Free Carrhae by Peter Darman Page B

moved into Gordyene. We have no details as to the size of these armies. We have also received news from Aschek that another Armenian force has attacked his kingdom from the north.’
    ‘Three armies?’ I was astounded. ‘I did not realise the Armenians had so many soldiers.’
    ‘Tigranes has prepared well,’ muttered Dobbai. ‘He is not called “Great” for no reason. He has watched the empire tear itself apart these last few years and now he makes his move.’
    ‘Supported by the Romans, who pull his strings,’ said Aaron bitterly.
    ‘Speaking of whom,’ I said. ‘Do we know the whereabouts of the second Roman legion in Syria?’
    ‘Byrd sent word that his spies in Antioch have informed him that it remains in the city.’
    I frowned. ‘That is most odd. I expected it to be with the fat king of Emesa, but it just sits in Antioch.’
    ‘Will the Armenians march on the city of Hatra?’ asked Gallia with concern.
    I shook my head. ‘Hatra has strong walls and, more importantly, is positioned in the middle of a desert. There is no water outside the walls to support a besieging army.’
    ‘Unless your brother decides to march outside the city walls and fight Tigranes, just as that fool Vata did,’ remarked Dobbai.
    ‘He would not do that,’ I snapped, ‘and Vata was not a fool. He was my friend.’
    ‘He lost the whole of the north of your brother’s kingdom,’ retorted Dobbai, ‘that makes him careless at the very least.’
    ‘The greater danger lies to the east,’ continued Domitus, looking at the map. ‘If the Armenians conquer Gordyene they will push on into Media, which lies on Hatra’s eastern border. If Atrax’s kingdom falls then the Armenians will be able to pour into Hatra from the east.’
    ‘The Roman speaks with wisdom,’ said Dobbai. ‘We live in strange times indeed.’
    ‘Gordyene is held by Surena,’ I stated, ‘it will not fall. Have we had any news from him?’
    Rsan shook his head. ‘None, majesty.’
    ‘Let us hope that he has not been killed by the Armenians also,’ added Kronos glumly.
    ‘Any news from Orodes?’ I asked.
    ‘None’ replied Domitus, ‘though he will have received news of Vata’s death at the same time we did.’
    ‘Very well, prepare the cataphracts and horse archers to march to Hatra,’ I ordered. ‘There is little point in waiting here for the Armenians to conquer the northern half of the empire.’
    ‘What about the legions?’ queried Domitus.
    ‘With two legions still in Syria they must remain here to counter the Romans. I will also leave the lords here.’
    ‘That means only four thousand horsemen will be riding to Hatra with you, Pacorus,’ said Domitus.
    Fortunately the army had had nearly six months in which to recuperate its strength following our victory at Susa, and in that time the legions and horse archers had been brought back up to strength. The loss of a hundred cataphracts had been most grievous, but with the promotion of the most promising squires their numbers had been restored to a thousand. Dura was fortunate to lie on the Silk Road for the caravans always brought with them adventurous young men who fancied a life of soldiering rather than trade. Then there were the runaway slaves who came from Syria, Armenia and other kingdoms in the empire. But as long as they passed the induction process all were welcomed into the army’s ranks, specifically the legions. Recruits for the horse archers and cataphracts were drawn largely from the families of Dura’s lords and their farmers. Despite the years of civil strife within the empire Dura’s lands had been spared devastation and had prospered, which meant farmers not only produced abundant crops but also large families, from which Domitus enlisted many young recruits.
    That evening I relaxed on the palace terrace in the company of Gallia and my daughters. Claudia was now nine and resembled her mother in appearance with her high cheekbones and thick hair, which was light