they could flee was in my direction.
The enemy mass seemed to dissolve as men started running towards us, thousands of them. Our only choice was to get out of their way — we could mop them up later. I gave the order to join Atrax’s men when a burning sensation engulfed my left leg. I looked down to see an arrow embedded in the flesh, and then an enemy soldier ran straight into Remus. He was obviously gripped by a wild panic, and in his desperation to escape the slaughter had been looking behind him when he hit a wall of horseflesh. He tumbled to the ground before scrambling back to his feet and continuing his flight, but Remus reared up on his back legs and I tumbled from the saddle and fell to the ground. He bolted away as I tried to get to my feet, but the pain in my leg made this difficult and I had been also badly winded by the fall. I drew my sword and used it as a crutch to haul myself to my feet. I felt nauseous and saw that there was now a large patch of blood on my leggings around the arrow wound. Enemy soldiers were fleeing in all directions but not all had lost their minds. To my front one approached me with his spear levelled and his shield covering the front of his body. I tried to limp out of his way but it was impossible to put any weight on my left leg. He leered in delight as he ran towards me with his spear, but suddenly pitched forward as he was shot in the back. I collapsed on the ground in great pain. Surena rode up, slipped his bow in its case and jumped from his saddle, kneeling by my side.
‘You must get on my horse, lord.’
I weakly pointed at two enemy soldiers advancing towards us with axes in their hands. Surena pulled his bow from its case and shot them both in quick succession. Yet more of the enemy, seeing Surena’s horse as a means of escape, bore down on us. Surena calmly shot at them until his quiver was empty. He threw down his bow and drew his sword.
‘Save yourself,’ I ordered, weakness engulfing my body, ‘get out of here.’
A man lunged at him with a spear but Surena deftly jumped aside, grabbed the shaft and ran his blade through the man’s body.
‘Can’t do that, lord. My grandfather would never forgive me.’
A Mesenian tried to split him in two as he held his sword above his head with both hands and brought it down with all of his strength. Surena blocked the blow with his own sword and thrust his dagger into the man’s guts, then stood over me as a ring of enemy soldiers formed around us like a pack of wolves. I thought I heard strange whooshing noises as I drifted into unconsciousness.
I awoke in my bed in the Citadel with Gallia sitting beside me holding Claudia. I felt the wonderful caress of my wife’s fingers on my cheek as I slowly came out of my deep slumber. Claudia smiled when I opened my eyes and I managed a faint smile back. She then crawled onto the bed and snuggled up to me and in that moment I experienced true happiness.
‘How long was I asleep?’
Gallia leaned over, kissed my lips and smiled, her long locks falling about my face.
‘A day and a half. Atrax and Surena carried you here and we have been watching over you ever since.’
I felt very weak but deliriously happy, surrounded as I was by my loved ones. There were no noises of battle, no stench of death, just a gentle breeze that ruffled the cotton nets hanging at the entrance to our balcony.
Alcaeus appeared by the side of the bed.
‘How do you feel?’
‘Weak,’ then I was aware of an aching sensation in my left leg. I noticed my bandaged left arm and then instinctively felt for my lower limb.
Alcaeus smiled when he saw my concerned look. ‘Don’t worry, you still have your leg. You were lucky, the arrow did not smash the bone, and once we had stopped the bleeding it was just a matter of sealing the wound and binding it tightly.’
‘I was worried that you might sleep forever,’ he continued, ‘but now we can all rest easy.’
I looked at Gallia. ‘The battle?’
She gripped my hand. ‘Was won, Pacorus, you have saved our city.’
‘Nearly got yourself killed in the process, though,’ Dobbai suddenly appeared at my bedside, a cup containing white liquid in her hand.
‘What is it?’ I asked, seeing Alcaeus’ disapproving look.
‘Poison, of course,’ replied Dobbai, ‘I thought I would achieve what Mithridates and Narses could not. Now drink it and stop whining.’
‘Remus,’ I said, ‘he bolted during the battle.’
‘He’s safe and being treated like a lord in the stables. Unlike you,’ replied Dobbai, ‘he hasn’t a scratch on him, so drink the liquid.’
Claudia had fallen asleep beside me as Dobbai handed the cup to Gallia, who held it to my lips. It tasted of nuts but had the texture of thick milk. Most strange.
‘The kings are still here,’ said Gallia. ‘They will be most relieved that you are recovering, as I am, my love.’
Dobbai took the cup and shuffled away. ‘I’ll fetch some more. It will soon get you back on your feet.’
