Chapter 24
Xerxes managed to get up and out of bed, despite the warnings from the physician. He made sure to take plenty of medicine to numb his pain as he hobbled out of the Adame. When he heard that Aurora had been banished from the archive library, he knew Arielle was still seething.
As of two days after the ceremony, Arielle still had not spoken to her daughter. Word around the house informed Xerxes that Aurora was rarely seen indoors and was instead to be found roaming the tribe until nightfall.
He made it outside and down the steps unassisted at last. His attention was immediately drawn to the huge yurt where Bayan was said to be residing. He grunted as he used his cane to shuffle over to the yurt.
He pulled the yurt's flaps open and Bayan looked up from the floor.
"You and I need to have words," he said sternly. "Send your men out."
Bayan scowled, but followed the instructions nevertheless. He signaled the soldiers to exit the yurt, and they did so. He motioned for the Shehzade to take a seat, but saw that he was unmoved. With no other choice, Bayan crossed the yurt and stood a foot away from Xerxes.
"Did Arielle send you?"
"I made the decision to come here," said Xerxes.
"Why have you come?"
Xerxes' eyebrows creased. "Aurora doesn't know about your plan to marry her off in exchange for an army. I'd like to keep it that way."
Bayan took a step forward. "Last time I checked, you have two daughters and Aurora isn't one of them. Stay out of my business, Persian."
"I would never marry my daughters off for an army and weapons. You come and go as you please in Aurora's life. She looks forward to your letters and when she doesn't receive one from you, she is always hoping one will come."
"I am warning you now to leave. Do not come and lecture me about my relationship with my daughter," he snarled.
Xerxes felt hot breath against his face and held his ground. He wouldn't give Bayan the joy of seeing him cave to threats and intimidation.
"All you had to do was communicate, Bayan. If there were problems with the Gepids, you could have sent word to Arielle. But you couldn't even do that because you hate asking Arielle for aid."
The Khagan chuckled at that. "Are you here to stroke your ego, Xerxes? It is awfully daring of you to come and tell me how to run an empire when you and your Shah brother bask in wealth while my people have limited resources."
He was aware of Bayan's attempts to stoke a flame within him, but he maintained his composure. Even though he was a prince within his own empire and family, Bayan was in a higher position than him, but that didn't stop him from saying what was on his mind.
"I'm not here to criticize the way you operate this empire, Bayan," he explained calmly. "You and Arielle share sovereignty of this empire. I recommend that you undertake more heavy lifting on your side. She carries more of the weight in the empire."
Bayan cocked an eyebrow at the man's brazen persistence.
In response, he said, "The only weight she's carrying in this empire is the Persian heir in her belly."
Xerxes realized at that instant that he had gone too far. He had two choices. One, he could use the cane to beat Bayan senseless. Two, he could leave this yurt with the strength of patience on his side.
He chose to walk away.
Having a civil exchange with Bayan was useless. After Bayan insulted Arielle, he really wanted to attack him, but he restrained himself.
"You aren't even going to defend your wife?" shouted Bayan.
The Shehzade shifted his weight onto the cane slowly. "She used to be your wife. The way you talk about your ex-wife—the mother of your child—reveals a lot about you, Bayan."
After only a fraction of a second, Bayan had Xerxes tackled to the ground, straddling him. Xerxes tried his best to fight back and whacked Bayan in the jaw with his cane.
Xerxes slowly got to his feet while Bayan writhed on the floor in pain. The only thing holding him upright was the rush of adrenaline. He grabbed his cane and walked outside, trying to get away from the yurt.
He had not counted on Bayan's speedy recovery. He was thrown to the ground before he could defend himself, and his arms were pinned to the grass as he struggled against Bayan's tremendous strength.
Arielle penned a lengthy letter to Shah Khosrow from her quarters, pleading for news of Adarmahan. She had spent the previous few days alone, gathering her nerve to approach Aurora. Getting some of her tasks completed would allow her to concentrate more easily.
Abruptly, Wasifah burst through the doors. "The Khagan is attacking the Shehzade outside," she said breathlessly.
Arielle's mouth dropped open and she bolted out of the room. Wasifah followed behind her, practically having to run to keep up with her brisk pace. The tribe made a way for Arielle to run down the stairs. The sight of the two battered and bleeding men squabbling on the ground made her sick to her stomach.
"Stop!" she yelled. "Stop this at once!"
Bayan turned around when he heard her, and saw the crowd he had attracted. He dismounted from Xerxes and tucked his hair behind his ears. He looked at Arielle and saw nothing but revulsion on her face.
Arielle walked forward. "Is this how a Khagan behaves? We are supposed to be united—united as one!" she roared, her voice trembling.
