~ The Falcon and the Handmaiden ~
by Lucien St Clare

Disclaimer & Copyright: See Part 1. Comments to Lucienstclare@yahoo.com

Then the Dominion looted the camp and disappeared. As in they simply packed up their army and marched away back to whence they came. We have heard rumours that there is another civil war or some sort of battle for succession in the Dominion lands and that is why they returned back to their homelands.

Others say Spargapises killed their leader so they must return to their homeland to elect another. Either way the Dominion did not press on their victory and invade Sarmatia.

Well after the battle Olayrae informed Maecenes that Ninyas was on his way to Ado go give his version of the news there. Olayrae could not leave as she was tending Spargapises so instead Maecenes, bone tired and filled with fury took horse, and then boat to race Ninyas to the council chamber.

Ninyas for his part travelled by road and with a two days start managed to reach Ado in 7 days. However fortune had a greater favourite and Maecenes reached Ado in 4 days aided by a perfect sailing wind.

By noon of his arrival that day, the council had been summoned to an emergency meeting whilst Ninyas and his son Almeyedes were trotting up the main road into the city. Maecenes told the council the whole sorry tale.

How foolish pride prevented Ninyas from taking orders from Spargapises, how Spargapises had against all odds managed to kill the Dominion leader and how they had to return to their lands to elect another leader which was why they were not now attacking Sarmatia.

How thirty thousand men and women of Sarmatia and the Massagetae lay slain on the field of battle, twenty thousand of whom belonged to the land owning class as they were recruited by Ninyas. How the Princess Pasiphae lost her life covering their retreat.

Her body was being returned by the Massagetae to be burned on a funeral pyre and to be given as state burial as befitted a royal princess who gave her life for her country.

How Ninyas stubbornness divided the army and finishing with his utter cowardice and flight in the face of the advancing Dominion horde.

Many of the viziers wept openly. Two hundred lieutenants who fought at Masene only twenty four lived. Many were sons of viziers, aristocrats, high ranking Sarmatian nobles. Not one noble family in Sarmatia from the Royal family to the lowest ranking aristocrat has not lost at least one or two family members in the disaster at Masene. The losses in the Land Owning Classes were huge. It will mean a disastrous harvest and the Grand Vizier of the Granaries is not sure that we will not have a food shortage this year because so many Landed citizen farmers have been slaughtered.

The chamber flinched as Maecenes damming words echoed around its hallowed walls. I quote from his speech which was pasted in all the law courts and bazaars throughout the country.

"All of you here must take the blame. I, one of your youngest and least experienced members of this house was sent with Princess Olayrae, a priestess, not even a vizier, who even now tries to save the lives of the survivors to persuade two generals who couldn't agree on the colour of shit to work together!"

It is plain to me that we must now have one commander-in-chief and that person must lead us otherwise when the Dominion return they will destroy us and do not doubt that they will return for they have tasted our blood and found us wanting."

Well Tiirmirise, we all knew who that commander-in-chief was and it wasn't Spargapises and it most certainly wasn't Ninyas.

Bierae got up and said your name with relish. "Tiirmirise!!!"

"You want that barbaric and crude Massagetae female to rule over us? Are you suggesting Princess Bierae, that the jumped up get of a horse trader be made commander-in-chief of the host of Sarmatia?" Magba Massinassa got up and manoeuvred his huge bulk off the Prime Vizier's seat.

"It is one thing to sit on the back benches and make pretty speeches it is quite another to rule. What you need Princess Bierae is a husband and a good shafting." The disgusting man waved a short stubby finger at her rudely.

He made a rude gesture with his fingers and your princess Bierae, that lovely calm elegant woman, that epitome of Sarmatian womanhood exploded with what can only be described as unladylike rage.

"Do you know what Ninyas has done? He has landed us in the shit! Deep in the shit!! Need I remind you that Sarmatia is open to attack right now. Her legs spread like a woman waiting to be raped.

If you idiots have your way we will all be raped by the fucking Dominion in every sense of the word. They especially derive pleasure in emasculating men in such a fashion. Think before you fall into the same trap as Prince Ninyas, allowing foolish pride to rule your actions. Actions which cannot be taken back. So what if Tiirmirise is a bloody woman? At least she will keep us alive."

Well the council was shocked into silence. Someone moved a motion that the country should all go into official mourning and wear black and everyone should contribute towards the war effort to beat the Dominion.

Scaures called an end to the session and the next day Osamaye moved a vote that you should return from Numer to fight the Dominion. Which was granted the only other business was to decide who was to be governor.

The vizier Cephanes asked not to be considered because he felt that he had financial commitments and he would probably rob the Numerians blind so he asked a more well off governor be sent there so the people be allowed to recover from the war. The chamber was amused but agreeable.

I have finally seen Nitocris, she is beautiful. Margravine is divorcing Xango, Bierae is trying to convince her not to because of the scandal. I now have charge of both Derastes and Nitocris in the palace. I enjoy their company. I do not think you would recognise me these days I sometimes feel like Olayrae was being economical with the truth when she said I would be carrying a daughter for I feel more like I am carrying twins.

I miss you my love and I hope you will be careful.

Your loving wife

Saronne.

Tiirmirise read and re-read the last three lines of the letter again and again and her heart swelled. She had cried for Pasiphae when she first read the letter so had missed those three vital lines. However when as now she was in the cold or the rain or simply down because things were not going her way she read and re-read those three short lines.

Chapter 11


Return of the Falcon

In Numer Jurugun was executed by his own people before he could be taken prisoner. So Tomyris gathered up her army and returned to a heroes welcome in Ado.

There were vague dissatisfied rumblings in the Council of Viziers however. Ninyas had come into a lot of money and had put on the Chariot games from his own purse. Everywhere they turned it seemed the infernal man had bribed one ally or the other.

Suddenly everywhere in the city Ninyas began projects. He set himself the task of completing the Race course began by Qastursh and abandoned by that King when he ran out of funds and then started on an ambitious project of bridge building, road building and aqueduct building in an effort to buy away the stain of Masene.

In the meantime Tomyris decided the problem with the Dominion was that they simply did not have enough intelligence about them to defeat them. She needed to know how their society functioned, how their warriors fought and what was their greatest weakness.

She was loathed to let Candace go, firstly because she was a woman and from what they knew so far of the Dominion they had a patriarchal society. Further Candace was a Massagetae with Ebony skin and would instantly arouse suspicion if she went amongst them. The only way she could do that was as a slave and she knew from experience that when talk was confidential the first people to be banished were slaves.

Secondly and more importantly she needed Candace in Sarmatia. Candace for all intents and purposes was her Chief of Intelligence. It was imperative her intelligence gathering skills were utilised efficiently to find out what Ninyas was up to and also to co-ordinate the rapidly escalating threat that was Cyrus of Persia.

In the end she had entrusted the mission to Osanes one of the lieutenants who fought beside her during her campaign against the Numerians. Candace had pointed out that he would be perfect for the job.

He was from the Gaetulae, a northern tribe related to the Hellenes and who also claimed descent from the Nordic barbarians from the frozen North. They closely resembled the black haired swarthy skinned Dominion though more often than not they were on average a taller tribe. Tiirmirise did not think that would be a problem and had dispatched him to go and spy on the Dominion for the past two years.

He kept her informed regularly and he had risen high enough up in their ranks to become a warrior of some standing. At which point Tiirmirise had asked him if he had killed any Sarmatians in his rise to power to which he had replied that she was better off not knowing. She was expecting them to return soon with a briefing and she would then know how best to approach the Dominion.

Saronne lay on the bed fast asleep with little Chryseis on her bosom. She was indeed a golden one. Her hair was like that of summer wheat, a darker shade of her mother's. Her skin like caramel, neither Tiirmirise's ebony nor Saronne's pale ivory.

Her eyes were neither blue nor black but green with flecks of yellow and as predicted she sported a pure white birth mark in the shape of a tear drop on the back of her right ankle just as Olayrae said and she was perfect.
Tiirmirise stopped to stare at both of them for the moment just drinking in the sight of them.

The moment of calm however was shattered by two screaming children running into the bed chamber. One was Nitocris toddling into the bedroom as fast as her little legs could carry her and she was followed closely behind her by her cousin Derastes.

They both woke up Saronne who gave them a welcoming smile and they clambered unto the bed to join her. They smothered her in hugs and kisses unaware Tiirmirise was watching.

When Saronne caught her gaze she smiled "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough." The Queen said ominously

"Derastes immediately did a bow before his grandmother and Nitocris who worshiped her cousin Derastes did the same."

Tiirmirise returned their bow with a formal one of her own and then held her arms wide open for them to run into which they did with childish glee.

Despite all the formality concerning royalty at the Palace Tiirmirise in private was a warm and loving parent. Saronne had expressed surprise but the newly married Bierae told her it was because of the way she was with the children of the harem that she had developed a good relationship with all of Qastursh's children.

The Queen carrying Nitocris came over and pressed a gentle kiss on the head of the sleeping Chryseis before giving Saronne a lingering kiss on the lips.

"Yeugh when I grow up I am never gonna kiss girls."

"Me either!" Nitocris copied her beloved cousin and folded her little arms across her chest.

Much to the amusements of the two adults. It was afternoon and the meal was served in a private dining room.

There was a green pea and smoked pork soup for starter, Tender slices of lamb marinated in rosemary and ginger, a salad, Bread, ziziphus, faba beans and for desert a spread of grapes, figs, dates pomegranates and plums. The children drank a fruit sweetened yoghurt drink, The Queen and Saronne drank wine mixed with a little water.

The meal was light hearted and fun. Bierae had recently gotten married to a Grand Vizier, a member of the High Council and was on honeymoon, Pradae was happily married to the Emperor of Sirahn's son, Tiirmirise did not have the heart to accede to Eugertes's request to marry Pradae and had preferred to sanction a marriage with Eugertes's' son Arugertes instead. Minae and Areisteion came to visit from time to time with their children.

She enjoyed the peace although it rankled that Ninyas had so much influence and money. It made her position precarious.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Saronne asked kissing Nitocris on the head and ruffling Derastes hair.

It was nice to see the Tiirmirise relaxed and not constantly in battle armour.

"I was just wondering where Ninyas got so much money from."

"Everyone loathes him for it but he has so corrupted the higher echelons of Sarmatian society that no one wants to point fingers because he is so powerful now."

"Aye and extremely stingy. He only spends money if he thinks it will get him something."

"Candace told me that she suspected he took the long buried gold of the Simian. The gold meant for the treasury as booty he apparently appropriated it for himself."

She said she thought he suspected that he killed the 100 Sarmatian soldiers sent to guard it and paid some bandits money to stash it away somewhere for him. I expect that is not news to you though is it."

Tiirmirise nodded "No it is not but I fear Candace may be right. Everyone knows but no one has been able to prove it or find the gold. Certainly I asked Candace to do some discreet enquiries but she was unsuccessful."

"Tiirmirise Candace also told me to tell you that Osanes was back and that he would like a brief meeting with you sometime tomorrow morning."

The children apparently bored with their conversation began to misbehave and Tiirmirise carried both of them and dumped them in the pool and then climbed in after them.
Saronne and Chryseis joined her as they frolicked in the pool till their teachers came to take them for lessons.

Saronne and Tiirmirise played with little Chryseis till having eaten and eased herself she fell asleep. The two parents retired for the afternoon.

Although Tiirmirise was co-regent, Ninyas had undertaken to shoulder most of the responsibilities for the building work so he could claim most of the glory. The result was that she had more free time on her hands. Time which she enjoyed spending with Saronne.

Although they were supposed to be attending a musical recital together in the afternoon. Tiirmirise had firmly and politely declined by informing them by messenger that Saronne was ill and unable to attend and since it was a formal dinner it went against protocol for her to attend without her betrothed.

She didn't inform Saronne of the change of plan however she just never got round to it. So when Saronne retired to her dressing room Tiirmirise simply followed her in.

Saronne gasped when the door of her dressing room swung open and then sighed in relief when she saw Tiirmirise at the door.

"Aren't you going to get ready for tonight's recital?"

Tiirmirise didn't answer as she came into the room and slid her arms around Saronne's waist and lowered her head for a kiss.

"Oh dear heaven don't kiss me," Saronne placed her hand on Tiirmirise's chest pleadingly "Once we start we can never stop." She breathed. Tiirmirise whole heartedly agreed even as she lowered her head to kiss her lover.

"I thought we have a recital to attend." Saronne said breathlessly moaning as Tiirmirise's lips dropped butterfly kissed down her throat till they reached her cleavage.

"I am Queen. I don't have to do anything." Tiirmirise said arrogantly wrapping her arms around Saronne's waist, still slightly thickened from pregnancy and suckling on her nipple through her silks. " I have sent our apologies and my sole intention from here on in is to lure you to my bed by any expedient device."

Saronne chuckled and her laughter was infectious "I consider myself successfully lured.



Osanes finally returned from his sojourn with the Dominion. Tiirmirise demanded he attend her chambers immediately. He started with the military situation because he knew its importance to Tiirmirise. She was a firm believer in the old adage know thine enemy, so that as well as spying on the enemy Osanes had also explored the area the Dominion intended to launch their attack and drawn maps. Osanes was an excellent cartographer it was one of the reasons Candace had recommended him for the mission.

He was just settling down when he spied Saronne. He had not seen her since the year they spent in Numer and she looked even more beautiful than he remembered, softer and more content.

"Married life agrees with you Lady."

"Thank-you Osanes." She marvelled that Osanes who once hated her treated her not just as a friend but as a Massagetae noble with all the respect that rank commanded.

