THE royal city of Shushan was full of sound. A public holiday had been declared for the arrival of the King from Babylon and everyone was in the streets to welcome him. The already-present Queen, on the other hand, had a headache.
'I do wish those people wouldn't make such a noise,' she sighed. 'Can we not keep them quiet?'
'I fear not, Queen Amestris,' replied her young Maid-of-Honour. 'Your husband the King is due into the city at any moment.'
The older woman glanced at the sun. 'He is late, as usual.'
'Messengers say he was held up at the Choaspes Cataract, Your Majesty.'
'Floods?'
'No, your Majesty. Something about a child being found in a river.'
'A child?' Amestris was furious. 'All this upset because of a mere child?'
'I understand that the child's parents were murdered in the most terrible manner and that the King has sworn vengeance.'
'Has Khshayarsha not got enough to do without involving himself in the petty affairs of the peasants?'
The maid thought it wisest not to answer as her Queen paced the room, wringing her hands. 'It is so hot here. Why did we have to move from Babylon where at least the wind kept us cool? Here in Shushan it is sweltering the whole time.'
'With respect, Your Majesty. This is springtime. In summer, it is considerably hotter.'
Amestris whirled around. 'Hotter? How can we live with it hotter?'
'The Court retires to the old Median capital of Ecbatana in the mountains. It is cooler there.'
'I should hope so. In fact, I ought to be there now.' The Queen waved her arms. 'And these flies. I hate it here.'
A loud shouting arose from outside and the maid rushed with excitement to the window. 'It is the King.'
'Oh, at last,' sighed the Queen. 'Now, perhaps, we shall get some peace and quiet.'
'But, your Majesty. There is to be a banquet which is decreed to last for seven days. It is the custom.'
'Seven days? And I suppose all they will talk about is wars and armies. There are times when I wish I was not the daughter of the High Priest of Babylon. Perhaps, then, I could just go and hide away from all this fuss over nothing. Khshayarsha has been already been King for twelve years. Why on earth is there all this fuss just because he now rules from Shushan?'
'It is the law of the Achaemenids, your Majesty. There are traditions to be maintained. The laws of the Persians and the Medes are different to those of Babylon.'
'Then perhaps they should be changed,' the Queen retorted angrily. 'They are out of date.'
'They cannot be changed, Your Majesty. Mithra, the son of god, has stated that laws must remain unchanged forever. We do not risk his wrath by even daring to challenge them.'
Amestris lost her temper completely and whirled on her maid. 'Artaynte, you are but a child who is here under sufferance. You would seek to dictate to me? Your Queen?'
'Certainly not,' the teenager said as she bowed low. 'I only answer your questions with truth.'
'Leave me,' the Queen commanded. 'I will call you when I am ready to be dressed.'
'With respect, Your Majesty. The King will expect to be greeted in the Great Hall.'
'Then he will have to be disappointed. If he asks, tell him I am unwell. Tell him anything you like.'
Artaynte bowed again as she backed out of the Court of Women. 'As you command, Queen Amestris.'
KING Khshayarsha was carried into the city at the head of his Immortals to a rousing shout from the people of Shushan. He smiled as garlands of early flowers were thrown into the roadway ahead of him and the procession wound its way through the main gate and towards the palace as the sun shone bright in a clear, blue sky.
'It is an omen,' called the General from the back of his horse. 'Ahura-Mazda is smiling down upon his new son.'
'I pray that you are right, Artabanus. I will need his help to rule this fine kingdom.'
Khshayarsha continued to wave to his people until the procession finally reached the gates of the palace beyond which the common people were refused entry on pain of death. The King stepped from his portable ivory throne. 'Where is the Queen?'
'I regret she is unwell, my Lord King,' replied a teenage girl beside him.
'Unwell?' For a moment, a dark look crossed his face and then he stopped. 'What is your name?'
'I am Princess Artaynte - daughter of your brother, Masistes.'
His anger gradually subsided until he smiled. 'You have grown up very beautiful, my dear Artaynte. You wish to please me?'
The girl blushed and then bowed her head. 'It would be an honour to serve you in any way you desire.'
'Very well. Come to my rooms tonight.'
Artaynte bowed low. 'As you command, my Lord King.'
