CHAPTER 39

 

The battle was over. Many Persians had fled from the battlefield, but many others surrender; against all odds the Macedonian King had achieved a great victory and the survivors had no desires of challenging him again. Alexander for his part was eager to go to the Persian camp and look for Hephaistion; he would celebrate once he had his best friend again in his arms. He issued orders to his officers to take the prisoners to different areas, and gave explicit instructions that he wanted the group of mercenaries apart from the other prisoners.

 

- Ptolemy! –exclaimed the King—Lend me your horse.

 

- Alexander –said his friend, watching him taking his horse—You need to see doctor Philip, your head wound looks bad.

 

- I don’t have time –his head was killing him, the pain worsening every second but his desire to see his best friend again was greater than anything else. He would go to Hephaistion’s side even without legs. 

 

- At least give a second, I’ll go with you –Ptolemy insisted, but the King ignored him, kicked the sides of the horse and left.

 

- I hate when he does that –cursed Ptolemy, watching the cloud of dust that the King left behind him.

 

Arsites’ camp was a disaster to say the least. People screaming and running in all directions taking animals, slaves and packages with them, some tents were burning and a pack of pigs were running everywhere, scared by all the commotion. Almost all the people remaining there were servants, but Alexander found 2 or 3 soldiers, trying to take with them all they could before running away. One Persian soldier found the Macedonian King when he was leaving a tent, a carpet rolled up in his arms; he froze and got pale as if he was looking at Hades himself. The man threw the carpet and ran before Alexander could ask him where they kept their prisoners.

 

- Alexander! –Leonnatos came after him, he and his horse where covered in blood and mud, men and beast exhausted after the battle, but Leonnatos couldn’t let his King alone—Alexander, why did you left like that? You should have waited for us, is dangerous for you and you are injure.

 

He was still talking when Nikandros arrived, followed by Kleitos. Nikandros had thought the same as the King: he had to look for his brother; there wasn’t a day since Memnon’s men kidnapped Hephaistion when Nikandros didn’t blamed himself for this, he had promised his parents he would look after him, he had been ordered by his King to protect him and had failed everybody.

 

Alexander saw the newcomers and nodded.

 

- We have to find Hephaistion –said the King, the urged in his voice was obvious. The 3 of them knew better than to argue with him, even more when Hephaistion’s life was in danger—We are going to split in 2 groups, Kleitos you come with me to the right, Nick and Leon you go to the left. We’ll meet again at the entrance.

 

- Yes, Alexander.

 

The King and Kleitos looked around, checking the tents and all the suspicious places they found, but if they continue like that that would take them all day. The camp was immense, bigger that the Macedonian and with less order. For what Alexander noticed, it was divided by ethnic groups (in some way like his own army) and the tents of the Persian nobles were all at the same place; but there wasn’t a palisade surrounding the camp, or sentry posts to guard the zone. The King made a mental note about this.

 

The hipparch for his part dismounted and saw a girl running with a blanket in her arms.

 

- Hey, you! –the girl saw him with horror and ran, but Kleitos was faster and caught her before she could go.

 

The girl screamed and the blanket fell, she was carrying all kind of objects inside it: cups and jars made of gold and silver, and beautiful and luxurious fabrics.

 

- Shut up! I’m not going to hurt you –said Kleitos harshly but the girl kept screaming. Kleitos snorted, he had no time for this. He drew his sword and when the girl saw the weapon pointed at her she closed her mouth—Better. Now, tell me where do you Persians keep your prisoners? –the girl shook her head, she was terrified—Do you understand what I’m saying? –she kept shaking her head and the hipparch snorted again.

 

He released her and the girl picked the things up and ran as fast as she could.

 

This is going to take forever –thought Kleitos tired, rubbing his eyes.

 

But Alexander had more luck than him. He found one of the Persian servants that worked for Memnon. The King caught him when he tried to steal a donkey (all the horses were taken by now) scared after the devastating defeat of the Persian army, and trying to get out of there as soon as possible, but his hands trembled so much that the servant couldn’t untied the donkey, who only stared at him bored.

