CHAPTER 36

 

Everything was according to the plan. Thessalonike sneaked into Olympias chambers at night and took Achilles with her. She skipped the guards without difficulty, after all she knew the place perfectly, and using a window went out to the garden. Grandfather Demetrios and Lysanias were waiting near the palace walls and once Achilles was with them they rode outside Pella, where Berenike, her children, her slave Netikerty, Antigone, Cadie and Iokaste were waiting.   

 

An odd group, hidden in the dark with only one torch to illuminate them. They looked like ghosts, the women wearing dark cloaks over their dresses.

 

Berenike was wearing a boy’s chiton, her long hair hidden under a cloth wrapped around her head. She had bought armor and equipment, and from her horse’s saddle was hanging a bow. Netikerty was going with them to take care of the 3 children; they were taking 3 horses and a donkey that was pulling a small wagon with their things. 

 

- Eni you look a lot like Nick when he was 16 years old –said her mother with nostalgia. 

 

- 16! But I’m 20 years old –exclaimed Berenike.

 

- Yes sweetheart, but dressed like that you look like a boy, not like a man –said Antigone. 

 

- Nanny! –exclaimed Achilles on Demetrios horse when he saw Antigone, extending his arms to her.

 

Antigone smiled and carried the boy, covering his face with kisses.

 

- What are you wearing on the head? –asked Demetrios frowning when he saw Berenike.

 

- Well, I have to hide my hair. You don’t like it? –asked his granddaughter patting her head. 

 

- Wouldn’t be easy for you to cut it? –Berenike saw him as if her grandfather had asked her to ride naked.

 

- Cut my hair? Have you any idea of how much work took me to keep my hair this long? 

 

Demetrios ran a hand through his face; he would never understand women’s fascination with their hair. 

 

- Eni, I’m so excited –said Iokaste, Leonnatos’ mother, close to tears—I have always wanted to live an adventure like this and now you are making my dream true.

 

Women in those times could only live through their male relatives, through their husbands and sons, they couldn’t join the army or have a political career, and for Iokaste Berenike was her heroine, because her daughter-in-law was going to do what only men could, and not only that, she was doing this for love in order to see her husband again. 

 

- Eni, dear, are you sure about this –asked Antigone, with Aki in her arms—What is Anteas going to say? 

 

- Don’t worry about my husband –said Iokaste, shaking her hand in front of her—I will take care of that.

 

Antigone put Achilles down and kneeled in front of him.

 

- What’s going on, Nanny? –asked the little boy—Can we go home now?

 

- Listen to me, honey –said Antigone, taking his little hands in hers—Your aunt Eni and your grandpa are taking you to where your father is.

 

Achilles saw her with his eyes wide open, shining with excitement.

 

- Really?!

 

- Really –Antigone smiled and caressed his head—It’s going to be a long trip, and you have to behave and obey what your aunt and grandpa say.

 

- Yes, Nanny. You are not coming?

 

- No, sweetheart; I have to stay and take care of your grandfather Amyntor.

 

- I’m going to miss you –Achilles embraced her and Antigone made and effort for not cry.

 

- Me too, honey, me too…

 

- All right! Time to go –said grandfather Demetrios with his booming voice.

 

- Please be careful –asked Antigone.

 

Netikerty put the children on the wagon and Iokaste gave them smacking kisses on their cheeks. 

 

- Don’t worry mom, we’ll be fine –said Berenike, mounting her horse—We’ll write often.

 

Antigone wasn’t very sure about that. She said nothing more, and stayed there, standing there in the dark, watching them go, Achilles said good-bye to her moving his small hand.

 

XXX

 

- How this happened? –exclaimed Nikandros angry and worried.

 

When he came back to the house, after a long night on patrol, he found his guards unconscious, doctor Philip tied to a chair in the living room; Thais, Sophonisba and Kyros tied on the floor, and no trace of his brother. 

 

- They tricked us, sir –said one his guards, his face red with embarrassment. All of them were in Hephaistion’s bedroom answering Nikandros’ questions—We were two blocks from here and a group of drunken men started a fight, we went to see what was happening.

 

- It was a diversion –said Kleopatros, not daring to meet his friend’s eyes—We were fooled and while we were busy with the fight they entered the house.

 

- How many came in? –asked Nikandros.

