Read Online Companions (The Parthian Chronicles) by Peter Darman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Peter Darman
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maintaining the fantasy that it is an exercise, Pacorus?’ asked Godarz.
I nodded.
‘I doubt anyone believes that,’ said my governor. ‘In any case a hundred and fifty sizeable rafts are difficult to conceal from prying eyes. No doubt their construction is already the talk of the trade caravans.’
‘People will have things to talk about soon enough when they are no longer there,’ I said. ‘Regarding more practical matters. Orodes, I would like you to take charge of the army in our absence.’
He looked most unhappy. ‘I would prefer to come with you.’
‘If you come and we are all killed then who will lead Dura’s army?’ I said. ‘Only you have the authority and experience to command it. And in the event of my death Godarz will become king. I have written a note that says as much and have deposited it with Rsan.’
My treasurer nodded solemnly to Godarz.
The governor was confused. ‘But surely Gallia will rule if you are killed.’
‘I am going to Uruk with Pacorus,’ said Gallia. ‘As are the Amazons.’
I had tried to convince her to stay but it had been futile. She had never been wholly convinced that making Nergal and Praxima the rulers of Mesene had been wise, the more so now that they were in imminent danger. She told me that the thought of them in danger was like a knife being twisted in her guts. So that was that.
‘Let us hope we arrive in time,’ she said.
Rsan cleared his throat loudly.
‘Have you something to say, Rsan?’ I asked.
He leaned forward. ‘Forgive me, majesty, but,’ he lowered his voice as he glanced at Dobbai, ‘correct me if I am wrong but we have had no reports from Mesene that Uruk is being attacked. Surely King Nergal would have sent word if his city was in danger. It would appear that you travel south on the flimsiest of pretexts.’
Domitus raised an eyebrow but said nothing while Godarz grinned at his friend.
‘Have a care, tallyman.’
The venom-laced words of Dobbai made Rsan blanch. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
‘It would be a foolish man indeed who ignores the warnings of the gods. Uruk is in grave danger, that much is certain, and if it falls then Narses and Mithridates will be emboldened to strike against Dura.’
‘That is why I going south,’ I said. ‘We leave in two days.’
The waters of the Euphrates were now blue as the level and current dropped following the surge of the early spring meltwaters, which turned the river brown. Though it was still spring the temperature was rising and I was concerned that men and horses on rafts would suffer under cloudless skies and with no shade. Therefore Marcus had shades constructed on each raft, comprising canvas sheets strung between poles fitted to the edges of each deck. This delayed our journey by a day but was time well spent. Dobbai gave instructions that each raft was to be daubed with red, blue and black paint, the favourite colours of Enki. This would please the god and ensure that no vessels would be lost during the journey.
On the morning we left Gallia and I kissed a sleeping Claudia and ate a breakfast of dates, bread and cheese on the palace terrace. According to protocol we should have taken our meals in the banqueting hall but I thought it slightly ridiculous that two people should eat in a hall designed to feast dozens. Gallia was dressed in her white tunic, mail shirt, leggings and boots, her sword in its scabbard resting against her chair.
‘Do you regret making Nergal and Praxima the rulers of Mesene, Pacorus?’ she probed.
‘Not at all. Nergal is a good commander and can hold his kingdom without my help, especially now he has the Ma’adan as allies.’
She smiled and shook her head.
‘What?’ I asked.
‘The Ma’adan are marsh dwellers, Pacorus. Poor people who eke out a miserable existence among reeds and mud banks. Do you really think they can aid Nergal?’
‘They are good fighters,’ I insisted. ‘And I am sure that Surena has been busy
I nodded.
‘I doubt anyone believes that,’ said my governor. ‘In any case a hundred and fifty sizeable rafts are difficult to conceal from prying eyes. No doubt their construction is already the talk of the trade caravans.’
‘People will have things to talk about soon enough when they are no longer there,’ I said. ‘Regarding more practical matters. Orodes, I would like you to take charge of the army in our absence.’
He looked most unhappy. ‘I would prefer to come with you.’
‘If you come and we are all killed then who will lead Dura’s army?’ I said. ‘Only you have the authority and experience to command it. And in the event of my death Godarz will become king. I have written a note that says as much and have deposited it with Rsan.’
My treasurer nodded solemnly to Godarz.
The governor was confused. ‘But surely Gallia will rule if you are killed.’
‘I am going to Uruk with Pacorus,’ said Gallia. ‘As are the Amazons.’
I had tried to convince her to stay but it had been futile. She had never been wholly convinced that making Nergal and Praxima the rulers of Mesene had been wise, the more so now that they were in imminent danger. She told me that the thought of them in danger was like a knife being twisted in her guts. So that was that.
‘Let us hope we arrive in time,’ she said.
Rsan cleared his throat loudly.
‘Have you something to say, Rsan?’ I asked.
He leaned forward. ‘Forgive me, majesty, but,’ he lowered his voice as he glanced at Dobbai, ‘correct me if I am wrong but we have had no reports from Mesene that Uruk is being attacked. Surely King Nergal would have sent word if his city was in danger. It would appear that you travel south on the flimsiest of pretexts.’
Domitus raised an eyebrow but said nothing while Godarz grinned at his friend.
‘Have a care, tallyman.’
The venom-laced words of Dobbai made Rsan blanch. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
‘It would be a foolish man indeed who ignores the warnings of the gods. Uruk is in grave danger, that much is certain, and if it falls then Narses and Mithridates will be emboldened to strike against Dura.’
‘That is why I going south,’ I said. ‘We leave in two days.’
The waters of the Euphrates were now blue as the level and current dropped following the surge of the early spring meltwaters, which turned the river brown. Though it was still spring the temperature was rising and I was concerned that men and horses on rafts would suffer under cloudless skies and with no shade. Therefore Marcus had shades constructed on each raft, comprising canvas sheets strung between poles fitted to the edges of each deck. This delayed our journey by a day but was time well spent. Dobbai gave instructions that each raft was to be daubed with red, blue and black paint, the favourite colours of Enki. This would please the god and ensure that no vessels would be lost during the journey.
On the morning we left Gallia and I kissed a sleeping Claudia and ate a breakfast of dates, bread and cheese on the palace terrace. According to protocol we should have taken our meals in the banqueting hall but I thought it slightly ridiculous that two people should eat in a hall designed to feast dozens. Gallia was dressed in her white tunic, mail shirt, leggings and boots, her sword in its scabbard resting against her chair.
‘Do you regret making Nergal and Praxima the rulers of Mesene, Pacorus?’ she probed.
‘Not at all. Nergal is a good commander and can hold his kingdom without my help, especially now he has the Ma’adan as allies.’
She smiled and shook her head.
‘What?’ I asked.
‘The Ma’adan are marsh dwellers, Pacorus. Poor people who eke out a miserable existence among reeds and mud banks. Do you really think they can aid Nergal?’
‘They are good fighters,’ I insisted. ‘And I am sure that Surena has been busy
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