CHAPTER
Four

Vashti entered the king’s opulent rooms, which were decorated much like other parts of his palace—with blue and white linen curtains fastened to silver rods that hung from marble pillars. Xerxes’ couches were crafted of gold and silver and cushioned with lamb’s wool. The floor sparkled of alabaster done in a colorful mosaic pavement of turquoise and black-and-white marble.

Since his coronation, Xerxes had spared no expense in redecorating the palace to his liking, and each time Vashti entered his apartments, he seemed to have added some new vase or tapestry or vessel of gold to adorn the walls and shelves and tables of gold and silver. When the sun shone through the tall windows, the effect nearly blinded her.

She moved into the large sitting room, where Xerxes sat lazily on one of the couches. She bowed low and kissed his signet ring. He took her hand and pulled her onto his lap. His breath touched her ear.

“How I have missed you, my love.” He traced a line along her jaw. “How beautiful you are.”

“And how handsome you are, my king.” She submitted to his lingering caress. He had a way of wooing her that still caused her heart to beat faster despite their years of marriage. “I have missed you as well.”

“Six months with little time for anyone but the military men is more than enough time away from my favorite wife.” He cupped her chin and deepened his kiss.

“Did you accomplish what you wished?” she asked once he took a breath. She leaned away from him to better see his face.

He nodded. “The men are ready. We will leave for war within the month. The Greeks won’t see us coming. At last we will subdue them and rule those rebellious Spartans and Athenians with the iron resolve they deserve.”

Vashti tilted her head. “Surely you will treat them as you do the other nations you have subdued.”

The lines along his brow furrowed, so much like her son’s did when he pouted. “Once they are subdued, we will see. It depends on how much trouble they cause me.” He laughed. “But I did not call you here, my love, to discuss what I’ve spent six months planning with the governors and satraps. Come, let us eat something and talk of other things.”

He led her to a table filled with rich food, and she sat after he did, allowing servants to fill her plate as they did the king’s.

“I have something to tell you,” he said after eating a mouthful of fish. “I’m going to give another feast for seven more days.”

At her look of concern, he held up a hand. “Do not worry, this one is for the people of Susa, who have put up with the additional people in the citadel and city for so long.” He paused. “I want you to give a feast for the royal women at the same time.”

She nodded. Of course she would do his bidding. “It will be an honor, my lord, to serve you.” The royal women would include his wives and concubines and the noblemen’s wives. And his mother. But it was Amestris whom she wished she could keep from attending.

“Good.” He took a bite of bread and washed it down with wine in his favorite golden goblet decorated with the sun, moon, and stars. He leaned back to look at her, a smile curving his lips. “I will hold my celebration in the courtyard, while you can invite the women into one of the banquet halls. I’m sure your attendants can help you bring it together by tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? Her mind whirled with so much to do. But she only nodded.

“You might ask my mother to help,” Xerxes said, interrupting her thoughts. “Or Amestris. I’m sure both women would enjoy something to do.”

Vashti’s jaw clenched, though she bid her expression to remain neutral. “Yes, my lord. I will see what can be done, though I’m certain my servants can handle the details.” She would stay up all night if need be, making sure things were done her way.

But as he led her to his decorated bed, where they had often shared their love, she knew she would have little time to plan a feast while he slept beside her.

Vashti slipped from the king’s chambers before dawn and hurried to her rooms. “Omid!” She called the eunuch’s name before her feet had fully crossed the threshold. “Gather my servants—every last one of them. I need a banquet put together today and invitations sent to every woman in the king’s household and all of the wives of the nobles.” She whirled about, spotting Gazsi rubbing sleep from his eyes as he moved from his chamber to her sitting room. She paused. His nurse would need to remain with him, as would the servants who watched the other children of Xerxes. She looked at Omid. “Only the caretakers of the children are excused from helping. This must be as lavish a feast as the king is giving.” Xerxes would expect it of her. Of course he would.

But if she didn’t ask for his mother’s help, she would probably hear of it from him in a week when the feasting ended. Coming war or not, it would do no good to distress Atossa. Or Atossa’s favored Amestris.

A sigh escaped, and she cinched the neck of her robe tighter. She needed to bathe and change into fresh royal robes before she called for her mother-in-law or Xerxes’ second wife.

“Omid.”

“Yes, my queen.” The servant bowed low. “What else may I do to help you?”

She looked into the kind face of the eunuch. “Once I am ready—give me until the sun rises halfway to the middle of the sky—send for Atossa . . . and Amestris. The king would like them to be included in the planning. But I want to get started before they come.”

