The Tattooed Princess

Night of Despair

        Sharvur and his attack force had been away for six days. Their mission for plunder had taken them to the Ural Mountains, where just beyond were the lowlands where Zaria and her Slavic peoples dwelt. But while returning with their caravan of supplies and a handful of new slaves, they were themselves ambushed from the south by a legendary people known as the Arimaspi.  These fierce warriors who wandered as far as the Black Sea in their exploits took their name from Ariama (love) and Aspa (horses) in their native toungue. They were a formidable match for the Scythian peoples and just as deadly with bows and arrows, executed from horseback and while riding at full speed.

            When Sharvur's men finally made it back into his kingdom on that sixth morning, the people of the tent city lined up on the horse trail to see the sad spectacle. Seventeen of his horsemen out of an assault continent of fifty-six Pazyryk warriors were being led at the rear of the procession—their bodies tied over the back of their horses. The people moaned and wept as many of them were relatives of the fallen warriors. Sharvur and his handful of generals, with Murka included, entered the palace dejected and disconsolate about their great losses. Worrying still, were the promises of the Slavic defenders, who after the initial attack, vowed to amass an army over the next year to retaliate back to the east and destroy Sharvur's empire once and for all.

            The king called immediately for a small assembly in the great hall while still dressed in his bloodied combat leathers and with days of sweat and dust upon him. Meeting with his high command and the wise counselor Krido, Zaria was told by Sharvur to be present, as her perceived power to ward of such threats to the kingdom was believed and sanctioned by him with conviction. Seated at his side, she heard of the attack, the loss of life, the sad naming of the men individually. Three were fellow commanders of Murka, who fell on that forth day of their journey.

            Krido suddenly stood and walked with his crooked staff up to the young slave girl, now held in honor as a princess in the palace.

            "You, slave, who continue to make petty demands upon my king and are seen now as our charm against destruction. . . You must be careful to remember your conditions to remain alive here among us."

            Zaria just stared up, unblinking at the old man, his white beard contrasting with his dark blue robe.

            "Should you lay with Sharvur and share your body with him during his lustful moments of weakness. . . or any man in our land. . . our spell of protection will be broken! We will at that very moment be exposed to destruction. . . a warning which has killed our fine men!"

             One of the commanders who seemed to be nursing a deep sword gash in his upper arm looked as though he might pass out. Fresh cold water was brought out for all the men. Those commanders along with Murka, fresh from the battlefield, drank it copiously and with great urgency. They all, however, listened to Krido's warnings to Zaria with great respect.

            "The fate of our whole kingdom, young slave, rests with you! With you keeping pure that tempting flesh of yours!"

            Zaria looked down at the tapestry rug with an unexpressed outrage. She remained silent while her blond, straight hair fell down on both sides of her face, helping to deflect her angst. As Sharvur and the other men looked at her with great scrutiny, she felt safely concealed within her old and new body art. The incomparable designs on her skin were hidden from them by a full length silk dress.

            Sharvur told the men that the burial rites for the fallen warriors would begin immediately in the morning, but to express to all citizens the immanent danger the Pazyryk people would be in over the ensuing months and year. Such pledges and dire promises by mortal enemies in these times was to be taken seriously and all preparations would need to be made to heighten the kingdom's security. The king then, in a dejected posture, dismissed them all.