She was about to offer him the Massagetae greeting when she saw the silver skulls he wore around his neck and recoiled.

"Take those wretched things off." She shivered and Osanes grinned.

"Barbaric isn't it. Its my good luck charm." Osanes sat down and sighed. He did not realise how much he missed the comforts of Sarmatia. His eyes widened when Saronne personally served him and he felt emotional eating Sarmatian food he had not eaten for almost two years.

A spicy bowl of lentils, a salad of fresh vegetables, olives, sheep cheese, More cooked vegetables, grilled fish, roast lamb seasoned with herbs and root vegetables delicately cut into thick yet juicy mouth sized bites, snails in pepper sauce, (he laughed as he remembered Seunion), crabs, shrimp, fish and a sweet milk and egg desert followed by fresh fruit all washed down with a mixture of wine and water.

"Oh how good it is to be continent again." He sighed

Saronne settled into Tiirmirise's arms and nothing was said until he had eaten his fill. And then he began to give his report.

"…the Dominion do everything to excess." He was saying, "Eat and drink till they spew all over each other or starve-half to death because they went out raiding and forgot to pack lunch. They are brave, fierce, tough and quite well organised all things considered."

"Here have some more wine." Tiirmirise smiled wryly. Osanes was a product of her own way of military thinking. She did not remind the younger man that discipline in the army was a fairly new thing for Sarmatians.

When as a child of 17 she had started training Sarmatian armies in the style of the Massagetae and using the information gleaned from studying Military Treatise like the Art of War by the oriental prince Sun Tzu, she had to fight every step of the way to get the changes instituted.

"Oh wine I have missed you so." Osanes took another sip from his goblet of wine and continued speaking. "The Dominion are great ale drinkers. I don't care if I never see another horn of ale or tankard of Mead again. When you drink ale you become a walking cistern always looking for the next piss."

"What is the difference between a horn and a tankard?" asked Tiirmirise curiously

"Excuse me your majesty, I forgot my manners." Osanes apologised. " A horn is the horn of an animal which unlike a goblet or a tankard cannot be put down. Once you have poured yourself a horn you must down it immediately. A tankard is a very large cup often made with wood sometimes from a sheet of steel.

It carries several goblets of ale and can be rested down on a table between meals. Mead is another favourite of the Dominion Soldiers made from a brew similar to Gyptian beer and sweetened with honey. Ale is darker and looks like honey, it has no bubbles, a flat beer often served with pork scratchings, the crackling off a pig and an acquired taste." Osanes grimaced he still remembered the taste.

He continued his report however. "It is rumoured that the Dominion are descended from the Lands of the Hellenes or the frozen North. Certainly they do not regard themselves as a single race and they do indeed speak several dialects although to me it sounds like variations of the same language. They live off the land they are cattle herders."

They are beef eaters, despising fish. They often eat a black hard bread and a porridge of oats. They are not overly fond of vegetables or fruit. Their lands suffered greatly from floods and they are looking for an area in which to migrate and settle preferably somewhere that will not offer them much in the way of resistance. They covet our wealth and envy our lifestyle. They will not stop till they destroy us.

Moreover their society is based on war. It has no place for the infirm and the weak. Every warrior who dies in war leaves orphans and a widow. In such a patriarchal society as theirs, such women become a liability unless they have male children who are old enough to quickly become warriors so the widows have to scramble to find husbands amongst the warriors not old enough or enterprising enough to have women already.

If a woman finds a husband she is allowed to continue. If not herself and her children are killed and their wagon is given as booty to a successful warrior. They kill any who are too old to contribute to society and also excess girl children."

Saronne gasped "And I thought you Massagetae were barbaric."

"Oh the Massagetae are barbaric. It is us Gaetulae that civilised them." Osanes teased Tiirmirise who accepted it with good grace and an amused smile. "And off course you are ably continuing that work Saronne although it is a difficult job."
"I do not think the Massagetae are so difficult to tame." Saronne teased Tiirmirise and caressing her jaw and the Queen turned her head to place a kiss on her open palm.

"Please Osanes continue with your story." Saronne said with a breathless smile.

"Well It was this that gave us an opening into their society. I found a woman and climbed into her wagon. Naturally I fight quite well and soon was able to make myself a part of the tribe.

Their current leader is a man called Marcellus Cornelius. He is a 7ft Giant. He is possibly the tallest man I have ever seen and built like a shit house. Err sorry for the language." Osanes looked sheepishly at Saronne.

"Apology accepted."

"He is educated and can read and write. He has at his disposal I believe a force that numbers almost 800,000 men. He has divided them into three. One group under Marius Lepidus numbers about 300,000. They I believe will be in Sarmatia in about six months.

Another led by Sextus Livianus consisting of about 250,000 and finally a third group led by one Gaius Formica also consisting of 25o, 000. They know we have a standing army of 50, 000 and if they attack from different directions at the same time we will never be able to defeat them all."

Tiirmirise cursed. At the time she recruited she had thought 100,000 soldiers would be enough to see off any threat from the Dominion. However Ninyas infernal meddling, scheming and plotting meant the council only approved 50,o00 soldiers.

They were hopelessly outnumbered. She could train 50,000 men in six months but by the time they sorted out all the bureaucracy and the political bickering that was likely to be involved it could take even longer than that.

"Excuse me We wish to consult something in my study We will be right back." She got up and went to one of the adjoining rooms to the chamber.

"Did you have any children with your Dominion wife?" Saronne asked quietly

"Yes actually I had two twin boys."

"Did you leave them to be killed when you left since there would be no warrior to care for them?"

"Actually I brought them back here. I was hoping to marry Hermione and that the Queen would bestow citizenship on them so they can become true Sarmatians. Would you speak to Tiirmirise for me?"

"Why do you not ask her yourself?"
"Because Saronne I have seen the changes you have wrought in the Queen. I believe you are the best person to broach this delicate matter with her. As a Massagetae she might wonder whether I had gone soft in the head. However coming from you, well it would seem a reasonable request."

"I am glad you didn't leave them behind to die, Osanes."

Tiirmirise was saying as she entered the room. "Yes We received a correspondence today from Bierae We wanted to read in the light of your news."

Tiirmirise returned and only heard Osanes say "So am I although I couldn't afford the time. I had to reach you before you returned to Ado to answer the summons of the High Council.

He turned to Tiirmirise and said "Apparently Ninyas is feeling vulnerable because you have an army of 50,000 at your beck and call and he has only a council of old men and women. He will urge the grand council to take your command."

Tiirmirise gave Saronne, Bierae and Candace's letters to read out. They confirmed that Ninyas had indeed concluded another diabolical scheme. Bierae's report stated that Ninyas had managed to convince the High Council of Viziers that the Dominion would not invade at all and that Tiirmirise was simply using this opportunity to grab power for herself. Vayanes , the wily old fox now held a substantial minority in the council. If he voted with Ninyas, they would carry the day.

But if he voted with Tiirmirise's faction Tiirmirise would win the vote. However as more and more people start to perceive him as a power broker his political influence would increase and he would soon become a major force to be reckoned with and a possible threat to the throne which needed to be eliminated unless of course Tiirmirise could secure the throne.

The next day Osanes saw Saronne, this time with a formal petition. He worried for his Dominion wife and he introduced her and his children to Saronne knowing full well Saronne had a compassionate nature and hoping the sight of the two beautiful little boys would move her.

Osanes came from the Trigantae tribe and they looked more like the Parthians or the Beri Beri. Their hair was usually black, though and they were fairly pale skinned.

Certainly she could see why Tiirmirise chose him for the mission he would easily fit in as a Dominion citizen. Well except for his height. He was tall like all Sarmatians and at least 6 foot tall.

Their children were beautiful and very well behaved. Certainly nothing like her unruly brood. Hermione looked more like someone from the land of the Angles. The Dominion women she had seen in the slave markets were tall, large strapping women with flaxen or red hair yet gracefully built.
Hermione was a good deal shorter than even Osanes. Her hair like Saronne's was extremely thick but where Saronne kept hers at a manageable length, halfway down her back, Hermione's fell past her waist and was thin brown and straight. Her eyes more grey than blue. Otherwise she looked very much like a Dominion woman.

The bones of her skull were well defined, her nose was a short straight blade, fine and thin and she had a wide mouth which was virtually lipless. She eyed Saronne suspiciously and the younger woman put her at ease with a gracious smile.

"This is Queen Tiirmirise's betrothed, she has promised to speak to the Queen on our behalf."

Saronne spoke haltingly in her own language curious to see if her theory was correct.

"I am Aeslynn, Votigernsdottir, I am pleased to offer you welcome."

"Princess Aeslynn it is well that we find you. Your brother Leif Redbeard has journeyed widely throughout our lands searching for you. Your father has offered a great reward for your return."

Osanes whirled round aghast "You are Votigern's daughter does Tiirmirise know?"

Saronne nodded. "Yes she knows I am his daughter but she does not know who Votigern is or if she does she pretends he is of no importance." Saronne said Wryly.

"My lady," Osanes said excitedly, " The Dominion have asked King Votigern to give them land to settle. His people are few and his lands are wide and plentiful. If Votigern agrees we may yet avoid a war with the Dominion."

"You will have to discuss this with Tiirmirise."

"Besides my people will only return to Votigern's lands if they cannot take Sarmatia. I am afraid there will have to be war before there is peace. Unless you can persuade King Votigern to make an offer before it comes to war."

"Tiirmirise would never let me go." Aeslynn said sadly

"You have to try." Osanes said desperately "It would be suicidal to war with both the Dominion and the Persians at the same time.

"The Persians?"

"Haven't you heard? Candace says that Cyrus imperialistic policies are looking increasingly ominous for us."

Saronne shook her head "Well I can't do anything about that. But what did you come to see me about?"

Osanes motioned for Hermione and the children to leave. He did not want her to get her hopes up only to be refused.

"As you can see Hermione is not a young woman. When I first met her she was barren. Her first husband an autocratic Thane refused to cast her off. She is not beautiful, but she is all that I have ever required in a woman."

Osanes spoke so passionately about Hermione that Saronne began to wonder if the once bloodthirsty general had not fallen in love. She listened patiently as he earnestly continued pleading his case.

"I chose her because although she had no children she reminded me of one who was nobly borne. Aloof, yet powerfully sexy much like you Saronne, although she is not as beautiful as you."

"You don't need to compliment me you rogue." Saronne smiled. She could not quite believe that this same young man who had wanted to kill her, who looked down on her was now paying her compliments and asking for a favour. If she was a vindictive person which she was not, she could well imagine how she would have enjoyed the situation.

Osanes eyebrows knotted. He was a very earnest young man. "I only speak the truth my lady. I offered many heads of cattle, much gold and even a plot of our ancestral land for you after I first saw you in Numer and I was not the only one. The Queen refused of course and threatened to kill me."

"But you all wanted to kill me and…"

"Nothing more than a ruse. The entire high command had a major crush on you especially Makeda and Osumares. "

"Makeda, I can understand, she was ever kind to me but Osumares? But he just used to spend the whole time glaring at me." Saronne finished incredulously.

Osanes laughed and Saronne shook her head. " We digress please continue with your story.

"As I was saying Hermione and I, we got on quite well, very well. She is intelligent sensible, passionate, articulate, hardworking.."

Saronne hid her smile as he continued praising Hermione. Osanes was indeed smitten by the Dominion woman.

"…she bathed twice a day, kept her wagon and utensils clean, she is everything my wife is not except Tigrantae."

Saronne's eyes widened. "You are married Osanes?"

"Yes I was married at fifteen an arranged marriage for political reasons. She turned out to be a drunken abusive woman whom I have never touched. She prefers her slaves."

"Female slaves?" Saronne queried hesitantly.

"If she preferred her female slaves I would be happy for then I could have spoken to her father and arranged an annulment so she could contract a marriage with another woman. No she prefers her male slaves and has whelped several bastards none of whom will ever bear my name." Osanes said bitterly.

"I am sorry to hear that." Saronne sympathised.

Osanes shrugged. "Well I originally chose Hermione because like me she was an outsider. I noticed her because like I said earlier she had no children. If her husband had not been a powerful noble the women in the Dominion army would not have tolerated her presence especially as she was a half breed.

She is half Dominion half Angle. Her husband's body was barely cold in the ground when the women were already making arrangements to club her to death and cast lots for her wagon which she kept in excellent condition and was thus the envy of every warrior there.

I chose her because in my estimation she needed me more than any Dominion woman there and after the treatment of the other Dominion women towards her I thought she would be less likely to betray me if she knew I was a spy.

So when she got pregnant and gave birth to twin boys not only was she vindicated but my position was elevated. Twins are rare amongst the Dominion. They have an obscure prophecy about twins.

Once Candace summoned me back to Sarmatia I knew I could not leave her behind nor could I take her to my people. I am Trigantae and my people would never let me marry a slave, at least not unless she was a Sarmatian citizen. It is the reason I have used to avoid giving any of my wife's whelps my name."

"Is that why you believe Tiirmirise might not grant Hermione citizenship?"

"Yes. Tiirmirise believes in the sanctity of marriage. Whether it is between a man and a woman, two women or two men. I mean look at Spargapises, he has many concubines but only one wife. Qastursh was allowed more than one wife because he needed a male heir.

My wife is Sarmatian and a Samartian takes their citizenship from their mother unless of course he is the King. Hermione must have citizenship otherwise my children will be treated as little other than slaves."

"I will speak to Tiirmirise and let you know what she decides. Osanes."

