CHAPTER 21

I. Introit:

Hear my prayer,

to You all flesh will come.

Grant them eternal rest, Lord,

and let perpetual light shine on them.

 

On the middle of the theater lied the blooded figure of a man. His white ceremonial cloak stained in red like the victim of a holy sacrifice; he was surrounded by the images of the 12 Olympians, the immortal Gods, with their unseeing eyes passing judgment upon the mortals below them.  

 

A group of men and a woman stood near the corpse, silent witness of a crime they all wanted to perform. All of them immobile like statues in a mausoleum. So many people at his side and not one of them shed a tear for him. They watched the once all mighty King, the Champion of the Oracle of Delphi, the Hegemon of the Hellenic League, the man who wanted to conquer the eternal Empire of Persia…

 

They were actors on a play, performing in the theater of life for an audience of death. They were murders. They were guilty.

 

It was like watching the play Macbeth, a man consumed by greed, a woman conspiring to kill King Duncan, a struggle for power… all the characters in their place.

 

“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing”(1)… I remember Shakespeare words clearly while recalling the image of the dead King.

 

 Yes, this was our own little drama. We all hated Philip for different reason and we all secretly wish him dead, and that made us all guilty of this crime. The question wasn’t “why is he dead?” but “who did it?” Of course we all see Pausanias of Orestis stab him, his short broad-bladed Celtic sword was still buried between Philip’s ribs; but we all knew that Pausanias was just a tool. Who was the real murderer? Who was the puppet master?

 

II. Kyrie

Lord, have mercy on us

 

Lets see, lets start with Demosthenes son of Demosthenes, the Athenian orator. Demosthenes, as everybody knew hated Philip, even after the Athenian defeat at Chaeronea he continued with his speeches against him, fighting with words from the agora rather than using a sword. He had all the reasons in the world for wanting his dead, because for him, Philip was nothing more than a barbarian, a tyrant, a despicable creature that had to be stopped at all cost.

 

The Athenian hatred for Macedonian Kings will last for another 100 years. Even long time after this day the Athenians would loathe the name of another Philip, Philip V and seek the help, not from Persia, but from the Roman Senate.

 

Yes, Demosthenes wanted Philip dead, but, had he been conspiring with Pausanias to achieve that?

 

Years later I heard an interesting rumor saying that the Greeks had killed Philip, a murder paid with Persian gold. Which takes us to another suspect, the Great King of Persia.

 

Do you remember this eunuch named Bagoas? Not the ridiculous one who danced for Alexander, but the ambitious one who killed the Great King Artaxerxes Ochus and put Arses on the throne. Well, he killed Arses too, apparently he was becoming difficult to manipulate and, by murdering him, Bagoas extinguished the famous Achaemenid dynasty, the one founded by Cyrus the Great. So, Bagoas looked for someone to put on the throne and found a distant member of the royal house, a man named Codoman who was crowned as Darius III. 

 

But Darius was not Arses and soon he poisoned Bagoas. And by the time of Philip’s dead Darius was the undisputable master of the Persian Empire.

 

The idea of Darius paying for Philip’s murder was tempting, but we don’t have to go that far to find another suspect. I just had to see the faces around me in that theater.

 

The murderer was much closer that you thought. 

 

Let’s see, for our third suspect: Anteas, Leonnatos’ father.  He was furious with the King for giving part of his lands to Attalos, and everybody knew that. Also we must not forget that Leonnatos was one of the 3 men who ran after Pausanias and conveniently killed him, so nobody could interrogate him. And there is more, Leonnatos’ family and Pausanias were both from Orestis. 

 

Three days before the murder

Pella, afternoon  

 

 

III. Sequence

1. Dies irae

Day of wrath, day of anger

will dissolve the world in ashes

as foretold by David and the Sibyl.

 

— Dad is so furious that he is saying he doesn’t want to attend the wedding at Aegae –said Leonnatos, walking on the streets of Pella with Berenike at his side.

 

Since Leonnatos’ mother and sisters were still in his house, they had plenty of nurses for their baby and they decided to go to the theater. They wanted to watch The Persians an Athenian tragedy by Aeschylus. This play was the second part of a trilogy that originally had been presented to the great Pericles more than 100 years ago. Berenike was very excited because she had heard that the Athenian company that was presenting the play had beautiful costumes and masks. In Greek theater it was common to use masks because in that way people could see clearly the faces of the characters.

