CHAPTER 49

 

Between Lucius Cornelius Sulla and his son.

90 BC Cilicia

 

‘We couldn’t have beaten him, could we?’ They were standing atop the watchtower by the main gate, which looked north to the camp of King Mithridates.

 

‘Yes, of course we could have!’ said Sulla heartily ‘[…] He is packing up and leaving for one reason only –because he knows we would have won. A bit of a backwoods hayseed our Mithridates might be, but he can recognize military excellence and a better man when he sees them, even though it is for the first time […] The only role-model these eastern potentates have is Alexander the Great, who by Roman military standards is hopelessly outdated’(1)

 

 

-o-o-o-

 

As Alexander had said, Hephaistion felt much better next day. He woke up before dawn, after sleeping for only 4 hours, his night had been terrible, not just because the constant interruptions, but also because he had too many things buzzing inside his head. Alexander used to say he thought too much. Maybe that was true but he couldn’t help it. And seeing his situation and all the things that had changed in his life from one day to another, he was surprised and grateful to be able to sleep at least 4 hours. 

 

He yawned, his day had started quite well… or that was it until his brother appeared in his tent.

 

- You have a son! –exclaimed Nikandros. He came in, throwing back the flaps of the tent with force, a strong beam of light hit Hephaistion’s face making him half close his eyes, and his brother entered as if he owned the place.

 

- And you have no manners –said Hephaistion, drinking a cup with water.

 

- With Cleopatra! You dog! –his brother laughed, walking around like a child with an overdose of sugar—I would have never expected that from you.

 

- I can imagine –Hephaistion muttered, watching his brother taking a seat—What are you doing?

 

- I want to hear the details –said Nikandros without shame, leaning to the front—Cleopatra! Let me tell you, you have good taste; she has these big pair of…

 

- Oh, bite me! –Hephaistion took his cloak; he didn’t have (and didn’t want) to stay listening to his brother, and he was about to leave when…

 

- Daddy, where are you going…? –Achilles came running barefoot and wearing only a thin robe; but when he saw the stranger in the tent, he fell silent and moved towards his father, taking the edge of his chiton. He was scared of strangers.

 

Nikandros stared at the boy with curiosity, and Hephaistion wished the earth would swallow him in that moment.

 

- Gee, by all the Gods! Phai, you didn’t have a son with Cleopatra, you have a son with Alexander –said his brother laughing—Does the King know he is a father now?

 

- You are not funny, and yes, he knows about him –said Hephaistion narrowing his eyes. Achilles pulled his clothes.

 

- Daddy, who is he? –asked the boy with curiosity.

 

- I’m your uncle Nikandros –he said, still very impressed by the likeness of the boy with the King. 

 

- Oh… —Achilles made a pause, but then he remembered what Nanny had said about manners— Nice to meet you –said the boy politely in a low voice, still hiding behind his father—Nanny told me about you.

 

- Nanny?

 

- Mom –explained Hephaistion—Kyros!

 

- He is sleeping –said Achilles.

 

- And why are you up so early? –asked Hephaistion.

 

- I don’t want to sleep any more –he explained simply. 

 

- Right –now Hephaistion had no idea of what to do with him.

 

- Aren’t we going to ride? –asked Achilles.

 

- What?

 

- You said we were going to ride today.

 

Then Hephaistion started to remember what had happened the night before, and sighed.

 

- All right, get dress and I’ll take you now –the boy happily jumped but just stared at him—What?

 

- Nety always dresses me –Nikandros laughed truly amused seeing Hephaistion’s face.

 

- You know Phai, I don’t envy you –he stood up and patted his brother’s shoulder—Good luck!            

 

- Where are you going? –but what he really wanted to say was: “don’t leave me”

 

- To see grandpa –he said before leaving.

 

Hephaistion had no idea of what to do, so he carried Achilles and decided to look for his sister. He found her in Leonnatos’ tent with Netikerty and her children. The first thing he heard was a rebuke from his sister for taking the boy out in that cold morning without socks and a cloak.

 

- He can catch a cold –said his sister, giving Achilles to Netikerty.

 

- Eni is not that cold –Hephaistion couldn’t see why the fuss.

 

- Aki is a little boy, Phai –Berenike insisted—They get sick easily.

 

Her brother puffed out.

 

- Joy to you, Phai! –said Leonnatos when his eyes settled on Achilles and he said exactly the same as Nikandros– By Artemis! He could be Alexander’s son –Leonnatos saw the boy with curiosity, and that started to bother Hephaistion, Achilles was a child not an exotic animal.