When Tiirmirise returned she was in a bad mood. Candace had just been debriefing her on the situation in the Persian court. Cyrus was planning on sending a deputation for her hand in marriage.

Naturally she would refuse but she had wanted a bit longer to convince Saronne that a marriage between them would be a good idea. If she did not marry Saronne before the deputation arrived Ninyas would pressure the Council of Viziers.

They would attempt to pressure her into a marriage she did not want and she would either lose Saronne and her crown because she refused to marry anyone else but her betrothed.

She had lost a lot of ground in the Chamber it was Ninyas arena and she dared not risk a confrontation with him in the Chamber of Viziers. She had already brought the issue up with Nnandi whose advice was that she should simply announce their wedding before hand and then deal with Saronne's indignation and anger later. However such high-handed action did not sit well with the Queen.

Tiirmirise was strangely quiet over dinner and Saronne recognising her mood did not bring it up until after dinner.

"Why don't you come here and let me rub your shoulders? You look tense."

"You don't have to do it I can always get one of the slaves to do it for me." Tiirmirise said curtly.

"I want to do it." Saronne said softly.

The Queen exhaled and wandered over wearily. In truth she had missed Saronne's hands on her but had not wanted to burden her with sexual demands especially with the birth of Chryseis so she had engaged a couple bathers.

Now she sat between Saronne's creamy white thighs, tension apparent in every muscle in her body. Saronne reached out for some Eucalyptus oil. She started stroking and kneading Tiirmirise's shoulders then her neck and back till she was rewarded with what sounded like a soft purring noise.

"Osanes was here today." Saronne began matter of factly.

"Indeed and what did he want?"

"He wanted me to meet Hermione the mother of his children." Saronne explained the situation to Tiirmirise.

"I would categorically deny such a request."

"Why?"

"Well first I have to grant a divorce, a divorce which Ninyas has to agree to then I would have to persuade the censors to enrol Hermione's name on the list of citizens again with the co-operation of Ninyas and that is as likely as the sun rising in the west and setting in the east besides as Queen of Sarmatia. Apart from anything else the Chief Censor Scholastes is a Grand Vizier and Osanes' father-in-law.

There is absolutely no way he is going to lie down and allow his daughter to be divorced. Ninyas will simply use the situation as another weapon against me and who knows where that will lead. Finally as Queen of Sarmatia, I must protect the sanctity of marriage." Tiirmirise said piously.

Saronne was extremely irritated "And having sex in with your bathers is that protecting the sanctity of marriage?"

Tiirmirise got up and turned around. "I have sex with my bathers because I do not think it wise to overly burden you with my sexual needs. You insist on breast feeding and caring for Chryseis personally and you are therefore constantly tired."

"Because I love her, did you not care for Spargapises personally?"

"No! he had nurses. Besides I am Queen I can have as many lovers as I wish."

"So can I have as many lovers as I wish? Can I sleep with my bathers?"

Tiirmirise's eyes narrowed and she got up to glare at Saronne "Do you sleep with your bathers?"

"No, but If I wanted to wouldn't you be upset if I did?"

"I would be absolutely furious." Tiirmirise said without hesitation.

"So what makes you think I am not angry." Saronne placed her hands on her hips.

"Saronne the fact that you have not already points to one thing. You only have sex with people you care for. If you did not you would have had several sexual partners by now.

So if you were to have sex play with another it would mean you cared for them. I am not prepared to tolerate that." Tiirmirise continued arrogantly "I on the other hand can separate love from sex. So whilst I may fuck my bathers, I make love to you."

"I can't even get angry with you because you have absolutely no idea that what you are doing is wrong!"

"How is it wrong?" Tiirmirise asked genuinely confused.

Saronne closed her eyes and counted to ten. "Tiirmirise, I never want to share you with another woman or man (for that matter) again otherwise I will not marry you."

The Queen froze. She could hear the sound of her heart pounded in her head. It was fear. She was afraid. "If that is your wish?" Tiirmirise said quietly.

"Yes that is my wish!" Saronne stamped her foot angrily.

"Whilst we are on the subject of marriage I would like to have it arranged within the next three months." Tiirmirise said silkily.

"Fine!"

Tiirmirise relaxed now that she knew Saronne was going through with the wedding and allowed a smile to play on her lips.

"Would my Afereni require anything else?"

"I am still angry with you Tiirmirise." Saronne glared back at her.

"What can I do to make it right?"

"You can start with sending away your bathers, Osanes request for Hermione's citizenship, and I will think of other things."

"Shall we kiss and make up now?" Tiirmirise was perfectly ready accede to any request Saronne made so long as they got married and soon. By the time the Persian delegation arrived Saronne would be her wife and Queen.

Saronne was suspicious this had been easy way too easy. She didn't fight as Tiirmirise gathered her up in her arms and surrendered herself to their gentle lovemaking.

As Tiirmirise predicted the granting of Hermione's citizenship rights became a political issue but not in the way anyone could have foreseen.

Osanes father, Shaluga was a consummate politician and elder statesman who had managed to maintain good relations with Magba Massinassa, Ninyas and Vayanes as well as the Queen.

So that there was no debate in the Chamber of Viziers about the granting of citizenship papers to Hermione and her sons since they were duly signed by Ninyas and Tiirmirise.

Theoretically therefore there should have been no opposition to registering her papers. The censors, who enrolled the name of every Sarmatian on the citizenship lists all agreed except for one. The Chief Censor who was also Osanes father-in-law. He stood with his iron grey hair and his face was a picture of abject defiance.

"I will not enrol your whore as a citizen!"

"But I have papers from both the Co-Regents of Sarmatia. Lord Ninyas and Queen Tiirmirise, signed and sealed as ordered by the Council of Viziers."

"I don't care how many bits of paper you produce and I don't care who you bring forward to nominate her, you vulgar adulterous little toad, may the fleas of a thousand camels infest your arsehole before I enrol that Dominion slut as a citizen!"

Osanes tried to reason with him "But Lord Ninyas and Queen Tiirmirise…"

The Chief's censor's cultured aristocratic tones echoed in resoundingly in the Bazaar.

"Didn't you hear me you spawn of a jackal. As censor I have the ultimate word here. The law says so. I can refuse them all. I piss on Tiirmirise, I piss on Ninyas and I Piss! Piss! Piss! on the High Council of Viziers and as for you, you can just Fuck right off if you think I am going to stand by and let you disgrace my daughter." He spat.

His face red with anger veins bursting from his neck the old man threw a right fist which connected with Osanes jaw flooring the younger man.

"I piss on the lot of you now get that slut and her little bastards out of here!" He spat.

In an example of unity and utter ruthlessness that no one had ever seen before nor likely ever expected to see again Tiirmirise and Ninyas ordered the palace guard to relieve him of his appointment and beat the living daylights out of the old man and.

It was a light punishment under Sarmatian law since Ninyas had in fact insisted on bringing the full weight of the law down on his reckless head and having him executed and it was only Vayanes and Tiirmirise's intervention that saved his life. The junior censors immediately enrolled Hermione and her sons as citizens.

It cause a lot of furore in the Council of Viziers and also in the High Council. The Chief Censor had indeed been right, Scholastes was the only one by law allowed to register their names on the roll of citizens.

However by insulting the two regents and the Council of Viziers so publicly he had sealed his fate. The viziers would have let it go but neither of the regents could have tolerated such a challenge to their rule.

Scholastes the Chief Censor was now relegated to the political wilderness of the backbenches and was in no position to protest to the quiet divorce of his daughter from Shaluga's son Osanes. As he smouldered on the back benches he plotted to get his own back on Shaluga.

In council the viziers desperate to keep a lid on the animosity between the Queen, Spargapises and Ninyas decided to divide power once more. This was once more due to political manoeuvring.

Spargapises was given command of 50,000 to go and deal with the largest Dominion army that had been sited. The army consisting of 300,000 men led by Marcellus Cornelius and Marius Lepidus. Tiirmirise had ensured that Makeda was to go with him as his senior legate.

Tiirmirise would be given the job of training and recruiting another army of 50,000 within six months. Candace had managed to buy them the time. The Trigantae and the Urhobae tribes working together had managed to slow down the advance of the other armies led by Gaius Formica and Sextus Livianus.

Tiirmirise's strategy was to prevent the three armies from converging at once. If she could fight three battles then they stood a chance. A hundred thousand strong army fighting three separate battles whilst outnumbered 3-1 gave them better odds than allowing Marcellus Cornelius army to congregate as a solid mass of eight hundred thousand fighting one battle against their much smaller army of one hundred thousand.

She called Makeda to her chambers and after explaining her battle plans made her instructions clear in no uncertain words.

"Your job is to save the army of 50,000 at all costs. Under no circumstances are you to engage enemy unless you absolutely have to."

"Even at the cost of the Crown Prince?"

"You do what you have to do even at the cost of my son."

Chapter 12


The Jewel of the Araxes

Tiirmirise reclined on her couch with Chryseis curled up fast asleep on her chest. She wore her black silken draw string trousers and a long vest tunic belted at the waist with her dress sword hanging on her right.

Saronne was being been fitted for her wedding gown which would consist of sheer tulle lace, satin silks and chiffon. She had regained her figure and was watching Tiirmirise's lusty glittering eyes as they fairly caressed her from across the room. Although they discussed politics the atmosphere in the room was replete with sexual tension.

"I think that if I negotiate with King Votigern he would be more than willing to allow the Dominion to settle and we could avert this war."

"I disagree. We have to beat the Dominion into submission before they will agree to settle on Votigern's lands. Besides Lady you need to be here for your wedding. Travelling to the land of the Angles now would delay it and I am disinclined to accept that." In this Tiirmirise remained uncompromising.

Ever since the Princess Olayrae, and the other seven High Priestesses had formerly announced their betrothal before the Grand Council of Grand Viziers, Saronne's status had changed.

She had been bestowed with her own coat of arms which depicted a silver falcon perching on a hand and all on a sky blue back ground. She was also given an official honour Massagetae honour guard with its Sarmatian equivalent. She had not just a room but her own apartments and her own household and income from the civil lists.

After the wedding and the coronation she could take her place in the chamber if she wished as a vizier.

Once decided on the wedding Tiirmirise had moved with breath taking speed. Tiirmirise was actually extremely easy to handle. Feed her water her and pet her and she purred.

There were few things which annoyed Tiirmirise recently, one of them was any talk of Saronne going to negotiate with Votigern or any delay to their wedding. The other was Ninyas and his infernal scheming.

"In my country a groom is not allowed to see his wife in her wedding dress before they get married."

"I am not going to be a groom Afereni. Secondly you have already had my child. If you think I am going to let you out of my sight for even a moment you are mistaken. I believe the Massagetae custom that requires I spend a night in armour in an overnight vigil in the temple before we wed is sufficient proof of my commitment to you."

"And I what am I supposed to be doing?"

"Well ordinarily you would be getting your piercings but since you already have those I guess you would be getting your beauty sleep and you will need it for I intend to wear you out."



The royal wedding was attended by all their allies. The Simian, King and his wife Queen Minae, The Gyptian Kings and their wife Queen Nefer and of course emperor Eugertes's Gross belly and his son with him the Crown princess Pradae and the King Votigern from the land of the Angles.

It was a lovely day too. The sun shone in the blue sky and the crowds lined the streets the air was full with the petals of lilies and roses imported from far flung lands. As well as arranging a banquet for the country's population held in the various civic centres for the citizens at Ninyas expense, another show of one upmanship that infuriated the Queen, there was also games, plays and theatres on a large scale.

The Race Course was not yet finished but Ninyas in an effort to impress threw chariot games anyway, held in honour of the Co-Regent's wedding. Tiirmirise had been extremely apprehensive when she met her father-in-law. He it was who would be giving Saronne away.

The meeting had not gone well. Votigern would have returned with his daughter had not his minister of protocol advised him against it. This made Tiirmirise extremely wary and exceedingly possessive though neither ruler let Saronne know something was wrong.

The wedding went well. Tiirmirise said her vows loud and clear in a ringing voice. Saronne's was spoken haltingly. When Tiirmirise smiled at her and held her hand she took courage from her warm hand and it was as though something wonderful flooded her being.

On the balcony of the Palace of light the newly married co-regent presented her queen to the nation and kissed her lustily to the roar of the appreciative crowd.



By the time the Dominion descended down from the mountains Tiirmirise had an army of 50,000. However she knew the area well and she also had Simian, Gyptian and Sirahn allies to help her out. Minae sent her news of the allied position as well as her love and a portrait of her son Tiirmyseion.

When she received a missive from Candace to the effect that the Urhobae and Trigantae tribes had effectively slowed down the attack from Gaius Formica. However once they felt they could no longer hold them they would retreat to the mountain fortresses with as many supplies as they could carry and burn everything else so the Dominion would not be able to forage from the land.

Eager to remove the stigma of the loss at Masene, Spargapises did everything by the book. He set up camp, marched in formation ready to attack, Makeda could not really fault him yet Makeda managed to irritate Spargapises exceedingly.

Makeda was the most helpful second in command a general could have. She took on all the boring day to day chores of army administration and supervision that it was almost as though she was always lurking like a stalking Panther. You could always sight her in your periphery vision but always at the corner of your eyes but when you turned to confront her she had disappeared.

Spargapises suspected something was wrong. His mother was extremely devious and especially cunning and she must have had good reason to send Makeda who was for all intents and purposes her second in command when it came to military matters. Makeda for her part wanted to unsettle the prince and so achieve a mental edge over him.

Makeda made it her business to know every military officer and a great deal of the many ranker soldiers too. As they were kept at a distance by the arrogant and snobby Spargapises Makeda became the senior officer that the army respected and trusted.

