Parthian Vengeance (70 page)

Musa sat down and looked at Khosrou. The King of Margiana, dressed in a simple green shirt, black leggings and tan leather boots, was the opposite of Musa in appearance with his slim frame, hawk-like nose and narrow eyes. He had a long white moustache and white pointed beard that matched the colour of his hair. He stroked his beard before slowly rising from his chair like an angry cobra.

‘I agree with Varaz that the empire, much less Margiana, cannot withstand more conflict, though removing Mithridates, agreeable as it that may be, will require more bloodshed. I am prepared to draw my sword to achieve this end, but there is still one question that remains unanswered. Who will replace him? At the Council of Kings, Varaz, you stated before all the other rulers that you had no wish to wear the high crown.’

‘That is still the case,’ said my father.

Khosrou sat back down. ‘Then what? We cannot be rid of one tyrant only for another, Narses most likely, to take his place.’

‘Perhaps that issue can wait,’ replied my father. ‘I would first know where the others here assembled stand on the issue of removing Mithridates.’

I saw Axsen look at Orodes and nod at him. He rose from his chair. ‘Babylon has suffered grievously from the aggression of Mithridates and Narses, and would support Hatra, Margiana and Hyrcania in their plans. But speaking personally I would also desire that the matter of who replaces Mithridates be settled at this assembly.’

I smiled. Orodes – ever the stickler for procedure!

Nergal rose nervously and added his support to my father’s scheme. That was never in doubt as he was formerly an officer in my father’s army and he still had family members living in Hatra. Atrax also pledged Media’s support to my father’s venture. Aschek rose from his chair and announced that he too was willing to support my father, though with the proviso that Atropaiene had suffered grievously the previous year and therefore would not be able to supply any troops to march against Mithridates.

There was only my voice yet to be heard.

‘What does the King of Dura have to say for himself?’ asked my father.

I began to rise and noticed that Dobbai had her eyes closed and appeared to be asleep. So much for the great decisions that were being taken in this hall! I nodded towards her, rolled my eyes at Gallia and stepped onto the floor.

‘You all know my opinion of Mithridates and Narses. It is no secret that I have never accepted the former as the empire’s high king. I fully support my father’s plan and would march against Ctesiphon tomorrow if I could.’

Musa burst out laughing and Khosrou smiled. I went to retake my seat but Khosrou called after me.

‘Wait. Why should not Pacorus be king of kings?’

I stopped dead and turned to face him, somewhat taken aback. Khosrou stood up.

‘I propose the King of Dura to be the empire’s new high king.’

Musa clapped his bear’s paws and roared with laughter.

‘I second that proposal,’ he bellowed. ‘The empire could do worse.’

Such a ringing endorsement!

I raised my hand to protest but then Nergal jumped up. ‘Mesene also wishes King Pacorus to sit in Ctesiphon.’

I frowned at Nergal but Praxima cheered with delight, as did Viper and Gallia. Aschek then stood.

‘Pacorus has proven himself to be a brave and honourable king. If Varaz does not want the high crown then I say his son should wear it.’

‘I agree,’ added Atrax. ‘I have fought beside Pacorus and know him to be worthy of the high crown.’

I could see that Aliyeh was horrified by the idea that I should become king of kings.

But Orodes added Babylon’s support to my becoming king of kings. My father looked at each of the kings in turn and then at me and smiled. My mother clasped her hands to her face, tears of joy in her eyes.

‘It would appear that nearly half the empire’s kings desire you to be the man to lead Parthia, my son. Very well. Hatra will support this wish.’

‘It is settled, then,’ said Khosrou.

‘It shall not be!’

Dobbai’s voice filled the chamber to still all others. She opened her eyes and stared at me.

‘Sit down, son of Hatra, and stop preening yourself like a peacock.’

Assur and Kogan glowered at her interruption while Gafarn laughed at her rudeness. My mother looked at my father who merely shook his head despairingly. Dobbai pointed at my empty chair to indicate that I should sit in it as she lifted herself up and stepped from the dais. Assur pointed at her with his staff.

‘This harridan has no authority to speak in this hallowed place. Her presence violates this august hall.’

Kogan made to pull his sword but I drew myself up and placed my hand on the hilt of my sword and glared at him. He stopped and looked at my father who waved him back. I regained my seat.

