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The Royal Palace of Mithradates was a building to rival any in Rome for size and splendour. The frontage had layer upon layer of flowing marble steps at the summit of which stood stone columns supporting an archway of gargantuan proportions. The carved stone frieze depicted Roman defeats and battles fought by the previous three generations of the Mithradatic kings, rather to our distaste in our role as the occupying Romans.
As Junius and I approached, we saw lines of burning torches lighting up the stairway and even Junius the country boy, was impressed although he rarely enthused about the city architecture. I for my part, felt nervous. I had attended dinners in my father's home only once or twice and I had only a vague idea of what was expected at a banquet of this type. I had an eager anticipation despite, for I hoped I would see Hypsicratea and I felt I would brave any banquet even for a glance from her. Of course, I realised that there was no hope of any physical contact, but to my mind, inexperienced as I was, I felt that any kind of contact with that wonderful woman would light up my whole life.
Through the archway, we entered a huge reception hall lined by servants who showed the guests to the banqueting room. The massive room was grander than any I had seen before. The stone columns reached up to the wooden roof the height of six men above our heads. Brass plaques with strange symbols and writings adorned each of the massive columns, the stone for which had been imported from Egypt in the reign of Mithradates II.
The massive room was full to bursting at the daily banquets when the King was in Sinope, but during the Roman occupation, these dinners had dwindled into rather sad shadows of their former splendour. The room was barely a quarter-full and the guests were mainly Roman officers and local dignitaries. In typical Lucullan style, however, the General had spent sufficient time and money to provide an exceptional table, but there was a subdued atmosphere. The Pontics present seemed unwilling to relax or enjoy themselves.
On a marble dais at the far end of the room sat the Queen, a circlet of gold on her head. The golden crown had a small snakehead at the front. The snakehead had ruby eyes that glinted in the torchlight flashing as she turned her head. She wore a green silken gown with a golden belt and she looked as regal as I had imagined her in my dreams and imaginings. We were presented to the Queen and bowed low before her. She seemed unimpressed by our presence but nodded slightly. I looked at her with a sharp intake of breath and felt my heart beat faster. For one split second, our eyes met and I almost gasped, for I thought there was much in that glance, much that could not be acknowledged.
'I'm unimpressed by that!' Junius said, towards the middle of the meal, 'She hardly showed any recognition, let alone gratitude.'
'No,' I said, 'this table is so far from the dais that you would almost think she wanted to hide us away.'
'I can't complain about the wine though. It's the best I've ever tasted. Oi! You!' shouted Junius to a slave who was passing, 'what wine is this?'
The slave looked Junius up and down with an expression of distaste, 'it is a Falernian, from your own country. It has been imported by the General to honour his guests.'
It was said in a tone implying that Junius surely could not be one of the guests, but Junius failed to notice the thinly veiled disdain. He merely smiled happily, as he chewed on a piece of roast ox, which had been set down in front of him in the interim.
'Well what about that, the General has provided the wine himself, what a good chap he is,' mumbled Junius with his mouth full of meat.
'Impressive and very expensive,' I said, looking up at the dais and admiring the Pontic Queen. I wished I were seated with her, but knew that would never happen. I remembered the gently squeeze she had given my hand when we had arrived back in Sinope and realised dully that I had read too much into it.
The meal ended early and had been a subdued affair despite the lavish surroundings, wonderful food and excellent wine. Junius and I were a little the worse for wear and stood to leave. A voice reached us across the hall.
'Aulus!' It was a slightly drunk but smiling Tribune. He was tall gangling and thin with a shock of black hair. He approached in a good-natured fashion and made his way across the crowded room towards us. I had not the faintest idea who this gangling Tribune might be and wondered if I should salute or something.
'Aulus Veridius. It's me, Marcus.'
No recognition showed on my face. I tried desperately to place the speaker then suddenly realised who he was. I almost forgot myself and scowled but realised even in my cups that betraying my feelings was not appropriate.
'Aulus, don't you even remember me?'
'Of course I do. It's just that we parted on such bad terms. I am sorry my cousin,' I said.
'Well, I heard you had joined the Ninth Legion, one of my father's servants saw you on the Campus Martius you know. We had lost you totally before that and although we had tried to find you many times it was as if you had disappeared into thin air.'
'Really?' I sounded bored.
'We were so distraught to hear about the fire and the death of your parents, a terrible loss,' Marcus said.
'Yes, very kind of you. I was turned away at the gates to your house. Cerberus said I was not to be admitted.'
'Yes, my father found out about that and had him sold to a sulphur mine in Africa, because he was so angry. You poor thing, it must have been terrible. I had no idea, on that day when Gennadius was sacked. At least we have met now and can renew our acquaintance. I'm in charge of supplies in the fifth cohort.'
'Why the Ninth?'
'My grandfather was in the ninth. My father has also done some sponsorship for the Ninth Legion and has done some favours shall we say, for Lucius Licinius. Pontus is where the action is after all.'
'Your father bribed Lucullus then?'
'Not bribery! It's just a financial accommodation. It has been so long. Do come and see me when you have time.'
'Yes, I must do that.'
As Marcus left with Publius Crassus, one of the cavalry officers, I began to scowl. Perhaps it was the wine but I began to fume.
'Damn bastard! By all the Gods, I will have vengeance on him and his entire family.'
'Is that the one you told me about?'
'Yes, Junius. He is the son of the one who I think killed my parents, how I could have the ill fortune to end up in the same legion defeats me! They did it all for a flea bitten piece of land. I ended up begging in the streets of Rome while he had everything he wanted. Revenge will be mine one day, I swear it!'
