CHAPTER 38

 

The Macedonian army advanced upstream under the cover of night, the scouts had found a safe cross point and the army was getting ready to start the crossing. Alexander was still angry about his defeat; angry with Memnon for taking Hephaistion and humiliating him, angry at himself for letting his emotions controlled him, and angry with Parmelio. The veteran General had been right, had made him look like an ignorant child and his proud couldn’t forgive him.

 

He would have to do something about Parmelio, but he had no idea as to what. The best General of his father was like the fungus, he was everywhere; his sons had important posts in the army, his son-in-law was no other than Koinos, and his family or his protégées surrounded him.

 

As Alexander watched the crossing of his troops he found himself thinking. This was not his army, this was still his father’s army, here were his officers, his generals, his somatophylakes, his veterans, his taxeis as he had organized them, his cavalry squadron…everything had his father’s touch… and of course, good old Parmelio, his father’s General.

 

The King took Hephaistion’s locket, he was wearing it now along with his own and he vowed that he would find his soul mate. He lifted his head, it was almost dawn, they had rested for a few hours before marching again, leaving all the camp fires burning to deceive the enemy, and now the night was almost ending, soon it would be enough sun to let the Persians see what was really happen. They must hurry.

 

Just wait a little longer, Phai –thought Alexander—I’m coming for you.

 

XXX

 

Dr. Philip was at the end of the long column of soldiers, he was taking care the wounded from the previews attack. Thais, Sophonisba and Kyros were with him, they have proved to be good nurses and were of great help to the doctor. The wounded, the baggage train and the camp followers would be the very last to cross.

 

- What will happen now? –asked Kyros in a whisper, carrying clean dressings. He was excited, all this secrecy, the army advancing in utterly silence during the night, his teenager heart was beating fast and his green eyes were shining. 

 

Thais shook her head, smiling. There was no doubt that Kyros was still a child. 

 

- I don’t now –said the hetaira— I suppose the King is going to attack by surprise.

 

- And is he going to rescue Hephaistion? –he was even more excited.

 

- Probably –Thais caressed his head, as if the Theban was a puppy—And we are going to see him again.

 

Those words made Kyros smiled. Thais left a bucket with water on the ground and sighed, her eyes on the other side of the river where the army stated to assemble again. She had seen the previous day’s battle, looking for her father among the 6 thousand mercenaries fighting for the Great King…but she was too far away to see something.

 

And I don’t think today I will have more luck –thought the hetaira—Maybe If the King wins and he takes prisoners I can ask them about my father…but, what if my father is taken prisoner? What if he is killed? Enough Thais! You don’t even know if he is here fighting –she took a deep breath and forced herself to remain calm.  

 

XXX

 

- Alexander! –shouted Koinos, his voice sounded like a thunder in that silence; the King turned—Look!

 

A small cavalry squadron was a few paces from them, probably Persian scouts; they saw what was happening and hurried back to their own camp.

 

- Should we pursue them? –asked Koinos, taking the reins of his horse ready to go after them.

 

- No, let them go back –said Alexander, thinking quickly—I want the phalanx formed in front of the river, we must cover the rest of the army still crossing.

 

The fierce discipline of the Macedonians were the key to their success; they were in battle formation by the time the Persians appeared; not their entire army just a few squadrons. By now the sun was shining with all intensity and both enemies could face each other. Alexander led the cavalry against the Persians; they had expected to take the Macedonian King by surprise but when them saw this was impossible, they retreated.  

 

- What now? –asked Perdikkas, moving his horse at Alexander’s side.

 

- They would come back with the whole army –said the King, now in a better mood, his cool calm back and his mind working fast, making a battle plan, imagining how the Persians where going to deploy their forces.

 

XXX

 

- What are you saying? –asked Arsites, without believing what he was listening from his scouts—His army is already on our side of the river?

 

- Yes, sire –said his scout.   

 

- When this happened?

 

- During the night –answered Memnon, entering the tent, while servants were dressing the Persian satrap—He deceived us and while we thought he was camping, the Macedonian King was looking for a cross point upstream.

 

Arsites cursed.

 

- And now? –he asked.

