CHAPTER 47

 

Between Gaius Julius Caesar and Vercingetorix.

54 B.C. Gaul

 

‘But you are a King, Caesar! […] You are an Alexander the Great accidentally given power by the electors. After you, it will fall to ashes’ said Vercingetorix.

 

‘No’ said Caesar ‘I’m not an Alexander the Great. All I am is part of Rome’s ongoing pageant […] When Alexander the Great died, Macedon died. His country perished with him. He abjured his Greekness and relocated the navel of his empire because he thought like a King. He was the reason for his country’s greatness. He did what he liked and he went where he liked. He thought like a King, Vercingetorix! He mistook himself for an idea. To make it bear permanent fruit, he would have needed to live forever. Whereas I am the servant of my country. Rome is far greater than any man she produces.’(1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

Those were days of hard work for the Macedonian army, Artorios and his men made double shifts to rebuild the useless catapults and have the rest of the equipment ready to continue the attack on the city. But for the people of Halicarnassus those were days of a blissful peace, without the sound of rocks hitting day and night the walls of their city.

 

As usual, Alexander spent the mornings talking to his men and officers, the afternoons watching the city trying to find it’s weak point and making an effort to put himself in Memnon’s place to see what would he do if he were defending Halicarnassus. The night was for Hephaistion, but sadly not every night; his best friend was very busy with Artorios getting the artillery ready and supervising that the rest of the equipment were position in the right place.

 

- Sire?

 

- Come in, Glycon –said the King and his young page entered his tent. That was the second night Hephaistion couldn’t be with him and Alexander had to eat dinner alone—Did something happened?

 

- I’m sorry to interrupt you, sire –said the boy with all respect—But we found this among your clothes days ago –Glycon gave him a folded paper and then the King remembered the arrow with the note. 

 

- Thank you, Glycon –he took the note—You can leave.

 

- Yes, sire.

 

Alexander heard the page’s paces leaving his tent as he opened the paper. His eyes grew ever larger as he read, and when he finished, he let his arms fall on his lap.

 

Phai’s family is inside Halicarnassus –he said to himself—No, not only Phai’s family, Leon’s too…

 

- Glycon! –the King called him and the page appeared as if he had been waiting to be called—Called Leonnatos, General Hephaistion, his brother Nikandros, Althaimenes and his son Demetrios, tell them is urgent.

 

- Yes sire –and the boy ran to follow his orders.

 

Alexander stood up and walked around like a caged lion. He ran a hand through his hair and cursed.

 

I hope Memnon doesn’t know about this –he said to himself.

 

Shortly after the group was reunited in the King’s tent. They had no idea of why they had been summoned with so much urgency (cousin Demetrios even had the mark of the pillow on his cheek) and Hephaistion was especially intrigued since all his family was there, but he remained silent waiting for the King to explain this sudden meeting.   

 

- I called you all here because I received some information that is of your concern–said Alexander going to the point, he showed them the note and then preceded to read it. It was a very simple note written in Macedonian, in case it was intercepted:

 

Alex,

 

We are inside Helicarnassus,

we came weeks ago from Macedonia.

Grandpa, Nety, and the children are with me.

 

Eni

 

When he finished reading his audience was very still and silent. Nobody could believe what they had just heard, especially Leonnatos.

 

- My father and my niece with her slave and children are inside Halicarnassus –said uncle Althaimenes slowly, as if each word were hard to pronounce.

 

- According to the note, yes –said Alexander, giving the note to his best friend.

 

- But…that’s impossible –said Leonnatos without voice.

 

- The note can be a trap –said cousin Demetrios, but Hephaistion shook his head.

 

- A note written in Macedonian with all those nicknames? –asked Nikandros, his arms crossed—Only Eni could have written something like that.

 

- Besides –said Hephaistion—This is her handwriting.

 

Leonnatos took the note.

 

- He is right –he said, his worst fears becoming true—But, why are they in Halicarnassus? Could they have been kidnapped? And how did you get this note? –he asked the King, speaking very fast. 

 

- I was shoot at our last battle and the arrow had this note attached –explained Alexander.

 

- What now? –asked cousin Demetrios, as worried as Leonnatos, thick sweat drops were visible on his forehead.

