‘Yes, another victory.’ But it did not feel like victory, not with the words of Furius still in my ears. Had Phraates really handed Dura to the Romans? I dismissed the idea. And yet…
A line of Nergal’s horse archers were standing watch as the Romans were ordered to stack their shields, mail shirts, helmets, belts and swords in great piles before being herded under armed guard towards the camp — my camp — they had occupied during the siege of my city. It would now be their temporary prison until their fate was decided.
‘If any engineers still live,’ I said to Domitus, ‘they are to be separated from the rest. I will have need of them and their siege engines.’
‘They may not wish to serve you.’
‘Better that than death,’ I snapped. ‘Now go.’
He raised an eyebrow but said nothing, merely saluting and striding away.
Orodes walked up, leading his sweat-lathered horse behind him. ‘I salute you, Pacorus, you have won a fine victory.’
I looked around at the broken bodies littering the earth, and heard the pitiful cries of the wounded and dying and the moans of injured animals. ‘At this moment, my friend, it is hard to tell the difference between the victors and the vanquished.’
Behind me the cataphracts began to dismount and take off their heavy scale armour, dumping the suits on the ground then relieving their horses of their armoured protection. The squires began arriving from camp to attend their masters, riding on horses and pulling camels behind them. As one squire led his master’s horse to the river to drink, the other loaded the scale armour for horse and man on to the camel. Tonight they would be sewing plates of armour back onto the thick hide coats, sharpening blunted swords and maces and knocking dents out of helmets. Others would be building funeral pyres for their lords, for we too had lost men this day.
Surena appeared before me on his horse, his face flush with victory, streaked with sweat and dirt, and his tunic torn.
I took off my helmet and armour and dumped them on the ground.
‘Help me with Remus’ armour,’ I said to him.
He jumped from his horse and began unbuckling the straps that held the armour in place.
‘I ordered you to stay in camp,’ I said.
‘I could not stand idly by while you were fighting.’
‘If you had been killed, I would have no squire,’ I rebuked him.
‘But, surely, you wish for me to learn about war.’
Despite his dirty appearance there was not a scratch on him, and he seemed to be oblivious to the horror around him. ‘You cannot learn anything if you are dead.’
‘Let the boy be, Pacorus,’ said Orodes, who was being assisted by his own squires, ‘let us be thankful that we are all still alive.’
I pointed at him. ‘I’ve got a little task for you, Surena.’
He flashed a smile. ‘Yes, lord.’
‘Go and find the body of the Roman general that the queen killed, then cut off its head and bring it back to me, but not before you have crucified the body.’
He looked perplexed. ‘How am I going to crucify the body?’
‘You will have to ask General Domitus if you can borrow some of his men to prepare a cross and acquire some ropes and nails. And tell him that you are carrying out my orders.’
I pointed towards the river. ‘Erect the cross near the water’s edge. Now go, and don’t forget to bring me back the head.’
He nodded his head and scurried off to find Domitus.
Orodes looked at me but said nothing. Domitus, however, had plenty to say when he stormed back with a sheepish Surena in tow. He jerked his thumb at my squire. ‘This little whelp has just tried to order me to give him some of my men, said he had a very important task to perform for the king, and that he could not waste time explaining to me what it is.’
I shook my head in despair. Surena had a talent amounting to genius for annoying people. I held up my hands to Domitus.
‘I apologise, Domitus. I asked him to ask you for your help, not to order you.’
Domitus fixed Surena with his stare, who stared insolently back. I held my head in my hands for I knew what was coming next. Domitus smiled at Surena.
‘You know the disadvantage with having long hair?’
Surena looked bemused. ‘No.’
As quick as a striking snake Domitus grabbed Surena’s hair with his right hand and yanked the boy down onto his knees. He moved his face to within a few inches of Surena’s.
‘All those pretty flowing locks are easy to get hold off.’
Surena’s face was contorted in pain. ‘Let go of me, barbarian,’ he squealed.
Domitus let go of his hair and stepped back. ‘Barbarian, am I? You need a lesson in manners.’
Surena jumped to his feet and drew his spatha. Aghast, I stepped between them.
‘Surena put away your sword. Now!’
He looked at Domitus standing before him with only his cane in his hand, then at me, and then reluctantly replaced his sword in its scabbard. I then smiled at Domitus, who was far from amused.
‘Whatever you wanted me to do,’ he said to me, ‘you can attend to it yourself. I’m not some slave to be ordered about by some young dung shoveller.’ He then pointed at Surena. ‘You stay out of my way, boy, if you know what’s good for you.’
He turned and strode back to his legion.
‘You had a lucky escape, Surena,’ remarked Orodes.
‘Come with me,’ I said, ‘and don’t say anything to anyone.’
With Surena trailing behind me I organised a group of my cataphracts to find the body of Lucius Furius and drag it by horse to the edge of the river. Surena decapitated it with an axe and the carcass was then nailed to a cross at the edge of the River Euphrates. I led Remus downstream so he could quench his thirst and gave orders that the head was to be taken back to the city and preserved in salt.
Gallia and her Amazons arrived as I threw my tunic on the ground and stood in my silk vest drenched in sweat, leggings and boots. She vaulted from Epona, took off her helmet and then kissed me on the lips.
‘You smell like a bullock,’ she whispered.
‘A handsome bullock, I hope.’
Gallia untied her plait and shook her long hair free. Praxima and the other women also took off their helmets and Surena’s eyes lit up as he beheld the mounted women warriors before him.
‘You have won a great victory, lord,’ shouted Praxima, to which the others cheered and raised their bows.
‘I am glad you are all safe,’ I replied, my arm around Gallia’s waist.
Surena had probably never seen a blonde, blue-eyed woman before; certainly not one like Gallia and certainly not this close up. He walked up to her and smiled.
‘I am Surena of the Ma’adan. I have heard tales of your beauty and they have not been exaggerated.’
Gallia eyed him coolly and then looked at me.
‘He is my squire. It’s a long story. I will tell you later.’
The arrival of Nergal signalled a touching reunion between husband and wife as he and Praxima embraced each other. I smiled. For a brief moment we were back in Italy. As we chatted and gave thanks for our survival, Surena reached out and touched Gallia’s locks. She spun round instantly and held her dagger to his throat.
‘Do you not know that it is death to touch the person of your queen, boy?’
For the first time this day Surena looked alarmed, especially as Praxima hissed and drew her sword to protect her friend. I placed my hand on Gallia’s dagger.
‘He meant no offence, my love. He is from the marshlands many miles from here and his manners require polishing.’
‘He is an arrogant puppy,’ growled Gallia.
‘Perhaps so, but you would not rob my of a good squire, would you?’
Her eyes darted between me and Surena, and then she sneered at him and put her dagger back in her boot. Praxima sheathed her sword.
Gallia vaulted onto the back of Epona.
‘We ride back to the city.’ She pointed at Surena. ‘Teach that one some manners.’