Thinking Thursday - Zenobia learns the challenges of being a leader

In Zenobia - Birth of a Legend chapter 24, we share a scene with Zenobia and Cam her mentor who's training her as a warrior. They discuss the heartbreaks that can come from being a leader. Cam explained to her that justice has many enemies and rulers have shorter more turbulent lives. Cam states, "Justice has a cost". Read below as Zenobia questions why Cam would allow her to follow a path that could lead to so much unhappiness.

     She decided to ask the obvious question. "Then why are you training me as a warrior?"

     "Because I agreed to. I was caught off guard that night when we made the bet about the melon. Of course, I had watched you at a few contests, and I figured you would win our wager, but I couldn't let the others know that. I was just happy that you and your mother were going to live. I didn't consider all the ramifications until later. Then I felt I couldn't go back on our bet. Honestly, you are a strong warrior already, and you will be a great one. 

     "I am also training you because of what you had to endure for the first nine years of your life. I felt you deserved to get what you wanted, and that was what you wanted. Had you wavered in that, I would have been glad, but, of course, that has not happened. Still, if I could grant you a peaceful, protected life in a paradise somewhere, and if I knew you could be content there, I would do it in a heartbeat."

     She looked at her mentor wistfully. "We both know that is not to be," she said. "The desert goddess proclaimed it otherwise. Cam, are you dodging my question about the father of Odenathus?"

     He paused in thought. He had needed to say what he did, fruitless though it had been, but her question remained. "As to the father of Odenathus, there are conflicting accounts, as is often the case. However, the most plausible seems to be that a high Roman official feared that the Senator of Tadmor was becoming too powerful and therefore, with the approval of Rome, had him assassinated. Which substantiates the point I was making earlier." 

     "But Tadmor was a colony and an ally of Rome," she objected, "and its citizens were also Roman citizens. That would have been a treacherous betrayal!" It was redundantly emphatic, but Cam Thought it certainly made the point. 

     "When powerful allies gain sufficient strength, they frequently strike out on their own and turn on their former allies. The Roman governor evidently feared this, especially since Tadmor was so far from Rome on the eastern frontier of the empire."

     "But, clearly," Cam concluded, "it was a betrayal of the worst kind, so I agree with you."

     "Have they no honor!" Zenobia exclaimed angrily. 

     "Some have a lot, some have only a little, and some have none. Remember, Zenobia, the most dangerous enemy is the one whom you believe to be your friend. They can hurt you like no one else. They can come from allies, from your own tribe, from your close friends, or even from your own family. They take advantage of your trust and strike where and when you least expect it. You are never completely safe from them. 

     This was sobering information. "So," she asked at length, "what does one do?"

     "Sometimes people unconsciously reveal their true motives, but we can talk about that another time. For now, we should get back to camp."

     Zenobia had one more question for Cam, but she was afraid to ask it. She did not know if she ever would. The question was, Would you have let my father and the tribal leaders kill me?

     Instead she said, “I wish I could get the education I need in Tadmor, but Odenathus says I will have to go to Alexandria for that, and I agree. It seems that you and Mother do also. I am glad up are considering it."

Thinking Thursday - Zenobia learns military strategy from Odenathus

Chapter 10 in Zenobia – Birth of a Legend

Zenobia experiences her first visit to a large city, Tadmor. Zenobia learns that many opportunities were available for craftsmen, tradesmen, doctors, lawyer, and all type of professional businessmen. Tadmor raised an army to guard against the bandits who would attack the caravans coming through the hostile desert to trade in this great city. The senator of Tadmor, Odenathus was chief of the army. Let’s read the scene when Zenobia and Odenathus first meet.

Zenobia was interested in some shopping, but the schools held an even greater draw for her. They moved over to the military offices. “Several bands of soldiers are assigned out from here,” Zelina explained. “We could have asked for an escort for the last day or two of our journey.”

     “But you are the least likely caravan to need it!” said a masculine voice from behind them.

     Zenobia turned, startled then she bowed at once and said, “Good day, Lord Odenathus.” Zenobia thought he looked pleased that she knew his name. They had not been formally introduced the night before.

     Zelina gave a nod of recognition and said, “Greetings, Senator. You look well.”

………..

     Odenathus was intrigued by the dynamic girl before him. He had heard stories, but now he decided to find out for himself. “It was reported to me that you had come to the government center. I imagine the young lady has many questions about it. I would be honored if you would join me for the midday meal, where perhaps I may answer some of them.”

…….

     Zenobia soon said, “Describe to me the functions of your department, please, Senator.” He did so at some length. There were six thousand regular cavalry and infantry, but there were thousands more that had some fighting experience and could be conscripted if needed. Plus, over a thousand Roman soldiers were quartered adjacent to the city. He explained the patrols that were maintained to safeguard the caravans, which were the economic lifeblood of Tadmor.

     “Where do most bandits attacks come from?” Zenobia wondered out loud.

     “From the foothills and mountains to the north…”

     “Do you only react when bandits attack, or…,” she left the question unfinished, unsure how to put it.

     “Or do we sent out spies?” he finished it for her.

     “Perhaps these are matters that do not really concern us, dear,” her mother said.

     “On the contrary,” said Odenathus. “It is said that Alexander of Macedonia, at eight years of age, would ask military questions of visiting kings…Do you understand that what I’m about to reveal is confidential, that it is not to be shared with anyone?”

     “Yes.” She did not flinch under his stare. She leaned closer.

     “We have informants in various cities and villages to the north,” he said in a subdued voice. “If they become aware of a suspicious activity, we have given them ways to contact us and we pay them well for this information. Naturally, if this became know in their villages, their lives would be in danger and we would lose an advantage. This work of recruiting and utilizing informants is highly specialized and secretive. Your father and Cam are aware of this, by the way, and have assisted us with it at times.”

     “I will help you if you ever need me,” Zenobia offered.

     “Thank you, Zenobia,” he said, and he seemed deadly serious. “You could make certain contacts that a warrior could not without arousing suspicion.”

     “Although I am a warrior myself,” she replied, “but that should not be hard for a girl to conceal if necessary to a spying mission.”

     He bowed a slight acknowledgement. “I forgot for a moment. We have never had a female warrior in my lifetime, though the history books tell of some.”