CHAPTER 4

 

- Is it really necessary to do this? –asked Ptolemy, hidden in the shadows of the garden outside Hephaistion’s bedroom. It was dark, the full moon like a gigantic light bulb illuminating everything with it’s cold silver light.

 

Alexander leaned back against a tree, his arms crossed over his chest and his uneven eyes on the opened window of the second floor. He was like a predator ready to strike.

 

- I still don’t know what’s wrong with him –said the Prince, speaking as if he were alone.

 

- You have 2 weeks with this, what do you care about what happened with Hephaistion? –Alexander didn’t answer—Tell me the truth, do you like him?

 

- Yes –the Prince answered so fast that he took his friend aback.

 

Ptolemy was 20 years old but Alexander looked much older and wiser. Ptolemy had expected a different reaction from the Prince, to show a little shyness after that question, a little blush in his cheeks, a bashful stammer, denial, surprise…but no. The Prince knew what he wanted, so there was no need to hide it, as simple as that.

 

- Right, and if you do like him, why don’t just talk to him? This is harassment –the older one simply couldn’t understand how was that Alexander’s mind work.

 

- You know, as good as I, that Hephaistion hates me, we can’t have a civilized conversation, and he will never tell me what happened to him –explained Alexander.

 

- Then ask Perdikkas or Leon, they are his friends –said Ptolemy.

 

- I already did that. Leon said that, after the scene at the gymnasium, Hephaistion apologized and everything went back to normal, except that Hephaistion never told them what really happened to him. Perdikkas thinks Hegelochus son of Hippostratos beat him –said the Prince.

 

- Attalos’ nephew? Why would he do that for? He is Nikandros’ friend –Ptolemy paced around, like a caged lion.

 

- Perdikkas said that Hegelochus don’t stand Hephaistion, and Hephaistion is unable to restrain his mouth when he is around –said Alexander as if he were teaching a 5 years old boy. 

 

- There! Hegelochus did it –said the older one in triumph.

 

- No, he didn’t.

 

- Eh?

 

- He didn’t beat Hephaistion –said Alexander.

 

- How can you be so sure?

 

- I asked him –was the simple answer—Hegelochus wasn’t even in Pella that day, he went to his father’s house attending to some family reunion.

 

- Then? –Ptolemy was confused and a little tired of all of this.

 

- I’ve talked to the pages and with Glaukos, the royal steward. Kadmios had the night shift with Hephaistion a day before the gymnasium affair, and Kadmios and Glaukos said he was perfectly normal when his shift began, so that tells me someone assaulted him during his shift that night –said Alexander smartly.

 

- Another page beat him, then –said Ptolemy yawning. He was bored and didn’t want to spend the night spying a teenage boy for whom he had no interest at all.

 

Gods! Nick said he would introduce me to Kalliope and I’m stuck here –thought the older one impatiently.      

 

- He wasn’t beat by another page –said Alexander.

 

- You spoke with all the pages too?

 

- No, but when I talked to Glaukos he was nervous and didn’t want to talked about Hephaistion, which makes me think this is no boys quarrel, an important person is involved here… If you don’t want to be here is alright you don’t have to –said the Prince, noticing his boredom.

 

- No, no, no… it’s all right, I can keep you company –lied Ptolemy without fooling him.

 

- By the way, haven’t you heard anything about Hephaistion by any chance? –asked the Prince, well aware of his friend’s reputation as the number one gossipy in Macedonia.

 

- Let’s see…mm, just heard that your half-sister Thessalonica likes him –that was news to him, and Alexander looked surprise.

 

- My half-sister? But she is 9! How do you know that?

 

- She asked me if I could tell her where does Hephaistion live, and I heard from Leon she frequently sends to Hephaistion letters and candies –Ptolemy explained, resting his height in one foot—Don’t worry, she is still a small girl, I don’t think the object of your obsession is going to fall for her.  

 

No, but Thessalonica is not going to have 9 years old forever –thought Alexander when his friend yawned again.

 

- Go Ptolemy, I’ll see you in the morning –Alexander patted him on the shoulder and then saw the light extinguishing in Hephaistion’s room. He climbed the tree like a professional monkey to check if the page had gone out or just preparing to sleep. Ptolemy sighed, and left the Prince while scratching his head. 

 

Alexander couldn’t get a good look of Hephaistion’s room, it was very dark, so he advanced carefully on the tree branches and watched with intensity until his eyes get used to the dark. The page wasn’t there and the Prince couldn’t believe his good luck. He climbed higher and then jumped to the window; he almost fell, and ended holding by the window’s edge, after hitting himself against the wall. Alexander climbed and fell on Hephaistion’s floor and stayed very still a few seconds until he was sure nobody was coming in.

 

The Prince walked towards the bed and found an oil lamp. He lighted it on. The lamp wasn’t heavy, there wasn’t much oil left, which meant he had to hurry or risk being left in the dark again. The room was very neat: there was a bed with a mattress made of rags perfectly made, a small wooden table with rolls on it, a basket full of more rolls, and a trunk. Nothing more. Alexander started looking for…well, he had no idea, so he searched for any clue that could tell him what was happening to the beautiful page of dark gray eyes. 

 

First he opened the trunk, it was full of clothes and personal items, all in perfect order and carefully arranged. For what he saw, Hephaistion liked dark blue and dark red and was not really fond of light colors, all his chitons had the same cut, which told him the same person had made them, maybe his mother or some house servant. Almost all were made of wool, very few of linen or cotton with a beautiful pattern on the edges. Linen and cotton were not only very expensive but also rare in Macedonia and Greece. 