 

- 5, sir.

 

- And they said they were acting under Memnon’s orders? –Thais nodded.

 

- That’s what they said, and I believed them –said the hetaira, rubbing her arms after been tied for an hour.

 

Nikandros walked around the bedroom, shaking his head.

 

- How they leave the city? –he asked, his green eyes on the empty bed. 

 

Silence. One of the soldiers coughed and other scratched his head nervously.

 

- I guess –said one soldier catching their attention, his voice sounded too loud in that silence— It was disguise as wine merchants –Nikandros turned to see him.

 

- How do you know that? –the man look ashamed.

 

- I…I saw a peculiar group leaving the city last night –said the man—I asked them questions and they said they were wine merchants. I believed them, but now that I think about it, I’m sure they were the mercenaries.

 

Angry, Nikandros kicked a chair, making them jumped.

 

- There is no point in staying here, we have to go with the King –he said.

 

- We could search for them –said Kleopatros—They can’t be far from here. 

 

- We don’t know this lands, Kleopatros –said Nikandros—As far as I know they could be anywhere.

 

- I don’t think so –said Thais, softly—I think they took Hephaistion to General Memnon and that can’t be far from here, as Kleopatros said, because your brother is injured. Memnon is not stupid; he would want to keep him safe because if he dies King Alexander won’t rest until he killed all of them and what Memnon wants is that he go back to Macedonia.

 

They all fell silent.

 

- The woman is right, sir –said one of his men.

 

Nikandros snorted.

 

- All right. Kleopatros you took a group of men and search around, ask questions, try to find out where is this Memnon –said Nikandros and his friend nodded—The rest of us are going back with the main army and inform the King of what happened here.  

 

Please, Phai be all right –thought Nikandros, making a silent pray.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion saw the hour on the station’s clock. He had been waiting for an hour by now and Alexander hadn’t arrived. He puffed out, where was his beloved? He saw his suitcase at his side ignoring the people walking and running in front of him, hurrying to catch the train; finally he was moving to Alexander’s apartment after having a hard time convincing his parents to let him do it. His mother was sad knowing that he wouldn’t be living with her anymore, but she knew how much he loved his boyfriend…oh how he hated when people called Alexander his “boyfriend” it was embarrassing.

 

His cell phone sounded, for a moment he thought it was Alexander, but when he checked he found a notification that Perdikkas had changed his status on Facebook, he was now: in a relationship with Cleopatra.

 

Finally! –thought Hephaistion. Maybe now she would stop chasing him. Of course that Hephaistion’s Facebook account said that he was in a relationship with Alexander, not that his fangirls care, they still chased him sending him emails, text messages, gifts to his house and everything they could think about. Cassander’s sister, Nikaia had made him a video on youtube.  

 

Another beep, and now he saw a notification from the Playstation network that Leonnatos had earned a trophy playing the God of War 3, apparently he had killed Zeus in Titan mode. He honestly didn’t know how his sister could be dating Leonnatos, he played too much and when he wasn’t in his house he was carrying his PSP or his NintendoDS. There was only one video game he could play; Hephaistion had a lot of fun playing Rock Band, even if his friends always laughed at him because of his terrible singing. They would never let him forget how he had ruined Avenged Sevenfold’s Bat Country.    

 

Hephaistion took a seat, there was no sign of Alexander so he decided to keep checking his Facebook account and kill some time. What was new? Oh, Kleitos was on vacation, he posted a photo of himself in a wet T-shit contest with a bottle of Tequila in his hand…what did it say below? He was in Cancun, Mexico.

 

What else? Iuk! Kraterus posted a photo of himself in a Cannibal Corpse concert…he would never understand Kraterus, the guy was a fanatic of metal music, all right Hephaistion like it too…a little, but Kraterus had serious problems, once he went to a Mayhem concert and was hit by a severed sheep's head that one member of band had thrown to the audience. He was hospitalized with a fractured skull but the saddest thing was that he went to another concert after that.

 

Hephaistion checked the clock again. Maybe he should call Alexander and asked what was happening. And he was going to do that when his best friend appeared running to where he was as if an army of angry harpies were chasing him.  

 

- Phai…–he said without breath—I’m…very…sorry… –he bent to the front, his hands on his thighs.

 

- What took you so long?

