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Queen of the Persians

by Lee Edgar

dedicated to orphans everywhere

CHAPTER NINETEEN

    KHSHAYARSHA sat on his throne surrounded by guards as he signed various documents presented to him by Harbona. A slight commotion made him look up.
    'What is the matter with you men?' he growled.
    One or two of them looked at each other and then glanced towards the far doorway.
    'It is the Queen in the courtyard,' one whispered.
    'What will the King do?'
    'She is very brave to come uninvited with the King in the mood he has been in lately.'
    'Will he have her executed?'
    The King smiled and Astur stepped forward. One of the guards raised his sword to protect the King.
    'Spare her,' the King commanded and held out the royal sceptre to her as a sign of recognition and acceptance.
    The Queen stepped close and touched the tip of the sceptre as a gesture of submission to the King and Khshayarsha turned to Harbona who was clearly more than a little relieved at the apparent reconciliation.
    'Leave me.'
    Harbona hesitated until Khshayarsha looked at his guards and said, 'All of you. Go!'
    Still uncertain as to whether they had him heard him right, all but two attendants departed.
    Khshayarsha smiled. 'You look very pleasing, my Queen. How can I reward you this fine day?'
    Astur swallowed. 'I have but a small request, my Lord King.'
    'Name it, up to half my Kingdom.'
    'I do not desire riches, my Lord King. I simply desire the presence of my husband and his Prime Minister at a great banquet this evening.'
    'A banquet? For me?'
    'For who else, my Lord King?'
    'I am honoured.' The King turned to his attendant. 'See that Haman is informed the minute he arrives. He is to attend the banquet of the Queen.'
    'With respect, your Majesty. He will be tired after his long ride.'
    'Tired or not. Ensure he is there at my command.'
    The attendant bowed. 'It shall be as you desire, O mighty one.'
    The King turned to Astur. 'You really are looking remarkably radiant this morning.'
    Astur smiled. 'I must say you are obviously feeling better in yourself.'
    He leant forward. 'I have good news.'
    Astur looked puzzled as she took the seat offered to her. 'Good news, my Lord King?'
    He handed her a scroll which she opened. It was written in a foreign tongue. 'It is from Themistocles.'
    'The Greek Admiral?'
    'Greek Ex-Admiral. For the last couple of years he has been exiled in Argos. He has written to me secretly and says he now wants to come to Persia and show me a way that we can defeat the Greek army and navy. If anyone can help me to regain my pride, it is he.'
    'That is indeed good news,' Astur agreed to keep him happy. Anything which kept a smile on the King's face right now had to be good news. 'Then my banquet will be welcome.'
    'You couldn't have timed it better, my dear. Tonight, there will be much merrymaking.'
    Astur sighed with relief. Tonight, at the banquet, she would expose Haman for what he was.

    THE arrangements went according to plan. Khshayarsha arrived as the food was served and Haman, looking tired, a short time after. The wine flowed freely and Astur desperately wanted to find the right moment to speak but it eluded her. The King was so engrossed in his news that it was very late by the time that he got close enough to speak with her.
    'This is the greatest banquet of all time, Astur,' said the King with glazed eyes. 'You have excelled yourself.'
    'You have indeed, my Queen,' agreed the Prime Minister.
    'I am glad I have pleased you, my Lords.'
    'It is a great honour,' said Haman. 'To be entertained by the Queen of the Persians. I am flattered to have been invited.'
    Astur desperately wanted to broach the subject closest to her heart but the King was obviously the worse for drink and Haman was being so nice that she chickened out. Instead, she said, 'The evening is not yet over. I have a very special treat for my husband.'
    'Special treat? For me?' He leaned closer. 'But first you must tell me what I can do for you. What is your greatest wish? Name it and it is yours, up to half my Kingdom.'
    'I wish...' She paused. 'For now, I simply wish that you would come to a further banquet I have arranged for tomorrow. It is then that I shall reveal my greatest desire.'
    'So be it. If it is anything like tonight, it will be worth it.'
    'You must both come,' insisted Astur. 'And the Crown Princes, Darius and Artakhshayarsha.'
    'I have sent Artakhshayarsha to Persepolis. If Themistocles is coming to Persia, he must see my new palace in its finished state. My son will put pressure upon the builders to ensure it is completed in time for his visit next year.'
    'It is a good plan,' agreed the Queen and then stood up. 'Now, my Lord King. If you are ready, I present to you the highlight of the evening. I offer you - the Golden Princess.'
    The room fell silent as the oil lamps were dimmed and the drums started to beat out a steady rhythm. Astur sat behind the King, her hands holding his head tenderly against her breast as the stringed instruments started to play a haunting tune. As the notes reached a crescendo, the far curtains parted and six maidens swept in and began to dance in front of them. The eyes of Khshayarsha and Haman flicked from one to the other of the dancers as they gyrated and swung their heads around in dizzy circles and their hair fanned out. When all was at a climax, a seventh dancer appeared, dressed from head to toe in golden silk. Her veil was high and her eyes dark as she weaved in and out of the other girls, swinging her body around in time with the music. Astur watched as the King smacked his lips in anticipation. Barefoot, the Golden Princess leapt around until, with a flourish, she cast off both veil and headdress.
    'It is Artaynte,' breathed the King.
    'The Golden Princess is my present to you for tonight,' said Astur quietly.
    'It is accepted with grateful thanks, my Queen. Tomorrow, I shall repay you with her weight in gold.'
    'Only if she pleases you, my Lord King.'
    'She will, I know.'
    'Then take her, my Lord King. Go now, while the mood is right. Spend the night in ecstasy with your favourite concubine and dream only of love.'
    The King smiled his thanks. 'It will be your turn tomorrow.'
    Astur nodded as the King rose to his feet and held out his hands to the laughing Artaynte.
    'Yes,' Astur said under her breath as she swallowed nervously. 'My turn tomorrow. But my turn for what?'

CHAPTER TWENTY

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