‘I may be a harridan but I know the will of the gods,’ Dobbai said to Assur. ‘Can you say the same, old man?’

Assur’s cheeks coloured with anger and his nostrils flared but my father stood and held up a hand to him.

‘We all know who you are,’ he said, ‘so if you have come to this meeting to reveal what the gods desire then speak the words and have done with it.’

Dobbai bowed mockingly to him. ‘Short and to the point, King of Hatra. If only you had displayed such forcefulness years ago when Sinatruces died you would have prevented the shedding of an ocean of blood.’

‘We should have thrown you on his pyre,’ shouted Musa.

Aliyeh laughed and Khosrou smirked.

‘But you did not,’ Dobbai shot back, ‘and now I say to you that the son of Hatra, the king who has no crown, shall wear no crown. It is not his destiny to rule the empire.’

‘If we desire him to be king of kings,’ growled Khosrou, ‘it shall be so.’

Dobbai bared her teeth at him. ‘If you go against the will of the gods they will send the numberless hordes of the northern steppes against your kingdom to sweep you away, Khosrou, so great will be their wrath. You think you have defeated them? I tell you that your kingdom will be eradicated from the earth if you defy the immortal ones.’

He waved his hand dismissively at her.

Aschek leaned forward. ‘Then, woman, can you tell us whom the gods desire to be high king?’

‘The heir of Sinatruces, of course,’ she replied before walking back to her chair.

Musa roared with laughter once more. ‘The old crone’s brains are addled. Phraates is long dead.’

Dobbai caught my eye as she eased herself onto the cushions and nodded. I understood and rose from my chair once more.

‘My lords, what Dobbai has said is true. Sinatruces ruled the empire before the crown passed to his son Phraates, who was basely murdered by Mithridates. But Phraates had another son, a man who has endured exile from his own lands and who has fought by my side for many years. He wears the crown of Babylon now but I propose that we should today elect King Orodes to wear the high crown.’

Musa looked at Khosrou with a perplexed expression. My father rubbed his nose with a finger and Orodes was rendered speechless. And yet it made perfect sense. Orodes was known to all those present as a brave and honourable man who had always conducted himself with the utmost propriety.

‘Can any among you think of a man with more self-restraint, honour and sense of justice than Orodes?’ I said. ‘I cannot. Nor can I think of anyone better to unite the empire in the aftermath of Mithridates’ removal.’

‘And what does Orodes think of my son’s proposal?’ asked my father.

Everyone turned their attention to Orodes, who to his credit retained his composure as Axsen grinned at him and he rose from his chair. He held out a hand to me as Dobbai closed her eyes once more.

‘My friend, King Pacorus, is most gracious and magnanimous in proposing me for the high crown. May I first state that I have never coveted the throne at Ctesiphon, being content to fulfil my duties as a prince of Susiana. Furthermore…’

‘Do you want the crown or not?’ queried Musa, clearly becoming bored by the whole business.

Orodes smiled at him and continued, unruffled. ‘If the kings gathered in this hall unanimously desire me to be king of kings then I will accept their nomination.’

I stood. ‘Dura supports Orodes.’

In turn Nergal, Khosrou, Musa, Aschek and Atrax all stood and pledged their support to Orodes, which left only my father to voice his opinion. He looked at Gafarn who nodded, then stood and smiled at Orodes.

‘Hail Orodes, King of Kings!’

We all gave a cheer, though I suspect Musa’s cry was relief that proceedings were coming to a close. My father held up his hands.

‘We shall have Orodes proclaimed king of kings in the Great Temple tomorrow before Shamash so that all the empire may know our determination in this matter.’

Everyone clapped at these words, me the loudest. Orodes held up a hand to still the noise.

‘My lords, it seems we have forgotten one matter that needs redress.’

‘And what would that be?’ asked my father.

‘Gordyene,’ he answered.

I sat down as Dobbai continued to listen with her eyes closed.

Musa was most confused. ‘Gordyene. What about it? Pacorus holds it.’

Orodes smiled at him. ‘Quite so, King Musa, but Gordyene has always been a separate kingdom within the empire, ruled by its own king. But it is now ruled by Dura.’

Orodes turned to me.

‘Do you intend to make Gordyene your own, Pacorus?’

‘I do not,’ I replied.

‘Then it needs its own king, as in the time of the eighteen kingdoms.’ Orodes nodded at my father.

