Chapter 9
As she came to, Arielle slowly surveyed her new surroundings. Her final recollection was of storming out of the palace and running back to her horse. She felt panicked as she realized she was actually inside the palace. In a separate room, she was lying on a bed, her forehead dampened with a cloth. By raising her eyes, she could make out two of the servants strolling around and having a quiet conversation.
"No," she screeched. "No, no, no."
She sat up, feeling her stomach churn and her head spin with every subtle movement of her body. She swung her legs over the side of the bed with a groan and struggled to get to her feet. Even though her head was spinning and her legs felt like they weren't part of her body, she was adamant about leaving the bed and the palace. When a maid came to help her, Arielle barked at her and pushed her away. Within a short while, another servant came to help her get back into bed. She struck out at the hands that kept reaching for her.
"I am not staying here!" she shouted, her voice hoarse and scratchy.
Shah Khosrow walked into the infirmary as she was pushing the staff members away. As he got closer to the bed, Arielle gave him a menacing look from across the room. He sent the servants away and fixed his sister-in-law with an unyielding glare. He was expecting her to be upset, but he was still disappointed by her response in the throne room. He was caught off guard by her scathing criticism, to say the least.
"My physician couldn't find anything wrong with you," he told her.
"I'm obviously sickened by the traitorous negotiation held at this damned palace." She clutched her arm to her aching stomach and winced.
Khosrow scoffed at that remark. "If you weren't married to my brother, you'd be in prison for what you said to me."
"I don't regret what I said. I meant every word."
"Do not think that because I made a deal with Justin and Sophia that I will not defend your people, Arielle. Since we are partners, I will ensure the safety of your people."
"You aren't protecting my people by going behind my back and making deals with Byzantines!"
Khosrow pinched his eyebrows together. "There is a lot you don't know, Arielle."
With great effort, she managed to pull herself out of bed. "Then why don't you let me in on it?" she asked, her voice cracking. "When I ask to attend council meetings to listen in, I always get the cold shoulder from your court. Nobody takes me seriously. Without a permanent place in your court, I refuse to respect you."
When she passed by, Khosrow made room for her. Despite the best efforts of the medical assistants, Arielle hobbled across the room. He saw that she was adamant about leaving and would not back down from her position on the recent peace treaty with the Byzantines. He understood why she was behaving the way she was, but he could not tolerate it.
"You forget your place here," he said, loud and firm.
Arielle turned around slowly. "Pardon me?"
"I have never treated you, your family, or your people with contempt. In response to a request from my brother, I have invited you to attend council meetings. No woman, no matter how high up the social ladder, is allowed to participate in those discussions. Even Shahbanu Sambice was never invited by my father. And I have provided your people with many comforts. I also provided you with a lengthy stay in one of my ancestral palaces in Persia."
In response, she gave the Shah a pitying smile. Despite being married to Xerxes for five years, she never got used to Persian culture. She bit her tongue more times than she could count in the last few years, and her patience was put to the ultimate test more times than she cared to remember. Her reign was not well-received in this country, and that much was clear. Indeed, Xerxes was correct. As far as Khosrow was concerned, she would never be on equal footing with him.
"You're absolutely right, Khosrow," she said to appease him. "Thank you for reminding me of my place in your empire."
Unknown Territory, Kazakhstan
Anastasia had done a lot of traveling over the course of her lifetime, but she didn't feel like she had ever truly appreciated any of the places she had seen. She had to learn to enjoy the world around her through her other senses after losing most of her vision, such as smells, the rustling of trees, the whistling of winds, animals in the distance, and the sound of running water.
The journey from Persia to Kazakhstan was one she thoroughly enjoyed. She especially appreciated the time alone while traveling. She was exhausted from spending so much time with Abbaseh and Boran during her visits, and it was nice to have some time to herself, however brief.
Since only she and Xerxes were making the journey, they were able to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time and arrived at the border of Kazakhstan after only three days. By early afternoon, they would have entered Nezak territory. Anastasia accelerated her horse to a trot as she approached Xerxes. She flashed him a grin, and he returned the gesture while maintaining his focus on the landscape beyond.
"Thank you for accompanying me to Kazakhstan," she said.
"Of course, Khatun, it's my pleasure."
"I haven't seen Cera in a long time."
Xerxes sensed a longing in her voice. "I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you."
