17 Unrest 16
'Men of Persia, listen to me. I am the man destined to undertake your liberation and it is my belief that you are a match for the Medes in was as in everything else. It is the truth I tell you.' -Cyrus the Great
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Having been engaged to Damaspia, Artaxerxes' thoughts were in turmoil.
'Did I just get engaged to my cousin?'
Was the primary thought going through Artaxerxes mind. With the most recent courtly scandal taking second place in his priorities. That's right, another scandal. Supposedly, his sister, Amytis, who had been married off to a powerful Persian nobleman, Megabyzus, was unfaithful.
At this point, Artaxerxes assumed that adultery ran in the family, and didn't pay much mind to the scolding Amytis received from Xerxes during his feast.
Walking down the Southern Palace's flight of stairs, and into the palatial gardens, in full spring bloom, Artaxerxes was left to contemplate many recent events. As he strolled the gardens, trying to gain peace of mind, he saw one of the few people on earth he would rather avoid. Artabanus.
A powerful eunuch from Hyrcania, southeast of the Caspian Sea, and another eunuch, Aspamitres. Together, these two lead the most powerful faction in the government. Holding almost completer control of the daily affairs of the empire, it was safe to say these two 'men' were the most powerful duo alive.
But how did these two eunuchs become so powerful?
It's something Artaxerxes figured out after some minimal research. Essentially, the Persian Empire was in immense turmoil. One of the largest famines the empire had ever seen, was currently underway, and with it, the popular support for the Achaemenid dynasty.
Desperate for a scapegoat, Xerxes the Great, fired hundreds of administrative officials, claiming they were responsible, and then gave full control to these two eunuchs.
"My Prince! A pleasure to meet you on a beautiful day such as this." Artabanus said, not even bothering to curtesy. Artabanus was a fat man, his features resembling a certain spider. With not a speck of hair on his greasy face, his body was adorned with lavish silks, and gaudy rocks worth entire palaces.
"Hazarpatish Artabanus, good day to you," Artaxerxes said bluntly, wanting to avoid speaking to this leach any longer than necessary.
(A/N: Artabanus was a eunuch and commander of the royal guard, so we have a Praetorian situation here)
"Ah but my Prince, we have something important to tell you." Standing in his path, Artabanus' other half, Aspamitres said with a buddhas smile.
Aware that he would have to suffer their presence to excuse himself, he motioned for the duo to speak. Aware of the young prince's impatience, Artabanus decided to open with a hook, "My Prince, as I'm sure you're aware, the Empire has been undergoing much turmoil as of late. There are even rumors of rebellion..."
Aspamitres continued for his companion, "Thus we've become aware of a plot on the King's life, may Ahuramazda have mercy." Artaxerxes, shocked by the revelation was taken aback.
'A threat to father's life? No way.'
Artaxerxes had grown used to the impenetrable safety of the towering palace fortifications, and immortal guards, that he had even begun to doubt the possibility of an assassination attempt on an Achaemenid's life.
"Who would dare do such a thing? Where have you received this information?" Artaxerxes asked, no longer indifferent to the conversation.
"My Prince, with the royal storehouses running on empty, and the price of grains exponentially increasing it's believed a change in monarch would not result in extreme backlash. Thus it is only logical an ambitious man would raise to the challenge." Artabanus said.
"Who?" Artaxerxes asked, already afraid of the answer.
"Your elder brother, Dariaios, my Prince," Aspamitres said, with his eyes narrowed, it was hard to judge his emotion on the matter.
"..."
Having heard these accusations, Artaxerxes didn't know what to think. To start off, he didn't trust these eunuchs farther than he could throw them. But, it made no sense for them, in Artaxerxes' view, to sabotage his elder brother's position as heir.
After all, it was not as if these eunuchs stood any chance of becoming monarchs, the people still worshiped the Achaemenid line. Plus, they were eunuchs...
The only reason Artaxerxes entertained the idea of his elder brothers plot for the throne was another reason entirely. 10 years ago, his father, Xerxes, had slept with Dariaios' wife. A crime that any man could justifiably respond to in fury.
Thus, when the incident had come out into the open, and Dariaios hadn't responded very emotionally, Artaxerxes had assumed he didn't care for the women. But what if, deep down there was a grudge that Dariaios had toward Xerxes for being cuckolded?
It was something that Artaxerxes had given much thought, but without evidence, he had always assumed Dariaios was in a cordial relationship with his father. Having heard these accusations, resurfaced his buried thoughts on the matter.
"We only wished to bring these critical matters to your awareness, my Prince" Artabanus said, this time with a hand over his mouth, a sign of respect.
"If you would excuse us, my Prince," The duo said simultaneously, striding off down the garden walkway hand in hand. Artaxerxes, still in thought, could only stare at the setting sun in the distant rolling plains, aware that chaos was about to engulf the empire.