 

- I’ll tell you in the car –Alexander helped him with his things.

 

Peritas was happily on the back seat of the car, poking his head out of the window and moving his tail; and when they were on their way to Alexander’s apartment, he explained.

 

- Do you remember Memnon? –he asked.

 

- The guy from the university who hates you? –asked Hephaistion wearing sunglasses, and brushing his hair aside.

 

- That one.

 

- What about him?

 

- Ptolemy heard he is trying to ambush me at a place called Granicus –said his beloved.

 

- And what are you going to do?

 

- What else? Give him what he want. I have been wishing to settle things with him for a long time –said Alexander, with an evil grin.

 

- I don’t think that is a good idea.

 

- Why not?

 

- First he chose the place, and that is a disadvantage for you and second, you should just ignored him –said Hephaistion. 

 

- I can’t.

 

- Fine, don’t get mad –said Hephaistion—If you want to go I’ll go with you, ok?

 

Alexander’s cell phone sounded and Hephaistion took it.

 

- You a message from Krateros –said his best friend.

 

- What does he say?

 

- He wants you to give him a ride to his house –said Hephaistion frowning—We are not picking him up.

 

- Why not? He is my friend.

 

- I don’t like him –said Hephaistion as if that settled everything.

 

- Oh come on, just this time. Where is he?

 

- Outside the record store –said Hephaistion grumpily, checking Alexander’s text messages. 

 

- Don’t get mad, Phai –the blond smiled—I’ll buy you dinner, what do you say?

 

- Fine…who is Barsine? –asked Hephaistion, his eyes on the cell phone—And why do you have 5 messages from her? 

 

- She is just a friend.

 

- A friend? –Hephaistion didn’t believe him—Isn’t she with Memnon?

 

- Is she?

 

- Alexander! –his best friend scolded him. Alexander laughed.

 

- Don’t be jealous, you know you are the one I love.

 

They picked Krateros up at the record store, and as things were they ended with Perdikkas, Leonnatos and Ptolemy in the car, because they were near there and all wanted a ride. How they all entered in the Mustang? The world would never know, taking into consideration that Peritas was a very big dog, and was like having another passenger there.

 

- Alexander, did you pay your credit cards? –asked Ptolemy.

 

- Not yet.

 

- And what are you waiting for? You have a lot of debts –said Perdikkas—Don’t have money?

 

- Something like that –explained Alexander taking the main avenue.

 

- Do you want me to lend you some? –asked Perdikkas.

 

- Thanks, but I’ll see what I do. 

 

- Why are we listening to that shit? –asked Krateros. On the radio was playing Rock that Body by Black Eyed Peas.

 

- I like it –said Leonnatos, almost under Peritas, who was still trying to poke his head out, and hitting Ptolemy every time he moved his tail.

 

- That’s girl’s music, Leon –said Krateros—I’m going to change it.

 

- I’m not listening Cannibal Corpse, Mayhem, Pantera or anything like that –Hephaistion warned him.

 

- Why not? Mr. I’m too delicate for men’s music –Krateros mocked him.

 

- Enough! It’s my car, and I say what are we going to listen –said Alexander and all fell silent—Honestly you are like children…

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion’s eyelids trembled as he opened his eyes with difficulty; this was the second time he had a dream like this and he didn’t understand his meaning. When he could focus he saw an unfamiliar ceiling, his body ached and his side burned. He didn’t know where he was and little by little he started to remember his fight against Dardanos and Alexander’s voice calling for doctor Philip.

 

He surveyed his surroundings and saw an exquisite tent decorated with magnificent furniture; the sheets and pillows were made of silk and to him floated the smell of incense. He tried to sit but a terrible pain ran through his spine, and when he moved his arm, he hit a jar, throwing it to the floor. 

 

A servant came running to see what was happening, he picked up the jar and clean the water, but before Hephaistion could ask him something he was gone. Not even for a moment Hephaistion doubted he was in Alexander’s camp, how was that the King now owned a fancy tent like this? He had no idea and he was so hungry and his body hurt so much that he didn’t care.

 

- You are awake now –said a man standing at the tent’s entrance. It was Memnon, but Hephaistion didn’t know the mercenary General; he spoke an excellent Greek so, he assumed Memnon was one of the few Greek that were with the Macedonian army—How are you feeling? –asked the mercenary walking to him.  

