The Armenian ranks were dotted with red, yellow, purple and blue flags and dragon windsocks, while behind Tigranes was carried a huge white flag upon which was a purple six-pointed star, the symbol of Armenia. Tigranes halted his horsemen around five hundred paces from our position as the breeze stiffened and gave life to the hundreds of flags among the Armenian ranks. A lone rider came from behind Tigranes and headed towards us. Orodes turned in the saddle and pointed to one of his own officers, who spurred his horse forward to meet the Armenian rider. This was normal protocol for determining the size of each party in the discussions to guarantee equal numbers.
‘At least we are not outnumbered,’ remarked Gafarn.
‘They may have a reserve behind that phalanx of spearmen,’ I said. ‘We should not underestimate Tigranes.
‘Speaking of Tigranes, it would be to our advantage, I think, not to provoke him,’ Orodes cautioned me.
No doubt he was thinking back to the meeting between my father and Tigranes outside Nisibus when I had goaded the Armenian king and had been rebuked for doing so by my father. Orodes had been a prince that day and had not been part of the negotiations, but I told him what had happened afterwards. That day I was confident we could defeat the Armenians. Today I was not so sure.
‘Have no fear, my friend,’ I replied, ‘it is you who will do all the talking, not I.’
However, when we finally met Tigranes it was he who was intent on goading me. He was at least eighty years old now and though he had plenty of wrinkles his cheeks were no longer sunken and his eyes sparkled with vigour. War and conquest clearly suited his constitution. It was the first time he had met Orodes, the honest and honourable high king of the empire, and though he did not insult my friend he made it plain that he was bargaining from a position of strength. Orodes chose his words carefully not to give offence to Tigranes.
‘Parthia does not want war with Armenia, King Tigranes, but I must demand your withdrawal from all the lands of the empire that you have invaded.’
Tigranes smiled mischievously. ‘King Orodes, Armenia did not start this war but has merely responded to aggression initiated by one of your own kings.’
I stifled a laugh as Orodes’ brow furrowed.
‘I do not understand.’
‘Do you not? Then let me explain,’ he replied, his eyes on me all the time. ‘Gordyene was an Armenian province until Parthia saw fit to send a murdering upstart to wreak destruction upon it. Such an outrage cannot go unaltered.’
Orodes nodded solemnly. ‘I can understand your anger with regard to the shedding of Armenian blood, lord king, but you would agree that Gordyene is a Parthian kingdom.’
Tigranes looked disinterested. ‘I do not know the history of Gordyene,’ that was a lie, ‘only that my Roman allies gave it over to my safekeeping after they had conquered it.’
This was particularly galling because King Balas, the ruler of Gordyene, had supported Tigranes against the Romans when he had been their foe. Balas had been killed fighting the Romans and his former friend had ended up inheriting his kingdom.
‘But I believe I am right in saying,’ continued Orodes, ‘that Hatra has never been part of Armenia and yet your soldiers occupy the northern part of this kingdom.’
Tigranes looked thoughtful. ‘If the upstart king who rules Gordyene leaves that kingdom then I will consider doing the same in Hatra.’
I could no longer hold my tongue. ‘Impossible!’
Tigranes laughed. ‘King Pacorus! I wondered how long it would be before you graced us with your opinions.’
‘I am here at the request of King of Kings Orodes,’ I spat at him.
‘Tell me,’ Tigranes said to me. ‘Are Hatra’s problems still your problems, and are its wars still your wars?’
I tightened my grip on Remus’ reins. ‘They are.’
‘The affairs of Hatra concern all the kings of the empire,’ interrupted Orodes.
Tigranes looked past us to where our horsemen were drawn up.
‘Where are your famed legions, King Pacorus, the men who have spread death and fear throughout Parthia?’
‘I did not think it worthwhile to bring them,’ I answered, ‘such is the mediocrity of the opposition we face.’
Gafarn and Atrax laughed but Tigranes looked at me with hateful eyes.
‘Perhaps you wish for things to be settled here, today, just as you did at Nisibus all those months ago?’
He was right, I did. But I kept my tongue and refused to take his bait.
‘High King Orodes decides the actions that will be taken this day,’ I replied.
Orodes looked relieved while Tigranes looked smug.
‘These are my terms, King Orodes,’ he declared. ‘I am prepared to suspend hostilities in Hatra on condition that all the territory I currently hold up to Mount Sinjar becomes part of Greater Armenia in perpetuity. In addition, once my son has completed the conquest of Gordyene that kingdom will also revert to being Armenian.’
Mount Sinjar was a low limestone ridge that was only just over sixty miles north of the city of Hatra. I could see it now on the northern horizon, a long white strip of high land in the otherwise slightly undulating plain.
‘The alternative,’ threatened Tigranes, ‘is to continue hostilities.’
Tigranes knew that we also faced a Roman invasion in the northwest, to say nothing of the army under Crassus that he surely knew was on its way. I had little doubt that the two wings of our army would be able to shoot the enemy’s flanks to pieces with their bows, but the Armenians also had horse archers and mounted spearmen that could inflict heavy losses on us. And in the centre two-thirds of our heavy horsemen were boys who had never fought in a battle.
‘As a show of good faith,’ said Tigranes, ‘I am prepared to withdraw my forces to the city of Nisibus.’
That was about a hundred and fifty miles north of Hatra, which would at least give Gafarn some respite, though at the cost of losing half his kingdom. It also meant that the city of Assur would no longer be threatened with an immediate assault and, as Surena was still more than holding his own in Gordyene, that kingdom was safe for the time being. Orodes caught my eye and I nodded ever so slightly at him. Orodes then looked at Gafarn and sighed.
‘In the interests of peace, lord king,’ he said to Tigranes, ‘I accept these terms on condition that you immediately pull back to Nisibus.’
Tigranes could barely conceal his delight. ‘Consider it done, King Orodes,’ he replied. ‘I look forward to continual fruitful relations between us.’
Orodes nodded curtly and then wheeled his horse away, followed by Gafarn, Nergal and Atrax. I was about to tug on Remus’ reins when I heard Tigranes’ voice.
‘Do you still think I am a Roman puppet?’
‘I think,’ I replied slowly, ‘that your son will never conquer Gordyene and you should enjoy your stay in Hatra. It will be brief.’
Gafarn was very downcast during the journey back to Hatra despite Orodes’ attempts to cheer him.
‘I have let our father down,’ he said to me as he sank in his saddle.
‘Father would have been proud of you, Gafarn. Had I been on the throne no doubt the whole of Hatra would have been lost by now. At least we have bought some time.’