 

- We can’t help them in our current situation –said Alexander, running a hand throw his hair—I have the feeling they are all right, but we have no way of contacting them or to get them out of the city, and if we attract so much attention trying to find them, we could drag Memnon’s attention, and I don’t have to tell you how much he likes taking hostages –it didn’t passed unnoticed for Hephaistion the especial emphasis he made in his last words— For the moment we can’t do a thing for them.

 

Those were harsh words but no one thought badly of him. They knew he loved their family as if it were his own, and he was right, there was nothing they could do at the moment to help them, just pray for their safety.

 

XXX

 

Next day Leonnatos kept thinking over and over again about the note, he couldn’t concentrate on his duties but nobody blame him. Perdikkas heard about the situation and in less than one morning all the hetaioi cavalry knew about Leonnatos’ family being inside the city. The constant shooting of the artillery started again, hitting the walls with dangerous precision; Leonnatos prayed that no one of those missiles would reach his family.

 

That tremendous noise –thought Leonnatos, worried—My kids must be terrified.

 

When the night fell he couldn’t stop watching the breach on the walls, it was so simple, and an idea started in his mind, nobody was expecting an attack, he could take a cavalry squadron and enter the city under the cover of darkness.

 

Why not? –thought Leonnatos, feeling a burning desire in his heart—I’ll do it, I can do it and I can take my family out before the mercs know what’s happening.

 

XXX

 

Alexander was reading in his tent, but just couldn’t concentrate. He kept thinking about that night, still feeling Hephaistion’s hands over him, his wet kisses crawling over his skin…he shook his head when he felt his face burning. He hadn’t lied, he had enjoyed a lot having his best friend playing the dominant part in bed, but... was it right? After all he was the King, he was Achilles and he was the one who was going to conquer the world, was it right to feel so good when he was not in control of things? 

 

Maybe that was precisely why he had like so much letting Hephaistion do as he pleased with him, because he was always in control and for some precious moments he could abandon himself at the mercy of someone else...it had been refreshing being able to forget about all his responsibilities as the leader of the army, to forget that burden. He had felt so…good, so calm after that, not to mention that had been incredible hot.

 

Oh, I’m sick for being thinking like a masochist –thought Alexander when he heard the familiar sound of a battle outside.

 

Could be the mercenaries? He stood up and hurried to see what was happening, but on his way out he found Ptolemy and his friend explained before he could ask:   

 

- It’s Leon; he took a cavalry squadron and tried to enter the city through the breach on the walls –Alexander’s eyes shone with anger, all his previous meditations completely forgotten.

 

- That fool! –he exclaimed. He saw one of his pages—Bring me my horse. Ptolemy, look for Kleitos and tell him to assemble the Ile Basilike.

 

Leonnatos attack proved to be the worst decision he could make, when he tried to storm into the city he found an inner curtain-wall, he couldn’t advance more and soon the mercenaries came to attack the small the squadron. The Macedonian squadron had several casualties and as if that wasn’t enough now Alexander had to talk with Memnon to ask him for permission to recover his dead, it had been a miracle that Leonnatos managed to escape along with almost all his men alive.

 

I don’t think I have to say that Alexander was furious at the prospect of talking face to face with Memnon. They have never met and after all the things that happened between us, my King had to ask the same man that had kidnapped me for permission to bury his dead. Poor Leonnatos was very lucky that Alexander loved him, if not he wouldn’t be alive to tell the tale.

 

- Alexander, if you want I can talk with Memnon –said Kleitos, he didn’t know the full story but he did know his King hated the Greek mercenary.

 

- No, this is something I have to do –said the King while Glycon helped him to strap his breastplate. Alexander was calm, contrary of what Kleitos and Hephaistion had expected, he truly wanted to know what kind of man was Memnon and he had also learned his lesson: to keep a cold head. 

 

- Then I’ll go with you –said Kleitos but the King refused again, this was something he had to do alone.

 

XXX

 

Alexander and Memnon rode to each other in front of the principal gate of Halicarnassus. Memnon had asked that the Macedonian army should go back a few steps from the city to talk with the King. The mercenary’s archers were ready on the city walls and Alexander’s escort kept their distance to let the 2 commanders talk alone.

 

Alexander looked every inch the King he was, riding on Boukephalos, his golden crown on his blond head wearing the royal purple. He looked older with that powerful aura surrounding him. Memnon for his part was in his best armor, his pale blue eyes on the Macedonian and the helmet on his head.

 

So, this is the man who owns your heart, Hephaistion –thought the mercenary. Alexander was young, handsome and brilliant, he could understand why Hephaistion loved him, and, in that moment, while he saw the King riding slowing to where he was, he felt jealous, jealous of this young man who had everything to have the world at his feet.

