Peter Darman - Parthian Dawn

The march back to Dura was uneventful, though it was made at a hastened pace as Gallia wished to be with Claudia as soon as possible. Domitus used her desire for hurry as an excuse to push the army hard, the legionaries marching over twenty miles a day and grumbling like fury as they did so. They did not mind hard marching at the beginning of a campaign, but thought that they were entitled to take it easy after they had won another great victory. The oxen pulling the wagons that held Marcus’ siege engines could not maintain such a pace without collapsing in the heat, so I was forced to detach Orodes and half the army’s horse archers to protect them as the rest of the army sped north. After four days the gap between the wagons and the rest of the army had become too great and I called a halt, informing Gallia that the army would march as one. We waited for Orodes to catch up and then proceeded at a more leisurely pace. On the seventh day we bade farewell to Malik and Byrd, who both returned to Palmyra with Malik’s men.

Ten days after we had crossed the Euphrates to head back to Dura, Gallia and I rode through the Palmyrene Gate and into the city. Domitus and his legions returned to their camp and the lords and their retinues continued on to their homes. Crowds lined the streets and cheered as we led the cataphracts and their squires to the Citadel. Orodes rode beside us, the banners of Dura and Susiana fluttering behind. At the Citadel Godarz, Rsan and Dobbai, the latter holding Claudia’s hand, greeted us. Gallia jumped down and raced over to our daughter, then scooped her up in her arms. Godarz and Rsan looked solemn, and then I saw my father at the top of the palace steps. Somewhat taken aback, I dismounted and handed Remus’ reins to a waiting stable hand. Behind me the cataphracts and squires were likewise dismounting and leading their horses to the stables. I walked over to Gallia and embraced my daughter, one eye on my father who still stood at the top of the steps.

‘How long has my father been here?’

‘He arrived this morning, son of Hatra,’ said Dobbai.

I kissed Claudia once more and strode up the steps to where my father stood.

‘Greetings, father.’ I walked forward and embraced him. ‘This is an unexpected pleasure.’

‘I waited on the other side of the river until news arrived that you were near the city.’

‘Is mother well?’

‘She is well. We need to talk.’

My instincts told me that something was wrong, which was confirmed half an hour later as we sat on the terrace taking refreshments. I sent a rider to fetch Domitus and also asked Orodes, Godarz and Rsan to attend us. Dobbai, though not asked to be present, invited herself anyway. My father paced up and down the terrace in front of us as we waited for Domitus, frequently glancing at Orodes. Eventually Domitus arrived and the doors were closed.

My father stopped pacing and looked at Orodes. ‘Prince Orodes, I regret to inform you that your father is dead.’

There was a stunned silence.

Orodes went pale. ‘Dead? How, are you quite sure, majesty?’

‘We received word from Ctesiphon a week ago.’

‘What was the cause of his death?’ I asked.

‘A broken heart, we were told. Brought on by the murder of Chosroes at your hand.’

I was dumbfounded. ‘What?’

‘My sincerest condolences for your father, Orodes,’ continued my father, ‘he was a good man.’

Orodes’ eyes were cast down. ‘Yes, he was.’

‘Mithridates blames you for his father’s death, Pacorus, and has sworn vengeance against you,’ said my father. ‘Moreover, because the empire is in a state of war Mithridates has become temporary King of Kings until the present emergency is dealt with.’

‘What war, what emergency?’ I asked.

‘Do not you see, son of Hatra,’ said Dobbai, ‘that you were the instrument by which Mithridates has gained the high crown?’ She looked at the wilted figure of Orodes. ‘I grieve for you, young prince, for your father was surely murdered by Mithridates and the queen, poisoned most likely, and now your brother rules in Ctesiphon.’

‘How can he become King of Kings without the agreement of the other kings of the empire?’ I asked.

‘It is simple arithmetic,’ replied my father. ‘Gordyene has no king and is no longer part of the empire.’

‘That is only temporary,’ I spat.

My father frowned and held up his hand. ‘Gordyene has no king, and neither does Sakastan, thanks to you, or for that matter Mesene, also thanks to you. You have been banished, which means Dura has no vote in the matter. This means that the kingdoms of Susiana, Carmania, Drangiana, Aria, Anauon, Yueh-Chih, Persis and Sakastan support the election of Mithridates as temporary King of Kings.’

Now it was my turn to pace the terrace. ‘But Narses rules both Persis and Sakastan, those kingdoms cannot have two votes.’

My father shook his head. ‘He rules his own kingdom and is protector over Sakastan.’

‘Mere semantics,’ growled Orodes, still looking down.

My father sighed. ‘That may be, prince, but Narses can still muster two votes on this issue.’

‘But the kingdoms in the western half of the empire,’ I said.

‘Are out-voted, Pacorus,’ interrupted my father. ‘And even if they were not they have no stomach for another civil war. Atropaiene and Media have been weakened by conflict with the Romans, while potential enemies surround Gotarzes at Elymais. The kings are tired of fighting Pacorus, and many of them blame you for the cause of much of it.’

I stopped pacing and looked at him. ‘And Hatra?’

He smiled, the first time he had done so today. ‘Hatra will stand by you.’

‘But the only one that will,’ said Dobbai. ‘Your enemies increase in number, son of Hatra. I did warn you, but your thirst for glory blinded you. You should have marched on Ctesiphon instead or Uruk. You had the armies of other kings with you then.’

‘They would not have supported an attack against the high king,’ said my father sternly.

Dobbai cackled. ‘Now you will face the wrath of two empires.’

‘Two empires?’ I said.

An evil grin spread over her old face. ‘You did not think that Rome had forgotten about you, did you?’

‘Careful old woman,’ I replied, ‘one day you will talk your head off your shoulders.’

‘But not before two mighty armies will march against you, son of Hatra, one from the east and one from the west. Not before then.’

My father left for Hatra the next morning. He told us that we would always have refuge in Hatra. Gallia embraced him in the courtyard as his bodyguard waited for their king.

‘We will not leave our home,’ she said.

He picked up Claudia and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Don’t leave it too long before you visit us. Your mother misses you all.’

He put Claudia down and offered me his hand. I took it.

‘Take care of Orodes, he has suffered a heavy blow.’

‘I shall, father.’

He suddenly looked old and careworn. ‘And take care of yourself. You have, unfortunately, made powerful enemies who have no understanding of the virtue of forgiveness.’

‘Dura’s walls and its army are strong, father.’

He mounted his horse and managed a smile for Gallia and Claudia.

‘You cannot fight everyone, Pacorus. May Shamash protect you.’

He rode from the Citadel with his bodyguard following him. Gallia and Dobbai took Claudia back inside and I stood alone in the courtyard. Guards stood on the walls and at the gates and squires busied themselves tending to their masters’ horses. A party of cataphracts in full war gear, a kontus resting on every right shoulder, trotted from the stables, across the courtyard and through the gates, raising their left hands in salute as they rode past me. The routine of military life went on, oblivious to the machinations of kings.