'It doesn't do to talk like that. He's a soldier like us and there is no way you can take revenge on an officer anyway. Maybe you're wrong in any case. Maybe they didn't kill your parents. Wouldn't you look stupid if that Tribune was innocent?' Junius seemed oblivious to his slurred speech.
'Maybe so, but I have this gut feeling it won't end here, his being here is beyond coincidence.' I said with unusual prescience.
As we began walking towards the entrance, a servant approached.
'Is one of you Aulus Veridius?'
'Yes, that's me.'
'Her Royal Majesty the Queen requires your presence in the council chamber.'
'Lead on!' Junius said.
'Excuse me sir, but the Queen said it was a private matter that could only be discussed with your friend. I am so sorry,' the servant interposed himself between us and I shrugged and said 'I'll see you back at the tenement later.'
'Don't do any thing stupid,' Junius said, and his smile belied the gravity of his warning as he turned and left the building shaking his head.
I followed the palace servant through a doorway behind the dais and she left me standing in a huge torch-lit room. There was an oaken table in the centre. As I looked around, I saw more of the great tapestries, and marvelled at their clarity and size.
I walked towards the other side of the room, my heart beating fast and a young slave girl appeared through another doorway at the side.
'Her majesty will see you now,' she said in accent
ed Greek, 'please follow me.'
I followed the slave, who lit the way with a small oil lamp, through dark twisting corridors and three staircases to the upper floors. My heart was thumping in my chest again as I did so. I lost track of the direction, but the slave girl reassured me that we were going to a quiet place at the top of the palace.
After what seemed an interminable walk she showed me into a small room lit by a number of flickering oil lamps, set on low tables. As she left, the slave girl said, 'please wait here, Her Majesty will be with you shortly.'
There was a divan against the far wall. I inspected the furnishings. Green silk drapes with an embroidered pattern of flying birds, criss-crossing in flight and alighting, hung at the windows. I waited. A gentle cooling breeze raised the silk drapes. I glimpsed a balcony on one side as the wind lifted the flowing silk. I walked towards it to get some cooling night air, when I heard her approach. A gentle slapping of leather sandals on the marble floor.
I looked round and the sight of her took my breath away in an instant. She wore another gown, but this time of red silk. A silk so fine that her perfect body was outlined with a clarity that fitted only into one of my dreams of her. The gentle light of the flickering oil lamps caressed her outline in a way that I found almost magical and it seemed to ensheath her with fire.
'Aulus, you came,' she sounded casual.
'Hypsicratea. You look as radiant as a starlit sky.'
'Have you been learning poetry, or is this a new Aulus who stands before the Queen of Pontus?' She was mocking me, but I did not mind, I was glad to be in her presence, like a dog basking in warm sunshine.
'I am sure you are wondering why I sent for you.'
'Err... Yes. I, I mean no. Yes!'
Hypsicratea smiled. It was a powerful smile and I felt tongue tied and embarrassed. I was not behaving in the way I had in my dreams. Alone with the woman who featured in most of them, was not turning out to be as I had imagined.
'I wanted to thank you for saving me from that bear and protecting me from the brigands on the journey back to Sinope, even though it was not where I wanted to go.'
'It was my great pleasure Your Majesty.'
'You need not be so formal when we are alone,' smiled the Queen.
'Hypsicratea, I am always pleased to see you,' I regretted it almost as soon as he said it. It was not at all what I wanted to say. The clumsy words were so inappropriate, that I flushed as red as my swarthy skin would allow. I was sweating.
'I have something for you, she said. She went to a low table in the corner of the room and picked up a small leather purse.
'This is just a small token to replace the gold you said you both lost to the corsairs. Please share it with Junius.'
I took the purse and looked into her eyes. I could have fallen into them I was so mesmerised by her beauty. I had nothing to say. Words evaded me and I stood, probably looking as foolish I felt, shifting from one foot to another like a child. She spoke again.
'Did you enjoy the banquet?' she said.
'Yes it was really nice,' again, I regretted my words. I wished I could find the right ones.
'I am glad,' she said, 'well it is late and I must retire. Will you call again? I would love to hear how you and Junius are getting on. We spent such a long journey together that I almost miss the two of you.'
'Miss us..?'
'Yes! Are we not friends?'
'Well, yes I suppose so.'
'Then you must come again and we can have some food next time and talk about the journey. It was after all quite a memorable one.'
'Yes I'd love to. When should I come?'
'When do you finish your drills or whatever you soldiers do during the day?'
'We do more than drills, we do weapons practise and…’
I saw her smile then. She was making fun and I had missed the point entirely. I felt my stupidity had reached astronomical dimensions.
'Yes, of course,' I said, 'perhaps tomorrow evening?'
'Aulus, why are you so different now? You were all confidence and strength when we were travelling together. You killed two men to protect me as if they were nothing, yet you seem nervous and on edge this evening.'
'I don't know. It's being alone with you I think. On the journey we were never alone and it seemed easier to communicate then.'
'Never mind; we will get to know one another. I have very little company that is worth speaking of, here in the palace. Since my husband left I am surrounded by people who say only what they think I want to hear and it is so unutterably boring!'
My courage seemed to flare. I felt restored by her confidence in me and the knowledge that she actually wanted my company.
'Tomorrow evening then? I will be pleased to be in your company and I hope you will not find me too dull.'
'I'm sure I won't, Aulus. Goodnight then.'