 

There were some simple brooches, and 3 bands, Alexander had observed, he used for his hair. He left everything as he had found it and, before he closed the trunk again, one particular brooch caught his attention. It was broken, as if someone had thrown it against a wall.

 

Alexander took it and checked it. Maybe it was nothing or maybe it had been damaged the day Hephaistion had been assaulted. He took a chiton at the end of the trunk and saw that it was tear but, what really caught his attention, was the fact that this was a linen chiton, and for a person as careful as the page, it was really strange that he had a chiton as fine as this one in such poor state. The Prince stayed there, thinking for a while, before returning the items inside the trunk.

 

He searched the rolls and smiled finding there the Iliad, in an old and worn out edition, which meant the page read it with regularity. All the rolls were carefully kept, the parchment was extremely delicate and it had to be kept in a cold, ventilated place, besides, mouse loved to eat it, so one must always have a mousetrap near... Yes, there was the mousetrap, at one side of the basket.

 

Alexander also found many plays, which also were of his liking: a Sophocles tragedy a Aristophanes comedy… he found a play called Lysistrata, which told the story of the women of Sparta and Athens and how they, tired of the Peloponnesian war for it kept their men away form them, started a revolt led by a woman named Lysistrata. The women’s great plan was to withdraw their sexual favor from their husbands and lovers in order to force them to end the war; it was a funny play.  

 

He likes theater –thought Alexander happily.

 

The Prince lifted the mattress and found several letters, almost all from his family… and some from Thessalonica, which didn’t make him happy. How could a 9 years old girl say she was in love? For Cupid’s sake! For what he saw Hephaistion’s mother wrote to him almost every week and now that he thought about it, he remembered Leonnatos saying that Hephaistion’s mother was one hell of a cook and always send her son impossibly delicious deserts and letters.

 

There were also letters from his grandfather and his sister, Berenike; for what he read, it was a very close and happy family, and they had a cat named Hermes. But there was no mention of any personal problem in the letters, though, the last one intrigued him deeply, it was from his grandfather…

 

Phai, I agree with you, you are not a child anymore

and you can kill your first man. Your father is not

very sure about your idea, he would prefer to wait

until you are at least 14. I can speak to him if you like,

the only thing I don’t understand is, why the hurry to

leave the palace? Did something happen?

 

Is he in a hurry to leave the palace? Why? –thought Alexander when he heard noise outside.

 

The Prince left the letters where he found them, put out the oil lamp and tried to run to the window but the door opened before he could get out.

 

Damn! –thought Alexander. He threw himself to the floor and rolled to hide under the bed. 

 

Hephaistion entered his room but, from his position, Alexander could only see his feet walking towards the bed and heard how he fell heavily over the mattress. The Prince didn’t dare to breath, and so he lay there, listening with all his attention and trying to figure out what was going on.

 

Hephaistion cried, even though he didn’t want to, grabbing the sheets under him. He just wanted to disappear, he was a coward, a weakling… He fought with all his strength but for nothing. Philip couldn’t understand the meaning of “NO”. After his first encounter the King gave him a wonderful brooch decorated with expensive and rare pearls, true creamy white pearls from the waters of the Sinus Arabicus, surrounding a Safire. The page, as soon as he received the gift, threw the brooch at the King’s face.

 

- I can order to flog you for this insolence –said Philip standing up, he was so mad that his face was gaining an unhealthy purple color.

 

- Then do it! What do you think am I? A whore? –shouted Hephaistion, defying him.

 

- I don’t want you as my whore, I told you, I want you as my eromenos –the King made an effort to restrain his anger. 

 

- And I already told you I-don’t-want-to –answered the page, breathing heavily.

 

- Why not? –Philip spoke in the commanding voice that mobilized his army.

 

Because I don’t like you, I don’t want to, I feel nothing for you except loathing, you are not Achilles and I’ll never do it because you are a bloody lecherous pig who beat me and raped me –thought Hephaistion furious, challenging him with his eyes.

 

- I have my reasons.

 

- Give one, insolent boy –the King hit the table with both hands making the page jumped. 

 

- You raped me –Hephaistion spoke softly, every word full with resentment—Do you think you can act like nothing happened? You raped me and humiliated me.

 

- You left me no choice. 

       

- So it’s my fault then? –he couldn’t believe his ears.

 

Philip approached his page and took him by the shoulders, pushing him hard against the wall, hurting him. Hephaistion made an effort not to shake. He was terrified having the King so close to him. Philip took his time to admire his features, it was a pleasure to watch him, everything in him appeared to be created just to please.

 

- You are beautiful –the King’s voice was a whisper, he tried to kiss him but the page moved back. Philip took a depth breath, trying to control his temper—Get out! –ordered with his jaw clenched and Hephaistion ran out of there.

 

Maybe I’m doing something wrong –thought the page, curled up on his bed, still in darkness.

 

He no longer knew what was right, and his personal war against the King was killing him. His face ached where Philip had slapped him moments ago. Once again it was his night shift and once again the King called him to his bedroom. It had been worst than the first time and Hephaistion was amazed that he managed to walk after that, he was bleeding but he didn’t care.       

 

Alexander couldn’t believe someone could cry like that, with such desperation and distress, and it broke his heart to know it was Hephaistion the one shedding those tears. The Prince moved to get out of his hidden place, he didn’t care of what Hephaistion would say when he saw him in his bedroom, his need to embrace him was stronger.

 

But someone knocked the door. Alexander was still again and the page rose on his elbow.

