| ||||
|
KHSHAYARSHA lay on his couch in the innermost room as his attendants laid out food on the low tables.
'Which concubine is it tonight, Harbona?' The servant bowed. 'It is a young maiden from Babylon, Your Highness.' 'Very well,' he sighed, remembering how his last Chaldean queen had turned out. 'Show her in.' 'It shall be done, my Lord King.' The attendant backed from the room and, shortly afterwards, a young fair-haired woman walked slowly in. The King's eyes lit up for a moment as he swung his legs from the couch. 'Artaynte, I did not expect to see you again. You shouldn't be here.' 'I had to come, my Lord King. I have a brought a present for you.' 'A present? Be quick, my child. If you are seen here, I shall have to have you executed. You have been banished from the palace upon pain of death. I will have no option despite my deep love for you.' 'I am not here as concubine, Sire. Before I give you my present, I claim my right to become Maid of Honour to the new Queen.' 'Artaynte,' said the King. 'That promise was conditional upon you finding the girl from the river.' The young woman's eyes sparkled as she smiled. 'So it was. Allow me to present to you my best friend, Princess Astur of Babylon.' She stepped to one side and the King's eyes lifted slowly to the doorway. He neither saw nor heard Artaynte leave and he stood, his mouth open, as the young girl walked slowly towards him. 'The girl from the river,' he breathed as his heart-beat raced. 'Your Majesty,' said Astur as she curtsied to the floor. The King took her hand and lifted her to her feet. 'Is it really you?' 'It is, my Lord King.' 'You haven't changed a bit.' She smiled. 'You flatter me, your Majesty.' 'May I touch you?' asked the King, wondering why on earth he was being so polite. A slight tremor ran through Hadasseh as she anticipated the next hour and the King was quick to realise the reason why that might be. 'Do not be afraid. I will not harm you.' With a final swallow, Hadasseh smiled and stepped forward into the King's arms. For several minutes, Khshayarsha held her tight until the tremors ceased and then kissed her forehead gently. 'Now I have found you again, I find that I want to keep you just as you are.' 'My Lord King,' said the surprised Hadasseh. 'I am yours to do as you wish.' Khshayarsha looked at her long and hard. Her dark hair shone in the light of the oil lamps and her face glowed with health. 'You know what I wish?' Astur looked into his eyes. 'What you wish is what I wish. May it always be so.' 'I wish you to become my Queen.' 'B..but...' she stammered. 'You don't yet know whether I am suitable.' 'You are eminently suitable, that I already know.' The King turned and clapped his hands. Harbona rushed in. 'A banquet,' called the King, raising his arms. 'A banquet for the people of Shushan. Proclaim an amnesty throughout the realm, from India to Ethiopia. All political prisoners are freed, national debts are cancelled. Let gifts go to all satraps and princes of the Empire. Tonight, Persia has a new Queen.' The servant was flabbergasted at the suddenness of the decision. 'A new Queen, My Lord King?' 'Yes.' He took Astur's hand. 'Let a message be sent to the length and breadth of the inhabited earth. Princess Astur of Babylon has become Queen of the Persians.'
THREE men were not celebrating. Expecting the decision concerning the choosing of the queen to be delayed for at least another two weeks, they had been caught unprepared.
| ||||
 CHAPTER
ELEVEN
| ||||
|