 

- So I have been told –the General muttered, taking a seat.

 

- So? –asked an extremely happy Berenike, while Netikerty took care of Achilles—What do you think of Aki? Isn’t he sweet?

 

- He didn’t let me sleep last night, he was talking about…his travel by sea and I don’t know what else –Hephaistion complained.

 

- Phai –Berenike took a seat at his side—He is 3 years old and mom has told him so much about you that he was very excited to meet you; you can’t blame him.

 

- I don’t…–he made a pause to reconsider his words—I don’t know how to take care of him, that’s all.

 

- Why don’t you buy a female slave? –asked Leonnatos, he truly didn’t see what was the problem here. Men didn’t take care of children, that were women’s work, and if his friend didn’t have a wife then he just had to buy a slave. As simple as that. 

 

Hephaistion kept silent. He didn’t know how to explain that he didn’t like to have so many servants with him, didn’t like to have slaves and didn’t want to leave his son all day with a stranger that wasn’t even his family. His mother had taken good care of Hephaistion when he was little, superbly good care. His father wasn’t always at home, but every time he could he took Hephaistion with him to his travels, grandfather Demetrios had always been there…how could he think in giving his son less than the basic? He couldn’t do that and that was precisely what had him so preoccupied.  

 

I’m screw –thought Hephaistion. He didn’t know how to take care of a 3 years old boy, but he didn’t want that his son would be raised by a servant.

 

- I’ll think about it –he said at last, just to avoid the subject.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion took Achilles to ride on Alastor while he attended his duties with the army. Of course that dragged too much attention and more than one asked him who was the boy. Maybe that hadn’t been a very good idea, but when he saw how excited was Achilles, asking him about everything, he couldn’t avoid smiling. Achilles was a very curious boy, and soon Hephaistion found he enjoyed explaining everything to him.

 

They arrived at the city, it looked like an animal skeleton, many houses were burned and the charred remains stood as a silent witness of the terrible fire that struck the night before. It wasn’t a nice place for a kid, but he had things to do there and Achilles refused to stay with Kyros.

 

Hephaistion found Alexander with a group of officers at the harbor and there he dismounted and took Achilles by the hand. Now, with the sunlight, Hephaistion could see his child more clearly and, reluctantly had to admit that his brother and Leonnatos were right: he looked a lot like Alexander, and that thought began to give birth to his father's love.

 

- Are you sure, Alexander? –Hephaistion heard Eumenes asking when he approached.

 

- Absolutely, Queen Ada will be the new satrap of Caria to replace Orontobates –said the King—Ptolemy, you will stay here with a force of 3,000 mercenaries and 200 cavalry, you will finish any resistance left in this area.  

 

Ptolemy nodded. Thais would be delighted with the idea of settling for a while in one place. Speaking of which, he hadn’t seen the hetaira, maybe she was still looking for her father among the wounded. Yes, now even Ptolemy knew about her father, and he didn’t blame her for “using” him to come to Asia. He truly liked Thais, and was happy to be able to help her. 

 

- Koinos –said the King then—I have an assignment for you and your brother Kleander…a happy assignment –he said smiling.

 

- May I ask what kind of assignment or it would be a surprise? –asked Parmelio’s son-in-law. 

 

- You and your brother are going to escort to Macedonia all the newly married men. You are going to spend the winter at home –said Alexander and the rumors started immediately among his officers.

 

- That’s most gracious of you –said Koinos, failing miserably in hiding the excitement that such news gave him. After all he had been married only for a couple of months before coming to Asia.

 

- Don’t thank me yet; I require something else from you.

 

- Name it.

 

- I need fresh reinforcements from Macedonia and the Peloponnese –Alexander continued—And I expect you back in Gordium at spring.

 

- And so it will be, Alexander –said Koinos, too happy that the King could have asked him to bring Zeus’ thunder and he would have accepted.

 

- Parmelio –said Alexander— I will divide the army and I want you to take the Thessalian cavalry, the allied contingents and the baggage train, including my siege equipment, to the north as far as Sardis. I want you to fight against the tribes of the central Anatolian plateau.

 

- It will be done –said the old General.

 

- And what about you? –asked Kleitos.

 

- We are going eastward into Lycia and Pamphylia, to take control of the coast and to immobilize the Persians’ fleet –Alexander explained.