"I will not set foot in Pannonia as long as he is here," said Bayan. "I will leave by first light." He walked right past her and stomped back inside the yurt.
Arielle's attention was riveted on the prone form of Xerxes. As he lay there hacking up blood, members of the tribe washed his hands and face.
She wiped away a stray tear and told Wasifah, "Have him brought inside, please."
Caucasus Region
The journey toward the Caucasus region wasn't as dreadful as imagined. Most of the land was barren, void of civilization. Once there were battalions of Byzantine soldiers bordering the Hun and Persian regions. The one strip of land that was unclaimed by all three empires was completely empty. From experience, Xena knew never to trust serenity in the middle of a constant war.
In order not to be caught in the middle of a trading route, Gabrielle instructed they ride west. This way, all main roads were avoided in case there were smugglers, slavers, or displaced Gokturks. And it was never safe to ride at night.
On the fourth night of traveling, they tried to map out a safe area to camp in. Gabrielle drew a map on a piece of linen that she kept folded in her coat. It was too dangerous to carry a large map during a journey such as this one.
She glanced at the map and then out into the darkness. The sights weren't looking very good. It was colder in this region compared to Pannonia. Although it was early spring, it still felt and looked like winter. Snow regularly fell during dusk and dawn, dressing the soil in white.
"There are no trees out here," she called out, exhaling an icy breath.
Xena trotted across the field. All she saw was a white blanket in the darkness, illuminated by the moon. She looked over Gabrielle's shoulder, examining the map.
"How far are we from Balaam?"
"You're not seriously suggesting we camp out there," Gabrielle said.
"Beats sleeping out here with no protection."
It wasn't a choice she would've made, but Xena was right. Sleeping out in the middle of nowhere with no trees, bushes, coves, or mountains was incredibly risky. They rode another two hours before reaching the outskirts of Balaam. Even though the area was now under Persian rule, there were still Gokturks lurking in the area.
They found shelter beneath a tree and were able to camp safely. They continued to make their trek through the treacherous Caucasus Mountains.
It was now day six of their journey. The snowfall was heavier as they descended through the mountainous terrain. In some areas, it was easier to travel by foot. It was nearly impossible to survive in this climate.
No trees, water, or vegetation in sight. By day eight, they were able to a flatter stretch of land. There was less snowfall and blotches of greenery sprinkled throughout the mountains.
"This better not be a trick sent by that Hun girl Farah found," said Xena.
Gabrielle steered her horse around. "I told you there's a reason why these people are hidden."
"What if this tribe doesn't even exist?" she said, pulling her horse to a full stop. "What if this is just a diversion set up by Justin?"
"Xena, don't be ridiculous. Why would a random slave want to help her captor?"
"You act as if that hasn't been done before."
Gabrielle waved her hands around. "Hello! Look around! Byzantines wouldn't come all the way up here to set a trap for Huns!" she tucked the map into her pocket and grabbed Xena's hand. "We're almost to the sea. We will know if there is a tribe around here soon."
"I really don't have a good feeling about this," Xena admitted, her uneasiness echoing in her words. "There's no signs of life out here, Gabrielle. Don't you find it odd a Hun tribe would live in such a secluded area?"
"We won't know until we find out the truth for ourselves. We've come this far."
After nightfall, Arielle walked across the camp to her brother's home. She felt a lot of people staring at her as she passed by several yurts. It was her choice to leave the Adame unattended, but now she wished she hadn't. When she was at the large doors, she knocked a few times, waiting patiently in the cold.
It wasn't a maid who answered the door, but Csaba. A bit surprised to find her standing outside alone, he quickly pulled her inside.
She pulled the hood off her head. "Where is she?"
Csaba grabbed her hand and led her up the staircase. They walked through the hallway in silence until they stopped a few feet from the last room. Csaba stood in front of his sister and rested his hands on his hips.
"This can't go on any longer—this Persian and Hun feud. There are multiple fights breaking out in the tribe. I may not like Bayan, but he is your co-ruler of this empire. We can't have a civil war."
Arielle had a firm grasp on the gravity of the situation. She mulled on the issue for days, attempting to find a solution. The tension within the tribe was heightened by the fact that individuals were choosing sides. There was a split between those who allied with the Sassanians and those who sided with the Hunnic tribes.
The worst part, though, was that Aurora became the subject of the most rumors. The rumors quickly reached Aurora and she was subjected to cruel comments in person. She hid out at the Adame for a while, but eventually made her way to her uncle's home without informing anyone.
"I...just want to see my daughter," she said, her voice weary.
Csaba nodded, thinking that the past week had been stressful enough for his sister. He gently cupped her face and kissed her on the forehead.
"Take care of yourself, squirt," he whispered, poking her nose.
She shook her head with a smile and punched his shoulder. Squirt. That was a nickname she hadn't heard in a long time.
