Romans before our gates until tomorrow, when they will attempt to frighten us with a show of force.'
He saluted her, and Zenobia, remounting her chariot, drove quickly back to the palace. Throughout the city the echo of the warning trumpets sounded again and again as latecomers and stragglers from the unwalled suburbs hurried to safety within the gates. Arriving at her destination, the queen hurried to the council chamber for a prearranged meeting with the Council of Ten. She found them and both her sons waiting.
Questions were fired at her with great rapidity, and impatiently she held up her hands demanding that they stop so she might speak. 'We do not expect the Romans before dawn,' she said, 'and then they will do one of two things. Morning will possibly show Aurelian in full battle force before our gates. Often the legions sneak up upon a city in the night so that the dawn reveals their battle formation. It can be a formidable sight.
'The other possibility is that dawn will reveal an empty desert. Suddenly in the distance will come the faint sound of the war drums, which will grow louder and closer as each minute passes. As suddenly, the Romans marching in perfect ranks will begin to pour over the horizon until they are lined up before our gates. Both of these ploys are used to frighten a civilian population, and so our people must be told in order that they not be afraid. Terror is the prime weapon used by the Romans.
'Marius Gracchus, have foodstuffs been laid in as I commanded?'
'We have several months' supply of grain, oil, olives, figs, and dates in government storehouses, Majesty. We have spent the last few weeks buying livestock, which will be slaughtered as needed and distributed when necessary. Practically every family in the city has some sort of poultry in its keeping. Palmyra is well prepared to withstand a siege of several months.'
Zenobia nodded. 'The Romans will not last that long, Marius Gracchus.' She then looked to her younger son, Demetrius. 'You have seen to the wells in the suburbs?'
'My men and I personally visited each house, Majesty, and impressed upon the owners the importance of destroying the water supply so that the Romans could not have it,' he said. At seventeen, Demetrius was an extremely handsome young man, far better-looking than his older brother, who favored their father. Demetrius was his mother's son, with her dark hair, a pair of languid gray eyes, and a most sensuous mouth. Like his mother, he was impetuous and passionate; but Zenobia suspected that, like his father, Demetrius would not marry until he was considerably older. There were too many delicious treats the prince wanted to taste before settling down.
She inclined her head in response to his reply, and then she turned to Vaba. 'Is there anything you wish to add, my son?'
The young king shook his head in the negative. 'You seem to have thought of everything, mother,' he said quietly.
Zenobia threw him a sharp glance, and then turned back to the entire council. 'Does anyone else have anything further to say?' she asked, and the reply being in the negative she dismissed them. 'Stay, Vaba,' and he heard the command in her voice. When the room was at last empty she turned on him furiously. 'Do not ever fence words with me again in open council!' she said. 'Why do you choose this time to quarrel with me?'
'You behave as if Palmyra has no king, Mother. Everyone defers to you. The council, the people, even the damned Romans! I am consulted on nothing.'
'Vaba, Vaba,' she chided him. 'The very life of this city is at stake. Tomorrow morning the Romans will arrive. They seek to destroy us. Do you really believe you are experienced enough to plan the defense of Palmyra? I am sorry that in all the tumult you have not been properly deferred to, but there is no time. I did not expect the Romans for another three months, and suddenly they are on my doorstep.'
'In other words, Mother, they have already outmaneuvered you,' he said quietly.
'Yes, Vaba, they have. I am not ashamed to admit it. I am human as are they, and I learn from my errors.'
'If going to war against the Romans is an error, Mother, then all of Palmyra shall learn,' he answered her.
'Rome has no business here in the East. Your father believed it, and I believe it.'
'This war would not have happened if Marcus had returned to you,' he accused. 'I wish to the gods that he had, for then you would have married him and I might have ruled in my own right!'
'You ungrateful little whelp!' she hissed at him. 'You rule this city?! What a joke, Vaba, my son! What a fine joke! When your father was murdered
'The Romans are not to be trusted. Your grandfather was loyal to Rome, and what was the result? His wife, my own sweet mother, raped and murdered by Romans! I loved Marcus Alexander more than I ever loved any man. Aye, I even loved him more than your father; but he betrayed me to marry an emperor's niece. I do not deny that I am bitter, but I have not gone to war with Rome out of that rejection. For many years your father and I planned to consolidate the Eastern Empire, and rule it ourselves. Now I have done just that. I have but one piece of unfinished business, and that is to defeat Rome once and for all. I shall do it, Vaba! On your father's memory I swear I shall do it! When I have, and there is once more stability in the region, you may rule alone and to your heart's content. I will have given you time to learn this business of kingship the way I have always given you time, Vaba. Do not be impatient with me, or with yourself. You will be a good king one day.'
'You loved Marcus more than my father?' His face was a mask of shock, disbelief, and hurt.
She sighed, and wondered if he had heard anything else that she had said to him other than that. 'Your father was the only man I knew until his death. Odenathus was chosen to be my husband. He was a good man. I loved him, for he was good to me, and he loved me in return; but with Marcus it was different.'
'I don't know if I will ever understand you,' he said softly, rising from the council table and walking to the door. At the entry he turned. 'Good night, Mother,' and then he was gone.
She sat for a few minutes longer, but she would not allow herself to think. She needed to free her mind.
'Mama?'
Startled, Zenobia looked up and saw her small daughter standing in the doorway to the council chamber. Her heart contracted at the sight, for the little girl was so like her father. Tall for her age of five and a half, Mavia was slender with a heart-shaped face, Marcus's startling blue eyes, and long chestnut curls. Her skin was lighter than Zenobia's, but still it held a golden tone.
'What is it, Mavia?' she answered the child. 'Should you not be in your bed?'
'Mama, is it true the Romans eat little children?'
Zenobia felt anger well up within her. Who had been frightening the child? 'No, Mavia, Romans do not eat children. Who has told you such silliness?'
'Titus says that the Romans eat little children.' The little girl nervously twisted the side of her blue gown.
'Deliciae's son, Titus?'
'Yes.' Mavia's eyes were very large and fearful.
'Come here to me, Mavia,' her mother commanded, and the child ran across the floor on small, bare feet to climb into her lap. Zenobia cuddled her close against her ample breasts, and felt the little girl trembling. 'Titus is a silly little boy, Mavia. Boys his age like to tease younger children, and you have made him very happy by being afraid. If he should attempt to frighten you again with such nonsense then tell him that the Romans particularly love to munch on nine-year-old boys.'
Mavia giggled. 'I love you, Mama,' she said.
'And I love you, my darling. I love you best of all!' Zenobia rose up, her daughter still in her arms. 'I am going to take you to your bed, my chick.' She left the council room and carried her daughter through the palace corridors back to the child's own rooms. 'You must not be afraid, Mavia,' she said as she walked. 'The sound of battle is noisy, and can sometimes be frightening; but the Romans cannot enter Palmyra, and they will not hurt you, I promise.'
Mavia nodded, and whispered, 'Yes, Mama.'
Reaching Mavia's rooms, the queen handed her now sleepy child over to her nurse. Kissing Mavia's cheek, she said to the nurse, 'You will remain in the palace until further notice, Charmian. Mavia is only to be allowed to play in the inner gardens.'
'Yes, Majesty,' the slave woman murmured.
Zenobia hurried to her own apartments, where Bab was waiting. 'I have dismissed your butterflies,' the old