‘Balas left no heirs, Orodes,’ said my father. ‘You know this.’

‘Then as soon-to-be king of kings I have the power to select a new ruler for the kingdom if my memory regarding the powers of the high king serves me right.’

Strictly speaking Orodes was not yet king of kings, but he had obviously been giving the matter of Gordyene’s throne some thought and now had the opportunity to turn it into reality. The other kings, myself included, did not see the point of discussing Gordyene here but Orodes appeared insistent and so we all sat down again.

‘Can we have some refreshments, Varaz?’ asked Musa. ‘My belly thinks my throat has been slit.’

My mother and the other queens winced at his coarse language but Khosrou and Atrax laughed. My father ordered wine and food to be brought from the kitchens and in the interlude before refreshments arrived Orodes continued to speak about the throne of Gordyene.

‘Have you another brother we do not know about?’ asked Khosrou.

‘No, my lord.’

‘Then who do you have in mind to rule Gordyene?’ queried Atrax, whose own kingdom shared a border with Gordyene and who thus had a keen interest in knowing the identity of its ruler.

Orodes turned and smiled at Surena who was whispering into the ear of a giggling Viper.

‘The man who conquered Gordyene and in so doing has returned it to the Parthian Empire. I propose Surena, the resent governor of Gordyene.’

‘Who?’ asked Musa as he gratefully took a large cup of wine offered to him by a slave.

Dobbai opened her eyes and smiled mischievously at me. ‘You never saw that coming, did you?’

Indeed I did not and nor did Surena, who appeared shocked as I turned to look at him. Gallia rolled her eyes and my father seemed most surprised, but Viper grasped the significance of Orodes’ words and jumped up to hug her husband and kiss him with delight. No wonder, for she had also just been made a queen!

‘Surena is a man who had proved himself to be a resourceful and intelligent commander who single-handedly expelled the Armenians from Gordyene, and in so doing made the kingdoms of Hatra and Media,’ Orodes held out his hand to my father and Atrax in turn as he stepped onto the floor, ‘more secure. Step forward, Surena.’

For once Surena was lost for words as he hesitantly stood up and then left the dais to stand beside Orodes, who was quickly slipping into his new role.

‘Does anyone here object to Surena becoming the king of Gordyene?’

Khosrou and Musa had little interest in the affairs of a kingdom that lay four hundred miles west of Hyrcania and a thousand miles from Merv, Khosrou’s capital, so they both shrugged with indifference, Musa draining his cup, belching and then holding it out to be refilled. Nergal was nodding and grinning at Surena while Praxima was smiling at Viper. It was certainly a triumph for the Amazons. Aschek looked at my father who now rose.

‘King Orodes, I think you will agree that the elevation of this young man to the office of king is unusual to say the least. That said, we live in unusual times and having just elected you to the high crown I will not contradict your first decision as king of kings.’

‘Nor I,’ agreed Aschek.

‘I have fought beside Surena,’ declared Atrax, ‘and know that he will make a worthy king.’ He had obviously changed his opinion regarding a mere squire attaining high command, though his wife was regarding Surena with open disdain.

‘That just leaves your opinion, Pacorus,’ said my father.

I turned to look at Viper who had regained her seat. I smiled at her and then stood.

‘Dura supports the election of Surena, one of its most valiant sons, to the throne of Gordyene, safe in the knowledge that he will be a great Parthian ruler.’

And so it was that Surena, formerly a stripling of the Ma’adan, became a Parthian king.

The following day Assur proclaimed Orodes king of kings in the Great Temple at Hatra and I began to think about the campaign to topple Mithridates. Soon he would know that his stepbrother had been proclaimed high king and would be forced to take action, and once again Narses would bring his armies west across the Tigris.

‘Except that he will not,’ declared my father as I sat with the other kings in the large study beside his throne room two days after Orodes was declared high king. Despite the heat outside the room was cool and well ventilated courtesy of the wind catchers on the roof of the palace. These towers ‘caught’ the desert wind in vents and then directed it down into the palace to keep the air flowing and thus the building cool. In the blistering heat of the summer light bamboo screens were placed over the vents and doused with water to cool the air passing into the rooms below. All the buildings in the royal quarter were equipped with these wind catchers, even the royal stables, to make living conditions more bearable.