As if mentally preparing for the worst, Arielle gazed at the doors and took a deep breath. Aurora was huddled up on the bed, holding a pillow, when she opened one of the doors. She entered the room stealthily and pressed her hand firmly against the door as she closed it.
"Breathe," she told herself.
She ambled up to the bed and eased herself down until her back was resting on the pillows. Although it wasn't the most comfortable position, she was able to see her daughter's profile clearly.
"I was worried about you," she began. "I didn't know where you were."
Aurora sniffled. "I've been here for three days," she croaked. "And you just now decided to look for me?"
Arielle exhaled deeply and dug her fingers into the sheets. "I'm sorry, Aurora."
The princess sprung up and faced her mother with teary eyes. "What are you sorry for exactly, mother?" she spat. "Are you sorry for waiting to look for me? Are you sorry that your Khagana duties are more important than me? Are you sorry that—"
"Yes! Yes, yes, yes, I am sorry!"
Not a sound in the room.
Except her sharp breaths.
And the horror on her daughter's face.
"I...I'm sorry," she whispered. "I am sorry for everything. All of this—this mess—is because of me." she reached over and wiped her daughter's tears. "And because this is my fault, I'm the one who has to fix it."
"My father attacked Xerxes! My father—the Khagan!" she thumped her chest with her fist. "People look at me differently now!"
Arielle could hear the anguish in her daughter's voice. She never imagined her life would turn out the way it did. She expected their relationship to improve once she divorced Bayan, just as her parents' relationship did. That, however, was not the case.
After the altercation in front of the tribe, Arielle knew she would never have a cordial relationship with Bayan.
She held her child's face in her palms. "Aurora, you will never be held responsible for your father's actions. I will fix this."
"H—how?"
"You let me worry about that."
She cradled her daughter's head against her breast and hummed a soft tune. Gradually, her daughter settled against her, and Aurora even wrapped her arm around her. Arielle kissed the top of her head while stroking her hair.
"I bet you haven't eaten in three days."
The princess sat up and shook her head. Hunger pangs were the least of her worries, but she wouldn't mind a little bit of food right about now.
"I'll go find something for you."
Arielle left the room to head to the kitchen and to inform Csaba that she would be staying here for the night. She needed a message sent to Wasifah so a search party wouldn't come looking for her.
As she strolled down the corridor, she saw that young woman Edemen was so infatuated with, walking up the stairs. She hastened her stride, waving her hand.
"You!" she called. "Öza!
Öza gasped and nearly tripped on her gown. "Khagana, I didn't know you were here."
"Could you do me a favor? I need food brought up to that room," she said, pointing down the hallway. "I would do it myself but I don't think I'll be able to make it back up the stairs. It's been a long day."
"Yes, of course, Khagana."
"Thank you, Öza." She grasped her arm. "Oh, and you don't need to use formalities. We're both in our nightgowns," she jested and Öza cracked a smile.
"I will go to the kitchen and see what I can find," she said, turning to leave.
Arielle drummed her nails on the banister. "Were you going up to my nephew's bedroom?" she asked.
Öza stopped halfway down the staircase.
"You're not in trouble."
"He was planning to help me study."
Arielle gave a twisted smile. She had been in Öza's shoes before, sneaking around the Adame with Bayan when they were teenagers. Csaba did the same with Farah. Nothing good came from keeping relationships hidden from family, but as far as Arielle knew, both Csaba and Farah were aware of Edemen's relationship with Öza.
"Thank you for getting the food, Öza," she said as she walked away, grinning.
Caspian Region
The smell of seawater was so close they could almost taste it. As Gabrielle led the way, focusing on the map in her hands, Xena kept her distance. This area they were in was new territory, but it was much prettier to look at in comparison to the mountainous terrain. Lush green landscape, with plenty of trees, brush, and open fields.
Xena slowed to a trot and a cracking noise in a tree made her spin her head around. She snapped her fingers to grab Gabrielle's attention. Her eyes scanned the area carefully and couldn't see anything but trees gently swaying in the cool breeze.
Three javelins soared through the air and struck next to Xena's horse. In a panic, Xena's horse reared up on its hind legs, whinnying loudly. Growling, she yanked on the reins, trying to gain control of the beast.
Gabrielle moved into action and galloped down the dirt path. A rope with a noose launched from the trees and hooked around Gabrielle's neck. She grappled with the noose as its hold tightened about her throat.
"Gabrielle, don't move!"
Once she got a handle on the spooked horse, an arrow whipped by her ear, cutting her cheek. Xena touched her face and saw blood on her fingertips. Her ears perked up at the sound of a bow creaking to her right. Turning at just the right moment, she snatched the arrow that was aimed directly at her chest.
