Parthian Vengeance

Chapter 9

I said nothing to Gallia or anyone else about my experience at the temple. I rode from Afrand and her seductresses with an angry heart, thinking I had been the victim of a cheap trick. But if that was so, how did she know about that night in the Silarus Valley long ago when I had indeed held the hand of Claudia after she had given birth to the son of Spartacus? And what purpose would it serve to deceive me thus? What was I to the high priestess of Ishtar? With these thoughts swirling in my mind I rode back to the palace to find Gallia waiting for me in our private chambers.

‘Where have you been?’ she quizzed me.

‘Sightseeing,’ I answered evasively.

‘Well, now that you are here I wish to ask you a favour.’

She had changed from her riding gear and was dressed in a sheer, sleeveless white dress. She was standing framed in the arch that led to our bedroom balcony, the sunlight streaming into the room and highlighting her naked body beneath her dress. I let my eyes go from hers down to her breasts and then her thighs.

She glided towards me and slipped her arms around my waist, drawing her mouth closer to mine. She was wearing the most delightful perfume.

‘What is the favour, my sweet?’

She drew her mouth closer to mine and kissed me tenderly, then pulled away to look at me with the eyes of a temptress.

‘I want you to ask Orodes to stay here in Babylon for a while longer.’

She began kissing my neck, her hot breath on my skin, her body pressed against mine.

‘Orodes?’

Her hands came to the front of my body and unbuckled my sword belt, letting it fall to the floor. She tugged my shirt from my leggings and ran her hands up my back.

‘He likes it here, it would be a shame to drag him back to Dura.’

She closed her lips on mine and her tongue went deep into my mouth. My heart was racing and my loins were afire. She pulled away from my lips.

I ran my hand over her cheek. ‘He is his own man. He goes where he will.’ I let my other hand fall to her buttocks and gently pressed her groin into mine.

‘No,’ she purred, ‘he does what you ask him.’

She kissed me long and hard again and ripped off my shirt, then my vest.

‘I really need him back at Dura,’ I whispered into her ear, pulling up her dress with my hand.

She tensed and pushed me backwards. It was as if a demon had suddenly taken possession of her body.

‘So,’ she snapped, ‘you will not do this one small thing that I ask?’

I smiled and tried to pull her close. ‘Gallia, this is not the time for talk.’

She would have none of it, pushing my arms away from her. ‘Don’t Gallia me. If you will not to accede to my desire why should I submit to yours?’

‘What?’

She folded her arms and held her head high in a stance of defiance.

‘Why do you need him at Dura? I thought you commanded your army.’

I was confused. ‘Why do you want Orodes to stay here?’

She placed her hands on her hips and her nostrils flared. ‘Do I have to explain all my actions? Am I your slave to be questioned and ordered about so?’

She turned on her heels, picked up a cloak from the bed and wrapped it around her.

‘I am going to bathe. I will see you again when you are in a better mood.’

I spread my hands in exasperation. ‘When I am in a better mood? Can we please discuss this like civilised people?’

But she merely waved a hand at me and stomped from the room. I flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. Women were more difficult to unravel than the famed Gordian knot that Alexander of Macedon had cut with his sword. It was a complicated knot tied by King Gordius of Phrygia that the famed Alexander had severed with a swing of his sword. That knot appeared mere child’s play when compared to working out my wife’s emotions.

I had no idea why she wanted Orodes to stay in Babylon. Perhaps he had offended her. I discount the possibility. Still, something had obviously irked her. Perhaps Axsen was drowning under responsibilities and required assistance. Who better than Orodes, upon whose shoulders great responsibility sat so lightly? That must be it. To solve the mystery I went in search of him and was told that he and Axsen had departed the city to go hunting. I saddled Remus once more and rode him to the royal hunting grounds located directly south of Babylon. Here the land adjacent to the river was not cultivated or populated but was given over to wildlife. There were irrigation channels that had been deliberately cut to water the foliage and trees and to attract game. This great area of greenery was out of bounds to ordinary citizens and was patrolled by royal gamekeepers. I wore my leather cuirass and plumed helmet to identify myself to them as I rode through poplar, willow and date palms, which fortunately had not been despoiled during the recent siege. Narses had probably used it for his own recreation. Near the river itself were great clumps of the large Mardi reed that grew to four times the height of a man.

The land between the Tigris and Euphrates may be desert but around the waterways there was a plethora of wildlife and fauna. The rivers are full of giant barbels, soft-backed turtles, catfish and eels, while along the banks and overhead fly babblers, crows, hawks, falcons, eagles and vultures. As I followed the churned-up track indicating the hunting party had preceded me I heard the grunting of wild pigs and saw fleeting glances of gazelles. Other animals that inhabited this area included jackals, wolves, hares, river otters, foxes and the king of the beasts: the lion.

The day was hot and still as I tilted my head to try to discern the noise of the beaters who would be with the royal party. But I could hear nothing. Perhaps they had halted for a midday meal. I continued to follow the track, going over in my mind again the earlier experience at the temple and the words of Afrand. I was lost in thought when Remus suddenly stopped and reared his head in alarm, his tail twitching and his ears drawn back. He began to move sideways and then backwards, his eyes wide with alarm. Something had obviously spooked him.

I stroked his neck. ‘Easy, boy.’

But my words did not comfort him. His tail was flattened between his legs; he snorted and became skittish. I looked around but could see nothing among the trees and bushes. But I knew that a threat was close. Horses are grazing animals and become agitated if they can smell or hear a predator, just like Remus was now. I scanned the terrain near me but saw nothing. I pulled my bow from its quiver and nocked an arrow in the bowstring as he backed away from a dense group of bushes about fifty paces in front of us. His ears were pinned back in fear and he snorted again. Then the animal broke cover.

Lions have little stamina and prefer to attack their prey from a close distance, usually around thirty paces, but this one was either very hungry or believed he could reach us before Remus had time to turn and flee. A big male with a great mane and huge paws, he came crashing through the bushes and bounded towards me. Survival instincts took over as I drew back the bowstring and released it as the distance between me and the lion disappeared in an instant. Remus reared up as the lion pounced. I was thrown from the saddle and my horse bolted from sight. As soon as I hit the ground I leapt to my feet and drew my sword and dagger. My helmet had come off my head and my bow lay on the ground several feet away. The arrow had struck the lion in the shoulder, fortunately deflecting his leap and saving both Remus and me, who was now fleeing as fast as his powerful legs could carry him.

The lion circled me, possessed of a rage caused by his scent of prey and the pain from the arrow stuck in him. He curled his lip as me as he limped forward, then roared. He may have been wounded but he could still pounce again using his powerful back legs. Lions usually kill by swiping the head of their prey with their forepaws, the blow being sufficient to stun their victim. If he caught my head with such a blow it would break my neck. So I decided to attack him.

I screamed and ran at him with my dagger held in front of me in my left hand and my spatha over my head in my right. Unfortunately he had the same idea and came at me, leaping into the air with his claws extended and his fearsome canine teeth bared. I collapsed on the ground and tried to stab up at him as he passed over me but missed. I jumped back up and faced him again as he landed, turned and gave another mighty roar. Blood was seeping from his wound but the rage that possessed him meant it had not slowed him down. He could smell blood and wanted to taste it. He roared once more and again came at me. I had not time to run or move as he ran towards me, so I gripped the handles of my weapons and prepared to meet the great lump of claws, teeth and muscle that wanted to turn me into offal.

When the arrows hit him he did not drop but just veered sideways, faltering but remaining on his feet. Another volley of six arrows slammed into his side and he gave a faint roar and then halted. Then arrow after arrow struck his side, shoulder, rump, hind legs and neck. He turned his head in the direction from where the arrows had come, grunted and then collapsed on the ground, dead.

