The Fire God

Chapter Fifteen

     I had traveled my youth through Asia, so I chose to lead us through the Seleucid Empire and the Maurya Empire to the Xiongnu Khanate. When we reached the Maurya Empire, where my mother was born, I decided to detour south to the house of Ummat. My sister Basa had been married to the eldest son of a prince there, just a year before our family had been decimated. I was curious to see if she, as the first wife of the eldest son, was now running the household, if she, in fact, had flourished.

    The house was just outside of the Ujjain and was still a stronghold in the area. Red brick reaching up to the sky and white domed roofs. It was evening by the time I located the place and debated about approaching immediately or if Asperia and I should sleep, clean up and present ourselves in the morning.

    Asperia was insulted that I suggested sleeping outside when we might be able to secure a room at this sprawling house.

    "I apologize for my slovenly appearance," I said to the servant who greeted us and bowed. "Your patrons must be enjoying their evening meal now. My name is Mricul, my wife Asperia. We have been traveling all day. For weeks." 

    I spoke Magadhi Prakrit to the servant, the language of the area. It had been more than a decade since I'd used it, but Asperia couldn't communicate here at all. The servant hadn't slammed the door in my face, so that was good.

    "My sister Basa married Shaktar ten years ago. I haven't been able to see her since that time and I wish nothing more than an audience with her. Is that possible?" 

    My fear at that moment was that she was dead. Basa had barely crossed my mind for in Rome, but the notion suddenly that she had died or was lost seized me. I prayed to Minerva to be with me, to help me face that challenge, if that was the case.

    The servant bowed to me, permitted Asperia and I in the entryway, entreated us to wait.

    In moments, the patter of feet alerted us to the presence of a small woman, dark hair, dark eyes, not unlike mine, but she resembled our father far more. She dashed to me, jolted to a halt just opposite of me, stared up into my eyes. Then she started touching me, my shorn hair, the lobes of my ears, the bristle of the beard. I hadn't shaved in several days.

    Then her arms went around me. I couldn't stop my joy. I was holding her, clasping her to me. Then the gasping sobs. I was crying too. Her little hands went to my cheeks, traced the lines of my smile. 

    "Where have you been?"

    But I couldn't answer her. I was a fountain of tears and my only desire was to hold her and look at her.

    She was dragging me in, leading us to their supper table, offering us food. Her servant prepared our spots, offered wine. My hand was in Basa's. I couldn't let her go. 

    Shaktar was the one who began to calm the two of us. He was presenting children to me. He introduced other wives. His brothers and cousins. All at the table. I wiped my eyes, greeted each one in turn.

    When all had been introduced, I presented Asperia. She nodded. Her eyes were alert, though all of this was a mystery to her.

    "Where are your children?"

    "We don't have any," I said and I was wary over what would proceed, but Shaktar didn't ask.

    When Basa was calm, she said, "Jaya has been married."

    It brought me out of myself. "Of course. It's been ten years."

    "You seemed to like her," she said. "Father had your marriage arranged."