They kept going down the road, and eventually, Anastasia recalled what her mother had said to her before they left Elam. She had no idea what her mother and Gabrielle were up to, and she wasn't sure if she cared. In any case, all she knew was that Esther had remarried and that details about her new husband were required. Since Xerxes was not exactly a chatterbox, Ana was at a loss as to how to bring up the subject in conversation. For the most part of the journey, he kept to himself.
She started off by saying, "Xerxes, as you know, I must return to Pannonia soon. Esther was in Elam the last time I saw her. I haven't seen her recently, and I'm curious as to why she hasn't paid me a visit. I do enjoy her company."
He rubbed the back of his neck and huffed. "I'm not sure why she hasn't come to Elam. She must be really busy in Babylon."
"And...what does she do in Babylon that keeps her so busy?"
Doubtfully, he cast an eye over to Ana. "She's in charge of a lot of charities and temples. She used to work on the budget for the empire, but she hasn't done that in a year."
That was new information, she thought. "That's a big task. Was it too much for her to handle being so far from Estakhr?"
Xerxes steered his horse to a halt. "Khatun, why are you asking me questions about my aunt?" he asked.
"I'm just concerned as to why I haven't seen or heard from her in a while. That's all." Ana flashed a smile and continued trotting along the path.
Before today, Arielle had never felt so ill. She had hoped to meet with Khosrow to discuss the Gokturk report, but he caught her off guard. She was completely taken aback by the Byzantine peace treaty. She was able to rest for a while in the infirmary, but her body still rejected both liquids and solids.
Shortly after climbing into the carriage, she began chowing down on the bread she had brought along and drinking as much water as her stomach would hold. It was as if the gods themselves had sent down a loaf of bread. It was probably the tastiest thing she'd eaten in a while, which was pathetic considering how bland and flavorless it was.
A couple of hours into the ride and Arielle drifted off. She had her elbow neatly placed underneath her cheek as she slept. When the carriage abruptly came to a halt, Arielle jerked awake. Mumbling voices outside brought her out of her daze. Barely able to get her wits about her, she looked around, confused as to why the caravan stopped moving.
The air was filled with the sounds of horse whinnying and the whirring of blades. Arielle was wide awake now. She flung her half-eaten bread off her lap and pulled out her blade. Her horsewomen cried out in pain, and the crunch of their boots on the cracked earth could be heard from a distance. She hunkered down, her back against the wall, anticipating an assault.
There was nothing about the sudden silence that comforted her. Heart thumping in her ears, she kicked the carriage's door open with her boots and leaped out. Grounded in a fighting stance, she looked around and saw six masked men staring at her with their weapons drawn. All of her horsewomen and soldiers were slain, blood seeping from multiple stab wounds. Two of the horses were also badly wounded with gashes across their hindquarters.
She was clearly outnumbered. They appeared to be from Persia based on their clothing, but appearances were deceiving. Arielle calculated all of the possible moves she could make to fend off the invaders in a matter of seconds.
Arielle deftly sidestepped a sword hurled at her by one of the men. Two more rushed at her, each carrying a pair of blades. She twisted around in time to block the blades from above her head. Swords clattered, and the combined weight of both swords caused her boots to skid backward in the dirt. She realized that she would need some help if she were to survive the onslaught of her attackers.
She made a daring move by tumbling out of the way, letting the men lurch forward, swords slamming into the dirt. With a rising wave of nausea, she felt the bile creep up her throat. Not now, she begged. Arielle got up from the ground and ran clumsily down the dirt path into the woods.
As she ran quickly through the forest, she gulped for air. She turned around and saw the anonymous men trailing behind her. She wasn't familiar with the terrain, but that didn't stop her from running deeper and deeper into the forest in an attempt to escape.
Nezak Territory, Kazakhstan
Even though Officer Wasifah had only been under Arielle's supervision for a little over seven months, she had already earned the respect of her superior. Wasifah has been remaining behind ever since the attack on the Nezak clan, as instructed by her Khagana and Princess Cera. She was still getting used to Cera's regulations during her brief stint as clan leader. Since she was unable to speak the princess' language, she had to rely on the soldiers and Cera's family members to relay orders and instructions.
Wasifah found comfort in talking with Arielle's little brother, Prince Soran, since he was of Persian descent. Soran also had a close connection with Cera, and he provided Wasifah with details about Cera every now and then. They were all out in the fields, staking the perimeters for the future wheat the clan would plant. Cera was in the field, blowing her whistle at the soldiers, and trotting along the perimeter to ensure everyone followed her orders.
