‘Yes, lord. You must evacuate your stronghold of all those who cannot fight. Send them to your outlying towns and villages. If the courage of your lords has faltered then at least they can care for Media’s most vulnerable. The fact that the Romans have not moved south on Irbil means that their attention has been diverted elsewhere. We must use this opportunity. Keep only foot soldiers in Irbil and send your horsemen to your southern border. I will ride to Ctesiphon and gather what forces I can to come to your aid.’
Farhad was nodding and his commanders were looking at each other and doing likewise. At least now they had something to focus on rather than waiting for the Romans to storm Irbil and put them all to the sword.
Those who were too old, too young or too infirm to shoot a bow were evacuated south, a long line of bedraggled humanity whose abodes and livelihoods they were leaving behind. Their homes still stood, but they lay outside the walls of the citadel and any invading army would use them to house their own troops, either that or burn them. I had suggested to Farhad that he pull them down to deprive their use to the enemy, but he was horrified by the idea and so hundreds of buildings stood intact and empty, hopefully only temporarily. I told Farhad that I would ride south to Phraates with the intention of convincing him to send an army to Media. Before I left I went to see Atrax.
The shutters of his room were still closed though he was sitting up in his bed, propped up by large pillows. Even in the half-light he looked pale but at least he was conscious. I sat on a stool beside the bed as Aliyeh finished feeding her husband a bowlful of soup. She made sure that he finished his meal before she allowed me to speak to him. A servant took away the empty bowl and she sat holding his hand, her eyes like those of a hawk watching me all the time.
‘You must stay here until you have regained your strength.’
‘I will, lord. Your sister is an excellent nurse.’ He smiled at Aliyeh.
‘I will send an army to assist your father, of that I promise.’
He seemed cheered by this. ‘And then we will crush the Romans and throw them out of Gordyene. Avenge the death of Balas.’
Aliyeh’s eyes narrowed to slits. The last thing she wanted was to see Atrax ride off to war once more.
‘The Romans have won a battle, Atrax, but they will lose the war. But in war we must be patient to await the right opportunity.’
‘And now Pacorus has to leave us,’ said Aliyeh forcefully. ‘He has a long ride ahead of him.’
I leaned forward and laid a hand on Atrax’s arm. His flesh was clammy to the touch.
‘Regain your strength, valiant prince. Until we meet again.’
He smiled and raised his hand in salute. Aliyeh kissed his forehead and ushered me out of the room.
Seven days later I stood before Phraates in one of his throne rooms at Ctesiphon. The atmosphere in the palace was drenched in mistrust and sullen resentment. No wonder, because the King of Kings was sitting on his throne flanked by his wife on one side and his son, the reptile-like Mithridates, on the other. I had ignored the latter when I had entered the hall, bowing to Phraates and then his wife but not to his son. The insult was intentional and was noticed by the court officials and courtiers who stood in clusters around the walls like vultures gathered round a rotting carcass. Guards armed with spears and wicker shields stood at regular intervals along the walls and either side of the dais on which Phraates and his family were seated. I was dressed in my full war gear when I presented myself, my Roman cuirass having been cleaned meticulously the night before and my helmet burnished until it shone. I had my boots cleaned and wore my white tunic under my cuirass, my brown leggings and spatha in its scabbard completing my appearance. I stood before Phraates, my helmet under my right arm; its crown filled with new white goose feathers.
‘Welcome, King Pacorus, we are glad to see you.’
‘And I you, highness,’ I replied. I kept my gaze upon Phraates but was aware of the disdainful stares directed at me by Queen Aruna and Mithridates.
‘I wish I was here under more agreeable circumstances, highness.’
Phraates nodded thoughtfully. ‘Alas, we have heard of the discomfort that has fallen upon Farhad and Aschek. Grim tidings indeed.’
‘Yes, highness,’ I said, ‘that is why I must request that the army of Susiana be sent north to reinforce Media before the Romans lay siege to Farhad’s capital.’
‘Impossible!’ said Mithridates.
‘You have something to say, my son?’ asked Phraates.
‘Great king, it is not for me to offer you advice on matters of state.’
‘Indeed,’ I remarked.
Mithridates’ nostrils flared as he glared at me. ‘But if we pander to hysterical demands and send our army north, then who will defend Ctesiphon?’
‘Highness,’ I said firmly, ‘you can call upon the armies of Babylon and Mesene, whose kingdoms lie nearby, their rulers at least are loyal and trustworthy. Though perhaps not Persis.’
There were gasps around the hall as I reminded Mithridates of his recent treachery. Mithridates momentarily appeared as if he was going to take the bait, his face a mask of hatred. But with great difficulty he managed to restrain himself.
‘And,’ I continued, ‘there are also the kingdoms in the east of the empire who will lend assistance to Ctesiphon. Gotarzes of Elymais is a man whom any general would want fighting by his side.’
Now it was the turn of the queen to intercede. ‘The armies of those kingdoms have been recently weakened and will be in no condition to lend us aid. Indeed, Sakastan has no king who can lead that kingdom’s army.’
This was a sly reference to my having killed Porus during the recent civil war.
‘Traitors often suffer a bad end, majesty,’ I remarked casually.
‘Enough,’ said Phraates, ‘we will not argue among ourselves, for the laughter of our enemies shall be our only reward. I fear that I cannot send my army north, King Pacorus. To do so would leave the heart of the empire vulnerable.’
I was confused, but then saw the leer on the face of Mithridates.
‘Of course, you will not have heard. The Romans have invaded Hatra.’
I felt sick in the pit of my stomach and it was some time before I could utter a response.
‘Hatra?’
Mithridates leaned forward, an evil grin on his face. ‘That is correct. After he had finished with those imbeciles Farhad and Aschek, Lucullus invaded your father’s kingdom with a new army. Even now his soldiers lay siege to Nisibus. So you see, if Hatra falls then a Roman army will be marching from the northwest towards Ctesiphon.’
‘It is as my son says,’ added Phraates.
I was speechless. The Romans had seized the opportunity offered by Media’s aggression to defeat Farhad and use his actions as a pretext for attacking my father’s kingdom. Domitus had been right. The Romans aimed for nothing less than the conquest of all the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
‘Susiana has no troops to offer Farhad or Aschek,’ said Mithridates.
I became angry at that moment. I pointed at Mithridates. ‘Does this man, who formerly fought in the army of the rebels, speak on your behalf, highness?’
Phraates looked alarmed. ‘Mithridates has my confidence, King Pacorus,’ he said meekly.
‘Last year he was prepared to slit his father’s throat.’
The queen stood up. ‘How dare you insult my son.’
‘How dare he sit there lecturing me.’
Mithridates smirked once more. ‘Is this behaviour becoming of the lord high general of the empire?’
‘I quite agree,’ added his mother, ‘such vulgarity in the presence of the high king is unforgiveable.’
In the heat of the moment I then made my mistake. ‘If you no longer have confidence in my abilities, highness,’ I said, ‘I will gladly relinquish my command.’
Phraates looked most uncomfortable and began to babble an incoherent reply, which was cut short by his wife.