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Queen of the Persians

by Lee Edgar

dedicated to orphans everywhere

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

    FOR two days, the fighting went on. In Shushan alone, eight hundred people died and, over the next few weeks, reports were to come in concerning the deaths of over seventy-five thousand who had sought to kill the Jews but had been defeated.
    When all the hue and cry died down, Astur went before the King. 'With your permission, my Lord King, I would have the bodies of Haman's ten sons hung up in the public square as a deterrent against future conspiracies within the Empire.'
    'It is your right, Astur. They killed your mother and sought to kill you and your family.'
    She turned. 'Harbona, would you see to the matter?'
    'At once, your Majesty.'
    As the attendant left, Astur gestured to a young man in the doorway. 'I wish to introduce my relative, Nehemiah, from Babylon. He has brought you the plunder from the activities of recent times.'
    'But that is for you Jews. I have given my word.'
    'And I have given mine,' said Astur. 'In my proclamation, I gave my people permission to defend themselves but all the spoils must come to the wise King who acted in their behalf.'
    He stared at the huge mass of wealth being dumped before him. 'I am without words.'
    'Then you will accept this gift from my hand?'
    'It would be rude of me to refuse but I am still overcome.'
    Astur laughed. 'Then send it to Artakhshayarsha at Persepolis. It will buy many bricks and columns for your new palace.'
    'It will indeed. How can I thank you?'
    'By allowing my people opportunity to celebrate their deliverance by an annual festival. To time indefinite, we shall remember the day when we were to be killed but, because of the power of our God and the wisdom of our King, we survived.'
    'It was not I who saved your people, Astur. It was you. This, by rights, should all be yours.'
    'What is mine is yours, my Lord King.'
    'Then write to your people as you have spoken. Command them to celebrate those days of deliverance.'
    It was at that moment that Harbona returned. 'My Lord King. Sataspes has returned from Egypt.'
    The King smiled. 'Show him in. I must have news of his voyage around Africa.'
    The young man was shown in and his father accompanied him. Sataspes bowed before the throne. 'My Lord King, I have completed the journey.'
    'Excellent. I have received reports from time to time of your progress. You must tell me of the Red Sea and the canal my father built across to the Nile.'
    'Well...er...I'm afraid I didn't get that far.'
    'What? Then how did you get home?'
    'We...we turned round and sailed back up the west coast of Africa. I have a great many tales to tell of...'
    'Enough! You have tricked me, Sataspes.'
    'Tricked you, sire?'
    'In return for your life, you promised to circumnavigate Africa and sail up the Red Sea. You have not completed your side of the bargain.'
    'But it was the weather, your Majesty. It was very stormy.'
    'Stormy? The storms haven't stopped the Greeks, have they? According to Themistocles, they are planning to send ships as far as the land of Thule and, eventually, explore the whole world. I thought at least you were man enough to explore the coasts of Africa. Instead of a man, I've got a woman who is afraid of the wind.'
    'I tried, your Majesty.'
    'You are making a fool of me, Sataspes. I gave you your life on the condition you would do as I asked. Did you think I would break my own law?'
    'But, Sire,' interrupted Artabanus. 'My son will not repeat his foolishness with Artaynte.'
    'No, he won't. I don't think her husband would like that.'
    'Husband?' gaped Sataspes. 'Artaynte is married?'
    'Married to my Prime Minister, Marduka. Perhaps I should ask him for his view on the subject. What say you, my Queen?'
    Astur dragged her eyes from watching Artabanus who had a strange expression upon his face. 'I say that your word must remain, my Lord King.'
    Artabanus stared at Astur with cold eyes and even Khshayarsha was taken aback by her sudden negative judgement.
    'Sataspes had his chance,' continued Astur. 'But he chose to deliberately disobey his King. According to the law, my Lord King, you have no option.'
    'Very well,' agreed Khshayarsha. 'Harbona, take him away.'
    'No!' roared Artabanus. 'I will not let you do it.'
    'How will you stop me?' asked the King.
    Artabanus stared at his nephew for a long time but the King was adamant. Sataspes was taken away and Artabanus followed.
    'I do not trust Artabanus,' said Astur quietly.
    'He is an old man, Astur. He can do me no harm.'
    'I hope and pray that you are right.'

    ASTUR wrote the letter of command to all Jews in the Empire of the Medes and Persians. It read:
    My brothers
    It is with joyful heart that I write to you today to thank you for your support during the recent anti-semitic activity sponsored by Haman the Agagite. I wish to confirm to you that the great King of Kings, known as Ahasuerus in the Hebrew tongue, knew nothing of the plot and has since done everything within his power to correct the situation and to help our people as did his father before him. As per my specific instructions, please ensure that all plunder collected from those who tried to eliminate us is handed over to the local satrap or to his representative for distribution. For this reason, people will never be able to say that we became rich because of an Agagite who had been cursed of God.
    It is my wish and, I believe, the wish of our God, Jehovah of Armies, that we remember those days to times indefinite. Let it forever be remembered that Haman looked into the stars and cast the pur, the lot, and acted on behalf his god, Molech. Also let it be remembered with joyfulness that our God acted on our behalf and saved us from the wicked Haman and from the Devil who would seek to destroy the nation of God. It is the express command of the great King Ahasuerus that you be allowed to celebrate this festival of the pur, or Purim, each year. As the King has spoken, so let it be done.
    Hadasseh
    Queen of the Persians


    THE two men met at dusk on the outskirts of the city.
    'It must be tonight,' said the older one.
    'But Artakhshayarsha in at Persepolis. It will be better if they are all together.'
    'I have taken enough, Megabyzus. If you are not with me, I will do it alone but, if I am to do it alone, you will not become my Commander-at-Arms.'
    'I will do it, my Lord Artabanus,' said the younger man reluctantly. 'You can rely on me.'
    'I hope so. I have seen too many attempts fail. Bigthana and Teresh had to go and get caught. Haman got his timing all wrong and misjudged Marduka completely. Even Zeresh broke into the palace at the very time the Queen was out in the city. This time, we must get it right. Do I make myself quite clear?'
    'I will do just as you have commanded.'
    'Good. Remember, you take care of Darius. Make sure he dies quietly else we will not be able to throw the blame on him later.'
    'What of the Prime Minister and his wife?'
    'We can deal with them later. First, I will deal with the King and then I can concentrate on his pretty little Queen.'
    'You really do hate her, don't you?'
    'Yes, I do. She has repeatedly humiliated me over these last few years and she was largely responsible for the execution of my son, Sataspes. Oh, yes. I hate her all right.'
    'And then you will be King.'
    'Yes,' he smiled. 'Then I will be King. You will take the Immortals to Persepolis tomorrow so that Artakhshayarsha can meet with an "accident". Then, nothing can stop us.'
    Megabyzus also smiled. 'Nothing at all.'

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

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