 

— Well, he is right in being angry, I mean, the King did wrong in giving to that creepy man your family’s lands –said Berenike, holding her husband’s hand—But I don’t think is wise to make the King angry.

 

— That’s not what concerns me the most –said Leonnatos—Dad is so mad that I fear he could do something dangerous.

 

— Don’t say that, I’m sure dad knows what he is doing –said his wife patting his arm. Since their wedding Iokaste had insisted that Berenike should call her “mom” and Anteas “dad”. 

 

— I’m not so sure, he is talking with many barons of Orestis, convincing them that the King is no longer seeing for the kingdom’s good but for his friends –said Leonnatos—Speaking about the King, have you seen Phai? –he changed the subject.

 

— Yes, he doesn’t look good. I asked mom if he was sick, but mom said no and that something really weird was happening with him, we think he is in some kind of trouble –she said really concerned for her brother.

 

— So, you didn’t hear?

 

— Hear what?

 

— Perdikkas told me he is the King’s lover –Berenike stopped walking and saw his husband as if she didn’t know him.

 

— What did you…?…But that’s impossible! Phai is in love with Alex –exclaimed his wife outraged—Perdikkas is insane.

 

— Eni, calm down. I know this sounds crazy but it’s true –Leonnatos looked puzzled—Alexander told us, too.

 

— What did he said? –asked Berenike, without voice.

 

— He said he found Phai leaving the King’s room and that Phai said…

 

— What did my brother said? Leon!

 

— Phai said he had slept with the King –Berenike took her hand to her face, covering her mouth. 

 

— But why?

 

— According to Alexander because he was tired of him.

 

— But that’s rubbish, Leon! –exclaimed Berenike—My brother is in love with Alex, he is lying.

 

— Alexander thought the same, but Phai doesn’t want to see him and he left this morning with the King to Aegae –said Leonnatos.

 

— We have to go to Aegae, I have to talk to him. Phai is nuts –Berenike walked back to their house—I can’t let him ruin his life. 

 

Leonnatos smiled and shook his head. That was exactly what he was thinking.

 

Who else was there in the theater? Ah! My father, of course. My father was beyond fury since he discovered what the King had done to me. He didn’t told anyone…anyone except me; he also heard that I was the King’s lover and immediately thought that Attalos had something to do with this, so he took his fastest horse and went to Aegae to see me. 

 

Three days before the murder

Ancient capital of Aegae, night

 

2. Tuba mirum

The trumpet will send its wondrous sound

throughout earth's sepulchres

and gather all before the throne.

 

Amyntor arrived at the old palace and asked to see his son, he knew Hephaistion would be in the ancient palace, home of the first Kings of Macedonia, near the King, and that thought revolted him. The royal steward, Glaukos, took him to his son’s room.

 

When Hephaistion opened the door he went pale, he didn’t expect to see his father and judging by his expression he had heard about his new relationship with the King.

 

— We need to talk –said his father, entering the room.  

 

— Dad, I know you must be confused because of my behavior –Hephaistion closed the door—But…

 

— Did somebody threaten you? –that question left Hephaistion speechless. Did his father know something?

 

— Why do you ask that? –he must acted with caution and not say anything that could put his father in danger.

 

Amyntor walked to the small living room and closed the near window; he didn’t want anyone eavesdropping their conversation. That kind of behavior took Hephaistion by surprise, since when his father was so paranoid? He watched Amyntor checking the place and finally, when he was satisfy, he sat on one couch, indicating his son to take a seat at his side.

 

— Phai, before Attalos’ departure to the Hellespont he invited your mother and I to have dinner at his house –that revelation left Hephaistion in shock—He wanted my support for…he wanted that I convinced you to be the King’s lover, and of course I refused.

 

— So, you think I’m doing this because Attalos threatened me? –asked his son, understanding his father concerned.

 

Amyntor nodded.

 

— Why else would you be doing this? –Hephaistion brushed his hair behind his ear, and say nothing. He couldn’t tell his father the truth; he had given his word that no one would know about his agreement with the King.

 

— Dad, I haven’t spoken to that man in my entire life –said Hephaistion slowly in a low voice—Not even with his agents, and until now I had no idea that he had spoken to you.

 

Those words took away a great burden from Amyntor but raised a lot of questions. Just one look at Hephaistion’s eyes told him that his son had a lot of troubles.

 

— What happen then? Why are you here as the King’s lover?

 

— Dad, I can’t tell you why.

 

— Why not?

 

— Because I gave my word that I won’t tell anyone –they both fell silent.

 

Amyntor ran his hand down his face.