Soran stayed behind to stand beside Wasifah, observing the planting process. It was Wasifah who instigated the conversation. "I do not know when the Khagana expects me to return to Persia, Your Highness," she said.
Soran glanced her way. "I will talk to Cera. I think it should be safe for you to return. I don't think Cera likes you being here anyway," he added with a snort.
She smiled at the jest. "The Princess is not like the Khagana. She is not what I imagined her to be."
"A lot of people don't understand Cera," he said with a hint of sadness. "She's very kind, you know. She always goes out of her way to help others."
"I can tell," Wasifah acknowledged. "She is quite skilled with a sword. It is a shame that she does not have a voice to command an army. She would make a fine warrior."
Soran restrained himself from speaking further by biting his tongue. He had no idea how much the Officer knew about Cera's history, but he was not going to divulge any of it to the officer.
The drums were played by the tribe's soldiers near the entrance. When Soran turned around, he saw a small group approaching the tribe. He had no idea there would be visitors. Since Cera was hard at work in the fields, he had to leave to meet the visitors who had arrived on the other side of the hill.
"I will go see what's happening. Stay here until Cera is finished in the field," he said before mounting his horse. Wasifah gave a short head nod and continued observing the princess and soldiers.
At full gallop, Soran made his way into the heart of the tribe, where he encountered his stepmother and Xerxes. Yana, being the polite chieftain she was, greeted Anastasia as soon as she arrived at the Adame. Yana did not like surprises, but she received the Khatun with all the praise and grace she could muster. Soran gave Xerxes a quick welcome to the tribe before making his way over to Anastasia to meet her. That last face-to-face encounter was a distant memory.
"Ömma," he announced, clearing his throat.
Anastasia abruptly turned away from Yana, ended their conversation, and beamed at Soran. She leaned in for a kiss on each cheek and then studied him closely. As he matured, he began to resemble Navaz more and more. And he seemed to have grown up a bit. Maybe it worked out for the best that Soran spent some time with the Nezaks in Kazakhstan.
"You're looking very handsome, Soran," she said. "How are Pamira and Mahfiruze? I hope you've been spending time with them."
He colored at the compliment. "Yes, Ömma, I have, and they are doing well. I think Pamira enjoys living here."
"I'm glad everything is working out in your favor. I was hesitant when your father suggested you move to Kazakhstan."
From what Yana could tell, Anastasia was eager to wind down for the afternoon and perhaps visit with her daughter. She took the initiative to reach out and take her hand, thereby easing the tension. "Cera is in the field at the moment," she said. "I'll show you inside and take you to see Emese if you're up for it."
"I would love that. Thank you."
A short time later, Anastasia had the opportunity to speak briefly with Emese. She was so exhausted that she had to beg the maids to take the princess back to her room. She had been full of life and vigor on the journey, but she collapsed under the weight of her grief and exhaustion the moment she set foot in the tribe. However, she felt a burst of optimism when Cera finally made it to see her.
She embraced Cera as though it were their last, and heaved her in. Short pleasantries about the health of the tribe and the fall planting having been exchanged, Ana was ready to get down to the meat of her business. It was unclear to her whether or not Cera would be receptive.
They sat on the floor and ate a meal of yogurt and bread while drinking tea. Cera was too preoccupied with satisfying her hunger to notice the ache in her mother's eyes.
"You haven't written back to me," Ana stated.
Cera paused, lifting her eyes to meet her mother's.
"I've sent you letters four times this year, Cera, and you haven't written back. Are you upset with me?"
Cera sighed, swallowed hard, and tossed the bread down. "I'm not mad at you, mother," she said. "I've been busy. I am in charge of the tribe now."
"But I just want to know how you're doing. You knew I was coming to Persia. Why haven't you come to Elam?"
Cera sighed and remained silent. Instead, her mother grabbed her hand as she reached for a bowl of yogurt. She tried to pull away in anger, but Anastasia held tight.
"Answer me."
There was a certain tone to her mother's voice that she had heard many times before. As a young girl, Cera was terrified by the sound of the regal tone. Even as an adult, she found herself terrified. Once she gave up trying to fight her mother, she was able to get her hand back.
"If you ever...need help, your sister is not far away. Arielle would be more than willing to help you if you need it," Ana said, smiling sadly with her eyes.
