Chapter 2

 

 

- That one is Boukephalos –said Leonnatos, pointing at a magnificent black horse with red mane at the end of the royal stable—It’s more impressive than I imagined, did you hear how Alexander tamed him?

 

Hephaistion rolled his eyed tired of that story.

 

- I was there –he said, not caring in hiding the fact that this subject irritated him—It was during the festival held on my birthday.

 

Leonnatos watched him fascinated.

 

- Really? And what happened?

 

Hephaistion sighed heavily, he was sick of that story, since his first day at the royal palace as page, he hadn’t hear nothing more that the fantastic way in which Alexander had tamed the wild horse Boukephalos, he even heard somebody saying that Boukephalos was a man-eater horse and that Melas Kleitos and Ptolemy were given the task to hunt him down when the Prince found him.

 

- I don’t have much to tell you, you already know the full story –said Amyntor’s son, grooming one of the King’s favorite horses—Boukephalos is a wild horse with a strange fear for his own shadow and Alexander was the only one who figured it out, the end.

 

Leonnatos blinked twice before laughing.

 

- You hate Alexander that much?

 

- He is an annoying, arrogant and spoiled brat who enjoying showing off around the palace –said Hepahistion grooming the horse so hard, that the beast turned to see him, silently demanding a more dignify treatment.

 

- He is not, Phai, you are wrong; you should give him an opportunity –his friend saw him as if he were nuts.  

 

- Your problem Leon is that you are too good and noble and can’t conceive the evilness in other people.

 

- Whatever you said, Phai –said Leonnatos, shaking his head. He left the food of Pausanias of Orestis’ horses on the ground.

 

The famous Leonnatos was a nice boy with impeccable manners, he had long chocolate-brown hair always tided in a pony tail with a lonely long lock crossing his face, his eyes were deep blue, like the eyes of all the Argead family. He was tall but not like Hephaistion, and his skin was tanned. Hephaistion liked Leonnatos since they first met and all the first week in palace they managed to get their assignments together. 

 

- What is like to be the King’s page? –asked Leonnatos, changing the subject, to talk about Alexander in Hephaistions presence was always dangerous.

 

- Difficult and demanding, there is always something to do, Glaukos the royal steward said that, if the King goes out in a military campaign, I have to go with him, which is absolutely fascinating, don’t you think? –Hephaistion were happy, he loved traveling and every opportunity to left the royal palace was great; he found the atmosphere there suffocating, schemes inside schemes lurking in every corner.

 

- I envy you –Leonnatos sighed— I was assigned to Pausanias but, if the Kings goes out in campaign, I really doubt he is going to take Pausanias with him –he said disappointed.

 

- Why not? –asked Hephaistion with curiosity.

 

- Don’t know well but it appears that Pausanias is the King’s lover but now he is losing his affection… Or something like that –Leonnatos tried to explained, but he was too young to understand the complications of a lover affair between a King and his favorite—The point is that now the King is ignoring him, and Pausanias is in a dreadful mood, which means I’m stuck here… —he lamented as if his dog had died.

 

- Cheer up! I’m sure there would be a battle to send your Pausanias –said Hephaistion with a contagious bright smile—Tell me something, how is this Pausanias of yours?

 

- Weird, he speaks alone –Hephaistion laughed— Honestly, it’s kind of scary.

 

- And how’s that?

 

- He complains about everything and thinks he is the worthiest man on earth, so the world is just wrong in denying him the honors he deserves –explained Leonnatos.

 

- Weird –agreed the page of gray eyes.

 

- Joy to you! –said Perdikkas entering the stable with his chiton torn and covered in mud and grass, his short blond hair untidy and full of dirt.

 

- What happened to you? –asked Hephaistion, looking at him from head to toe.

 

- Antipater’s daughter, Nikai, lost her dog, and guess who have to look for him? –Leonnatos and Hephaistion laughed.