 

The King stopped his horse a few paces from Memnon and for a long moment no one spoke. Boukephalos kicked the ground moving his head, his dark-red mane was like blood, sliding to the front.

 

This is Memnon? He has nothing spectacular, Phai –thought Alexander, even if he was feeling that monster called jealousy burning in his chest. It was clear even from Mt. Olympus that the mercenary was a great commander and a powerful man.

 

- Hail, King of the Macedonians –said Memnon after a very uncomfortable silence.

 

- Hail, General –said Alexander too serious, he was at a disadvantage here, he was younger than the mercenary and also more inexperienced. But he didn’t show his insecurities—I come to ask for a truce in order to recover my dead after last night’s battle –right to the point, he didn’t plan to ask Memnon for a cup of tea and talk all afternoon about each other’s life.

 

- A fair request –said the mercenary nodding—With one condition.

 

The King lifted an eyebrow. He didn’t like this.

 

- Which is…?

 

- You will send Hephaistion to negotiate this with me.

 

- Excuse me? –all right, now he was getting angry. He had tried to be a civilize man but this was too much.

 

- You heard me; you want your dead then send Hephaistion –said Memnon again, with an air of superiority that started to be annoying for the King. 

 

- I.Will.Not –said Alexander firmly.

 

- Why not? –asked Memnon calmly, as if they were talking about the weather—He is one of your officers, is he not? Send him with a small squadron, let’s say 80 men, and you can bury your dead.

 

Alexander thought many things in one moment, and he seriously considered the possibility of drawing his sword and stabbed Memnon right there like a maniac…but at the end he smiled. Why was he angry? After all Hephaistion loved him, he was with him and when all of these were over he was going to return at his side.

 

- Fine –he said, as if he was a God passing judgment on a mortal, and that took the mercenary by surprised—I’ll send Hephaistion with 80 men to retrieve my dead.

 

The King turned and rode back to his army.

 

- Phai! –he called his best friend, as soon as he was back—Take 80 pezetairoi and go to Halicarnassus to retrieve our dead.

 

- Yes, Alexander –Hephaistion didn’t understand what had happened between the King and the mercenary but that wasn’t the right moment to ask.

 

Hephaistion did as he was told. He chose his group of pezetairoi and went to the city. Memnon had ordered the archers to retreat and the zone that the night before had been Leonnatos doom, now looked as peaceful as a cemetery. Some birds of prey had gathered at the scene and began to prowl the bodies of the Macedonians. It was a terrible spectacle and Hephaistion didn’t want to spend more time there than was absolutely necessary.

 

The men did the job quickly, and the Macedonian General helped them in any way he could.

 

- You look well –said Memnon, walking to where Hephaistion was supervising the pezetaioi work, among the debris of the previous battle.

 

- I am well –said the Macedonian smiling, he couldn’t help it. He brushed his hair back.

 

The mercenary closed the distance between them, and stopped his lips inches from Hephaistion’s hair.

 

- Have you been thinking of me? –he asked in a whispered, enjoying his sweet smell of chamomile—Because I have been thinking a lot about you.

 

The Macedonian moved away slowly and turned to see him.

 

- You never give up, don’t you? –he said in a playful tone—Let me guess, you were the one who asked Alexander to send me to retrieve our dead, isn’t that right?

 

- I wanted to see you –that was a sincere answer. For a long moment Hephaistion just stared at him, many things crossed him mind in that moment. He remembered the kisses they had shared, the image of Barsine sleeping at Alexander’s side, the conversation he and Alexander had…everything that had happened in the last days was spinning inside his head when he saw the mercenary.

 

But then he remembered his grandfather; his sister and her kids and he started thinking in the possibility of asking the mercenary to let him looked for his family. He knew Memnon wouldn’t refuse but…

 

He is going to ask me for something in return –thought the Macedonian—Besides, what would he do with that information?

 

- Why are you staring at me like that? –asked Memnon with curiosity.

 

- You are an honorable man –he said after a long silence.

 

- I like to think that…do you want to ask for something? –asked the mercenary, crossing his arms.

 

- Yes, but give me your word that you are not going to do anything funny with the information I’m going to give you –Hephaistion was very serious.

 

- “Something funny?” –Memnon repeated amused—You have my word.

 

Hephaistion took a deep breath.