 

- Please, don’t kill me –asked the servant in a passable Greek, catching the King’s attention.

 

- You speak Greek? –asked Alexander, pleasantly surprised, his sword stained with blood in his hand.

 

- A little –said the servant, hands up and head down.   

 

- I’m looking for a Macedonian prisoner, I know he is here; do you know something? –the man went pale, of course he knew of whom the King was talking about, but he feared for his life if General Memnon were to know he had talked—If you know something I’ll see that you come to no harm –said Alexander reading his mind.

 

The man nodded; most probably General Memnon was dead, anyway and that sword in the King’s hand was a very real threat.

 

- Are you looking for a Macedonian with a wound on his side? –the King’s eyes shone.

 

- Yes! Have you seen him? –Alexander insisted, he did care to conceal the emotion in his voice.

 

- He was in General Memnon’s tent –said the man trembling—The General insisted that we treat him as his guest.

 

- Where is he? Take me to him –the King demanded, he was so close of Hephaistion, his whole body ached wanting to feel him again close to his body.  

 

- I can’t do that, sir –said the man exasperating Alexander.

 

- Why not? –the King was losing his patience, his head was killing him and this man didn’t speak clear.

 

- The General’s men took him away after the battle –explained the servant and now was the turn of the King to turn pale.

 

- Where? WHERE?! –Alexander asked harsher than he had intended, he was worried and a sense of doom invaded his heart.

 

- I don’t know, sir –the man cried—I don’t know, I just saw the Greeks taking him on a horse.

 

- In what direction? –the man pointed, trembling from head to toe—You will stay with me. Kleitos!

 

- I’m here –said the hipparch, walking to him—I heard everything.

 

- Take this man with you; I’ll need to interrogate him later –said Alexander looking for his horse.

 

- Where are you going? –it was a silly question but he had to ask.

 

- I’m going after them; they can’t be far from here –answered the King.

 

- Alone? No way, I’m coming with you –Kleitos took a rope near the donkey and tied the servant to a wooden fence—You will wait here –he said to the terrified man. The donkey kept staring at him bored.

 

XXX

 

The mercenaries were true to their word and they tied Hephaistion’s hands and gagged him. He travel alone on a horse tied to Euthydemos’, surrounded by the rest of the Greek soldiers. He counted 7 in total while they were riding at full speed.

 

If only I feel better –thought Hephaistion, but in his current condition there was nothing he could do. Escape was out of question he would never made it and he didn’t consider wise to test his captors’ patience.

 

- Euthydemos! –exclaimed Marnes, suddenly—Someone is coming.

 

Hephaistion lifted his head, could it be? Could be Alexander coming for him? He turned his head with the rest of the Greeks as a pack of dogs who sniffed food. Hephaistion narrowed his eyes but he only saw 2 silhouettes, 2 riders approaching at great speed; he felt his heart racing.

 

Idas cheered.

 

- It’s the General –he exclaimed, and the group stopped and stood on their saddles to see.

 

- It’s true –said Euthydemos, thanking Zeus, Ares, Athena and all the Gods he could think about—It’s the General and Lykaon. 

 

The mercenaries cheered and Hephaistion felt as if his heart broke into pieces. Alexander didn’t come for him.

 

- General –said Euthydemos, smiling like a little boy—Are you all right?

 

- I’m fine, but don’t stop; come on, we have a long journey ahead of us –said Memnon kicking his horse—We aren’t safe; the Macedonians could catch us here.

 

- Yes, sir –the group kept going.

 

- Why is Hephaistion tied? –asked Memnon, while they rode to his estate. 

 

- He attacked me, sir –explained Euthydemos, a little embarrassed—We thought it would be a better idea to tie him, less problems, sir.

 

Memnon turned to see his prisoner and Hephaistion held his gaze, defying him.

 

- I told you to be good –said the General.

 

The Macedonian rolled his eyes, and turned his face away, he wasn’t in the mood to hear Memnon.

 

XXX

 

It was already dark when Alexander came back to his own camp. He and Kleitos had looked for Hephaistion everywhere, but clearly the mercenaries knew the surroundings better. And the King would have looked for Hephaistion all night, but Kleitos convinced him to go back, he was injured and there were things he needed to attend.