"I don't want Arielle's help." Cera swiped her hand over her face and shook her head. "I'm doing fine on my own."
"Really? Is that true, Cera?" she questioned, narrowing her gaze. "You don't have to put on a brave face for me. I'm your mother."
Cera's eyes filled with tears as she began to recount what had happened. Anastasia did her best to keep up, but it was getting harder to follow her daughter's increasingly frantic hand gestures. There was no need for her to fully comprehend what Cera was saying for her to realize that she was feeling overwhelmed regardless. She sensed her daughter's distress and instinctively grabbed both of her hands.
"It's very difficult to command a new army all on your own. I know it is. I've been there," said Ana. "I know I'm not here with you, and I wish I could be, but Yana is a great sister-in-law. She cares for you a lot. Please don't feel ashamed to ask her for help."
Cera's lower lip began to tremble, and tears started to run down her cheeks. She gripped her mother's hands firmly and squeezed them together tightly.
"And...please write back to me," she added, smiling warmly.
She was immediately greeted with a warm embrace. Cera encircled her and gave her a passionate embrace. Anastasia smiled and leaned forward to rest her nose in the crook of her daughter's shoulder. Cera's hair had a faint hint of sage. There were so many aromas she hadn't experienced in a long time that she closed her eyes to take them all in.
Anastasia opted to keep her guilt a secret from her daughter. She didn't think it was fair to say that after everything Cera had been through recently, she wished she had trained her to be a better leader and warrior. At some point in the future, maybe, but not now.
Elam, Persia
Xena dispatched the remaining Hun soldiers to Anosbord to spy on the guards there. Since she didn't want the soldiers to attract unnecessary attention, she decided to only send two.
Meanwhile, Gabrielle was concentrating on dispatching one of Arielle's horsewomen to follow Bawi and Shapur to Babylon. Not knowing if it was wise to send a single soldier all the way to Babylon, she reasoned that it would be less noticeable if she did. When she first arrived in Persia, she had high hopes that the Persian people would finally earn her trust thanks to the marriage of Xerxes and Arielle. The reality, however, was very different, and as much as she hated to admit it, Xena was right again. The Sassanids were always going to be a problem.
A few days ago, after the soldiers had been sent off on their missions, Xena and Gabrielle met in the palace's front courtyard. One of the better days in Persia, with comfortable temperatures and no rain in sight. They sat on oversized cushions on the ground in the shade of a canopy and talked about leaving Persia.
A chess game was being played on the grass by Aurora, Abbaseh, and Boran. They were too far away to overhear the conversation taking place across the cobblestone path.
"I don't know if it is a good idea for Arielle to leave Persia when winter arrives," said Gabrielle. "She needs a lot of help here."
"I know," Xena said with a long sigh. "But we can't stay either. You are in charge of the school back in Pannonia and I'm in charge of the compounds. It's not a grueling task anyway, but still."
"We spread ourselves too thin here, Xena. We're locked in. Yeter, Khosrow, Adarmahan, Bawi. What are we going to do?"
Xena stroked her chin in pensive thought. "I haven't figured that out yet."
Adarmahan, accompanied by ten soldiers, stormed out of the palace, breaking the peaceful atmosphere. He took a determined stride down the stone walkway, drawing the eyes of Xena and Gabrielle. After being abruptly summoned by Xena's authoritative voice, he felt compelled to look at her. But he ordered the troops to press on.
Gabrielle grabbed him by the arm. "What's going on here? You have a whole lot of soldiers following you."
His lips spread to a thin line. "I received a word from one of my spies that some rebels were on their way to Estakhr," he whispered.
"Rebels? What are you talking about?"
He impatiently tapped his foot. "Governor, I must go. I will explain later." He turned to leave and then marched back and whispered, "Oh, and one of your soldiers dropped off a very peculiar journal earlier this morning." He raised an eyebrow. "It's back where it belongs."
Gabrielle's stomach lurched and her eyes turned upward to Xena. There was no doubt that Adarmahan didn't know about the stolen journal and by his tone, he meant to discuss it later. After he stormed off to mount his horse and follow the soldiers through the gates, Gabrielle felt an uneasiness settle in her chest.
"That's just great. Now he knows we stole the journal."
"Well, you stole it," Xena corrected. She received an icy glare and flashed a smile in response. "I wonder what he's talking about with those rebels. See, I told you that bastard is keeping secrets from us. There's something going on."