 

— Phai, you don’t have to suffer alone –said his father—You always solve your problems by yourself, and sometimes is fine to ask for help –he took his son by the arm— Please Phai, don’t deny me the opportunity to help you. You are my son.

 

Hephaistion’s gaze blurred with tears, he had never heard his father speak like that and felt deeply moved and honor to have a father like him. He took a depth breath before answering.

 

— Dad, I can’t tell you –his voice was a plea for help that broke his father’s heart. 

 

— This is the King’s doing, isn’t it? –his son nodded and Amyntor hit his thigh angry—Phai listen to me, we are going to find a solution, trust me, we can…

 

— No, no. We can’t do anything, don’t do anything –he couldn’t afford risking Alexander’s position. 

 

— Philip is just a man, a King but mortal –those words scared Hephaistion—I won’t let him hurt you again.

 

Hurt me again? –thought Hephaistion—Does that mean dad knows about…?

 

He didn’t say what he was thinking, he didn’t want to talk about his rape with his father; even if he was sure Amyntor knew. But, how had he found out? Nick? Impossible, Nick gave him his word and his brother could be many things but he was an honorable man. Then how?

 

Around me, in the theater only one woman stood in that circle of damnation, watching the corpse with cold indifference, our lady Macbeth: Queen Olympias. She had many reasons to want her husband’s death. He had repudiated her and replaced her with a young Macedonian woman and, more important, the King was thinking the possibility of naming Caranus his heir.

 

Olympias could be a lot of things but she loved and adored her son almost in a fanatical way, Alexander was everything to her and she would fight like a lioness to protect him and see that he followed his destiny. 

 

Two days before the murder

Ancient capital of Aegae, morning

 

3. Rex tremendae

King of tremendous majesty,

who freely saves those worthy ones,

save me, source of mercy.

 

 

The King didn’t want her in Macedonia but he couldn’t forbid her to attend to her daughter and brother’s wedding. So, two days before the murder, Aegae saw Queen Olympias arrived with her brother, King Alexandros of Epirus.

 

Olympias was calmed, she had been thinking carefully about her son’s situation as well as her own; she had good spies but also allies, the King’s wives wrote to her periodically with news about the palace. She had a good knowledge of the situation and had an idea of what to do next. Attalos and Parmelio were in the Hellespont, Antipater was still at the court but Antipater had no love for those 2 and could be a good allied for her and her son.

 

Now was the time to act, now that the wretched man and his creature were far away.

 

And so absorb was she in her son’s problems that she paid little attention to her daughter’s tantrum. Cleopatra didn’t want to marry her uncle and screamed, cried and made all kind of threats, she said that she would take her life before marrying Alexandros and, when nobody paid her attention, she said she would run away.

 

Cleopatra left her mother quarters, she was angry and had to blink several time to brush aside the tears. The Princess didn’t want to cry, to cry wouldn’t solve her problems. Then, she stopped in the middle of the corridor and her heart beat faster, seeing Hephaistion walking in the garden.

 

In that moment she knew what to do. Cleopatra ran to him, lifting her dress slightly.

 

— Hephaistion! –she called him, and Hephaistion turned. 

 

— Cloe, what can I do for you?

 

— Marry me –for a moment Hephaistion thought he had not listened correctly, but the Princess repeated her request in a clear and unmistakable tone—Marry me, Hephaistion. 

 

— Cloe –he said trying to sound calm and reasonable—Tomorrow is your wedding, you are engaged with King Alexandros.

 

— I don’t want him and I won’t marry him. I’m in love with you –yes, she was Alexander’s sister, just as stubborn as he was.

 

Hephaistion saw her a long time in silence, thinking really hard of what to do with her and not hurt her feelings in the process.

 

— Cloe, we can’t get married; your father wouldn’t allow it –said Hephaistion.

 

— Run away with me –said Cleopatra as if that solved everything. 

 

— We can’t.

 

— Why not? I know you are not a coward and you are pretty strong, you were rewarded after Chaeronea –the Princess insisted—I know you are in love with my brother. I’m not asking you to love me… not now, but, if you marry me our children will have my brother’s blood too.

 

That was the sickest thing Hephaistion had heard after Alexander’s idea of marrying sisters. 

 

— Cloe, we can’t marry –he said again, with a strong voice—I’m very sorry that you don’t like your future husband but we can’t run away.

 

Cleopatra couldn’t help it and started crying, that broke Hephaistion’s heart so he embraced her. He couldn’t see a woman cry.