It was necessary that this be accomplished because Tiirmirise had given her explicit instructions to neutralise Spargapises if it became necessary. This did not mean she was to kill him, Tiirmirise loved her son but she had the Queen's permission to arrest and incarcerate him if necessary.

Marcellus's army arrived first in late June and though She thought she had prepared for every eventuality she had never dreamed of the situation that was now unfolding before her very eyes.

"So long as I live, no Dominion soldier will set foot on Sarmatian soil." Roared Spargapises when the matter was discussed in the command tent. Then arising majestically from his ivory general's chair he pointed upwards dramatically with his left hand and said "We march!!!"

"Eh We march? We march where?" Makeda's words dripped sarcasm.

"Up the river." Spargapises said arrogantly giving Makeda a condescending smile. "I shall turn the Dominion back from the mountains before an early snow makes that impossible.

"So how far up the river are we marching?"

"Until we meet them in a narrow valley like say the valley of Olokun. We will be in a better situation than the Dominion. We are much better organised than them."
Makeda disagreed shaking her head " Our best chance is to fight in an area where we have enough room to deploy our troops."

"There's more than enough room along the river to deploy our troops." And that was that. Spargapises would hear no further arguments.

Makeda was absolutely furious. All the plans she had made to deal with the Dominion were now useless. Nor would the maddening idiot change his mind so up the river they went with Spargapises riding ahead of his officers.

"Don't worry Makeda, it will be just like the Spartans at Thermoplyae. This is the ideal place to hold the Dominion and turn them back to their lands." Almeyedes, Ninyas son and heir recently elevated to the position of general said airily.

"The Spartans holding Thermoplyae all died." Makeda said flatly.

"So long as we push them back what does it matter. We will be covered with glory and our deeds will ring out through the ages."

"Push them back? They will not turn back. Their provisions are low from the scorched earth policy of our Simian and Gyptian allies and with only the snow to look forward to why turn back when they can have all the wine, supplies and women they can fuck that they need in Ekiti." Makeda shook her head sadly "No we will not stop them here."

The other officers shifted nervously.

"We fight here." Spargapises said confidently

In the command tent where all the other officers were gathered sitting morosely in a circle Makeda was saying "Well gentlemen Its been a pleasure knowing you all."

"Aye Makeda." One of the lower ranker officers agreed and they all drank a deep toast.

"What's that supposed to mean? Why are you all so negative?" Almeyedes, Ninyas eldest son asked

"Well young prince Almeyedes we are all going to die here."

"Die? Why?" The young man asked in puzzlement.

"We have been led into an impossible military situation by another high born incompetent." General Gnaes one of Vayanes supporters sneered.

Qadar was the father of Qastursh and Ninyas. Spargapises and Almeyedes were cousins so he would not take such a slur on his honour even though Spargapises and his father were mortal enemies.

"No you are quite mistaken. You don't understand Spargapises strategy."

"What strategy is that, pray enlighten us Young Prince." Makeda drawled.

"Well there are 300,000 Dominion troops and only fifty thousand of us so we cannot possibly face them on an open battlefield. The best way to beat them is to squeeze up into a narrow area where they cannot use their greater number of troops against us then go at them hammer and tongs till they retreat." He puffed out his chest proudly.

"Oh is that how you see it asked Petrides one of the Massagetae commanders."

"That's how it is." replied Almeyedes impatiently.

"Is that how it is Makeda?" asked the cavalry commander Gnaes

"That's how it is!" said Makeda laughing as the rest of the command tent burst into hysterical laughter stopping only to wipe tears of laughter from their eyes. Eventually Makeda stopped laughing long enough to point up at the entrance to the command tent.

"Look up there what do you see?"

"Mountains." Said Almeyedes.

"I see footpaths." said Petrides

"Footpaths? I see bridle tracks and cattle tracks" said Gnaes.

"Haven't you noticed all the little trails? All the Dominion have to do is take any one of those many tracks and they will out flank us. We'll be caught between hammer and anvil." Makeda flat palmed a little spider in her hand.
"They will crush us like this."

She slapped her palm on to her hand splattering the poor spider with a loud clap for dramatic effect and making the young prince jump.

Almeyedes left the command tent to throw up to the sound of male and female officers laughter ringing in his ears.

When next Spargapises called his meeting to discuss tactics, strategy and deployment of troops, Makeda walked in dressed in full battle armour.

"You're late." snapped the young prince.

"I was busy." smiled Makeda baring all her teeth in an almost frightening smile.

"If you have more important things to do then go."

Makeda hopped onto Spargapises desk lazily swinging her foot. It was an incongruous action for the big boned muscular woman. "Oh I am not going anywhere." She drawled in her perfect aristocratic Sarmatian. "I'm here to inform you that we are not fighting the Dominion tomorrow are we ladies and gentlemen."

"Did Ninyas put you up to this? I heard he has been buying support. No matter I'll have your head for this you treacherous traitor!"

"We shall see your highness but when I tell the Council of Viziers that our general is a military imbecile whose only concern is for his own personal glory and not protecting its citizens," Makeda turned around to address the other officers "which is essentially the reason we are here."

"This situation is untenable Makeda."

"Oh I completely agree. In fact our very presence in this location is untenable. Tomorrow the Dominion are going to swarm down all the little footpaths and descend on us like a swarm of locusts.

You are a Sarmatian, a Massagetae the son of one of possibly the greatest military genius of our time not a bloody Hellene. I am surprised your memories of Thermoplyae are Greek rather than Sarmatian.

You forget how Queen Tiirmirise used a foot path to out flank Jurugun's troops in the Numerian campaigns so many times it is hardly worth mentioning or perhaps you feel that because she is a woman and your mother she does not serve as an adequate example beyond your foolish pride."

Makeda took a deep breadth now she was absolutely incensed and intent on giving the stuck up Prince the dressing down he needed. " It is your mother Queen Tiirmirise I admire not Leonidas and his royal guard dying to the last man. The Spartans were willing to die because the Ephors had been bribed.

Leonidas needed to expunge the shame of Sparta so they gambled on trying to delay the Persian advance for the Greek fleet to ready itself but it didn't work. The Greek fleet perished and Leonidas died for nothing except perhaps sparing the blushes of Sparta. Thermoplyae did not influence that war in any way."

"You are mistaken!" Spargapises said stubbornly.

"No you," Makeda pointed to him with her finger. It had been broken during a wrestling match with Candace so it was a little crooked never the less it made her point.

"You are mistaken. Your army is now my army. Queen Tiirmirise sent me here to care for this army until she can take direct command and she cannot do so till she has defeated the army of Gaius Formica or Sextus Livianus whichever breaks through first. Therefore these are your new orders. This army will retreat and the retreat will begin tonight. That shall be the end of it."

The prince got up and stared hard at Makeda who stared back hard at him. They stood face to face. Nose to Nose. Eye ball to Eye ball and Spargapises blinked. He dismissed the other officers.

"There was no need to…"

"There was every need your highness. If I had not done what I had done you would have sent me away with a flea in my ear."

"You, Massagetae are all the same, from the lowest 5yr old in training to Queen Tiirmirise, bloody arrogant."

"Oh please, spare me your tedium. Queen Tiirmirise is the best general I have ever had the privilege to fight with and you still have not learnt your lesson from Masene.

The Queen is a brilliant general. All I know I know because of her. If you would stop seeing her as your mother and see her as a Queen which is the way a Sarmatian would see her you would not be so confused about your role."

"Hah!" Spat Spargapises.

The Sarmatian army started retreating as Makeda planned over the bridge to the other side of the river. Although what had happened in the command tent to cause the change of tactics was to all intents and purposes a mutiny that word was never mentioned. By the time the Dominion realised the Sarmatians were retreating most of the Sarmatians were across the bridge which was slightly wobbly.

There was one unit of Sarmatian cavalry on the other side watching under cover in the trees. Makeda could not recross because the bridge was filled with the last of her army and she did not want the last of her men to realise the bridge was being weakened.

In re-organising she had forgotten that young Almeyedes would be in charge of the last unit of horse. She cursed under her breadth. It was a careless oversight and she could not afford to lose even a unit of cavalry.

"Lead a charge young Almeyedes lead a charge." shouted Makeda till she was hoarse but the young prince could not hear her.

Finally the charge came. The Sarmatian horse dashed sideways into the Dominion troops decimating their front ranks before they had a chance to reach the bridge.

Makeda swore as her eyes searched frantically for Almeyedes and then wondered why Rael a Massagetae soldier, and second in command was leading the charge. Surely the young prince had not been cut down.

Makeda feared the worst. His father Ninyas would be furious and would probably claim it was all part of a plot by Tiirmirise. The cavalry unit galloped across the bridge safely back to the Sarmatian side. The Dominion swarmed after them on foot and the bridge wobbled dangerously.

The cavalry armed with composite bows especially adapted for the saddle that came with stirrups and bridles as well as spurs were able to fire on the Dominion as they retreated.

Yet more Dominion continued to pour over the bridge charging over the bodies of their fallen comrades. As the horse finally reached safety, Makeda arranged a welcome party for the Dominion warriors.

A hail of Javelins struck down more Dominion soldiers as the Sarmatian engineers worked frantically to pull the bridge down. The fighting was ferocious.

Shields locked as the Dominion warriors clashed with the Sarmatian soldiers on the bridge. The Sarmatians retreated slowly till finally a few hundred Dominion soldiers found themselves on the Sarmatian side.

Thousands were on the bridge when it finally crashed under their weight into the river below. The 100 Dominion stranded on the Sarmatian side were massacred.

It would take time for the Dominion to build another bridge and the Dominion were not known as a nation of bridge builders. Makeda had no doubt they would get across but it would take them time to find out how to do so.

Rael was injured but she was alright. "We did it eh General Makeda, we got them all across."

"What happened to Almeyedes?"

"He panicked, shat himself and fainted. We had to carry him over the bridge." She winced as a slave bound up her wounds.

"Well what do we do now?"

"We retreat. When they get tired of the pastures and the peace they'll lose focus and hopefully take up Votigern's offer to settle in his territories. Heaven knows he needs men to take and farm the land from the beasts who now swarm it."

Spargapises like all the members of Qastursh's family possessed an exquisitely refined sense of cruelty. He sent a report of the military situation. The unvarnished truth complete with the cowardice of young Almeyedes.

He took great delight in writing personally to Ninyas with the horrible details of his son's failure and then gave the letters to Almeyedes to deliver together with a contingent of soldiers to ensure he personally delivered the letter.

By the time Ninyas finished reading the letters he could barely tolerate the sight of his son.

"Father how can I tell you of the pain and sheer terror I experienced when I saw those savages with their awful shrieking running at me. I couldn't move, I couldn't even control my bowels, let alone my heart.

I fainted thinking I had died and when I awoke full of terror, my bowels still loose, to see the male and female soldiers who carried me to safety washing themselves free of my shit in the river under my very eyes. I could barely stand their contempt and loathing."

Almeyedes continued to weep as Ninyas replied in a cold flat voice his heart breaking with every word. "I disown you. I never ever want to see you again."

Ninyas went to the council and told them what had happened including his son's treachery. He bore the looks of sympathy with stoicism as he stood waiting outside the council chamber for Vayanes.

"I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Still I am sure you will understand my friend that my niece cannot marry your son."

"I understand." sighed Ninyas. "No one would want a coward for a son."

Vayanes clapped him on the back "No reason why she shouldn't marry you though. I mean she is a pretty little thing. Yes I think she'll be just the ticket. She's poor, you have loads of money and more importantly you have no heir. Yes I think it could work."

Ninyas shook his head morosely. "People would call me a randy old goat."

"But my dear Ninyas, you are a randy old goat. Don't you have sex with your bathers?"

"Well yes but everyone has sex with their bathers."

"Well there you go then."



"Absolutely not I forbid it. You cannot come to war with me. You will stay here and continue your very successful role in council Saronne." Tiirmirise shook her head.

"You are a born politician and your place is here. Your offer to Marius Lepidus is being considered as is the corresponding one to Votigern and the largest of the Dominion troops might yet return to Votigern's lands and save me the prospect of fighting three battles."

Saronne hated to admit it but she was enjoying her role in the council. She was able to hold her own in the chamber of viziers. She was more patient, more polite and possessed an excellent political savvy. She had after all been trained as a princess whereas Tiirmirise had been trained as a general and a warrior.

She had actually managed to check Ninyas schemes and Magba Massinassa was at present languishing in jail after he had been goaded by Saronne into confessing the role he played in assassinating Helle, Augur and the murder of two of Ninyas children.

Whilst Ninyas hated Tiirmirise he appeared to have a soft spot for Saronne and had even approached and promised her a truce if he ascended the throne before Spargapises.

She no longer supervised Tiirmirise's personal household it would have been too much work for her on top of her work load as a vizier and looking after Chryseis. However that job had gone to a nubile young Sarmatian female from the Gaetulae tribe in Sarmatia called Isasha.

Tiirmirise hated having Eunuchs in charge of her household due to her experiences in Qastursh's harem and preferred to have a woman in charge of her personal household. This in itself was not a problem except that many ambitious young women, saw it as a chance to seduce their way to power.

Isasha was beautiful with long black waving hair and dark swarthy skin. She was endowed with a lush body which she displayed at every opportunity. She always managed to be in some state of undress when Tiirmirise was around and now she would probably be going on campaign with Tiirmirise and Saronne was unashamedly jealous.

"Isasha is going on campaign with you?"