Gabrielle agreed with a short nod and kept thinking about the journal. "I should go to the archives and see if Farah was able to decipher anything from the expense journal."
Xena was supposed to accompany her, so she started walking back to the palace. Xena glanced back and signaled that she would be right behind her. She was concerned that Xena would do something hasty, like going to Estakhr with Adarmahan. She was fairly confident that her wife would do just that if she weren't around.
Xena walked over to the group of sisters, interrupting their game. "Time to go inside," she said.
Abbaseh looked up and whined. "But I'm winning!"
"You three can continue playing inside. Come on, let's go." She snapped her fingers, trying to hurry the girls.
Without a word of protest, Aurora began putting away the chess set. Despite the fact that her sisters put up quite a fight. Boran flopped down on the grass and refused to get up, going for the full dramatic effect. She scowled at the clouds and crossed her arms.
Aurora frowned at her sister. "Boran, we need to go. She said playtime is over." she stood up and extended her hand.
Typical of Boran, she turned her cheek. After hearing her sister groan, she saw her leave with Abbaseh in tow. As she took a few deep breaths through her nose, she became aware of the sound of approaching chains striking leather. Her pupils dilated and her gaze darted quickly to the side. She looked up to see Xena towering over her, her shadow obliterating the sun from the grass below.
Xena grabbed the child from the ground and cradled her in her arms. Boran then screamed in her ear as a form of defiance. As she walked to the palace, she cringed at the sound and fought off Boran's attempts to climb over her shoulder.
Finally, inside the palace, Xena could no longer bear the deafening screams. Boran's voice rose to a shrill, piercing screech. She set the girl on the floor and stared at her, her cheeks red from crying. She waited patiently with arms folded for the sobbing to end.
"Are you finished?" she said.
Boran huffed and wiped her cheeks.
Xena smiled. "I'm sorry for interrupting your game, but I have to go do something and I can't have you outside alone."
Boran furrowed her brow, surprised that she was not receiving a reprimand.
"You can continue playing inside with your sisters." She kissed the top of her head, said, "Be good," and left.
Gabrielle lifted her head out from the journal when the door creaked open. "Took you long enough," she said.
Xena walked over to the table and took a seat. She took off her headdress and threw it onto the table. "I had to put out a fire." She noted Gabrielle's odd expression. "Boran was having a tantrum," she explained. "Were you able to find out anything?"
"Yes. Farah took a lot of notes. I haven't read through everything yet, but most of these expenses aren't for Pannonia and they aren't war related." She flipped through a few pages. "This money is going into a treasury here in Elam, it says. And there are a lot of properties mentioned." She let out a long exhale. "From what I'm reading in Farah's notes, she thinks these are dowry expenses."
Xena scrunched her nose. "Dowry expenses?"
"For Abbaseh and Boran, I'm guessing."
"Did Farah find the exact amount?"
Gabrielle pursed her lips. "It's a lot—more than our treasury in Pannonia."
"Does Arielle know what these expenses are for? That's a lot of money to sign off on."
"Her signature is on every page," said Gabrielle, as she flipped through the journal to show the Khagana's seal.
"That means nothing around here," Xena muttered. "When she gets back from Estakhr, we'll need to talk about this."
Adarmahan led his troops down the main road halfway to Estakhr. He came to an immediate halt in the middle of the road after spotting a series of enormous footprints and horse hooves in the dirt. He had his men get down from their horses and take a look around on foot.
Adarmahan got down on his hands and knees and looked at the erratic prints. There were no less than six people walking there. The trail of hoofprints left by the horses ended right where he was standing, indicating that the riders had dismounted.
He calmly drew his sword and signaled for his men to descend from above and conduct an inspection further down the road. The more they progressed along the trail, the more skewed the footprints in the dirt became. Adarmahan cautiously emerged from the cover of a large bush to find a massive black caravan with ornate gold carvings on its doors. The size and decoration of the caravan told him it had to be from the palace.
Slain female soldiers lay on the ground, their weapons still in hand. Bellies distended from sitting in the open air for days, and two dead horses lay on their sides. One whiff of decaying flesh is enough to turn anyone's stomach. Adarmahan opened the carriage door slightly with a gentle push and looked around. There was a half-eaten loaf of bread, an empty water skin, and a rummaged-through chest of clothing inside.