 

- Who is it?

 

- I’m the King’s doctor, Philip –said a voice outside—Can I come in?

 

- Yes –Hephaistion cleaned his tears with the back of his hand, and the man entered his room.   

 

The page had never before talked with Philip, the King’s personal doctor, he had only seen him a couple of times but he knew he was a good man and that he spoke little. Philip’s lamp illuminated the dark room blinding the boy momentarily.

 

- The King send me to treat your wounds –said the doctor and that enraged Hephaistion.

 

- To treat my wounds? He is a CYNIC. 

 

- Careful boy, you are talking about the King.

 

- I’m talking about the person who did this to me –said the page pointing at himself—Or he didn’t tell you he is the reason I need a doctor in the first place?

 

- I don’t question the King.

 

- You should –said Hephaistion without thinking and a heavy silence fell upon them—I’m sorry, it not your fault… it’s just…Leave me alone, please.

 

Philip walked to him.

 

- Let me see your face –Hephaistion didn’t reply so the doctor left the oil lamp on the table and proceeded to examine him—You are bleeding –Philip said watching the blood running freely through his thighs—Please laid down.

 

Philip cleaned his wounds and covered them with an herbal ointment. Hephaistion closed his eyes and no sound left his mouth, even if all of this was painful and humiliating.

  

- Try to sleep face down for a week –said the doctor—I’m going to leave you a tea for the pain.

 

- Thank you –said Hephaistion without looking at him, brushing his hair behind his ear.

 

Philip wanted to say something, a word of comfort…something! By the look of his wounds it was pretty clear what had happen to him… but he found himself lacking the what to say, so he left and the room was engulf in darkness again. 

 

Alexander was numbed by now, but in that moment that was the least of his concerns.

 

What the hell is going on? –thought the Prince—What has my father done to him?

 

But the answered struck him like a thunderbolt, what else could have done Philip with such a beautiful boy?

 

He should be warming my bed

 

The remembered his father’s words as clearly as if he were listening to them in that moment.

 

I’m a fool, how come I didn’t see it? –thought Alexander, slapping his forehead.

 

He was angry, surprised, outraged, confused… He knew his father but he couldn’t stand the idea of him hurting Hephaistion… not him. He waited until the page fell asleep and then he came out. The Prince smiled and took a moment to admire Hephaistion perfect profile faintly illuminated by the moonlight. Then he went out through the window.

 

I never forgot what Philip did to me, it marked me for the rest of my life, and my no-life. Many years later, almost a Century before the birth of Christ, I was in Rome, It was cold winter night with full moon and I was walking near the Temple of Jupiter Stator, the first marble temple of the city.

 

 There were the magnificent statues Lysippus made for us after our victory at the battle of Issus; all of Alexander’s Companions were there, riding their horses in the middle of a charge. Those were splendid statutes that made you feel tha,t in any moment, they were going to move and attack you. I remember I smiled, a sardonic smile, when I saw these statues in Rome, years before a man called Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus had pillaged this work from Pella, after the Third Macedonian War.

 

That night in Rome I saw a handsome man, his pale gray eyes almost white met mine. What I saw in his eyes reminded me of the night Philip raped me, this man had suffered terribly, endured the unthinkable and his heart was forever dead, incapable of love. This man was Lucius Cornelius Sulla, the ruthless Roman Dictator. He was born as a patrician, a noble, but in utterly poverty. I heard Sulla had to prostituted himself many times in order to get money to eat and even to pay his own father funeral… His was a hard life, and when I saw his eyes, I knew if it hadn’t been for my Alexander I would have been just like him, a ruthless, cruel and cold hearted man who beheaded his enemies and put their heads on the Rostra, in the Forum.

 

Only Alexander was able to save me… and he did it.    

 

XXX

 

- Is it true? Your father sent for Aristotle to be your professor? –asked Perdikkas next day, sitting on a step at the entrance of the royal palace beside Alexander. 

 

Today was Perdikkas’ day. Alexander was a romantic with his head full with dreams of glory and honor, dreams of gods and heroes, he could recite the Iliad sleep and thanks to that, and a very human need of finding his soul mate, he was in an epic journey to find his best friend and sidekick. So, to this day, had passed the: Harpalos, Ptolemy, Philotas, Leonnatos, Koinos, even Nearchos’ day. The Prince had even considered the possibility of speaking to Cassander son of Antipater, but that was going too far. Cassander was annoying beyond all reason.

 

All of them were his friends, and good friends! But for some reason he couldn’t feel completely comfortable with them.

 

Alexander had almost an hour sitting on the steps with Perdikkas, because from there he could watch Hephaistion exercising one of the King’s horses, the boy walking beside the animal.

 

Everything fits –thought the Prince—That’s why Glaukos was so nervous when I asked him about Hephaistion and that’s why Hephaistion doesn’t talk about his aggressor. My father likes him, and because of that he ordered to have him as his page, he had wanted him since he met Hephaistion… but, why to beat him?… I get it, Hephaistion must have defied him –and for some reason he loved that idea, the idea of the page defying his almighty father.

 

- Alexander? –insisted Perdikkas at the lack of an answer.

 

- Hephaistion is losing weight.

 

- What? –Perdikkas turned to see his friend—A little, yes… Did you hear what I say?

 

- Yes, my father called Aristotle to teach me –said Alexander, his uneven eyes on Hephaistion, his elbows on his thighs—But he is not going to teach only me.

 

- How so?

 

- My father said I could take with me whoever I want to go to Mieza, and receive Aristotle’s instruction.

