Carrhae (32 page)

‘They can shoot as well as any man,’ remarked Silaces.

Gordyene’s foot soldiers resembled the legionaries of Dura with their helmets, large oval shields and short swords, though these men also wore greaves on their lower legs and wore leather armour instead of mail. There were five thousand of them and they made for a very impressive sight.

Finally we came to Silace’s horse archers – the exiles from Elymais – who had numbered eight thousand when Surena had led them into Gordyene. Since then a thousand had fallen fighting the Armenians but they were still an impressive body of horsemen and represented the most experienced element of Surena’s forces.

‘It is a fine army,’ I said to Surena.

He beamed with delight and pointed towards his city. ‘Viper is waiting to receive us with warm wine and hot food, lord.’

There were small flecks of snow in the wind and our faces were pinched with cold so I was glad to ride through the thick oak gates and into Vanadzor. The city had never been an attractive or gracious place filled with wide streets, rich buildings and beautiful statues, but rather a dour, bleak stronghold designed to withstand external foes. Its ugliness was due in no small part to the local hard black limestone used in the construction of its walls and buildings. Many of its stone structures were squat and unsightly but their walls were thick and its citizens hardy and strong. Curiously local quarries also produced marble but it was hardly ever used in Gordyene; instead, it was exported to neighbouring kingdoms for profit.

The Romans had carried off many into slavery when they had conquered the kingdom but others had escaped to the mountains to eke out an existence and to await deliverance. Surena had proved their deliverer after the Romans had given Gordyene to the Armenians, who had believed that all the flames of resistance had been extinguished. After Surena had taken the city the people had returned from their hovels in the mountains.

When they did they found a very different Vanadzor. As we were riding through the muddy streets of the city Surena proudly informed me that he had increased the number of stables and barracks within its walls to accommodate his new army. While in the hills and mountains detachments of lightly armed scouts, many former members of King Balas’ army, watched for enemy incursions into the kingdom and launched raids against hostile forces entering Gordyene.

‘As well as raiding across the frontier,’ muttered Silaces.

Surena heard him. ‘Our enemies must learn to respect our borders, Lord Silaces. Besides, it is best to have neighbours who fear us rather than regard us as lambs to be slaughtered.’

The palace was surrounded by a high square stonewall with round towers in each corner and an impressive three-storey gatehouse on its south side. Wooden shutters on each storey indicated shooting platforms for archers and spearmen. The gates opening to allow us to enter were, like at the entrance to the city, made from thick oak and reinforced with iron strips and spikes.

Bleak, functional and strong were the qualities that the palace imparted; its stone-paved square surrounded by barracks, stables, armouries and ironworks. The chimneys of the latter were spewing black smoke and the air was heavy with the aroma of burning charcoal and hot metal. As we dismounted from our horses and stable hands took our shivering beasts to warm and cosy stalls I was struck by the high level of activity around me. It was as though we had wandered into a giant colony of ants.

Surena escorted us up the black stone steps, through the porch and into the main hall of the palace, which was well lit and had white marble tiles on the floor to brighten what would otherwise have been a chamber that resembled a cave in the underworld with its black walls, stone pillars and dark ceiling. In front of the wall at the far end stood a stone dais holding the king and queen’s thrones and behind, hanging on the wall, was a massive red banner embossed with a silver lion. The shields of the guards who stood at every pillar also carried lion motifs. The scene projected strength and power and any visitor would be left in no doubt that this was a kingdom organised for war.

We walked across the tiles with helmets in the crooks of our arms to where Viper stood in front of the dais. She still looked like a teenage girl, though because she was pregnant her breasts had swelled and her extended belly made her look a little plumper. She smiled girlishly at me and melted my heart as I stepped forward and embraced her tenderly. I had always been fond of her and though she had been a member of the Amazons and knew how to use a bow and a sword, in this bleak stronghold she looked vulnerable and a little fragile. I could see why Surena was so protective towards her.

‘Welcome, lord,’ she said as I kissed her on the cheek and released her from my arms.

‘Gallia sends you her love and wants to know when you will be visiting Dura.’