 

- Now? We fight, what else? –said Memnon smiling.

 

XXX

 

- Alexander is here, isn’t he? –said Hephaistion, looking as if he had all the wisdom of the universe in him. He knew Alexander would come, he never doubt that.

 

- You have good ears –said Memnon, tying his breastplate with the help of a servant—Yes, your King is here; he crossed the river during the night and now is ready to engage battle.

 

- He will win –said the Macedonian as if he could saw the future—Nobody can defeat Alexander.   

 

The mercenary dismissed his servant and walked to the bed, where Hephaistion was still tied.

 

He believes in his King blindly –he thought—I have never met someone with such a confidence, he loves him but not only that…the Macedonian King is everything to him. How I wish that someone could look at me the same way he sees his lover.

 

- We’ll see if your King is undefeatable –said Memnon with intensity—And if I win today, you will be mine.    

 

The mercenary left him confused. What did he mean? Memnon was a proud man, so much was clear, he must be annoyed to hear someone telling him how great was his adversary and that he had no chance of winning, so far Hephaistion understood the situation but…

 

Why did he want to win my approval? –thought Hephaistion, he could have taken him by force, like King Philip did once, but no, Memnon wanted that the Macedonian to come to him willingly, to consider him as great as his King…or even more—As if that is going to happen.

 

Hephaistion saw his arm tied and cursed. He would have to think another way to escape.

 

Outside the tent, Memnon called Euthydemos and the man appeared as if he had been waiting to be call, ready wearing his best armor.

 

- I want you to stay here –said the General.

 

- Sir? I don’t understand, I thought I was taking part in the battle –Euthydemos looked confused and disappointed, he really wanted to take part in the upcoming battle.

 

- I have an assignment for you –said Memnon with gravity, whatever he was going to say it was important—You will stay here and guard Hephaistion, if we lose today, you will take him to my house and explain my wife that he must remain there until I come. Under no circumstances you are going to let Hephaistion fall into the King’s hands. Do you understand?

 

- Perfectly, sir.

 

- Good man –Memnon patted his arm—And be careful, Hephaistion is as clever as beautiful, he killed Epikrates with a small knife. Remember, he defeated Dardanos.

 

- I will be careful, sir –Euthydemos assured him—You can count on me.

 

Maybe he was not fighting on the battlefield but Euthydemos was feeling much better now; his General was entrusting him with a delicate mission and he would not fail him.

 

XXX

 

Didn’t take long for the Persians to deployed their troops; but, when the hetairoi and the most veteran pezetairoi saw their lines it was with utterly astonishment and confusion.

 

- What, in the name of Ares, are they thinking? –exclaimed Ptolemy, blinking as if in that way the enemy lines would rearrange into a more common battle formation.

 

- Do you think this is a joke? –asked Leonnatos, frowning.

 

Philotas laughed.

 

- I knew these barbarians were stupid, but I didn’t think they were THIS stupid –he said.

 

Only Alexander saw the enemy in complete silence. The Persians had formed their entire cavalry at the front line, deploying them as wide a front as possible; and they left the infantry behind the cavalry, as a reserve group.

 

Why are they doing this? –thought the King. For what his spies had told him, Arsites had more cavalry regiments (16 thousand against his own 6, 000) than he had infantry battalions (30,000 against his 43, 000), and the satrap knew the Macedonian phalanxes were far more superior than his own troops. That could be an explanation of why to adopt this battle formation—But what about the Greek mercenaries? –he surveyed the enemy lines with his uneven eyes and found a small group of mercenaries on horses, the rest must had been behind the lines as reserve—Why to keep the best men they have as reserve? After all they saved the day for the Persians yesterday.   

 

At the end, Alexander had no idea of what they were thinking but he knew what to do. The Persians would try to outflank him and engulfed his wings with his massive cavalry force, and not only that, most probably they would tried to kill him and end the battle… no, the war, that same day. The King saw how some of the Persian cavalry regiments from the center started to move to the Persians’ left wing, to face Alexander.

 

The King smiled, he was expecting that.

 

Good! Let’s start this –thought the King.