Breaking the arrow in half with her knee, she yelled, "That's enough! Come out now! We aren't looking for a fight!"
A group of ten women emerged from the brush, wielding javelins. Two more women jumped from the trees, bows in hand.
Then, a woman dressed in cotton pants, and an elaborate robe dressed with tassels, walked out of the forestry. Her long-braided hair was hidden beneath a veiled headdress with coins draped over her forehead and cheeks.
The woman cracked a smile. "Not many people can catch my arrows," she remarked.
"Untie my partner and we can talk civilly," said Xena.
The woman nodded to her companions, and Gabrielle's noose was untied. She inspected Xena's horse while folding her arms across her chest. She reached out and caressed the tassels on the horse's mane before raising her eyes to Xena.
"We don't get many strangers up here. Your clothing bears a resemblance to my people. Who are you?"
Xena grimaced. "We're from Pannonia. The Khagana sent us."
Women in the crowd murmured in astonishment after hearing "Khagana" spoken aloud.
"The Khagana sent you," the woman repeated. "I need to see proof that you two are from Pannonia."
Gabrielle, rubbing her sore neck, reached into her satchel, and pulled out the clan's necklace. She held it high in the air and tossed it to the woman.
"We can explain why we're here if you...promise not to attack us again," said Gabrielle, frowning at the woman holding the rope.
The huntress was still wary, but after taking a closer look at the pendant, she was convinced. She smiled up at Xena as she tossed Gabrielle the necklace back.
She then extended her arm.
"Gohar."
Taking off her glove, she grabbed Gohar's hand and gave it a firm shake.
"Xena."
Gohar moved to shake Gabrielle's hand and winked at her.
"Gabrielle," she grumbled.
Gohar's infectious grin had all the other women smiling with her. She pointed down the dirt road ahead of her as she slung her bow over her shoulder.
"The tribe is beyond those two peaks. We can talk there."
When they entered the Barsils' clan encampment, Xena felt she was sent back in time. The clan looked very similar to how Attila's clan used to look many years ago. If he were alive today, he wouldn't recognize the new Pannonia. Memories of her young adult life came rushing back. She could almost hear whispers of fallen clan members.
Gabrielle bumped her arm. "This is a bigger clan than I thought. There must be thousands living here."
They entered a massive yurt with a black cloth covering the dome. Gohar had already removed her leather armor and bow. She invited them to take a seat on the floor, and soon after, platters of food and drinks arrived.
Gohar took a shot of a spiced spirit and inhaled sharply. "So, what brings you two here to the Caspian tribes?" she asked.
Xena had just finished surveying the yurt and stared at her. "Are you the chieftess of this tribe?"
"I'm the leader of the Alps. Those girls out there are my Alps."
Gabrielle spoke in between chewing on a piece of bread. "I've heard Alp warriors are some of the fiercest."
"They are. My Alps have never been defeated in battle," Gohar boasted. "Let's stay on topic. The Khagana ordered you to come to my tribe. How did she hear about us?"
Noticing her wife's distant gaze, Gabrielle spoke for them both. "We received word from a girl who is from this tribe. We didn't know you existed so the Khagana told us to come here so we can introduce ourselves."
Gohar nodded. "And who is this girl?"
"We don't know her name." she waited for Xena to chime in at any moment. "So, why haven't you and your tribe joined the empire? Nobody's heard of you."
"That isn't surprising to hear. We are one of the forgotten tribes," said Gohar. "We...move from place to place so we're never in the same spot twice. I guess you could say, we don't want to be held down," she added with a snicker.
Xena stared at the woman, clearly annoyed by her cavalier attitude. Gohar's tone was a little sultry as she spoke. Her words were like a riddle skittering off her tongue. She was a young woman, roughly the same age as Arielle. Xena realized that this woman was the Alps' leader, but she had never experienced "true war."
"You didn't answer her question," Xena flatly stated. "Why hasn't your tribe joined the empire?"
Gohar kept her brow raised. "You must not have heard me; we are never in the same place twice."
The arrogance. "Look, Gohar," she paused, clasping her hands. "I'm probably three times your age. I have seen and met a lot of tribes in my life, but I never heard of yours. And I know for a fact that your people haven't seen war, otherwise, I would've heard of you."
"Who are you to say my people haven't suffered from the hardship of war?" Gohar argued.
"I have seen and done things you wouldn't wish to dream of," Xena said. "I have met a lot of people. But...not your people."
Gohar's strategy of providing evasive responses has run its course. She had no idea what roles these two women had in the empire. She clearly recognized that evading questions from Khagana emissaries was not a good plan.
She took in a deep breath. "This tribe is made up of many tribes from different regions. There is no chieftain or chieftess. We've been pushed out of every region, forced to relocate."