"Isasha? What is she going to do fuck the Dominion to death? Isasha will be staying here. The Massagetae daughter of the speaker of the house Scaures, will be accompanying me.

She is also an in-law of Epiphany and related to Nnandi. I believe her name is Raiden. She will be organising my household. She knows how to wield a whip you on the other hand spoiled my slaves rotten Afereni."

Tiirmirise came to stand before her wife brushing her lips, temples, cheekbones, eyelids and throat with gentle kisses before claiming her mouth. Saronne's jealousy evaporated in a pool of desire.

In truth Tiirmirise had never given her any cause to doubt she was anything other than faithful since she had put her foot down about having sex with her bathers.

Saronne could not resist touching her. "You promise to be careful Tiirmirise." She stroked the scar on the Queen's face and touched her lips with her fingertips.

Saronne gave Tiirmirise one of the hot kisses that made her toes curl and her centre tingle. Her tongue played with Tiirmirise's, deliciously endlessly, they kissed till they were both panting and their need for each other was ravenous.

It wasn't long before the blonde queen was swept off her feet and carried to bed. Her arms slid around Tiirmirise's neck and she clung possessively to the black Queen's. Saronne's smallness excited her, as did her passionate kisses. Tonight they would hold nothing back because tomorrow Tiirmirise would be fighting the Dominion and might never return.

Saronne moaned as The Queen's powerful callused hands roamed her body as though committing every detail of her to memory, remembering her scent, her softness, her taste.

"You are so lovely." Tiirmirise whispered against her throat as they clung naked together on the bed in Saronne's chambers, her fingers threaded into her golden mass of hair that crackled at her touch. She wanted to wrap herself in the golden silken tendrils and just sink into her.

They made love passionately all night as though it was their last time and in the morning Tiirmirise left for the battle front before dawn. Before Saronne awoke. She had kissed the children the night before and told them she was leaving. She did not like long emotional good byes.

She knew they would all expect to see her in the morning before she awoke but she changed her plans at the last. She had to go and keep her loved ones safe from a marauding horde of Dominion warriors.

When Saronne awoke the next morning she reached out expecting to find Tiirmirise and was heartbroken to find she had already left. She couldn't help it she cried. The children came in expecting to see the Queen and when she saw the disappointment on their faces she wanted to start crying again but she didn't.

Derastes tried to put a brave face but his bottom lip trembled dangerously and when Nitocris started crying as well she forgot her own tears as she tried to comfort the children. It was in this state that Epiphany found them.

"Saronne you can't do this to yourself." Epiphany hugged her and stroked her hair.

"Why did she do that?"

"I don't know. I used to be upset with Nnandi, until she explained to me that long partings were very hard on her emotionally because she did not wish to see me cry. They are brave in many things but not so in others. Now come dry your tears. Bierae tells me the council is not sitting today. Lets take the children out."

So it was that Isasha arranged made arrangements for a picnic for the royal children, Epiphany and her brood of children. Epiphany had a large family. One child a girl was a gift from the God to herself and Nnandi, two were her nephews, her brother died at Masene in Spargapises army and his wife in childbirth, Two other girl children she adopted, both their Massagetae Parents died also at Masene and the sixth child was Nnandi's niece whose parents were also a casualty of Masene.

It was a large party that set out for the day. They went to the chariot races first and then on to the gardens dedicated to memory of King Qastursh for a picnic. The gardens were located just outside the city of Ado in the ancestral lands of the Fantae.

The royal party was well guarded and the children played together whilst Epiphany tried to cheer Saronne out of her sombre mood. She was succeeding too.

"Well we had to go to one of those deadly dull political dinners last week and Osumares invited Fieries, the new Primate of the Southern Temple. He is probably one of the most pompous hypocritical men I have ever had the opportunity to meet." Epiphany was saying as she tucked into an apple.

"He spent the whole evening preaching about how people no longer made donations to the temples and how rich nobles were all corrupt and bringing the country to ruin with our wicked behaviour and then he tried touch me up.

I was so upset, I couldn't tell Nnandi, you know how jealous she can get, luckily Candace noticed and sat between us shielding me from his roaming hands. One of the slaves asked Candace what she would like to drink and Candace asked for some Numerian wine.

When the slave asked if Fieries if he would like some Numerian wine also, he wrinkled up his face and his bushy eyebrows pushed up into his receding hairline "I'd rather commit adultery." He spluttered self righteously to which Candace replied "Cancel the Numerian Wine, I didn't know there was a choice."

Saronne giggled as Epiphany continued "Well he was absolutely outraged and…"

A loud shrill scream brought the two of them to their feet and they hurried over to see what had happened. A child had fallen into the pond and the two women hurried over. Three of the Massagetae bodyguard dived in after the child but by the time they found him and laid him down on the bank he was still and not breathing.

A long thick spear protruded from his little stomach, this was no accident he had been purposely impaled.

"Oh the poor child it's an assassination." Epiphany covered her mouth in horror.

"He's still alive. Epiphany," She motioned to the captain of her personal bodyguard. "Nkiru! help me."

They put the little boy on the bank of the pond, meanwhile the rest of the Massagetae rounded up the royal family, Epiphany's children and their tutors and nurses for safety. It was whilst Nkiru was pulling out the spear from the little boy's belly that a muscular warrior approached them.

He was not from any of the tribes that Saronne was familiar with. His eyes were grey, his hair was black, he looked more like a BeriBeri than a Sarmatian. However his height and the smooth dark swarthy skin left her in no doubt he was Sarmatian.

The people of the plains might resemble many other races but one thing they all had in common they did not have a preponderance of body hair like the Beriberi or the Angles.

"My son! My son!" the warrior howled.

He tried to get to the boy and the Massagetae barred his way as Epiphany tried to explain what happened. Saronne tried to stem the bleeding. Eventually she knew that there was not a lot she could for him but to try using the amulet Olayrae gave her but she was afraid. It was erratic at best and if the wound was fatal then he would die.

She closed her eyes and started to channel till she felt the heat build up in her finger tips. Then she touched the wound and felt energy leave her. When the wound was finally closed she was exhausted and fell down in a faint.

When she came around her head felt like she had overly indulged in a bottle of Numerian Wine.

"Saronne are you alright?" She recognised Epiphany's voice, the other woman peered down at her anxiously.

"I'm fine. And the boy."

"I'm right here Your Highness." The little boy looked at her uncertainly.

Another voice spoke to her a deeper, manly voice. Its tone was humble even contrite. "Your Highness, My name is Lord Zeries, of the Fantae tribe of the people of the plains and I am yours to command Lady."



The Dominion which finally crossed into Sarmatian lands first was the army lead by Sextus Livianus and they were confronted by a huge Sarmatian Stone fortress manned by the Urhobae, a small but fierce tribe of Sarmatians and into which Tiirmirise shamelessly retreated.

The Dominion attacked it fruitlessly. The Sarmatians from their battlements let loose a hail of arrows, javelins and rocks and the Dominion impatient and unsuccessful retreated deciding it was not worth taking. Instead they turned their attentions towards the city of Quaresh. Quaresh was the third largest city in the kingdom of Sarmatia after Ado and Ekiti that the Dominion had heard of.

They looked forward to a nice booty of women, slaves, food and other luxuries. They had defeated the Sarmatians before only the death of their King Tarquin had forced them to return. Now they fully expected to pick up where they left off and conquer Sarmatia. The last of the Dominion had barely left the Urhobae fortress when Tiirmirise shipped out her army.

They were quiet, disciplined and overjoyed at the prospect of battle. Guided by Candace's information network and the Urhobae guards they were able to march around the Dominion and take up a perfect position ahead of them in front of the city of Quaresh at the top of a hill with a shallow stream at the bottom.

The Dominion now found themselves facing a Sarmatian army which impeded their advance to Quaresh and which further was ensconced behind a wooden fortress. Frustrated and without waiting for orders or reinforcements 150,000 Dominion warriors stormed the Sarmatian position across the shallow stream and up the hill.

Arrows came flying at them then the javelins and spears and then the two armies clashed. The odds evened to three to one and the wooden palisades Tiirmirise had built to fortify their position reduced that even further. The Dominion came away with huge losses. Midday saw 30,000 fallen Dominion soldiers and their casualties continued to rise.

Tiirmirise piled up the dead as an obstacle the Dominion would have to climb to reach the Sarmatian camp and it was just the beginning. Tiirmirise took several thousand cavalry troops under cover of darkness and directed them to cross the river and wait in ambush. She had to, horses were not much good going downhill and the bulk of her infantry was under the command of Nnandi at the top of the hill safely behind the wooden forte.

The next day they set fire to the Dominion troops in a gesture intended to rile them. The Dominion believed fire was sacred and to feed a body to fire well that was a desecration of the corpse. The enraged Dominion charged up hill and their ranks were decimated by archers and Javelins and when they clashed with the Sarmatian infantry metal tore into unprotected bone and tissue.

It was the first time in a long time since Tiirmirise fought without Makeda and Pasiphae at her side and she had to lead from the front. She went straight for Sextus Livianus and killed him in single combat. A great groan was heard to go through the Dominion host as he fell headless to the ground.

The Massagetae horse committed to a frontal charge fell on the rest of the Dominion army from the rear and by sun down the 250,000 Dominion army was no more. 50,000 Dominion Women, children who had travelled with the Dominion warriors were taken as slaves as well as 20,000 Dominion warriors.

They would be sold in foreign slave markets and the money from their sale used to augment the salaries and expenses of maintaining the army in the field.

Saronne read the news of the victory to the Sarmatian High Council and the city of Ado and Ekiti rang with bells for nigh on 14 days. The ugly spectre of the Dominion had been lifted.

They were no longer undefeatable. Sarmatia had a fighting chance. Saronne returned to her letter and in it she informed her that the embassy from the emperor Cyrus of Persia had finally arrived. He offered for the hand of Tiirmirise the Queen of the Massagetae.




Makeda was right the Dominion were not really bridge builders and decided to find another way to cross the river than build a bridge so they never actually crossed the River at the place Almeyedes had disgraced himself so badly.

Instead they hesitated. Tiirmirise's victory had given them pause for thought. Marcellus despaired of ever persuading his army to attack instead they spent a comfortable summer on the pastures. They were a Dominion army made up of citizens not landless serfs and therefore not bound to obey every command. Marius Lepidus lost discipline of his army.

Each soldier brought four cows to see to their needs. Their long stay on the pastures meant their cattle had, feasted on the lush green pastures and thus multiplied their herd. They were also inundated with camp followers during their march up and down the river and it was a while before they decided to head towards Ekiti.

By the time they reached the river Araxes, the last river before crossing into Sarmatian lands proper, lands not belonging to the Simian, the Gyptian or the Sirahn allies, Tiirmirise had combined her two armies which now numbered a 100,000 strong.

Spargapises, Makeda, Candace, Osanes, Nnandi, Xango were all reunited and they were joined by Osumares and Osamaye. This time there would be no hiding behind a wooden palisade because they were under strength. This time Tiirmirise was determined to crush the Dominion. The two leaders met at a conference and fixed the day of battle.

Once more Tiirmirise deployed her troops. Archers and cavalry on the wings to protect the infantry from any flanking movements. Javelins, Catapults, and Ballistas (long range artillery that fired, rocks, bolts long enough to bring down horses and napalm an incendiary device) were also placed strategically.

The Dominion cavalry charged them terrifyingly across the plains. Huge stallions with long pointy things attached to their foreheads. Unlike the Dominion lead by Sextus Livianus this army wore armour. Heavy plate mail, They were equipped with long swords and carried a heavy spear the Dominion called lances.

The Dominion horse massed in rows of 4 deep along four miles with the Dominion infantry behind them charged and wheeled right causing the Sarmatian line to move left and create an opening for the Dominion foot soldiers to outflank Makeda, who was in command on the right and thus take the Sarmatians from behind.

The plan almost worked too. Tiirmirise barely managed to pull the Sarmatian troops to a halt and the Units she was commanding took the brunt of the cavalry charge in an almighty clash of steel, horse and human flesh.

The Queen's personal standard bearer, her Falconier was killed and Tiirmirise herself went down when Mordents was charged from the side. A wave of despair fairly rippled across the Sarmatian army. Her Massagetae bodyguard surrounded her determined to give their life for their Queen and they fought bravely fighting the Dominion soldiers to a stand still.

The fighting was ferocious and brutal. It was the first time the arrogant Queen had ever doubted she would see the end of the day. Her bodyguard was cut down around her. Their numbers decimated.

She was gravely injured in the clash, leaving Makeda her second in command to deal with the first wave of Dominion infantry. When the Massagetae were eventually able to carry her to safety and patch up her wounds Tiirmirise ordered them to strap her to her horse and went back into battle knowing that if her horse was ham strung she would be exceedingly vulnerable because the Queen could barely stand on her own two legs.

Sarmatian fitness and training and Tiirmirise's sheer cunning, guile and determination won the field. Marcellus Cornelius a gargantuan 7ft giant with arms and legs like tree trunks seeing which way the battle was going tried to rally his troops by charging straight into the conflict. He led his bodyguard straight at Tiirmirise intending force her into a duel and kill her in single combat.

His horse ploughed into her already bruised horse who collapsed under the strength of his larger steed flinging her off. His battle axe shattered her sword and she slipped on the bloody ground as she raised her shield to protect her from the force from the blows that reigned unrelentingly down on her. He kept moving striking on her blind side. Tiirmirise threw off her helmet which was impeding her breathing and limiting her periphery vision.

