The room was brightly illuminated by daylight through large Egyptian glass windows and a broad opening in the far wall admitting daylight from a large sheltered balcony. Silk curtains in pastel colors of mint green and orange billowed in the wind, their weighted bottoms preventing them from floating free. King Vima was on the balcony, leaning over the marble railing to observe his kingdom. Rustam led the party out to him, and King Vima turned to greet them, simply clad in a Greek tunic and slippers, no crown.
“Good morning! I hope you all slept well!” he boomed, taking Aulus by the arm and shaking his hand strongly, then keeping it in his grasp.
“The wine certainly helped,” answered Aulus, smiling.
“Very good! I like the view from this balcony,” he said, beckoning them forward to the sunsplashed railing to look down at the garden. It was a hundred yards on a side, surrounded by white brick walls, with immaculately trimmed bushes forming almost a maze, interspersed with a variety multi-colored flowers and trees. Pathways meandered throughout the area, with benches and occasional statuary. A gardener in a brown tunic was tending the yard below, an apron stuffed with tools around his waist, a watering can at his feet.
The king inhaled a deep lungful of air. “I love the smell of the garden in the morning. But it is going to be hot today. Come inside. I have something I want to show you that I think you will find most interesting,” said the king, leading them back into the living quarters. Along one wall, above a long rectangular table holding several lamps, was a giant map of the world.
Aulus’s jawed gaped, as did everyone else’s as he took in the scope of the map, truly a map of the whole world. At the far right was the familiar shoe-shape of the Mediterranean, boot-shaped Italy, the cow’s head shape of the Black Sea, the shrimp-shaped Caspian. The Red Sea snapped at Egypt like a serpent, jaws open at the northern end. The triangular shape of India, then the unfamiliar shapes of the east, ending with the Hanaean coast. The sea was a light blue, the land yellow. Rivers meandered in blue, what might be roads were in black.
Gaius leaned over to examine the legends. Towns were labeled in Greek. On the left he found Rome, Damascus, Jerusalem, Caesaria, Alexandria, Myos Hormos… where their journey began… On the right, he found what he thought was Tianjin, Luoyang, and Chang’an. Here they were lettered with both Greek and Hanaean characters. “Marcia, you can read these, is that Luoyang? Right there?” he asked, pointing to a spot a bit inland on a river.
Marcia looked. The lettering was small but distinct. “Yes, that is Luoyang!” she said excitedly. “And that’s the Huang He River, Sanmenxiang, Chang’an. Tongchuan is not marked, but it must be about here, these little triangles are the mountains.” Her finger followed the loop of the Huang He north around the Ordos loop, then back down and west. “Wuwei, yes and Liqian! It’s not marked either but it has to be right here, in the mountains west of Wuwei. And Dunhuang, here’s Turfam, Kashi, that is Kashgar!”
“And we are here,” said King Vima, proudly, pointing to Bagram, just south of the cluster of triangles that marked the Hindu Kush. “I commissioned this map about ten years ago, to assemble the best picture of the world from both Roman, Parthian and Hanaean sources. The European side is from one of your mapmakers in Alexandria, and the eastern side from Hanaean mapmakers. Though I never expected a party that would actually have required all of this to depict their trip.”
Amazing!” said Gaius. “I worked with the Alexandrian navigators on the Europa, and the European side looks just like one in their portfolio. Yes, and I never thought would see a map big enough to encompass it all!”
He turned toward the map, locating Ctesiphon on the Tigris River, then following the river north. “We were fronting Dura Europos, here, went to Alexandria, down the Nile to cut over to Myos Hormos, then Eudaemon.”
Ibrahim chimed in. “The big island off Eudaemon is Socotra, here, and Hasdrubal took you north up to Masirah, where the Romans relieved you of him, then you coasted down India, while we went to Tapobane. Then through Malacca, and we rendezvoused about here, then up to Tianjin. Yes, it’s all here, and looks like a fine piece of work!”
And Antonius joined in. “My wife here is the veteran. She is over halfway through her third trip!” Marcia blushed a bit.
