In the days following Sharvur's removal from power, a new era, and with it a new aura began to settle over the stone palace. The three generals who had orchestrated the coup were attempting to enforce their own brand of governance upon the land. The majority of the Pazyryk people accepted them as a welcome change to their nomadic culture, while another faction—mainly members of the old military guard, showed their disapproval. These elements were attempting, at first peacefully, to resist the new order.

        To Zaria's dismay, some of Sharvur's loyalists still felt their former king had been a legitimate and stabilizing force to the Scythian clan, regardless of his personal perversions and bouts of cruelty. And as appointed his princess, Zaria was still held in high esteem, both in the palace and out on the streets. She perceived that this might mean a greater freedom of movement for her now throughout the kingdom. Yet this was not to be the case, as was explained to her by Krido several nights following the coup.

        The old man had come to her quarters after holding a high level meeting with the new triumvirate in the palace. It was in reaction to their unified decision to depose Sharvur and sentence him to life in prison.

        "I come to you now, princess, to tell you my true feelings about matters that affect you.  And . . .  how I now see the future of our realm."

        Zaria welcomed the aged counselor in while she had prepared hot spiced tea for them both. Krido wore his blue silks that day, and, as it was an official calling,  he had donned his pointed hat of the same shade. Zaria had greeted him in her grass-green dress, and wore the golden head band first presented to her in the capacity of princess of the clan.

        "You will not like what I will say this evening, princess . . . for much of it has no regard for you as the young, beautiful woman you have become in our presence. It instead further defines you as being only an instrument of the leadership here. . . . and your responsibility to continue contributing to the protection and peace of our citizens."

        Zaria was perplexed and anxious about what Krido was telling her.  She began to have the depressing feeling that his words would not bode well for her position in the new regime.

        "Though you will not like the conditions under which you will be living here," he continued, "you will have to accept them . . . upon the threat to any slave's life."

        She was silent. Then sipped her tea, trying to remain stoic about what she was hearing. "I honor your wisdom, Krido. And I know that you have no feelings for me either out of love or friendship. But you have always been a fair and honest man. Please tell me directly . . . all I may know. And how I must go on here."

            The old man gave what could almost be considered a smile, though a paternal nod was more accurate. "You might be surprised to know, young Zaria, that I never believed in any powers associated with your virginity. . . And whether you have been with your  . . . artist lover Tsudros completely . . . and sexually . . . is of no concern to me."

            Zaria was shocked at the old man's revelation of what he had always believed, that her powers were only superstition. She was even more surprised that he did not care if she and Tsudros had ever made love in the past. The thought of the few occasions they had the opportunity to consummate their love totally, but did not, was regrettable. Yet, that she and Tsudros worked with great restraint to successfully avoid the total act—due to the stigma of it being discovered by Sharvur, was all the reason she had always complied with the charade. It had simply been a matter of life or death.

            "I was the one," the old man told her, leaning forward and holding his staff for support, "who had told the king in the beginning of your . . .  'powers' . . .  if he kept you a virgin."

            She listened intently to Krido as he continued with his remarkable admission. 

            "The idea of a 'virginal maiden' for our protection is an ancient . . . and absurd belief. And it is still valued by many of the cultures around us. Sharvur is just such a man who accepts these things on faith or tradition alone."

        Zaria was in awe of what she was hearing from the old counselor.

        "It was my thought when you and your friends were captured to try and bring out a kinder, more benevolent side to our leader . . . if any existed. I attempted this by choosing you . . . an abducted slave as an instrument towards the king's self-control."

        The princess held her head down upon hearing this, knowing well of the explanation's  truth and it's painful results.  

        Were Sharvur able to resist your young and beautiful body, I had thought . . . hoped. . . perhaps he would learn constraint in all matters of his life. For that was my intent. And you must understand it was my counsel for the good of the Pazyryk people who believe very much like he does in matters of fate."

        "Yes, Krido. I understand. But Sharvur's evil came out in other ways. Violently . . . and through cruel humiliation of me, Branka and Svetlana . . . and he carried it out in unspeakable sexual ways."