He turned to address his soldiers. "This is the Khagana's caravan. The rebels must've attacked them. We need to spread out and search the area."
"Sir, there are tracks that lead into the woods," a soldier said.
"We'll start there then. We don't have a lot of daylight left, so make the best use of the time we have."
Even though Arielle didn't know every inch of Persia, she had traveled that main thoroughfare quite a few times. Because of her familiarity with the area, she realized the forest wasn't infinite. Contrary to the forests in Pannonia, those here were not dense and never-ending.
She ran as far as she could into the forest before realizing she was eventually going to run out of trees. Just a few miles away was a vast open field with mountains, leaving her no place to hide. It was imperative that she remain in the woods, where she hid.
That was days ago. Two days, maybe three. She couldn't keep track of time anymore.
As she was running away, she tripped and hurt her arm and leg. The fortunate discovery of some nearby brush provided her with much-needed cover, and she remained there. She had to hide in the woods for longer than she had anticipated while her attackers looked for her.
Now that she was alone, she tended to her wounds as best as she could. Her mouth was parched as she hadn't had a drop of water in days. The nausea that plagued her back at the Shah's palace, returned. Though, she suspected that was more due to hunger now rather than her nerves and adrenaline.
After several days without food and water, she was starting to feel the effects. She had to leave the woods at some point, but she had very little hope of ever finding her way out of the underbrush she was in. With every passing minute, her injuries became more severe.
And she was very tired.
So very tired.
Her body sagged and she leaned against a tree, her eyes closing in a fluttering motion. It was no longer possible to forego sleep.
Tired. So tired.
"Khagana!"
Arielle's eyebrows drew together and she must've thought she was imagining things.
"Khagana!"
This was not a dream. She heard a voice behind her. When the third call came, Arielle's eyes flitted open and she answered it with a breathless gasp. She heard the voice and was relieved to realize it was Adarmahan. She drew her sword and tapped it weakly against the tree above her head with what little strength she had left.
Adarmahan rushed into the brush and as he did, Arielle's sword fell from her hand. She collapsed forward and into his arms. Adarmahan handed off his sword and then scooped her limp body into his arms.
Nezak Territory, Kazakhstan
Anastasia walked with Yana on a tour of the tribe to keep her mind off things. She had stayed here for a few nights but still didn't feel refreshed. She was more worn out from processing her own feelings and those of the other tribe members than she was from actual physical exertion.
"You should know that the Gokturks will be dealt with," she said. "My mother, Gabrielle, and Arielle are working very hard to make sure another attack doesn't happen."
Yana smiled thoughtfully at that. "I trust that they are doing their best."
"I want to thank you for looking after Cera. I'm sorry I can't visit more often. She really thinks of you as a second mother," Ana said earnestly, smiling warmly.
Yana brightened at the compliment. "It's not a problem, Khatun. I love Cera very much."
"Please call me Anastasia. You don't need to address me formally. It's just the two of us."
The various instances of Cera's outbursts over the past year kept running through Yana's mind. Mirac and the rest of the family members said it happened frequently, but she only remembered it happening twice. Now that she had Cera's mother in her grasp, it was the ideal time to broach the subject.
"Since we're talking about Cera," she began. "She's had frequent spells of anger over the last year. She's been ignoring all of my siblings and their spouses in the Adame. Frankly, nobody wants to be around her."
Anastasia's lips thinned to a fine line. "That isn't like her. She did tell me that she was having problems commanding the army and the tribe."
"It's more than that, Anastasia."
"What do you mean?"
Yana sighed deeply. "She doesn't think she's fit to be a ruler of this tribe or the army. She believes the soldiers talk badly about her behind her back."
Anastasia halted in step and turned to face the chieftess. "And do they?" she asked.
"I don't know." She felt the queenly frostiness of Ana emerge suddenly.
"She is also frustrated because she has been trying to have a baby for over a year. I thought she was overreacting about it, but I just learned that my sisters-in-law have been joking about it for a whole year. That fault will rest squarely on my shoulders, and I have spoken to all of them."
Ana's brows rose in a questioning expression. "The number of children my daughter may have has no bearing on her ability to rule."
"I agree with you. My brother's wives should've never made those comments about Cera." She rested a hand on Anastasia's shoulder. "I have made sure that won't happen again."
Ana's face had taken on a more weathered, gentle look. "I will take some of the blame for Cera's anger," she admitted. "I protected her too much. Ever since the accident when she was a child, I told myself I would never let her rule as queen. I realize that I've made a terrible mistake."
