Aurelian marched east, his troops departing from Brindisi, then ferrying across the Adriatic to Apollonia in Macedonia. From there they marched into Thrace, crossing the water once again to Dar-danus in Asia Minor. The emperor moved at a steady pace, stopping to reassert imperial authority in major towns, allowing the local officials to tell him that they could not be blamed for assuming that Zenobia, like her late husband, Odenathus, spoke for imperial Rome. Aurelian agreed, nodding wisely, laughing silently to himself at their quick defection from Palmyra's queen, and levying token fines to impress upon them Rome's authority.
Before the walls of Antioch Aurelian met in battle with Zen-obia's general, Zabdas. No one was more surprised than the Palmyrans, for they had not expected the Romans for some time, and yet suddenly here they were. The force commanded by General Zabdas was small, the bulk of the army being with the queen in Alexandria. Though they fought well, and bravely against the legions, they were overcome. Zabdas fell back to Emesa, leaving Antioch to the Romans. But securing the city, they quickly followed him and defeated him a second time at Emesa. His small force virtually wiped out, Zabdas fell on his sword, ending his life, but satisfying honor.
Aurelian might then have crossed the hundred miles between Emesa and Palmyra, securing Palmyra in its king and queen's absence and taking its regent, Prince Demetrius, prisoner. That he did not he was to regret. So far he had not lost many men to battle, disease, or fatigue, and he was feeling invincible. Swiftly he moved his army down through Palestine, avoiding as many towns and villages as he could, for surprise was to be his greatest weapon. In Emesa and Antioch his authorities made very sure that no messenger escaped the city to warn Palmyra's queen. They would meet in Alexandria!
The emperor, however, was doomed to disappointment for in a quirk of fate the armies of Rome and those of Palmyra passed within a few miles of each other in the Egyptian desert of Gaza, and neither saw the other. Zenobia, having made her position clear in Alexandria, was hurrying home to await Rome's answer. Aurelian arrived in Egypt's premier city to find his quarry gone, and what was worse, the Alexandrians were not one bit repentant of their support of Palmyra's queen. In retaliation Aurelian set fire to their famous library. By the time the fire was contained, many of its valuable books had been destroyed.
When Zenobia reached her beloved city she found surprising news waiting for her. The enemy was almost at her gates. On the battlefield at Emesa one Palmyran had pretended to be among the casualties, then waited until dark before making good his escape. He had had no supplies or water to aid him; but he was of Bedawi parentage, and tough. It had taken him five days to reach the Qasr-al-Her fortress, where he told his story before collapsing. Rufus Curius had immediately sent word to Palmyra.
'But how could Aurelian have heard so quickly?' Zenobia was puzzled.
'The Romans have been known to use pigeons to carry messages,' Longinus said. 'The message was most likely sent from Alexandria, Majesty.'
'And Aurelian has come himself?' she mused. 'He will find that Palmyra's legions are not so easily beaten. General Zabdas's defeat will have made the Romans overconfident.'
'You don't propose to meet them in open battle, Majesty?'
'No. We will withdraw within Palmyra, and then wait. I am curious to see how long the Romans can survive in our desert, Longinus. Send a message to Rufus Curius. I want all civilians withdrawn from Qasr-al-Her immediately, and only a token force left at the fortress. Those who remain are to poison the wells and build upon the highest tower the makings of a bonfire. At the first sign of Aurelian they are to light the fire as a beacon to Palmyra and men retreat. It is easy to fight in the forests of Gaul, where the dew drips from the very branches of the trees, but here in the desert how long will Rome's legions last without water? With luck we will not lose one Palmyran to Aurelian's armies.'
The order was sent, and soon the people who had made the Qasr-al-Her fortress their home began arriving, crowding the desert road from the west with their carts and livestock. Most had relatives within the city that they might stay with. For those who did not, the queen offered shelter within properties owned by the royal family.
Word was sent along the desert road to the east that Palmyra would soon be under siege, and should be bypassed by those who did not seek to have their goods confiscated by the Romans. Zenobia felt she owed this courtesy to those merchants in Cathay and India who regularly did business with the city.
Confident of their triumph, the people of Palmyra went about their business, me city taking on a festive air for the wedding of the young king and Flavia Porcius. After the festivities, Zenobia and Longinus sat together getting companionably drunk on Cyprian wine. 'Marcus has betrayed me,' the queen mourned. 'Why did he betray me, Longinus? Am I not beautiful? Intelligent? Rich?' A tear slid down her cheek. 'What does Aurelian's niece have that I do not have?' Then she giggled. 'I shall ask him when I capture him, Longinus! That's what I shall do! I will say to him, Aurelian, what does your niece have that lured Marcus Alexander from my side? Am I not clever, Longinus?' She was happily drunk.
Her answer was a soft snore, for Cassius Longinus had fallen asleep in his chair. His goblet tipped from his hand, drizzling sweet red wine across the marble floor. Zenobia watched the blood-colored trickle of liquid, as it ran slowly across the white floor. She sighed again and, standing uncertainly, she reached for the decanter, picked it up, and wandered slowly down the corridor that led to her private apartments.
She awoke late the next morning, and her head immediately regretted her actions of the previous night. The bright sunlight streamed in across her bedchamber, causing her to wince with genuine pain. Warned by her aching head and roiling stomach, she did not dare to rise else she be sick. She lay very still, finding that the closest thing to comfort.
Old Bab hurried in, her sandals slapping against the floor in a most aggravating manner. 'So, you are finally awake.'
'Do not shout,' Zenobia whispered. 'My head pounds.'
'I am not surprised. But there is something you must know. The beacon from Qasr-al-Her has just a few minutes ago been spotted burning. The Romans are coming.'
'The gods!' Zenobia swore irritably. 'Today of all days!'
'Aye, they were ever a thoughtless bunch,' Bab observed wryly. 'Come, I will mix you a potion that will take the ache from your head and the sickness from your belly.' Bab bustled out, and Zenobia could hear her giving orders to the slave girls in the outer room. In a few minutes she was back again, carrying a small goblet, which she handed to Zenobia. 'Drink it,' she commanded in a voice that brooked no nonsense, and the queen obeyed.
Within minutes the symptoms that had made her so uncomfortable were magically gone. 'What was in
'It is a mixture of honey, fruit juices, and herbs,' was the reply. 'Let me help you up now, my baby, and it is off to the baths for you.'
An hour later Zenobia stood atop the highest tower of Palmyra gazing west toward the Qasr-al-Her fortress, where the sentinel beacon blazed brightly even in the midafternoon sun. On the westward road she could see in the distance faint puffs of dust made by the hooves of the approaching camels who carried Rufus Curius and his small patrol to safety in Palmyra. She stayed watching until she could make out the riders quite plainly, and then she descended the tower and, mounting her chariot, drove through the city amid her cheering people to greet the riders.
They thundered through the gates, which quickly closed behind them, coming to a quick halt before the queen's chariot. The camels knelt, and their riders swiftly dismounted and stood making their obeisance before Zenobia.
'It has been done as you commanded, Majesty,' Rufus Curius said.
'The Romans?' she asked.
'At least two legions, Majesty. Possibly three.'
Zenobia turned to Cassius Longinus. 'Have them sound the alarm, Longinus, so those outside the walls may enter before it is too late.'
'What of the Bedawi, Majesty?' he asked.
'They have disappeared into the desert,' she said with a small smile.
'The better to watch for us,' he murmured with an answering smile, and left to do her bidding.
Zenobia returned her attention to Rufus Curius. 'You have done well, old friend, and I thank you for your loyalty, you and your men. Go now and spend the evening with Deliciae and your children. I do not expect the