Riders appeared clutching bows, soldiers of Babylon’s royal guard in their dragon-skin armour, and then gamekeepers on foot with spears and long knives tucked in their belts, followed by a host of beaters, all looking dumfounded as I picked up my helmet, returned my sword to its scabbard and slid my dagger back in its sheath. Then Orodes and Axsen rode into view, the prince holding his bow that had an arrow still nocked in the bowstring. Their faces registered concern as they halted before me, Axsen looking at the dead lion and then at me.

I bowed my head to her. ‘My thanks, lady, your party appeared in the nick of time. Another few seconds and I would have been lion kill.’

‘Are you hurt, Pacorus?’ she said in a concerned voice.

‘No, lady, but Remus bolted and I don’t know where he is.’

She swung in her saddle and pointed at an officer mounted on a grey mare in front of a dozen spearmen carrying round shields.

‘Find him,’ she ordered.

The man saluted and led his men back down the track I had been riding on.

‘Where is your escort?’ enquired Orodes.

I walked over to where my bow lay on the ground and picked it up.

‘Didn’t bring one.’

Axsen looked at Orodes in confusion. ‘You went hunting alone?’

‘Actually, I was not hunting. I came looking for Orodes.’ I jerked my head at the dead lion. ‘He was the one doing the hunting.’

Orodes took the arrow from his bowstring and slipped it back into his quiver. ‘It is lucky for you that we were but a short distance away. I hate to think what would have happened if we had not arrived when we did.’

I brushed the dirt from my goose-feather crest and then put the helmet back on my head.

I smiled at him. ‘To coin one of Domitus’ phrases, I can always rely on you when I’m in a tight spot.’

The riders returned with my errant horse, and after I had checked him over I put my bow back in its case and regained my seat on his back.

‘We ride back to the city,’ announced Axsen, who looked very striking in brown leather boots, tan leggings and a long-sleeved blue silk shirt, her hair arranged in two long ponytails that had purple ribbons tide along their length.

She smiled at me. ‘Ride with us, Pacorus.’

We rode back to the city preceded by a score of the royal bodyguard with a score more behind us. After them came the gamekeepers and the beaters carrying the day’s spoils hanging from poles carried between two men: a dozen gazelles, three wild pigs, four hyenas and my lion.

‘A good day’s hunting?’ I asked, riding on the left of Orodes with Axsen on his other side.

‘A very agreeable day,’ said Axsen. ‘Though I would have never forgiven myself if anything had happened to you, Pacorus.’

‘If it had, lady, no blame could be apportioned to you.’

‘I shall have the lion’s skin sent to Dura as a memento of your visit to Babylon,’ she promised.

‘And a reminder to take an escort the next time you go on a hunting trip,’ added Orodes.

Axsen laughed. They were both obviously in a happy mood. I therefore decided to broach the subject of him remaining in Babylon for a while longer.

I cleared my throat. ‘Orodes, I wonder if I might ask a favour of you?’

‘Of course.’

‘Well, the thing is, and with the present indeterminate situation along the Tigris, I thought it might be prudent for you to remain at Babylon with your bodyguard for a while. If you are in agreement, that is. And also if it pleases you, lady.’

‘It pleases me very much,’ replied Axsen.

‘I would consider it an honour,’ added Orodes, much to my surprise.

‘Well, that is agreed, then,’ I said.

The next morning, as I lay beside Gallia after she had given herself to me as a reward for carrying out her request, she stroked my scarred cheek and wrapped her naked body around mine.

‘You see, it was not that difficult.’

‘No, indeed,’ I agreed. ‘In fact, Orodes did not object at all.’

She began kissing my neck. ‘Why should he? Axsen is good company and this is a great city.’

She stopped caressing my body and looked at me.

‘It was rather foolish nearly being eaten by a lion, though.’

‘Axsen is having the skin sent back to Dura,’ I frowned. ‘A constant reminder of my foolishness.’

The next day we left for home, saying our goodbyes to Axsen and Orodes on the palace steps and also to Nergal and Praxima who were taking their men back to Mesene.

‘Now remember,’ I said to Nergal with an arm round his shoulder, ‘if that bastard Narses starts raiding your kingdom call on Yasser for help.’

Yasser was one of Haytham’s fierce subordinates whose lands sat directly across the Euphrates from Mesene. Formerly he used to cross the river to burn, loot and pillage Mesene, but since my friendship with Haytham and Nergal’s accession to the throne of that kingdom all raiding had stopped.

‘Your father will be unhappy at such a thing,’ he said.

‘What he does not know will not aggrieve him,’ I shot back. ‘Narses will think twice about violating other kingdoms if the result is Agraci war bands sweeping across his territory, that goes for Mithridates too. We must fight fire with fire.’

He looked pensive. ‘You think they will launch another invasion, Pacorus?’

‘I fear it will be so, my friend. But if we keep our quivers full and our swords sharp we will be triumphant in the end, of that I am sure. But you must call on Yasser’s aid if you need it. His reinforcements will reach you before mine do.’

We clasped each other’s forearms and I embraced Praxima and then we all rode from the palace. My cataphracts and their squires were already on the road north before we left the city, having struck camp at dawn. We joined them inland from the east bank of the Euphrates mid-morning and maintained a brisk pace for the rest of the day. Twelve days later we rode across the pontoon bridges that spanned the Euphrates and entered Dura. The horsemen were dressed in their full battle array and Vagharsh carried my griffin banner behind me. My wife and her Amazons wore their mail shirts and helmets with their cheekguards tied shut as we rode through the cheering crowds that lined the riverbanks and the route into the city.

Waiting for us in front of the Palmyrene Gate, drawn up for inspection, were Domitus and his legions. The cataphracts and Amazons formed into line behind Gallia and me as I faced them, now looking very different from the battered men who had limped home following the battle against Narses and Mithridates. Now the Durans and Exiles stood in their cohorts and centuries with clean tunics, burnished helmets and spotless shields, the points of thousands of javelins glinting in the sunlight.

Beyond the legionaries stood my horse archers arrayed in their dragons: one, two, three! There were three dragons, which meant that the one that had been sent east of the Tigris had returned. I squinted and saw Surena on his horse in front of them. I closed my eyes and gave thanks to Shamash for his and their safe delivery. Beyond them I caught sight of more horsemen. The lords’ horse archers, perhaps?

A blast of trumpets rent the air and then the colour parties stepped forward, one carrying the golden griffin, the other holding the silver lion of the Exiles. I drew my sword and held it before me in salute.

I nudged Remus forward to within a few feet of Domitus who stood a few paces in front of Drenis with the Duran colour party and Kronos with the colour party of the Exiles.

‘It is good to see you, my friends. The men look in better shape than the last time I clapped eyes on them.’

Domitus nodded. ‘Good to have you back, as well. Sorry to hear about Vardan.’ He looked beyond me to where the Amazons and cataphracts were lined up.

‘Where is Orodes?’

‘Staying in Babylon for a while. He sends his regards.’

Surena brought his horse to a halt in a cloud of dirt. ‘Hail, lord.’

‘Good to see you are alive, Surena. I trust you took care of my horse archers.’

Yes, lord,’ he beamed and then pointed to where the lords were gathered. ‘I bring you reinforcements, lord.’

I was confused. ‘Reinforcements?’

‘You and Gallia better get yourself settled and then all will be revealed,’ said Domitus.

‘We heard you nearly got eaten by a lion, lord,’ said Surena, grinning at me like an idiot.

‘Don’t believe all you hear, Surena,’ I replied.

‘So it’s true, then,’ said Domitus. ‘That’s what happens when you don’t have me to watch your back.’

The parade was dismissed and the various contingents returned to their quarters, the legions, minus those legionaries who had been on garrison duty in the city and Citadel, to the tented camp that stood west of the Palmyrene Gate; the horse archers and cataphracts to their stables and barracks in and near the Citadel. In the days following companies of horse archers would be assigned to the mud-brick forts north and south of the city to both alleviate the need for barracks inside the city and to provide the kingdom with security. As in Hatra the forts were not designed to be major strongholds but rather to be the eyes and ears to any hostile incursions.

It was late by the time we were reunited with our children in the Citadel after being welcomed at the foot of the palace steps by Rsan and had washed the Mesopotamian dust from our bodies. I told him to convene the meeting of the council for the next day. We took our evening meal on the palace balcony with our children and Dobbai, who laid a bony hand on my arm and told me that she was glad I was back where I belonged. When the children had eaten and fallen asleep in our arms we carried them to their bedrooms and returned to the terrace as the sun set in the west and turned the desert beyond the river blood red.

I looked at Dobbai, this frail old woman swathed in black robes sitting in a great wicker chair stuffed with cushions, Gallia fussing around her and wrapping her in a blanket as twilight enveloped the earth and the temperature began to drop. Known throughout the empire as the feared sorceress at the court of King of Kings Sinatruces, I had first met her some fourteen years ago when I had accompanied my father to Ctesiphon after I had captured a Roman eagle near the Kingdom of Zeugma. Her appearance, lack of manners and conduct at that time had disgusted me, but then I was a naïve, arrogant young fool who judged people on appearances. I had seen her briefly after I had returned from Italy and again when she had appeared one day at Dura shortly after I had assumed its kingship. She had stayed ever since, becoming the confidant of my wife and the guardian of our children. And for that I thanked Shamash for her presence.

Servants brought us warm wine to drink and lit oil lamps on stands to illuminate the terrace as the sun departed the world for another day.

‘You were right,’ I said to Dobbai. ‘I underestimated Mithridates and Narses and nearly got the army wiped out.’

‘And yourself killed,’ added Gallia.

I chuckled. ‘If I had led the army to disaster I would have deserved to die.’ I looked at Dobbai, then Gallia.

‘I have my two favourite women to thank for my salvation.’ I raised my cup to them. ‘So I salute you both.’

Dobbai waved away my gesture. ‘You have learned a valuable lesson, son of Hatra. The two vipers who rule the empire have many weapons in their armoury whereas you have but one, your sword. You think too much of your soldiers. I heard that you could have escaped with Prince Orodes but chose to stay and play with them in the desert.’

I frowned. ‘What kind of king deserts his soldiers?’

She laughed. ‘A living one.’

‘I would rather die alongside them than do such a base thing as to save my life at the expense of theirs.’

She pointed a bony finger at me. ‘And that is your weakness. Did you know that Narses murdered his own parents so that he could become king?

‘By the look of disdain on your face I see that you did not. The lives of others mean nothing to him, or Mithridates for that matter. They laugh at your attachment to mere soldiers.’

‘One day, my mere soldiers as you call them will destroy those two and restore the empire to its former glory.’

‘Have you noticed, my dear,’ said Dobbai to Gallia, ‘that men always take comfort in an imagined past when truth and justice ruled the world and there was no famine, plague, war or tyranny.’

Gallia looked at me sympathetically. ‘Alas, I fear there has never been such a time.’

‘And nor will there be,’ said Dobbai, sipping at her wine.

‘Then why do we bother to fight at all?’ I asked.

Dobbai drained her cup and then rose from her chair, Gallia walking over to assist her and then linking her arm in the old woman’s.

‘You fight, son of Hatra, because you enjoy it and because you will save the empire from a great danger. That is your destiny.’

I noticed that Dobbai took short steps and leaned on Gallia for support. She suddenly seemed very old.

I looked into my cup of wine, the red liquid appearing thick like blood.

‘Vardan is dead,’ I said suddenly.

Dobbai stopped and turned. ‘I heard. Kings die, it is the way of things.’

‘It is my fault and Axsen is alone because I asked her father for help.’

‘He died saving his kingdom. I would have thought you would be pleased by such a death,’ she retorted. ‘Better that than a frail old wreck lying in a bed of his own piss and dung waiting for the end. As for the princess, the seed of her future greatness and happiness has been planted in the blackness of her misery.’

‘I don’t understand,’ I said.

‘Of course you don’t,’ she snapped. ‘You are not meant to.’ She smiled at Gallia. ‘Help me to my bed chamber, child, and leave him alone with the riddle he has neither the wit nor wisdom to fathom.’

The next morning the council assembled in the headquarters building in the Citadel. It felt good to be home and among friends once again. I thanked Shamash that Dura did not have great temples such as in Babylon where powerful priests and priestesses could weave their magic and indulge in intrigues. My visit to the Temple of Ishtar still played on my mind but I still said nothing about it to anyone.

Any thoughts of the dead wife of Spartacus soon disappeared as Rsan read from a great list he had drawn up pertaining to the state of the army and its provisioning. He may have been made the city governor but his years spent as its treasurer had accustomed him to seeing everything in terms of outgoings and income. Domitus adopted his usual habit of toying with his dagger as Rsan lectured us all. Behind him sat Aaron with parchments and no less than two scribes took notes of the meeting. Rsan had clearly made these meetings his own during my absence.

In addition to Domitus, Kronos, Gallia and Dobbai attending the meeting, I had also asked Surena to be present as the commander of my horse archers so that he could give an account of his expedition east of the Tigris. But it was Rsan who spoke first.

‘I have yet to receive reports from the commanders of the horsemen who returned with you yesterday, majesty, but thus far the expenditure of your recent campaign has been most costly.’

‘How costly?’ I asked.

Rsan looked at the parchment in his hand, then turned and held out his hand to Aaron who passed him another.

‘Let me see. Well, first of all the legions,’ he nodded to Domitus, ‘required four thousand new shields, five hundred swords, over four hundred mail shirts, in addition to the five thousand that required repairs, four hundred and fifty wagons that were apparently left in the desert — quite extraordinary — six hundred dead mules and hundreds of other tools and utensils that have mysteriously disappeared.’

Domitus stopped playing with his dagger and looked at Rsan.

‘I apologise for leaving so much equipment in the desert, as you say, but at the time a great host of the enemy was trying to kill us. Wagons and cooking pots slipped my mind when the air was filled with enemy arrows and hostile horsemen were trying to turn me into a kebab.’

Rsan’s brow was furrowed like a freshly ploughed field.

Dobbai cackled and pointed at Rsan. ‘The tallyman thinks it would be better if the vultures were picking at your bones and those of your men, Roman. That way he wouldn’t have to open his precious treasury to pay for replacement items.’

Rsan flustered and dropped one of his parchments. Domitus pointed his dagger at him.

‘Haven’t you forgotten something? My javelins?’

Rsan cleared his throat and handed the parchments back to Aaron.

‘The general has requested twenty thousand new javelins, majesty. Ruinous.’

‘War is an expensive business, Rsan. The general must have everything he desires if Dura is to remain strong. Is not the treasury full?’ I asked.

‘Full is vague notion,’ answered Rsan defensively.

‘No it’s not,’ said Domitus. ‘It’s either full or it isn’t.’

Rsan brought his hands together in front of him. ‘It is a matter of income streams and outgoings, general.’ Domitus went back to playing with his dagger while Kronos stared at the wall. ‘Ten thousand foot soldiers and four thousand horsemen, plus their weapons and equipment, is a constant drain on the treasury, made worse when the army goes on campaign.’

Domitus sighed loudly. ‘That is what armies do, Rsan: go on campaign.’

‘And now we have an additional eight thousand soldiers to house and feed,’ continued Rsan, ignoring Domitus.

‘Ah, yes,’ I said, ‘which brings us nicely to Surena.’

‘But what about the cost of re-equipping the army, majesty?’ queried Rsan.

‘Are there sufficient funds in the treasury to cover the cost of the army’s refurbishment?’ I asked.

Rsan nodded sullenly.

‘Then see to it, that is my final word on the matter.’

Rsan blushed and then instructed the clerks to make a note of my decision.

‘And now, Surena, please inform us how you came about acquiring eight thousand horsemen on your travels.’