"You wouldn't have any way to predict what would happen," Yana said softly.
"But my selfishness is affecting Cera. She is a wife and a mother; two things that I never thought she would be. And now, she is head of a tribe and an army, and I didn't prepare her."
Yana froze in place, at a loss for words. The Khatun's candor was unexpected, but she valued it. It helped her understand why Cera was behaving in the way she was. She also understood that Cera probably didn't understand why she was acting the way she was.
"I wish I could stay here with her, but I can't. Farah is running things in Pannonia in my absence, but I need to go home soon."
Yana smiled. "I might have an idea if you're open to it."
"I'm open to anything."
"Cera, Emese, and my brother can go back with you to Pannonia. You can properly train Cera to be a commander, and I think it will be a well-deserved break for her. I am more than willing to watch the tribe while they're away."
"But what about your tribe in the north?"
"Nadia can take care of that. She already has been anyway since I've been here." she knew she could trust her step-daughter to take care of the tribe.
It was a tempting offer, Ana thought. "Would Cera agree to this? She doesn't like me ordering her around anymore."
"I think it would be best if you tell her how you feel, Anastasia. Tell her what you told me. She needs to know."
Elam, Persia
Adarmahan returned with his troops and Arielle as dawn was breaking. He had a servant wake Xena, Gabrielle, and Nousha when he returned to the palace. On the way back to Elam, he mentally prepared himself for the onslaught of questions he was sure to face.
The three women, all dressed casually, hurried down the hall. Since they all appeared to have recently awoken, the maid must have sounded quite urgent. When Xena saw Adarmahan, she frowned and wrapped the shawl around her shoulders.
"What's going on at a time like this?" she asked.
Soldiers rushed in with a stretcher carrying Arielle before he could respond. They were under his orders to get her to the infirmary immediately. Xena felt her stomach turn into a knot as she watched Arielle be carried away. She stared after her helplessly, feeling her chest constrict.
Nousha gasped loudly, clutching her veil. "What happened to her?"
"I can explain everything," he said. "I would like to speak to the Governor and Khanum privately."
Gabrielle glanced up at her spouse's ghostly face. She reached for her hand and gave it a tight squeeze. "I can go with Adarmahan if you want to stay with Arielle," she whispered.
The lack of response allowed her to continue with her proposal. She leaned in and kissed Xena's hand before motioning for Adarmahan to join her in the library. Xena would stay with Arielle in the infirmary, and Nousha was tasked with taking care of the girls on the upper floor.
Xena sat by the bed, clutching Arielle's hand, for the next several hours. Arielle's wounds were cleaned and bandaged by several of the housemaids. The injuries weren't life-threatening, but Xena had heard that Arielle had been missing for days in the woods. Lack of sleep and sustenance led to her unconsciousness.
Once every half an hour, Xena carefully fed Arielle a small amount of water through a small straw placed in her mouth. She was determined to stay up until Arielle awoke, despite the maids' advice to rest.
As soon as Gabrielle stepped foot inside the room, she made her way to the bedside. She cast an inspectional glance at Arielle before turning to Xena. She reached out a comforting hand and put it around her wife's shoulder, then sighed deeply. She wasn't even going to try to convince Xena to leave.
"I...told Adarmahan everything," she said quietly. "About me stealing the journal and sending it to Farah. The soldiers we sent to spy on Anosbord. And the horsewomen we sent to track Bawi in Babylon. Everything."
She was anticipating hostility, but the silence was even more disappointing. All of Xena's attention was on Arielle, so Xena's usual disinterest in her words was understandable.
"He told me that Arielle's caravan was most likely attacked by a group of traitors of the empire," she continued. "These traitors, or 'rebels,' are trying to dethrone Shah Khosrow and get rid of Xerxes and Arielle. That's what he's been working on this whole time; trying to find the traitors."
Xena's glare tightened. Her stomach turned the more she considered the betrayers within Persia. She had long suspected that nobody in this empire could be trusted. She dabbed at the tear running down her cheek with the back of her hand and ran her thumb over Arielle's hand.
"You were wrong about him, Xena. He's on our side. He's going to help us. We just need to work together," Gabrielle whispered.
At last, Xena nodded her head slowly and silently without protest.
"Would you like me to sit here with you?"
With her eyes, Xena smiled. "I would like that very much."