 

- Better, but I’m hungry –said Hephaistion in a husky voice. 

 

- That’s good, if you are hungry that means you are healing –said Memnon, calling again his servant—How is your wound? Does it hurt? 

 

- I can’t sit.

 

- No surprise, Dardanos did quite a job with you –said the mercenary, taking the blanket—Let me see your wound.

 

Hephaistion said nothing and Memnon took off the blanket. The skin was less swollen and the wound was clean, it was healing well, whoever had stitched it had made a good job.

 

- You will be fine in a few more days –said the General—I’ve seen many wounds, yours is fine. 

 

- Thank you –the sincerity in Hephaistion’s words took Memnon by surprise—Where is the King? –he asked at last.

 

- Last time I heard, he was heading to the Granicus river –said the General, looking for water. He served a cup and gave it to the Macedonian, helping him to sit.

 

- Thank you –Hephaistion drank the water.

 

The Granicus river? –he started to remember his weird dream.

 

- But…Memnon is waiting for him there –he said in a low voice, taking the mercenary by surprise.

 

- Where do you hear that? –he asked very serious but Hephaistion didn’t answer, he wasn’t going to say “in a dream” That was crazy. Memnon sighed—It’s true, the Persians are waiting for him there.

 

- Does he know? –asked the Macedonian worried. 

 

- Gods! I hope not –Hephaistion saw him confused.

 

- Who are you? –he asked with caution, his inner cricket telling him to be alert.

 

- I’m Memnon from Rhodes, the Greek General of the Great King –Hephaistion concealed his emotions, even if inside him he was screaming: What the hell?!

 

- Why am I here?

 

- Good question –Memnon took a chair and sat at the side of the bed—My men brought you here, your King left you in Priapus with a group of soldiers, under the custody of your brother.

 

Hephaistion thought for a moment, he remember something, the soft and loving voice of Alexander telling him… The Gods know I don’t want to, but I have to leave you tomorrow…  He thought that was a dream too, but now he knew it wasn’t.

 

- And my brother? –Hephaistion was still weak but the tone of his voice was dangerous, his eyes told Memnon that he was capable of killing him even in his present condition. 

 

- Your brother is fine, I gave orders that no one would be killed –said the mercenary and the Macedonian knew he wasn’t lying—I want your King to know what happened to you. 

 

- You want to force him to go back to Macedonia in exchange of my life –that wasn’t a question and Memnon smiled, he was smart—It won’t work.

 

- Why do you think so? –a servant arrived carrying a tray with food. He put it at Hephaistion’s side and left the tent as fast as he had arrived.    

 

- I’m not an important man in Macedonia; I’m not even one of the King’s somatophylakes –said Hephaistion, his stomach making embarrassing sounds when the delicious smell of food floated to him.

 

The mercenary laughed.

 

- Eat, please –he said—I’m not planning to poison you. I heard that your King is short of money, it must have been a while since the last time you have a decent meal.

 

Hephaistion saw Memnon with narrowed eyes, didn’t say a word and ate his food. The saddest part was that indeed the food was delicious, almost like his mother’s cooking. And Memnon was right; it had been a while since he had a good meal.  

 

- I know you are the King’s lover –said Memnon after a while, seeing how Hephaistion ate with all dignity even if he was starving—And I know he adores you.

 

- When have you heard of a King that loves a man more than his own ambition? –asked the Macedonian, he wouldn’t doubt, even for a second, that Alexander loved him, but he had to convince the mercenary that he wasn’t important.

 

- Will see that.

 

Memnon stood up.

 

- If you need anything ask my servant –said the mercenary—You are my guest here.

 

- Yes, of course –said Hephaistion with sarcasm. 

 

- Be good with me, Macedonian; and I’ll be good with you –and with that Memnon left the tent.

 

Hephaistion’s mind was racing; he needed to get out, to find a way to go back to his dear King, but how?

 

XXX

 

Alexander was on his way to the Granicus River without a clue that the Persians were waiting for him with their army ready. It was afternoon when he was told that Nikandros had arrived and asked to see him immediately. The King thought the worst, and ran to where Nikandros was waiting while the rest of the army took a brief rest after the long journey under the sun. The men were so tired that nobody spoke; they just sat down where they were, and took out their rations of food.

