Companions (The Parthian Chronicles) by Peter Darman

the city have been burned, Pacorus. We saw parties of foot soldiers in the settlements but they are merely patrols.’
    ‘Many boats on the river,’ said Byrd.
    Domitus looked confused. ‘Boats?’
    ‘Carrying soldiers,’ continued Malik. ‘They are rowing up the main canal that leads to the city.’
    Uruk was sited five miles to the east of the Euphrates and was connected to the river by a series of canals that provided water for the inhabitants. Most were small, narrow channels that fed reservoirs inside the city. A man could step over them with ease. But there was a large canal – at least fifty feet wide, its sides faced with stone – that ran directly east from the river and which bisected the city. It brought water from the river to irrigate the great gardens inside the city that had been created by its kings for their recreation. It also divided the city in two. To the south of the great canal were the homes of the citizens and the city’s businesses, while to the north lay the great White Temple of Anu, the Sky God, and the spacious royal quarter that contained the verdant gardens.
    ‘The soldiers carried round, red shields, Pacorus,’ said Malik.
    ‘Did they carry any insignia?’ enquired Domitus.
    ‘White wings,’ answered Byrd.
    ‘The symbol of Nike,’ said Gallia, ‘the goddess worshipped by the people of Charax.’
    ‘So Tiraios has become our enemy,’ I remarked bitterly. ‘We must draw away the enemy soldiers in those boats from the city, otherwise they will sweep into Uruk and burn it.’
    I looked at Byrd. ‘Did your men see what was happening where the canal passes the walls?’
    He shook his head. ‘But archers still in towers either side of canal. They are still shooting at the enemy.’
    ‘That would suggest Nergal still holds the city walls,’ I said. ‘Very well. Domitus, you will lead the foot south towards the canal. I will take a dragon of horse archers and gain the attention of the enemy to force them to array themselves to the north of the canal. Hopefully this will relieve the pressure against Nergal’s soldiers. Gallia, you will stay with Domitus to guard the flanks of the foot.’
    Malik coughed. ‘The dust of Mesene gets in my nostrils.’
    Domitus looked up at the angry white sun. ‘Let’s hope we can destroy the enemy quickly. Fighting in this heat will test even my boys.’
    ‘Then let us not tarry,’ I said. ‘Shamash be with you all.’
    Domitus raised his cane in acknowledgement and sauntered back to his waiting officers. Gallia nodded and wheeled Epona away to ride back to the Amazons, while I cantered over to the company commanders of the horse archers. As the trumpets and whistles of the Durans and Exiles sounded I ordered half to report to Gallia and the rest to gather their men and follow me. Half left us in a cloud of dust to receive their orders from my wife as the others rode away to their waiting companies. I turned Remus to face south and then nudged him forward. Malik was right, this land was parched and even small movements kicked up clouds of dust. What would be the effect of two thousand iron-shod horses and two thousand hobnailed sandals on this baked surface?
    ‘This standard is going to be reduced to tatters soon,’ remarked Vagharsh behind me as he slipped off the waxed sleeve that protected my griffin banner.
    I turned and looked at the red griffin and the gold edges of the standard.
    ‘It looks as pristine as the day I first saw it in my father’s palace.’
    Vagharsh gripped it with his right hand and straightened his arm, but there was no wind and so it just hung limply on the pole.
    ‘The rumour is that it is bewitched and cannot be damaged,’ said Vagharsh confidently. ‘Let’s hope the same applies to the man who carries it.’
    I laughed and urged Remus on, a thousand horse archers behind us as we broke into a canter and headed south. We were about four miles from the Euphrates and there were no fields or irrigation canals