The Adventures of Maya, 562-ish BC

Do not suppose, my dearest sons, that when I have left you I shall be nowhere and no one. Even when I was with you, you did not see my soul, but know what it was in this body of mine from what I did. Believe then that it is still the same, even though you see it not.
Cyrus the Great
In all of the known world in 561 BC, this would have to be the largest party, the largest gathering of leaders, political leaches, and political hanger-ons. Astyages, crown prince of the Median empire, was providing a stage setting for his daughter, Mandane, to meet Cambyses, King of Anshan, or what we know as Persia, whom Astyages considered a vassal prince and wanted to keep close, a safe political ally. There was yet another reason for this desired union. Astyages had dreamt that his grandson, Mandane’s son, would rule Asia. Astyages was putting the pieces of control in place by arranging a marriage of his daughter, mother of the future ruler of Asia, to someone he, Astyages, controlled. The party was at the royal residence referred to as the country of Ecbatana, the capital of Media.
In another part of the Mediterranean, the Persian Etruscans would soon be defeated, and the beginnings of the Roman empire started.
Months earlier, when the messenger arrived with the invitation, Cambyses reacted with indifference, he did not really want to go to this show of arrogance and excess, yet he knew that he had to go, to keep his kingdom in good standing with Astyages. At the party, standing away from the crowd whom, for the most part, he destained, with the side wall of the hall to his back, he saw what he thought was magic embodied in another person. She stood poised, surveying the activity of gamesmanship across the room, above it all as if she were a goddess watching her entertainment for the day. As she reached for a cake on the table in front of her, her movement seemed to flow, like a subtle breeze of fresh air. She slowly walked along the side wall, occasionally looking out, scanning the crowd, but not as if she were looking for anything specific.
Who was this, he thought. I must meet her to learn more about her.
Astyages was pretending to listen to an advisor while surveying the activity of his guests. He noticed the cold movement across the hall as his daughter walked showing complete disregard for the participants. Astyages looked at this party as an entirety, his daughter on one side of the hall, and someone on the other side staring directly at her through the crowd. Astyages wanted to stand, but knew not to draw attention to himself as this played out. Yes, incredible, the person staring was Cambyses, and he was now moving through the crowd toward Mandane.
As he approached her, he said, “Hello. May I introduce myself to the incredible daughter of our King Astyages. I am Cambyses. What do you think of this, hmmm, what can we say but, …incredible show?”
Mandane smiled, and wondered if this Cambyses thought of these people as lowly as she did, and said, “There are far better forms of entertainment.”
Astyages was watching this conversation intently wondering what they were saying, was it going well. Astyages had no idea just how well it was going.
Cambyses replied, “Tell me about your favorite forms of entertainment, …if you dare.”
Mandane smiled, turned and stepped forward, as if in a dance, and said as she looked at the floor taking the second step with Cambyses stepping in sync, “Dare I tell a stranger the secrets of the jewel of the throne?”
Cambyses smiled knowing this misdirection was her first error, and said, “Secrets and entertainment may overlap yet are two distinct activities. If you keep your entertainment secret it must be highly valuable to you.”
Mandane stopped instantly upon hearing this reply, and just as quick as she stopped, turned, feeling like when she was a child caught in the act of doing something she knew she shouldn’t be doing, looking sternly, said, “A good, smart hunter doesn’t let on to its prey the nature of the game, else the prey have equal opportunity. Guards!”
And with that two of her fathers guards appeared between them. They had been just a few feet away the entire time, just not between them.
Cambyses understood the dance, smiled, bowed, turned and slowly walked away knowing he had scored a hit.
Mandane turned and walked toward the closest arch that led to an exit and back to her apartment. She thought about the control, the transparency of the game this man had played.
They met again the next day at the Kings breakfast, and every day thereafter, enjoying evening walks and talks. They could be themselves as they talked, which was invaluable given their respective backgrounds and heritage.
Within four months they were married and Mandane was pregnant.
Mandane sent out messengers with the news of her pregnancy. The night after hearing the news, Astyages dreamt that his daughter had a son who in the form of a vine took over the world. When Astyages awoke, he thought that if this dream was a sign, his kingdom would end at the hand of his grandson. Astyages called for his close confidant Harpagus.
Harpagus left that meeting with a mission, to kill the King’s grandson.
Maya was in the court of Mundane’s mother and heard the rumor that the King was worried about the dream of his grandson. Rumors were he had sent a spy to kill the newborn. Maya considered this an opportunity. She left Ecbatana and set out for Anshan, home of Cambyses and Mundane.
Maya was quite capable of taking care of herself. She traveled alone, which enabled her to travel very quickly versus say a caravan. After four days journey she came upon one such caravan.
Maya approached slowly looking for clues about the nature of this caravan. As she got closer it became evident this was a caravan of someone wealthy or related to royalty. She proceeded to get closer, and noticed someone barking instructions at the front of the caravan. She recognized the voice. It was Harpagus. They had become familiar with each other at the kings court. Maya approached and introduced herself to one of the travelers in the caravan, whom then immediately informed Harpagus.
“Bring Maya to me.” said Harpagus.
As she approached, Harpagus dismounted and walked toward Maya, and when he was a few inches away, stretched out his arms, and then proceeded to wrap them around Maya, lifting her up and down as he hugged her.
“What mission are you on?” Said Harpagus.
“To be of service to Mundane now that she is pregnant.” Responded Maya.
“You must travel with us. We are heading to see Mundane and Cambyses as well. You would be much safer with us. I will not have it any other way.”
This was exactly what Maya was looking for.
As they traveled Harpagus and Maya talked about their shared memories of Mundane as she was growing up. Maya knew the mission Harpagus was on. Through their talks she was able to drive the conversation where they both contrived a plan to steal the newborn away, keeping it safe from the King.
Maya and Harpagus arrived at Anshan a week later. The King and Queen welcomed Queen Mundane’s friends from her fathers house. The baby had been born just a week earlier.
As the caravan entered the gates, they heard, “Welcome. Rest. We will catch up on everything tomorrow. For now, refresh yourselves from your journey.” said King Cambyses.
That night Maya quietly entered Mundane’s apartment. “I had to see him.” Maya said to Mundane. “Sleep while I rock him.” And after a few minutes of silence watching Maya cradle and rock her son, Mundane fell fast asleep.
As soon as Maya saw that Mundane was asleep and beginning to snore, she threw her outer garment over her shoulder and across her front, hiding the sleeping baby.
That night Maya and Harpagus left, alone, with horses and enough supplies to last 3 months. Harpagus had staged his supplies for this plan while on the road to Anshan. Everything was ready to execute before they arrived.
Maya and Harpagus traveled two weeks journey where they came upon a shepherd in the distance.
Maya stopped, turned to Harpagus and said, “This is perfect. I can raise Cyrus with this shepherd. No one will know, and his childhood will be full of peaceful adventures, away from all the deception, fear, and envy of a royal life.”
Harpagus said, “I remember that guard who thought he could have his way with you. You put him down in, what, one, maybe one and a half seconds. I have no worries leaving the two of you here.”
Maya and Mitradates the shepherd taught and raised Cyrus for the next ten years, after which Maya decided it was time to move on.
Who is Hank M. Greene?
“I am what I said I am, a storyteller. But, you may be asking, from whence did I come and to where do I go? ‘Ten’ holds the key to where I go, and it’s to be determined from whence I came.”