“That is an accomplishment, young lady. There may not be another person in the world who has ever done that.”
“I was just along for the ride, your Excellency,” she said modestly.
Aulus chimed in. “It gives a Roman a sense of humility. We like to think of ourselves as the center of the world, but we are really about to fall off the edge of it into the Great Ocean. You, sir, on the other hand, are truly at the center!”
“That’s why I commissioned this map, because we truly are the bridge between east and west. And north and south, as well,” he said, pointing to India and the Ferghana Valley to the north. “Senator, I will have a copy prepared for you to take back, as a gift to Emperor Trajan. I hope he will not feel that I am trying to displace him as the center of his universe!”
He waved them away from the map toward a low table, around which some sofas and chairs clustered, and invited them in to take a seat. A servant quietly entered the room, bent down to take some whispered instructions, and left. The king announced, “I ordered up some tea. I suspect after last night, that would be preferred to wine, am I right, Senator?” He smiled broadly at the sheepish Aulus.
“I tried to keep up with you glass for glass, but I lack your royal capacity. I got quite drunk trying.”
Antonius chimed in. “I am making you an honorary centurion in the Roman army, your Excellency. You are welcome to drink in our mess anytime.”
Tea was brought, and the King got down to business. “We are a forgotten empire, and I want to make an offer which you are free to accept or not. I would like you to stay here thirty days or so, until that military convoy leaves for Bactra, and until we work out a plan for Parthia. During this time, you have free run of my ministries, the army, the countryside, whatever you want to see or do, except for some few things which may be closed to you. At night, several times a week, I would like to entertain you as my guests with the culture of Kushana… plays, concerts, poetry readings, philosophical and religious discussions, and so forth. As I have no scheduled senior visitors, you are welcome to stay in your quarters. If on the other hand, you wish to leave early, that is your choice.”
Aulus answered, “I think I speak for all, Your Excellency, that we would like to accept that opportunity. And we do need to figure out how to get through Parthia safely, now that we know they are looking for us.”
“We will talk to my minister of state this morning about that. He will have some ideas for cover. Rustam will let you know when and where. And bring Ibrahim along. He will probably have some thoughts as well.
“Now, if you have all finished your tea, I want you to meet my family. I have been waiting for my daughter, but she isn’t back yet. She left this morning before I could tell her you were coming, so she will be a bit… rough when she comes in. She was out riding, her favorite pastime.” He led them through another door, where a short, dark-haired woman was standing, with a boy in his early teens. “My wife Cassandra and my son Kanishka.”
Cassandra was wearing a long blue silk robe, her hair carefully done up in a bundle, a slender, attractive woman about forty, with penetrating brown eyes. Kanishka wore a red robe of similar length. He carried himself well, but he did not yet shave.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, er…” Aulus was uncertain of the correct address.
“Cassandra, please,” she said with a smile that put everyone at ease.
Aulus introduced everyone in turn.
There was a clatter on the stairway on the patio outside while this was going on, and a young woman burst into the room, dusty, sweaty, and wearing very casual riding gear, also sweaty. “Mom, Dad, glad to …” she paused, putting her hand to her mouth, seeing the finely clad guests. “I am so sorry! I didn’t k
now we were expecting company. I’ll go change!”
Aulus intervened to set the young woman at ease. “Not at all, young lady, unless your father insists. This is the first time we have been clean and dressed up in months of traveling, so be at ease and join us. We are guests in your home.”
The king added, “Please, stay! I especially want you to meet Marcia, who is, I think, my favorite of this bunch.”
The young woman stepped up to Marcia. “Glad to meet you, I am Ranisa.” she said, taking Marcia’s hand in an almost masculine handshake. Marcia could feel the calluses of the girl’s hand, not your average soft princess. Wearing a plain beige linen salwar kamis, she smelled of sweat, her own and that of her horse.
Marcia smiled. She instinctively liked this straightforward girl, and returned the firm handshake grip for grip. “Marcia Lucia, and this is my husband, Antonius Aristides.”
