Scyth by Amir Behzadi – Book 1

Description

For readers of 18 years old and upward.

SCYTH

CHAPTER 1

Page 1

The steppe was silent. The spring breeze blew slightly through as it rocked the short grass that spread like
a carpet for thousands of kilometres.
In the horizon two horsemen move at trotting pace. Then stop. They what could be perceived to be
thunder in the distance. They stay still and listen. The thunder become the sound of marching feet and
the shouts of many men.
The horsemen catch a glimpse of what was coming. An army that seemed to stretch as far as the eyes
could see.
“Well brother. It seems as though the so called king of the world has kept his promise. He wants
everything and he will destroy heaven and earth to do it.”
The other rider just stared into the distance while he spoke.
“Let Darius come. As I told him once before. He will catch nothing but air. If he wants to chase us, then
let it be so. It will just be more exercise for our horses.”
The other rider looked at him and cautiously spoke.
“Brother do you think goading a man who has the world in his hands is a favourable thing? This will not be
a short campaign. He is as persistent as a dog with a bone. Maybe we should negotiate with him.”
The rider he was addressing turned his horse around to face him.
“That man who calls himself king is as treacherous as a snake. He has attained power by ways that are
foreign to our way of life. There is no negotiation to be had. For if we fall under his yoke, then we are no
better then slaves crawling on our knees begging for scraps of old bread. When this is finished and we are
victorious, king Darius will be cursing the name Idanthyrsus for the rest of his pathetic existence.”
The other rider nodded. He understood very well the state of play.
“Now go brother and prepare our people. Messengers must be sent to all Scythia and the other tribes
warned about the danger that comes our way. This king’s ego will be his downfall and will assist him in
doing so. May Tabiti be with you.”
“And you too brother.”
They parted company and rode off into separate directions.
A Persian scout watched them from a distance as they rode off. He dashed back towards the army that
was gathering on the steppe.
He rode into the Persian camp and jumped off his horse.
“My lord Megabazus. They know that we are here.”
The General at the time was consulting with his other officers.
“Good. Now they can start soiling themselves when they see the actual size of the forces that are yet to
come. No doubt they are making their own preparations. The great king is crossing the sea as we speak.
He will be here by dawn tomorrow and we can start getting these horse herders in order.”
One of his officers spoke.

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“My Lord Megabazus should we not engage them. We have more than enough men. The great King needs
not be involved in this petty scuffle with as you say a bunch of horse herders. We can finish them off very
quickly and gain more land than we need to satisfy his royal Majesty.”
Megabazus looked at the officer in question. The rest held their breath. This was an indirect challenge to
the Lord’s authority and usually there was only one outcome when this happened.
“Commander Naotara is it?”
“Yes my Lord.”
“You are quite new to the ways of war so I will give you the benefit of the doubt. After I have told you the
relevant information then I will let you decide what to do. He looked at the other officers and any of you
that wish to do the same are free to do so.”
They all had a bemused look on their faces. He continued.
“So, we have an army of semi nomadic horse herders that roam an area as far as the crow flies and
beyond possibly to the edge of the world. They have attacked like a plague of Locusts our provinces of
Egypt and Babylonia and every time we engage them they have this uncanny ability to evade capture and
defeat. What they can do on a horse most of us cannot do with our feet.
Your suggestion is to go out with my army into unchartered territory to meet them head on a territory that
they and their horses know blindfolded. If this is your plan, then go ahead. I will let you have our forces. If
something goes wrong, don’t bother to come back. For if you do you know what the punishment is for
failure.”
Naotara was lost for words. He knew he had spoken too much.
Megabazus looked at all his officers.
“If any of you give me an idiotic suggestion again or wish to seem like heroes then you will be strung up
and forced fed milk and honey every day until either vermin or the scavengers finish you off. Do I make
myself clear?”
They all nodded without saying a word. Megabazus went right up to the face of Naotara.
“Do I make myself clear.”
He dared not make direct eye contact.
“Yes my Lord. Extremely clear.”
“Good. Set up camp here and build the perimeter. I want sentries posted and scouts sent out on a regular
basis to report the enemy movements. Stay alert gentlemen. Scyths care not if you are formulating a
battle plan. They attack when they want and if they want. That’s why they are dangerous. They are
unpredictable and one cannot read their movements or intentions.”
He addressed all of them.
“The great king has set his sights on a more important enemy. And he will not let some pesky mosquitoes
spoil his grand vision. None of you are worthy yet to know what that grand scheme is. If you can prove
yourself here, then all will be revealed.
As they dispersed on one of the officers went up and whispered into Naotara’s ear.
“He was talking about the Greeks. That is the ultimate goal of this campaign.”
Naotara tugged at the officer’s elbow before he went away.
“Are you serious? How do you know this?”
The officer looked at him in both astonishment and amusement.

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“Even a blind man could see this. The only reason you can’t is because you are too busy trying to impress
his royal highness. Not a word of this to our Ionian allies. They may detest Athens but they are still Greek
after all and we can’t have a mutiny. They will be accompanying the great king here tomorrow so all must
seem united and in agreement. This won’t be as comfortable as facing Egyptians and Babylonians. I have a
bad feeling we are going to be here for a while.”
With those quick words the officer left Naotara by himself. He didn’t want to ponder such thoughts for too
long and he also went to about his duties.
Megabazus was about to go into his tent when some feeling came over him.
He turned around and looked into the distance and thought he saw a stationary rider. He blinked his eyes
and looked again but the figure had disappeared.

End of Chapter 1

Copyright © Amir Behzadi. All rights reserved. Entire work registered with Copyright House .