 

- You were lucky –said the exhausted doctor Philip, cleaning the King’s head wound—It’s just a superficial wound, you will be fine.

 

Alexander said nothing, he was angry, worried and didn’t feel well; how could have he let Memnon escape? He had failed again, and he felt like fire burning inside him, he wanted to shout, to hit something. Memnon was free and still had his soul mate with him.  

 

- I’m sorry doctor, have you seen Thais? –asked Ptolemy, poking his head through the tent’s flaps.

 

- She is on the battlefield –answered the doctor; pouring wine on Alexander’s wound to disinfect it. It hurt, but the King only clenched his fists. 

 

Ptolemy frowned.

 

- What is she doing there? –the battlefield? That was no place for a woman like Thais.

 

- I wish I knew –doctor Philip puffed out.

 

XXX

 

Thais was on the battlefield with Sophonisba and Kyros; the 3 of them with torches searching the bodies in the dark, along with the camp followers. Kyros felt sick, watching these people searching the bodies looking for valuable things, like rats in a dump; he had never seen something like this before and was shocked. Sophinisba was trembling, scared of being among the corpses showing all kind of terrible wounds, some lacking a leg or an arm, but she had vowed to help her mistress to look for her father, and that was what they were doing, searching among the corpses of the Greek mercenaries for Thais’ father.  

 

Sophinisba drove away the flies with her hand and stepped over a foot; she screamed, a high-pitched piercing scream that made Kyros jumped.

 

- Are you all right? –asked the Theban and the Numidian girl nodded, closing her eyes.

 

- Sophonisba –said Thais softly, turning over the corpse of a very young man with her feet—If you want, go back to the camp.

 

The Numidian shook her head.

 

- I-I’m fine… –the smell of decay filled her nostrils and Sophinisba bent over to vomit at her side.

 

Thais shook her head, her slave was a very delicate girl, she shouldn’t be in a place like this, but the hetaira knew why she did this and she was very grateful for her loyalty.

 

- Thais –said Kyros, after a while—I can’t find a man with your same hair color, or that looks just like you.

 

- Thank Zeus! –exclaimed the hetaira, there was still hope—That means he is still alive –she put her hands together in front of her and close her eyes for a moment—Let’s go, then.

 

Sophonisba thank Baal for this mercy.

 

- Where now? –asked Kyros.

 

- To the mercenary prisoners –answered Thais, leading the way.

 

- Why we didn’t do that in the first place? –asked the Theban, frowning.

 

- Because they are heavily guarded, and it’s going to be difficult to approach them –explained Thais, taking her slave by the hand.

 

Thais went with them to where the King kept the Greek prisoners, at the center of the camp. They were all tied, back-to-back and guarded by a group of pezetairoi. Kryriakos was in charge of the prisoners, and the veteran soldier stopped the peculiar trio when he saw them.

 

- Halt! Where do you think you are going? –asked Kryriakos, his only visible injured was an arm with dressings.

 

- Sir, my name is Thais –said the hetaira with all respect—I would like to speak to the prisoners.

 

Kryriakos threw his head back laughing.

 

- Did you hear, Damiskos? –shouted the pezetairoi to his companion—The lady wants to talk to the prisoners –his companion laughed with him.

 

- I fail to see the funny side of this –said Thais, with all dignity. 

 

- Miss, this is a prisoners camp not a tea shop. The orders are that nobody can approach the mercs –said Kryriakos, crossing his arms.

 

- But I’m not a “nobody” –said Thais with arrogance—I’m the King’s mistress –Kyros gasped and saw her as if she was nuts.

 

- Thais? –Alexander’s voice made her turned white. Had he heard her? Why did she always have to make a fool of herself in front of him?

 

The hetaira turned and found there the King with Parmelio and Kleitos.

 

She smiled adorably, even if inside she was dying from embarrassment.

 

- Sire –Thais bowed slightly.

 

- What are you doing here? –asked Alexander, he was extremely tired, with a dressing around his head and in a terribly mood.