Xena realized her thoughts aloud. "You feel you don't belong anywhere."
"You could say that."
She regarded Gohar, taking in the woman's physical attributes. Her dark hair was sleek and straight, and her light skin provided a striking contrast to her hazel eyes. The resemblance was uncanny.
Kreka.
Kreka Khatun.
Gohar bore a resemblance to the fallen Hun queen.
"Are you related to someone from the Ashina tribe?"
Gohar lurched back, suspicious of the question. "My grandfather was from there. Why do you ask?"
With a smile, Xena said, "You look like someone I used to know."
To comfort her spouse, Gabrielle stretched out and took her hand. They were thinking of the same person. She continued to study the bewildered Gohar and began to notice striking similarities.
Awkwardly, Gohar stood up. "I will have a yurt prepared for you two. Your journey has been long and you need rest. It sounds like we have a lot to talk about."
Assyria
An old palace located on the outskirts of Aleppo became a Sassanian stronghold and Shehzada Esther's home. Esther was confined to the palace and was prohibited from leaving unless accompanied by her husband's troops. Over the months, she refused to have soldiers walk with her everywhere she went and spoke against Bawi's strict rules.
Her obstinance did not bode well for her as Bawi placed even stricter rules on her. A curfew was put in place and Esther could no longer leave the palace walls two hours after dawn and two hours before dusk.
Esther devoted her time to sewing and writing as many journal entries as possible. Since she knew Bawi was very observant and any letters, she wrote to her family would be confiscated, she found new ways to communicate with those outside Assyria. She found a woman who tended to the army's horses, to deliver and receive letters.
That woman, Kiran, arrived at the Shehzada's quarters early in the morning. She carried a basket of soiled linen and casually picked up the clothes in the Shehzada's laundry bin. As she bent over to grab a dress, she placed a letter beneath a journal.
Esther smiled, making eye contact with Kiran. She took the journal into her lap and slipped the letter out from underneath it.
She waited until Kiran left the room to open the letter. Once the door closed shut, she tore the letter open and was surprised to see it was from Nousha.
"Adarmahan is behind the rebellion," she muttered as she read aloud. "Xerxes was attacked by the rebels...and is now living in Pannonia."
Esther crumpled the letter and held it over the fire. She tossed the burning parchment into a basin and watched as it was consumed by the fire.
Dinner was the one time she was able to sit down with Bawi. He was kind at heart, Esther saw that, but he was married to the sword first. It was clear that Bawi couldn't separate his duties to the empire from his marriage. She knew this marriage was purely political as she was too old to bear children, and she was the Shah's aunt.
In the middle of their quiet meal together, Esther asked, "Do you know anything about Adarmahan's whereabouts?"
Bawi raised his eyes. "Why would I? He is stationed in Persia."
"Do not play games with me, Bawi. I know my nephew communicates with you. You know about the rebels and Adarmahan's involvement."
"I think the bigger question is; how did you come about this information?" he snapped back. "I know you have spies in this palace, Esther. I'm not easily fooled."
"I'm kept here as a prisoner. You seem surprised that I have ways of communicating with my family."
Bawi stifled a chuckle. "You are not a prisoner, Esther. I have treated you with respect. That is a promise I made when I married you."
"I can't go outside!" she barked, throwing a bowl across the room. "Slaves have more freedom than I do!"
"You are a Sassanian princess," he spoke calmly. "You must be protected."
Esther collected herself before responding. She wasn't going to react. "Xerxes was tortured by the rebels. Adarmahan planned to kill his daughters and Arielle."
By his befuddled reaction, it was unclear if he knew this information prior to this moment.
"Where is Xerxes now?" he asked.
"In Pannonia."
Bawi shoved the plate of food. "Where did you get this news from?"
"Nousha sent a letter. It is rare that I receive anything from her so I wouldn't take what she said lightly." She neatly folded her hands in her lap. "Bawi, I must go to Estakhr. I'm of no use in Aleppo."
"The Shah ordered you to stay here with me," he said, thumbing his chest.
"I will deal with my nephew when I see him in Estakhr."
"But you are supposed to—"
"I am a Shehzada!" she roared, rising from the floor. "You cannot order me to do anything. You do not have the authority."
Bawi swallowed and gritted his teeth. He stood slowly and met her at an equal height. Staring into her brown eyes, he clenched his fist and raised his chin.
"You're right...Your Highness," he said coolly. "I cannot force you to stay."
Esther curtly bowed. "I will be leaving tomorrow morning. Have a good evening, Bawi."
As soon as his wife left the room, he hurried off to his son's quarters. He briskly stomped down the corridor and swung the doors open. Shapur sat up in bed, half-dressed, wafting away the lingering opium cloud swarming over his head.