 

- And I was complaining about being Pausanias’ page –muttered Leonnatos—Antipater has a lot of kids, 10 children are just too many he need to find a hobby, Cassander is the oldest?

 

- Yep –answered Perdikkas, shaking the dirt out of his hair.

 

- Perdikkas, do you know when are the Persians arriving? –Hephaistion wanted to know.

 

- In 3 days –answered a voice from the entrance, and the smiled abandoned Hephaistion’s face.

 

- Joy to you Alexander! –said Leonnatos cheerfully. 

 

Give me a break! What’s he doing here? –thought the King’s page.

 

- What happened to you, Perdikkas –asked Ptolemy, entering along with Harpalos and Nearchos.

 

Why do they have to be together all the time? –thought Hephaistion, frowing—They are like this brute’s pose.

 

- I hunt wild animals in the royal forests –answered Perdikkas, trying to sound interesting and failing miserably.

 

- I never thought you would be interested in the Persian embassy –said Alexander, his uneven eyes fixed on Hephaistion, and a heavy silence was suddenly cast upon them. All the present knew how Amyntor’s son hated the Prince.

 

Hephaistion lifted his head to face him as if he had just being aware of the Prince presence.

 

- Oh! Are you talking to me? –he asked absently, feigning surprise, still grooming the horse, even if the animal was perfect already.

 

- Yes –Alexander answered with all calm, as if he wasn’t aware of the insolent tone of the other—Would you like to be in the reception for the Persians? My father said I could bring my syntrophoi.

 

Perdikkas, Leonnatos, Ptolemy and Harpalos stared at Hephaistion as if this were the first time they saw him, had they heard correctly? Alexander was making him a big honor, and for the silence that followed his proposal it was clearly that Amyntor’s son was thinking the same thing.

 

Why does he do this? He knows I don’t like him, he only wants to demonstrate that he can go ordering me around –he thought.

 

- Fine –he accepted, resuming his work.

 

Alexander walked to him and caressed the horse’s back, listening how Leonnatos was asking Harpalos about the start of the next military campaign season.

 

- This is one of my father’s favorite horses –said the Prince—He told me that this horse saved his life at Amphipolis.

 

Whatever –thought Hephaistion, leaning down to groom the horse’s belly. Alexander leaned too and their eyes met.

 

- What? –asked Hephaistion, harshest than he had intended. 

 

- Are you always so grumpy?

 

- And you have nothing better to do than bother pages? I thought the Crown Prince would be busier –the words left Hephaistion’s lips before he could stop himself, but Alexander smiled.

 

- Bother? I thought I was being nice to you; you hurt my feelings –the Prince fake to be offended, taking a hand to his chest.

 

Hephaistion narrowed his eyes. He threw the brush into a basket with the rest of the cleaning tools, lifted it and was about to go, when…

 

- You know, this horse isn’t properly brushed on his belly –said Alexander, and Hephaistion stopped giving his back to him. He took a deep breath and counted to 10 trying to calm himself before start yelling at him—My father is not going to be pleased.

 

Amyntor’s son ignored him and got out of the royal stables.

 

- You shouldn’t do that –said Leonnatos, when he was sure that Hephaistion couldn’t hear.

 

- He started it –replied Alexander, leaning against the wooden wall, happy as a kid who had stolen food from the kitchen without being caught. 

 

- Well, yes, but if you know that Phai doesn't like you, why to push him?

 

- Alexander, Leon is right, the best thing to do is ignore him, why do you have to invite him to the Persian’s reception? –said Harpalos, he didn’t like Hephaistion and didn’t bother in hiding it.

 

- He intrigues me –the Prince admitted, taking his friends by surprise—Hephaistion is the first person I met who I can’t guess what’s thinking or what’s he going to do next, he is a mystery –it was clear to all that this fascinated him, even if they couldn’t understand it.

 

Yes, that’s the reason –thought Alexander. The Prince thought too quickly, when people where trying to comprehend the question he already had answer, analyzed his conclusion and found other solutions. For Alexander, other people were like an opened book, their facial expression and their body language told everything he needed to know about someone; but not Hephaistion, he was spontaneous and unpredictable.