Surena also kissed her, took her hand and gently led her to her throne, seating her before taking his seat. Silaces stood on his right side to face us.

‘After the baby is born,’ she grinned, ‘all three of us will pay you a visit.’

‘Orodes and Axsen also send you their love,’ I said, ‘as do the rest of the Amazons.’

Slaves brought cups of heated wine to warm our insides and Surena ordered hot braziers to be fetched to warm the hall, though in truth now we were out of the cold feeling began to return to my hands and feet.

Peroz stood as straight as a spear shaft beside me, much to the amusement of Viper.

‘This is Prince Peroz, the son of King Phriapatius of Carmania,’ I said to her, ‘who has brought troops to fight alongside my own.’

Surena smiled at him. ‘Welcome to Gordyene, lord prince. It is good to see you again.’

Peroz bowed his head to him and Viper in a most punctilious manner, causing Viper to giggle.

I stepped aside and held out a hand to my squires standing behind us. ‘And these two are my squires. Scarab is a Nubian who joined us recently and Prince Spartacus is from Hatra.’

They both bowed to the king and queen.

‘Spartacus?’ said Surena. ‘Is that not the name of the general you fought under in Italy, lord?’

‘It is indeed,’ I answered, ‘and this is his son.’

Surena admired the strapping youth for a few seconds and then pointed at a stout, middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion standing by the wall.

‘Show our guests to their quarters,’ he ordered.

That evening Surena gave a great feast in our honour, his officers placed at tables before us. I informed him of the latest developments in the empire. I told him that Phriapatius had been made my deputy and was responsible for raising a second combined army in the east to act as a reserve in case the army I commanded was destroyed.

‘You think that is likely, lord?’ he asked, ripping at a piece of roasted leg of chamois with his teeth. The chamois was a cross between a goat and an antelope whose meat was extremely tasty.

‘Hopefully not,’ I replied, shoving a strip of piping hot gazelle meat into my mouth.

‘It all depends on when we engage the enemy,’ I told him. ‘Timing is of the utmost importance. That being the case, I would emphasise to you the importance of not launching any unprovoked aggression against the Armenians. Orodes thinks the peace will hold and does not want Parthia to break it.’

He continued chewing, not looking at me but admiring his pregnant wife. He did indeed love her greatly. She smiled at him and he smiled back and I decided that now was the time to broach the subject of taking Silaces and his men back with me. They had been an integral part of the campaign that had freed Gordyene and now they provided a seasoned corps of veterans that stiffened Surena’s army. In theory, as I was lord high general of the empire, I could order Silaces to accompany me south when I left Vanadzor, but I had no wish to treat a man who had been of such service to the empire disrespectfully. In addition, I both liked and admired Surena and so had to tread carefully.

‘I have a favour to ask you, Surena.’

He smiled again at Viper. ‘Name it, lord, and it will be done.’

‘You will know that the army of Hatra has suffered a number of reverses in recent months.’

He nodded gravely. ‘Your father’s death was a great blow to the empire, lord.’

‘When Crassus arrives he will cross the Euphrates at Zeugma and then march south along the river, straight through Hatran territory,’ I continued. ‘At the same time the Armenians will advance from Nisibus to strike at the city of Hatra itself.’

He was nodding as I said these words, chewing on more meat as he did so.

‘This being the case, I need all the soldiers I can get my hands on to meet and defeat these threats.’

He wiped his hands on a cloth. ‘The army of Gordyene will be ready to answer your call, lord.’

‘You may be occupied with your own Armenian invasion when fighting recommences,’ I said. ‘Therefore I have to request that Silaces and his men return with me when I leave your city.’

‘You do not need to request such a thing, lord. They are yours to command.’

He did not appear shocked or surprised by my request. Was I so predictable?

‘Nevertheless, Surena, I would have your agreement in this matter, for to lose seven thousand veteran horsemen is no small thing.’

‘Today you saw but part of my army, lord,’ he said. He then spread his arms out wide. ‘These men are the senior commanders who serve Gordyene, including the men from Elymais. As well as the twenty-two thousand soldiers on parade today Gordyene can raise an addition five thousand horse archers and I have allies to supplement my army.’

