The women reclined on couches and the men in spacious, padded wicker chairs while I paced up and down like a caged lion.
‘Mithridates is dead, the east of the empire is secure and Dura’s army is here, supported by the troops of Mesene. The time is right to assault and recapture Nisibus.’ I threw up my arms. ‘And where is Atrax and his Medians?’
‘As a sign of good faith,’ replied Orodes calmly but firmly, ‘it was agreed that King Atrax should withdraw from Hatra. In return the Armenians agreed to withdraw their forces from Mount Sinjar, which they have done.’
‘Hatra is no longer threatened by enemy forces a mere sixty miles to the north, Pacorus,’ added Gafarn. ‘And for that we have to thank Orodes.’
Diana smiled at Orodes who acknowledged her sign of approval.
‘The Armenians still hold Nisibus and northern Hatra,’ I continued, ‘and in a few months Crassus and his army will be in Syria, after which they will combine with the Armenians to renew hostilities.’
‘The cessation of hostilities, albeit temporary,’ replied Orodes, ‘gives us time to prepare, Pacorus, to marshal the empire’s resources to confront Crassus and convince him not to attack Parthia.’
I shook my head. ‘Rome is intent on conquering Parthia, Orodes. We must destroy the Armenians before Crassus arrives.’
I walked over to stand directly before him. ‘As your lord high general I strongly advise you to authorise an assault against Nisibus. With Tigranes dead they are vulnerable. The time to strike is now.’
Orodes stood to face me. ‘I have given my pledge to Artavasdes, Pacorus, and cannot break it. That is my final word on the matter. I am responsible for the welfare of the whole empire and not just the affairs of Hatra and Dura.’
‘When Crassus arrives the Armenians will join with him and attack the empire, Orodes,’ I countered. ‘Surely you know this?’
He sat back down. ‘The Armenians approached us with an offer of peace, indicating to me that they do not believe that they could take any more Parthian territory. If we persuade Crassus that it would be foolish for him to attack the empire, then afterwards we may reclaim Nisibus and the rest of northern Hatra without a war.’
‘The Armenians were most keen on peace, Pacorus,’ confirmed Gafarn.
I stopped pacing and sat down in my chair. They had been duped and the Armenians, or at least Artavasdes’ closest advisers, had been very clever. They must have known that he was no Tigranes and therefore sought to buy him time in which he could consolidate his father’s conquests. The easiest way to do this was to seek peace with Parthia, offering to withdraw their forces north as a sweetener. They gave up a stretch of desert in return for a few months of peace, knowing that a large Roman army was on its way. Time was on their side rather than on ours.
‘What about Armenian forces in Gordyene and Atropaiene?’ I asked, taking a cup of fruit juice offered me by a beautiful slave girl with olive skin whose shapely body was covered by a long white gown.
‘Artavasdes has given me his word that all his troops will be withdrawing from those kingdoms immediately,’ replied Orodes.
‘Surena has been mauling the Armenians in Gordyene, we hear,’ added Vistaspa with satisfaction.
‘At least someone has the right idea,’ I mumbled.
Orodes was not amused. ‘We cannot allow Surena to wreck the treaty with the Armenians. To this end I ask you, Pacorus, to go to Gordyene and ensure that Surena understands the current situation and abides by the agreement I have brokered with Artavasdes.’
I nodded curtly. Being an errand boy hardly appealed but out of respect for Orodes I would of course obey his wishes.
The meeting over, Orodes called me back as the others were leaving the room, asking me to shut the door to ensure we were alone.
‘Pacorus, I thank you for defeating Mithridates and ensuring the safety of Axsen and her kingdom.’
‘It was a pleasure, believe me.’
He looked slightly uncomfortable as he retook his seat, gesturing for me to do likewise.
‘I cannot blame you for executing Mithridates, considering the insults and losses you have endured at his hands, but I have to act according to the office of king of kings.’
I knew where this was leading. ‘Of course.’
He shifted uneasily in his chair and avoided my eyes. ‘I have therefore no alternative but to issue a declaration to the other kings of the empire expressing deep regret concerning your actions at Seleucia. I am sorry, my friend, but at this time Parthia is in a fragile state and I do not wish to offend the sensibilities of the eastern kings of the empire. I need them to stay loyal to me if we are to prove victorious against the Armenians and Romans.’
‘I understand, Orodes. I will resign as lord high general if it will help.’
He looked at me with gratitude in his eyes. ‘That will not be necessary. I hope you are not offended.’
‘No, but I believe that it is a mistake to adhere to a peace treaty with the Armenians.’
‘It is done, Pacorus, and cannot be undone.’
That was debatable.
He frowned. ‘But I worry about Surena.’
‘You need not. He is a most excellent commander,’ I said.
He nodded. ‘That is what worries me. If he attacks Armenia from Gordyene the peace will be broken. You must impress upon him the necessity of curtailing his warlike tendencies.’
‘And you?’
‘I shall return to Babylon to be by the side of my wife. You did well winning over Phriapatius, by the way.’
‘He will prove a valuable ally.’
Orodes looked thoughtful. ‘I really must organise a Council of Kings to ratify my accession to the high throne. It would be a good opportunity to begin a new era for Parthia.’
More meaningless talking and arguing, more like.
He looked at me. ‘What do you think?’
‘An excellent idea, though perhaps it could be held after we have dealt with the Romans and Armenians.’
He nodded. ‘Perhaps you are right. But I shall notify all the other kings of my intention to gather them at Esfahan soon.’
Not too soon, I prayed. ‘Once again, an excellent idea, my friend.’
Later I visited my mother who was again tending to her flowers in the royal gardens. She seemed happy enough though totally unconcerned about the affairs of the empire. The trees, ponds, shrubberies and flowerbeds had become the limits of her world, beyond which nothing of significance occurred. She rarely attended official functions and shunned guests, seeing only family and old friends. Vistaspa was a frequent visitor, though, and sat for hours in her pagoda as she served him food and wine and they talked of the old days. I was glad that they had each other and that their conversations kept alive the memory of my father. Vistaspa walked with a pronounced limp now though he refused to use a walking stick. He was nearly seventy and a lot of his savagery had drained away, though he still cut an imposing figure. I got the impression that the Battle of Susa and the death of my father, a man he had devoted his life to, had taken a great toll on him and now he too yearned for peace in his dotage.
As Gallia chatted to my mother about her flowers and plants I asked Vistaspa how his leg was.
‘It has never really healed properly and in the mornings it takes me a few minutes of stretching before I can put any weight on it, but otherwise it is fine.’
‘Hatra’s army still needs its commander,’ I told him. ‘Next year there will be a new war to fight.’
‘You do not think the peace treaty will last?’
‘No. If I had my way we would be marching against Nisibus by now, but I am not high king so it is not to be.’
He rested both hands on the arms of his chair, his black eyes fixed on me. ‘You think Orodes underestimates the Romans?’