In the Palmyran streets, stalls selling humble papyrus forms take a single sheet to the governor. This particular piece of papyrus gets a special mark.
Alongside messages and gifts, this form goes into the sack of a messenger. Across the deserts of Syria, it goes straight into Antioch, the residence of Rome's governor.
In hot wax, the governor of Syria pushes his ring deep into hot wax. The letter is then put into a special box meant for the Senate. Around 250 other papers from the provinces share this box.
The courier gets the box and rides to the port. There he sees something that will stay with him for the rest of his life.
A ship fit for Caesar himself; if one were to disassemble this ship, they could refurnish 20 triremes.
A litter carries the jewel of Palmyra to this marvel of ancient engineering. Zenobia is bespotted with fine silks and perfumes from the east.
She looks at the box and squints her eyes; on the box's side are inscriptions about where the majority of the complaints are from: Palmyra.
"Boy, when did that box get here?" announces Zenobia, her posture expecting quite accurately an honest and direct answer.
The boy's posture indicates he may relieve himself right there.
"Milady please I don't know please I'm sorry by sol I'm sorry."
The guards and people stare, their faces white their postures rigid like legionnaires.
The boy is standing straight he hasn't fallen to his knees just yet. He can't feel his face and the air feels thin.
An aide looks to the sun, they must leave forthwith to arrive in Rome on schedule.
The boy takes a step forward unnecessary for all but his own courage.
"Oh great ruler of Palmyra these messages take two days from your great city. They go from our fine Antioch port to Rome in but two weeks. Faster than men, armies, and even your grand vessel do these papers fly."
The crowd doesn't move animals bray in the distance, camels grunt and tug at their ropes. Then a laugh is heard it breaks through the port like a sling through goliaths head.
"Dear boy which ship shall this box of yours travel with." Zenobia is laughing no one joins but a collective sigh of relief empties into the square.
The boy points to a small messenger ship, designed to cut through the mare nostrum like a knife.
Zenobia takes the box in her hands and gives the boy a little bag of gold coins. The kid runs off to his next job not even stopping to open the bag. His sandles striking stone like two bells signaling to everyone the danger has passed.
"My lady that box is meant to go to Rome in two weeks our ship can get their in 4 months 3 top." States the captain little deference in his voice.
"I know, that is why I am traveling with the box."
Everyone one of her servants look at the small ship clearly not meant for luxury.
"My lady what if you crash what if the men aren't gentlemen." Asks a guard his hand already on the hilt of his sword.
Zenobia laughs no sailor would dare touch the wife of Odenathus. Which is true but they could just as easy refuse her entry on the rough and tumble ship.
Zenobia walks to the messenger ship, despite the protests of her servants.
The men on the ship look at one another, confused as to why a noble woman has the senatorial box.
One man looks at a sundial they have a schedule to keep. He doesn't care if cleopatra herself was the messenger they have to go soon.
"What keeps a lady like you in this line of work. Surely someone of your stature isn't enthralled by courier work."
Zenobia looks at the sailors a mix of confusion and urgency paints their faces.
I will give you all a years wages if you give me transport on your fine vessel.
The captain of the ship laughs it's an ugly sound throaty and dry from screaming at sailors.
You want to sail with us to Rome why not go in some fancy dandy….
He stops he recognizes who this woman is, she is Zenobia wife of Odenathus restorer of Valerian's dignity.
Zenobia smiles it is a knowing smile one that says. You know, I know that you know I am the wife of Rome's hero so do what I say.
One sailor points to the sundial it is almost time for them to disembark.
The captain raises his hands to the sky cursing all his family gods for not helping him.
"Fine you can come with us, the toilet is the bow no privacy like your yacht. She shakes like a beast but ol chicken's tooth is the finest vessel in the emperors service." Utters the captain his face resembling a crab or mule. Whatever the case he isn't happy.
"Splendid just let me get my…"
Zenobia for the first time in her life is interrupted without deference.
"No we go now and travel light." Spits the foreman of the ship. He isn't keen about this Zenobia on chicken's tooth.
"Fine just get me a cloak for dignity."
She snatches it out of a trembling sailors hand as she walks up the gang plank. Her legs tremble as a landlocked lady she hasn't had much experience with ships. Much less rickety vessels such of Chicken's tooth.
The vessel sails into the Mediterranean with an extra passenger who is heaving over the side.
A week later
The waves hit Chicken's tooth like a axe on wood. The poor ship is thrown about more than a Italian's hand during a debate.
Inside the ship men scurry faster than the rats themselves. One man finishes tying a crate down using hard rope. His hands bruised and bloody from the constant friction.
Other sailors are on the deck taking the sail from the mast so it doesn't rip in the wind. A great plume of cloth turns into a single man's burden as it goes down to cargo.
In the lower bowels of the ship the oar slaves grunt, sweat glistening as they move to the beat of the masters drum.
Amongst all this insanity one poor woman hugs a bucket. The former high priestess of the abacus is hurling her guts out at sea.
Yet no one is insults her. She doesn't cry or complain, she takes the weather like a gladiator with dignity and grace.
The men don't insult her anymore. Some even got their rags together making a facimile of a bed.
She is Zenobia the great ruler of Palmyra in another life she may have been Caeser sitting in Rome. In this one she dry heaves into a bucket, planning how to make herself dignified when she gets to Rome.
The captain feeling somewhat generous tells a joke.
"Ya know why we call this ship Chicken's tooth."
Zenobia shakes her head unable to utter a response.
Because it will only sink when chicken get teeth.
Zenobia grins a laugh would just make her vomit more.
Both leaders sit and wait as Rome inches nearer a journey traveled worth the time for a sailor and a queen have sat as equals.
In times as chaotic as this one remembers a famous phrase.
May you live in interesting times.
The queen and the sailor for one moment share a feeling, not love, the grueling respect of one leader to another.