        "Yes. This side of Sharvur it seems has no boundaries. And no one can control or temper it within him. You and all the women he has ever molested in his life are victims of this darkness he has. And for this . . . I am sorry you had to endure his tortures, Zaria."

        "And even more . . . my dear friend Branka."

        "Indeed. I am aware she did suffer. But she would be suffering still . . . and even more so now, were the king still in power. And if . . . the poor young woman were everto be found."

        Zaria thought about beautiful Branka still hiding in the small home of Moshtok, together with the young Amazon girl, Tomyris. By now they would have surely heard of Sharvur's overthrow, yet they were wisely staying hidden, waiting for her instructions.

        "Now, the three men who hold this palace today . . . are not wise. They are not benevolent. They are power seekers and all the same. They are dangerous to each other and dangerous to our future. It has always been this way, Zaria, as even brothers will kill each other fighting for power and control. There will never be stability here as long as there are three in power."

        "So what is to be my fate then, Krido? Here in this palace. To remain a slave to this absurd belief that I must remain pure . . . unknowing of the joys between a man and woman . . . my whole life?"

        "I am here tonight to tell you this is so . . . even as I myself do not ascribe to this belief . . .those powers being real.  But sadly, Zaria you must keep the appearance of such. You must maintain the image of vestal virgin  . . . and maintain its soothing charm upon our people who still believe it."

        Zaraia was speechless. On the very edge of tears.

        "And so this will require you to remain the princess here. Living in this palace where the people want and expect you to be. They need to believe in you."

        Now the tears began to flow in earnest down Zaria's ashen cheeks.

        "For you can see now how they almost worship you since the sickness has receded. It began to happened when I stopped Sharvur from his desire to punish you . . . to torture you any further with Arpada as his sexual weapon."

        "Yes," Zaria said, drying the sides of her face with her fingers. "And for that  . . . I will always be grateful to you, Krido."

        "So you must remain now . . . the 'Vestal Virgin' of our people. To bring them protection, as they truly believe you can."

        Zaria hung her head once more. "I never asked for this curse, while I expected to be a slave."

        Krido nodded slowly in agreement.

        "Even Branka and Svetlana got to know the pleasures of a man . . . whom they came to love . . .  and feel whole with as a woman."

        "This has indeed been your slavery, Zaria. And under this new leadership of the generals you will be expected to keep it still. To not be seen with your lover . . . or any man intimately in the future. It is a role you must play out for all of our peoples' tranquility."

        Again Zaria felt the tears welling up in her eyes, all from the helplessness of the situation.

        "In the past,' Krido continued, "it was through your dire fear to be careful. Sharvur would have murdered both you and Tsudros were he to know you ever defied your title. Your position in the firmament of his court and according to his primitive beliefs. And we both know, princess, what he would have done to you, had he learned of it, for his own pleasure before you were killed."

        "Yes," Zaria said, closing her eyes and speaking in a clearer, stronger voice.  "I know this too well, Krido."

        She then lifted her face up and looked once more into the old man's cold, almost lifeless eyes as he prepared to leave her.  The counselor characteristically gave little warning of his departures. And with a small nod and a subtle wink,  Krido's staff could be heard tapping out his few steps to the door.

        Zaria, in this time of her desperation knew she had to get up to the bathing pool in the rocks—for it was the only place she could languish and try to forget all mental torments. She had done this over the past year and a half  when conditions had become unbearable.

        There in the light of the wall torches she removed her  dress and looked down at her supple and decorated thighs. It was the leg which featured the image of Peace with doves descending upon a tranquil world which she focused on. As she peered at the frozen tattoo of herself and Tsudros looking out of paradise at a more tortured world where she dwelt, there was no question in her mind of the ensuing escape back to her homeland in the West.  For now, in spite of any new oppressive leadership, it was still only the weather that hindered her escape. But on this night she took solace in the warm, perfumed water—and the heady dream of an approaching spring.  To Zaria now, finding the well-planned, well-timed opportunity with Tsudros would be all she needed to trigger her exodus across the barren Steppe to a land she once called home.

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