 

- Sire, I would like to speak to the prisoners, please –she said.

 

- Why?

 

Why? That was a fair question and Thais knew that was better to answer with the truth. She cleared her throat.

 

- I’m looking for my father, sire –she explained—He left me in Athens when I was little and all I know is he is working for General Memnon.

 

The King narrowed his eyes. So this was the real reason of why a woman like her wanted to come to Asia but, was she a spy? He didn’t think so; she was honest.

 

- Ask, quickly –Thais’ eyes shone.

 

- Thank you, sire –she was very tempted to blow a raspberry to Kryriacos but she didn’t, and ran to the prisoners before the King changed his mind.

 

- Are you sure of what you want to do with the mercs? –asked Kleitos, once Thais had gone. 

 

- It would be better to hire their services –said Parmelio, always the practical advisor.

 

- I don’t want their services –said the King, he had made up his mind—I want them chained and sent back to Macedonia to work in the mines.

 

- Fine –said Kleitos, too tired to argue—What are you going to do with the spoils?

 

- 300 panoplies are going to be sent to Athens, for dedication in the Parthenon –said Alexander—And the luxury articles will be sent to my mother. Tomorrow I will precede the obsequies for our dead. 

 

Meanwhile, Thais walked among the Greek captives not knowing whom to ask. They were in a pitiful condition, all of them wounded, tired and crestfallen. At least it was a warm night because they had no protection against the weather. She felt sorry for them, imagining her own father in similar conditions…but she couldn’t do anything to help, just pray. At last, she approached a man of almost 40 years old, sitting with his chin on his chest.

 

- Excuse me –the man lifted his head with difficulty—Mm, I’m looking for a man.

 

- You will have to be more specific, miss –the man smiled.

 

- Yes, of course –she blushed—I’m looking for a man named Lykaon son of Codros.

 

The man opened his eyes.

 

- Commander Lykaon?

 

- Do you know him? –Thais felt her heart racing.

 

- Of course I know him, everybody knows him, he is the General’s second in command.

 

- Praise be to Zeus! Where is he? Was he captured? –Thais moved her head looking around, but the man puffed out.

 

- No, he escaped with the General –he smiled.

 

- You mean he fought today? Here? –the man nodded—Where did he go?

 

- I don’t know.

 

- Oh please, tell me –Thais insisted, kneeling at his side, not caring to ruin her dress in the mud—I’m his daughter. 

 

The man looked at her more carefully and nodded.

 

- You are telling the true, the likeness is remarkably –he said—But I’m sorry, I can’t help you, I truly don’t know where he is –Thais looked at him crestfallen—But I can tell you something, if you find the General, you will find Lykaon.

 

XXX

 

In the Macedonian camp took place a big celebration, the officers, the soldiers, the camp followers, everybody was happy with their first outstanding victory, drinking to their King’s health…everybody celebrating except the King. Alexander was depressed, again he wasn’t able of protecting Hephaistion and that feeling of failure was eating him from inside.   

 

He spent the night alone in his tent, drinking so much that his pages were worried about him, but non of them dare to denied him the jugs of un-water wine. Alexander just wanted to forget about Memnon, to numb his brain and heart and stop feeling so bad…how he missed Hephaistion, he couldn’t even think of a world without him…it had been days since they were apart but for the King was like years.

 

He vowed to himself that once he found Memnon, he would kill him in a very slowly and painful way, to make him just a little of the pain he was experiencing in that moment.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion couldn’t sleep that night. He had been rolling over the bed he shared with Alexander for hours but sleep kept avoiding him. Of course that wasn’t one of Alexander’s problems, he never suffered insomnia and had been snoring since hours ago. 

 

I should take him to the doctor and treat that snoring –thought Hephaistion, smiling while watching him sleep—How I wish I could sleep like that…

 

His best friend apartment wasn’t small, in fact was very spacious and beautiful but they shared the same bedroom, which was very messy since the day Hephaistion had moved in; but no one care and Antigone wasn’t there to complain about the dirty clothes and the books scattered all around the floor.  

 

Hephaistion kissed Alexander’s cheek and looked for the TV remote, if he couldn’t sleep he would watch something, he only wish his lover had paid his bills, and they still had power light and satellite. How was that Alexander owed so much money? He couldn’t explain that but he truly hope the situation would improve…and again Memnon came pop up in his head.

 

He knew they would have problems with him since the first day Memnon asked him out, but things were out of control when Alexander discovered that Memnon liked his soul mate. The Greek had “kidnapped” or it would better say that he took Hephaistion with him after his classes, taking him in his car outside the city and Alexander had been very worried. When the blond was about to call the police Hephaistion appeared with Memnon, and that had enraged him.  

 

Why I couldn’t have a less jealous lover? –thought Hephaistion, looking for something to watch on the TV, that wasn’t TV commercials—Um, a pillow that can reduce the snoring, I should buy Alex one.  

 

Then, after changing at least 30 channels, he found the Matrix movie. He smiled. Hephaistion loved sci-fi, and the Matrix trilogy was one of his favorites, for Alexander’s utterly dismay. Alexander hated sci-fi movies; he thought they were ridiculous things with a poor plot, but since his soul mate liked them so much he had gone to the movies to watch: Blade Runner, Terminator, Matrix, The Chronicles of Riddick, Alien, Predator, Alien vs Predator, I Robot, Star Wars, Star Trek… he actually had fallen asleep watching Star Trek and had ruined a cushion while watching the Dune miniseries in his apartment.   

 

- No…Phai… —mumbled Alexander half asleep—Not again “Neo, follow the white rabbit”

 

Hephaistion laughed.

 

- I thought you were sleeping.

 

Alexander rolled until he was resting on his side; he yawned and lazily opened his eyes.

 

- I was…until I heard that movie again –the blond complained making Hephaistion laughed again.

 

- Why do you hate Matrix so much?

 

- Honestly Phai, do you want to hear that now? –said Alexander, yawning again.

 

- No, I suppose not –he turned off the TV—But I must be grateful, at least you have the “decency” of sleeping when I take you to the movies, because last time Perdikkas took you to watch a horror movie was a disaster.

 

Alexander smiled. He was the worst person to watch a horror movie with; the blond was fearless and when Perdikkas took him to watch 13 Ghosts he ruined the movie for the rest of his friends with his sarcastic comments... a story about a ghost buster who builds a crystal house full with ghosts? Alexander couldn’t think of nothing more boring. No, wait, Alien was worst, a ship with a particle-beam phalanx that destroys bigheaded Aliens which leaves eggs inside people? What was a particle-beam phalanx, anyway? But if he said that out loud his sex-life would end forever.

 

In fact, Alexander didn’t like to watch TV; he was more the outside type and loved to travel, even if he couldn’t do it as often as he wanted. The only thing he could watch on TV was historical movies or series. Alexander had seem Rome of HBO so many times that Hephaistion was sure he knew the dialogs by heart.

 

- Can’t sleep? –asked the blond.

 

- Sort of –said his best friend, resting against the pillows—I guess I have too many things in my head.

 

- What things? –Alexander took his had and caressed it with his thumb.

 

- You know what things –Hephaistion brushed a blond lock aside of his lover’s face—Memnon.

 

The blond snorted.

 

- You worry too much.

 

- And you too little –they fell silent. Alexander sat and embraced him, resting his head on Hephaistion’s.

 

- I’ll be fine, don’t worry –Alexander kissed his head—Come, I have an idea of how to help you sleep –he said in a playful tone, leaving a trail of kisses through Hephaistion’s face, looking for his lips.  

 

Hephaistion smiled and played with one long blond lock, entangling it in his finger, feeling his lover kissing his forehead, his eyelids, outlining its features with the help of his lips, caressing him with his breath and nose. It was as if Alexander wanted to memorize him, he kissed his cheek, tickling him with his eyelashes, going down to scatter kisses on his jaw until he finally reach his lips.

 

First, he slid his mouth over Hephaistion’s, giving him time to get used to his touch, after that, he gave him a kiss that soon turned into several more before kissing him deeply and slowly opening his best friend’s mouth with the tip of his tongue.