 

- Parmelio –said Alexander to the veteran General when all his officers were reunited—I’ll divide the army, you will have the control over the left side –Parmelio nodded—And the right side will be under my direct orders –he surveyed the faces of his officers all were there with the exception of Hephaistion…and that made him feel a hollow in his heart–  On the left wing I want: the Thessalian, Thracian and allied cavalry. At the center will be the phalanx. Krateros, how do you feel? Do you think you can lead the phalanx today?

 

- I can do it, Alexander –said Krateros with difficulty, but his dark eyes were full with determination.

 

- Good man –said the King nodding—Koinos, Meleager, Philip, Amyntas and Perdikkas you will also lead the phalanx from the center, each of you will command a taxei –he made a pause, seeing every one of them to the eyes— I’m counting on you.

 

- Yes, Alexander –said the men.

 

- At the right side of the phalanx I want the hypaspists –continued the King— Nicanor, you will be in charge.

 

- I’ll do my best –said Nicanor.

 

- And finally on the right wing is going to be: the hetairoi cavalry, the archers, the lancers and Paeonians. Philotas, you are in charge of the hetairoi, Kleitos as usual you stay with the Ile Basilike. Will have the Granicus to or right side, so be careful.

 

- Easy enough –said Philotas with a sneer—This Persians are dog meat.   

 

Kleitos just nodded.

 

- Questions? –nobody spoke—Excellent, to your position then.

 

Alexander saw with satisfaction how Memnon and his mercenaries where in front of him along with the Persian nobles, all of them leading from their left side, Arsites, Arsamenes and Spithridates. Good, time to settle things.

 

Persian left wing,

 

- There he is! –said Lykaon, pointing to where Alexander was—Good enough! That helmet and his escort make him easy to locate.

 

Memnon nodded. He had a bad feeling about this battle and not only because what Hephaistion said, but also for this peculiar battle formation. It was Arsites’ idea to put all the cavalry at the front and the mercenary General felt uneasy, he had explained Arsites that the best was to adopt a traditional battle formation, but this time Arsites won’t listen, not like the day before.

 

- We are not going to attack him –said Memnon catching Lykaon’s attention.

 

- Beg your pardon, sir.

 

- The King. That’s what he wants, why else would he be attracting so much attention –said the General, leaning to the front; his horse moved his head—If the Persians want to kill the King, that’s their business, if the King is close enough to attack him, we will do it, but we are not going to charge aiming to end his life.  

 

- As you order, sir.

 

Here we are, born to be kings

We're the princes of the universe

Here we belong, fighting to survive

We've come to be the rulers of you all

(Queen, Princes of the Universe)

 

Alexander gave the order to attack; the sound of the trumpets filled the place followed by the terrible battle cry of the Macedonians. As always, the King lead the attack of the hetairoi cavalry, followed closely by the Ile Basilike, commanded by Melas Kleitos. They charged in wedge formation, directly to where Memnon and Arsamenes were waiting for him.

 

For a moment Alexander closed his eyes, hearing the horses’ hooves as thunders in a stormy night. All his doubts and all his emotions were cast aside, in that moment only mattered the battle and the enemy standing before him. He was doing what he was born to do. When he opened his eyes again the first man he saw was Memnon, still too far to distinguish the expression on his face, but he knew the mercenary General and the Persian nobles were waiting, ready to charge against him.

 

Macedonian left wing,   

 

Parmelio had already engaged battle against the Medes and the Bactrian troops. He was barking orders, sending the Thessalian, Thracian and Allied cavalry to stop the Persians, while keeping his 3 taxeis of infantry away from the battle. He had orders to take the infantry straight to the center of the Persians, so as far as he could he would not involved them in the battle against the enemy cavalry.

 

Then, the Persian right wing moved against the veteran General with the intentions of outflanking him, but doing so, they let a gap opened in the center of their formation.

 

Persian left wing,

 

Memnon drew his spear and his men did the same, they were ready to charge when suddenly they saw, to their utterly astonishment, how the King changed his curse at the last minute, and instead of facing Memnon and Arsamenes he headed to the Persian center, where the gap opened.

 

- Where, in the name of the Minos, Aeacos and Rhadamanthys, is he going? –asked Lykaon, his Boeotian helmet didn’t let him see as much as he wanted.

