DISMOUNTING, Astur stared up at the moon. What was it her father had taught her about navigation? As they had travelled across Mesopotamia, Abihail had pointed out the stars and the identifiable constellations and she frantically tried to remember what he had told her. The names Kesil, Kimah and Ash kept coming back to her but, as she looked up into the sky which seemed to be one solid mass of stars, she wished she had listened more carefully.
However, inspiration came suddenly. The moon, her father had once shown her, had a slight southerly bias. Like the sun, it rose in the east and set in the west. East was where she wanted to go so she tried to estimate the direction from which the moon had risen just an hour ago and, eventually, made something of what she saw. She reached a decision and only time would tell if she was right.
THE sun rose as Astur reached the end of the long ridge and began her descent of the rugged escarpment. The light was in her eyes so she knew she could not be far off the high road which led to Shiraz. As she broke free of the snow line and entered the tall trees hanging onto the southern edge of the Zagros, she saw, through the trees ahead, the wide marshes below her. Skirting them cautiously, Astur headed in what she estimated to be a north-easterly direction and the lie of the land became familiar to her. Mount Karun, the source of Persia's greatest river, was straight ahead. Refreshed with water at Fathabad, Mercury raced ahead, his destination now in clear sight.
ARTAKHSHAYARSHA surveyed the scene before him at Persepolis. At last, the great doors of the great audience hall were hung in place. His father would be proud of what he had accomplished these last few months. When the King arrived next month for the New-Year celebrations, he would honour his youngest son with the great riches and glory he deserved.
A palace guard approached and bowed low. 'Your Highness, a post-rider has arrived from Shushan.'
'And?'
'He wishes to speak with you privately.'
'What cheek! Go back to this boy and tell him to give you his message or I shall have him flogged.'
The soldier bowed. 'At once, Prince Artakhshayarsha.'
Artakhshayarsha turned to his attendant. 'Do these people not know that no-one but myself and those I specifically authorise should see the palace before it is completed? If I showed everyone the defenses, why all and sundry would know the secrets of our palace.'
Garan bowed respectfully. 'It is so written, your Highness.'
The guard returned. 'My apologies, Prince Artakhshayarsha, but the messenger stresses that the matter is of utmost urgency and he must speak with you and you alone.'
Artakhshayarsha grew angry. 'Does no-one listen to me?'
'Your Highness,' interrupted the guard. 'The messenger also claims to be her Majesty the Queen.'
Artakhshayarsha gaped and then stared towards the gate where, in the distance, her could see the small group of people beside the west gate of the city.
'Does this boy look like the Queen?'
'He is in the uniform of a royal messenger but looks a filthy ruffian, sire.'
Artakhshayarsha smiled. 'So, we have a comedian amongst us, do we? Take this "queen" to the roof of the North Tower and have him stripped naked and then flogged in full sight of the entire army. When he begs for death, I will hear him out. Perhaps, then, I shall discover the truth of the matter.'
The guard grinned. 'You may leave it to me, sire.'
'Take your time over it. I have all day.'
The guard left and Artakhshayarsha returned to his work. 'Now where were we? With all these distractions, we will never be finished in time for my father's arrival.' He smiled. 'No-one will ever be able to accuse me of not obeying his laws to the letter.'
Garan bowed. 'You are a wise and honourable ruler, your Highness.'
The guard returned as they pored over the final plans. 'With respect, your Highness.'
'What is it now? Does the boy not bleed?'
'Sire, the messenger... is not a boy.'
Artakhshayarsha frowned. 'Not a boy?'
'We...er...stripped the messenger for whipping as you decreed and he is...she is...a woman.' He paused. 'My sergeant, Carnos, has been to the palace at Shushan. He thinks she may well be the Queen after all.'
Artakhshayarsha put down his chart. 'If this is some kind of joke, I will have you all flogged.'
He stormed off the platform and strode across the courtyard towards the North tower. Climbing the spiral stairway, he burst forth into the harsh daylight on the roof and stared down at all the people who were watching. Grabbing the whip from the guard, he stepped towards where Astur waited with her wrists lashed to a cross-bar above her head, her feet barely touching the ground. He grabbed her by the short hair and then stopped and stared into her eyes.
'Now I have seen it all,' he said quietly. He turned. 'Garan, release the Queen.'
'Thank you,' said Astur as they cut her free and she slipped her tunic back on.