He told his story with pride, of how the queen had sent for him on the day she brought reinforcements from Dura and told him that she was giving him a thousand men to command, and that he should lead them across the Tigris.

‘I rode south and then east, lord, crossing the Tigris in Mesene. We encountered no opposition and so I assaulted the walls of Ctesiphon itself before striking southeast towards Elymais.’

That would explain why Mithridates had departed suddenly, to hurry back to his mother’s side.

‘Ctesiphon is protected by a perimeter wall, albeit crumbling, that is still strong enough to beat off an assault by horsemen,’ I said.

‘Yes, lord,’ agreed Surena, ‘so we quickly departed after we had shot some of the guards off the walls.’

‘Did you reach Elymais?’ I enquired.

Surena shook his head. ‘No, lord. We continued on for another two days and then came across a great host of horsemen heading north. They carried a banner that showed a four-pointed star, the emblem of Elymais, and thus I knew them to be soldiers of King Gotarzes. I remember being taught that.’

Like many promising leaders in Dura’s army Surena had attended classes as part of the Sons of the Citadel scheme. In addition to their normal lessons they were also taught the history of the empire and surrounding lands.

‘I met with their leader,’ continued Surena, ‘who told me of a great battle between Narses and Gotarzes in which the King of Elymais fell and his army was defeated. Afterwards the king’s capital surrendered and his kingdom was no more. But there are those who have stayed loyal to their king’s memory and vowed to carry on fighting until their homeland is free once more.’

‘Most of them young men burning with hatred for Narses and having a thirst for revenge,’ added Domitus.

‘I know how that feels,’ said Kronos. He was from Pontus, like most of the men of the Exiles, a land now under the Roman heel, though he and his men dreamed of a time when it would not be and they could return to their homeland. He knew, as did all of us, that only a miracle would make it so.

‘Dura is stronger because of such men, Kronos,’ I said, smiling.

‘I told them that Dura and its king would welcome them,’ continued Surena, ‘and so we joined forces and retraced our steps before recrossing the Tigris and heading for home.’

‘Are we to bear the expense of sheltering and equipping these men also, majesty?’ enquired Rsan.

‘Until I have spoken to their commander and worked out what to do with them, yes,’ I answered.

I saw the man who led the soldiers of Elymais that afternoon when I summoned him to the palace. I sat in the throne room beside Gallia as he stood before us. I guessed him to be a man in his early forties. He had long dark brown hair, a beard and a world-weary expression. A sword hung from his faded leather belt and he held a battered helmet in the crook of his right arm. His name was Silaces.

I ordered a chair to be brought for him as he told us his tale of woe.

‘Most of us either have no family or they are dead, majesty. After the king was killed I decided to leave Elymais. I had served him too long to see his kingdom reduced to a vassal state of that bastard Mithridates.’ He glanced at Gallia. ‘Begging your pardon, majesty.’

‘It’s quite all right,’ she replied, ‘we loved Gotarzes too.’

Silaces continued. ‘With the capitulation of the king’s capital the fight went out of most people, but I gathered up those who thought like me and we headed north.’

‘Where were you going?’ asked Gallia.

‘Any of the northern kingdoms — Media, Atropaiene, Hatra — that would give us refuge. After that,’ he shrugged, ‘we had no plans after that.’

‘Well,’ I said, ‘it was fortunate for you and us that you crossed paths with Surena.’

Silaces laughed and the burden of worry and responsibility he carried on his shoulders disappeared for an instant. ‘He is a strange one, that’s for sure, and as cocky as I was at that age. He told me that he had been sent by Dura’s blonde-haired queen and her witch to raise some hell across the Tigris, and that he had already attacked Ctesiphon. I had heard of King Pacorus of Dura of course, and he said that there would be a home for us in your kingdom. I don’t know why but I believed him and so here we are.’

‘He spoke the truth,’ I said. ‘You and your men are welcome here, Silaces. Welcome to stay and welcome to fight alongside us if you so wish.’

Silaces stood and bowed to us. ‘You are a most gracious king, majesty.’

‘I shall inspect your men tomorrow,’ I told him.

When I did I found them to be in a most parlous state. They had been quartered five miles south of the city, on land that was part of the royal estates. Most of Dura’s lords lived in the northern part of the kingdom, their estates extending north for a hundred miles and west into the desert. But Duran territory also extended south of the city for another hundred miles, most of it belonging to the crown and containing the royal tanneries, farms that produced food for the palace and army, and fodder for our horses and camels, mule-breeding centres and the fledgling horse herds that would be used to provide future mounts for Dura’s horsemen.

Silaces had brought the equivalent of eight dragons with him across the Euphrates, but as I rode among them with Surena and Gallia I estimated that less than half of them were adequately equipped. All had their bows, for a Parthian’s most precious object was the bow that he had made himself, but most of their quivers were empty. Few had swords and many of their horses were in urgent need of new saddles and shoes.

Silaces saw me screwing up my face at them. ‘They are not much to look at, majesty. Most of us are survivors from the last battle when we escaped with our lives and not much else. But they are good men and brave given a chance.’

‘I don’t doubt it, Silaces,’ I said, ‘but right now they need new uniforms, new weapons and some of them new horses. It will be many months before they will be ready to take the field again.’

In fact it took the rest of the year to provide Silaces and his men with new clothes, weapons and full quivers, in addition to the resources that had to be devoted to bringing the legions back up to strength. Fortunately we had established a replacement cohort that was permanently stationed in the city, through which replacements could be allocated to those centuries that had suffered losses, but it was still a time-consuming business. And every week without fail I received complaints from Rsan about the high costs involved.

He had a point. The wealth of Dura came from the endless caravans on the Silk Road that passed through the kingdom on their way to Egypt. But unlike other kingdoms, where the king had his palace guard and a small number of other professional soldiers, in Dura there was a standing army to support. And now Dura was saddled with an additional eight thousand horsemen and their animals to feed and clothe. As the treasury began to empty of its gold reserves I too began to worry that the army would eventually drain it dry and ruin the kingdom.

During the next six months the armouries were restocked with weapons and equipment to replace those that had been lost in Babylonia. The foundries and workshops that produced the swords, lances, javelins, bows, arrows, scale armour, bow cases, quivers and mail shirts for the legionaries were located in the northeast corner of the city, beyond the walls of the Citadel. The buildings in that area were purchased from their owners for generous amounts and then converted into production centres. The workers had originally been housed in tents north of the city walls but now lived in permanent accommodation sited near their workplaces. There were now several hundred of them, which represented a further drain on Rsan’s treasury, as he never tired of telling me.

As Dura had no access to great forests or iron ore deposits, wood and iron had to be purchased from elsewhere. Great quantities of ash, used for making shields, lances and javelins, came from the northern kingdoms of the empire, from Media and Atropaiene. The timbers were cut and loaded on carts for transport to the Tigris where they were lashed together and floated downstream on inflated goatskins. These rafts, called kalaks, were able to pass under the numerous bridges built by the Persians and Greeks that spanned the waterway. After reaching my father’s kingdom the goatskins were deflated and carried back upstream on donkeys. I arranged for the loads to be met at the river and then escorted across Hatran territory to Dura. Supplies of iron purchased from Atropaiene arrived via the same route whereas metals obtained from Hatran mines were floated down the Euphrates.

As spring gave way to summer and then autumn the weekly meetings of the council became more and more tiring as Rsan produced endless parchments listing the army’s expenditure. Orodes had at last returned from Babylon and his presence was a welcome addition to the meetings.

‘We are still five thousand javelins short,’ complained Domitus to Rsan.

‘The funds have not been released for their manufacture,’ said Marcus, rubbing a hand over his now almost bald scalp.

My governor smiled at him. ‘Every one of your legionaries has a spear, I believe, and the armouries are full of additional ones.’

‘That is correct,’ replied Marcus.

‘How many spears do the legionaries have in total, Aaron?’ asked Rsan, turning to his assistant.