 

Memnon turned and first he was as confused as his second in command, what had the Macedonian King saw that made him change his curse? He had no idea, but then he saw it, he saw the gap through the Persians lines.

 

- Ares’ balls! –exclaimed the mercenary General. How the King saw the gap?

 

Macedonian right wing,

 

Alexander led the hetairoi cavalry through the enemy lines, the clash was savage and soon the King was trapped in the middle of a tornado of sounds, odors, colors, faces and horses. But now Alexander wasn’t a man or a King, he was the God of War who descended to punish the mortals, fool enough to challenge his power.  

 

He killed immerse in a blood frenzy, he was worried for his soul mate, he was angry for being unable to protect Hephaistion, he was humiliated after his defeat a day before, he was, he was, he was… so many emotions inside him, threatening to drive him crazy and fueling his murderous rage. Soon, Alexander was in the middle of a merciless combat, he pierced an enemy through the chest with his spear, the man fell from his horse and the King found himself without a weapon.

 

- Alexander! –shouted Demaratus of Corinth, throwing him his own spear.      

 

Persian right wing,

 

Mithridates, the Great King Darius’ son-in-law, stopped his horse and saw what was happening at the center of their forces. He cursed the Macedonian King using words that made the people around him felt all the hairs in their bodies stood up.

 

- If he can do it, so do I –he said and kicked his horse’s flanks leading his own men, his Iranian cavalry division and his 40 high ranking Persian nobles, to a direct attack against the phalanx at the center.

 

Macedonian right wing,

 

Alexander saw what Mithridates was doing and ran after him, he wouldn’t aloud the Persian to do what he was thinking; a man near Darius’ son-in-law saw the Macedonian King charging against them as a spirit from the underworld, crying for their souls. This soldier reacted quickly, took his javelin and threw it at Alexander. 

 

The King raised his shield to cover himself, but the javelin had been thrown with such force that it pierced the King’s shield and his cuirass, but luckily without damaging him.

 

- Shit! –exclaimed Alexander through clenched teeth, he broke the javelin to free his shield and continued his pursued.

 

When Mithridates was close enough, the King threw his spear successfully hitting Mithridates’ breastplate. But the breastplate held and Darius’ son-in-law survived, the spear didn’t pierce his armor, and now an enraged Mithridates drew his sword and charged against Alexander.

 

- By the severe head of Medusa! –exclaimed Kleitos, when he was what was going on. He kicked the sides of his horse, and went to where the King was fighting alone, always alone, who do he thought he was?

 

They exchanged blows until Alexander saw a piece of the broken spear that had pierced his own shield and jabbed it to his opponent’s face. Mithridates screamed; he managed to take Alexander by his cloak and when he fell from his horse, he dragged the Macedonian with him. The King recovered quickly and drew his sword ready to finish his enemy; he was so concentrated with Mithridates that he didn’t saw Rhosaces, another Persian noble, riding directly to him.

 

Rhosaces hit him with his saber, a hard blow that land on his head, cutting the helmet all the way to the bone, leaving Alexander swaying dizzily and confused, blood running freely through his face.

 

Rhosaces attacked again, but the King managed to raise his sword and stopped the attack; then he cut his throat, without noticing his aggressor’s brother, Spithridates moving behind him ready to cut his royal head in one clean blow. Spithridates raised his sword, then a terrible pain invaded him; he saw in horror how his severed arm was falling, his now dead hand still holding his sword. His scream filled the place. 

 

Spithridates fell letting Alexander see Kleitos standing behind with his sword dropping the flesh blood of the satrap.

 

- Kleitos… —whispered the King with his last energies, fainting at last.

 

The veteran hipparch ran to where he was and lifted him while his men clustered around them to protect their King.

 

- You are too used to have Hephaistion at your side to protect you –said Kleitos, wrapping a cloth around his head, luckily the blow didn’t damaged Alexander’s skull—It’s good we have a headstrong King. 

