The family had gathered in the Hall of Destinies to greet the victorious king. Lined up in neat rows were the servants and slaves of the palace, kneeling in bows to their sovereign.

By the time Susa reached the hall, her legs would barely hold her. She summoned her last reserve of strength as she composed herself outside the doors. Three times her height and wide enough for six horses abreast, the great wooden doors were carved with images of the Babylonian gods, to remind all those who entered of who ultimately had charge of their fate.

The doors were thrown open, her name cried; she took a firm step forward on trembling legs. She looked neither left nor right as she walked the length of the hall, concentrating only on the next breath, the next step, reaching the dais unassisted. In her peripheral vision she was dimly aware of the rows of kneeling slaves, the gorgeously painted supporting pillars lining the hall, the bright glazed tiles below her feet. With her head held high, she stopped before the thrones upon which King Hammurabi and his queen sat. Two boys and a young woman stood behind.

In the Babylonian style, Susa sank into a graceful bow before them all – it would not do to insult them, however much she would have liked to see them all drop dead in front of her. She would have to live with them perhaps for the rest of her life, and she was determined that they should like her, if it was in her power to make them. For Ashan’s sake as much as her own. Her future, as a prize for the crown prince, was assured; his was not.

As she rose up, the girl behind the queen’s throne gave her a dazzling smile, full of warmth and friendliness. Taken aback, Susa returned the smile.

Hammurabi spoke first, ‘Susa, Princess of Elam, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to my court, my home and my family.’

‘Thank you, sir,’ Susa dipped her head respectfully.

‘May I present my wife, Erasai, Queen of Babylon,’ he gestured to the woman on the throne beside him.

‘Your Highness,’ she nodded again. The queen inclined her head in return with a vague half-smile.

‘And my sons, Malku and Nisitu,’ the boys stepped forward as their names were spoken and made cordial bows. ‘One of them will be your husband, when the time is right.’

‘I am delighted to meet you both,’ she lied. ‘I am grateful that the decision is out of my hands, for I could never choose between two such fine princes.’

Hammurabi was pleased, but the young men looked offended, as if neither could be to be considered the equal of his brother. No more than a couple of years separated them, though they were still almost a decade Susa’s junior. The taller of the two, who had answered to Malku, seemed to be the eldest, with long, lean limbs and the faintest shadow of a beard beginning on his cheeks. ‘It is a great privilege to meet you, my lady, and to be your husband would be the greatest honour.’

Not to be outdone, the other boy, Nisitu, took half a step forward. He had a firm-set jaw and definition in his arms and shoulders that showed the promise of a strong warrior when he was grown. ‘It would be the happiest day of my life to claim you as my wife, my lady. I am sure that we would find much joy in each other, and make many strong sons to follow us.’

She flushed and gave them both gracious smiles. It was obvious that there was little love lost between them, as rivals for their father’s favour. Behind her blushing facade, she looked at them indifferently, wondering which one she would marry, but not much caring.

As they moved back, the smiling young woman stepped lightly out from behind the thrones and descended the steps of the dais – to Susa’s complete shock, the girl embraced her. As she broke away, she said, ‘I shall be delighted to call you my sister, Susa.’

‘Eshnunna!’ hissed the queen, a disapproving scowl marking her brows.

‘Oh, mother!’ Eshnunna laughed, ‘It is hardly a breach of royal protocol for one princess to hug another – especially if we are to consider her family.’

Her mother gave her a dark look.

‘Father, might I have permission to show Susa to her rooms?’

Hammurabi nodded his assent. Eshnunna linked her arm in Susa’s and drew her back towards the great double doors. ‘You can lean on me, if you like,’ she whispered. Susa gratefully leaned a little of her weight onto Eshnunna, feeling the girl’s waist-length waterfall of black curls brush against her arm.

She was torn – this was the girl she had resolved to hate, whose very name she had resented, but who could hate such a bright and warm creature? Tall and slender, with dusky carnelian skin and almond-shaped eyes as dark as obsidian, she was as beautiful as she was tender.

As they passed through the doors, a frantic patter of feet on the tiles behind them made the girls stop in their tracks. Moments later, Susa was almost knocked to the ground as a child hurled himself at Eshnunna’s legs.

‘You left me!’ he sulked.

‘I’m sorry, sweet boy,’ she smiled down at him. ‘Our new sister needs to rest. Would you like to come with us?’

He nodded vehemently, his eyes almost hidden by a tangled matt of black curls like his sister’s. He could be no more than about four years old, Susa decided.

‘Susa, this is my youngest brother, Samsu. Samsu, greet our guest.’

The boy eyed her suspiciously. ‘Hello,’ he said, frowning.

Determined to be friendly, Susa bent down to bring their faces to the same level. ‘Hello, my prince. I’m pleased to meet you.’

He turned his face into his sister’s legs in response.

Eshnunna laughed, helping Susa up. ‘Don’t worry about Samsu, he’s fine.’

A cold little thing, Susa thought. Sullen, or just shy? He was close to Ashan’s age, and Susa couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. He was the third son, a child of small account, and she suspected he’d been made to feel it. As they made their slow way to the ladies’ quarters, Susa still leaning on Eshnunna, Samsu following close behind, she resolved to try to bring him out of his shell a little, if she could.

The ladies’ quarters were near the top of a high tower, much as they had been in Elam. Susa struggled with the dozens of steps, but Eshnunna pretended not to notice, taking a little more of Susa’s weight, moving slowly and stopping every now and then, supposedly to point out sights from the tower windows. Susa couldn’t help but be grateful.

‘I hear you have a son of your own, already,’ said Eshnunna.

‘Yes,’ smiled Susa, her face lighting up at the thought of her boy. ‘Ashan, four years old.’

‘Oh! Of an age with Samsu then!’ Eshnunna exclaimed. ‘Perhaps Ashan could be raised with him in the royal nursery, if that would suit you? They could grow up as brothers – it will be good for them both to have a companion of a similar age and status.’

‘If that is the king’s wish, I would be delighted for my son to be educated with the little prince.’

‘That’s settled then! I’ll tell Father about it tomorrow – he won’t mind.’

‘Tell me more about your brothers,’ Susa said, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

‘Well Malku is the oldest – he’s the more scholarly of the two. He’s got a good mind for strategy and tactics. He can tell you the best way to besiege a city, but Nisitu would be the first through the gates into the thick of the fighting. He’s the stronger – when you’ll find Malku discussing battle plans with the generals, you’ll find Nisitu out riding, practising his bowmanship or working with his blade.’

‘Is one preferred over the other?’

‘I think that Father prefers Nisitu, generally, but most are agreed that Malku would make the better king – ouch! Samsu, don’t hit me!’ she twisted to glare down at her little brother on the step below. He stuck his bottom lip out in a childish pout.

He’s jealous, Susa realised. He can’t bear for her attention to be elsewhere, or for her to talk about any brother but him.

‘These are your rooms,’ they stopped outside a carved oak door. ‘Right below mine, so we can visit often. Your maid, your bodyguard and your son all await within – I’ll leave you here and return Samsu to the nursery. We’ll come back later to meet your Ashan, when you’re rested.’

Susa embraced Eshnunna again. ‘Thank you for everything,’ she murmured into the younger girl’s hair.

‘I hope we will be great friends,’ she smiled in response. With that, she bent down to scoop up Samsu and sat him on her hip as she descended the brightly tiled steps.

Taking a deep breath, Susa pushed open the door to her new home.