Bertrice Small - Beloved

"Unlike Romans, Palmyrans are loyal, Aurelian, and they follow orders."

"Palmyrans are people like any other, Zenobia. Perhaps most of your people have obeyed, but there will be some who have not, and we need only one well to survive."

"Do you really think you can water four legions and all your livestock on one well, Aurelian? Do not be a fool! You will have not enough water, and without water you will die! Go while you still have the opportunity. Were not all the wells at Qasr-al-Hêr destroyed?"

"They were indeed."

"Does that not tell you something?" she demanded.

He smiled up at her, looking a long moment uponher incredible beauty before he spoke again; and then he said quietly, "Remember Masada!"

Imperial Captive

Zenobia looked down the table at Palmyra's Council of Ten, assembled five to a side. At the opposite end sat her son, the king. "It has been four months since the Romans appeared before our gates," she said, "and what I have learned this day has told me that if we do not get aid from another quarter we shall not be able to rid ourselves of them. Before our stores run out, before one Palmyran life is sacrificed, I must get aid!"

"What is it, Majesty?" Marius Gracchus asked. "What have you learned?"

"Aurelian was correct when he said that all the wells within our suburbs would not be destroyed. Less than half of our people obeyed, and of the other half most simply filled their wells with debris that the Roman soldiers have been carefully removing. They have more than enough water, and their lines of communications and supply are totally unfettered. They can hold out forever. We cannot."

"What must we do then, Majesty?" the venerable old councillor asked.

"I must ride for Persia. When my late husband beat Shapur, their king, in battle, it was for Rome. Perhaps Shapur will aid us. If he does, and attacks the Romans from the rear, and we attack them from the front, we can destroy them between us."

"Surely you do not propose to go yourself, Majesty?"

"I must. Our need is great, and I believe that only I can convince Shapur to join us."

"Who will you appoint regent in your absence, Majesty?" he asked.

Zenobia looked directly at her son, who sat unsmiling in his chair. "There is no need for a regent, Marius Gracchus. Palmyra has a king, and it is past time that he ruled in his own right. I have been fearful that perhaps my son was not mature enough to assume his full responsibilities, but his conduct during these months of siege has proved that he is more than ready. Vaballathus has my loyalty, and my full confidence." She smiled at him, and then bowing her head said, "I beg your Majesty's leave to ride to King Shapur of Persia."

"You have my permission, Queen of Palmyra," Vaba said, and then he stood and looked at them all. "I am your king, but she is the queen. Remember it!"

Afterward, when they had all been dismissed, he chided her, "You might have at least warned me what you were going to do, Mother."

"I wanted it to be a surprise," she answered.

"Do you really mean it, or will you take over when you return again?" he asked.

"No, Vaba, Palmyra is yours. But at least listen to my advice, and let us work together until the enemy has been driven from our lands."

"How will you reach Persia?" he demanded.

"The Bedawi," she said.

"Is that how you found out about the wells?"

"Yes. Your uncle Akbar and his sons have been camped just over the dunes, playing the desert nomads for the Romans. They sell them goat's milk, cheese, dates, and women. Indeed, they have become quite friendly with Aurelian himself."

"Where is Grandfather Zabaai?"

"With the main part of the tribe, several days to the east."

"When will you go, Mother?"

"Tonight. There is no moon, and I can safely slip out of the city without being caught. I must not delay, Vaba. We have barely three months' supplies left even with strict rationing."

"Will any of your men go with you?"

"Only Rufus Curius. I would prefer to go alone to meet Akbar, but he insisted that someone come with me, and Rufus Curius asked to accompany me." She shrugged irritably. "They are a pair of old women, both of them. They were afraid if a stray Roman caught me I might be assaulted. I am not so feeble that I cannot put a knife between some Roman's ribs."

He smiled at her. "I have no doubt that you could knife a Roman with ease, and butcher him without a sound, but I agree with them. It is better this way."

She laughed. "A fine opinion you have of your mother, Vaba."

"Have you any suggestions for me while you are gone?"

"Several," she answered mischievously, and then she grew serious. "Rely on Longinus first, and then Marius Gracchus. They are the best of the council. The others have a tendency to be too cautious, even my good Antonius Porcius. My absence must be kept secret for as long as possible, for once the Romans know they will come after me. I must reach the Euphrates River and cross it before they can catch up with me."

"We will offer the information that you have a mild fever," Vaba said, "and that you are keeping to your couch for a few days."

"I will need three days."

"You will have them, Mother."

She stepped forward and embraced him. "If I do not return, Vaba… remember that I have always loved you. Remember that, and remember the dream that your father and I always had for Palmyra. We wanted her free of Rome."

"I will remember," he said, and kissed her affectionately. "I do love you, Mother."

She laughed. "I know, Vaba, and I also know that it has not always been easy to love me."

He gestured helplessly, and laughing again, she left him.

***

In the darkest part of the night Zenobia left the city with Rufus Curius. Together they had mounted the walls on the eastern side of the city, and been lowered down in the darkness by two of Zenobia's personal guard. In silence they had skirted the city, carefully avoiding the Roman camp and their pickets, to walk quickly to the encampment of Akbar ben Zabaai. With a skill that amazed Rufus Curius Zenobia managed even to evade the Bedawis who guarded that campsite, and enter her brother's tent unseen.

Akbar ben Zabaai came forward smiling broadly. "You have not lost your touch all those years in the city," he said, chuckling with pride.

"This is Rufus Curius," Zenobia said. "He was commander of Qasr-al-Hêr. He is to accompany me. Are the camels ready?"