‘I will decide when he gets back on his feet,’ insisted Alcaeus, to which Dobbai merely waved her hand dismissively at him and left the room.
‘You will
have another scar,’ said Alcaeus, ‘and you may have a slight limp.’
‘Limp?’
He shrugged. ‘It’s too early to tell, but better that than having no leg at all.’
The rest of the day I spent slipping in and out of sleep with Gallia and Claudia beside me, interrupted only by Alcaeus applying a fresh dressing to my arm and leg and Dobbai giving me more of her concoction to drink. She would not tell me what was in it, only that it was frequently used by the people of the northern steppes as an aid to recovery. That night I slept like the dead and in the morning awoke to discover that my strength was indeed slowly returning, just as she had promised. Alcaeus scoffed at such nonsense but did accept that I looked healthier than the day before. I agreed that my father could visit me in my bedchamber, but no one else. I did not want anyone to see the King of Dura incapacitated. The height of vanity, perhaps, but the Romans had taught me that you should always project an image of strength to the world, never weakness.
‘So,’ my father stood at the entrance to our bedroom balcony, ‘how is the hero of the hour?’
‘Weak and helpless, if truth be told.’ A dozen well-stuffed pillows propped me up.
‘Your doctor told me that you should be up and about in no time. Curious fellow, treats royalty like something he’s scraped off his sandal.’
‘He’s Greek,’ I said. ‘They are a people who believe that everyone is more or less equal.’
‘Ah. I can see why he likes it here.’
‘You do not approve of my kingdom, father?’ It was the first time he had visited Dura.
He walked over and sat down in a bedside chair. ‘It has a certain rustic charm, I’ll grant you that. And that Roman of yours.’
‘Domitus?’
‘Yes, he has forged a fearsome weapon in his foot soldiers. He reminds me of Vistaspa. Uncompromising, like a rod of iron, but as for Gallia’s women…’
I was more interested in the battle that had taken place than discussing Dura’s army. ‘Was the fight on the other side of the river a hard one?’
My father stretched out his legs. He was dressed in a white baggy shirt and loose blue leggings and looked very relaxed. ‘Not at all. The Persien heavy cavalry put up a fight but Chosroes and his bodyguard scarpered after our first charge. The rest lost heart after that.’
‘Was Narses present?’
My father laughed. ‘No. He has better things to do than lay siege to Dura, I think, no offence meant.’
‘None taken.’
‘Anyway, the kings await your pleasure.’
‘I will see them all tomorrow,’ I replied.
My father stood and offered his hand. I took it. ‘Thank you, father, for your support.’
‘What sort of father would I be if I stood by and did nothing when my son was in danger?’
‘Is Haytham here?’
He nodded. ‘He’s here. One of his lords and Gotarzes have renewed their friendship.’
‘Who would have thought it,’ I said mischievously, ‘Parthian and Agraci making friends with each other?’
‘Who indeed, Pacorus, who indeed.’
The next day I felt well enough to get dressed and hobble to the throne room, where I received a succession of visitors. Gallia sat beside me and Dobbai hovered around, making unwelcome comments and taking delight in annoying people, mostly Alcaeus who insisted that I should not tire myself out. Already the armies of the kings were heading for home, my father’s horse archers having left the day before for Hatra, his cataphracts remaining with Vistaspa to escort their king home. I insisted that while they were in Dura all the standards of the kings should fly side-by-side from the ramparts of the Citadel, so that all may see our great alliance. So the griffin flew beside the white horse’s head, the bull of Babylon, the dragon of Media, the shahbaz of Atropaiene, the eagle of Susiana, and the four-pointed star of Elymais. I also insisted that the black standard of Haytham should be accorded a place among the banners, Gotarzes declaring that it should stand next to his own just as he had stood next to Haytham in battle.
‘Next to each other by the wine jug, more like,’ whispered my father.
Before the great feast to celebrate our victory, I had a private gathering of those whom I trusted the most to thank them for their conduct during the preceding weeks, especially Godarz, the man who had been in charge of the city during two sieges and whose calm demeanour had inspired confidence in everyone around him. That the city had not fallen was due in no small measure to him.
‘I had hoped that your time in Parthia would be one a peaceful one, Godarz,’ I said to him after we had all come together on the palace balcony.
‘Fate has a way of interfering with the best-laid plans of men, Pacorus, but hopefully now we will have no more bother.’
‘No more armies will come to Dura,’ announced Dobbai, who insisted that I drink another cup of her milky elixir. In truth I had come to like it and I had to admit that the pain had largely disappeared from my left leg.