 

- Mieza?

 

- It’s a place my father had arranged especially for… —but Alexander was suddenly struck by a great idea.

 

- Who are you taking to Mieza? –asked Perdikkas excited.

 

- I just decided… Perdikkas you are a genius.

 

- Am I?

 

- You are like Odysseus solving Tyndareus dilemma in choosing a husband for Helen of Troy  –the Prince stood up and ran to the palace without explaining more.

 

- Now what?! –exclaimed Perdikkas confused.

 

XXX

 

Alexander arrived to his father’s study and found him discussing with Parlemio about the actions to take next year.

 

- The situation in Athens is complicated, Demosthenes is calling you a “barbarian” and is pretty convincing, every day more people is on his side –explained Parmelio and the King swore.

 

- Is there any way in which I can make Demosthenes understand that I’m not a barbarian or a tyrant? I just want to be the Greek’s leader in a war against Persia –exclaim Philip angry, when his blue eyes caught his son’s figure standing at the door—Alexander, what are you doing here?

 

- I came to talk to you about Mieza, but if you are busy I can come back later.

 

- No, stay, what I need right now is a break –Parmelio left them, and Philip gave his son a cup of water-wine. It was a nice hot day.

 

- What do you want to talk about? –the King sat down in front of him.

 

The Prince took his time and drank the water-wine, choosing his words carefully.

 

- I already chose my companions to go to Mieza.

 

- Good, good, I told you to take anybody you like but just one favor, I want you to include Philotas and Cassander, it would be rude to their fathers not doing so –said Philip.

 

- Understood, I don’t see a problem in that –his father was right, Antipater and Parmelio were the most important men in the kingdom and their sons deserved the honor of been instructed along with the Crown Prince.

 

- So, who are you taking with you?

 

- Ptolemy, Perdikkas, Leonnatos –the King nodded.

 

- Leonnatos is a good kid.

 

- Koinos.

 

- I little old, like Ptolemy… I suppose you are taking Harpalos and Nearchos too.

 

-  You chose them as my advisors and they are good friends too –said Alexander.

 

- Excellent, anyone else?

 

- Yes –the King drank his wine—I want to take Hephaistion with me.

 

Philip choked and coughed.

 

- Amyntor’s boy? –asked the King with drown voice.

 

- Yes.

 

- Why?

 

- Why not?

 

- He is not friend of yours, I heard you two had a really bad relationship –said Philip, taking a deep breath to recover.

 

- He is the son of one of your hetairoi, a noble, and his father has served you greatly with the Athenian negotiations –said Alexander in a business like tone—I think is fair.

 

- In that case take his older son with you, if you want to honor Amyntor take Nikandros to Mieza.

 

- Hephaistion is my syntrophoi, my own age, besides you told me to take whoever I want –said the Prince—Or is there a particular reason why I can’t take Hephaistion with me to Mieza?

 

Philip tried to hold his gaze but failed, like many times before. He didn’t want to let Hephaistion go, but had no right to keep him in the palace, to do so, after the Prince expressed his will in taking him to Mieza would caused Philip a lot of trouble with Amyntor, and he could already hear Parmelio lecturing him.

 

- All right, I approve your choice. Send word to your friends that they are leaving in two weeks –said the King in a terrible mood.

 

- Thank you father.   

 

If Alexander had any doubts about his father’s feelings towards Hephaistion, it was all over in that moment. More than ever, he had to take Hephaistion out of there.

 

The relationship between Philip and Alexander was complicated, to say the least. When Alexander was younger his mother was the ultimate source of wisdom and all his father did was wrong, but when he grew up he saw his mother was not that perfect and his father was not that bad. Now he admired Philip as a General, respected him as a King and tried with all his might to avoid becoming a man like him. Alexander had learned that his father’s personality was the source of almost all his personal problems, but even with all his faults he loved him. 

 

And this situation with Hephaistion could become a very nasty affair.

Three days later, dawn was breaking on the cold mountains of the Upper Macedonia. Hephaistion moved under his blankets and tried to get closer to his brother, looking for some warmth, the air was so cold that it was like needles on ones skin. Nikandros stretched his body, lazily, and then kicked his brother.   

 

- Ouch!

 

- Get up, it’s day already –Nikandros stood up.

 

Hephaistion sat, half asleep, his eyes felt heavy and he couldn’t coordinate correctly. His brother checked the almost inexistent fire and lighted it again, yawing.

 

- I have to pee –said the page.

 

- When you come back bring water from the river.

 

 - What river?

 

- The one we crossed last night, about a 100 paces to the south –explained Nikandros, giving him a goatskin bag for the water.

 

By the time Hephaistion was back, his brother had breakfast ready. Nikandros had many flaws but at least the had gone out in military training, so he knew more that a few things about cooking.

 

- What do you have in the fire? It smell delicious, you will be an excellent wife one day –said Hephaistion, taking a seat at his brother’s side.

 

- Ha, ha –said Nikandros without humor—Take this, we still have some of mom’s bread –the older one threw him a generous piece of bread and continued slicing the cheese.

 

- Are we still far from the border? –asked Hephaistion.

 

- No, by noon we must be in the Macedonian garrison in charge of the zone –said Nikandros giving him a piece of cheese—Don’t worry, there’s always trouble on the Thracian border, soon you will send your first man with the Boatman… You have been very quite since we left Pella, what’s wrong? Are you scared?    

 

Hephaistion didn’t answer immediately, and continued chewing.

 

- I’m just… nervous, that all –he lied.

 

- Phai.