Aaron sifted through his pile of parchments and then stopped when he found the one he wanted.

‘Thirty-five thousand, lord.’

Rsan shook his head. ‘Thirty-five thousand; that is more than three spears for every legionary.’

‘They are not spears they are javelins,’ Domitus corrected him.

‘What is the difference?’ asked Rsan.

‘You throw javelins, Rsan,’ said Domitus.

Rsan tried to be clever. ‘That would explain why your men go through so many of them. Perhaps they could refrain from throwing them away in future.’

Domitus curled his lip at him. ‘Are you going to issue the gold so my men can have their javelins?’

Rsan folded his hands and intertwined his fingers. ‘I am afraid they will have to wait, the royal armouries are at full capacity.’

‘Doing what?’ asked Domitus in exasperation.

‘Well, for one thing completing the order for over a quarter of a million arrows for Silaces and his men.’

‘Cannot we hire more workers for the armouries?’ I asked.

Rsan shook his head. ‘Majesty, more workers means more wages and more materials for them to work with, which means a great deal more expenditure. In plain language, there is more money going out of the treasury than is coming in.’

Domitus was having none of it. ‘Caravans fill the road every day and the lords send their tribute on a monthly basis. There is plenty of money.’

‘With respect, general,’ answered Rsan, ‘there is not plenty of money. If you wish to inspect the treasury records you will see it is so. Silaces and his men are proving too much of a burden, majesty.’

‘We cannot just dismiss them,’ said Gallia. ‘Dura offered them a home and cannot now rescind its hospitality.’

‘It is as the queen says,’ I agreed.

During this interchange I had noticed Aaron becoming fidgety and agitated. I could tell he wanted to say something but was holding back from doing so.

‘Besides,’ I said, ‘there is nowhere for Silaces and his men to go. Their homeland is occupied.’

‘Perhaps Babylon or Mesene could make use of them,’ suggested Rsan. ‘I have heard those kingdoms need additional soldiers.’

‘Babylon’s resources are fully committed to rectifying the damage caused by the war earlier in the year,’ said Orodes.

‘And Mesene will not be able to support eight thousand horsemen,’ I added.

‘Then, frankly, they must be disbanded, majesty,’ said Rsan. ‘Before your treasury is emptied.’

Rsan looked smug and Orodes thoughtful, while Domitus leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. Gallia looked at me and shrugged and the room fell silent.

‘I know where there is gold,’ announced Aaron suddenly.

Rsan was aghast. ‘Aaron, you forget yourself.’

Aaron flushed and then cast his eyes down.

‘Well, if he knows where he can lay his hands on some gold,’ said Domitus, ‘let us hear what the boy has to say.’ He shot a fake smile at Rsan. ‘If only to shut up Rsan.’

‘Aaron,’ I said, ‘speak freely. Let us hear your words.’

Dobbai shuffled into the room unannounced and sat herself down beside Gallia. We had all got so used to her being at these meetings that we hardly took notice of her comings and goings.

Aaron cleared his throat, casting his eyes round the table.

‘Thank you, majesty. As you all may know, I am a Jew from Judea.’

‘My sympathies,’ said Domitus.

‘Domitus, please,’ I asked. ‘Continue, Aaron.’

Aaron cast a contemptuous look at Domitus who began toying with his dagger.

‘My homeland is ruled by a tyrant named Hyrcanus, who was put in place by the Roman general Pompey when he captured the city of Jerusalem and deposed the true leader of the Jewish people, Aristobulus.’

The names meant nothing to me but Aaron spoke with passion in his voice. He continued.

‘But the Romans control Judea. Hyrcanus is their puppet.

Orodes and Marcus were listening intently but Domitus was clearly bored, Rsan puzzled and Gallia distracted by Dobbai whispering in her ear.

‘Aristobulus and his family were taken to Rome as the spoils of war but one of his sons, Alexander Maccabeus, who is also my friend, escaped and returned to Judea to carry on the fight against Hyrcanus and the Romans.’

‘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.’

‘These are our clothes, lord,’ I said.

‘Then we will have to get you some new ones,’ said Malik.

Malik furnished us with long, loose-fitting tunics, sleeveless cloaks and head cloths that were held in place by heavy woollen coils. The head cloth was a most useful item as its ends could be wrapped around the face and neck as protection against the sun and wind and being recognised. Thus did we become Agraci for the duration of the expedition.

Aaron was sent ahead to organise the meeting with the Jewish leader and while we waited for his return I informed Haytham of my intention to supply the Jews with weapons, though only if they had enough gold.

‘If, that is, you do not object, lord.’

Haytham was impassive. ‘Why should I object? I do not know what every caravan carries on its way through my kingdom, only that it has paid its tolls in full. If some carry weapons to kill Romans it is of no concern to me.’

‘It might be if the Romans come looking for retribution,’ I said.

He smiled savagely. ‘If they do we will not be here. We are not like you, Pacorus. We can be like phantoms and disappear into the desert. The Romans would wear themselves out looking for us. But you cannot do the same.’

‘It is a risk I must take, lord.’

The next day we rode through Palmyra; a tent city around the oases that turned the desert green. Women in black robes carrying water jugs on their heads walked past us and small children scampered around, grinning mischievously as they pretended the sticks they carried were swords and spears. A long column of men with real weapons and black shields trotted past. Their commander bowed his head at Haytham as he passed the king, then at Malik who rode beside his father. He did not give me, Surena or Domitus a second glance, dressed as we were in similar attire to him. Tents covered the ground either side of us stretching out into the desert.

‘One day there will be a city of stone here,’ I heard myself saying.

‘Not in my lifetime,’ replied Haytham, ‘though perhaps my son will build one.’

‘Only when I am king, father,’ said Malik. ‘And I pray that day will not come for many years.’

Haytham waved away his son’s loyalty.

‘Why do you need more gold, Pacorus?’ asked the king suddenly. ‘Is not Dura rich enough?’

‘Rich enough to pay for its own army, lord, but not wealthy enough to pay for a second one that has taken sanctuary with us.’

‘You prepare to fight another war against Mithridates?’ he probed.

‘I take measures to strengthen my defences, lord,’ I answered.

‘What do you say, Roman?’ Haytham said turning to Domitus.

Domitus swatted away a fly from his face. ‘You can never have enough soldiers, sir, not enough trained ones, anyhow.’

‘When I rode with your queen to save your foot soldiers, Roman,’ Haytham continued, ‘twenty thousand horsemen raised by Dura’s lords rode beside the Agraci. Are they not great warriors?’

‘They are a fearsome lot, sir, that is true. But they do not have the discipline and training of professional soldiers, men who do nothing other than train and drill from dawn till dusk. The lords lead farmers, I lead soldiers.’

‘And this second army,’ said Haytham, ‘are they soldiers or farmers?’

‘They are soldiers, majesty,’ interrupted Surena, which earned him a scowl from Domitus.

‘It is as my impertinent subordinate says, lord,’ I added. ‘They are the remnants of King Gotarzes’ army that was defeated by Narses. Once re-equipped and fully trained they will be formidable warriors once more.’

‘As well as being desirous to avenge the death of their king,’ said Haytham approvingly.

‘Hatred keeps a man strong, sir,’ added Domitus.

‘Indeed,’ mused Haytham.

At length we came to the end of our journey — the tent of Byrd. When I had last been here there was a small corral behind it holding a few camels. Now there were several large enclosures that held many camels. Malik saw me looking at them.

‘Byrd has become a man of substance among us, Pacorus.’

‘So I see.’

When we had dismounted and one of Byrd’s numerous herders took our horses we entered the tent and were received by Byrd and Noora. My friend, chief scout and merchant was as self-effacing as ever, merely nodding to each of us as Noora fussed and made us welcome. We sat cross-legged on the floor as she oversaw half a dozen young women who served us dates, nuts, raisins, milk, flat bread and bowls of butter. I noticed that Byrd positioned himself between Haytham and Malik when we all sat in a circle on the red carpets that covered the floor. Clearly he had some influence with the king now.