HAMAN raised himself from bending over the still form before him. He had tried medicine, he had even tried magic but the girl remained sleeping. As a last resort, he had even tried to exorcise the devil inside her but without success.
He pondered. If he failed, the King would be very angry and that was not to happen at any cost. If the King lost his way now, others would step in for their own ends and this great kingdom would collapse in a matter of months. Not only that, he may well lose his own elevated position, and that would most certainly not do at all.
'Oh great Ahura-Mazda,' he called in frustration. 'Hear me now. I entreat you by all the stars of the heavens to save the life of this child. Join with your son, Mithra, and purge the fever from her body. Give me a sign that she will live so that I may comfort my King.'
'Where am I?' came the little voice as if in answer to his prayer.
'It is a sign from god,' he said in a whisper. He bent down to the girl who shrank away from him. 'Relax, child. I will not harm you. I am Haman of the Magi.'
'Where am I?' she repeated.
'You are in the camp of the great Persian King, Khshayarsha.'
She looked around frantically. 'Where is the giant?'
'Giant?' He paused and then smiled and held up his hand. 'Wait!'
Haman disappeared and the girl looked around at the beautiful furnishings of the tent. Wrapping the blanket around herself, she slipped her feet to the floor and walked round the tent, touching the furs and skins hanging from its roof. A movement made her turn.
'You well?' asked Hegai, standing in the doorway of the tent.
She smiled and nodded. 'I saw you in the river. You saved my life.'
Hegai shrugged. 'Is nothing. You wish eat?'
Hadasseh nodded and the giant held out his hand to her which she took without hesitation.
The sun was low in the sky as they stepped out of the tent together and she looked around at the remnants of the overnight camp. There were several dozen tents and a battalion of soldiers left to guard them. The soldiers shifted to make room for them both at the campfire as they sat and began to eat from a basket of fruit and bread which had been prepared. They watched as the girl tucked in to the food as if she hadn't eaten for a week. Suddenly, she noticed that they were all watching her closely and grew afraid, shuffling close to Hegai for protection. The men laughed.
'You not be afraid, little one,' laughed Hegai. 'They not see child eat so much before.'
She looked wary for a moment until the men started to continue their conversations.
'They the Immortals,' Hegai continued. 'Best of King's troops. When they are in battle, they a sight to see as they advance over hill and valley and nothing stop them.'
'Why are they here?'
'They escort new King from his place of coronation at Pasargadae to Shushan where he to rule as King. Tell me, why you here?'
She looked down. 'My father was to serve the King at Shushan.'
'You know people at city?'
She nodded. 'My father's brother, Jair, was taken there along with the Holy Prophet, Daniel. His son, Mordecai, is there now.'
'Mordecai?' Hegai turned to the guards. 'You men hear of man, Mordecai, in city?'
The soldiers looked at each other and then shook their heads. Suddenly, one had inspiration. 'There is a gatekeeper of the palace called Marduka. Could that be him?'
Hegai looked at the girl who shrugged. 'I have never met my cousin. My father was to make all the arrangements.'
Hegai slipped his arm around her shoulders. 'Who was it who hurt parents?'
She shuddered and shook her head, tears appearing in her eyes. 'I don't know. It was very dark.'
'You recognise again?'
'Possibly. I don't know.'
'You remember names?'
'No. They did say names but they were all strange to me.' Her eyes lit up. 'One was called Arisai, or something like it.'
'Arisai? I know an Arimi, could that be it?'
She shook her head. 'I don't think so. It was all strange and I was very frightened. Father made me hide in the water barrel until I could get away. Then I... I fell over the cliff into the river.'
'I sorry. Not want to remind of death.'
The girl placed her small hand upon that of the giant. 'What is your name?'
He proudly thumped his chest with his fist. 'I, Hegai of Parthia.'
'My name is Hadasseh. From Babylon.'
'Our King and Queen from Babylon.'
'So my father said. I never met him there but father said he saw him once or twice. Mother said he was very good looking.'
Hegai smiled. 'Maybe so. Me not notice.'
'Will you help me find my cousin?'
'We all help. You lonely girl now.'
Hadasseh looked down at her hands in her lap and a tear slowly trickled down her face.
|
CHAPTER
THREE