 

- Mm?

 

- Did something happen to you in the palace? –asked Nikandros, watching him with intensity.

 

- Why do you ask?

 

- Because you are acting very weird lately.

 

That took Hephaistion by surprised, he never thought his brother would care enough for him to notice his mood changes.

 

But he is my brother –thought the page—Maybe I should tell him…

 

- Phai, life in King Philip’s court is difficult, all the members of the royal family conspire against each other, you can’t receive anything from them without asking yourself what do they want from you –said Nikandros—The best thing you can do is to stay away from trouble. Look at me, I have a good relation with all the people that matters… Once I was about to sleep with Princess Cynane –a smile of self-contentment crossed his face and Hephaistion saw his brother as if he didn’t know him.

 

- Cynane? You are nuts, she is the King’s favorite daughter.

 

- The poor girl is going to marry Amyntas, at least let her enjoy her life a little… but that’s not what I wanted to say –his brother continued— The point is, I don’t have an assassin behind me because I know how to keep my mouth shut. I think you saw something with the King and that’s why you are so depressed, am I right?

 

- More or less –said Hephaistion soflty.

 

- Try to forget it, it has nothing to do with you –said Nikandros, patting his back.

 

Nothing to do with me… —thought the page.

 

- Nick, there is something I want to tell you –said Hephaistion carefully—I didn’t see something, I…

 

A horse whinnying made them jump to their feet. Nikandros took his sword first and Hephaistion did the same, standing beside his brother when they saw a magnificent black horse with red mane and a white mark on his head, resembling an ox head. The page didn’t have to lift his head to know who was the rider.

 

- Alexander?! –exclaimed Nikandros, as if he had seen his dead grandmother.

 

- Joy to you Nikandros, Hephaistion –the Prince dismounted Boukephalos.

 

- What are you doing here? –asked Nikandros, stretching his neck, searching the Prince’s escort or at least one of his friends, but he found no one—Are you alone?

 

- Yes –was the simple answer.

 

- Why are you here? –asked Hephaistion, sheathing his sword. 

 

- I came to see the garrison at the Thracian border –answered the Prince, his gold-blond hair shining under the morning sun.

 

- Yeah, sure –the page didn’t believe one word.  

 

- The garrison at the Thracian border? We are going there too –said Nikandros.

 

- If you don’t mind, I would like to travel with you –said Alexander.

 

- Yes.

 

- No.

 

The brothers stared at each other.

 

- Phai, don’t be a child, we can let him travel alone –said Nikandros.

 

- Why not? He came here all by himself –his older brother ran his hand down his face. He couldn’t believe how stubborn was Hephaistion.  

 

Why do I bother? Phai is just like dad –thought the older one.

 

- It’s all right, if you don’t want to travel with me I can continue alone –said Alexander with calm.

 

- No, no, no, you are not going to make me feel guilty by your martyr attitude, if something happened to you is not going to be my fault –said Hephaistion pointing at him with his finger.

 

Nikandros laughed.

 

- You are insane Phai. INSANE… Alexander, have you eaten something?

 

- No –Nikandros pointed at the fire with his thumb.

 

- My mother baked the bread –said the older one giving the Prince a piece. 

 

- Why are you giving him mom’s bread? –Hephaistion complained, sitting on the opposite side to Alexander—We agree to let him travel with us, not to feed him.

 

- Stop being such an ass, Phai –Nikandros scolded him, raising his voice, and the page rolled his eyes.

 

- Why are you going to the Thracian border? –asked Alexander.

 

- Because we are looking for trouble, so this fool can take the life of his first man –if Hephaistion could petrify people like medusa, his brother would be a very nice statute by now. Among all the people in the kingdom Alexander was the last one he wanted informed about his personal life.

 

- Really? –the Prince pretended to be surprised.

 

- What’s wrong with that? –Hephaistion growled.

 

- Nothing.

 

In the XXI Century, where people talk too much about Human Rights, is hard to imagine a society where a young boy needed to kill a person in order to become a man. 13 year old boys play Rock Band, open Facebook accounts, cheat in the school tests and their biggest concerned is how to unlock the porn channels on their parents TV. But in the Macedonia of the 343 B.C., at the age of 13 you were one step closer of becoming a man.

 

I remembered that all the way to the garrison my brother and Alexander talked about everything and nothing, I just kept silent even when Alexander tried everything to catch my attention.

 

The Thracian border was a dangerous place. The Thracians were divided in tribes, one more savage than the other, and sometimes they did raids and plundered Macedonian towns, that was why there was a garrison on duty day and night. Thrace was located in modern Bulgaria… and probably the most famous Thracian in classic history was the Roman gladiator who led a slave revolt in the 80 B. C: Spartacus…

 

- He likes you.

 

- What are you talking about? –asked Hephaistion to his brother. They had been located in a small room inside the garrison’s fortress.

 

- Come on! You didn’t notice? –Nikandros was having fun. He sat on the hard bed, beside his brother.

 

- Notice what? –asked Hephaistion tired, his eyes on the wooden ceiling.

 

His brother threw himself against the page, taking out his breath and then, they were suddenly fighting like small kids, laughing, punching and biting each other until Nikandros ended on top of Hephaistion, immobilizing him. 

 

- Do you surrender, coward? –the younger one couldn’t breath.

 

- YES! –Nikandros let him go, and dropped at Hephaistion’s side.

 

- Alexander likes you –said his brother after a few seconds, and the page laughed as if he had never heard anything funnier in his entire life.

 

- Did you fall headfirst off the horse?

