Peroz stood as straight as a spear shaft beside me, much to the amusement of Viper.
‘This is Prince Peroz, the son of King Phriapatius of Carmania,’ I said to her, ‘who has brought troops to fight alongside my own.’
Surena smiled at him. ‘Welcome to Gordyene, lord prince. It is good to see you again.’
Peroz bowed his head to him and Viper in a most punctilious manner, causing Viper to giggle.
I stepped aside and held out a hand to my squires standing behind us. ‘And these two are my squires. Scarab is a Nubian who joined us recently and Prince Spartacus is from Hatra.’
They both bowed to the king and queen.
‘Spartacus?’ said Surena. ‘Is that not the name of the general you fought under in Italy, lord?’
‘It is indeed,’ I answered, ‘and this is his son.’
Surena admired the strapping youth for a few seconds and then pointed at a stout, middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion standing by the wall.
‘Show our guests to their quarters,’ he ordered.
That evening Surena gave a great feast in our honour, his officers placed at tables before us. I informed him of the latest developments in the empire. I told him that Phriapatius had been made my deputy and was responsible for raising a second combined army in the east to act as a reserve in case the army I commanded was destroyed.
‘You think that is likely, lord?’ he asked, ripping at a piece of roasted leg of chamois with his teeth. The chamois was a cross between a goat and an antelope whose meat was extremely tasty.
‘Hopefully not,’ I replied, shoving a strip of piping hot gazelle meat into my mouth.
‘It all depends on when we engage the enemy,’ I told him. ‘Timing is of the utmost importance. That being the case, I would emphasise to you the importance of not launching any unprovoked aggression against the Armenians. Orodes thinks the peace will hold and does not want Parthia to break it.’
He continued chewing, not looking at me but admiring his pregnant wife. He did indeed love her greatly. She smiled at him and he smiled back and I decided that now was the time to broach the subject of taking Silaces and his men back with me. They had been an integral part of the campaign that had freed Gordyene and now they provided a seasoned corps of veterans that stiffened Surena’s army. In theory, as I was lord high general of the empire, I could order Silaces to accompany me south when I left Vanadzor, but I had no wish to treat a man who had been of such service to the empire disrespectfully. In addition, I both liked and admired Surena and so had to tread carefully.
‘I have a favour to ask you, Surena.’
He smiled again at Viper. ‘Name it, lord, and it will be done.’
‘You will know that the army of Hatra has suffered a number of reverses in recent months.’
He nodded gravely. ‘Your father’s death was a great blow to the empire, lord.’
‘When Crassus arrives he will cross the Euphrates at Zeugma and then march south along the river, straight through Hatran territory,’ I continued. ‘At the same time the Armenians will advance from Nisibus to strike at the city of Hatra itself.’
He was nodding as I said these words, chewing on more meat as he did so.
‘This being the case, I need all the soldiers I can get my hands on to meet and defeat these threats.’
He wiped his hands on a cloth. ‘The army of Gordyene will be ready to answer your call, lord.’
‘You may be occupied with your own Armenian invasion when fighting recommences,’ I said. ‘Therefore I have to request that Silaces and his men return with me when I leave your city.’
‘You do not need to request such a thing, lord. They are yours to command.’
He did not appear shocked or surprised by my request. Was I so predictable?
‘Nevertheless, Surena, I would have your agreement in this matter, for to lose seven thousand veteran horsemen is no small thing.’
‘Today you saw but part of my army, lord,’ he said. He then spread his arms out wide. ‘These men are the senior commanders who serve Gordyene, including the men from Elymais. As well as the twenty-two thousand soldiers on parade today Gordyene can raise an addition five thousand horse archers and I have allies to supplement my army.’
‘Allies?’
He suddenly stood up and men began to rap tabletops with their knuckles in salute when they saw him. He raised his hands to still the hubbub and then pointed to where a group of men with wild beards and moustaches sat.
‘Lord Diophantes, how many of the brave Aorsi do you bring to fight by our side?’
A tall man with a big round face, long unkempt hair and small eyes stood up. He was wearing a rich red leather jacket with a sheepskin trim fastened at the front by two large silver brooches. He grinned devilishly at Surena.
‘Eight thousand warriors ready to slaughter your enemies, great king,’ he answered in a booming voice.
There were whoops and cheers and more rapping on tables as the big man slapped his companions on their backs and Surena sat down.
‘So you see, lord, I have taken measures to ensure the security of Gordyene for my son when he is born.’
‘Who are the Aorsi?’ I asked.
‘A tribe of the Sarmatians who live north of the great Caucasus Mountains.’
I was horrified. ‘Sarmatians? I had to kill a host of them at Seleucia. They were in the pay of Mithridates.’
He was unconcerned. ‘They are hardy warriors who will fight anyone as long as they are rewarded for doing so. Some of Balas’ old warriors, the wild men who act as guardians of the northern frontier, told me about the famed Sarmatian horsemen from beyond the mountains, so I sent envoys to the tribal chiefs of the Aorsi asking for soldiers to fight for gold and horses. They sent Diophantes and eight thousand men in reply.’
‘They might not be as easy to get rid of,’ I warned him.
He looked and me and smiled. ‘I do not wish them to leave. I have asked them to stay and have promised them rich lands that they can call their home.’
‘In Gordyene?’
He shook his head. ‘In Armenia.’
I was about to remind him that we were currently at peace with Armenia when Viper rose and declared she was tired and would have to retire. Surena immediately took her arm and said he would take her to their bedroom. I rose and embraced her and Peroz bowed, took her hand and kissed it, much to her delight. As Surena led her to their private quarters located to the rear of the banqueting hall everyone rose and began to chant ‘Dasna, Dasna’ as the couple exited the chamber.
I looked at Silaces in puzzlement.
‘It means “short dagger”,’ he replied. ‘The nickname they have given the queen. It is not only the king who adores her in these parts, lord.’
While they were gone slaves brought great platters heaped with the meat of roasted mouflons — sheep that were much larger and bigger than the ordinary variety — plus cooked sturgeon and salmon caught in local rivers. They also served prodigious quantities of dolma, a local dish that consisted of minced lamb mixed with rice and flavoured with mint, fennel and cinnamon.
I watched Spartacus and Scarab at the table in front of me devouring everything put in front of them, even the boiled sheep’s head soup that had been served before the main meal. In these parts it was believed that soups consumed before a feast began had healing powers. They were both tall, sturdy framed individuals and would make fine warriors, if they did not kill each other first. Silaces pointed the mutton and spice kebab he was holding at them.
‘A curious pair, majesty.’
‘The black one was a slave at Emesa and Spartacus is with me because he needs taming.’
‘Can the son of the slave general be tamed?’
‘I hope so,’ I replied.
Silaces nodded. ‘It is appropriate that he should be by your side when he fights the people who killed his father.’
Before Surena returned I told him that he and his men would be leaving Gordyene with me.