 

- My grandfather and my sister are in here, in Halicarnassus –said the Macedonian successfully surprising him.

 

- Interesting, why are you telling me this? –Memnon could think many reasons of why the Macedonian was sharing with him this piece of information, but he wanted to hear it from him.

 

- Because I don’t want that they come to any harm.

 

- And how do you know I’m not going to use them in my advantage? –Memnon was testing him, he truly wanted to know what the Macedonian thought about him. He would never admit that aloud but Hephaistion’s opinion was very important for him.

 

Hephaistion smiled.

 

- I know.

 

Memnon sighed.

 

- I’ll look for them but I can’t promise that I will send them to the Macedonian camp.

 

- Thank you.

 

- Thank you? That’s all? I don’t even get a kiss –Hephaistion approached him and kissed his cheek, sending shivers through the mercenary’s body. But that kiss was so soft and quick that it was ended before Memnon could start enjoying it.

 

XXX

 

- Lykaon!

 

- Yes, General –Thais’ father ran at Memnon’s side while he was heading to a meeting with Orontobates, and the 2 Athenians: Ephialtes and Thrasybulus. They were having a war council to discuss what to do with the Macedonians.

 

- Lykaon, Hephaistion’s family is here in Halicarnassus –said Memnon quickly—His grandfather and sister.

 

Thais’ father nodded.

 

- You want me to look for them.

 

- Exactly. Ask in the port about the people who entered the city just before the siege, especially those who came from Greece and Macedonia –said the General. 

 

- I’ll see to it right now.

 

Memnon, Orontobates, Ephialtes and Thrasybulus made a very clever plan. They decided to take the initiative and they picked 2,000 men, the very best of their troops, and divided them in 2 groups: the first group set fire to our siege equipment during the night, and of course Alexander responded immediately to this threat…

 

- Not again –said Perdikkas, watching the fire eating the wood of their artillery with voracious hunger.

 

Alexander organized in record time his taxeis to stop the attack and at the same time he put Koinos in charge of fighting the fire. He would not let Memnon to mock him twice with the same trick, this time he was going to teach him a lesson he wasn’t going to forget.

 

- Where is Ptolemaios? –asked the King, mounted on Boukephalos.

 

- I’m here, Alexander –Ptolemaios was in charge of the Agema of the hypaspist, the elite group of the infantry. 

 

- Take the Agema to the front and crush the mercenaries –said the King—I will lead the Ile Basilike to surround them.

 

- Yes, Alexander –Ptolemaios rode back to his men ready to follow his orders and not left any mercenary alive.

 

And what about the second mercenary group, you ask. Well, Memnon waited until the phalanx had engaged battle and then gave the order for his second force to attack. They came out from Halicarnassus’ front gate, but not only that…

 

- Holy Mother #%&/ With %&/# On top! –exclaimed Leonnatos when he saw a wooden tower of 15 feet high coming out the gates. Each platform bristling with artillery and javelin-men (2)

 

Death is all around us and my heart is beating weaker

Fight the day with power of immortal souls arise

Fire in our hearts the evil rages on forever more

Burning until the battle rage is gone

(Dragonforce, Storming The Burning Fields)

 

Alexander frowned. He knew the wooden tower would shoot merciless over his men; his mind was racing looking for a way out when he heard the deafening shouting of thousands of throats. Halicarnassus gates opened again and this time Memnon launched his Persian infantry reserves and the King found himself attacked on all sides. He was just about to lose the fight.

 

Alexander’s heart beat faster. He was going to lose to Memnon, he couldn’t take it, he would not accept it…The King took the reins of his horse and tried to move forward, he would lead the attack from the front, even if all seen to be in vain. 

 

XXX

 

- We won, Memnon –said Orontobates with a giant smile on his face, standing at his side from the city walls.

 

The mercenary returned the smiled, until he saw another taxei of pezetairoi joining the battle. But…who in the name of Ares’ were these men?

 

XXX

 

The situation was getting worst. Hephaistion showed what he was capable of killing every man who dared to stand in his way, always at the right side of his King watching over him like a guardian angel, and angel of death. No one could approached the Macedonian King and around him was formed a path of dead bodies and blood, a macabre reminder that only a painful death awaited the foolish man who tried to harm him.  

 

Hephaistion’s long hair was sliding through his shoulders, he didn’t like to fight with his helmet on, and a vicious bloodstain that looked like a claw mark was covering his face and one of his eyes.

