AT the end of the mourning for Hegai and the celebrations over the new Queen, Khshayarsha sat with her in the interior room of the palace area.
'I must go away for a few weeks,' he said as they ate. 'I need to go to Persepolis to see how my new palace is coming along. It must be finished for the New Year celebrations. Also, I wish for time to meditate.'
'You have decisions to make?'
'I must decide what to do about the Greeks. I fear that Mardonius and Artabazanes will end up fighting one another unless I make more permanent arrangements.'
'They tell me that Megabyzus is eager to please you now that he has become your son-in-law. Surely either he or Artabanus could relieve one or the other of them and thus reduce the possibility of rivalry.'
'You are right, my dear. Do you know? It is most refreshing to be able to discuss such matters with a Queen who is not only beautiful in form but also highly intelligent.'
Astur blushed. 'You flatter me, my Lord King.'
'Not so. For the first time in my reign, I am content to leave Shushan knowing my people are in good hands.'
'One day, I should like to see this city your father started and you are now in the process of finishing.'
'At the new year, I shall take you there. You will sit beside me on a throne of gold and the satraps of all the nations must come, do obeisance before me and swear allegiance to my Queen.'
'I shall look forward to seeing the fruits of your hard work and to meeting your subjects from afar.'
'You will see to the matter of the harem while I am away?'
'It shall be done, my Lord King. I just hope you will be pleased with my choice.'
'You are Queen, Astur. Whatever you decide will be commanded by royal decree.'
'When do you leave?'
'I leave tomorrow.'
'Have I pleased you enough so you will grant me one request before you leave?'
'Anything. Up to half of my kingdom.'
Astur smiled. 'I ask for neither gold nor power. I request just one small favour on your last night in Shushan.'
'Name it and it shall be yours.'
'I offer you Artaynte as concubine and ask that you re-affirm your love for her as you have loved me.'
Khshayarsha smiled and touched her face gently. As King it was his right to choose whichever queen or concubine he fancied and they both knew it. However, this was the first queen who, seemingly, understood his needs.
'It is my wish.' He paused. 'Do you know? I think that you and I are going get along just fine.'
Astur smiled a wry smile. 'My Lord King, I would stake my life on it.'
ASTUR settled down well at the palace. She was kind to all who came to see her yet not soft when deputising for the King. As a result, her courtiers came to have a great respect for her and her word became not only truth but law. The palace was quiet without the King but Astur was busy. The sad death of Hegai had provided a vacancy in the supervision of the Harem and she wanted to find someone who was not only suitable but also a eunuch who would serve the King's best interests. It was her first real assignment at the palace and she was determined to please her husband and king. In the end, she had sent Artaynte to ask the advice of Marduka who had recommended a certain Asian who now stood before her.
'How old are you, Hathach?' she asked kindly but firmly, trying her best to sound like a queen.
'I am twenty-two, Your Majesty.'
'And you are the son of Yorman of Bactria?'
'It is so.'
'How long have you been with the King?'
'For two years, your Majesty. I was chosen as junior eunuch for the King's concubines at Ecbatana.'
'Very well. I will appoint you on one condition.'
'Anything, Your Majesty.'
'You will report directly to myself. I want to know everything that goes on among the concubines. Everything. Do you understand?'
'I do, Your Majesty.'
'You know Princess Artaynte?'
He nodded.
'You will also keep in contact with her. If it is not possible to get in touch with me personally at any time, you may speak with Artaynte. Artaynte and I are as one. Do I make myself quite clear?'
He looked puzzled but nodded again.
She smiled at him. 'Welcome to my harem.'
'You mean I have the job?'
'Of course. However, failure to please me at any time will result in the King's wrath.'
'I will do exactly as you say, your Majesty.'
Astur clapped her hands and the attendant appeared. 'Ah, Harbona. Hathach has become our new chief eunuch. Please show him to his quarters.'
Harbona bowed. 'As you command, my Queen.'
'And would you send Artaynte to me, please.'
'At once, your Majesty.'
Astur slipped from the throne and went to the window from where she could see right across the palace garden. It seemed so peaceful at the moment but, she knew, it was misleading. Somewhere to the east, Khshayarsha was at Persepolis, supervising the construction of the new banqueting hall which was due to be finished in time for the New Year celebrations. Away to the north and west, Artabazanes and Mardonius were struggling to hold onto the territory gained in Greece. With each report came news of growing unrest among the peoples of Athenia and Macedonia who strongly resented the Persian occupation of their hereditary lands. It was an uneasy peace.
A slight noise made her turn. 'Princess Artaynte is not in her chamber, your Majesty. Shall I send servants to look for her?'
Astur frowned. It was unlike her friend to depart without leaving a message. Not only that but, upon reflection, Astur had not seen her all morning. 'Send Artabanus to me.'
After several minutes delay, the Commander of the Guard strode in, ill-disguised contempt upon his face. 'You wished to see me?'
