“An exception worthy of note.” Xerxes straightened and lifted a brow. “What are they doing differently than everyone else?”
Artabanus’s mouth flopped open for a moment. “Well . . . I recall hearing something about how ridiculously wide their excavations were at the start—twice as wide as the
rest of the canal. There was some grumbling about it.”
Sometimes it felt as though the rest of the world were idiots. “Artabanus, there is a reason we put the Phoenicians and the Egyptians in charge of the bridge over the
Hellespont. Their engineering acumen is unsurpassed. Has it occurred to no one that they made it wider to avoid these collapses?”
“I know not, my lord, I was only apprised of all this recently. But of course, you speak rightly. Should all adopt the model?”
“Where possible, unless it would take longer to widen it than to shore it up and finish. They must use discretion, if that is not asking too much.” Perhaps he ought to
have put Phoenician overseers in charge of this entire project too. He had instead opted to maintain autonomy between the different nations working on the canal, but what he
gained in peace he lost in quality.
“I will make your wishes known.”
“I trust you will. Mardonius!”
His cousin and oldest friend set his course for the throne. Artabanus stiffened but managed a polite greeting.
Mardonius offered him a taunting smile, then nodded with more sincerity to Xerxes. “The king is looking well this morning.”
Xerxes chuckled. “For once I believe your flattery. Have you seen Haman yet?”
His friend shook his head. “He is probably riding with your brother, master.”
“If you see them before I do, tell him to come to me at once.”
“Certainly.” With a courteous bow, Mardonius strode off.
Artabanus released a pent-up breath and muttered, “I maintain that such a wise king ought not surround himself with such injudicious advisers.”
His lips wanted to twitch up. “Uncle, need I remind you that the advice you consider his greatest offense is the war you now believe in?”
“If a man advocates a wise course for the wrong reasons, it makes him not wise, my lord. Only lucky. It is obvious from our visions that the god wishes you to lead us
against Greece. That does not mean the evil one will not try to turn your certain victory into defeat through the bad advice of fools.”
“But even within the advice of fools is often hidden a pearl of wisdom. A wise man searches it out before dismissing the rest. And when a wise man has a wise uncle to help
him discern those pearls . . .”
His uncle’s lips finally curved up. “Then blessings will follow, and soon enough you will rule all the world. You know my worries are only out of my devotion to you.”
“Indeed. Go, write your missive to Mount Athos. I will speak with Darius for a moment.”
“Ah, of course.” Artabanus turned and offered a warm smile to the young man hurrying toward them. “Good morning, my prince.”
Xerxes’ eldest son stopped a step before the throne and grinned. “The same to you, uncle. Father, you look well this morning.”
“So I am told.” He drew in a deep breath and, as Artabanus said his farewells and disappeared into the crowd, measured his son. He did it often these days. The law said he
must name his successor before he went on campaign, and though Darius was the logical choice, he needed to be sure.
At eighteen, he possessed a man’s height. But his shoulders were just beginning to broaden; his strength was stored in muscles slight and wiry. His face was fine-featured
with the beauty his mother was famous for, though thankfully he had avoided Amestris’s temperament.
It felt like a mere week ago Darius had been nipping at his heels like a pup. Could he possibly be old enough to rule half the world, to be the king of kings? And yet when
Xerxes was his age, he had married Amestris, just become a father, and was even then plotting how to convince his own father to name him king instead of his older brother.
Not to mention that though Darius was too young, his other sons were younger still. The only answer for it was to live a good while longer and give this man-child more time
to mature.
A determination made doubly pleasurable given the company he would have waiting in his chamber whenever he willed it. Kasia could keep a man young while he waited for his
sons to age.
Darius grinned anew. “Rumor says your excellent mood this morning is due to the latest addition to the harem. Is it true you rushed this girl through the preparations in
only a week?”
Xerxes returned his grin. Perhaps his son was more man than he gave him credit for. “I hardly have time to waste, considering how soon I shall leave to inspect the
gathering armies.”
“Mother is in a snit about it.” Darius chuckled. “Not that that is unusual.”