 

Soon none of the enemies wanted to approach him, and kept a safe distance as if he were a dangerous beast.

 

- What’s wrong with you, lads? –shouted Lykaon, near of where Hephaistion was fighting—You should be ashamed of being afraid of one man?

 

Thais’ father knew how strong was the Macedonian, he knew the interest his General had in him, but he wasn’t going to stay there watching his men died under his swords and doing nothing.

 

I’m sorry General –thought Lykaon, running to where Hephaistion was his spear ready to kill the Macedonian.

 

Hephaistion stopped two shots at high speed when he felt someone coming behind him. He turned quickly and dodged Lykaon’s blow. Thais’ father moved before the Macedonian could attack him and killed his horse. The poor animal let out a plaintive whinny before falling. Hephaistion jumped and before Lykaon could noticed, he pierced his shoulder with his two swords.

 

- Alexander! –shouted Philotas, his voice was barely audible over the din of the battle —It’s my father! It’s my father with the veterans!

 

True enough, Parmelio lead Philip’s veterans into the battle, men who were exempt of fighting thanks to their many years on the battlefield and with them the Macedonians were able to push the Persians back.

 

It was chaos, the Persians panicked and in their flight they crushed their own men. It was a disaster and the Athenian commander Ephialtes got himself killed in that orgy of blood.

 

- Sound the retreat! –said Alexander and Philotas turned to see him as if he had lost his mind.

 

- Why? We won, we got them, we can…

 

- I said –the King raised his voice—Sound the retreat!

 

That was enough for one day and it was already dark. The King knew when was enough and he didn’t want to press his luck.

 

XXX

 

- We have no other choice –said Orontobates that night.

 

The atmosphere inside that room was a gloomy one. Memnon clenched his jaw; they had been so close to victory, so close… and not only that, he had no idea where was Lykaon. He had been fighting at the side of Ephialtes and the mercenary feared that his trustful friend was dead, even if nobody had found his body.

 

- I agree –said the General at last—We must leave the city.

 

- What about the equipment? –asked Thrasybulus, he was tired and looked very pale. He was still in shock unable to believe they had lost; it was insane they had been so close to victory and if he hadn’t been there he would believe what had happened.

 

- We can’t take all the equipment with us –said Memnon, leaning to the front—What we can’t take we’ll burn, it’s better that leave the boy King with the armories full.

 

Orontobates shook his head, he looked older, as if he had aged 10 years in one day.

 

- A pity…when do we leave? –he asked.

 

- As soon as the ships are ready –said Memnon.  

 

XXX

 

- Grandpa! –Berenike shouted, from the house door. She had been hearing a lot of noise outside and went to look what was happening—Look! The north part of the city is burning.

 

Grandfather Demeterios came running.

 

- Zeus, Hades and Poseidon! –exclaimed her grandfather, seeing that impressive sight.

 

- What’s happening?

 

Demetrios felt silent.

 

- I was asking about yesterday’s battle –he said in a low voice, he had seen part of the battle from the city walls, feeling his soul burning in desire of being there to fight too and, for what he heard from one of the mercenaries, things had been pretty bad for the Persian side—Memnon has many casualties and can’t kept defending the city. My best guess is he is leaving the city and burning anything that could be useful to Alexander…I would do that in his place.

 

- The siege is coming to an end? But those are good news, right? –said Berenike not understanding her grandfather’s gloomy face.

 

He felt the wind changing, and that was very bad news, that meant the fire would be spreading to the city putting them in danger.

 

- Get Netikerty and the children.

 

- But…

 

- NOW!

 

Berenike didn’t ask more and entered the house to do as she was told.

 

XXX

 

The fire was visibly from the Macedonian camp but there was nothing they could do to stop it. Alexander saw with his jaw clenched how Memnon escaped with the Persian fleet, the ships in perfect formation getting away from Halicarnassus.

 

- What do you want to do? –asked Hephaistion at his side, the wind was blowing ashes from the city covering everything in that gray day.

 

- What else? We are entering the city –said the King smiling.

 

Alexander gave explicit orders that the citizens of Halicarnassus should be treated with respect and he prohibited any plundering, after all Halicarnassus was the city of his now adoptive mother Queen Ada.

 

XXX

 

The city was merged in a complete anarchy; people were running away from the fire taking with them all their valuable positions. It was extremely difficult to walk and grandfather Demetrios, Berenike and Netikerty had to carry each one a child to protect them from being crushed under that stampede of people.