‘But Dura’s wrath will soon be known to all. What do the minds of men know about anything?’
No one understood what she was talking about so they ignored her as she held Claudia’s hand and the two of them ambled around the balcony.
‘Well,’ said Orodes, ‘perhaps we can all look forward to a period of peace.’
‘Not while Narses and Mithridates still live,’ growled Domitus, who today was dressed in a plain grey tunic, sandals and black leather belt.
‘The Roman’s right about that,’ added Dobbai, who was smiling at Claudia as my daughter clutched her hand and squealed with delight. ‘They will be most aggrieved that you are not dead, son of Hatra.’
‘Let us not talk about those two,’ I said. ‘Let us instead talk about rewarding those who have shown themselves to be courageous.’
I gestured to one of the guards standing by the entrance to the balcony, who disappeared and then came back with Surena by his side. My former squire looked very different from the rebellious youth I had first encountered in Mesene’s marshlands. He had grown in stature and maturity. Today he was dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt, beige leggings and brown leather boots. He wore a black leather belt from which hung his spatha. He bowed to Gallia and me and stood to attention before us. He still had that self-assured air that bordered on cockiness, but over the past months he had proved himself to be a brave and resourceful soldier.
‘Well, Surena,’ I said, ‘you are to be rewarded for your valour in the recent battle, not least for saving my life. So, to repay my debt, what would you ask of me?’
‘To be an officer in your cataphracts, lord.’
It was a reasonable request. He was well liked among the men and I believed that he would be able to win the respect of the hundred men in the company under him. He was young, it was true, but age should never be a barrier to talent.
‘What is your opinion, Nergal,’ I said, ‘do you think Surena would make a good officer?’
Nergal was sitting next to Praxima on a couch, his long legs stretched out in front of him.
‘He’s a little headstrong, sometimes has difficulties obeying orders, but I think some responsibility will do him good.’
‘So do I,’ I added. ‘Your request is granted. Well done.’
Surena beamed with delight. ‘Thank you, lord. I will not let you down.’
I waved him away but he still stood there, something obviously on his mind.
‘Is there anything else?’
For once Surena was hesitant. He looked at Gallia, who frowned at him. ‘I would like to ask the queen something.’
She regarded him coolly. ‘Spit it out, then.’
‘I would like to ask your permission to marry Viper.’
Domitus rolled his eyes and Praxima laughed. Godarz shook his head while Nergal nodded approvingly.
‘To ask for the hand of an Amazon is no small thing,’ replied Gallia.
‘I realise that, majesty.’ Surena was certainly trying his
best to please her.
‘I wish to know what Viper has to say about this,’ said Gallia.
‘Is that really necessary?’ I asked, my question being met by a steely blue-eyed stare. ‘Very well, very well. Guard, go and fetch Viper.’
He bowed and left. I just hoped that the Amazons were not on the training fields otherwise we could be here for hours. Surena stood like a statue, staring ahead.
‘Sit down, Surena,’ I told him, ‘you are making me feel uncomfortable.’
He perched on the end of a chair. Now he looked like a sitting statue.
‘Good job he’s not as nervous as this in battle,’ remarked Domitus, ‘otherwise Pacorus would be having his bones picked clean by buzzards by now.’
Some ten minutes later Viper arrived, with short-cut hair and her shirt clinging to her girlish figure. It was hard to believe that she was one of my wife’s most accomplished killers. I had to admit that she had a certain beauty. Her skin was flawless and she had large brown eyes with a small nose and chin. Surena stood up when she entered and stood by her side, Viper smiling at him.
‘Viper,’ snapped Gallia. ‘You know that I love you and the Amazons like sisters.’
‘Yes, majesty,’ even Viper’s voice was like that of a young girl.
‘And you know that you will always have a home here, at Dura.’
Viper smiled at Gallia and nodded. I began to see why Surena was so attracted to her. She was certainly disarming.
‘Marriage is a union of equals,’ continued Gallia, ‘not the possession of a woman by a man. You must not feel that you are being coerced into anything.’
‘I would never…’ protested Surena.
‘Silence!’ barked Gallia.
‘We love each other, majesty, we truly do,’ said Viper.
Gallia sighed and then walked over to Viper and embraced her. ‘Then you have my blessing. May you both be happy.’
She waved them away. They both bowed and then left us, arms round each other and their laughter filling the air. Later, when we were alone, I asked Gallia why she had been so opposed to their union.
‘I was being selfish, I suppose. This will be the beginning.’