‘You know it is death to touch the queen’s person, Strabo,’ I remarked casually.
Strabo flushed and clasped his hands in front of him, a look of innocence on his face.
‘I didn’t, wouldn’t, touch her majesty, majesty. Of course not.’
‘Even impure thoughts could be construed as a form of molestation,’ I said sternly.
Strabo became nonplussed. ‘I, er, well. I must be getting along, majesty, many things to do before I turn in.’
He bowed awkwardly and then turned on his heels, scurrying down the bank and leaping into his saddle.
‘I don’t know why I tolerate you, Strabo,’ I called after him.
‘Because I keep your horses shod, fed, saddled and ready for your wars, majesty,’ he replied, then whooped for joy, dug his knees into his horse and galloped off.
‘You should have him flogged for his insolence,’ sneered Gallia, who had noted Strabo’s lecherousness.
‘He’s my best quartermaster,’ I replied. ‘If I flog him he’ll only be more bad tempered and offensive, and probably less efficient. Besides, having been flogged myself once, I will not visit the same punishment upon someone unless they truly deserve it.’
‘His eyes were all over me,’ said Gallia.
I dropped Remus’ reins and went to her side.
‘Can’t blame him for that,’ I whispered in her ear.
She dug a finger in my ribs.
‘You are impossible.’
Teres had picked up my horse’s reins as Remus drank from the water, the headman stroking his neck. Remus didn’t flinch as a stranger petted him.
‘He likes you,’ I said to Teres, who blushed and bowed to me.
‘Forgive me, highness, I meant no offence.’
I laid my hand on his arm. ‘Of course not. Be at ease. We are grateful for your help.’
‘You have enough water to grow your crops?’ asked Gallia.
‘Yes, highborn,’ replied Teres, ‘Tishtrya has been kind to us.’
‘Tishtrya?’
Teres then explained that he and his villagers worshipped Tishtrya, the god of rain who had created the world’s lakes and rivers and who now gave water to the earth so that his followers could grow the crops that fed them. As well as providing rains that feed the rivers and lakes, Tishtrya also patrolled the heavens and kept evil away from his followers.
‘When danger threatens,’ he continued, admiring Remus, ‘he takes the form of a great white stallion to defeat it.’
Gallia was most interested in his words. ‘A white stallion?’
‘Yes, highness. The legend has been handed down to us through many generations of our people. Before there were any cities on the earth, when Tishtrya was spreading rains over the land, the dread demon of drought, Apaosha, suddenly appeared to suck the land dry and kill thousands of men and animals. So Tishtrya took the form of a mighty white stallion that reflected the purity of his purpose and the strength of his will. Apaosha, reflecting his dark nature, transformed himself into a terrible black stallion and the two did battle in the middle of a vast plain. After three days and three nights of battle neither could overcome the other and men began to lose faith in Tishtrya and stopped praying for him and offering their libations. And so Tishtrya grew weaker and weaker until it appeared that he would be defeated. But then Ahura Mazda, the supreme god, the creator of heaven and earth, offered his own prayers in support of Tishtrya, who was strengthened and thus able to overcome Apaosha, who was finally banished from the earth.’
I thought of Narses mounted on his black stallion and took Teres’ words as a good omen.
Gallia smiled at him. ‘That is a beautiful story. I pray that Tishtrya continues to smile on you and your people.’
The next day, as we continued our march south to Babylon, the clouds at last burst and the land was drenched by a great thunderstorm. Any depressions quickly filled with water and the ground was transformed into a sea of mud that slowed our advance as horses and camels struggled to find their footing in the deluge. Flaps on quivers and bow cases were fastened shut to keep bows and arrows dry, and scale armour carried on the camels was wrapped in waxed covers to keep the rain off it. Mail armour can rust after a good dousing with water and so the Amazons also stashed their mail shirts on the camel train. Gallia rode on Epona with her arms outstretched, laughing as she held her face up to the heavens and drank from the raindrops. Her drenched shirt clung to her lithe body, highlighting the contours of her breasts and arms, her silk vest maintaining her modesty. She was deliriously happy.
‘You see, Pacorus, how Tishtrya smiles on us. Are you not joyous that he gives us his blessing’
I looked at Orodes sitting in his saddle beside me, his hair matted to his skull, his clothes sodden, and felt water coursing off my nose, ears and running down my back.
‘Delighted, my sweet.’
Vagharsh sitting behind us, holding my banner in its waxed sleeve, laughed aloud.
Eventually the rain ceased and the temperature dropped rapidly with the onset of the evening. We warmed ourselves round great fires that appeared as numerous as the stars in the night sky. Darkness fell and the armies camped on a stretch of land that extended for over ten miles. We were now less than half a day’s march from Babylon. Tomorrow we would be locked in battle with the enemy.
After we had changed our clothes and eaten I sent Byrd and his scouts south to reconnoitre the enemy’s position, instructing him to retreat immediately if he encountered enemy patrols. I did not want him or any of his men falling into the merciless hands of Narses or Mithridates. I watched them ride out of camp. At the same time a rider came from the camp of Vardan requesting my presence at the king’s pavilion. I took Orodes and Gallia along with me, the Amazons acting as our escort.
We arrived at the pavilion and were shown into the throne room where, once again, Mardonius stood before a table with his pointing stick, the Babylonian high command standing to one side. Also at the table were my father, Gafarn, Vistaspa, Vardan, Nergal and Praxima.
We bowed our heads to Vardan and I acknowledged my father but said no words to him. Servants brought us warm wine to drink and we once more gathered for another lecture. The new map spread out before us showed the city of Babylon and the surrounding area. I had never visited the city and was in truth fascinated by its layout and history. I knew that there had been a settlement on its site three thousand years ago, and that seventeen hundred years ago one of its kings, Hammurabi, had established the first codes of laws in human history. Thereafter Babylon had increased in size and influence, King Nebuchadnezzar building great inner and out walls around the city to make it an impregnable fortress. That was over five hundred years ago, though, and since then Babylon’s power and influence had been in decline. It had been captured by the great Alexander, the warrior king of Macedon, two hundred and seventy years ago, and thirty years afterwards the city’s outer walls had been demolished, the bricks being transported north to construct the city of Seleucia, which stood opposite the palace complex of Ctesiphon.
Vardan’s words brought me back to the present.
‘Tomorrow we will advance to the walls of Babylon and relieve my city. The latest intelligence that I have received indicates that the enemy have not left their siege positions.’
I felt a tingle go down my spine. This meant that we would get the chance to fight the enemy. Good. I smiled to myself and then felt my father’s eyes upon me across the table. He said nothing and made no gesture, but he knew what was going through my mind.
Vardan continued. ‘This being so, our joint forces will march directly south to enter the city via the Ishtar Gate.’
Mardonius used his pointer to indicate the aforementioned entrance that stood on the city’s northern wall.
‘The city’s strongest bastion,’ continued Vardan, ‘the Northern Fortress, stands adjacent to the Ishtar Gate, and the archers on its high walls will be able to provide cover to our soldiers as they enter the city.’