 

It was quite an achievement to walk through these narrow streets; grandfather Demetrios was in the front carrying Amyntas to open a path for the women, Berenike followed him carrying Sophia and finally came the terrified Netikerty with Achilles.

 

An enormous man carrying 2 little girls on his shoulders and what looked like a table ran near them, he crashed against Netikerty and she fell on her knees; Achilles had to jump not to fall too. Grandfather Demetrios took Netikerty’s arm to pull her up but when Achilles tried to get closer to his family, the tide of people dragged him away like a dry leaf at the mercy of the wind.

 

- AKI!!! –shouted Berenike hysterically and grandfather Demetrios tried to go after him, but the force of the mob was overwhelming as soon he lost the boy.

 

XXX

 

The Macedonian army entered the city for the citizens utterly dismay, they expected to be punished for resisting against the power of the Macedonian King and found themselves happily disappointed when they received nothing more than a respectful treatment.

 

Hephaistion lead a small cavalry squadron across the city, trying his best not to crash anybody under the hooves of his white stallion. Luckily he wasn’t mounting Alastor the day of the battle, he liked a lot his horse since he was a gift from his dear King. So far things had gone without major problems but then, he saw a terrified little boy standing at the middle of the street directly in the path of the pezetairoi.

 

He didn’t think twice, he dismounted and ran to remove the child from the way, carrying him in his arms. He was a small boy or 2 or 3 years old, tall, thin, white skin and gold-bronze hair, he was crying while grabbing the edge of his cloak. Thick, fat tears were in the corner of his closed eyes, trapped among his long eyelashes.

 

- Where is your mother? –asked Hephaistion in Greek, he was sure the boy wasn’t Persian and in Halicarnassus lived many Greek citizens—You shouldn’t be here alone.

 

The boy shook his head sobbing.

 

- I-I-I…don’t have…mother… —he sobbed speaking in Macedonian, which took Hephaistion by surprise. Could he be the son of one of the Macedonian renegades who were with Memnon?

 

- Don’t cry –Hephaistion cleaned the boy’s face and when he lifted his big and puffy eyes left the General without breath. He had uneven eyes just like Alexander—What’s your name?

 

- A-Achilles.

 

- Who is your father?

 

Grandfather Demetrios came running after following Achilles the best way he could, but he stopped abruptly when he saw Hephaistion carrying him. Berenike came after him with Netikerty close to her, but he stopped her granddaughter taking her by the arm.

 

- What’s happening, grandpa? –grandfather Demetrios pointed to the front and Berenike gasped, making his brother turned.

 

- Grandpa?! –exclaimed Hephaistion with a big smile, almost running to where they were—Eni? You are fine.

 

The General put the boy on the ground and embraced his family tightly. He felt a great relief watching them safe and sound, after so long. 

 

- It’s good to see you, son –said Demetrios, returning the smiled and patting his shoulder—You look good, are you training like I told you?

 

- Of course, grandpa –said Hephaistion extremely happy—Why are you dressed like a boy, Eni?

 

- I’m disguised –she corrected him, too happy to be offended by her brother’s tone—It’s a looong story.

 

Achilles pulled Berenike’s chiton, his eyes on Hephaistion.

 

- Uncle Eni, do you know him? –he asked and Hephaistion frowned.

 

- Uncle?

 

- Em…er… —Berenike turned to look at her grandfather asking silently for help, and grandfather Demetrios scratched his head.

 

- What’s happening here? – asked Hephaistion, changing his gaze from his grandfather to his sister.

 

- Phai…d-do you…do you r-remember… when you sleep with…? –Berenike started to stammer, she was very nervous. During their travel by ship she had been thinking the best way to explain her brother that he had a son, but now, seeing him standing there in front of her, she had no idea of what to say.

 

- You have a son –said grandfather Demetrios going to the point.

 

- …

 

- …

 

- What? –asked Hephaistion as if he didn’t understood his words.

 

- With Cloe –explained Berenike, her hands shaking uncontrollably. Her brother just stared at them as if they were insane.

 

- Who is he? –insisted Achilles when the adults felt silent.

 

Berenike took him by the hand and kneeled at his side.

 

- He is your father, Aki.

 

XXX

(1) Colleen McCullough. Caesar, p 121

(2) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 198

 

Finally! Hephaistion met his son! :D