The next day the two kings struck camp and headed back to their homelands. I decided to ride north with them, before heading west to Media to deliver Atrax back to his wife. Khosrou seemed unconcerned by the recent events.
‘Alas for Phraates, an innocent in a nest of vipers.’
‘Things will get worse while he’s high king,’ said Musa, ‘we’d better keep our sword blades sharp and our bowstrings taught.’
‘What will you do, now, Pacorus?’ asked Khosrou.
‘Go home, lord, back to my family.’
He nodded. ‘A wise choice. You and your wife are always welcome in Margiana. I would like to see your blonde beauty again.’
‘Thank you, lord. I will bring her north to see you, I promise.’
‘The same goes for me,’ added Musa.
We said our farewells to the two kings at the eastern border of Media. I, Orodes and Atrax then rode west to Irbil. Byrd and Malik rode ahead to announce our arrival, and some miles from the city we were met by a large party of Farhad’s bodyguard. They were glad to see their prince in one piece, as was his wife when we reached the palace. When we marched into the hall I noticed that there were now three thrones on the dais. My sister’s power and influence in Media was obviously growing. The reunion between husband and wife was tender and touching, and afterwards as Atrax sat between Farhad and his wife he held her hand and grinned at her like a small child. Farhad himself seemed happy and relaxed now that his son and heir was back at his side. That evening he gave a feast for all of us who had returned from Gordyene in his great hall. I sat on the top table on the left side of the king, with Orodes, Malik and Byrd beside me. Atrax sat on Farhad’s other side, next to Aliyeh. As the evening progressed and more wine was consumed, many of Farhad’s bodyguard grumbled that they should have been allowed to accompany their prince, whose reputation for valour had increased markedly during his absence. Farhad told them they obeyed orders and were not free to go on personal crusades, but I could tell that he was pleased with his son and the outcome of our expedition north.
‘The Romans have been keeping very quiet in Gordyene of late. I receive reports that they are reducing their garrison.’
I said nothing but doubted the accuracy of those reports.
‘We also received news from Ctesiphon that the high king is displeased with you, Pacorus, and that you are banished and your kingdom has been given to the Romans.’ There was a triumphant tone in my sister’s voice.
I decided not to rise to the bait. ‘It is true, sister, I have displeased Mithridates and his mother, it seems. It is of no consequence.’
‘Really?’ she was positively gloating now. ‘But have you also heard that King Narses has been made lord high general of the empire?’
My heart sank. ‘No, I had not.’
‘It would appear that you have made yourself an enemy of the whole empire.’
‘You are wrong, Aliyeh,’ said Atrax, ‘Pacorus has many friends, Media among them.’
But my sister’s news had dampened my appetite and I did not enjoy the rest of the evening. All I desired was to get back to Dura. It was now seven months since I left, too long to be away from Gallia and Claudia in the service of a king who was no longer my friend.
Chapter 18
Seven months and ten days after I had left Dura I rode across the pontoon bridge over the Euphrates and returned to my kingdom. It was good to be back and I inhaled the rich aroma of horses, camels and spices coming from the heavy traffic on the road going east and west. Indeed, so choked was the road leading to the bridge that I ordered my horsemen to dismount and walk through the throng. We removed our helmets. Our bows were in their cases affixed to our saddles. Ahead of us was a fat man bellowing at the drivers of his camel train, who were allowing too wide a gap to develop between each beast.
‘Keep them together,’ he shouted, ‘if we get separated in this crowd it will take hours to get you all together again. And we are on a tight schedule. Use your sticks!’
I walked up behind him, Remus following. ‘A busy day, friend?’
He turned to look at me, shielding his eyes from the sun as he did so. He had a dirty brown turban on his head and grey stubble on his chin. ‘I blame the idiot who built this bridge for all this mess.’
‘But surely,’ I replied, ‘it is quicker crossing here than further upstream?’
He looked at me as though I was a simpleton. ‘Of course, but they should have built two bridges, one for eastern traffic and one for western traffic. Quite simple, though I suppose that king in his palace up there,’ he gestured at the Citadel sitting atop the escarpment, ‘thinks it’s great fun to see us all struggle like this. Charges us for the privilege as well.’
By this time my men had made the congestion worse, as mules, horses, camels and dozens of men and women tried to get on the bridge. It was chaos, and soon people were arguing and pushing and shoving each other as tempers ran high.
‘You see?’ said the merchant, shaking his head, ‘if he had built two bridges we wouldn’t have all this. Keep those camels together, you sons of whores.’
Then we heard a blast of trumpets and whistles, which startled the beasts and briefly made everyone forget their grievances. Remus flicked his tail nonchalantly — he had heard those sounds many times before. Seconds later a century of Dura’s legionaries pushed its way through the crowd, the men ordering some to retreat back down the road and others to continue with their journey over the bridge. They used their shields to herd people back, while the centurion at the front employed his vine cane to ‘persuade’ the more recalcitrant to move aside. Then they were in front of me.
The centurion frowned and then his eyes widened as he recognised me. He stopped and bowed his head.
‘Majesty, forgive me, I did not know that you were back at the city.’
‘Why should you? A lot of people on the road, I see.’
He shook his head. ‘It is easier fighting than keeping control of this mob, majesty.’
He turned around. ‘Clear a path, clear a path for the king.’
The merchant’s mouth opened as I mounted Remus. ‘I will think on your suggestion of a second bridge. Shamash keep you safe on your journey.’
I raised my hand to the centurion as his men cleared a path on the bridge and we rode across it and back to the city. The watch-outs on the towers saw us coming and sent word back to the Citadel, so that when we rode through the Palmyrene Gate a guard of honour was waiting for us, as was another in the Citadel itself. And there, on the steps, in boots, leggings and a white shirt edge with blue, her long blonde hair shimmering in the light, stood Gallia, my gorgeous Gallic queen. I vaulted from Remus, ran up the steps and embraced her, locking my lips on hers. The Amazons arrayed behind her began rapping the ends of their bows on the flagstones in salute and my men began cheering. Claudia, in the arms of Dobbai, began crying due to the din. I released Gallia and scooped up Claudia kissing her forehead, then wrapped an arm around Gallia’s shoulders.
‘You have been gone too long,’ said Gallia, struggling to hold back the tears.
I too was choking with emotion. ‘Yes. I have done with the empire and politics. This is my home and this is where I stay from now on. No more adventures for me.’
We held each other closely as I dismissed the men and went into the palace with Claudia in my arms and Gallia beside me. Dobbai trailed after us. I had hoped that I could spend some time alone with my family, but Rsan arrived after dealing with a trading dispute in the city, followed by Godarz.
‘It is good to see you again, majesty,’ remarked Rsan, bowing his head, spreading his arms out wide in front of him in homage. ‘The financial affairs of the city are in order, you will be glad to hear.’