 

— Now you are bedding my sister? –asked Alexander, standing near them. His uneven eyes shining with anger.

 

I’m curse, definitely. Why did he have to find me right now? –thought Hephaistion, closing his eyes for a moment to think of what to say. Cleopatra was too busy crying to say a word.

 

— What you think, doesn’t concern me anymore –said Hephaistion in the most indifferent voice he could summon. With all care, he took the Princess by the waist—Come, I’ll take you to your room.

 

— Hephaistion! –Alexander called him—I came to talk to you.

 

— Good for you, but I don’t want to talk to you –said Hephaistion, ignoring him.

 

The Prince blocked his way, standing in front of them.

 

— You will talk to me like it or not –he was furious, and speaking in a tone of voice that would have scare the living hell out of someone else.

 

The sobbing Cleopatra curled against Hephaistion’s chest.

 

— I. Will. Not.

 

— You are a liar Hephaistion –said Alexander, each word full of anger and sadness—You vowed to never betray me, and what are you doing now? TELL ME! You are worst than a whore; you sold yourself to the most powerful man. When did you decide this? When you hear that the King could name Caranus his heir? Do you want to be a King’s lover so badly?  

 

Hephaistion didn’t say a word and continued walking with Cleopatra. What could he said? It was the best for the 2 of them if Alexander thought he had betrayed him, them he would hate him and would stop being so sad.

 

The Prince was going to say something else when he notice Hephaistion’s locket still hanging around his neck.

 

Hephaistion was feeling like the most despicable being in the whole world, he walked like a condemned man to his execution, without paying attention to his surroundings. When he arrived to the Princess chambers she was calm and had stopped crying. Cleopatra insisted so much that he should stay and he was so downhearted that he accepted and drank in one gulp the cup of un-water wine she offered to him.

 

— Are you and my brother mad at each other? –she asked, refilling his cup.

 

— I guess you can say that –Cleopatra had been so busy with her own problems that she knew nothing about her father, Hephaistion and Alexander—This is a good wine –he said, his eyes on the wine’s surface.

 

The Princess sat down at his side.

 

— We don’t have luck with love.

 

— I’ll drink to that –said Hephaistion. Cleopatra kissed his cheek and he turned so quickly that his lips brushed the Princess’.

 

Cleopatra blushed intensely looking beautiful, like a painting of Filippo Lippi, with his red hair falling at the sides of her face, his blue eyes shining with excitement and her cheek painted in pink. She wasn’t lying, she had loved Hephaistion since the first time they met but knew that he had eyes only for her brother and that had burned her from inside. Why can’t he love her too? 

 

Before either of them notice, Hephaistion kissed her on the lips, and soon they were kissing in a more passionate way.

 

The Princess kisses were so sweet and tender, and he felt so sad and miserable that he didn’t find the strength to stop. This was very wrong but in that moment Hephaistion didn’t felt that way, and he let his feelings and emotions to take control, even if he later would regret this day and it’s consequences. 

 

The people in the theater were leaving, running away scared. Alexander was standing at my side. To the eyes of the world, he was the principal suspect; he gained everything with his father dead. He would be King and would have the honor of going to Asia to conquer the richest and largest Empire in the world. Philip’s blood ran through the floor, a pool of red, and there I saw Alexander’s reflection.

 

Could he? Could he have killed his own father? Was he that kind of man?   

 

One day before the murder

Ancient capital of Aegae, afternoon

 

4. Recordare

Righteous judge of vengeance,

grant me the gift of absolution

before the day of retribution. 

 

 

— Hephaistion is planning something –said Alexander to Perdikkas after his sister wedding. He was still dressed in full royal regalia.

 

— He is driving us crazy, what is he thinking? –said Perdikkas, sitting on a rock bench. 

 

— I don’t know but…—Alexander remembered the locket hanging around his beloved’s neck—Knowing him, he discovered something at the court and he is doing this to protect me.

 

— You think?

 

— I’m sure –now that the Prince was calm he was thinking clearly—When we were in Illyria, Phai always told me that Attalos would try to kill me. Maybe he discovered some plot and that is why he is acting as the King’s lover.

 

— Attalos is in the Hellespont.

 

— Yes, but a man like him has agents –Alexander was walking like a caged lion—What has changed since Phai is with the King?

 

— Mm, well, your father looks happier, lots happier –said Perdikkas—Do you know? He gave Phai a pair of splendid swords.

 

That was the worst thing Perdikkas could have said. Jealous consumed Alexander and he felt a dangerous fire burning in him. Perdikkas shivered.