She groaned as another blow from Marcellus' huge battle axe dislocated her left shoulder arm on which she carried her shield and she slipped in the bloody gore on the ground. She grunted as the wound in her side opened undoing all the good work of Raiden's stitching. Raiden herself unable to come to her Queen's aid was in a desperate battle for her life, barely fending off three Dominion warriors.

She gasped as Marcellus stabbed her abdomen with his dagger. His eyes rolled with frustrated fury when he realised her armour prevented any damage to her body.

"I will make you barren. I will rip out your womb. She-devil!"

He raised his sword and Tiirmirise said a quick prayer and waited for the death blow.


As the sword came down its blade slid off another and sparks flew at them. It was Spargapises sword.

In the moment of her greatest peril when she was about to be slaughtered everything had suddenly become clear to him. He saw her standard go down felt the army's confidence deplete palpably around him and for the first time in his life he was truly afraid.

He charged at the giant with the last of his own Massagetae honour guard behind him, fear in every beat of his heart for every blow that Tiirmirise fended off with her shield. He could see the other generals fighting to get to her side but there were so many of them. He almost despaired of reaching her on time.

The flashing scimitars of the Massagetae women taught personally by Tiirmirise to fight against odds of upwards of three even five to one was like an extra injection of 15o not just fifty and when Marcellus' blade came down aimed at chopping the vulnerable Queen in half it crashed down on Spargapises sword.

The prince trained by his mother did not bother to cross swords with the giant. His mother's words rang in his ears, "War is war, duelling is for impressing the ladies. If you need to kill be quick and efficient." He dropped to one knee pulled out his dagger and plunged it into the giants groin. He fell backwards like a great oak tree. His bodyguard surrounded him as Xango's Massagetae reached them and started fighting over his body. Thus covering Tiirmirise's retreat.

Slowly but surely the battle began to go the way of the Sarmatians. Around them, the morning sun now the evening sun was in their eyes. As Osanes had reported the Dominion did everything to excess. They had consumed large amounts of meat and drink the night before and were sluggish. The heat which was a mild inconvenience to the Sarmatians used to living there all their lives became like a furnace for the Dominion in their heavy armour.

Spargapises leaned over the fallen warrior, afraid to hope. "Mother?"

"My son! Am I glad to see you!" Tiirmirise said fervently and he hugged tightly then cradling her gently he carried her off the battle field himself. It was the second time Tiirmirise returned to the command tent.

"You will stay here!" Spargapises roared at her. "You are in no condition to return to the field."

Tiirmirise scowled at him as he continued speaking. "Nnandi will carry your commands to us. You will stay here and direct the rest of the battle."

The Queen was about to protest until Makeda said "I agree with him Tiirmirise and I am quite prepared to sit on you to keep you here if I have to. If you go out there now you will be a target for every single Dominion soldier if they kill you they will rally. Right now they all know you are alive they saw Spargapises carry you off the field."

The Queen subsided and directed the rest of the battle successfully from her sick bed.

They returned to Ado stopping first at Ekiti where they honoured the crown prince and Tiirmirise was extremely proud of her son. Her pride was so evident that they made peace between each other and were inseparable for the journey back.

At every city and town they passed there were displays of horsemanship banquets, gifts and at Ekiti the city presented the prince with a solid silver crown which was too heavy to be actually worn but would be carried before him.

In Ado the people loathed to be outdone by the city of Ekiti despite Ninyas protests in council held a triumph displaying the captured banners, booty slaves and treasures of the campaign. The feasting lasted three days and was interspersed with plays, recitals, and of course chariot racing.

By the time Tiirmirise arrived at the palace her wounds had begun to heal. She was no longer completely bed ridden but she was still unable to walk or stand for long periods of time without a crutch.

Although by the time Saronne saw her she'd been bathed and fed she still wept with relief that she was safe. Raiden had sent regular dispatches back to the Council of viziers, a job she once used to do.

"You look terrible!" Saronne said through her tears. Her hands touched Tiirmirise's face. There was another scar there, one that went from her temple to her jaw in a straight line. "This is new." She finished softly.

"I thought you liked my battle scars. I thought they showed my bravery in battle."

"They show Tiirmirise, that you are not heedful of your face!"

"But you didn't marry me for my pretty face."

"Didn't I?" Saronne teased

Tiirmirise pulled the hand at her face so that Saronne fell against her. "You married me for my…" Tiirmirise wriggled her eyebrows suggestively "other talents."
Saronne chuckled "You are incorrigible!"

"And you my love are irresistible." Tiirmirise kissed her capturing her lips and enjoying her taste, her scent her softness. The black Queen moaned. She was finally home.



When Tiirmirise was well enough to take her place in the Council of Viziers it was to a deafening applause even Ninyas stood up to congratulate her.

"You have received a lot of gifts and money from Cyrus asking for your hand in marriage."

"I hope you refused and desisted on my behalf." Tiirmirise said soaping Saronne's back.

They were sitting in the large wooden bath tub. Their only bathers were Nitocris and Chryseis who splashed happily away.

"Yes I did. Everyone agreed with me that Cyrus wanted Sarmatia and not you. Everyone that is except Ninyas who argued that a marriage alliance would not tie down Sarmatia since he would be ruling in your stead."

"What did you reply to that argument?"

"Well after defeating almost a million dominion warriors with barely a hundred thousand troops I asked the council if you were the kind of general we should gift to Cyrus? What if he decided to come after us?

I must commend you Tiirmirise it was a brilliant political move to take Raiden, I didn't know she was a favourite niece of Scaures, the speaker is now firmly on our side and so is Vayanes, his daughter is married to Osumares, and with Magba Massinassa still in exile we appear to have a majority for now. I think now that Bierae and I have a plan to rid ourselves of Ninyas now is the time to make our move."

"That sounds ominous!"

"Oh don't worry your pretty little head about it, I will take care of everything." Saronne said lightly turning around to face the amused Queen and plant a kiss on her hard lips.

Tiirmirise held a child in each arm and received many sloppy kisses from the giggling children and a more passionate one from their mother. Saronne cupped her face and her hand traced the new scar that ran from her temple to her jaw.

"Why are you looking at me like that Tiirmirise?"

"Because I love you and I realised I don't say it often enough Afereni."
Saronne smiled "I love you too Tiirmirise, with every breadth in my body, and every beat of my heart, yes even my soul is yours."



In the council Bierae and Saronne were a formidable team as they tackled Ninyas headlong in a political debate that raged over several months and would decide the economic fate of the country sooner rather than later.

"Would the Queen of the Massagetae tell us what we are to do with the Dominion problem she has foisted on us?"

The Dominion captives should have been slaughtered but because of Saronne's influence on the Queen they had not.

"We were not aware there was a problem." Tiirmirise pretended to look confused.

"We cannot dump such a huge amount of slaves especially male warriors into our community they are a threat." Ninyas slammed his hand down.

"Indeed only consider your majesty, The Dominion inter breeding with our people, soon we will have a nation of half-breeds, a mongrel nation!" Vayanes stormed at the council chamber.

Tiirmirise and Candace rolled their eyes. This was nothing less than racism and bigotry. Although everyone knew Vayanes was extremely racist and tolerated it not because he was a powerful man but because they all used it to manipulate him. However no one had tried to tell him his thinking was wrong, No one except Saronne. It was inconvenient to do so.

"What is your suggestion Lord Vayanes?" The Queen drawled.

"That every Dominion barbarian slave be slaughtered." Vayanes suggested and Ninyas seconded him.

"I thought you said he was on our side." Tiirmirise hissed to Saronne.

"He was, but I didn't know he was such a racist, I may have badly miscalculated." Saronne replied back to Tiirmirise

Saronne took permission from the speaker and joined the debate. "If I may honoured founders, We have a need of these slaves." Saronne did not think it was politic at this point to start discussing the evils of slavery. She needed to save their lives first before even thinking of freeing them.

"They can be put to good use" She continued "building roads, repairing sewers, the water cisterns and aqueducts, completing the Race Course, maintaining the temples and theatres, the Lighthouse at Maros , we also need more public baths, Parks and Latrines and The Queen Tiirmirise would like to build a great big leisure bath complex for the people of Sarmatia in Ekiti."
Saronne continued to speak persuasively listing an impressive list of public works which if completed would make the viziers and the Regency look like the golden age.

They would pass into immortality and it would boost the economy. The slaves would do the grunt work with the option of buying their freedom" Saronne argued passionately.

She turned around opening her hands appealingly, using every trick she had been taught in Rhetoric and Elocution lessons as a child in the Land of the Angles to try and persuade the council of viziers."Even the Sarmatian artisans and the landless poor would benefit from such projects."

The slaves would certainly ensure the work was completed quickly because even at a 100% employment there were not enough Sarmatians to complete the projects she had outlined.

"I commend your attempt to save your people, after all are not the Dominion said to be descended from the Angle Lands, and whilst, this is all very fantastic, it is not very realistic is it." Ninyas said after the applause had died down from Saronne's speech.

He drew himself up confidently as he continued his speech "Where would you get the money for such an ambitious building program. The booty collected from the last campaign will replenish the treasury but I do not think it would be enough for your vain glorious ambitions."

"Why Prince Ninyas you will pay for it."

"I will pay for it? Dear girl where would I get the money from?" He drawled patronisingly.

Saronne smiled innocently and put on her helpless little girl look. A look she had perfected on the Massagetae Queen to get her way many times.

She knew Tiirmirise was going to be furious with her next words so she did not glance at her but continued bravely speaking.

"Are you not curious why Gaius Formica's army never attacked? Well I will tell you why. The Princess Olayrae escorted me to meet him. He promised he would take his army and settle in Dominion lands once I obtained the permission of my father Votigern Redbeard.

I asked if he would be willing to pay Votigern some form of compensation for the land and he told me that the reason they had invaded the Simian lands was because of the legend of a hidden gold. They had planned to use this stash but the local people of Warbo reported that it had already been taken by a Sarmatian general a certain Lord Nincompoop."

The chamber erupted into laughter. "Nincompoop" in Sarmatian meant "Little Shit". Ninyas glared at Saronne who innocently returned his look and waited for the laughter to die down to a snicker. It was bad enough that Osumares referred to him as Lord Ninny, He could well imagine what the gossip mongers would be saying in the Bazaars.

Eventually the chamber settled down and Saronne continued with her account.

"I must protest!" Ninyas scowled at the Princess angrily.

"Prince Ninyas my wife is only lately learned in our language and does not understand the meaning of the words so I will explain it to her so she does not offend you in future." Tiirmirise said innocently determined to get her pound of flesh.

Ninyas eyes narrowed angrily "That will be quite unnecessary Your Majesty."

"Oh but I insist." Tiirmirise baited as the chamber erupted into more laughter.

"Please Your highness continue." Ninyas sat down and waved his hand negligently at Saronne. He was either in shock or utterly confounded because he would never have allowed Saronne to continue with her speech but should instead have shouted her down.

"His scouts had watched as 1000 Sarmatian soldiers from Lord Ninyas' mother's tribe the Fantae, and belonging to Ninyas personal honour guard changed their clothing to that of bandits, attack and ambush the gold meant for the Sarmatian vaults.

He very kindly provided me with eye witnesses from the Dominion and I also have several Fantae eye witnesses also who went into hiding after Ninyas unwilling to pay them all had some Fantae warriors executed to keep them quiet. When the nine year old son of Lord Zeries, of the Fantae was injured in an assassination attempt the Fantae elders approached me and spilled the whole sorry story."

Tiirmirise stared at Saronne and Ninyas in Shock. "Candace did you know about this?" Spargapises hissed to his cousin.

"Well the rumours are old and I've never been able to substantiate them but I just thought that perhaps Ninyas was spending the substantial inheritance he received from his father." Candace whispered back.

Saronne finished speaking and sat down waiting for the stunned chamber to react.

"I don't understand why did he bother himself with all that plotting when he could have simply recruited an army and taken over." Tiirmirise whispered to Candace and Saronne.

"Not everyone thinks like you dear." Saronne patted Tiirmirise's lap affectionately.
"How did you manage to find all this out?" Tiirmirise whispered angrily "Did you put yourself in any danger?"

"The Fantae came to me Tiirmirise, and I went to Bierae and Olayrae. I think they just felt I was more approachable than you. You know you can be quite frightening on first acquaintance."

She wanted to say more but the atmosphere in the chamber was becoming increasingly hostile and she hoped the hostility was not directed at her but at Ninyas. She gambled that greed would be a factor in the days proceedings but she would just have to see which way the chamber voted.

There was silence, then the whispering and murmuring till finally the chamber erupted. Ninyas found himself on the receiving end of vicious glares from every man and woman in the room. He had used the money to bribe them and bribed them heavily in return for high interest rates and political favours.

Most of the Viziers in the chamber owed him money and as Saronne had rightly speculated most of the viziers would be more than happy to be rid of him. It meant their debts would be cancelled. They bayed for Ninyas blood.

"Lies! Lies!"

"Are they?" Princess Bierae got up "When Princess Saronne informed me, I in formed the High Priestess and she had the gold picked up from your little hideaway by the temple guards."

The temple guards were inviolate in a way neither the Massagetae body guards and Sarmatian Palace guards were not.

"Your ancestral tribe the Fantae were so disgusted by your treachery and unable to carry the burden of guilt in this debacle they have washed their hands of you. They insisted on delivering the gold to the chamber."

At Bierae's command Lord Zeries, the Fantae titular chief and second in command to Ninyas, (Ninyas took his seat in the chamber of viziers by virtue of being the highest ranking Fantae in Sarmatia.) entered the chamber and the Fantae began to pile up the gold in the council chamber.