Shapur coughed, inhaling the smoke. "Father, have you no manners?"
"You're clouding your mind with that poison," Bawi ridiculed, glaring at the opium pipe.
"What do you want?"
"Esther is leaving for Estakhr in the morning. I want you to follow her and make sure she has no way of telling any lies that come from her mouth." He stepped forward, narrowing his gaze. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Shapur brought the sheets up to his chin. "Yes, father, I understand."
Caspian Region: Barsils Encampment
It wasn't a surprise when Gabrielle learned that her wife was scouting the region. Xena had left the yurt early in the morning and likely wouldn't return until nightfall. Since she was alone, Gabrielle decided to corner Gohar and gather some much-needed answers.
She strolled around the camp with Gohar and saw the different groups of people from around the world. It was amazing to see many groups of people living amongst each other.
"How long has this tribe lived in the region?" asked Gabrielle.
Gohar shrugged. "Twenty years, maybe. Before that, we lived in western China but we were pushed out by the Sabirs."
"Queen Boareks got you too?"
Gohar furrowed her brow. "You know about her, huh?" she chuckled. "She was a wicked cunt. She killed many people in the tribe, including my father."
Gabrielle nodded. "I know what she did," she said, and Gohar looked at her. "I helped defeat her and her army."
"I...I haven't asked what your titles are. You two are obviously more important than you're letting on."
"We didn't want to scare you off," jested Gabrielle. "I'm the governor of the empire and Xena...Xena is the Khagana's grandmother."
Gohar's jaw hung open. "She is Attila's former commander, then," she realized. "She must think I'm a real entitled bitch speaking to her the way I did earlier."
"Xena doesn't think that," she said. "She's not exactly very nice when she's tired."
"Point taken," Gohar chuckled.
"But she is right. You never answered my question. Do you have a problem with the Khagana?"
"Certainly not! I adore her. Her decision to marry a Sassanian was the best thing to happen to my clan."
Gabrielle crinkled her brow, perplexed by the statement. That wasn't the joyful response received from some tribe members back in Pannonia. And the marriage was not widely praised in Persia.
"Could you explain what you mean by that?"
"The Persian traders have ransacked this region for years. They used to steal a lot of the children and sell them. But ever since the Khagana married that Persian prince, our region is finally at peace," explained Gohar.
"Persians travel all the way up here?"
Gohar smiled. "Of course, they do. There's a campground not too far from here near the hook of the sea."
As predicted, her wife came home from scouting as the sun was setting. Gabrielle had already prepared the meal and laid it out in bowls. Her eyes followed Xena as she removed her cloak, kozak, gloves, and boots. After giving her a peck on the forehead, Xena headed to the basin to wash her hands.
"I was beginning to worry," she announced. "I spoke to Gohar a lot today. She said there's a Persian camp—"
"Near the south part of the sea," Xena interrupted. "I know. I saw the camp," she said, drying her hands off.
Gabrielle plated some food and handed it to her. "What did you see?"
"It looks like a military base, but I doubt Khosrow would station his troops this far north."
"Do you think it's the rebel group led by Adarmahan?"
Xena shook her head, gathering some grain onto her spoon. "I don't know. Only one way to find out." She smiled with her mouth full. "We could go to the camp and give our greetings."
"That could end two different ways. We could be welcomed."
"Or we could be attacked."
Gabrielle mindlessly tapped the bowl with the wooden spoon. She locked eyes with Xena and shared a smile with her.
"So, tomorrow?"
Xena reached over and smacked her knee.
"Tomorrow."
When they were done eating, they tucked up under the heavy blankets and animal hides spread out on the rug. Gabrielle inched closer and closer to Xena until their legs were interlocked. She put her head on Xena's shoulder and draped an arm across her.
Xena remained motionless, her eyebrows arched, and her gaze cast downward. Sweat droplets formed in the middle of Xena's back from the heat generated by their bodies.
"Comfortable?" she mused.
"Very."
"Gabrielle...you know I can't sleep like this."
"But it's cold!" she whined, hugging her tighter.
Xena grumbled. "This is the third night in a row."
"You know I can't sleep when it's cold."
"Fine," she huffed. "But this is the last time."
Gabrielle kept her victorious grin hidden. A few minutes passed and she snuck a peek to see if Xena was asleep yet. Her eyes were closed and her breathing somewhat slowed to a smooth rhythm. She rested her head back down on Xena's breast.
With a muffled rumble, Xena said, "Go to sleep."
Pannonia
It'd been three days.
It took three days to persuade Aurora to return to her bedroom. Her sisters wanted to question her now that she was home, but fortunately, her mother sealed off the wing. Arielle couldn't risk her daughter fleeing again, especially at this stressful time in the tribe.