“Understood, my queen.” Omid smiled.

Could she trust him? Surely she could trust him with a simple statement if she could entrust her son’s care to him. Even if the man did show Gazsi things he was too young to see in the king’s court.

“I will need you to handle the servants. Have Jahan take the children.” She turned then, signaling his dismissal. Her maids descended on her in a flurry, and suddenly it seemed as though the entire court of women had come alive with activity.

Vashti worried her lip before she caught herself. She lifted her head and drew in a breath. She could do this. She could even handle two women who were her constant nemeses. She would prove to her husband that she was still his best choice for queen.

“A banquet with only one day to plan?” Amestris plucked a grape from a silver tray in Vashti’s meeting chamber and glanced at Atossa. “Not even a full day. Am I to understand this is the king’s doing?”

Vashti nodded, and Amestris couldn’t help the kick of jealousy in her heart. She should have been the one to plan such a feast. She tapped one foot, wishing not for the first time that she had some way to rid the kingdom of this woman. This half Persian. But she smiled and held her tongue.

“I’ve had the invitations sent, and the food is being prepared as we speak. The hall will be ready for the evening meal. I wondered if either of you had suggestions on how we should seat the guests?” Vashti clasped her hands in her lap, her look serene. How smug she must be beneath that smiling demeanor.

They quickly worked out the seating arrangements, and Amestris excused herself before Atossa left. She had no desire to be alone with Vashti. The woman would work to make her son king simply because he was Xerxes’ firstborn. Amestris would have none of it. Her Darius would be his father’s successor, whatever it took.

She straightened, lifted her chin, and made her way through the women’s quarters to the courtyard and gardens that separated the king’s area and the rest of the household. The place where Persian nobles often gathered. It was a risk to meet one of the king’s advisors, family or not, but Amestris needed Uncle Memucan’s advice. A walk among the gardens with the man and her eunuch as guard should not garner suspicion. At least that is what she told herself over and over again since she had requested they meet.

She glanced behind her at her servant Shahin, then looked ahead toward a secluded area of the garden and saw Memucan waiting for her. She drew closer. He bowed slightly at her approach.

“My queen,” he said, offering her a slight bow.

“Would that were true,” she said, her jaw rigid. “But we both know that it is not.”

“And something that you cannot change, for the king delights in Vashti.” Memucan turned and Amestris fell into step with him, her guard two steps behind. “But I am sure you have thought of ways to discredit her. Have any of them worked?”

He seemed amused with his question, raising Amestris’s ire. “I’ve done nothing of the kind. You know Xerxes would not take kindly to me speaking against her. What do you think I’m supposed to do?”

She was frowning and she knew it. She forced her lips into a grim line. Be cool and calm, like Vashti managed to be. Why was it so hard to copy the woman’s ways? It could not be so hard to act a part one didn’t feel. Hadn’t she done so all of her life? But she had not come upon a foe as difficult as the woman her husband loved.

“Do not think me callous, my queen.” Memucan’s handsome face held a furrowed brow. “You know I have always favored you among the king’s women.” He briefly touched her shoulder. “Even if the king married one of my daughters, I would still consider you their queen. Unfortunately, Darius the First gave Vashti to Xerxes long before he wore the crown, and he has remained besotted with her.”

“She is too beautiful.” Saying the words pained her. “Xerxes is drawn by physical beauty, and somehow Vashti has remained exactly as she was when he married her. At least that’s what Atossa tells me.”

“Perhaps her beauty could be used against her.” Memucan’s words made Amestris stop.

She faced him. “You have a plan?” Her mind whirled with ideas, none of which were of any worth.

“No. Not one that would work the way you hope it will.” Memucan stroked his chin. “But do not worry, my queen. Eventually, Vashti will do something that will not please the king, and then we will make the most of the opportunity.”

“I cannot think of a single thing she could possibly do that would upset him enough to get rid of her.” Amestris did not stop the scowl this time.

“Perhaps we will know it better when the opportunity arises.” Memucan touched the small of her back. “Trust me, my dear child. You know you have always been the favored of our family. I will do whatever I can to see that your son Darius and not the son of the usurper follows his father.” He met her gaze. “We will find a way.”

Amestris gave her uncle a small smile. The truth was that he would have given one of his many daughters the privilege he offered her, but she was the mother of the heir apparent. He had no choice but to help her if he wanted to further his place in the kingdom.

“Thank you, Uncle. I am counting on you.” She turned and walked back to the court of women.

She could count on Memucan. Couldn’t she?