With his advancing years, Barbad slept little and badly. In the middle of the night he heard the tread of the boots of the guards surrounding the tent. Barbad had retired still wearing a tunic. Now he tied a sash around his waist, pulled on slippers and a cloak, and hurried to his lord’s bedchamber.

As was to be expected, Prince Papak had awaited his fate with a calm fortitude. He summoned his son, and the senior members of his household. In the soft lamplight, he spoke to them quietly. Not words of reassurance, but of courage and faithfulness. Respect the will of the Gods and abhor the Lie.

When the soldiers entered, Barbad felt his heart pounding in his chest. Wherever he looked was steel and leather, bearded and cruel faces. Yet it was done with respect – no violence or insult was offered. They shackled Papak with chains of silver, as befitted his princely status.

And then the officer had read out the decree of the King of Kings.

Even then Prince Papak retained his composure. Looking into Barbad’s eyes, he had spoken quietly to his eunuch. ‘Do your duty. Serve my son until the end.’

Barbad had bowed his head.

That very night young Prince Sasan and Barbad began their long journey to the distant province of Hyrkania and the Castle of Silence.

*

The final ascent was steep. Some of the outriders got down to put their shoulders to the wagon. When it reached the gate, they put wedges under its wheels.

Barbad and Sasan were ordered to get out.

The wind fretted at Barbad’s cloak. All around were dizzying cliffs. The only sound was the thin mewing of the buzzards overhead.

The captain of their guard called up to a sentry on the battlements. His voice was small in the immensity of the mountains, the words almost snatched away by the wind.

One of the sentries left. Another told them to wait. The gate remained shut.

Chilled to the core, Barbad felt his courage failing. The Greek doctors at court claimed that the heart of a man shrank as he aged, ended up no bigger than a child’s. Barbad was very old. In the summer he would be seventy-five. If he survived that long. A eunuch was not expected to have the courage of a whole man.

Noticing Barbad shivering, the boy touched his arm reassuringly.

Rallying, Barbad smiled back. Sasan was only ten. A brave boy.