The Rise of Zenobia (Overlord Book 1) Read online

  That evening as the marriage banquet took place, I stood on the walls of Antioch, looking out at the black desert. The Persians were there, hidden in the dark. We would see them tomorrow, or the day after, or perhaps the day after that, but they would doubtless come.

  Julius stood beside me, travelling cloak still about his shoulders.

  ‘It seems the people are enjoying themselves,’ Julius said. ‘There seem so few days filled with joy of late.’

  I wondered if Odenathus and Zenobia found as much enjoyment in the celebrations as the soldiers of Palmyra and the citizens of Antioch.

  ‘Two people joined in matrimony, and yet for two very different reasons,’ I mused. ‘For Zenobia this Roman ceremony makes her marriage to Odenathus legitimate in the eyes of Rome, for the sons and daughters she might bear, that no man can say different.’

  Julius frowned. ‘And what of Odenathus?’

  ‘He wanted this for his people. A day of celebration in a time of war.’

  ‘Indeed,’ Julius mused, ‘I think perhaps you are right. He knows his people well.’

  We looked out once more, silent and thoughtful. I thought I saw movement in the darkness, but nothing came. Behind me, I heard the screams and giggles and shouts of drunken celebration.

  ‘I will leave before the sun rises,’ Julius said.

  My heart sank at his leaving again.

  ‘I trained as you told me to,’ I said. ‘I have begged Odenathus many times to allow me to come south, to be with you, and each time he has refused me.’

  ‘He has, I know,’ Julius replied. ‘I asked him not to send you to the frontier, because I could not bear to see harm come to you, not after it took so long to find you.’

  His face was half hidden in shadow, yet I saw his grim expression, the pain in his features.

  ‘There was a time when I thought perhaps you were my father.’ Whether it was the celebratory wine or the knowledge that he was leaving once more that spurred the words I know not.

  Julius’ expression faltered, and he smiled warmly.

  ‘Alas, no, you are not my boy. But you are right to be suspicious. You are Meskenit’s child.’

  I could not speak. No response came. I had never thought, in the years I had known her, the distance she kept, the disapproval I always felt about her, that I could be her child and she my mother. I half laughed at the thought, half sobbed.

  ‘But how? Why? How can that be?’

  Julius’ smile turned to sorrow.

  ‘Meskenit was raped by Roman soldiers a short while before I met her. She was troubled deeply by what had happened, and so at my suggestion she left you in Egypt with her sister. We could not abandon you of course, I would never have done that, but nor could Meskenit keep you close. I was afraid of what would happen, how her mind would respond if we did. I am truly sorry, Zabdas. We had thought it for the best. We did not know what would become of your new family and the slavery you faced.’

  Julius’ eyes shone with regret and yet all I could do was smile. His revelation made no difference, for I was still the same boy and Julius still cared.

  ‘Do not apologise,’ I said. ‘I am more grateful than you know that I am a free man, that I have you and our family. You were right, when you said that Meskenit needed time. I understand that now.’

  Time, I thought, for a mother and a son to know one another, a king and his queen to reclaim lost lands, and a country and its people to find freedom.

  The story continues in The Fate of an Emperor

  Available in ebook and paperback.

  Historical Note

  Threatened by financial crisis, plague, invasion and rebellion, the 3rd Century AD saw the Roman Empire closer to collapse than ever before. Palmyra – known then as Tadmor – was a vital caravan city on the eastern trade route. It was taken under Roman control in the mid-first century but despite this, its people were of mixed Aramaic and Arabic stock, and the language used a form of Palmyrene: a mixture of Middle Eastern Aramaic and Greek. A recent estimation of the population of the city at that time is around 150,000 to 200,000.

  Odenathus was the son of Septimius Hairan, “the Senator and Chief of Tadmor”. The year Odenathus acquired senatorial rank is uncertain and could be anywhere between 222 and 254, though his military achievements brought him the title Consularis, and in an inscription dated 258 he was styled “the Illustrious Consul our Lord”. It is believed he was self-proclaimed “king”.

  Zenobia was born with the name Iulia (or Julia) Aurelia Zenobia, although this varies between languages, and on official documents she would use Al-Zabba, meaning "the one with long lovely hair". She claimed to be a descendant of Dido, Queen of Carthage, the King of Emesa Sampsiceramus and the Ptolemaic Greek Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt. It is suspected she became Odenathus’ second wife around 255. Odenathus would have been around 34 and Zenobia is considered to have been approximately 14.

  Her father was Zabaii ben Selim or Iulius (Julius) Aurelius Zenobius/Zabdilas; a chieftain/stratego of Palmyra around 229. In other sources, Zabdilas is also noted as being a merchant.

  Although Zabdas features in history, there is no mention of his family tie to the Zabdilas family.

  Emperor Valerian did indeed rule alongside his son, Gallienus, splitting the Empire’s problems between them; Gallienus taking the west, Valerian the east.

  The ex-senator of Antioch, Mareades, was convicted of embezzling public funds, although he is said to have been subsequently banished by the citizens.

  Zenobia’s going to Rome on behalf of Odenathus, her father’s placing her on the Palmyrene council and everything else is either based loosely on mentioned events and people, or purely fictional. As for the characters, those above are recorded in history, as are Hebony, Herodes, Zabbai, Pouja, Shapur I, Worod, and Jadhima, King of the Tanukh.

  Also by JD Smith

  Tristan and Iseult

  Available in ebook and paperback

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  Acknowledgements

  This book has been a long time in the making. Thanks go to Gilly, Jill, Kat and Liza of Triskele Books for their continuous support and encouragement and honest words, and to Perry for his proofreading. Thanks also go to all the writers and non-writers who have read and critiqued and offered advice over the years. This book could not have reached publication without you.

  This book could have been published, but would have been even more factually incorrect than it probably is (for which I take full responsibility), without the following resources:

  Farrokh, Dr Kaveh. Sassanian Elite Cavalry. Osprey, 1995.

  Fraser, Antionia. The Warrior Queens. Phoenix Press, 1993.

  Goldsworthy, Adrian. The Complete Roman Army. Thames and Hudson, 2003.

  Stoneman, Richard. Palmyra and its Empire. University of Michagan, 1992.

  Watson, Alaric. Aurelian and the Third Century. Routledge, 1999.

  The massive and incredibly helpful resource that is Wikipedia.

  And the members of historum.com, which I have only just discovered, but whose members are enormou
sly helpful and knowledgeable.