 

Hephaistion put his arms behind his neck enjoying the softness of Alexander’s hair. He loved the sweet mouth of his lover and the immense love he showed him in every kiss, making Hephaistion felt special. They never knew for how long they were embraced, or how long were sharing words of love between sweet kisses and soft caresses but at some point they both fell asleep. Memnon completely forgotten.

 

Next night, even if Hephaistion was sure this was a bad idea and that nothing good could come of going to the Granicus to see Memnon, he went with his soul mate. If you want to describe Alexander in one word that was stubborn; once he had made up his mind it was impossible to convince him otherwise. So the only thing left for Hephaistion was to go with him to the Granicus and see that he come to no harm. 

 

The Granicus was a nightclub, Hephaistion had never before gone there and he was really grateful that Ptolemy went with them, along with Perdikkas, and Krateros; in those circumstances even the latter’s hateful presence was welcome.  

 

- Where is Memnon? –asked Alexander raising his voice to be heard over the music, and the group turned their heads to look around.

 

- Phai, isn’t that your sister? –asked Perdikkas, and Hephaistion turned to where he was pointing.

 

Sure enough, there was Berenike, wearing super low jeans and a very small blouse, sitting at Leonnatos side.

 

- And then you arrived at this place –said Leonnatos really excited, about his latest advances playing the video game Final Fantasy XIII—And you have to face the Sanctum's primarch, a guy named Dysley, and there he tells you he is actually a fal'Cie. He is not human! And then he transforms in this giant thing called Barthandelus, and he reveals that the Focus of the party is to destroy Orphan, but if they do that they will make Cocoon to crash into the surface of Gran Pulse.

 

Berenike didn’t understand a word of what he was saying, as long as she knew he could be talking about rocket science and she wouldn’t notice the difference.

 

- Leon, this game is the one where the main character is a guy with blond spiky hair? –asked his girlfriend, playing with Leonnatos jacket.

 

- No, Eni; that is Final Fantasy VII.

 

- And the one where is this cute character that falls in love with a sorceress?

 

- Final Fantasy VIII.

 

- Oh!… what are you playing then? –asked Berenike, confused.

 

- Final Fantasy XIII.

 

- Oh God! There are 13 of these games? –she asked in dismay. She didn’t like video games and the only reason she was there listening to her boyfriend was because Berenike knew how much Leonnatos enjoyed playing.

 

- Well, more if you count Crisis Core, Dirge of Cerberus, Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings…

 

- Eni! –exclaimed Hephaistion and the 2 of them lifter their heads—What are you doing here? 

 

Berenike blinked with innocence.

 

- I’m having a date with my boyfriend, what’s wrong with that? –she said, failing to see why was her brother so angry.

 

- Dress like that? –one thing was to see women wearing scarce clothes, he didn’t have a problem with that, but other very different to see his own sister dress like that.

 

- What’s wrong with my clothes? –Berenike’s voice was dangerous. Never mess with a girl’s clothes. 

 

Hephaistion was about to open his mouth and tell her everything he thought about her clothes when he saw Memnon. He was sitting not far from there, with his girl Barsine and his friends Lykaon, Arsamenes, Arsites, Spithridates and Mithridates; laughing and having a great time.

 

- It’s Memnon –said Leonnatos, following his friend’s eyes.

 

- Yes –said Hephaistion, he turned to see his sister—Well talk later.

 

Hephaistion returned to where Alexander was and Leonnatos stood up.

 

- Where are you going? –asked Berenike.

 

- With Alex, you know just in case –his boyfriend explained. 

 

When Memnon saw Alexander he smiled, he was expecting him and not even for a second he doubted he would come. The fight between them was inevitable since the blond knew he had “kidnapped” and kissed Hephaistion and Memnon heard that, as revenge, Alexander had slept with Barsine.

 

- What a surprise –said Memnon, putting his cigarette aside.

 

- Cut the crap –said Alexander bluntly, he wasn’t in the mood to play games—I’m here to settle things with you. 

 

- I imagine.

 

- So, how is going to be?

 

- Not with swords and shields, that’s for sure –said Memnon laughing—Come, meet me outside.