 

- Ptolemy –said Alexander suddenly—What do you know about Hephaistion?

 

- Er… not much –answered Ptolemy, scratching his head—Just what Nikandros told us, he said his brother has a tasted for philosophy and theater, and Nick mocked him because he sucks using a spear.

 

Leonnatos and Perdikkas smiled.

 

- That’s true –said Perdikkas—But he only needs practice.

 

- What about his personality? –the Prince insisted.

 

- He is kind and funny –said Leonnatos at once—He is smart, proud and stubborn… In some way he is like you.

 

- I don’t like him –said Harpalos, frowning—He is just a petulant boy.

 

- Phai is complicated, but once you know him he is an excellent friend –said Perdikkas and Leonnatos nodded.

 

Hephaistion son of Amyntor, how is the real you? –thought Alexander.

 

XXX

 

Three days later the Persians arrived with their colorful dresses, exotic servants and impressive guards, and among them came 4 of the legendary members of the Immortals, the personal guard of the Persian Kings. All the royal family participated in the reception, first the King in all his purple glory, his older daughter Cynane of 14 years old; his wife Nicesipolis of Thesaly with her daughter Thessalonica of 9 years old; his wife Olympia, also known as Polyxena, later Myrtale and now Olympias, name that she adopted after her husband’s horses won the Olympics the same year Alexander was born; her daughter Cleopatra of 10 years old; his wife Philinna of Larissa and her son Arrhidaeus of 10 years old and, of course, the Crown Prince, Alexander.

 

The reception was public so Hephaistion could go with his father, his uncle Althaimenes and his cousin Demetrios. Althaimenes was his father’s younger brother and had just arrived after a stay of two months in Potidea.

 

Amyntor was full of pride, knowing that the Crown Prince in person had invited Hephaistion, and he looked like a helium balloon, floating in the room. Hephaistion, in the other hand, made an effort to maintain his best professional expression and not looked stupidly impressed by all the luxury, the gold and jewels the Persians had on them, looking like living art pieces.   

 

The young page had dressed himself with care, he wore his best chiton and cloak, his hair shone and slid like a brushstroke through his right shoulder, the thin locks on his face looked as if an artist had arrange them carefully, to cover only the necessary of those wonderful dark gray eyes which in light acquired different tonalities, like jewels. The fair and creamy skin of his legs and arms were like a silent invitation to be touch, and a bracelet on his arm were the only adorned on him, like saying that he himself was the jewel himself.

 

Every now and then Alexander looked at the beautiful page, standing next to the King as if he were also a Prince. He was sure the Persians would believe that Hephaistion was part of the royal family too, he had a magnificent figure and inborn elegance, which attracted all the attention even in a crowd, that and the fact that he, was absolutely astonishing.

 

But, the young Prince wasn’t the only one looking at the page, the King also found him striking beautiful. Since the day Hephaistion arrived, he had caught King Philip’s attention, the boy was like a god who had lost his way to Olympus ending in this land of mortals, and for that reason the King had ordered to have him as his page, the sole look of him made his blood burn in desire. Everything in Amyntor’s son was perfect, he had being created to pleased and his skin asked to be touch, his lips had a silent invitation to be kissed and his arrogance called to be tamed.

 

Philip cleared his throat, and return his attention to the magnificent presents sent for him from the Great King Artaxerxes Ochus; he had to stop admiring Amyntor’s boy or he will suffer an embarrassing accident there.

 

Hephaistion was listening to the interpreter while his curious gaze traveled along the

royal family. The 3 wives of the King were too young and too pretty for the 40 years old Philip, and so different among them that it was hilarious. If all his wives were alive, the King would have there 5 women: Audata, great-granddaughter of King Bardylis of Ilyria and Phila of Elimiontis. For what Hephaistion had heard the King fell in love only with Audata and Phila, and had suffer greatly when they died, maybe that was why Philip was now so hard, and maybe that was the reason behind Harpalos being assigned as one of the Prince’s advisors, after all Harpalos was the nephew of Phila –said the page to himself.

