Dura by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Published: 2021-11-21T00:51:23+00:00

Chapter 10

Shamash sees all and knows all. Just as he directs the sun that warms the earth and makes all life possible, so does he provide the faithful with the tools to enable them to negotiate difficulties. I had initially believed that Zabiba coming to Dura was the spark that ignited the war Abs was waging against the kingdom, but I was wrong. The appeal for sanctuary by the daughter of King Aylan was nothing more than a father wishing to protect his child and the desire of that child to escape a tyrant. Zabiba was a mere distraction for Abs, who was besotted with another desire – to make himself king of all Arabia and create a great city in the desert, just as Palmyra was becoming. But Shamash had sent Zabiba to Dura so she could provide us with knowledge about the key to the plans of Abs and the scheming King Sanabares.

I realised that the one person who might perhaps be able to provide information about the Wadi Hauran was not necessarily Talib, but Zabiba. So I invited her to the Citadel to tell us what she knew of this hitherto unknown place in the desert, or at least unknown to me. To make her feel as comfortable as possible, I asked her to the terrace where Mascius set up an easel to accommodate a map of the Kingdom of Dura and the surrounding area. The map was painted on a piece of hide and was pinned to a board underneath. Ashk organised drinks and refreshments to give the occasion a light feel, even though it related to something deadly serious. Talib and Minu were also invited, the former because he too was Bedouin, or at least a member of a tribe of that race, and Minu because Zabiba was now well acquainted with the commander of the Amazons, who provided the security for the princess.

The crop-haired Chrestus presented a somewhat severe spectacle in his mail armour, silver greaves and sombre expression, but Mascius was all smiles as he stood beside the easel with a pointer, much to the annoyance of the army’s commander. Gallia embraced Zabiba when she arrived in the company of Talib and Minu, the daughter of Aylan slightly taken aback but at the same time delighted. Almas followed moments later, Eszter also appearing. Servants fussed around ensuring all had comfortable chairs to sit on with food and drink to hand. Chrestus stood with his hands behind his back, shaking his head when offered refreshments, his eyes fixed on the map.

‘Thank you for coming, Zabiba,’ I said. ‘It has come to our attention that King Abs…

‘King?’ hissed Chrestus. ‘Thief and murderer, more like.’

Gallia smiled but Zabiba gave the imposing general a nervous glance.

‘Be that as it may,’ I said. ‘We are not here to talk about him but rather his plans and how we may interrupt them.’

I smiled at Zabiba. ‘It has come to our notice that King Abs has plans to create

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