"They are, my sister. I am sending five of my men with you also."

"No!"

"Yes, Zenobia, my sister. You must be protected. Do not think you can keep this from the Romans. They have spies everywhere, and will know of your departure quickly."

"I only need three days, Akbar! Three days!"

"You will be lucky to get twelve hours. Then may the gods make your camels swift, for they will be after you! The Bedawi can make up a rear guard. Should the Romans get too close, they can slay your pursuers."

"Your brother is right, Majesty. I, for one, am grateful for the extra protection," Rufus Curius said.

"Very well," Zenobia replied. "I agree. Let us go now!"

Without another word Akbar led them out of the tent and to the edge of the encampment where his men and the camels awaited. "This is my sister," he said, "and her aide, Rufus Curius. Obey her, for she is far wiser in the ways of the desert than any of you. Should you be pursued protect her with your lives. Her mission is to get to Shapur of Persia, and gain his aid. Without it the Romans will again control this region, and we do not want that, my friends."

Zenobia mounted her camel and, leaning back in her saddle, kicked it into a standing position. "Thank you, Akbar," she said.

"The gods go with you, my sister."

The other men had mounted their beasts, and the little party left the Bedawi camp, traveling east toward the Euphrates River. Once they had crossed it they would be in Persia. Although the Palmyrans had beaten Persia in battle, there had been peace between the two lands for several years now. Zenobia thought that despite their past differences Shapur would aid them, for he hated the Romans. Besides, there were several valuable trade concessions she would give him in return for his aid.

The night began to give way to a gray dawn, and dawn in its turn to a rainbow-colored sunrise and a magnificent day. The sun slowly climbed up into the cloudless blue sky while across the seemingly endless desert the seven camels plodded onward. Finally, at two hours past noon, they stopped in the shelter of some tall dunes. The sun beat mercilessly down upon them as the camels knelt to allow their riders to dismount. It had been a long time since Zenobia had ridden across the desert under a midday sun. She longed to throw off her enveloping cloak, but to do so would be to risk severe sunburn, and dehydration. Instead, she made a small hollow for herself in the sand within the shadow of one of the dunes, and settled down to rest. After a bit she accepted some lukewarm water offered her by Rufus Curius and, digging her hand into a leather pouch hanging from her belt, she drew out some dates and two figs, which she began to slowly eat. Her hunger and thirst both satisfied, the Queen of Palmyra slept for the next several hours.

"It is time to go, my Queen," Rufus Curius's voice penetrated her wild and formless dreams.

Zenobia opened her eyes, suddenly aware of where she was. "I hear you, Rufus. Give me but a moment, and I will be ready." He offered her another drink, which she accepted, and then she rose and mounted the kneeling camel. Irritably the beast stood, swung his head around, and attempted to bite her foot. Quickly she escaped him, administering a smart slap to the camel's nose with her reins at the same time. "They are the most irascible creatures," she muttered to Rufus Curius, who then warily mounted his own camel.

It was late afternoon and still quite hot, but quickly night descended upon the desert, and Zenobia was glad for her long black wool cloak. During the long night they made but one short stop to rest the camels and to relieve themselves. The second day was an imitation of the first, but when they prepared to travel on the third night, one of the Bedawi announced, "We are being followed."

"How do you know?" demanded Rufus Curius, anxiously scanning the horizon and seeing nothing.

"I know," was the reply.

Rufus Curius nodded. "How far behind us?"

"Several hours," was the answer.

"Can we make the river before they catch up to us?" Zenobia spoke.

"With the gods' blessing, Majesty," the Bedawi said.

"Let us go then, Hussein, and pray that the gods are not fickle toward me now at the crucial moment." She clambered up onto her camel.

Throughout the night they rode relentlessly on toward the Euphrates, eventually exiting the desert and riding along through the lush farmland that was the great river's heritage. Ahead of them the skies began to grow gray with light, spreading slowly westward until they found themselves riding in a dove-colored gloom that allowed them to see the green of the land and the black outlines of occasional farmsteads and small villages.

The horizon was soon edged in gold, and slashes of crimson also spread westward as the great round of the blazing sun pulled itself slowly over the edge of the world and began to rise upward into the sky. The camels were tiring, but ahead of them they could just begin to make out the wide, greenish-brown ribbon of the Euphrates as it wound through the great and ancient plain of Sumer and Akkad.

Safety, thought Zenobia, heaving a sigh. Once they had crossed the river they were safe, for the Romans would not cross into Persia. Closer and closer they came to the river, and then suddenly Hussein turned and shouted, "Behind us! The Romans!"

Zenobia turned in her saddle, and saw with horror a troop of mounted men gaining on them. She glanced over at Rufus Curius, and heard him say, "Too many for us!"

"Can we reach the river?" she shouted to him.

"Possibly," came the reply.

"Stay with me," she commanded him.

"I will, Majesty!"

Zenobia leaned forward, and kicked her reluctant camel into a gallop. The poor beast was exhausted after the night's travel, and she had intended to rest him on the other side of the river for several long hours. Now the tired beast was forced to expend what little energies he had left. Bred for toughness, however, he responded, and the river came even closer. Behind her the Bedawi warriors dropped back to cover her flight, and soon she could hear the fierce sounds of a short battle. She knew me five tribesmen who had accompanied her would die in that battle. They were pledged to defend her, and mere would be neither surrender nor quarter given. The few minutes that they would give her, though, could mean the difference between escape and capture.