 

The beautiful teenager heard that Philip had met Audata, his first wife, while being a hostage of the Illyrians during his elder brother’s reign. That was a really nice and romantic story, according to that Audata had fallen in love at first sight with Philip when she was still a little girl, and promised to marry only him…A shame she had died in childbirth. Cynane was her daughter and King Philip’s favorite one; all Pella knew that if Cynane had been born a boy she would be the Crown Prince now.

 

She had been raised in the Illyrian customs; she could use a sword and a bow and could ride better than many young men. She was a warrior princess and her father let her do anything she wanted. Hephaistion liked her, she was strong and always spoke her mind, but sometime she looked like a barbarian doing that. Rumors said the King was thinking in engaging her with her cousin Amyntas. Poor girl.

 

And talking about cousin Amyntas, Hephaistion couldn’t see him any way around. That didn’t surprise him, after all the King wouldn’t like to give his EMO nephew so much attention.

 

The third of Philip’s wives was Nicesipolis, she was so sweet that sometimes looked silly, she never knew what was going on around her, and she spent all her time weaving, all the palace had something made by her, to Hephaistion, who was used to his intelligent mother, Nicesipolis was the dumbest woman in the world. Philinna, the forth wife was paranoid and lived in constant terror of Olympias, people said it was Olympias who had poison her son Arrhidaeus reason why he had brain damage. If the story was true, then Nicesipolis had all the right to be paranoid.

 

And last but not least was Queen Olympias and her daughter Cleopatra. For Hephaistion there wasn’t a more evil being than Olympias, if she had auditioned for the roll of villain in a movie, she would won instantly; she had “I’m evil” written in her face. Was ambitious, perverse, devotee of the Dionysius cult, which instantly made her participant of wild orgies, sacrifices and other rituals. She had a severed fetishism with snakes and if someone would have told Hephaistion that she tear off chicken heads with her bare teeth, he would believed it without any doubt.

 

Olympias give Hephaistion the shivers and Alexander loved his mother, they had a good relationship, which made the page thought that maybe they were one of the same kind.

 

Cleopatra was… weird; she appeared to be all sweetness, like a fairy tale princess, who speaks with the forest animals and sings every morning, but in the other hand she was capricious and spoiled… The truth was he didn’t know her enough for having a clear idea of her personality. 

 

Hephaistion fell someone’s eyes on him, and when he turned, he found a pair of blue and brown orbs looking in his direction. He held the Prince’s gaze defiantly and then returned his attention to the Persians. Alexander smiled; nobody could held his gaze, not even his parents.

 

What an interesting person –thought the Prince.

 

XXX

 

Later, during the dinner in which only the men could participate, King Philip approached his son while some beautiful flute girls where playing, almost naked for the guests delight.

 

- What do you think about the reunion?

 

Alexander took his time before answering.

 

- Neither of both parts said anything useful –his father laughed.

 

- Of course not, at least not directly, this reunions are to be read between lines –the King sat on his couch—I have been observing our guest of honor, Arsames –the Prince looked at the man, the satrap of Frigia—He can’t get his eyes from that boy, the one serving wine, I’m going to arrange that he is sent to Arsames’ room to see what information he can get from him.

 

Alexander noticed that Arsames wasn’t looking only at the boy serving wine, he was also looking at the ungodly beautiful page of gray eyes, who was laughing with Perdikkas and Leonnatos on a couch not so far from there. The Prince frowned and King Philip smiled, following his son’s eyes.

 

- I noticed too –said the King—Amyntor’s boy has Arsames mesmerized. If I could I would send him to warm the satrap’s bed and I’m sure he would get from him even his grandfather’s secrets –he laughed, celebrating his own joke. The King was pretty drunk by now—I don’t blame Arsames, the boy is so beautiful that he could start wars, like Helen of Troy.