Arielle sat opposite her daughter on the bed. They had begun a routine of eating every meal together. This way, Arielle could keep an eye on the princess, and talk to her as well. It was day two and Aurora hardly said a word other than carrying on light conversation.
"I've been thinking about what you said," Arielle began, catching the princess' attention. "Your proposal of the law."
"Yeah?"
"I think it's a good idea," she said, nodding and chewing on the same piece of cucumber until it was slush.
Aurora's eyes brightened. "Really? You're going to implement my proposal?"
At last, she gulped down the cucumber goo that had been coating her mouth. Arielle waited for the queasiness in her stomach to subside after swallowing completely. Her daughter looked at her with concern, but she merely smiled back.
"I'm alright," she promised. "I've just learned that I no longer enjoy cucumbers." She cautiously pushed the plate to the side. "Where was I?"
"My proposal."
"Oh, yes. I will be making some modifications to your proposal...but yes, I will implement it."
Aurora cheered by clapping her hands enthusiastically.
"But," she interrupted.
"I know I haven't been able to talk to you about that night. But don't you ever go behind my back and do that again."
"Are you addressing me as my mother or Khagana?"
"Your Khagana," she stated sharply. "But as your mother...I am really proud of you," she said, grinning.
Aurora felt a flush rise up to her cheeks. She could see why her mother was furious, but what she desired was recognition. She always managed to irritate her mother before obtaining any type of appreciation.
"Mom, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Why did Kazem come to my birthday celebration? Is he going to try and court me?"
She saw her mother evade eye contact.
"Not entirely," answered Arielle.
"Did father tell him to come?" she asked, nudging her mother's knee. "Is that the only reason father came? I want to know." The silence only encouraged the rage built in her to surface. "Answer me!"
"Aurora, I'm going to spare your feelings by not telling you."
The princess's eyes filled with tears. She begged her mother by squeezing her hands. "Tell me the truth."
After a long pause, Arielle answered with a quiet "Yes."
The infirmary had become his second home by now. Xerxes sat up in bed, enjoying the company of his two daughters. It was a welcomed distraction as they told him about all the activities they had done in the last few days.
"Baba, when you're better, can you teach me how to ride a horse?" asked Abbaseh.
He stuttered and glanced at Anastasia. "Uh, you're a bit young for that, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not! Grandma Khatun, tell him!" she pleaded.
Anastasia blinked and stared at the blonde princess. She did not want to involve herself in the middle of this.
"Maybe your father can ride with you," she said and received a glare from Xerxes.
"Can I come too?" Boran asked.
Soon, the two girls piled on top of Xerxes, begging him, pleading to him. Anastasia smiled as she watched the injured Shehzade become buried beneath his daughters. As she enjoyed the scene, a maid came up to her and pulled her aside.
Anastasia snuck out of the infirmary and saw Ursula standing in the hallway. She sighed and closed the doors quietly behind her.
"I just received a letter from Issik. He is marrying one of the Shah's distant cousins," Ursula said, cocking her head. "Is this how Arielle controls this empire; by marrying off family to the Sassanians?"
"She didn't decide that. It's a very long story."
"Your daughter didn't have the decency to apologize to Yeter in person after your son's wife attacked her. Now I come to find out my grandson is married to a Sassanian. You tell me how I should feel."
Ana rubbed her forehead. "Ursula, she is doing everything in her power to squash the tension in this tribe. There're things that you don't know. The last thing I need is another feud, especially with you."
She took Ursula's hands and added, "We've known each other for a long time—since before Cera was born! I've never treated you or your clan differently. We have always helped one another. I don't want you to be my enemy."
Ursula's hard expression fizzled.
"You aren't my enemy, Anastasia. If I may...speak frankly?"
Ana gestured for her to continue with a head nod.
"The Sassanians are too powerful. The Shah made a deal with the Byzantines and our people are caught in the middle. This chaos won't end unless we're given reassurance that either empire won't ambush us."
"I...can tell you something important if you won't tell anyone," said Ana.
Ursula smiled. "You should know me well enough that I keep my mouth shut."
Anastasia wasted no time in detailing the disaster caused by Adarmahan and his renegade army in Persia. Since she didn't know much more than what she was telling Ursula, she left out some details. She continued by saying that Farah was sent to Constantinople not just as a punishment but also as an envoy. By listening in on Justin and Sophia, Farah was essentially playing the role of a spy for Arielle.
Ursula listened with a growing frown, knowing that these horrors had been suppressed for too long.
"I know Arielle thinks she's doing the people a favor by keeping this from them. But she's not. The people should know. They will protect her and this empire."
"But there's too much uncertainty," said Ana.
"We've been through far worse than this. Right now, they only know what they see, and they see chaos. They should know what's happening. It will stop the fighting."
"How can you be so sure?"