 

- Come on, Phai! You can’t be that stupid, do you buy that story that he came here to check the garrison? And without an escort! It’s obvious, he came here following you –said Nikandros as if he had all the wisdom of the universe in him—Fetch me the wine, would you?

 

Hephaistion did as he was told.

 

- Why do you think he likes me? –the page gave him the metallic jug.

 

Nikandros drank before answering.

 

- What an awful wine…Why do you want to know?

 

- Curiosity, give me the jug –after the first gulp he coughed, it was strong wine without water.

 

- Where shall I begin? Mm…Well, first, he is here without a reason…

 

- He is the Crown Prince, it’s not so weird that he wants to check the garrison, I heard Ptolemy saying the King is planning to invade Thrace, maybe he is here on behalf of his father –Hephaistion refuted him.

 

- Right, the same day you came, most convenient –Nikandros drank again from the jug—All the way here he tried to catch your attention.

 

- He was showing off, he always do that when I’m around.

 

- Really? Always? –asked Nikandros with interest—There! What more proof do you want?… Don’t look at me like that. Phai you are an ass with him, any other in his place would have beaten the living hell out of you by now, but Alexander acts as if he wasn’t listening.

 

- You sound as if I was the jerk –Hephaistion complained.

 

- Alexander is not as you think he is, he is not an arrogant brute.

 

- You too? –the page paced around the room—I’m sick of everybody telling me he is Mr. Perfect. 

 

- And haven’t you considered for a second that you are the one who is wrong?

 

- No! –said Hephaistion stubbornly.

 

- Phai, I’m a jerk –said his brother, standing up.

 

- By Apollo! Really? It had never occurred to me before –the page mocked him.

 

- Mock me all you want, but as a jerk I can recognize others like me, and your Prince is not one. I know him and his friends better than you.

 

- I get it, he is the best among all men.

 

- Not quite, he has a terrible character and likes having things always in his way –explained Nikandros, leaving the jug considerably lighter than before, on the table—The bad thing is, he is usually always right, which is a little annoying, but he is noble and intelligent.

 

- You move me Nick, go and marry him –his brother laughed and took him by both shoulders.

 

- I just want to help you –Nikandros smiled with evilness—Besides, it will be awesome to have my brother as the eromenos of the Crown Prince, you would make a great service to your family, putting your butt to work in something useful.

 

- Nick, you are a jerk.

 

- You are welcome –Hephaistion shook his head.

 

- I’m going out.

 

- Bring your cloak, it’s cold outside –Nikandros threw him the cloak and the page watched him as if he were a ghost.

 

- Since when do you care about my health? –Hephaistion checked his cloak, just in case his brother put spiders on it or something more disgusting.    

 

- Since mom threatens to kill me if something happens to you –Nikandros took his own cloak.

 

- Where are you going?

 

- I don’t know, to chat with the men, I guess.

 

The fortress wasn’t too big, had a ditch at the front, a palisade, and tall strong ramparts. Hephaistion went to the highest part of the ramparts, and, from it, he had a privilege view of the entire zone. Not far from there a group of soldiers were playing dice and to him floated their voices, swearing and laughing. Something damp touched his head, and when he looked up, he saw it was snowing. He made no effort to leave, he didn’t mind the cold and so he continued surveying the surroundings in the dark. The moon was a smile on the sky, but the striking young man on the rampart didn’t return the smile to her.

 

It would be great if my brother become the eromenos of the Crown Prince, you would be doing a great service to your family.

 

His brother’s words resounded in his head.

 

What would Nick do if he knew I could be the King’s eromenos? –he thought sadly, his arms on the wooden wall—Perhaps I’m wrong and I should accept the all mighty Philip’s offer, after all he is the most powerful man in Greece, the champion of the Oracle of Delphi… But I just can’t, I can’t be with him, he is not my Achilles. The day I give myself to someone it will be by my own choice, because that person is the best, the most honorable, a person I can be proud of… Gods! Now, I’m thinking like my sister –he sighed—But I can’t stop thinking like that… Maybe I shouldn’t live in Macedonia, I disagree with half the things that happen here, I should live with my aunt in Athens…

 

He felt a gaze on him, and when he turned, he found Alexander leaning against the wall watching him as if he were an art piece. Hephaistion jumped.

 

- What, in Athena’s name, are you doing here?

 

- I’m watching you.

 

- How long have you been here? –asked the page, recovering from the impression.

 

-  A while, you were deep in thought and I didn’t want to bother you –said Alexander.

 

Alexander likes you…

 

Oh! How I wish I never had that conversation with Nick –thought Hephaistion blushing.

 

- Stop looking at me like that –asked the page.

 

- Like that how? –Alexander was enjoying himself, seeing the other so nervous.

 

- Why did you come to this garrison? –Hephaistion changed the subject. Yes, that was a great idea, change the subject.

 

- I already told you.

 

- I don’t believe you

 

- Fine, I’m lying –Hephaistion couldn’t tell if he was joking or being serious.

 

Both fell silent, and once again they heard laughter. The Prince didn’t say anything and the page didn’t want to be with him, so he started to climb down the stairs.

 

- I challenge you to a race –said Alexander suddenly, successfully stopping him. Hephaistion lifted an eyebrow—Do you see the last torch of the corridor? If you win I swear not to speak to you in a whole week –said the Prince, arms crossed on his chest.

 

- Done –accepted Hephaistion without a second thought.

 

- Don’t you want to know what I want if I win? –Alexander walked to him

 

- It doesn’t matter, I’m not going to let you win.