 

— And Phai? Do you think he is happy? –asked the Prince looking at the city, a great mob was there, reunited to see the games and the other festivities. 

 

— You know him better than anyone… but if you want my opinion…–Perdikkas scratched his head frowning—No, I don’t think he is happy, he is acting and trying his best to look happy.

 

— I thought so –said Alexander—What else? What else has changed? 

 

Then, inspiration struck the Prince. Many ambassadors and prominent men of all Greece were present at Aegae, and Philip had presented Alexander as the Crown Prince, he even had the place of honor in the banquets.

 

— Father Zeus! –exclaimed Alexander in shock. Perdikkas was right, he knew Hephaistion better than anybody else, and now he was starting to see clearly—Perdikkas you are a genius!

 

— Am I?

 

— Phai is with the King because of me –said the Prince, speaking more to himself than to his friend.

 

— That doesn’t have sense –said Perdikkas confused.

 

— On the contrary, has all the sense in the world –Alexander looked at him—Since Phai is with him, the King is treating me as he used before he got married with Cleopatra Eurydice.

 

— I still don’t understand.

 

— I have to speak with Phai, tonight, at the wedding banquet –said the Prince ignoring Perdikkas.

 

— And what are you going to do if what you are thinking is right? What if Phai is sacrificing himself for you?

 

Alexander looked at him with an intensity that scared Perdikkas.

 

— Then I’m going to kill the King.

 

Were these all the suspects? No. I haven’t mention one, and wouldn’t be fair if I leave this man out. Me. I haven’t talked about me. I also wanted to kill Philip, I dreamed of it; he ruined my life when he rape me and was ruining Alexander’s life too. I can suffer a thousand deaths but I couldn’t and I can’t be indifferent if Alexander is the one suffering. 

 

One day before the murder

Ancient capital of Aegae, night

 

5. Confutatis

I kneel with submissive heart,

my contrition is like ashes,

help me in my final condition.

 

The wedding feast took place in the new hall of the ancient palace. King Philip had ordered to have it redesigned for this special occasion. The walls had paintings showing Dionysus in a banquet with several beautiful and half naked girls.

 

Alexander had the place of honor at his father right and, since Attalos and Parmelio weren’t there, Hephaistion was at the King left. The Prince couldn’t stop admiring him, he was astonishing, dressed like a prince with a magnificent small brooch holding his hair, leaving thin locks on his face, half covering his eyes. He was dress in red, his favorite color, and as Alexander could see, he was still wearing his locket. He smiled.

 

Not once Hephaistion turned to look at him, he couldn’t, it was too painful and by all means he avoid his uneven eyes. He knew the Prince was looking at him and wished with all his heart he stop doing it. Three times a drunken Philip tried to kiss Hephaistion in front of all his guests, and 3 times Hephaistion managed to avoid it graciously. The first time he moved away and Philip almost fell, the second time he put a grape in the King’s mouth and the third he called for a servant to fill his cup with wine.

 

He hated public displays of affection and if he didn’t do it with Alexander less with Philip. Alexander smiled again.

 

The flute girls were playing at the center of the hall, half naked for the guest delight, and, when the song ended, the King stood and went to speak with his new son-in-law. The Prince saw his opportunity. Quickly he went to his friend’s side and took him by the arm.

 

— Come with me.

 

— Are you nuts?

 

— You only have 2 options Phai, you come quietly and nobody has to know, or you fight and draw everybody’s attention –he got him, Alexander got him. If he started arguing Philip would show up and things were going to be very difficult, besides, the Prince was calling him “Phai” again, what was he planning? 

 

— Only one moment –he agreed and followed Alexander to the corridor, taking care in checking if he King was still busy with his son-in-law.   

 

— What do you want? –before Hephaistion noticed, the Prince kissed him and got him trap against the wall and his firm body.

 

That kiss tasted like glory to Hephaistion. He only had 3 days with Philip and he felt like it had been an eternity. An eternity in hell. He didn’t fight back, he couldn’t, he wanted Alexander so badly and had missed him so much, that soon he found himself returning the kiss and moaning softly.

 

— Don’t you dare to tell me that you don’t longer love me, because I don’t believe you –Alexander whispered against his lips, brushing his locks aside to see his face. He slid his hands to his neck and played with the locket—What are you doing with the King?