"The less people know; the more people talk."
Ana whispered, "Yes...you're right."
"Arielle doesn't have to do it alone. We will help. I will help," she said, sharing a warm smile with Ana.
Caspian Region
They left in the morning to ride to the southern coast of the sea. Behind a tree, Xena peered out at the Persian camp. Gabrielle hid in the shade of a nearby tree. And Gohar was only a few feet away, concealed up in another tree near the camp.
The campground was eerily silent for being so early in the day. It took a long time for a Persian to emerge from his tent. Xena shambled forward, peering out from behind a tree. The sleepy soldier wandered off to a stream not far from base camp in search of water.
Xena's heart raced as she made up her mind to follow the Persian. He knelt down at the edge of the river and filled his palms. Xena approached from behind, put her hand over his mouth, and secured a headlock.
"Not a word, Persian," she whispered. "I'm going to ask some questions and all you have to do is nod your head. Be ready."
As terror set in, his breathing became ragged and he frantically tried to free himself from her arm around his neck. He knew that in a matter of minutes, he would be dead.
"Are you part of the rebellion to overthrow the Shah?" she asked.
The Persian fought back and sunk his teeth into her gloved finger. Xena snarled and jerked her hand away from his mouth. Within a fraction of a second, he had freed himself from her grip and pushed her to the ground. He broke into a sprint back to the base.
As he sped up, a rope around his neck pulled him back. The dragging of his body through the woods scraped his back and tore his tunic to shreds. When the pulling finally stopped, he made another attempt to escape, but this time a woman leaped on top of him and pinned his arms down.
Gohar glared down at him. "If you're running, you must be guilty. Answer the question! Are you part of the rebellion?"
"There're too many of them. You won't be able to get rid of them all."
Gabrielle ran over and knelt beside the Persian. "Where is Adarmahan?"
"Nobody knows," he said. "I'm telling you the truth."
"Where did you last see him? Or hear where he was?"
He fumbled and the rope was tightened. "South!" he croaked. "He was headed south. To Assyria."
That didn't sound correct, thought Gabrielle. She stood up slowly and folded her arms, staring off into the distance.
"Do you have any more questions for him?" asked Gohar.
The sound of a blade slicing through flesh followed Gabrielle's silence. She jerked her head around and saw the Persian bleeding out profusely from his throat. He coughed up blood, which dripped down his bare chest and neck like a viscous river.
Xena hastily approached the scene and discovered the ground blanketed in blood. She turned her gaze quickly to Gohar, who was holding a bloodied blade.
"We got what we needed from him," Gohar casually stated while cleaning her knife.
She nodded and touched Gohar on the shoulder. "Appreciate your help back there."
"Anytime, Khanum."
It seemed like Gabrielle did a lot of talking. Xena smiled and thanked her once more.
"What did he say?"
Gabrielle turned. "Adarmahan was last seen heading to Assyria."
"Assyria? Why would he go there?"
"I don't know. We should ride to Estakhr and tell Khosrow."
"Agreed," Xena said.
She took off her glove and wagged her hand back and forth. Gabrielle walked over and inspected her wife's very swollen finger with teeth marks embedded in the skin.
"He bit you?!"
"He almost got to the bone."
Invading their personal space, Gohar examined the teeth marks for herself. They exchanged an uncomfortable look and stared at her in silence.
"So, who is Adarmahan and what's all this about a rebellion?" she asked, excited to know more.
Estakhr, Persia
It was a long and difficult journey for the elderly Shehzada from Aleppo to Estakhr. In the evening, the caravan crew found a place to rest on the outskirts of Estakhr. They would be near the palace gates by midday once traveling resumed the following day.
Esther made a bed in the carriage with a few blankets and nodded off almost immediately. The carriage rattled slightly as a light rain fell. Hearing the door open with a creak piqued her attention.
A hand slapped across her mouth and she muffled a scream, staring at a person wearing a black veil over their face. She swatted the intruder with a flurry of arms and legs. She felt a blade penetrate her chest and her breath hitched in her throat as she collapsed back onto the stack of blankets.
Esther gulped for air as the masked stranger fled. She rolled off the bed onto the carriage floor, her palm over her chest wound. She moaned and groped for the door, sticking her hand outside. She crawled to the entrance and collapsed onto the chilly ground, her strength dwindling.
Two dozing troops were roused by the Shehzada's breathy screams. She was discovered lying on the ground, panting, and pleading for assistance. The troops turned her body over and were shocked to see the gaping hole in the middle of her chest.
Esther garbled up blood and it dribbled out the corners of her mouth.
"Shehzada, who did this to you?" a soldier yelled.
He kept calling her name and pressed his hand on the open wound.
"Go to the palace and tell the Shah what's happened!"