‘Allies?’

He suddenly stood up and men began to rap tabletops with their knuckles in salute when they saw him. He raised his hands to still the hubbub and then pointed to where a group of men with wild beards and moustaches sat.

‘Lord Diophantes, how many of the brave Aorsi do you bring to fight by our side?’

A tall man with a big round face, long unkempt hair and small eyes stood up. He was wearing a rich red leather jacket with a sheepskin trim fastened at the front by two large silver brooches. He grinned devilishly at Surena.

‘Eight thousand warriors ready to slaughter your enemies, great king,’ he answered in a booming voice.

There were whoops and cheers and more rapping on tables as the big man slapped his companions on their backs and Surena sat down.

‘So you see, lord, I have taken measures to ensure the security of Gordyene for my son when he is born.’

‘Who are the Aorsi?’ I asked.

‘A tribe of the Sarmatians who live north of the great Caucasus Mountains.’

I was horrified. ‘Sarmatians? I had to kill a host of them at Seleucia. They were in the pay of Mithridates.’

He was unconcerned. ‘They are hardy warriors who will fight anyone as long as they are rewarded for doing so. Some of Balas’ old warriors, the wild men who act as guardians of the northern frontier, told me about the famed Sarmatian horsemen from beyond the mountains, so I sent envoys to the tribal chiefs of the Aorsi asking for soldiers to fight for gold and horses. They sent Diophantes and eight thousand men in reply.’

‘They might not be as easy to get rid of,’ I warned him.

He looked and me and smiled. ‘I do not wish them to leave. I have asked them to stay and have promised them rich lands that they can call their home.’

‘In Gordyene?’

He shook his head. ‘In Armenia.’

I was about to remind him that we were currently at peace with Armenia when Viper rose and declared she was tired and would have to retire. Surena immediately took her arm and said he would take her to their bedroom. I rose and embraced her and Peroz bowed, took her hand and kissed it, much to her delight. As Surena led her to their private quarters located to the rear of the banqueting hall everyone rose and began to chant ‘Dasna, Dasna’ as the couple exited the chamber.

I looked at Silaces in puzzlement.

‘It means “short dagger”,’ he replied. ‘The nickname they have given the queen. It is not only the king who adores her in these parts, lord.’

While they were gone slaves brought great platters heaped with the meat of roasted mouflons – sheep that were much larger and bigger than the ordinary variety – plus cooked sturgeon and salmon caught in local rivers. They also served prodigious quantities of
dolma
, a local dish that consisted of minced lamb mixed with rice and flavoured with mint, fennel and cinnamon.

I watched Spartacus and Scarab at the table in front of me devouring everything put in front of them, even the boiled sheep’s head soup that had been served before the main meal. In these parts it was believed that soups consumed before a feast began had healing powers. They were both tall, sturdy framed individuals and would make fine warriors, if they did not kill each other first. Silaces pointed the mutton and spice kebab he was holding at them.

‘A curious pair, majesty.’

‘The black one was a slave at Emesa and Spartacus is with me because he needs taming.’

‘Can the son of the slave general be tamed?’

‘I hope so,’ I replied.

Silaces nodded. ‘It is appropriate that he should be by your side when he fights the people who killed his father.’

Before Surena returned I told him that he and his men would be leaving Gordyene with me.

‘Initially you will be quartered at the city of Assur,’ I told him. ‘You will be close to the city of Hatra and can reinforce King Gafarn if he is threatened, but will also be able to return to Gordyene if necessary should Surena get into difficulties with the Armenians.’

‘I do not think you have to worry about Surena, majesty. He is more than capable of holding this kingdom.’

What I did not tell him was that by taking him and his men I hoped it would make Surena more cautious when it came to provoking the Armenians.

The next morning, as snowflakes whirled around the icy courtyard, we said our farewells in the entrance of the palace to Surena and Viper, who was wrapped in a great fur-lined cloak and felt hat, her girlish face barely visible. I shook the hand of Surena and embraced his wife fondly and then took to my saddle. All of my party were wrapped in their thick cloaks, hoods and mittens, especially Scarab who seemed to feel the cold more than most.