As we enjoyed Byrd’s hospitality he told us about the situation in Judea. He had visited the land a few times and informed us that for nearly seventy years, following the fall of the Seleucid Empire, the Jews had been an independent people before a civil war broke out between the princes Hyrcanus and Aristobulus. Both princes appealed to Pompey who was in Syria at the time. This was the same Pompey that I had encountered at Dura’s border four years ago. Pompey had subsequently entered Judea and captured and sacked the city of Jerusalem and installed Hyrcanus as a puppet ruler of Judea.

‘Many Romani soldiers in Judea, Pacorus,’ said Byrd.

‘There are many Roman soldiers everywhere it appears, my friend,’ I answered. ‘What do you know of this Alexander Maccebeus?’

Byrd raised an eyebrow. ‘What I hear is that he hates Romani and wants to free his homeland.’

‘And become king himself, no doubt?’ queried Haytham.

‘He has much support in the south of Judea,’ continued Byrd.

‘But no weapons with which to arm those supporters,’ said Domitus.

‘The question is,’ I said, ‘does he have the gold to do business with us?’

‘That I do not know,’ replied Byrd.

Haytham dipped his bread into some butter. ‘You trust Aaron, Pacorus?’

‘He has nothing to gain by betraying me, lord.’

‘Except a big Roman reward for your capture,’ said Domitus, grabbing a handful of dates from a platter being held by one of Noora’s servants.

I laughed. ‘There is no price on my head, Domitus.’

He finished eating the dates and licked his fingers. ‘Oh, I think there is. Remember you killed Lucius Furius, one of Crassus’ protégés. I think he would be delighted if the King of Dura was taken prisoner and transported back to Rome.’

‘That was years ago,’ I said.

An evil smile crept over Domitus’ face. ‘The Romans never forgive and certainly never forget. Always remember that.’

‘Malik,’ said Haytham, ‘you will go with Pacorus to Judea.’

Byrd nodded approvingly. ‘I will also travel with Pacorus.’

When we were leaving I embraced Noora and thanked her for her hospitality.

‘I hope you do not object to Byrd accompanying us.’

She smiled. ‘I learned long ago not to question my husband’s comings and goings, lord. He has always made it plain that if you had need of him he would answer your summons. You and he have much history.’

‘Yes we do.’ I laid a hand on her arm. ‘I will bring him back. I promise.’

‘Just make sure you bring yourself back, lord.’

I liked Noora. She was a plain-speaking and unassuming individual, not unlike Byrd in fact. Gallia was always trying to persuade them to come and live with us in Dura, and I promised that if they did a house near the palace would be provided for them. But they preferred the simple life, though it grieved me that my chief scout and friend and his wife were living in a tent in the desert.

Haytham’s hard face cracked a smile as we rode back to his tent. ‘Let me tell you about your scout and his wife. At the last count they possessed over two thousand camels that they hire out to the caravans as they pass through, complete with their own drivers. Byrd and Noora are among Palmyra’s wealthiest subjects.’

I was stunned. ‘I had no idea.’

‘Just because he dresses and looks like a pauper does not mean he is one,’ said Haytham.

‘Perhaps we should ask Byrd for a loan to pay for Silaces and his men,’ suggested Domitus.

But I did not ask Byrd for any money and when Aaron returned ten days later he also accompanied us on our journey to Judea. We did not follow the road west from Palmyra to Homs but instead headed southwest into the desert, riding across sand, flint and semi-arid steppe from oasis to oasis. Byrd and Malik were our guides, though Aaron had also become acquainted with the lesser-known paths across the vast expanse of emptiness that lay between Judea and the Euphrates.

It took us six days to reach the great Jabal al-Druz Mountains that lay south of Damascus. We gave the city a wide berth as it was no doubt teeming with Roman soldiers. But the Jabal al-Druz was stark, barren and largely empty of human life. Great volcanic outcrops towered over us as we threaded our way through narrow ravines and walked our horses across scree slopes below rock ledges and high cliffs. We saw few tribesmen and those we did see kept their distance from our ragged band.

Byrd and Malik took us west out of the mountains and onto the plain of Hawran, a great expanse of cultivated land dotted with villages and bisected by dirt roads and tracks. The contrast between this region and the Jabal al-Druz could not have been greater. We covered our faces with our headdresses to maintain our anonymity for we saw Roman patrols on the roads that were filled with travellers transporting goods. There were no wagons on these roads; Aaron informing us that donkeys or camels were used to move wares. He also told us that the main products of the plain were grain, olives, the vine and fruit. We passed a bearded man in his fifties I estimated, dressed in a short, sleeveless tunic leading three camels whose saddles were loaded with storage jars holding wine. He held a short stick and was tapping the side of the leading camel, speaking to it in a language I did not understand.

‘It is Aramaic, majesty,’ said Aaron. ‘The language of my people.’

‘And this man, Alexander, who we are to meet, he will speak this language?’ I asked.

‘Do not worry, majesty,’ he replied, ‘like you he has had a good education and speaks Greek fluently.’

We followed the course of a waterway named the Yarmuk River southwest until it emptied into a large river named the Jordan south of a great inland lake called the Sea of Galilee. For three days we travelled south along the east bank of the River Jordan, whose waters were deep and fast flowing. This river ran through a valley that is approximately two miles wide near the Sea of Galilee but became wider as we rode south, twisting and turning as we followed the course of the waterway. Flanked on each side by high mountains, the valley was filled with great clusters of thorns and thistles that grew to shoulder height. Aaron told me that most of the few villages in the valley were located on the eastern side of the river, near where tributaries flow into the River Jordan from the hills to the east.

There may have been few villages but there was an abundance of wildlife in and around the river, including leopards, boars and alligators. We also saw great herds of ibex and Surena used his bow to bring down a brace that we later skinned and cooked over an open fire. So far we had encountered no Roman patrols in the Jordan Valley.

‘We will,’ said Aaron, gnawing on a thighbone. ‘There is a large Roman garrison in Jerusalem and they quarter troops in the outlying towns and villages.’

‘Is Pompey still in Judea?’ I asked.

Aaron threw the bone into the fire. ‘No, majesty. He left soon after his soldiers had butchered their way into Jerusalem, taking most of the riches in the city back to Rome with him, along with Alexander’s family.’

‘And now Alexander is in hiding?’ asked Domitus, propped up against his saddle and warming his bare feet on the fire for the nights were cool in the valley.

‘He is in hiding, that is true,’ answered Aaron guardedly.

‘But you said that he had a hoard of temple gold, and now you say that Pompey captured the temple,’ said Domitus. ‘I hope we have not embarked on a wasted journey.’

At that moment we heard a snapping noise in the night and Domitus jumped up and drew his gladius from its scabbard. I reached for my bow and attached the bowstring, then whipped an arrow out of my quiver and stood with it nocked as I faced the direction the noise came from. Surena likewise stood with an arrow nocked in his bowstring, while Malik had drawn his sword and even Byrd had his long knife in his hand.

A voice called out of the darkness in a tongue I did not know and I drew back my bowstring to shoot the arrow in the direction it came from. But then Aaron called back in the same strange language.

‘It is quite all right,’ he said, smiling at us all. ‘It is friends.’

‘What sort of friends skulk around like thieves in the night?’ growled Domitus.

Aaron called out again and two men about his age came out of the night. They were dressed in tunics that came down to their knees, cloaks and head cloths. One carried a spear and the other had a long knife tucked in his belt. Both had full beards. Aaron greeted them warmly and after half a minute brought them over to me. Surena still had his bowstring drawn back and was pointing his arrow at them.

‘You can put your bow down, Surena,’ I told him. ‘They are friends.’

He did so reluctantly as Aaron introduced the ragged arrivals.