 

A smile curved the Prince’s lips.

 

- All right, have it your way.

 

- Give me your word that you are keeping your promise –asked Hephaistion.

 

- You have it, and you?

 

- I give you my word that, if for some cosmic mistake, I lose, you can ask me for anything –Alexander’s smile got widened, this was his lucky day.

 

- Done.

 

- The last torch of the corridor? –Hephaistion wanted to be sure.

 

- Yes, at your count.

 

- Good.

 

Hephaistion counted to 3 and they both ran as if they were pursued by a horde of Minotaurs. Bad luck for the page, because he had never heard the Prince was as fast as his ancestor Achilles, and in 3 heartbeats left him behind. At the end, Hephaistion bent over trying to catch his breath. He couldn’t believe what had just happened.     

 

- By Hermes! –said the page without breath—You are unbelievable fast… I-I bet you could run in the Olympics.

 

Alexander brushed his untidy hair with his fingers.

 

- “I would only run if I had kings as my competitors”(1) –said Alexander.

 

- You are a jerk –Hephaistion complained, straightening up—In that case, why did you run against me?

 

The Prince remained silent.

 

- I’m going to reclaim my prize –announced Alexander and Hephaistion cursed himself.

 

Me and my big mouth –thought the page—I’ll never do this again.

 

- What do you want? –asked the page with all dignity. He had given his word and he indented to fulfill it, even if the Prince asked him to dress like cupid, with bow, wings and everything in the middle of the army.

 

- Come.

 

Alexander took him outside the fortress, it wasn’t much light but he knew the path they were taking.

 

- Who’s there? –asked the sentry, hidden in the shadows.

 

- Alexander, Prince of Macedonia and Hephaistion son of Amyntor –answered the blond—Is it you Eneas?

 

- Yes, Alexander –said the man, walking to them.

 

- You have a good ear, keep on the good work –the man smiled.

 

- I will, Alexander.

 

They continued walking, advancing further and further into the forest. It was pitch black and they could only hear their steps over the dry branches and dry leafs, and the occasional owl.  Hephaistion thought it was a terrible idea being there, but said nothing, he didn’t want to look like a coward. Alexander suddenly stopped when they reached a clearing, and the page run into him.

 

- What are we doing here? –asked Hephaistion, he surveyed the surroundings, making a mental note of the path they had followed in case he needed to get back on his own. At least it was more illuminated here.

 

- I found this place in the afternoon –said the Prince—And I think is perfect for us.

 

- What do you mean?

 

Alexander approached him, until they were only a couple of paces away.   

 

- As a prize for my victory… –the Prince spoke in a soft, slowly tone—I want a kiss from you.

 

- I beg your pardon –asked Hephaistion, as if the Prince had demanded for him to kill his own mother.

 

- You gave me your word that you will do anything I wanted –the page clenched his jaw. He and his stupid arrogance.

 

- Fine.

 

Alexander closed the distance between them, Hephaistion was taller than he, and he had to lift his head a little. Immediately, the Prince was welcome by the smooth smell of chamomile and the page’s soft breath hitting his lips. He shuddered from head to toe. Alexander had never kissed anyone, he had killed his first man, hunted the wild boar in the royal forests, but he had never experience the warmth of having other lips over his own. His heart beat furiously, he bit his lower lip in anticipation feeling the same emotion he experienced the day he took the life of a man in his first battle… Just a few inches away of that sweet mouth that made him daydream.

 

But something wasn’t quite well. The Prince stopped and opened at Hephaistion, his eyes closed so tightly that it looked as if in any moment blood would come out from them, but instead a tear appeared. Alexander touched his cheek, as if afraid of hurting him, and caught the tear between his fingers.

 

- Your skin is softer than I imagine –said the Prince softly, and the page opened his eyes.

 

Alexander moved away and sat on a big root, visible over the dirt. Hephaistion followed him and took a sit at his side. For long time either said a word.

 

- Why didn’t you kiss me? –asked the page at last.

 

- You don’t want me to.

 

- That’s not the point. I gave you my word and I’m going to honor it, I’m not a coward –said Hephaistion firmly.

 

- I know that, but I can’t force you to do something you don’t want to –those words sank deeply into the page’s heart—Besides, next time I kiss you it will be because you asked me to.

 

Hephaistion laughed, a pure, sincere and transparent laugh, that made the Prince smile happily.   

 

- Yeah right, like that’s going to happen—said the page—So, if you are not going to kiss me, what do you want as reward?

 

- Mm…Let me think. I want to talk with you. You know, a real nice chat, as if we were friends –asked Alexander.

 

- I thought you weren’t going to force me into doing something I don’t want to do –the Prince saw him with seriousness improper of a young man of 13 years old.

 

- Is it so terrible to talk to me?

 

- Just kidding, don’t look at me as if I had sentenced you to death. What do you want to talk about? –said page, his elbows on his thighs. 

 

- Do you like living in the royal palace? –Hephaistion opened and closed his mouth, looking like a fish out of the water.

 

- In a way, yes. King Philip’s court is the place where everything happen, besides there live a lot of curious people.

 

- What do you mean by that? –asked Alexander with interest.

 

- Well…

 

Hephaistion gave him his very particular point of view of the real family, being very careful of what he said about his mother and sister; they also talked about the pages and the Somatophylakes, but when the turn came from the Prince’s friends…

 

- I don’t think I should say what I think of them –Alexander couldn’t stop laughing since the page started to talk.

 

- Why not?

 

- They are your friends, I don’t think it would be funny to listen how I destroy their lives –explained the page.