“You’re an interesting combination. Hanaean features, blue eyes, Bactrian speech and clothes, Roman name and Greek husband. Is there an interesting story here?” she said, twinkling.
“Several! He is Roman of Greek descent, a centurion with the Twelfth Legion.”
“Pleased,” she said, turning to give Antonius a firm handshake as well.
“My daughter Ranisa, horsewoman of great excellence,” said the king. “She has little patience for palace protocol, but she keeps me honest.”
Ranisa was introduced to each in turn, and was somewhat taken in awe of the gracious pirate Ibrahim, but she gravitated quickly back to Marcia. “So… about those stories?” she said, leading Marcia off to a corner to put their heads together.
At the end of getting acquainted, Marcia made her an offer. “If you’re riding tomorrow, I would like to join you if you don’t mind.”
“I ride pretty hard,” Ranisa cautioned. “Most of the women who have ridden with me think ‘riding’ means cantering for short distances, not galloping to the mountains.
“Good, you might be able to keep up with me then. See you at daybreak. Meet in the stables?”
“Looking forward to it.”
CHAPTER 76: KIDNAPPED
Ranisa and Marcia reached the mountains a few hours after sunrise following a most enjoyable ride, a brisk gallop outside the city to warm the animals up, then just letting the animals have their head. Marcia was wearing her Xiongnu summer gear, Ranisa her beige salwar.
“I thought you were expecting to take the lead, Marcia?” Ranisa asked with an exultant smile. Her mare had stayed ahead of Excelsior consistently with every gallop.
“I think Excelsior was much more interested in watching your mare’s rump, and thought running headlong away from her was a very bad idea. Typical man!”
“Aren’t they all? My favorite lake is off to the left around those trees.”
A little pathway turned off the main dirt road, and after a few hundred yards opened onto a blue lake, lined with trees splashed with the beginnings of fall colors, interspersed with dark, almost black pines. Ranisa led them up to a pile of big grey granite boulders, on the other side of which was a deep quiet pool, overhung by a willow.
“This is my favorite spot. Here I can hunt, fish, or just lay around and watch the animals and birds. I wish Dad could marry me off to some poor farmer. I could live like this, take care of his horses, have his babies, help build his house, I’d be happy… but I don’t think Dad needs a political alliance with some poor farmer, or even a rich one. What are you and Antonius going to do when you get back to Rome?”
“Well, the latest plan is that he wants to leave the army, go back to his home town and pick up tutoring, like his father did. And maybe the two of us teach the languages we’ve learned, Hanaean and Bactrian… there may be a lot of people interested in that, if we salvage this trip. And have lots of babies; I am looking forward to that part. But Antonius is a little afraid of change. All he knows is the army, what he has done for twenty-five years, and he is afraid he doesn’t know anything about teaching.”
“From what little I’ve seen of you two, if I had to be married, it would be like you two.”
“Thank you. And you and I are a lot alike. But I wasn’t always like this. I was an Hanaean concubine until a few years ago. You think your court life is restrictive? Try that. Sewing, singing, flower arranging, that’s good, poetry, yes, and don’t forget about learning to please your man, who doesn’t give a damn whether he pleases you or not… everything else, off limits.” But Marcia was smiling; the words no longer had any bitterness in them. “Tell your father what you want in a man. I think he will try to give you what you need.”
“Hmm. I might do that. I am a bit rebellious and headstrong, but he has been good about not forcing me into marriage. He tried once, but let me off when I objected. The man was over sixty, his children twice my age, and here I am not yet twenty!” Ranisa stood up and stretched. “I am sweaty as hell. Do you mind if I strip down and take a dip in the pool?”
“If you don’t mind if I join you.”
The girls stripped out of their clothes and edged into the chilly water, eventually standing waist deep, splashing the water around their chests and face… and playfully, on each other, cavorting like water nymphs.
“That is an ugly scar on your breast, Marcia. How did that happen?” said, Ranisa, noticing the hairline wire scar threading across the top of Marcia’s left breast.