‘This is Ananus and Levi, majesty, two of Alexander’s most trusted officers.’

‘Officers?’ said Domitus loudly, still keeping a tight grip on his sword.

I raised my hand at him to be silent. ‘Tell them I am glad to make their acquaintance,’ I instructed Aaron.

Both Ananus and Levi nodded curtly at me and then stared at Domitus, who looked every inch the Roman he was. There was frantic whispering between them and Aaron, who managed to calm them. I did not understand what they were saying but assumed that they were surprised that a Roman was present. For his part Domitus kept a wary eye on them for the rest of the night, each of us taking turns to stand guard while the others tried to get some sleep.

Whether Domitus slept or not I did not know as I sat down on the ground next to him following my standing vigil. Thin shards of orange pierced the eastern sky to herald the dawn. The fire was nothing more than warm grey ashes now. Around it slept Malik, Byrd, Surena, Aaron and our two guests.

Domitus, his head resting on his saddle and wrapped in his cloak, observed the sleeping Jews across from him.

‘I doubt if they have a gold coin between them, let alone enough to pay your armouries to supply them with weapons.’

‘We do not know that,’ I said. ‘Aaron assures me that this Alexander has more than enough gold.’

‘And you believe him?’

‘We shall know soon enough.’

‘Have you noticed something about the river we have been travelling along?’ he said.

‘What, apart from it being full of alligators?’

‘There are no bridges across it. Not one.’

I was puzzled. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘Bridges are an indication of a people’s progress and wealth. You have seen the many bridges in Italy, and in Parthia are there not bridges that span both the Euphrates and Tigris? Well here there are none, which leads me to believe that these people are poor and backward.’

‘So were the followers of Spartacus,’ I reminded him, ‘including you when we first encountered you if I am not mistaken.’

He shrugged and then nodded at Aaron and his comrades. ‘Have it your own way, but I think we have wasted our time.’

With Levi and Ananus walking beside our horses we continued on south and came to a great inland lake that Aaron told me was called the Salt Sea. It looked like a huge blue carpet that had been dumped on the earth in the space between steep, rocky cliffs. The waters of the sea were most wondrous, being oily to the touch. When my hand dried after I had immersed it in the water it was covered in a thick crust of salt.

Aaron stared at my hand. ‘The high salt levels means nothing lives in the lake, majesty. It is dead.’

As we continued on along the eastern shore of this great expanse of water, which was more blue than the waters of the Euphrates, I could not help but wonder why the gods had made it lifeless. I looked at Aaron and surmised that his people must have committed a great sin to be punished thus. I did not probe him as we veered away from the lake after an hour and headed east into the hills. It was midday now and the day was extremely hot, the air arid and stifling. We rode through a barren valley cut in the sandstone hills and then entered a deep, canyon-like wadi until we came to a stark promontory that rose up before us.

‘This is Machaerus, the Black Fortress,’ announced Aaron, ‘where Alexander awaits us.’

We dismounted and led our horses up the steep, tussock-strewn slope with some difficulty, arriving at the summit to stunning views of the surrounding terrain. The peak contained the remains of a stronghold with most of the perimeter wall still standing. But the gatehouse was just a pile of rubble, the remains of the smashed gates on the ground in front of it. Two guards armed with spears stood on top of the rubble but were scanning the horizon rather than looking at us.

‘This way, majesty,’ said Aaron, disappearing through the gap in the wall with Levi and Ananus.

Inside were more soldiers, or at least men in threadbare clothes armed with a variety of knives, spears, bows and swords. None wore any armour or helmets and some carried only staffs. I estimated their number to be around thirty. The position had some strength, or had done before it had been assailed and great lumps knocked out of the defences. The high, rectangular perimeter wall had towers in each corner and contained a large stone stronghold at the far end with store rooms and barracks extending from it along each wall towards the gatehouse. At the entrance to the stone building stood two more spearmen.

‘Alexander awaits us inside, majesty,’ said Aaron as Levi and Ananus sat down on the ground among men whom I assumed they commanded and began to chat and point at Domitus and me.

Surena was most unhappy when I ordered him to stay with the horses while the rest of us followed Aaron into the building.

The stronghold was a rectangular building fronted by a colonnade and had an arched roof. I followed Aaron past the guards and stepped into a small reception area, with rooms without doors on either side. The roof, what was left of it, comprised timbers overlaid with thatched reeds, though most of it was missing, allowing the sun’s rays to stream through. Damaged pots lay strewn across the dirt floor, along with broken spear shafts, a few twisted swords and a dented Roman helmet.

‘Not much to look at, is it?’

I saw a man of medium height with a beard standing in the doorway of one of the rooms on the left. Dressed in a light brown knee-length tunic with sandals on his feet, he looked most unprepossessing with his unkempt shoulder-length hair. He smiled and approached me, offering his hand in greeting. Aaron told me that he was a prince but he looked more like a goatherd. I saw Domitus scowl and shake his head and hoped that we had not wasted our journey as he had said.

‘I am Alexander Maccebeus and I am pleased to make the acquaintance of King Pacorus of Dura.’

I took his hand and found his grip like iron, much to my surprise. I also noticed that his brown eyes missed nothing, darting between my companions and me and registering slight surprise at Domitus, whom he no doubt recognised instantly as not being Parthian.

‘I am pleased to meet you, lord prince,’ I answered, ‘Aaron has told me much about you. I hope we will be able to do business with each other.’

‘I would offer you wine and hospitality,’ he held out his hands, ‘but alas my circumstances are somewhat reduced at the moment as you can see.’ His Greek was impeccable.

‘May I introduce my companions to you, lord prince?’ I held out a palm towards Malik. ‘This is Prince Malik of the Agraci, a friend and valuable ally to my kingdom.’

Malik bowed his head to Alexander.

Alexander next looked at Byrd.

‘This is Byrd, lord prince, my chief scout and also a valued friend.’

Byrd displayed his usual nonchalance when in the presence of royalty.

I went to stand beside Domitus. ‘And this is Lucius Domitus, the general of my army and the man who more than anyone is responsible for making Dura strong.’

Alexander’s eyes narrowed as he observed Domitus.

‘Lucius Domitus,’ he said, ‘that is a Roman name, is it not?’

‘It is, for he is a Roman,’ I answered.

Alexander nodded and then walked around the shattered room. He pointed at the broken roof, the debris lying on the floor.

‘The Romans did this when they invaded my country and conquered it. They butchered the entire garrison here and then sacked the holy temple in Jerusalem, slaughtering thousands as they did so. They carried away much gold from the temple itself and defiled its holy sanctum by their presence. They also carried off thousands of Jews as slaves, including my father, my brother and myself. This being the case, you can perhaps understand why I am slightly uncomfortable by the presence of one from a race that has inflicted so much misery upon my people.’

‘I understand your anger, Alexander,’ I said. ‘The Romans have also inflicted death and destruction upon Parthia and yet,’ I placed an arm round Domitus’ shoulders, ‘this Roman I trust with my life.’

‘Even though you yourself were enslaved by the Romans, for Aaron has informed me that it was so?’

‘It is true,’ I replied, ‘but I have Romans serving me loyally, Alexander. I have learned to judge men on their individual merits rather than appraise them according to which race they were born into.’

Alexander smiled. ‘Aaron has told me that you are fair in your dealings with others. Let us hope that is thus now.’

‘What do you want of me, Alexander?’

He walked over to face me. ‘Weapons with which to equip an army. I can raise the men but without arms they will be slaughtered.’

Alexander handed Aaron a sheaf of parchments. ‘These are the details of my requirements.’

Aaron quickly scanned the lists and his eyes opened wide as he did so. He briefly spoke his language to Alexander, who nodded.

‘Would you care to share with us what is written on those, Aaron?’ I said.

‘Yes, majesty. It is an order for helmets, swords, spears, daggers, mail shirts, arrows and quivers.’

‘For how many men?’ I queried.

