‘The Romans want Parthia, that much is certain. I would prefer to have destroyed the Armenians before we have to face them. Orodes thinks that a united Parthia behind him will make the Romans think twice before they invade, but the Romans do not think the way he does. He desires to keep Parthia free and strong whereas the Romans wish to conquer the whole world.’
‘When war comes, do you think we can win it?’
‘I honestly do not know, Lord Vistaspa,’ was the best answer I could summon, but in my heart of hearts I feared that we had let a golden opportunity slip through our hands and might pay a high price for doing so.
The next day Domitus took the army back to Dura. He too was most unhappy that we were not going to march north against the Armenians but I told him that Orodes’ decision on the matter was final. The high king himself left Hatra with his men at the same time, with Nergal and Praxima accompanying him. I had to admit that it was a disappointing end to a campaign that had started so well.
I myself, as requested, rode to see Surena who had been asked to travel to Assur. I took with me Vagises and his three thousand horse archers plus Peroz and his five thousand Carmanians. I asked Gallia if she wanted to accompany me but she declined, saying that although she would love to see Viper again she had no interest in meeting Surena. Her view of him as a cocky, arrogant individual with too much to say for himself had never altered and she was glad that he was out of her sight in Gordyene.
Byrd and Malik and their scouts accompanied me, since the army would not need their services as it made its way west across Hatran territory back to Dura. We were not going to make war so I also left the camel train with Domitus though we did take five hundred mules loaded with food and fodder.
We struck east to Assur and found that Surena had already arrived and was lodged in the governor’s mansion, along with Atrax whom I had also invited. Media bordered both Hatra and Gordyene and its fate was inextricably linked to those two kingdoms. Surena had brought with him a hundred horsemen but had left his now pregnant wife, Viper, and Silaces, his second-in-command, in Gordyene in case the Armenians launched an attack. Surena had matured into a serious, thoughtful king who had a thorough understanding of the principles of warfare and thought the same as I regarding the treaty with the Armenians.
We sat in the private quarters of the governor’s palace with Lord Herneus and Peroz.
I brought Peroz along because it would have been bad manners to exclude him. After all he was a Parthian prince and he had brought five thousand horsemen with him. Besides I found his company agreeable enough, as I did Scarab’s who stood behind me as I relaxed in the spacious and airy white-walled room that was Herneus’ study. The governor looked the same as the last time we had met, dressed as he was in a simple beige linen shirt, brown leggings and sandals. His inexpensive clothes and bald head contrasted sharply with the long black hair of Atrax, Surena and Peroz in their expensive silk shirts, leggings and leather boots. But Herneus did not need fancy attire to impress anyone: his record of holding the east of the Kingdom of Hatra against all threats for nearly thirty years had established his formidable reputation long ago.
Slaves served us fruit, pastries, sweet meats and fruit juice as Peroz sat nervously in the company of kings whom he had never met and who had previously been the enemies of his father.
‘This is Prince Peroz,’ I told the others. ‘He has come all the way from Carmania to fight by our side.’
Atrax smiled at him. ‘We welcome you, lord prince, and your men.’
‘Welcome indeed,’ added Surena. ‘We will need all the troops we can muster next year when we are once again at war.’
‘Orodes has bought us time,’ I said, ‘but that is all. When Crassus arrives the Armenians will undoubtedly break the peace treaty and join with their Roman allies.’
‘Orodes believes that if we beat Crassus then the Armenians will not start a war with Parthia,’ said Atrax.
‘It would be better,’ interrupted Surena, ‘if we gave the Armenians a bloody nose now so that they will think twice before starting another war when their friends arrive.’
I looked at him. ‘On behalf of Orodes I must ask you not to launch any attacks against the Armenians, Surena. We must bide our time.’
‘Orodes is mistaken, lord,’ he replied, causing Atrax and Herneus to raise their eyebrows. ‘However, as he is now high king and I have no wish to undermine his authority I will do as you ask.’
‘I too would have preferred to settle affairs with the Armenians before Crassus arrives,’ I added, ‘but Orodes has decided otherwise and so we must abide by his decision.’
‘Who is Crassus?’ asked Peroz, blushing slightly at his intervention.
‘A very rich and powerful Roman,’ I answered, ‘who wishes to make himself even richer by conquering Parthia.’
‘He is a tyrant,’ spat Peroz disapprovingly.
‘Actually,’ I said, ‘he is a pleasant enough individual but suffers from the affliction that possesses many Romans.’
‘Affliction?’ asked Herneus.
I sipped at my freshly squeezed apple juice. ‘An unshakeable belief that it is Rome’s destiny to rule the world.’
‘Forgive me, lord,’ said Peroz, ‘but you have met this Crassus?’
‘Indeed, I was a guest in his house in Rome once, a long time ago.’
‘Perhaps he desires to be a guest in your house, Pacorus,’ offered Atrax mischievously.
‘He would be made welcome if he came in peace,’ I replied. ‘He is congenial enough.’
Peroz looked confused. ‘You would have him under your roof, majesty?’
‘Of course,’ I replied, ‘as long as he does not bring his army with him.’
‘Crassus is your enemy, lord,’ said Surena darkly.
‘Even enemies can be civil to each other,’ I replied.
I could tell that Surena was straining at the leash, eager to attack the Armenians in retaliation for their assault on Gordyene, though he had once again proved to be their superior when it came to strategy and tactics.
‘Artavasdes once more struck for Vanadzor, so I let him advance to nearly the gates of the city before launching a series of attacks against his strung-out army. After three weeks of being attacked night and day he withdrew.’ Surena shrugged. ‘Simple enough.’
‘You did well, Surena,’ I told him.
He smiled. ‘I had a good tutor.’
‘What do you know of this Apollonius that holds the towns in northwest Hatra?’ I asked Herneus.
He rubbed a hand over his bald crown. ‘Capable enough, though overly ambitious and I think he has too few troops to hold the towns under his control.’
With the Armenians in control of Nisibus and much of northern Hatra the towns in the west of my brother’s kingdom were exposed to attack from the Armenians to the north and the Romans just across the Euphrates.
‘Militarily it would make sense to evacuate them,’ suggested Surena.
‘My brother would never agree to such a thing,’ I said, ‘because to do so would quite rightly be interpreted by the Romans as sign of weakness. And both he and I know that the Romans respect only strength, if they respect anything, and despise weakness. For that reason alone those towns must remain Parthian.’
We left for Dura the next day as Atrax headed for Irbil and Surena rode back to Gordyene. After six days of hard riding we crossed over the pontoon bridges below the Citadel and entered my kingdom. Vagises took the Duran and Carmanian horse archers to the legionary camp while Peroz and I trotted through the Palmyrene Gate. I drew my sword and saluted the stone griffin as I passed under it and then headed up the main street towards the palace. It was good to be back home and my wife and children were waiting to greet me as I rode into the Citadel’s courtyard and jumped off Remus’ back. I ran up the stone steps and threw my arms round my daughters and then embraced Gallia. Domitus nodded at me and Rsan and Aaron bowed their heads as stable hands came to take Remus and Peroz’s horse to the stables.