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Queen of the Persians

by Lee Edgar

dedicated to orphans everywhere

CHAPTER TWENTY

    HAMAN staggered from the banquet into the darkness of the palace garden. In spite of the lateness of the hour, it was still oppressively hot. Soon, summer would be near and anyone with any sense would move to Ecbatana until Autumn. His heart was merry as his attendants helped him towards the gateway leading to his house. A movement beside the gateway made him smile.
    'Good day, Marduka,' he called mockingly. 'Aren't you going to bow before your superior?'
    'With respect, you are drunk, Haman, and bring shame upon the household of the King.'
    Haman laughed. 'Drunk, am I? At least I am alive which is more than you will be soon.'
    'I rest my faith in my Lord Jehovah. If it is his will that I die, then I die. If he wants me to live, he will find a way to save our people.'
    'Don't bank on it,' said Haman, becoming angry.
    The servants intervened. 'It is late, my Lord. It is best that we get you home quickly.'
    Haman sighed. 'So be it. I can wait.' He stared at Marduka and then grinned. 'I can wait.'
    His attendants helped him through the gateway and down the road until they reached his home where his wife awaited him.
    'Where have you been?' Zeresh demanded to know. 'It is late.'
    'Silence, wife. Call my sons to me.'
    'But most of them are in bed. I cannot wake them at this hour.'
    'You must. I have something to tell them.'
    'Very well.' She left as Haman sat down and drank more wine until they had assembled before him along with their wives and the many friends who were staying in his large mansion.
    'I have been deeply honoured today. I have been to a banquet with the King and Queen.'
    'The Queen?' asked the surprised Dalphon. 'I thought she and the King were not on speaking terms.'
    'They are now,' he said conspiratorially. 'And what is more, the Queen has specifically invited me to a further banquet tomorrow afternoon.'
    'That is indeed a great honour,' said Zeresh. 'It is rare that someone is invited to the palace by the Queen. Unheard of twice in two days. They must value your services highly.'
    'That's what I thought,' he replied smugly. 'In fact, if it wasn't for that Marduka in the gate, everything would be just fine.'
    'Does he still not bow to you, father?' asked Poratha.
    'He does not. He stands and mocks me with his eyes. I can see it clearly.'
    'Even in the dark?' asked Zeresh with a laugh.
    'Even in the dark. I don't know how much longer I can endure such humiliation. One the one hand, I am honoured far above my expectations and, on the other, humiliated by a mere Jew.'
    'Then deal with the matter yourself? He has broken the King's law, has he not?'
    Haman nodded. 'He has indeed.'
    'Then why not make an example of him. I am sure the King will give you permission to have him executed. After all, he is nothing to the King. Khshayarsha will probably never give the matter a second thought if you were to ask. He will not want to get involved with a simple lawbreaker.'
    'You are right, my wife. I will do it in the morning.'
    'There is something else you can do, father,' added Dalphon. 'Why not have him hung up so that all the other Jews will see his body and it will help them to imagine what they have coming to them in a few months time?'
    Haman grinned. 'You are indeed my own son, Dalphon. A gallows it shall be.'
    'A high one so all may see.'
    'Ten cubits high so he can be seen from anywhere in the market place.'
    'If you make it twenty, all in the lower city will see his body.'
    Zeresh smiled. 'If you are going to do this, why not do it properly? How high will it have to be so that all in Shushan will see his body rotting in the sun?'
    'It would have to be very high,' Dalphon calculated. 'Probably forty or fifty cubits.'
    'Then fifty it shall be. My sons, first thing in the morning you must make a start on these gallows. I shall get the King to sign the death warrant tomorrow and, by the time I come out from the banquet in the evening, I shall be able to see his body hanging on the rope. I shall sleep all the better for it.'

    ARTAYNTE stirred restlessly in the King's chamber. Although it was not yet summer, even the nights at Shushan were already overbearingly hot and humid. She peered towards the window where the faint breeze moved the curtain slightly.
    A hand touched her arm. 'Can you not sleep either?'
    'No, my Lord King. It is so dreadfully hot.' She slipped her feet to the floor and stepped to the arched window overlooking the courtyard. Guards moved in the shadows as they closely watched all entrances to the palace. There was to be no repetition of the last incident.
    'It was a dream which woke me,' said the King as he joined her at the window and stared up at the stars which twinkled brightly against a backdrop of inky blackness.
    Artaynte turned to face him. 'A dream, my Lord King?'
    He nodded. 'One which has left me more than a little unsettled. In it, a god who must have been Ahura-Mazda appeared to me and chastised me for disobeying the law.'
    'You have never broken your law. You uphold the laws of the Persians and Medes to the letter as did your father.'
    'So I have always thought,' he said sadly. 'I have tried to be a good king who was fair to everyone.'
    'I can think of no way you could have made Ahura-Mazda angry.'
    'He did not seem angry,' said Khshayarsha. 'Merely... disappointed in me. As if I had missed something important.'
    'Why not ask Haman in the morning?'
    'That is a good idea. Unless...'
    'Yes?'
    'Put something on,' he suddenly said and threw his own gown around his shoulders. He opened the inner door. 'Harbona.'
    The attendant arrived quickly, sleep still in his eyes but his sword in his hand to defend his King.
    Khshayarsha smiled. 'Put your weapon away, Harbona. I merely wish for you to fetch me the record book of the law.'
    The attendant looked startled. 'The record book, your Majesty? At this time of night? Is there some discrepancy?'
    'I hope not. I just wish to satisfy myself that all is well.'
    Harbona bowed. 'As you command.' He left and, a few minutes later, returned with a large collection of scrolls which he placed before the King.
    'You may go,' said Khshayarsha and he was alone again with the Queen's Maid of Honour. 'Now, where do I start?'
    'Can I help?' asked Artaynte. 'Perhaps if I read out the pertinent parts, you could stop me if something doesn't make sense.'
    Khshayarsha smiled. 'Very well.'
    Artaynte selected a scroll at the King's instructions and began to read aloud as Khshayarsha paced, deep in thought.
    'First there is the matter of the tribute from Ethiopia. The Satrap sends you five hundred camels and a thousand bushels of dates.'
    Artaynte looked up at him but he shook his head.
    'The next entry is for the week when Astur was chosen as Queen. It lists the concubines who were presented to you as well as your final choice. Then there are details of the banquet you ordered. Seven hundred gallons of milk, three hundred and twenty jars of the best wine...'
    'No. Not that,' he said, waving his hand. 'Continue.'
    'Then, there is Harbona's full report of the assassination attempt and Hegai's death whilst saving your life.'
    'He was a good man,' said the King sadly.
    'He was indeed, your Majesty.'
    'Tell me,' said Khshayarsha suddenly. 'Does Harbona say who was responsible?'
    'He lists Bigthana and Teresh, the two who were caught.'
    'No. I mean, who was responsible for alerting the household. I know that you arrived and informed me personally, but who told you?'
    'It was one of the royal gatekeepers, my Lord King.' Her heart quickened. 'It was Marduka.'
    'Do I know this Marduka?'
    'He is in the gate from the city. Apparently, he overheard the men plotting in the gateway and hastened to warn the palace. When no guards could be found, he called for me and I brought the message directly to yourself.'
    'This Marduka. How has he been rewarded for his great loyalty?'
    Artaynte bowed her head. 'He has not, my Lord King. Marduka did not do this thing for reward but because he has deep respect for his King.'
    'He must be rewarded,' said Khshayarsha firmly. He pondered for a moment. 'Haman will tell me in the morning. He will know the correct procedure for honouring such bravery and loyalty.'

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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