Orodes walked with me through the palace and into the throne room where my father was sitting listening to grievances concerning land disputes, dowries and a host of other civil problems that have plagued kings since the dawn of time. Stewards and other officials were attending him, Assur standing on one side of the dais and Kogan on the other. Two old men were standing in front of him, each one holding several scrolls, and one was gesticulating with his free hand. My father looked bored to death. His face lit up when he saw me, and he immediately stood and clapped his hands to announce that proceedings were at an end.
‘But highness,’ implored one of the plaintiffs, ‘my neighbour has clearly violated the city’s ordinances by building his wall at twice the stipulated height.’
‘I would not have had to build it so high were it not for the lewd goings-on that accompany your banquets. My wife and I have no wish to see such depravity.’
‘Depravity? How dare you. If I was thirty years younger.’
They began to square up to each other. I smiled. Each must have been in his late sixties. ‘Enough!’ bellowed my father, causing them both to freeze and one to drop his scrolls.
‘I will decide on this matter next week. The meeting is ended.’
He pointed at Kogan, who ordered his guards to usher everyone out of the room.
I embraced my father. ‘We heard about your victory,’ he said. ‘Well done.’
‘And your news?’
He smiled. ‘We have sent the Romans scuttling back to where they came from. Your mother will be delighted that you are here.’ He released me and turned to Orodes. ‘Greetings, Prince Orodes, welcome to Hatra.’
Orodes bowed his head. ‘It is an honour to be at your court, majesty.’
‘Hail King Pacorus, destroyer of Parthia’s enemies.’
I recognised the voice but thought that my ears were playing tricks on me. They were not. I turned round to see Narses standing in Hatra’s throne room. Narses, the man who had promised that my head would adorn Uruk’s walls. Narses the traitor. Narses the liar and thief. He must have been skulking in the shadows along one of the walls when I entered. I blinked in astonishment. He smiled at me as though we were long-lost friends. The large iron-studded doors were closed shut and Kogan returned to stand by the two thrones. Orodes stood speechless.
‘King Narses brought his army to assist Hatra, Pacorus,’ said my father. ‘We have decided to put aside our differences for the sake of the empire’s welfare.’
‘After all,’ said Narses smugly, ‘we are all Parthians.’
A deep-thinking man, a philosopher or accomplished politician, would have taken time to compose an appropriate response to this effrontery, but I was not such a man. I strode over to Narses and struck him hard across the face with the back of my hand. The King of Persis is a tall, well-built individual, but he was not expecting such a response and I hit him with such force that he was sent sprawling across the floor. Without thinking I drew my sword and took a step towards the prostrate Narses, who was slowly picking himself up. I smiled; I had no objection to killing him here. I stopped when I felt the point of a blade at my throat.
‘What, in the name of all that’s decent, are you doing?’ It was my father’s sword at my flesh.
Narses staggered to his feet, his nose was bleeding. His eyes flashed hatred but then, remembering where he was, his expression softened.
‘You dare to draw your sword in my palace,’ said my father, ‘against my guest?’
‘You would not accord him that status if you knew his true intentions,’ I snarled.
‘Put away your sword,’ ordered my father.
‘I will not,’ I replied.
At that moment my mother appeared, accompanied by Gafarn and Diana. They were shocked at the scene before their eyes. My mother rushed over and placed herself between my father and myself.
‘Varaz, what are you doing?’
‘Pacorus struck our guest.’
‘Not hard enough by the look of him,’ remarked Gafarn.
‘Silence!’ shouted my father. ‘Hold your tongue, Gafarn.’
My mother looked at me. ‘Pacorus, put away your sword. I will not have such scenes in my home.’
My will weakened in her presence and I slid the spatha back into its scabbard. My father did likewise and then held out his hand. Orodes stared in disbelief at me, while Narses, having composed himself, was now standing to one side with his arms folded and a self-righteous expression on his bruised face.
‘Surrender your sword.’
I was mortified. ‘This sword was given to me by a friend, one who knew the meaning of honour and loyalty.’ I jerked my head towards Narses, whose bleeding nose was being attended to by a servant. ‘Unlike him.’
‘Very well,’ said my father. ‘Lord Kogan, have my son escorted to his chambers. He will remain there until he has learned some manners.’
‘There is no need, King Varaz,’ said Narses, ‘I do not wish to come between father and son.’
‘There is every need, King Narses,’ remarked my father. ‘Kings do not act like thieves and beggars.’
‘Or slaves,’ smirked Narses as half a dozen of Kogan’s spearmen, their shafts levelled at me, escorted me from the room.
My mother came to see me later as I paced up and down in my old quarters, fuming. Her words did nothing to cool my temper.
‘Narses came to our assistance when the Romans were besieging Nisibus.’
‘Narses assists only himself, mother. He covets this kingdom, and now I find his soldiers are camped outside the city walls.’
‘He and they will be returning to Persis after the business between him and your father has been concluded.’
‘Business?’
Gafarn and Diana entered at that moment, both of them looking well I had to admit. Gafarn now sported a neatly trimmed beard, which gave him an authoritative air. He really did look like a prince of Parthia. I embraced them both.
‘Do not trust Narses,’ I told them.
‘I don’t,’ replied Gafarn. ‘Anyone who smiles as much as he does is bound to be hiding something.’
My mother was not amused. ‘Really, Gafarn, don’t encourage Pacorus.’
Gafarn flopped down into a chair. ‘He doesn’t need encouraging. He’s more than capable of getting into trouble on his own.’
Still the same old Gafarn under the princely appearance.
‘You should not argue with your father, Pacorus,’ said Diana sternly. ‘Family is important.’
‘So is truth and honour,’ I replied.
Gafarn laughed. ‘Truth and honour? He used to spout the same old rubbish to Spartacus, do you remember, Diana?’
‘I should have killed Narses when I had the chance, and now he defiles my father’s palace. It is an outrage.’
‘Enough Pacorus,’ implored my mother. ‘I want you to apologise to your father.’
‘And I want Narses gone.’
My mother’s tone changed. ‘I would like to believe that the King of Dura has respect for his parents, but it appears I am apparently wrong. Send word to me when you have decided to act like a king rather than a petulant boy.’
With that she turned and left the room. Diana smiled her soft smile and held my hand.
‘It is just as well that you are good with your sword, seeing as your tongue makes endless trouble for you,’ mused Gafarn. ‘Congratulations on your victory over the Romans, by the way. You finally managed to kill Lucius Furius. Perhaps you can now march on Rome and amuse yourself until your father’s temper subsides.’
‘Did you come here just to annoy me, Gafarn?’
‘That and other reasons.’
I shook my head and sat down, while Gafarn ordered the guards standing outside to fetch us food and drink. While we ate I told them both about Lucius Furius, of how I had been captured by Chosroes’ men and of Narses’ threat against Hatra.
‘Well, it may be of comfort to you to know that Babylon is no longer under siege,’ said Gafarn, dipping a piece of bread into a pot of honey. ‘Chosroes could not take the city and so retreated back to Mesene. Next thing we knew, Narses was here at the head of his army offering to help our father.’