Angst

Camp of the Chaldean Levy
West Bank Tigris, Tikrit Bridge: late Aufield 122
When, in early Dujuly, Abraham had moved his levy down the west bank from the Sinjar Ford with scouts well out, the Galatian treachery he had feared never materialised. Macalix did indeed re-cross the Tigris into Mesopotamia but he continued west towards the Besh Ford. It was to be the first move that was to end with the Battle of Besh the following month, with great loss of life on both sides.

Wagdimandu had wisely remained with her people and their herds and wagons, immobilised for lack of transport south of the Mosul Bridge on the west bank of the Tigris by one of the fords below the city of Mosul where she had surrendered to Abraham in Ete on his levy?s march northwards to intercept Macalix? army that had been then pushing east.

Now Abraham?s levy had arrived from the Sinjar Ford back at Wagdimandua?s camp. So for the rest of Dujuly and much of Aufield, Abraham and Wagdimandua had time to get to know each other, to see each other work with their own levies and evaluate each other as leaders and military commanders; and - as they clearly liked each other well - to weigh each other up as potential marriage partners in what would be the first ever senior marriage alliance linking the Chaldean and Galatian peoples.

She had stayed by Abraham?s side and tended her people?s needs. She clearly saw Abraham as her ally and perhaps something more. Abraham for his part admired this iron lady and had learned much about her from his scouts and spies. She led her warriors of the Tikrit Galatian levy in person on campaign and fought at their head like any Chaldean lord: so different from Chaldean women who never rode into battle nor wielded sword or spear, nor drew bow.

And now, even while she placed herself and her people under Abraham?s personal protection a game was being played between them that was both political and personal. Wagdimandua had astutely tried to get other Galatian migrants to stay and join her as settlers on Chaldean land, and for a while there was loose talk of three times her own numbers coming under her rule as Abraham?s satrap ? perhaps as many as 40,000 - giving her great power.

But Abraham knew that there were no unsettled lands in Chaldea for such numbers. So he reluctantly had to make it clear to Wagdimandua that his offer could only extend to the Tikrit Galatians and not to those from Arbil under Wagwelix nor even those of Mosul.

Abraham would have welcomed the settlers ? if space could have been found. The Chaldeans were excellent irregular horse-skirmishers but lacked good foot warriors. The Galatians, by contrast, were renowned and much feared irregular infantry, especially for their impetuous charge. So, should the need arise, the Galatian levy would make a valuable contribution to any army the Chaldeans could field.

Wagdimandua had expressed some concern as to how Chaldeans would view a woman as both a political and military leader. But Abraham hastened to dispel her doubts and express his view that the Chaldeans would in no way interfere in how the Galatians chose to live and fight. Wagdimandua was clearly relieved to learn this, and had quickly implied, though in the usual indirect diplomatic language, that she would welcome Abraham as overlord of her people.

As it turned out, Nyforer wanted the Galatian settlers to return to their villages around Tikrit. His feud was with Macalix alone and not with his Galatian subjects. Returning to their homes would be no barrier to either of them to marry. Indeed, Abraham?s proposal came with added relief as it forestalled any possibility that on her return she would be approached by the Tikrit city leader, Brahma, to marry his son, for whom she had no liking. And having incurred Brahma?s wrath earlier that year she had no wish to return to a permanently tense situation.

It remained for Abraham to take the initiative and ask for her hand in marriage. She gave it, and the wedding was fixed for the first week in the month of Printemps 123.