She smiled, her teeth white and perfect. ‘Yes, highness. I am one of the priestesses at the Temple of Ishtar and I bring a request for you to go to the temple.’
I was confused but also curious. ‘Who makes this request of me?’
‘A lady, highness, who asked that you come to the temple today to meet her.’
It was all very mysterious but as I had nothing better to do and was bored to distraction by what was happening in the throne room, I agreed to her request. I made my excuses to Axsen and Orodes, who appeared absorbed in it all, and left the throne room with my attractive messenger.
She accompanied me as I walked to the stables to collect Remus, smiling at me when I caught her eye, her steps delicate and silent beside me, almost as if she was gliding over the ground. The stables were like those in Hatra – large, luxurious and well staffed. A small army of stable hands tended to the horses’ every need, each animal having a separate stable boy to feed him, groom him, muck out his stall and saddle him, in addition to the farriers and veterinaries who tended to their wellbeing. It was a far cry from the austere stables at Dura, not that the horses there were any less cared for, just not as indulged as they were at Babylon.
I arrived at Remus’ stall and told the young men in purple livery standing around that I would be taking him out, and then was met by incredulous stares when I informed them that I would saddle him myself. They gave my escort guide lecherous glances as I dismissed them, leaving me alone with her.
The priestess stood at the entrance to the stall as I went through the routine that I had learnt as a small boy. First I brushed Remus’ back to remove any dirt or grit that may cause chaffing under the saddle.
‘How long have you been a priestess at the temple?’ I asked, brushing him from his neck towards his hindquarters so all the hairs laid flat.
‘Since the goddess spoke to me as a small child, highness.’
I inspected him to ensure there were no sores or wounds on his body.
I walked past her to fetch the saddlecloth lying on the bench opposite the stall, under my saddle hanging on the wall. Strangely the other stalls were empty of horses and this particular stable block was also deserted of people. It was suddenly very quiet and very still. As I passed her I inadvertently stared at her breasts.
I threw the saddlecloth on Remus’ back, positioning it forward over his withers and sliding it back so that his hair lay flat beneath it, running my hand over the white material, a red griffin stitched in each corner.
‘My body pleases you, highness?’ she purred.
I could feel my cheeks flush at her words as I took the saddle from the wall and placed it gently on my horse’s back, slightly forward and then settling it back.
‘What? My apologies, I did not mean…’
She laughed. ‘There is no need to apologise, highness. Ishtar is the goddess of love as well as war and fertility. Her servants aspire to possess her qualities.’
I checked that there were no wrinkles beneath the saddlecloth and then grabbed the free end of the girth.
‘What qualities are those?’ I asked, tightening the girth gently to leave enough space to be able to slide my fingers between it and Remus’ body.
She moved closer to me, the alluring smell of her perfume filling my nostrils.
‘Ishtar is the perfect woman, highness, tempting and sensual, a seductive and voluptuous beauty.’ She breathed in and her breasts rose. The stall suddenly seemed very small.
She smiled as I brushed past her to fetch the bridle that had been placed on hooks beside the saddle. She stroked Remus’ neck.
‘Your horse is a most beautiful beast, highness.’
He moved his tail casually and adopted a relaxed stance to indicate that he was very content. I smiled as I put my right hand under his jaw and held the bit with my left, pressing it gently into his mouth and up over his tongue.
‘Yes, he and I have been together a long time.’
With the bit in his mouth I gently slid the bridle’s headpieces over his ears, then pulled the forelock over the brow band.
She continued stroking him, fixing me with her brown, oval eyes as she did so.
‘He was sent to you, highness, so that you would not lose your way.’
I stood in front of him and ensured that the bit, noseband and brow band were level and without twists.
‘No, I found him in a town called Nola in a land a great distance from Babylon.’
She stopped stroking him and smiled at me once more. ‘No, highness, he found you.’
I fastened the throatash and then the noseband, running two fingers between it and Remus’ nose.
She moved closer to me until her face was inches from mine, her full lips parting invitingly. She placed her hands on my hips.
‘I will give myself freely if you desire it, highness.’
As my loins stirred with lust she moved one hand to behind my neck and caressed my groin with the other. She smiled.
‘Your body says yes, highness.’
She moved her lips closer to mine and it was with god-like will that I suppressed my lust for her.
‘My body may say yes but my marriage vows say no,’ I replied, gently pushing her away.
‘I am here to serve you in all things,’ she persisted.
I backed away from her and held up my hands. ‘You are most generous but showing me the way to the temple will suffice. We will have to find you a horse so that we may ride to the temple together for I do not know the way.’
I walked round the other side of Remus so temptation was out of view.
‘He will lead you there, highness.’
I only half-heard her words as I checked that there was a width of two fingers between the brow band of the bridle and Remus’ brow.
‘All done,’ I announced. ‘Now, let’s get you a horse and then we can ride to the temple together.’
I turned to discover that she no longer stood behind me. I walked out of the stall and looked up and down the corridor. She was nowhere to be seen. I led Remus from his stall outside into the expansive courtyard. An elderly stable hand came towards me carrying a bucket and spade, bowing his head to me.