 

At the other side of the room, Hephaistion was lying back on his couch; his chiton lifted a little letting part of his thighs exposed, his creamy white skin was visible and the muscles of his leg tense. Arsames stopped breathing, Philip felt the heat concentrated in the lower part of his body and Alexander shuddered, all while that creature of impossible beauty was having fun, oblivious to the rest of the world.

 

- By Zeus! He should be warming MY bed –exclaimed the King, bothering his son.

 

The banquet continued and later, when it was late at night, came the main attraction, meaning that many naked, or almost naked women, entered the hall, and the combination of wine and beautiful women gave the obvious conclusion. Perdikkas observed the women like a dog in a butcher shop, and Leonnatos laughed like a silly girl.

 

The 3 of them were too young to drink or to take part in the orgy, so they could only watch. Hephaistion felt tickles through his body, the images, the sounds, and smells fill his senses; his cheeks burned and his skin was starting to ask for somebody to touch him desperately, so he decided to leave. He felt exposed and uncomfortable.

 

- Health to you! –said Hephaistion.

 

- A-a-all right –answered Perdikkas absently, he wasn’t paying any attention to his friend, too busy watching what was doing a Numidian girl with an Illyrian over one of the guest.        

 

Hephaistion rolled his eyes and left. He needed a cold bath, yes, that was a splendid idea –thought the page walking through the dark corridor.

 

- Leaving so soon?

 

Oh, no, that voice again –thought Hephaistion, narrowing his eyes.  

 

- I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to go –answered the page with all insolence.

 

Alexander smiled, Hephaistion looked like a god under the half lit corridor, his eyes shone mysteriously, his cheek painted in a slight pink and his silhouette against the light of the torches.

 

- You don’t like orgies? –asked Alexander, as if they were talking about the weather.

 

- Why? Do you? You should go back then or you will miss the big ending.

 

- No thanks, I already saw that play and know how it ends.

 

- Whatever –the page turned to continue walking.

 

- Why did you leave the party? People only stand the dinner to get to the orgy part, but you enjoyed the dinner and leaft as soon as the first chitons fell, why? –Alexander followed him.

 

- I don’t like orgies –answered Hephaistion, walking faster.

 

- Why not?

 

- Why do you care?

 

- Because you are not normal.

 

- What?! –Hephaistion stopped, and looked at him as if they didn’t speak the same Macedonian.

 

- You have by now 2 weeks in the palace, you should known what is “normal” here, and if you haven’t you are not as smart as I thought you were –said Alexander simply, only stating the facts—Here are two things people cared: how much you can drink and how many women you can have, but you ignore it or you don’t care.

 

- I’m 13, I’m too young to drink or to get laid so, why to stay in a party I can’t even enjoy?

 

- Leon and Perdikkas stayed –the Prince pointed out.

 

- You didn’t stay, I must assumed you aren’t normal either? –the blond smiled.    

 

 - No, I’m not normal.

 

- You are impossible –the page started walking again.

 

- Why? For speaking my mind?

 

- Do you know that wise men know to keep their mouths shut?

 

- Cowards too.

 

- One of these days that mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble –said Hephaistion, without looking at him.

 

- Just like you, why you don’t like me?

 

- The entire world has to like you?

 

- You are not the “entire world”, besides, you don’t even know me –said Alexander, he was having fun, and that enraged the page.

 

- I don’t hate you; I simple don’t like you –he answered through clenched teeth.

 

- Why? –insisted the Prince.

 

- It’s none of your business.

 

- It’s none of my business why you don’t like me? –Hephaistion stopped and faced him.

 

- For things like this I don’t like you… And stop following me.

 

- I’m not following you –Hephaistion looked at him truly considering the possibility that he was crazy—My room is in this direction.

 

The page grumbled angrily and continued walking.

 

- I’ll see you tomorrow in the hunting –and Alexander was so happy that he forgot to go to see his mother as he had promised.