There were gasps of outraged anger and hissing as it formed a tower that fairly touched the high vaulted ceilings of the council chamber.

"Traitor!"

"Execute him!"

"Kill him!"

"Death is too good for him!"

Scaures banged his gavel for order and the chamber only subsided after Scaures had the magistrates (the guards of the council chamber) eject one over enthusiastic vizier.

The chamber was silent and Tiirmirise got up from her bench. " As Regent We reserve the right of punishment. We agree with the viziers, Death is too good for you, therefore this shall be your sentence.

We banish you from the Plains forever. We will spare the Fantae for they have expurgated their guilt. But if you dare to set foot in Sarmatia any man woman or beast may take your life without fear of retribution and claim a reward.

Your wife is the niece of a very honourable man, the vizier Vayanes so the life of your wife and child shall not be forfeit but they shall return to Scaures house and her son shall take Scaures name with the requisite compensation. Your cowardly son Almeyedes shall inherit the rest of your estate. The gold of Sarmatia will be returned to Sarmatia."

Then to Ninyas abject fury Tiirmirise got up and went to the ivory chair that had for so long been unoccupied since the death of Qastursh and sat on it. She drew her sword and laid it across her lap.

"I Tiirmirise daughter of Danu and Jbenga, hereby claim the throne of Sarmatia as sole Queen and in my own right. First in line to the throne shall be Spargapises, then Derastes, then Chryseis then Nitocris. You all owe me fealty and by the God I will have your oaths this day."

The Regency was over. The order of succession determined. Her victory was complete.



The departure of Ninyas from Sarmatia did not put an end to the infernal man's plotting. Instead he crossed over to the side of Cyrus in an attempt to regain the throne. There he started whispering about the gold, about the people and their life style, how rich and beautiful Sarmatia was whispering, whispering, whispering till the rumours finally convinced Cyrus and he began his plans of invasion.

In Ado, Nnandi had risen to the position of Prime Vizier and was in charge of the building and restoration works. A job she loved. Tiirmirise had persuaded her to finish the race course first and since both were a lovers of chariot racing and horse racing it had been one of the first building projects completed.

Every seven days the population of Ado would troop to watch the games after their weekly sacrifices in the temple. Candace was busy monitoring the Persian court. It was important that she keep an eye on Ninyas plotting and schemes.

Makeda was bored and unlike Tiirmirise who threw herself wholeheartedly into trade treaties and economic policies the big woman still hankered after Epiphany and had yet to choose a wife.

Although she did quite like Isasha, the young lady in charge of Tiirmirise's house hold and Isasha's parents anxious to advance their other children's political career had approached her with what would have been an interesting proposition, Isasha was very young only twenty three whilst Makeda was in her early forties. It felt like cradle snatching. She tried to pay attention to what they were saying in the cabinet meeting.

Votigern remained stubborn over the negotiations. He would not allow the Dominion to settle in his lands until he had seen his daughter and grand-daughters. He insisted they return to the land of the Angles and before he would agree to conclude the negotiations and Tiirmirise could not fight her father-in-law. She was extremely frustrated by the whole situation.

"We will not be gone long. Your majesty" At official meetings such as this they used their honorific titles unless they were alone.

"I do not trust Votigern. He hates me." The Queen paced the floor angrily. She was sitting in the cabinet chamber surrounded by her closest advisers.

Spargapises the Crown Prince and heir, Nnandi, the Prime Vizier, Makeda the Chief-of-Staff, Candace her spy master and Chief of Intelligence was in Persia so her second- in- command Osanes, took her place, Osumares head of the tribal council which represented the countryside, Osamaye head of the tribal council which represented the cities, Vayanes the Chief Censor, Scaures the Speaker in the Council of Viziers, Saronne now Queenette of Sarmatia, and finally the brilliant Raiden, a war veteran at only sixteen and her personal scribe.

Isasha came into the room and smiled at Makeda who studiously pretended a deep interest in the papers Raiden distributed amongst them. As the young girl served them with iced juices and water.

When she neared Makeda that young lady discreetly turned Makeda's papers the right way up and continued her work before disappearing with Makeda staring longingly after her.

Nnandi whose eyes did not miss a thing winked slowly and obviously at Makeda who glared back at her.

"I believe you have no option but to let the Queenette Saronne return to the land of the Angles." Vayanes shook his head knowing full well the Queen would not take his advice because she was aware of the distaste he had for foreigners. Although he did actually like Queenette Saronne.

"Cyrus is making plans to invade with nigh on one million troops. We cannot fight a war with Cyrus and have the Dominion troops lurking on our borders." Osanes said passionately.

"We have only an army of 100,000 and even if we decided to train more we cannot raise more than 50,000 in the time we have."
"I will think on it." Was all Tiirmirise was prepared to say.




It was early evening and the children were playing in the garden. Little Chryseis was able to walk now and run after big sister Nitocris and her nephew Derastes. They rolled in the freshly hewn grass with the Queen laughing and giggling as she picked them up and swung them about kissing their bruises she soothed away their fears till their nurses came and carried them away.

Saronne was busy with affairs of state. The issue of Cyrus pending attack was a hot topic and Saronne was battling the Council of Viziers to release funds to train not 50,000 troops but a 100,000 because of Cyrus' alarming troop movements.

Tiirmirise loathed the politicking and dinners they had to attend to garner support in the council, and the attention to detail required to study the laws and its loopholes to allow this but it was Saronne's forte and Tiirmirise had left her debating with Viziers and Lawyers over how she should approach the next political battle. As far as Tiirmirise was concerned Laws were like sausages it was better not to see them being made.

The Politics was now more sophisticated. Ninyas had his adherents still in council working to bring him back, obviously they had not recovered all the Simian gold, so it was hard to know who actually supported his policies and what they were since they moved underground.

She had seen the children playing in the gardens with their nurse from one of the council chambers and sneaked out to spend time with them. She had hardly spent time with Spargapises as a child and she did not want to miss Derastes growing up so she left the raging debate for the innocent play of the children.

She was therefore slightly irritated when Isasha came in to announce they had a guest.

"Send them away." Tiirmirise said irritably

"She can't do that Tiirmirise and you should know better than to ask."

"Olayrae?"

The Queen got up to embrace her and placed a kiss of greeting on her lips.

"I do enjoy these little changes Saronne has wrought in you."

"She is wonderful is she not."

"Well I am glad to hear that after all these years you are still in love with her."

"Four years is not so very long." Saronne pulled out a chair for her and the children came and hugged and kissed her as well.

"It seems like yesterday the harem was crawling with beautiful but depraved young men and women hell bent on drowning in hedonistic pleasures but today it is filled with the happy sound of laughter and the patter of little feet."

"You are getting maudlin in your old age Your Grace. Come let me pour you some wine I am sure you are thirsty and I am dying to know why you have come here."

"Derastes will be reaching the age to choose his right of passage soon. I have come to tell you that…"

"He does not wish to become a warrior I know. It grieves me sorely but each to his own."

"He is marked for the God."

"I don't understand."

"It is the custom that the eldest child of the ruling King or Queen serve in the temple. I was the eldest child of Qastursh at the time he became King and Derastes is the eldest child of Spargapises."

"He won't like it." Tiirmirise shook her head "He will not like it one little bit."

"It matters not what Spargapises likes. All I want is your promise that when the time comes you will let him go willingly."

"I accede to your request Lady." Tiirmirise bowed.

"I am also to tell you that you should allow Saronne to see her father, she will return to you never fear."

"And the children? Nitocris and Chryseis?"

"Nitocris wishes to be a Massagetae like her aunty, I hardly think she will want to stay in a land that will not appreciate her military talents." Olayrae said wryly. "And Chryseis is much too young to be separated from her mother."

"I do not want them to go" The Queen said stubbornly and then sighed "I will miss them."

"You will be on campaign. Cyrus is coming to fight you and Mithradates of Pontus wishes for you to negotiate a truce that you will not attack him so he can seize Cappadocia from Cyrus whilst Cyrus is busy attacking you."

"But I wasn't going to attack him." Tiirmirise said exasperatedly

"He does not need to know that. If you wish to avoid heartbreak you will send someone else to negotiate and not go yourself."


Votigern was extremely happy to see his daughter and formally agreed to allow Gaius Formica to settle his people on the land. The negotiations complete Saronne was delayed in the land of the Angles. The weather was bad and no ships were leaving because of the thunderstorms that wracked the high seas and the coastline of Angle Land.

Winter came early and the snows were especially heavy. No ships were willing or sturdy enough to risk the weather and carry the Queenette her family and her 1000 strong Massagetae bodyguard. The Queenette would have to wait till spring or summer at the very least.

When Summer came Votigern refused to let his daughter and grandchildren leave. He gave no reason and began making noises about looking for a husband for Saronne.

Captain Nkiru assigned two of the Massagetae guards to inform Queen Tiirmirise of the situation. Her brother Leif was in total agreement Saronne was to stay they would not allow her to return to the land of the savages.

"Father you do not want to cross Tiirmirise, I have to return." Saronne had tried to reason with her stubborn father but King Votigern was having none of it.

"Cyrus has invaded the Plains with almost a million Persian troops in purple and saffron. It is said they have been drinking whole rivers dry. They have been slaughtering any person, beast or thing they encounter leaving the land in their wake a smoking ruin. I will not return you because you are safer here."

"Therefore here you shall remain. At least until I hear news of Tiirmirise. If she still lives then I may allow you to return. If she is dead then you will obviously remain here."

"Father that is not possible. Nitocris and Chryseis are third and fourth in line to the throne of Sarmatia."

"That is not what I heard. I heard that Derastes is to be removed from the line of succession from the High Priestess. It is the will of the Gods. The eldest child of the ruling King is always dedicated to the God. Spargapises is a young man he can always have other children."

"Yes he can but he has not which is why it is important for me to return to Sarmatia."

"Well perhaps he needs to have 3oo wives and concubines before he can have other children either way Chryseis and Nitocris are now second and third in line to the throne respectively and you yourself have told me that Tiirmirise and Spargapises were a victims of so many assassination plots it made them paranoid. Well I do not want my grandchildren to grow up in such an atmosphere. They will remain here till I deem it safe for them to return."

"At least let me write to her." Saronne pleaded earnestly.

"So Lord Ninyas and all those scheming viziers will send assassins to my country? I think not. You will remain here till I feel it is safe for you to return."

Everyone kept well away from the Massagetae Women. They were a fiercesome bunch ferocious and single minded in the defence of their mistress.

They never left her a lone for a moment and the children were extended the same protection. Everything from their clothing to their food was searched closely and examined in detail.

Saronne spent a year at home and she remembered how when she had been first captured she had wanted to return. Now she just wanted to leave. Home was in Tiirmirise's arms and that was where she wanted to be. She told the Massagetae that come spring they would be leaving for Sarmatia even if they had to build a boat and sail it themselves.

So when the first day of spring came and a ship sailed into port Saronne asked the captain of her Massagetae guard, Nkiru, to go and investigate. The ship was empty and came to buy goods to sell. On it was an old bard who claimed he brought news from Sarmatia which he was willing to swop for bed and board.

The old man sat in the long hall and regarded his audience with glittering eyes. His hair was white and his beard long. The Angles loved a good story. They spent many a long winter gathered around a wooden fire telling stories. The old bard took a sip of dark bitter ale and after grimacing began his tale to the accompaniment of the sitar he carried.

"After the death of her husband Queen Tomyris ascended the throne." He stroked his Sitar slowly, his eyes darting around the room. He had used the Anglo Saxon term for the name Tiirmirise because if he had called her by her Sarmatian name they would have been suspicious of his accent.

Osanes was fair enough to pass as Sarmatian but not dark skinned enough to be mistaken as Massagetae. Although he was actually descended from one of the ancient Massagetae families who married into the Gaetulae. It worked for him because he was able to slip in and out of Dominion lands and the lands of the Angles.

Saronne found the stranger suspicious indeed. His story had no tune and did not rhyme although it was compelling because she knew the people in the story personally."

"King Cyrus of Persia wooed her with gifts and ambassadors with offers of marriage however the Queen rejected all his advances for she knew he wanted her Queendom and not her.

Cyrus marched his army to the river Araxes and began building a bridge on which his army would cross the bridge. He did this by building Towers on boats. Queen Tomyris no doubt ascertaining that the king was a poor engineer sent him a mocking message by herald.

"King Cyrus of the Pasargadae, king of the Medes and the Persians desist in this futile undertaking, be content to rule your own people and endeavour to see us reign over those countries that are ours to govern.

However if you wish to act like a bone headed idiot, (here the herald swallowed and quaked for the anger of Princes has ended the life of many an unfortunate herald,) Cease your useless bridge building and let us retire from the pier and give you the chance to sail across with your soldiers. If you wish we can even meet you half way on your side of the stream and give battle."

Cyrus interested as to how the Queen would cross the Araxes, as were all his viziers voted for Tomyris to give battle on Persian ground. All except Croesus and Ninyas the traitor. The Queen's brother-in-law on account of whom Cyrus had used as an excuse to invade Sarmatia.

Croesus was a King of Lydia conquered by Cyrus. He had an oracle which said if he went to war with Cyrus a Kingdom would fall. So he went to war never imagining that it would be his own Kingdom that would fall. Cyrus valued his council and treated him with respect.

Whereupon Ninyas gave Cyrus wicked counsel saying " I have arranged for king Mithradates of Cappadocia to lure Queen Tomyris away with an offer of truce. He will claim to take Cappadocia whilst your majesty is otherwise engaged.