‘Did you see a young woman leaving these stables, she was very beautiful and wearing a white dress?’
He shook his head. ‘No, majesty.’
He called to one of his companions nearby on the paved courtyard, who also reported not having seen the priestess. I vaulted into the saddle.
‘A striking young woman cannot just disappear into thin air.’
‘Do you wish for me to fetch the captain of the guards, majesty?’ he said.
‘No, carry on with your duties.’
He bowed his head and continued on his way, leaving me none the wiser.
‘Well,’ I said to Remus, ‘I had better find a guide to take me to the temple so that I can resolve this little mystery.’
Without prompting Remus began to walk forward purposely, across the courtyard and out of the palace compound. He ambled past the guards at the gates and swung left to take us north up the Processional Way.
‘You seem to know the way,’ I said to him and sat back to enjoy the ride.
He took me to the northeast quarter of the city, along an unpaved road at right angles to the Processional Way. Away from the royal thoroughfares citizens threw their garbage and filth onto the streets, which was then covered up with layers of clay. I thus rode along a street that was significantly higher than when it had originally been constructed.
I came at last to the Temple of Ishtar, which was surrounded by a high wall built of mud-bricks. Guards stood at the entrance to the temple complex to keep the throng of worshippers at bay, spearmen dressed all in white with wicker shields painted gold. As soon as they saw me one called inside the tunnel entrance to the temple and a score of other guards appeared and roughly pushed aside the worshippers with their spear shafts to make a passage for me. Remus was unconcerned by the assembly of well-dressed dign
itaries, half-naked mystics, poor people, cripples and visitors from other lands dressed in exotic robes who protested and wailed as they were shoved aside to give me access. We passed through the tunnel in the thick perimeter wall and past two guardrooms that flanked its other end to exit into a rectangular courtyard surrounded by stables, barracks and other accommodation. In fact it looked more like a palace than a temple.
‘I told you he would find his way here, highness.’
I looked down to see the beautiful priestess who had tried to seduce me in the stables standing on my right side. She smiled at me.
‘Shall I take him? The high priestess awaits.’
I was going to ask how she got here before me but then I saw Afrand coming towards me, like her other priestesses dressed in a low-cut white dress, white slippers on her feet and a gold diadem in her hair. I dismounted and my beautiful messenger led Remus to the stables. Guards ushered worshippers from the temple grounds. One man, obviously of some importance judging by the amount of gold on his fingers and round his neck, and the richness of his accompanying wife’s apparel, was protesting loudly.
‘Do you know who I am? I will tell you. I am the governor of Sippar and a member of the royal council. I have paid handsomely to enter the temple and object strongly to being treated in this way.’
His wife was making noises like the shrieks of a crow as they were unceremoniously ushered from the courtyard.
‘How small are the minds of men,’ remarked Afrand as she watched them go. She bowed her head to me.
‘Welcome, King Pacorus, you honour us with your presence.’
I returned the gesture. ‘Your servant, lady. I have to confess that I am a little confused by the message I received summoning me here.’
‘Your friend was right – a tall man on a white horse with a scarred face,’ she said.
‘And where is this “friend” now?’ I asked.
‘With the goddess,’ Afrand replied. ‘Can I offer you refreshments?’
‘No, thank you. I would like to see her now.’
‘Very well. Follow me, majesty.’
We walked across the courtyard, which was now empty of people, through an arch in a stonewall that led to a second courtyard. On the roofs of the buildings that surrounded this courtyard were at least two score of dovecotes housing dozens of white doves. Afrand saw me admiring them.
‘White doves are the personal birds of Ishtar. Worshippers purchase sacred cakes made in our own kitchens, which they crumble and feed to them. Thus do they hope to gain favour with the goddess.’
‘And does it work?’ I enquired innocently.
Afrand looked at me with her large hazel eyes. ‘The goddess grants those who are worthy what they desire.’
‘And how many are worthy?’
‘She said that you were always full of questions,’ she replied.
‘Who?’
‘Your friend.’
We carried on walking across the second courtyard to a building at the far end that had a façade decorated with niches and narrow buttresses. Two guards stood at the centrally placed entrance cut in the brickwork – two golden doors. They snapped to attention as Afrand approached and then one banged on the doors.
They opened and Afrand beckoned me to enter.
‘These are the goddesses’ personal quarters which only a chosen few may enter. Come, King Pacorus.’
She walked inside and I followed. We entered a windowless chamber lit by oil lamps hanging from the walls and filled with the aroma of burning jasmine. As my eyes got accustomed to the half-light I could see a white curtain hanging from a gold rail in front of me that led to another room. Two priestesses dressed in white approached and bowed to me, one holding out her hands.
‘Your friend waits beyond the curtain with the goddess but you must leave your sword here. No weapons are permitted in the presence of Ishtar.’
I unbuckled my belt, handed my sword and dagger to the priestess then walked forward. I stopped and turned to Afrand.
‘Are you not coming?’
She shook her head. ‘Her words are for your ears only. Do not fear, you are beloved of the gods. Place the lock of your wife’s hair on the altar before you ask a question. You can retrieve it once the audience is over.’
