"FINDING THE PERSIAN WAY"

As the group rode over the top of a hill they could see a village in the distance where several buildings were indeed on fire.  As the soldiers rode closer they could see that no one was fighting the flames.  Several camel riders were flitting through the village knocking people to the ground, killing some of the peasants.  Ugbaru shouted, “Release your camels and spur on your horses, men.”

He looked to his left and said, “You two, dismount when we get nearer.  Create a shower of arrows to distract those riders.  The rest of us will circle them.  Ride, men!”

The marauders began to congregate for a defensive battle when they saw Ugbaru’s men coming.  The bandits had twice as many men as Ugbaru.  Cyrus noticed a very old man commanding village dogs to attack the bandits.  The man pointed, shoved, and tossed dogs as if they were his troops.  The animals were willing and vicious.  Large dogs jumped to nip the necks and flanks of the robbers’ camels.  The dogs the elder tossed scampered onto the backs of the camels, or their riders, biting any piece of exposed flesh.  Cyrus had seen many dogs in villages before; he understood how valuable their bark was for warning the peasants of approaching danger, but this was the first time he had seen so many dogs brought to battle as warriors.  He was grateful for their help; he appreciated their ability to distract the bandits and upset their mounts.

Cyrus tried to keep up with the more experienced men as they drew nearer the village; Ugbaru gave hand signals, commanding his soldiers to fan out while he rode beneath the shower of arrows his two dismounted soldiers provided.  Cyrus was pleased at the remarkable accuracy of his companions’ arrows.  Some camel riders fell.  Others tried to free an arrow from a pierced leg or arm.  The attacking soldiers encircled the bandits riding at a constant speed around the snorting dromedaries.  Ugbaru’s men hacked with swords.  As marauders fell, the village men pulled them away from the main fight to club them with sticks, farm tools, or to let the dogs have them.

Cyrus cut off the arm of a man who might have otherwise stabbed Ugbaru in the back.  The prince had never been in battle before, but his military training in Media and Anshan had prepared him well.  He was surprised at how much he was able to comprehend in the chaos of the fight.  He let his natural athletic skills meld with his military conditioning as both carried him forward into the melee.  He was surprised at how well his horse responded to his leg commands.  He was grateful that the animal was as much a warrior as he was, and this gave him confidence.  The battle raged on until all the camel riders were either killed or wounded.

When the fight was over Ugbaru shouted, “Well, Prince, I believe you saved my life.  I saw that arm fly away!”  He turned his horse toward Cyrus, still feeling the excitement of battle.  He watched Cyrus drop his head and fall from his stead because an arrow was imbedded in his side.  The women of the village rushed forward to whisk the unconscious prince into a house that was not burning.  They laid him on a bed and began to nurse his wound.  One elderly woman said, “Ugbaru, push the arrow through until it comes out his back.  Then break it!  That will keep the point from tearing his insides too much.”

“Will I injure him more if I shove the arrow all the way through him?  He is the king’s son, Cyrus.” Ugbaru said.

“Do as I say!  Any future king must learn how to suffer if he is to be accepted by us,” ordered the frail old woman, as she frowned at not being obeyed immediately. 

The soldier worked as gently as the task allowed.  He slipped the shaft out of Cyrus with a smooth tug after the arrow broke cleanly.  The unconscious man groaned.

“Stand aside you big ox,” she ordered, pushing Ugbaru.  “You move like you’re stuck in the mud.”