“Knife fight.” She was going to let it drop but remembered Antonius’ advice. “My consort was trying to take me back to Luoyang, right before my wedding to Antonius.”
“What happened?”
“He’s dead.”
“Antonius?”
“Me.”
“Oh!”
Ranisa was silent for a while. “I’m sorry I asked.”
“It’s all right.” Marcia splashed some water under her armpits, then scooped up a handful to drink. “This is cold, clear water. Where did you learn to hunt and fish?”
“Uncle Boni,” answered Ranisa.
“Boni is the king’s brother?” asked Marcia, with some surprise.
“No,” answered Ranisa with a smile. “He is the head of Dad’s palace guards. He is sort of my adopted uncle, since I was nine or ten. Taught me to ride, shoot, fish, hunt, dress and butcher game, make fire from wet tinder, the good stuff. I was desperately in love with him when I was about fourteen, but he wasn’t having any of that. That is why my father trusts him.”
“He wouldn’t take advantage of you?” asked Marcia, smiling with one eyebrow cocked.
“No, he wouldn’t let me take advantage of him!”
They got out, dressed, and Ranisa produced a little lunch from her saddlebag, some wine, nan and grapes. Then they hitched up to head back, hoping to be back before noon.
They headed down hill to the flat plain at a brisk gallop, pulling up to give their horses a breather after about a mile or so. Marcia heard riders behind them and saw about five or ten riders coming fast, raising a cloud of dust. “Company!” she said, putting her hand on her dagger. “I wish we hadn’t ridden our horses so hard.”
“Probably all right,” said Ranisa, but she put her hand on her dagger as well. I hope Boni taught her how to use it!
Two riders blew by them in a cloud of yellow dust, then whirled around to face them, their mounts pawing the ground. Several others, Marcia guessed about five, pulled in behind them. One of the two in front was tall and thin, looked to be about fifty, mounted on a black horse. The other was a short stocky guy with really bad teeth, mounted on a gray, who did the talking. “Hello, girls! Out for a ride?”
“We are,” answered Marcia, keeping her eyes fixed on him, but alert for any other movement around her.
“Can be dangerous out here. Why don’t you ride with us so we can protect you?” He had several rotten teeth in his mouth, ringed by a scruffy beard.
“We’re fine.”
“I said it is dangerous! I wasn’t asking you.”
Ranisa started to edge her horse through the blocka
de. “We are not answering you! Out of my way, I’m the king’s daughter!” she said, in her most imperious voice.
“Oh, and I thought you were Aphrodite,” he said, with a mocking leer, bowing low with a sweep of his hand. He straightened up and then ordered, “Get off that damned horse now!”
Marcia could hear the horses behind her pawing the ground. She kneed Excelsior, who reared, neighing fiercely, kicking the air in front.
Bad Teeth slid out of the saddle and drew his sword, getting dangerously close to the flailing hooves, yelling, “Get that damned horse under control, or I’ll cut his head off!” The tall thin man had also dismounted, and leveled his sword at Ranisa’s animal.
Marcia reined him in. “Good boy, Excelsior, good boy. Steady now, they won’t hurt me.” She patted his sweaty neck and he nickered affectionately back, but his ears stayed low on his head. There’s no doubt they will kill the animals if they have to, and we will need them if we get a chance to escape later.
The tall thin man seemed to take charge now. “Both of you, off your horses, and hand over the little apple peelers on your waists, hilt first”
Marcia handed over her dagger, as did Ranisa. “You’re making a big mistake! My father will have his whole army looking for you!” said the girl, in her most haughty voice.
Bad Teeth continued to mock her. “I don’t think daddy’s little princess would be out and about looking like a peasant girl. Where is your bodyguard?”
Two men grabbed the girls from behind, pulling their arms behind them and coiling rope around their wrists, leaving about a ten foot length behind as a sort of leash. They then gagged them with dirty rags, and roughly mounted them on two of their horses. “We’ll bring their animals in tow. That black stallion will fetch a good price after he is gelded,” said the thin man.
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