Artakhshayarsha handed her a beaker of wine. 'This had better be good.'
Astur took it from his hand and sat down beside him. 'It is not good.' She placed her hand over his. 'Your father is dead.'
The youth jumped to his feet. 'Dead? How?'
'Murdered by Artabanus.'
'Then Darius...?'
'Killed by Megabyzus.'
'Then...?'
'Artakhshayarsha,' she said soberly. 'You are King.'
'King? But...?'
'And Megabyzus is now on his way here to kill you.'
'But why?'
'It has been written that you killed your father and brother to gain the throne.'
'But I was here, in Persepolis.'
'I know that and you know that, but how many will believe you and I? How many others know that you are innocent?'
'Why, Garan and the builders.'
'How many?' she persevered.
He shrugged. 'A hundred, perhaps.'
'You should know Artabanus by now. He will find a thousand witnesses who will claim they personally saw you assassinate your father and brother.'
'He would not dare.'
'Artakhshayarsha, there is a great deal at stake. Artabanus will stop at nothing to become King.'
'And Megabyzus...?'
'He will have been promised some high position. Alas, he does not know Artabanus well or he would not trust him.'
The Prince began to pace the tower. 'I will reason with him when he arrives here.'
'Somehow I think things have gone too far for that. Artabanus has the Immortals under his power and Megabyzus knows that. For the moment, he has no alternative but to go along with what your great-uncle has commanded.'
'We will defend the city.'
'With how many men?'
'Several hundred in total.'
'Megabyzus knows this and comes with a thousand. You will not stand a chance.'
'Then what do you propose?'
'I suggest that, for the time being, you hide out in the mountains.'
'With my army?'
'No. Leave them here to defend the city. Megabyzus will believe you are still here. Instruct your men to surrender only when defeat is imminent.'
'My men will never surrender,' interrupted Garan.
'I admire your bravery, Commander, but they must. When Megabyzus realises Artakhshayarsha is not here, he will spare you. He cannot risk alienating any of his army at the moment, not before the question of rulership has been completely settled. If, on the other hand, he arrives and finds the Prince still here, everyone will die as he will not risk leaving any witnesses.'
'Always assuming he breaks into the city.'
'He will, Commander. His life and the whole of his future are at stake. He will find a way to overthrow you.'
'How long before he gets here?' asked the Prince.
'I took a short-cut over the mountains but have gained only a few hours. He will be here before the day is out.'
Artakhshayarsha stopped before her. 'How do I know you are telling me the truth?'
'Have I ever lied to you?'
He contemplated for a moment. 'Not yet. But then, as you say, the stakes have never been so high.'
'I do not want rulership, Artakhshayarsha. If I did, I would not be here today, I would be in Shushan. I came because you are now King. You must escape and then find a way to reclaim your throne.'
'And what of you?'
'I will stay and face Megabyzus.'
'He cannot afford to let you live.'
'I know that. I am not afraid to die.'
'He will first torture you to try to find out where I have gone.'
'Megabyzus would be stupid not to, but I will not reveal the truth.'
'You will suffer great pain and humiliating deprivations.'
'So be it. I failed your father, so I deserve it.'
'You have made up for it by risking your life coming here.'
Astur shrugged. 'It will have been worth it if you become King. I will not have died in vain.'
'I cannot let you do it. I owe you my life. It is the law.'
'I release you from your obligation. Go, before Megabyzus arrives.'
The guard arrived. 'Sire. Riders approaching from the south.'
Artakhshayarsha stared out across the valley to where a distant cloud of dust heralded the approach of a large number of horses. He turned to Astur. 'Can you ride?'
'I rode here from Shushan, didn't I?'
Artakhshayarsha turned to the Garrison Commander. 'Garan, defend the city as the Queen has spoken. The Queen and I are leaving immediately.'
'Alone?'
Artakhshayarsha nodded. 'We will travel faster that way.' He turned to his attendant. 'Get me peasant clothes and a horse. And food for the journey.'
'Where will you go?'
'I will go...'
'Speak not,' interrupted Astur. 'Then your attendant can honestly saw he does not know.'
Artakhshayarsha smiled. 'Now I know why my father chose you as Queen.'
Astur smirked. 'Your father chose me because I fell in the river.'
The young Prince stared at her. Astur shook her head. 'It is a long story.'
|
���
CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO
