‘This is all very interesting, Aaron,’ I said.
‘Is it?’ interrupted Domitus.
I held a hand up to him. ‘But what has it all got to do with Dura and its treasury?’
‘Well, majesty,’ continued Aaron, ‘Alexander needs weapons with which to furnish his supporters before they can rise up and throw off the shackles of Hyrcanus. Weapons that the armouries at Dura could furnish, majesty. Alexander would pay a handsome price for such supplies.’
Rsan’s ears pricked up at these words and Domitus stopped playing with his dagger.
Rsan cut straight to the point. ‘How handsome?’
‘He has much gold to call upon, lord. He would pay whatever was asked for a plentiful supply of weapons.’
‘Weapons to kill Romans,’ said Domitus.
Dobbai laughed. ‘What’s the matter, Domitus, does the idea of Roman blood watering the earth offend you?’
Domitus scowled at her. ‘I care not if it is Roman or Parthian blood, or even that of an old woman, but I do care if it is the blood of my friends seeping into the ground.’
‘How so?’ I asked.
Domitus pointed the tip of his dagger at Aaron. ‘He is talking about furnishing weapons for an uprising against Rome. If the Romans found out that Dura was supplying its enemies with weapons, you can be sure they would send an army against us.’
‘Trade is trade,’ remarked Rsan, thinking only of his balance sheets.
‘I’ll remind you of that when you are carted off into slavery by the Romans after they have reduced Dura to rubble.’
‘No Roman army will take this city,’ said Gallia defiantly.
‘I meant no offence, Gallia,’ said Domitus, ‘but the last thing we need is war with Rome.’
‘War with Rome is coming whether you like it or not, Domitus,’ hissed Dobbai. ‘Your people covet all the lands of Parthia, just as they did Syria, Pontus, Armenia and Judea.’
‘Alexander is an honourable man, majesty,’ said Aaron. ‘He would never reveal the source of his aid.’
‘Of course he would,’ said Domitus, his voice raised. ‘Once they start nailing him to a cross he will sing like a canary.’
‘The proposal is fraught with danger I agree,’ said Orodes.
‘If you were to meet with Alexander, majesty,’ implored Aaron, ’you would see for yourself that he is a man of honour.’
Domitus was dumbfounded. ‘Meet with him? Do you realise the danger of bringing a rebel leader who is fighting against Rome to Dura? Word would soon reach Syria of such a thing. It is out of the question.’
‘The king could always travel to Judea instead,’ suggested Aaron.
‘Out of the question,’ snapped Domitus.
‘I think that is for me to say,’ I reminded him. ‘One thing that seems to have been overlooked in all this is the small matter of the gold itself. How is it that this Alexander possesses so much gold?’
‘When the Romans were approaching Jerusalem,’ said Aaron, ‘Aristobulus, knowing that the city would not be able to hold out against Pompey and his legions, sent much gold out of the city to the eastern areas of Judea. There it was stored in secret places that only the most loyal followers of Aristobulus know of. It remains in those places still.’
‘This is a fairy story, nothing more,’ barked Domitus.
‘It is not, majesty, I swear it,’ replied Aaron.
I placed my hands together under my chin. ‘Aaron presents us with a tempting offer, one that would solve our present financial difficulties. And yet, if I acquiesce then it potentially places Dura in danger. Domitus and Rsan have made their position on the matter clear, but I would hear from the rest of you before I decide.’
I looked at Orodes first. ‘I would advise caution, Pacorus. We do not know anything about this Alexander. There should certainly be no correspondence that might fall into enemy hands.’
I nodded and smiled at Gallia. ‘Dobbai said once that no Roman army would sit in front of Dura’s walls while the griffin stood at the Palmyrene Gate. I believe her words and say we should accept this Jew’s gold.’
‘And you, Dobbai?’ I asked.
‘Silaces has been sent to you for a purpose, son of Hatra. Will you send such a gift away for the want of a few pieces of gold?’
‘And you, Marcus, what is your opinion on the matter?’ I said.
Marcus frowned and shook his head. ‘I am with Domitus and Orodes in this, majesty.’
‘You have been in correspondence with this Alexander?’ I asked Aaron.
He nodded.
‘And did you say to him that Dura would supply him with weapons?’
‘No, majesty.’
‘Quite right, for I will not decide until I have met with him face to face. Therefore I will go to the land of the Jews.’
Domitus looked most alarmed. ‘You are going to Judea?’
‘Yes, Domitus, and you are coming with me.’
That night Gallia questioned me on my forthcoming trip as we prepared for bed.
‘Why are you going to Judea, it is occupied by the Romans? You will be in danger.’
I lay on the bed and stretched out my arms.
‘I wasn’t going to say anything but you might as well know.’
She laid down beside me, propping up her head with an arm.
‘Know what?’
I turned to face her. ‘During our stay in Babylon a priestess from the Temple of Ishtar brought me a message to come to the shrine, saying that a friend wanted to meet me there.’
Gallia yawned. ‘So?’
‘So I went to the temple and was taken by the high priestess to the inner sanctum of Ishtar, where I received the message.’
‘A message from whom?’
‘From Claudia.’
She looked perplexed. ‘Claudia? How did a small child get from Dura to Babylon, did she sprout wings and fly there?’
‘Not our Claudia; the wife of Spartacus.’
She sat up on the bed, wide eyed.
‘How can this be? It must have been a cruel trick.’
‘I stood alone in the inner sanctum and from behind me a woman’s voice spoke. She told me that I must travel with the one from the desert who would furnish me with temple gold.’
She rose from the bed and began pacing up and down.
‘Temple gold? The same gold that Aaron spoke about earlier?’
I nodded.
She stopped pacing and looked at me. ‘Did you believe it was Claudia who spoke to you?’
‘I did not want to, but the high priestess described to me afterwards what had happened to Claudia on the night she gave birth to Spartacus’ son.’
‘I remember that night,’ she said grimly.
‘As do I. And I remember what Claudia had said to me before she died. Only I heard those words. And there was another thing.’
‘What?’
‘The voice addressed me as “little one”. Only Claudia used that phrase.’
Gallia sat back down on the bed and reached for my hand.
‘I have always believed that Spartacus and Claudia watch over us, Pacorus. You must heed her advice and go to Judea.’
I was surprised by her change of mind. ‘You do not think I will be in danger?’
She kissed my hand. ‘Not with Claudia watching over you.’
We left a week later. I sent word ahead to Haytham at Palmyra that we would be visiting him on our way to the land of the Jews and another missive to Byrd informing him of our little expedition. In addition to Domitus I also took Surena and Aaron, the latter because he would arrange a meeting with the rebel leader and Surena because he had nagged me incessantly about accompanying me and agreeing to his request was the only way of shutting him up. Besides, I found his boundless optimism agreeable. We dressed in civilian robes but retained our bows and swords and carried two full quivers each. Domitus, who disliked riding and was awkward in the saddle, also insisted on taking his gladius hidden under his white cloak.
At Palmyra Haytham entertained us and told us that we were all dressed entirely inappropriately.
‘You look like a rich king,’ he said to me as we sat cross-legged on the floor of his tent, with Malik and Byrd in attendance. ‘And the rest of you are similarly over-dressed.’