She turned to face him, controlling her feelings at his impudence. 'I did, Lord Artabanus. I need a search made of the palace. I want you to find Princess Artaynte.
His face broke into a leer. 'You want the Palace Guard to go looking for some girl?'
'I will remind you, Lord Artabanus,' she said evenly, 'Princess Artaynte is not just "some girl" as you have called her. She is the King's concubine and my own Maid of Honour.'
'Oh yes,' he sneered. 'I had forgotten.'
'You don't like me, do you?'
'With respect,' he said without showing any. 'You are not of Achaemenid blood. You have no right to the throne of Persia.'
'And you have, I suppose?'
'I am brother of Darius the Great.'
'It would be as well that you do not let the King hear you speak as you do now.'
'Khshayarsha knows how I feel.'
'And he tolerates you? I fear that if I were he, I would have you banished to the Kavir for your impudence.'
Astur had never once raised her voice during the conversation, her words coming clearly and evenly. Artabanus turned towards her and, after a few moments, failed to meet her stare. 'You dare to threaten me?'
'I speak in the King's name, Artabanus. What he wishes is what I wish. If any harm has befallen Artaynte, woe betide you when he returns.'
The return of Harbona disturbed their friendly conversation. 'Your Majesty. We have found the Princess. She is...unwell.'
Astur's heart skipped a beat. 'Where is she?'
'She is at the house of Marduka the gatekeeper.'
Astur frowned. Why had Artaynte gone to see Mordecai? She made up her mind. 'I will go to see her there.'
Harbona looked astounded. 'You are Queen, you cannot leave the palace.'
'Nonsense. Lord Artabanus is the Commander of the Guard. He will accompany me.'
'It is most unusual, Your Majesty.'
Astur winked at him. 'Harbona, I am most unusual. You should know that by now.'
Harbona was not going to fall into that trap. It was more than his head was worth.
'Come, Artabanus,' said the Queen of the Persians and strode from the room.
The sun outside was hot on her face as Astur walked across the marble courtyard and, despite the look of astonishment on the guards' faces, she walked straight out into the streets of Shushan. Artabanus smiled to himself as he followed, not too closely. Perhaps in the crowd there was someone who was currently dissatisfied with Khshayarsha's rule; perhaps angry enough to make an attempt on the Queen's life. Maybe she would be kidnapped by extremists and held to ransom, tortured maybe. In his mind, he could hear her screams of agony and almost allowed himself a titter. Gradually, he and his companions began to drop back a little to allow opportunity for such an eventuality and felt a wave of pleasure wash over him as several in the crowd rushed towards their Queen. He was dismayed when, instead of attacking her, they threw themselves at her feet and began to do obeisance to her. His dismay turned to anger when, instead of chastising them for their lack of dignity in her presence, Astur smiled to them and bade them stand, touching them and wishing them well. By the time she reached Marduka's gatehouse, she had quite a following of people and the face of Artabanus was as black as thunder.
The Queen swept into the gatehouse and Marduka gaped as she pushed past him and up the stairs. At the top, she paused while her eyes adjusted to the dim light and then stepped softly towards the bed where her friend lay sleeping. Astur sat down and gently touched Artaynte's forehead. There was no fever.
She heard Mordecai enter behind her. 'What is wrong with her?'
'She has been hurt,' he said quietly.
'Hurt? How? Where?'
'She was coming to see me last night. When it turned sunset, I left the guards in charge and went to look for her. I found her near the city wall.'
'So? What is wrong with her?'
Mordecai didn't answer so Astur turned to face him and he looked at the floor. A tear trickled down his face. Astur held her breath. She had never seen a man cry before and certainly not her cousin.
She stood up before him and held him tight. 'What is it, my father?'
'Artaynte...,' he swallowed. 'Artaynte has...' He looked up at her. 'Artaynte has been raped.'
Astur felt as though a great dagger had been thrust into her belly and was twisting and turning inside her, cutting her inward parts into tiny pieces. A vision of her mother flashed into her mind and of men laughing at the blood all over her legs. She clenched her teeth. 'Who did this evil deed?'
Mordecai stood silent with head bowed.
'Who?' she demanded, grabbing him by the cloak.
'I...'
She shook her cousin. 'Who?'
'Sataspes. Artaynte told me when I found her.'
Astur said nothing for several minutes. 'Can she be moved?'
Mordecai nodded. 'I think so. There are no broken bones, just bruises.'
'Any blood?'
'No, no blood. Just the pain inside, she said.'
'Right,' Astur said, letting go of him. 'I shall send the healer immediately and people to carry her to the palace.'
Mordecai grabbed her arm. 'Wait. What will you do?'
'I will have Sataspes executed.'
'Don't do anything rash, my child.'
'Rash?' she spat, barely in control of herself. 'When I am through with these people, they will wish they had pleaded with Khshayarsha to retain Amestris as Queen.'
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CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