 

— I told you, I’m tired…

 

— Don’t lied to me –his voice was the same Hephaistion had heard in the battle of Chaeronea, and he found himself incapable of disobeying him—You take me for an idiot, do you really thought that I will not see what are you playing at? –his friend didn’t say a word, it was wiser—Do you think I want to be King at this cost? I don’t want you in the King’s bed.

 

— He was going to name Caranus his heir –said Hephaistion, forgetting about everything—I can’t let that happen, least of all knowing is because of me. He wants me and is ruining your life because he is jealous. 

 

— Let me take care of myself, Phai, you don’t have to protect me all the time –said Alexander, caressing his cheek tenderly—You are my other half, I don’t want you to be unhappy.

 

The Prince closed the distance between them and touched his lips with his own.

 

— No, please; if you kiss me again, I won’t be able to go back with him –Hephaistion plead and closed his eyes. He wanted to disappear. 

 

— I love you –that was all Hephaistion needed to surrender himself to Alexander; just 3 words and his inner defenses crumbled. The Prince pressed his body against him and his beloved was lost—And you are mine now and forever.

 

Now and forever…—thought Hephaistion.

 

Alexander kissed him again and took his hand between his friend’s legs. Hephaistion moaned and his breath quickened.

 

— Say it Phai, say that you love me –asked the Prince giving no rest to his lips or his body.

 

— I-I love you –his legs trembled and then Hephaistion knew he couldn’t continue with that charade. But, if he couldn’t give Philip what he want there was only one way out of that problem: to kill him.   

 

Finally we only have one suspect left… well more than a suspect, the actual murderer: Pausanias of Orestis or as my sister liked to call him: Loony Pausanias. His body was lying on the theater’s floor near his victim, discarded as garbage. Pausanias had a personal grudge against the King but it wasn’t reason enough to do what he did, to kill him, after all, the real culprit behind Pausanias assault was Attalos, not the King.

 

Someone took advantage of Pausanias and used him to kill Philip.

 

The day of the murder

Ancient capital of Aegae, afternoon

 

6. Lacrimosa

That day of tears and mourning,

when from the ashes shall arise,

all humanity to be judged.

Spare us by your mercy, Lord

 

This day the games took place, and for the inauguration Philip organized a great event at the theater. He planed to parade the 12 statues of the Olympians and a thirteen one of himself, a silent message to the world that he, the King of Macedonia, was as great and noble as the Gods.  

 

Alexander was feeling better that day, after his encounter with Hephaistion the night before, but when he saw his beloved the smile abandoned his face. Hephaistion was very pale and even if he tried to conceal it, he was having troubles walking. 

 

— What happen to Phai? –asked Leonnatos, who, after all, had attend to the ceremony with his wife and family. 

 

— I don’t know –answered Alexander thinking quickly. For the way he moved, it was as if someone had beaten him, but who? Nobody in his right mind would challenge Hephaistion let alone win against him. Unless…? What if the King had seen them making love in the corridor? What if he had done something to his dearest friend? That thought enraged him.

 

— Joy to you Alexander, Leon! Where is Eni? –said Perdikkas arriving late, outside the theater.

 

— In the theater with my family, her father and Nick –said Leonnatos—Oh! The King is here.

 

Philip arrived with Antipater and his new son-in-law, dressed in white.

With him were his 7 Somatophylakes and among them Pausanias of Orestis. In the moment that Alexander saw him he knew something was wrong, he was very good reading people’s intentions and Pausanias had something that put his senses on alert. 

 

The King exchanged some words with his Somatophylakes and Alexander went to Hephaistion’s side.

 

— You don’t look well –said the Prince in a whisper, his uneven eyes on his father.

 

— I’m not well –it was pointless to lie.

 

— What happened?

 

— I can’t tell you here –Hephaistion saw the King laughing at some joke.

 

— Just tell me something; did the King saw us last night?

 

— Yes –that answered enraged the Prince; he wanted to keep asking but his friend said—Later –and left.

 

It was Philip’s idea to walk alone into the theater, the 2 Alexanders at his side, his son and his son-in-law. The Somatophylakes followed him at a distance, but, at the entrance of the arena Pausanias approached him and thrust his sword between the King’s ribs. Before anyone could react, Pausanias ran away and Leonnatos, Perikkas and Attalos (Perdikkas brother-in-law) ran after him.

 

Leonnatos, Perdikkas and Attalos killed Pausanias, and dragged his body back to the theater were all of us stood around Philip’s corpse. 

 

The King is dead; long live the King

 

 

 

XXX

 

(1) Macbeth Act 5, Scene 5, Lines 23 - 28.