 

- Come on, I promise I won’t get angry.

 

- I don’t believe you, I heard you have an explosive temper.

 

- Who said that? –Alexander was curious to know to whom Hephaistion was talking about him.

 

- Someone –said Hephaistion mysteriously. 

 

- Leon or Perdikkas?

 

- Why should be one of them?

 

- Because they are the only friends in common we have –said Alexander.

 

- Good point.

 

- Come on! Tell me what do you think about my friends? –the Prince pulled him childishly by the arm.

 

- Why do you want to know? –said Hephaistion, stretching his legs to the front.

 

- You are fun.

 

- So, now I’m your buffoon –Hephaistion wanted to sound offended, but fail. He really was having fun with the Prince.

 

- Do you want another reason?

 

- If you may, your royal highness –the page mocked him.

 

- Don’t call me that –suddenly Alexander was serious—I’m not an Asian king.

 

- As you wish… Alexander, please continue.

 

- You are really good judging people –the Prince took him by surprise—Most of the people and easily fool: by someone’s beauty or intelligence. My father is a genius manipulating people in order to obtain what he wants. I always wonder how was that nobody notices they are being used, or maybe they do notice but they also want something from the King. I learned this since I was little. I had been surrounded by ambassadors, mercenaries, generals, nobles, Greek politicians, great orators, completely bullies, artists and self-called artists, and is always the same. When I was 7 years old, I had the opportunity to entertained a Persian embassy that came to discuss the affair of our political refugees Menapis of Egypt, the satrap Artabazus and the Greek mercenary captain Memnon of Rhodes. I asked them everything I could about the Great King Artaxerxes Ochus’ army –he smiled remembering that—I’ll never forget their faces, they never expected to be interrogated like that by a child; no, they couldn’t see more than a mere child and they were tricked by what their eyes saw… Do you understand what I’m saying?

 

- I… think so –said Hephaistion not so sure. Alexander leaned to the front and took him by the arms.

 

- Everybody has something to hide, Hephaistion –said the Prince with a force in his voice that made impossible to contradict him—And at the same time, they let themselves be fooled, that’s why heroes like Achilles exist, because they are not like the rest, because they don’t share the same weaknesses of the rest of the mortals. That’s why they are immortal heroes, that’s why they were born to lead men –for a long moment the page got himself caught by those uneven eyes, the passion in his voice was hypnotic. He talked as if he could be capable of archiving the impossible—I know I’m not like the rest, I know! And I know I can achieve great things and that’s why I get angry when people can’t see beyond their noses, people think so slowly! –he fixed his uneven eyes on the page, who looked at him fascinated—You know…you are the only one who can hold my gaze.

 

- What do you want from me? –asked Hephaistion in a whisper.

 

- You are not like the rest.

 

- You don’t know me –Alexander closed the distance between them, hitting his lips with his breath.

 

- Then let me know you –the intensity of the Prince’s words made him shudder.

              

It was the first time Hephaistion felt defenseless, all the disliked he felt towards Alexander evaporated, the forest melted around them until only the two of them were left, two souls naked and exposed. The page’s heart beat against his throat.  

 

- Please Hephaistion, come with me to Mieza.

 

The page opened his eyes big and round. What did he say? Go to Mieza? To be teach by Aristotle? He had heard Perdikkas talking about that… It was a dream; he was going to leave the palace, to leave the King…

 

- Ale…

 

A noise coming from the bushes made them turned. Someone was there. The Prince shook his head, wanting him to remain silent and then pointed the grass. They laid down completely still. By the shadows they saw, they knew it was a large group heading towards the fortress.

 

- Thracians? –whispered Hephaistion and the Prince nodded—We have to go back.

 

- Follow me.

 

The page never knew how, but Alexander took a hidden path back to the fortress, arriving before the enemy.

 

It was as if a completely different person had taken control over the Prince’s body. Alexander took the command of the fortress and issued orders to defend the place in utterly silence.  

 

- Why don’t you sound the alarm? –asked Hephaistion confused, while the soldiers ran everywhere preparing themselves.

 

- Because I want them to believe they are taking us by surprise –said the Prince quickly, searching the surroundings from the rampart.

 

- What’s happening? –asked Nikandros, running to them without breath, sword in hand.

 

- We are under attack –said Alexander excited. Hephaistion thought he was crazy.

 

Come crawling faster

Obey your master

Your life burns faster

Obey your master

Master

(Metallica. Master of Puppets)

 

 

In a few moments Alexander had the whole garrison on arms. In the confusion nobody asked why was a 13 year old boy giving the orders, but the truth was that he was no longer a 13 year old boy, in that moment he was the God of War, the Bringer of Death, he was undefeatable… he was Achilles. And while the Thracians counted their dead for hundreds, Alexander didn’t lose one man.  

 

I took the life of my first man and the next day the three of us went back to Pella. The soldiers acclaimed Alexander and even I was impressed. When I saw him that night covered in blood, fighting among the soldiers, I knew he would change my life forever.

 

My father gave me a magnificent sword belt when he saw he severed head of my Thracian victim, a belt once own by my great grandfather, or so my father said, and the happiness of my family was even greater when I told them the Crown Prince in person had asked me to go with him to Mieza. I was excited too, I was going to learn from one of the greatest minds of my time and I was going to leave the King…

 

XXX

(1) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 56 

The actual words of Alexander according with Plutarch; someone said to him he was fast enough to run in the Olympics and he replied that. I just changed the context. 

 

I promise next week we’ll have a romantic chapter…