 

Macedonian center,

 

How was that Krateros could lead his men if he couldn’t speak correctly thanks to his broken jaw? The world would never know, but the fact was that Krateros and Meleager took their taxeis through the gap that the Persian cavalry had opened at the center and attack the Persian infantry. Soon they were followed by the rest of the taxeis and the turned came for the mercenary infantry to fight at last.

 

Macedonian right wing,

 

- Alexander, Alexander –Kleitos called him, patting his cheek. The King moaned softly—Alexander. 

 

- Phai?

 

- Not even in your wildest dreams –said the hipparch laughing. 

 

The King opened his eyes with difficulty and when he focused he saw Melas Kleitos’ dark eyes on him.

 

- Good to have you still with us –said Kleitos.

 

Alexander sat and vomited at his side. His head hurt terribly, beating as if he had a family of Woodpeckers inside, and he still felt dizzy, everything was spinning round him.

 

- What happened? –he cleaned his mouth with the back of his hand.

 

- Our phalanx is beating the hell out of those Persians sons of a bad mother –said Kleitos smiling—They are fighting the enemy infantry, the enemy center is giving ground leaving the wings unprotected, and apparently many of the Persian leaders are dead, because a good number of their troops are fleeing from the battlefield.

 

- The battle is ours then.

 

- Well, yes. But the Greek mercenaries are giving us problems –said the hipparch catching his attention.  

 

- What about them? –Alexander closed his eyes and took his hand to his head.

 

- Memnon has them on a high knoll –explained Kleitos—Above the battlefield and there he is making a last stand –the hipparch frowned looking at his King—I’ll take you to doctor Philip, you don’t look well.

 

- How would you look if a sword almost cut your skull in two? –said Alexander, his eyes still closed. 

 

- That was you fault –the King opened one eye—You shouldn’t be there alone in the first place, surrounded by the enemy and not paying attention to what’s going on around you.

 

- I don’t know what happen there –said Alexander in a low voice—I didn’t see that man coming –he pointed to where Rhosaces lay, a pool of his own blood under him. 

 

- Oh! I know very well what happened.

 

- Enlighten me.

 

- Hephaistion is always there to cover your ass –said Kleitos bluntly—You are too used to have him around you that you don’t pay attention to what happen behind your back.

 

Alexander fell silent. Kleitos was right, Hephaistion was always there to protect him and he had been reckless…Oh, how his missed his best friend, his soul mate.

 

- The King! Where is the King?! –shouted a man, riding directly to them—I need the King.

 

- He is here! –answered Kleitos with his strong voice.

 

- Sire, I have a message from General Memnon –said the man, a Macedonian soldier—He is asking for quarter.

 

- Quarter? Is he out of his mind?! –Alexander stood up, and Kleitos ran to help him—He kidnapped Hephaistion and now is asking for quarter –the King laughed—Tell him there will be no quarter for them, but tell your officer that I want the son of a bad mother alive.

 

- Yes, sire.

 

- Give me my horse –asked Alexander.

 

- Are you sure? –the King’s eyes told him everything he needed to know—All right.

 

XXX

 

When Memnon heard the King answer he knew they would be killed to the last man, no mercy for them and he couldn’t blame him; after all he had kidnapped his lover; but he had a tinny little hope that Alexander would let his men go.

 

- What now? –asked Lykaon, covered in blood and mood from head to toe, he had lost his helmet at some point of the battle and his horse had been killed, he would make a last stand fighting on foot. Better for him, he didn’t like horses. 

 

- There is only one option, we are going to fight like Hades’ specters and take with us as many Macedonians as we can –said the General in a menacing tone and his officers nodded. All of them were brave men, ready to die without regrets.

 

- It’s a good death –said one of the officers—But not for you sir, and certainly not for Lykaon.

 

- What are you talking about? –asked Memnon confused.

 

- Both of you need to get out of here, sir –said his officer—You have to live in order to fight again.

 

- Impossible! I’m not leaving you –said the General stubbornly—I’m not a coward –Lykaon nodded his agreement.

 

- The General is right, we can’t run away like scare women –said Lykaon.

 

- Nobody thinks you are cowards, sir. But you are more useful alive –the officer insisted—Please, leave now while you still can.