Aaron licked his lips. ‘Ten thousand, majesty.’

Malik looked surprised and even Byrd raised an eyebrow. Domitus guffawed.

‘Ten thousand? How are they going to pay you, in goats? These people don’t have a pot to piss in. I told you we have wasted our time.’

Alexander spoke to Domitus in Latin. ‘Not all that is barren is empty, Roman.’

Domitus looked confused and then bemused. ‘And what does that mean?’

‘It means, Roman,’ continued Alexander, ‘that you see only what you choose to see. Be thankful that your king has more wisdom than you.’

Domitus was a great soldier but a diplomat he was not. He jerked a thumb at Alexander. ‘He’s clearly been in the sun too long. These Jews are thieves and beggars and we are better off without them, Pacorus.’

‘These Jews,’ said Alexander slowly and firmly, ‘outnumber you ten to one, Roman, so I would choose your next words carefully.’

I held up my hands. ‘Let us not argue. Alexander, I must ask for your forgiveness. My general’s words were intemperate. However, before I agree to supply you with the items you need I would like to see some evidence that you will be able to pay for said goods.’

Alexander smiled. ‘I know that your armouries at Dura are capable of furnishing me with the weapons I desire, for Aaron has told me of your great army and its lavish equipment. Therefore I will show you that I have the means to pay for them.’

Ten minutes later, after being blindfolded, Domitus and I were being guided out of the fortress and down the steep slope that we had earlier ascended. Two of Alexander’s men led me and another two behind held on to Domitus, who did nothing but complain to them.

‘Careful, you sons of heathens, I could break my leg on these stones. Take off this bloody blindfold.’

‘You wanted to come, Roman,’ said Alexander, who accompanied us together with Aaron. ‘The blindfold remains until we have reached our destination.’

‘You didn’t blindfold Aaron,’ replied Domitus.

‘That is because I trust Aaron and do not trust you, Roman.’

‘Just be quiet, Domitus,’ I said. ‘The sooner we get there the sooner the blindfolds will be removed.’

We descended the slope and then turned right and walked along the bottom of a ravine for ten minutes or so before scrambling up another slope that was steeper than the one we had just come down. My helpers guided me along a narrow path that I assumed had either been cut in the rock or had been formed naturally. The surface was uneven and on a couple of occasions I tripped on jagged rock edges. Even in our Agraci robes it was still very hot and I could feel the sun on my face. Then the sun’s heat disappeared from my head and I was aware that we had entered a cave of some sort as our footsteps echoed around a chamber.

‘Take off their blindfolds,’ commanded Alexander.

My eyes did not need to get accustomed to the light because we were standing some distance into a tunnel in the hillside, the bright yellow light at the entrance around fifty paces behind us. Alexander’s men lit torches and then we walked further down the shaft. The cave was the width of five men and around ten feet in height, though the further we walked along it the lower the ceiling became until after a couple of minutes we were stooping.

We walked for a further two minutes, following the tunnel as it curved to the right, and came into a large chamber with a high rock ceiling. The noise of our boots and sandals scraping the rock floor echoed around it as we scrambled down a flight of roughly hewn steps and then crawled through a gap six feet wide and half the height of a man. We entered a second, smaller chamber where the air musty but not damp. As more torches were brought in for illumination I saw rows of chests along both sides, thirty in all. Each chest was around three feet high, three feet in length and two feet in width. The torches crackled and illuminated our faces as Alexander walked over to the first container and lifted the lid.

I gasped as the torchlight lit the gold coins that filled the chest. Alexander went to the next chest and the next, lifting their lids to reveal that each one was also filled with gold. Then he went over to the other row of chests and lifted their lids to reveal similar treasure. The chamber was suddenly filled with a yellow glow as the flames of the torches reflected off the hoard of bullion.

‘As you can see, Roman,’ Alexander said to Domitus, ‘just because we appear poor does not mean that we are so. It serves our purpose to appear to all the world as though, to use your quaint phrase, we do not have a pot to piss in.’

‘A truly remarkable store of treasure, Alexander,’ I said.

‘There are others,’ he replied, ‘similarly safely hidden from prying eyes. So do we have a bargain, King Pacorus?’

I walked over to him and offered my hand.

‘We have a bargain.’

He took it and I felt his iron-hard grip once more.

‘Aaron has the details as you know. And now I must blindfold you again.’

Back at the smashed fortress we collected our horses and with Alexander and his men descended from the hilltop and headed back west towards the Salt Sea. We made camp for the night a mile inland from its northeastern shore by a small stream that fed the huge lake. Beforehand most of Alexander’s men had seemingly vanished into the hills and wadis that crisscrossed the area, leaving only the prince, Levi and Ananus for company.

‘Large groups of men attract the attention of our Roman occupiers,’ he explained as we sat round the campfire later that evening. ‘And it is a wise precaution to ensure that the routes to the safe places where the gold is stored are watched at all times.’

‘How many Romani troops in Judea?’ asked Byrd.

‘Fortunately not many, at the moment,’ he replied. ‘Most Roman troops are quartered in Syria. The local Roman troops are mostly used to support the rule of my uncle, King Hyrcanus.’

‘Hyrcanus is your uncle?’ queried Domitus.

Alexander nodded. ‘That is so, Roman. Two brothers fought a civil war and Judea was the loser.’

‘Why did Pompey support your uncle?’ I asked.

‘Because he is the elder brother and because he is weaker than my father and thus more easily manipulated by the Romans. He does nothing without first consulting Antioch.’

‘And if you are successful in your endeavour to free Judea of Roman rule,’ I asked him, ‘will you kill your uncle?’

‘When we free Judea,’ he said determinedly, ‘my uncle will flee with the Romans. If he stays he will die.’

‘The Romans will also kill your father and brother in retaliation for your insurrection,’ said Domitus grimly.

Alexander regarded him. ‘I know that, Roman, and so do they. The price of freedom is often a heavy one.’

‘Where did the gold you now possess originally come from?’ asked Domitus.

Alexander traced lines on the ground with a stick he was holding as he told the story. ‘During the civil war between my father and his brother, Hyrcanus brought a great army before the walls of Jerusalem and besieged us in the city. My father and his brother both made a terrible mistake in asking Pompey, who was at that time in Syria, to act as a mediator in their disagreement. At first my father was glad that he had approached the Romans for Pompey persuaded Hyrcanus to withdraw his army from before Jerusalem, but I had a premonition from god that this was merely the calm before the storm that would herald our doom.’

As the fire crackled and spat we sat transfixed by Alexander’s tale, even the normally disinterested Byrd had his chin rested on his clenched hands and was staring at the Jewish prince, who continued to trace patterns on the ground with his stick.

‘I was in command of the garrison in the city when my father left Jerusalem soon after Hyrcanus, hurrying to meet Pompey and thinking that he could out-fox the Roman conqueror of the east. While my father and his brother bickered and were fed lies by the Romans I gave orders that the temple gold was to be evacuated from the city. Aaron drew up rotas and a small band of trusted subordinates organised the loading and transportation of the gold to eastern Judea, where it remains.’

‘You evacuated all the gold?’ I asked.

Alexander stopped his tracing. ‘Only a fraction before Pompey himself appeared before the walls of Jerusalem with his army.’ He threw the stick into the fire. ‘The rest you know.’

Aaron organised the guard rostra as the fire died down and we prepared for our last night in Judea. It had been a most agreeable day and in my mind I began to make plans for the coming months. With the gold that we would receive for the weapons supplied to Alexander, Silaces’ men could be re-equipped to reinforce the army. With an additional eight thousand horsemen I could think once more of striking at Mithridates, this time in strength. I would ask Haytham to accompany me and once again enlist the lords and their men. I would therefore be able to raise upwards of fifty thousand men or more. Shamash had smiled on me this day and I went to sleep a happy man.

Domitus, who squatted beside me, shook me awake.

‘Get up, Pacorus. Aaron has gone.’