I felt a chill go down my spine. ‘How do you know of such a thing?’
Afrand seemed surprised at my question. ‘Your friend told me, of course. How else would I know of such an intimate item?’
I swallowed and walked towards the curtain, then pulled it back and entered Ishtar’s sanctuary. This room was even darker than the other chamber; a handful of oil lamps cast a dim light. The smell of jasmine was even stronger. I strained my eyes to observe the room, which like the one I had just left was windowless but had a lower ceiling. There were no seats or other furniture, just gold stands on which incense burned. I walked forward to approach the statue of Ishtar that stood on a marble pedestal, a low altar placed before it to receive offerings. I reached inside my shirt and lifted the chain that held the lock of Gallia’s hair over my head and placed it on the altar. My heart was pounding in my chest as I stared at the statue carved from alabaster and inlaid with rubies. The goddess stood naked before me, supporting her breasts with her hands. She was curvaceous and seductive just like her priestesses.
The smell of jasmine began to make me feel light-headed as I stood in front of the altar. I strained my eyes to discern any movement or sound. There was none.
‘Pacorus.’
I was startled by my name being whispered. I looked around but could discern no one else in the room.
‘You have achieved much and yet there is so much more that you must do.’
It was a woman’s voice, soft yet strong, commanding yet kind. My heartbeat increased.
‘Are you, are you Ishtar, lady?’
She laughed, though it was not in a mocking way.
‘Oh, Pacorus, you are just the same as when I first met you. I am not a goddess. I am your friend.’
‘Do you have a name, lady?’
‘That is not important. What is important is that you remain strong for your task is not yet complete. Your enemies grow strong but the gods have sent you helpers who will aid you to defeat them. But they are not kings and princes.’
‘I do not understand.’
‘Do you not? Then I will help you see. The one born in the land of water must be given his own army, and you must journey with the one who came from the desert who will furnish you with temple gold. It is always darkest before the dawn, Pacorus. You must keep the faith, little one.’
I turned to face my celestial visitor but when I did there was nothing but an empty space. I waited for a few more minutes to see if she would speak to me again but there were no more words. I picked up the chain and replaced it round my neck and then left the sanctuary, confused. Afrand saw my confusion as she escorted me back to Remus.
‘The gods speak in riddles,’ I said at length.
‘Your friend was not a god, she was as real as you or I.’
Now I was even more confused. ‘But you sent me into the holy sanctuary of Ishtar.’
‘Because that is where she wanted to see you.’
I was getting angry now. ‘And you let this person, whom you had never seen before, just wander into your holy of holies? She could have been any trickster or liar.’
Afrand remained calm as I hoisted myself into Remus’ saddle. She held his reins.
‘All the priestesses who serve Ishtar here are chosen by the goddess for their special and unique gifts. For example, one can see things that will happen in the future. Yesterday she had a vision of a dark-haired woman walking into the temple and asking me to send a message to King Pacorus of Dura. The priestess told me that this woman would tell me of the scar on your cheek, the others on your back and leg, and the lock of your wife’s blonde hair you always wear round your neck.’
‘These things are known to many people,’ I answered.
‘The visitor also told me of the last time you saw each other, when you kissed her hand when she held it out to you, though she meant for you to take it, on that storm-lashed night when her son was born and you promised to take care of him.’
I looked at her and my blood ran cold.
‘Did she give you her name?’ I asked.
‘Of course. It was Claudia.’
Chapter 9
I said nothing to Gallia or anyone else about my experience at the temple. I rode from Afrand and her seductresses with an angry heart, thinking I had been the victim of a cheap trick. But if that was so, how did she know about that night in the Silarus Valley long ago when I had indeed held the hand of Claudia after she had given birth to the son of Spartacus? And what purpose would it serve to deceive me thus? What was I to the high priestess of Ishtar? With these thoughts swirling in my mind I rode back to the palace to find Gallia waiting for me in our private chambers.
‘Where have you been?’ she quizzed me.
‘Sightseeing,’ I answered evasively.
‘Well, now that you are here I wish to ask you a favour.’
She had changed from her riding gear and was dressed in a sheer, sleeveless white dress. She was standing framed in the arch that led to our bedroom balcony, the sunlight streaming into the room and highlighting her naked body beneath her dress. I let my eyes go from hers down to her breasts and then her thighs.
She glided towards me and slipped her arms around my waist, drawing her mouth closer to mine. She was wearing the most delightful perfume.
‘What is the favour, my sweet?’
She drew her mouth closer to mine and kissed me tenderly, then pulled away to look at me with the eyes of a temptress.
‘I want you to ask Orodes to stay here in Babylon for a while longer.’
She began kissing my neck, her hot breath on my skin, her body pressed against mine.
‘Orodes?’
Her hands came to the front of my body and unbuckled my sword belt, letting it fall to the floor. She tugged my shirt from my leggings and ran her hands up my back.
‘He likes it here, it would be a shame to drag him back to Dura.’
She closed her lips on mine and her tongue went deep into my mouth. My heart was racing and my loins were afire. She pulled away from my lips.
Parthian Vengeance (The Parthian Chronicles) Page 28
