I turned to see Afrand standing a few paces from me, her hair tumbling over her breasts that were barely held in place by her flimsy transparent white top.
‘I wish to enter the temple,’ I said.
‘The goddess is not receiving guests today.’
‘I wish to speak to the one who spoke to me when I was last here.’
‘There are no words for you today, highness.’
I was starting to get annoyed. ‘I will be the judge of that.’
‘No,’ she calmly, ‘you will not.’
I folded my arms across my chest.
‘It will take more than two guards to prevent me.’
She smiled. ‘The goddess Ishtar has been kind to you, King Pacorus, and now you come to her home with threats of violence. Why would you treat her so disrespectfully?’
I suddenly felt very uncomfortable. ‘I did not mean to insult the goddess, of course not. I merely wished to see if she would speak to me once more.’
She held out her hand. ‘Walk with me majesty.’
She led me away from the temple doors, the fragrance of myrrh on her body entering my nostrils as I walked beside her. Her robe was slit from the waist, revealing her lithe legs, and I found it hard not stare at her voluptuous breasts. She was most intoxicating.
‘Most people who come to worship at the temple are ignored by the goddess because they are unworthy. That she sent you a vision shows that you are beloved of the gods, Pacorus of Dura. But you do not command them to do your bidding any more than I do.’
She was right. ‘I apologise for being so rash.’
We walked from the courtyard into a spacious hall that was rich with the aroma of lavender. A flight of marble steps before us led to a second storey of red-painted doors and walls adorned with scenes of fornication. I blushed as I found myself staring at depictions of naked couples intertwined.
‘The murals offend you?’ asked Afrand, noticing my discomfort.
‘They are a surprise, that is all.’
She laughed. ‘Ishtar is the goddess of love. Why are you surprised that her temple grounds should show depictions of that emotion?’
‘Perhaps because I believe such things should remain private,’ I replied.
She considered for a moment. ‘The friend who spoke to you when you were here last, she is dead, is she not?’
‘How did you know?’
She smiled. ‘I could tell by the look on your face when you left us. Her spirit must be strong to be able to leave the spirit world to enter the domain of the living.’
I thought of Claudia, the wife of Spartacus, and nodded. ‘She was strong, yes.’
‘You will see here again.’
I felt my heart increase its beat. ‘When?’
She cupped my face with her hand. ‘Not yet, great king. Not until you have fulfilled your destiny.’
Chapter 14
I rode back to Dura in the company of Malik, Byrd and their scouts, following in the wake of the city’s army, which had left a well-beaten track where thousands of hooves, sandals and wheels had trampled the earth. At the border of my father’s kingdom we were met by a courier who brought news that the combined forces of Media and Atropaiene had fought a great battle west of the Caspian Sea. They had defeated the armies of King Monaeses of Yueh-Chih and King Tiridates of Aria, who had retreated back east. The victory was bought at a heavy price, though, for King Farhad had fallen in the battle and now his son, Atrax, ruled Media. In addition, my father and Gafarn had pursued the armies of Anauon and Drangiana back to Ecbatana where they had linked up with Atrax and Aschek. My father ended his note by stating that he believed the enemy would now retreat back through the Caspian Gates to their homelands. The threat to Hatra, Media and Atropaiene was for the moment over.
‘Atrax will make a good king,’ said Malik after he had finished reading the letter and had passed it to Byrd.
‘Yes, he will,’ I agreed.
Byrd handed the note back to me. ‘So, the great plot of Mithridates has failed. What now?’
It was a good question and I would have liked to have announced that I was going to march straight to Ctesiphon, batter down its aged walls and remove Mithridates. But the truth was that the army had been campaigning for nearly six months continuously and needed a spell of rest and recuperation. Of my allies, Babylon was on its knees, Media and Atropaiene had both been invaded and no doubt ravaged and even Hatra had been forced to send its army far from home, and in addition still had to contend with the Armenian threat in the north. As far as I knew Musa and Khosrou were still campaigning in the vastness between the Caspian and Aral seas, so they would be unable to support any offensive against Ctesiphon. I consoled myself with the thought that our enemies were probably in a worse state having suffered heavier losses. The whole empire was exhausted.
‘We go home, Byrd, that is what we do.’
It was good to see Dura again, to see the road thronged with traffic and to catch sight of the Citadel glowing yellow in the sun above the blue waters of the Euphrates. The army had received a tumultuous reception when it had returned but our small party slipped quietly into the city and rode unnoticed along the main street to the Citadel. We dismounted in the courtyard where Gallia, my children, Rsan and Aaron waited at the foot of the palace steps. I embraced my family and then sat with them on the palace terrace as Rsan gave me his report first. While he did so Dobbai slept in her wicker chair by the side of the balustrade. Servants brought us drink and food as Eszter played with her maid and Isabella and Claudia arranged their chairs beside mine.
‘Notwithstanding the recent conflict, which did interrupt trade, revenues have remained largely stable, majesty.’
‘And the deliveries to Alexander?’ I asked Aaron.
‘All is in order, majesty,’ he replied. ‘Deliveries are on time and payment is prompt.’
‘Indeed,’ said Rsan, ‘though we will need the gold to pay for the costs incurred by the army during its recent campaign. General Domitus has once again put in a large request for javelins and Lord Vagises has requested a sizeable amount of arrows.’
‘That is the nature of war, Rsan. Surely the gold that comes from Alexander is more than sufficient to pay for the army’s requirements, especially now Silaces and his eight thousand men are no longer with us?’
Rsan nodded gravely. ‘It is as you say, majesty, though it would be better to build up the treasury’s reserves rather than continually dipping into them.’
Rsan was in essence a hoarder, an individual who liked nothing more than to amass ever-greater quantities of items around himself, in his case gold.
‘The revenues from the caravans and from Alexander are more than enough to pay for the army and build up the treasury’s reserves,’ I told him. ‘However, it may comfort you to know that next year your treasury will be benefitting from another source of gold.’
Rsan’s eyes lit up. ‘Most excellent news, majesty. May I enquire the nature of this new source?’
‘The treasury at Ctesiphon,’ I replied.
Rsan looked confused. ‘I do not understand.’
I waved my hand at him. ‘It has been a tiring day, Rsan, you may go.’
He wanted to know more but I was in no mood to explain so he bowed his head and retreated from the terrace, followed by Aaron.
‘Aaron,’ I called after him, ‘I would speak with you.’
He retraced his steps and stood before me.
‘Majesty?’
‘You have been in contact with Alexander?’
He nodded.
‘When will he begin his rebellion?’
‘Next year, majesty, as Arsam has increased the quantities of weapons being produced by the armouries.’
‘And Alexander is pleased with the weapons we are supplying?’
Aaron smiled. ‘Very pleased, majesty.’
‘Good, you may go.’
‘Viper was most upset that you sent Surena away from the army,’ said Gallia after Aaron had left the terrace.