 

Memnon held his gaze and saw the determination in his eyes. He didn’t like the idea, he wouldn’t be in peace with himself knowing that he had abandoned his men…but, he saw the faces around him and saw that his men wanted him to live. His officers were right, he must live to fight another day, he had so much to do. He nodded.

 

- I will never forget you –the mercenary General took his officer by the arm, a strong grip.

 

- We know, sir –said the man smiling—It was an honor to fight with you. 

 

XXX

 

Alexander himself led the cavalry against the mercenaries, he was tired of them and he would teach them what happen when someone messed with him. The motion of the horse was a torture, he felt as if his head were about to explode, but he needed to do this, he would lead his men and crushed Memnon once and for all. 

 

- Leonnatos! –the King shouted, riding to where the mercenaries where.

 

- I’m here!

 

- Leon, go to Amyntas, Koinos and Perdikkas and tell them take their taxeis to the mercenaries, tell them to do a frontal assault –said Alexander.

 

- Yes, Alexander –Leonnatos rode to where the infantry was.

 

The phalanx attacked and at the same time the cavalry surrounded the mercenaries from both flanks, Alexander was determined to finish them, but Memnon’s men fought like demons, they were brave men and they knew this was the end. They would go to the underworld as proud soldiers and they killed more Macedonians in that last stand than the Persians did during the whole battle.

 

His officers barking orders and they held their ground for too long for Alexander’s liking.

 

The King let them suffer all his fury, opening a bloody path of broken bodies under his horse; he was looking for Memnon, he had things to settle with him. Alexander struck his sword through a man’s abdomen and twisted it inside him, the man screamed and fell but when the King turned to stop another attack, this man, with his last forces, raised his spear and killed his horse.

 

That day died 4,000 mercenaries; the last 2,000 surrendered while the rest of the Persian forces ran away in disorder. The battle was over, but now Alexander had other things to do...  

 

Euthydemos heard the news of the defeat when Arsites fled from the battlefield, one of his servants told the mercenary about the disaster, before taking a horse to run away behind his master. The Greek cursed and spat at his side.

 

- Do you think the General is dead? –asked another mercenary, a man named Marnes.

 

- Who knows? –said Euthydemos, walking to the tent where Hephaistion was—But we have orders, we must take the Macedonian prisoner to the General’s house.

 

Marnes nodded.

 

- I’ll call Idas –he said—Well need to go by horse if we want to get away fast. 

 

- My thoughts exactly –said Euthydemos—You and Idas fetch the horses, I’ll go for the Macedonian.

 

Hephaistion had no idea of what was happening. He had tried everything to cut the rope that had him tied to the bed, but this time Memnon didn’t left behind anything he could use, the clever bastard. He even tried to bite the rope, a terrible idea by the way.

 

When Euthydemos entered the tent, Hephaistion knew something had happened, his expression told him everything.

 

- Alexander won the battle –he said, his heart beating faster.

 

- You don’t seem surprised –said the Greek, drawing a dagger. Hephaistion saw him on alert, ready to attack him if he tried to hurt him.

 

- Why should I? I know what my King is capable of –said Hephaistion, lifting his chin proudly. 

 

Euthydemos smiled, took him by the wrist and cut the rope. The Macedonian saw him with confusion.

 

- What? Do you really think we were going to leave you here? –said the Greek—You are coming with us.

 

Hephaistion kicked him hard on the side of his leg; Euthydemos moaned and released the pressure on his wrist. Now was his opportunity, the Macedonian ran to the entrance but there Idas stopped him, hitting him on his stomach. Hephaistion felt a terrible pain, his wound was still healing and that punch felt as if he was dying; he bent over and fell on his knees, his eyes closed tight.

 

- I’m sorry; but you really are stubborn –said Idas, taking Hephaistion by the arm to drag him outside.

 

- Gods! He knows how to kick –said Euthydemos, puffing, rubbing his leg.

 

- Euthydemos, I really think we should tie him –said Idas watching Hephaistion—He is like a wild cat and would take our eyes out if we let him.

 

Euthydemos nodded.

 

- All right, but do it fast; we can’t lose more time here –he said, hurrying to where the horses were waiting. 

 

XXX