Queen Tomyris will not get back in time to fight and Spargapises will take command. He cannot help it. He will be eager to show he is a good fighter. I know my nephew Spargapises, He is a good general but he is prone to his father's vices that is the best way to defeat him. Once we defeat Tomyris we march on Ado and Ekiti and if we can take the city before she returns we have won the day."

Croesus too gave his own counsel. "Let us cross over to the other side and prepare a feast in the camp. Let the best cooks you have at your disposal prepare a feast for them in our camp. Let us make the best wine, strongest and headiest available. The distilled one and fortified wine. The Dominion are not noted for drinking such spirits and it will weaken them.

We shall also leave some beautiful slaves both male and female and we shall leave our worst troops behind to guard the tents.

When they attack we shall fall back leaving the worst troops to take the full brunt of the charge. When they are senselessly drunk and tired from celebrating we shall attack them and beat them easily. Cyrus seeing the wisdom in their counsel agreed to their plan and followed their advice.

Yet that night, whilst the Persian King slept he thought he saw one of the sons of his vizier Hystapes an Archemenadai, usurping the throne. So he called Hystaspes the next morning and took him to task. Hyastapes was so afraid his son might indeed be plotting against the king and he took permission to go and investigate.

As Hyastaspes hurried away they carried out their plan. When the Sarmatians were drunk, drugged and tired of raping the slaves left behind they fell into slumber and the Persian army fell on them and slaughtered them all. Prince Xango died defending the young Prince Spargapises who was captured.

Cyrus himself had prepared a tub of Water in which he wished to boil the unfortunate prince but his sister the blind seer Olayrae stayed his hand.

"If you kill him then your death will surely follow." He believed her for she was a high priestess of the God and though she was blind she described his appearance and walked without aid amongst his men sight unseen to his side.

He taxed her greatly and asked many questions indeed he even offered her marriage but she refused and when he threatened to imprison her she cursed him that he would never leave Massagetae lands alive and just as soon as she came she disappeared.

When Tomyris heard of the defeat she was furious for her own brother had fallen in the fighting. She sent a message to the Persian king.

"You bloodthirsty heathen! Pride not yourself on this cheap victory that you have won against a boy using trickery and the treachery of a traitor. Restore my son to me and get you gone from my lands for know that you have triumphed over only a third of my army and I will let you leave . If you fail to comply with my requests I will end your life and give you your fill of blood."

Certainly Cyrus should have heeded her words but he dismissed it as the rantings of a deluded mother. As for Spargapises when he realised that he had been captured he asked that Cyrus release him and when he was released he took a sword from a nearby soldier and killed himself.

When the news of his death reached the Queen there was wailing and lamentation in the Sarmatian camp and the Queen locked herself away and shaved her head. The following day the entire Sarmatian army and their allies wore black and it was a sinister sombre looking army that fought the brightly coloured saffron and purple host of the Persians.

The battle itself was said to be the most savage encounter ever fought."

Osanes had just arrived at his favourite part when he called for more ale and began a very gory description of the battle itself. The serving girl, a pretty girl with flaxen hair like everyone else in the Long Hall obliged.

Saronne noted that Nitocris like all the men and Massagetae in the long hall were enraptured by tales of battle. She had seen war herself. No one ever talked about the smell of death and the screams of dying men or the foul odour of decomposing flesh. No the talk was always about glory, feats of bravery and derring do by dashing heroes and gallant warriors.

She wasn't interested in that. All she wanted to know was that Tiirmirise was alright. She heard the bard say Cyrus was indeed killed and that the dream he'd had about Darius taking over his throne was a warning from the gods about his death and he died horribly from the account of the bard.

The bard continued his story with relish frantically strumming his sitar when describing the fight scenes and playing a melancholy note when describing the death of one of the protagonists in his story.

"Some say the Queen had them tie his manhood and testicles so that he could not piss and then collecting the blood from dead Sarmatian men they forced him to drink it till he burst. Others say she made his skull into a goblet from which she drank his blood."

Everyone gasped and Saronne realised he was simply trying to draw emotion from the crowd.

"Yes but what is the truth?" Votigern asked quietly.

"They say, and I believe this version, that she decapitated his corpse and dipped the head in blood saying "Thus I make good my threat that you will have your fill of gore but you have the last laugh for you took my son and brother by guile and treachery."

"What happened to Ninyas?" Saronne asked

"He died a noble death on the battlefield, a traitor fighting for another country's king."

The Queen is on her way here to claim the Queenette Saronne and she comes with a navy and army determined to give battle until the Lady Aeslynn the fair, the jewel of Araxes, Hand Maiden of the Sarmatia and the Hidden Queen of the Massagetae is returned." The bard finished as though it was part of the story.

She knew him and his name came out in a gasp "Osanes!"

He threw off his disguise. "It is indeed I, Osanes. I am come to offer you terms King Votigern."

"Terms? What terms?"

"The Queen Tiirmirise requests that you return the Queenette and the princesses Nitocris and Chryseis to her care and protection."

"I will not allow my daughter to return to that barbaric woman!" spat Votigern "Didn't you just tell me she drinks blood from skulls! No way Absolutely not! Seize him!"

Saronne intervened "Father you cannot you have offered him hospitality!"

"Very well. Get you gone from these halls!" The king commanded in a booming voice.

Another war this time with Cappadocia and more fighting with the Persians till they were thrown out of the territories of Sarmatia and its allies for good. The Persians signed a treaty of peace and retreated never to return. It would be another year before Tomyris could see to recovering her family.

A month after the last of the treaties were signed a fleet of ships were sighted and they were flying the flag of the Massagetae Queen. A Silver falcon with outstretched wings on a black background.

Saronne was scolding Nitocris who had an aversion to sums. The young girl at seven was a complete handful with dreams of becoming a Massagetae warrior. Chryseis on the other hand was a tranquil well behaved child with more peaceful leanings like playing with her dolls.

Tomyris stormed into Votigern's hall alone dressed in black with her purple cloak swirling behind her. She wore her helmet and the silver mask and Votigern's Thanes quivered in fear as her booted feet echoed ominously with every step she took. Her silver spurs glinted on the ankles of her thigh high black boots and she looked absolutely terrifying.

When she removed her helmet Saronne felt a wave of tenderness sweep over her for she looked like she had aged ten years with the death of her beloved Father, brother and son. A grey lock of hair a shocking, testament to her hard fought life, fell across her forehead. The rest of the hair on her head was jet black close cut to the nape of her neck.

Her face was gaunt and hard, her high cheekbones stark and the lips that once caressed Saronne' skin so tenderly were hard and uncompromising. Yet in the black depths of the eye not covered by an eye patch glittered intelligence and a depth of love that Saronne's soul had missed during their separation. She was going home and her heart felt like singing.

"Our greetings King Votigern." She bowed ever so slightly to show respect yet enough to be vaguely insulting.

"Queen Tomyris to what do We owe this pleasure?"

"We are come," Tiirmirise gritted her teeth "On behalf of myself and the People of the plains to formally request the return of the Queenette Saronne and the Princesses Nitocris and Chryseis."

"What if We refuse?"

"We would be extremely pleased if you refused Votigern." Tiirmirise said dangerously. "We promised the council of viziers We would ask before taking them and burning down your long hall. We have fulfilled that promise. Now We would be more than happy to burn down your long hall and take my family back to Sarmatia where they belong knowing full well you would not be alive to spirit them away again."

Saronne gasped. She knew her lover very well. Tiirmirise felt threatened and would do all to secure her family.

"After all you were careless enough to lose her to slavers. We are surprised to find them still here."

"How dare you! We do not have slaves in my kingdom and…"

"We could not give a flying fuck what you do with your kingdom King Votigern. We will have our wife and children."

"Or what? You will start a war?"

"I have 1000 armed Massagetae soldiers in your long hall and an army of ten thousand waiting outside the doors of your long hall."

"That is not enough to defeat us!"

"Indeed! You sound like a dead king We once knew, perhaps you have heard of him his name was Cyrus, he too underestimated us."

Votigern swallowed hard. He had only a thousand household thanes and he did not have the resources to fund a standing army. It would take him months to even get an army if his people ever even agreed to accede to his request.

"Very well you need heirs you can have the brats my daughter stays."

Tiirmirise lost her temper. "We will not leave here without ALL our family Votigern."

"Aunty Tomyris can I come with you?"

"Who said that?"

"I did I am Nitocris."

"You wish to come with me?" Tomyris asked quizzically "Without your mother?"

"Well I certainly don't want to stay here!! Err no offence Grandpa!"

"None taken." the old man drawled lazily.

Tomyris moved so fast she was a blur. She stood In front of Nitocris and struck, a hand going to the child's face. Nitocris ducked the first blow and avoided the second blow blocking it with her wrist.

Tomyris grinned "You will make an excellent Massagetae warrior." The Queen scooped her up into her arms and kissed her forehead "How I have missed you little one." She whispered the last words and chuckled as the young girl threw her arms around her neck.

"I missed you to! Aunty Ti."

"Oh no she will not!" Saronne stepped forward from where she had been waiting anxiously hidden by Votigern's household thanes.

Tiirmirise stood watching her for what seemed an eternity, her black-eyed gaze just drinking in the sight of her and then they were in each others arms. Tiirmirise wrapped an arm around her waist and captured her lips in a kiss she had fantasised about for what seemed like eternity.

"What about me?" Wailed Chryseis plaintively and Tiirmirise laughed and picked up the little girl and gave her a gentle kiss.

Votigern sighed and Leif, Saronne's brother placed a hand on his father's shoulder.

"I guess that answers your question father. I believe Tomyris does indeed love Aeslynn and you might as well let her go with your blessing."

"But she just got here" Votigern wailed sounding exactly like his granddaughter Chryseis.

The rest of the Sarmatian delegation attended Votigern in his long hall and amongst them was Bierae. She had accompanied the Sarmatian Queen and she was gloriously pregnant.

"Why did you make such a journey in your condition?" Saronne asked curiously as she helped to make the princess more comfortable.

"Because Tiirmirise was insane with jealousy. She has missed you terribly and she is feeling particularly vulnerable and someone has to pound some sense into her until you two got together. This is an official Trade delegation.."

"Trade delegation?"

"Yes Tiirmirise told the Chamber she was coming here to trade." Bierae said wryly. "If she had told them she was coming to war on your father they would never have let us come."

After signing trade treaties and taking their leave on a favourable wind the Sarmatians returned to Sarmatia with Saronne and her children. All the way back Nitocris had pestered Tiirmirise about becoming a warrior. Saronne was vehemently opposed to it and Tiirmirise had given Nitocris lessons secretly on fighting and weapons and other basic weapons training. It was after all a long voyage.

She also learned literature history and diplomacy from Saronne although she preferred to read military treatise and books on engineering and military history when she thought her Saronne was not watching.

When Saronne found out about the secret lessons she was furious and called Tiirmirise out. "You are teaching her to become a war monger!"

"Saronne," Tiirmirise said reasonably "She will need to learn how to protect herself and look out for her little sister because Chryseis shows no inclination in swords or anything!" Tiirmirise looked exasperated "All she wants to do is play with dolls and even worse she thinks everyone loves her!"

"Everyone does love her!" Saronne replied

"That is not the point!"

Nitocris remained stubborn. "But I wish to be a Massagetae. I will be a Massagetae!"

"I want to be a pwincess." Chryseis smiled and gave Tiirmirise a wet kiss.

Tiirmirise kissed Chryseis back and ruffled Nitocris's hair "You are as stubborn as your mother Nito. Very well if you are able to take the right of passage you can be a Massagetae."

"Right of passage, I don't like the sound of that, I don't like the sound of that at all Tiirmirise. What exactly does it involve?" Saronne chewed her lip worriedly.

"They will tattoo your back with wings. You will not be able to lie on your back for three days and during that time you must fend for yourself in the wilderness with only a knife. If you succeed you become Massagetae and they will burn off your right breast.

All that you will be left with is a scar. If you fail well you will still be a Massagetae because your father is one but they will not burn off your right breast and you will never be able to bear arms as a warrior.

"That's barbaric!"

"It is the training!"

"I bet they don't burn the men's breasts off?"

"No they have their penis mutilated. I believe you call it circumcision but they too will be tattooed with wings and have to survive in the wilderness."

"Tiirmirise I am not entirely sure this conversation is appropriate for…"

"It is life. She will be Queen one day and she should not be overly pampered. Spargapises and Qastursh were overly pampered and look what happened to them."

Tiirmirise eased out of her armour with a sigh and flexed her muscles. Nitocris was fascinated by the wings tattooed on her back

"Can I touch them?"

"Off course!"

"Did they hurt?"

"At the time it was very painful but like all things the pain passes away and only the beauty and pride of being a Massagetae remains."

"Wow!" Nitocris exhaled as Tiirmirise shrugged into her tunic. "I wish I could be a Massa…"

"Don't say it! Don't even think about it! I absolutely forbid it!" Saronne glared at her daughter.



When they finally arrived in Sarmatia they were welcomed back with fanfare. There was feasting and banqueting and games. Chariot races plays games. There was even a wine fountain which flowed for three days.

At the first sitting of the Council of Viziers Saronne sat beside Tiirmirise in her own ivory currule chair side by side on the same dais as equals.

Hail Tiirmirise Queen of the Massagetae, Dread Lady of the Plains, Falcon of Sarmatia and the Lady of Battles.

Hail Saronne Queenette of the Massagetae, The Hidden Queen of the Plains, Hand Maiden of Sarmatia and Jewel of the Araxes.



…And they all lived happily ever after except for Princess Nitocris who wished to become a Massagetae warrior but that is a story for another day.

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