 

When Alexander saw the expression on Nikandros face, he lost all color.

 

- Is he dead? –he asked bluntly taking Nikandros by surprise.

 

- What? No! –he exclaimed, trying to put his thoughts in order. The King felt relieved and made a silent prayer of gratitude to father Zeus.

 

- What happened then? Why are you here? –Nikandros ran a hand through his hair, his eyes on the ground, not daring to look the King at the face.

 

- Memnon kidnapped Hephaistion.

 

Alexander’s reaction was immediate; he punched Nikandros so hard that he broke his nose, the blood sliding through his face and neck.

 

- How was that possible?! –Alexander’s voice changed, Nikandros had never before see him like this and his uneven eyes gave him the shivers—You were in charge of Hephaistion’s security.

 

If he hadn’t been Hephaistion’s brother, the King would have ordered his execution in that moment, he was beyond fury, as if a beast was sleeping inside him and now was fully awake, crying out for blood.

 

- I know –Nikandros threw his head back, a hand on his face— And I won’t make excuses nor I’m going to ask your forgiveness.

 

- When it happened? –roared Alexander. To say he was angry was to say the least, it was difficult to explain all what he was feeling, the 3 most powerful emotions in him were anger, concern and fear; a bad combination.  

 

The King’s soldiers used to say that he know no fear, he was always calm in the battlefield and was the first one to charge, they never saw him anxious or nervous, but there was only one thing he feared: to lose Hephaistion, and he was very bad handling a feeling he usually didn’t have. 

 

- Two days ago, they did it by night –said Nikandros at once. He told the King everything, including the fact that he had left behind Kleopatros with 4 men to do some inquiries about Memnon’s whereabouts.

 

By the end of his story the King was redefining the phrase: killer rage. He cursed in the worst Macedonian and hit his thigh with his fist. 

 

- Do you have any news from Kleopatros?

 

- Not a word –said Nikandros.

 

- 4 men aren’t enough, I going to send another group, I have to find him –said the King, thinking, thinking, thinking. If he was Memnon, where would he be hiding? Oh but worried he couldn’t think clearly—How was Phai the last time you saw him? –he asked looking at the vast territory before them. Everything was green, like a giant carpet and the smell of grass filled his nostrils.

 

- Better, doctor Philip was very please with his recovery.

  

- Was he awake?

 

- No, he was still unconscious –said Nikandros. He had known the King since he was a boy but now, seeing him like this he felt as if he were in front a complete stranger—Alexander, I don’t think Memnon is going to hurt my brother…

 

- I don’t care if Memnon treats him as if he was the Great King! –the King raised his voice—I want Hephaistion here, with me.  

 

Come out of the dark, don't keep me waiting,

For the pain is too deep...

Hear me! Come out! Free me!

Wherever you are I'll find you,

And leave my life behind,

(Stream of Passion, Wherever you are)

 

Alexander wanted to go back to Priapus, and his closest Companions had a very hard time making him see that this wasn’t a wise decision, they didn’t have an idea of where could be Memnon and going back was a waste of time and resources, and they didn’t have time or resources. The King, who was in a terrible mood, decided then to advance to Dascylium and from there continue looking for his soul mate.

 

Everybody was suffering thanks to Alexander’s bad mood, his friends, his officers, his pages, his soldiers, even Peritas who started to avoid his master when he started shouting and lately he shouted for everything. The faithful dog had gone with his master in his adventure of conquest, even if he wasn’t so young, now Peritas had 9 years old.

 

- Even if Hephaistion is not here, he is making our lives a living hell –said Philotas angry and Krateros nodded, he could speak and at this rate it would have to pass another week before he could do it.

 

- Alexander would go crazy if we don’t find him soon –said Perdikkas, shaking his head.

 

- Just Alexander? He is going to drive us crazy if Hephaistion doesn’t come back soon –said Kleitos.

 

The army advance with the baggage-train in the rear “the infantry massed in two groups, both wings protected by cavalry, with a strong detachment of light troops thrown out in front to reconnoiter the ground”(1)

 

The King, as always, was riding in front of his army, his mind working hard trying to think like Memnon and find out where he was. Then, when he lifted his head, he was the first one to see his scouts riding to him, shouting that the enemy had been sighted.

 

XXX

(1) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 173