'The spear of the Persian man has gone forth far' - Darius the Great
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'Ectbatana? What the heck is an Ectbatana?' Curious, Artaxerxes decided to play it cool and try to overhear more information.
"Well, why of course, you and all your siblings will be traveling together as per usual, however, you will first have to ask Lady Amestris." Granny Farza said to Amytis. With a radiant smile on her face, she exclaimed, "Yay! Let's go Arta! I'm sure mother will approve!" Without missing a step, Amytis dashed off with Artaxerxes in her arms in order to find Amestris, leaving behind poor old Granny Farza to stumble behind and keep up.
As they were dashing through the halls, Artaxerxes was able to get glimpses of the happenings in the palace.
From what he could see, just like in his own room, dozens if not hundreds of maidservants, butlers, and other staff were jogging through the palace halls, all with a specific task at hand. Only getting more curious the further they walked, Artaxerxes could hardly stand the anticipation of discovering what exactly was going on in the usually calm palace interior.
After a few moments of jogging through the zigzag corridors of the palace, Amytis finally reaches Amestris's room. Even the djinn, elaborately carved on the door, could not stop Amytis. Barging in without hesitation Amytis immediately asked, "Mother! Is it okay for Arta to be in my care on our journey to Ectbatana? It'll only be for two months!"
Artaxerxes, having heard this immediately thought, 'Please god, don't let me be trapped with this girl for two months.'
Amestris, having just finished a meeting with her courtiers, chuckled at her daughter's excitement, "Don't be silly Amy, of course, you can spend all the time you want with your brother on the trip. You'll have to share him with your sister as well, I'm sure Rhodogune will enjoy spending more time with Arta."
Artaxerxes, letting out a squeal of despair, drew an amused glance from his mother for her to only turn back to Amytis, "Amy, keep hold off your brother and stay with me, the preparations should be over and your other siblings are already with the procession."
Amytis, glad to hold her brother for a while longer, followed Amestris out of her room towards the procession. Outside Amestris's room, Granny Farza was waiting patiently. Granny Farza, smiling at Amestris fell into step with the group and followed them out of the interior palace and towards the public area of the palace complex.
Passing the massive apadana, and walking further out onto the elevated terrace of Persepolis, the group passed by hundreds of servants carrying goods and belongings towards a massive gathering beyond the palace grounds.
This being the first time Artaxerxes had left the interior areas of Persepolis was met with even more splendid craftsmanship. On the west of the 15-meter-high terrace that Persepolis was situated on, was a monumental double-flighted staircase, whose steps were shallow enough to be comfortable descended by horse and other animals.
At the top of these steps, Artaxerxes' group passed under a mighty gate known as the 'Gate of All Nations', which was flanked by massive winged human-headed stone bulls (Lamassu). Artaxerxes couldn't help but marvel at the advanced craftsmanship of humanity's ancient ancestors.
Standing beneath this massive gate, and over the terrace that elevated the entirety of Persepolis to the heavens, Artaxerxes could get a perfect view of the Persian heartlands. Surrounded by low rolling hills, blooming with red and purple poppies which covered the ground in rich interwoven patterns. The pomegranate trees were filled with fruit and the fresh blue skies were cloudless and seemingly endless in their vastness. And naturally of course the Zagros mountains dominated the distant skyline, providing Persepolis with an impenetrable defense.
The sun, having just risen, Artaxerxes soon fell in love with the land that felt like home. Pulled away from his thoughts by a sudden blast, Artaxerxes soon noticed what it was that was causing so much chaos in Persepolis. A massive caravan, no, an army was before him. Stretching beyond his weight were countless tents, animals, and people, all abuzz and getting ready to march.
"Mother! The horn blew!" Amytis exclaimed in excitement. "Yes, it appears we've made it just in time," Amestris said, beginning a steady descent down the flight of stairs. Reaching the bottom of the staircase, rather than soft soil, what awaited us was a horse-drawn chariot large enough to fit everyone comfortably.
Entering the chariot, Artaxerxes thought;
' I suppose this is the beginning of a new journey'
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