 

- Sounds like a good plan –said Perdikkas nodding.

 

- Alexander –said Parmelio, and by the tone he used to pronounce his name, the King knew he was going to ask for something—Ptolemaios, the officer in charge of the Agema of the hypaspists, died yesterday after the fatal wounds he suffered at the hands of the mercenaries in our last battle.

 

- I’m aware of that –said Alexander, suddenly very serious, he knew what Parmelio was going to ask and he didn’t like it. Parmelio wanted to put another of his men in that important position but the King had other plans.

 

- A great lost, he was a very capable officer –said Parmelio politely—But we are going to need someone to lead the Agema.

 

The King nodded and pretended to meditate the whole thing, as if he hadn’t thought about these days ago, since he heard about Ptolemaios’ condition.

 

- You are right –Parmelio smiled, but when he was going to open his mouth to propose a name—Hephaistion! –he called his best friend making him jumped, Hephaistion hadn’t expected to be called in the middle of that conversation—You are going to be in charge of the Agema.

 

- Yes, Alexander –he answered automatically, but inside he was in shocked. He? In charge of the hypaspist? In a few days he would be 23 years old. Just 23! And would be in charge of the elite infantry troops? He felt his heart beating hard against his chest (2)

 

Parmelio swallowed his anger and said nothing. Eumenes sneered, he had always known that Hephaistion did as he pleased with the King, the damn son of a bad mother every day was more beautiful, and for what the secretary saw, when Hephaistion was in Memnon’s hands, the King was crazy for him, obsessed just like his father before him.

 

That lad put a spell on the King –thought Eumenes angry. For him, Hephaistion was a spoilt, spiteful, overbearing and fundamentally stupid (3) and the only reason why he was treated with so many considerations was because of his looks. Period.

 

- Alexander –said Eumenes, unable to restrain himself—Ptolemaios was also part of the Somatophylakes, the right thing to do is to have another Somatophylax to take his place. 

 

- I couldn’t agree more with you –said the King smiling, he settled his uneven eyes on his best friend—Hephaistion, you are now a Somatophylax.

 

His officers gasped at the same time, as if they had rehearsed. Eumenes felt a knot in his stomach. Hephaistion just saw Alexander with eyes as round as the moon. He knew the King wanted to name him a Somatophylax, but he never expected it to be so soon. 

 

Philotas twisted his lip. He was perpetually angry and jealous, seeing that the relationship between him and the King each day was stronger. And now, not only that, now Hephaistion had a superior rank than HE, he who was Parmelio’s son and a more capable commander than Hephaistion. 

 

- Alexander –said Philotas slowly, making a great effort to conceal his feelings—Hephaistion is only 22 years old, he is too young to be a Somatophylax.

 

- My same age, Philotas. Or are you saying I’m too young to be a King? –Philotas decided to bit his tongue.

 

Krateros was beyond fury. For him, Hephaistion was nothing more than a beautiful face; an unpleasant, jealous individual (4). He wasn’t going to let this pass so easily.

 

- HIM?! –he exclaimed, so loud that Achilles, hidden behind his father,  jumped—Hephaistion has never before commanded infantry troops. Why him? 

 

- Because I say so –said Alexander firmly. Krateros clicked his tongue angrily, but then his eyes settled on Achilles.

 

- What’s that? –he asked in a harsh tone, successfully dragging the group’s attention to the boy.

 

Hephaistion frowned; he didn’t like his tone, and was in a touchy mood after hearing so many attacks directed to him.

 

- “That” is my son –that surprised them even more than his promotion.

 

Krateros saw Achilles with his eyes wide opened, for his likeness with Alexander; and the boy hid pulling Hephaistion’s cloak over him, that big General scared him.

 

- I see –said Krateros suddenly—Now I understand, you are promoted because you somehow managed to give birth the King's sons.

 

Hephaistion would have punched Krateros and leave him unconscious again, if Achilles had not been embracing him. He just gave him a very nasty look.

 

- Enough! –said Alexander, raising his voice—That would be all for now, you all have orders gentlemen.

 

Parmelio and Philotas left first, Eumenes shook his head and went to attend his duties. Krateros held Hephaistion’s gaze a little longer and then walked away, Koinos practically ran to tell his brother the news and Ptolemy and Perdikkas approached their friend, followed by a very curious Kleitos.

 

- You have a son? –exclaimed Ptolemy, still in shock.

 

- With whom? –asked Perdikkas.

 

- With…someone –said Hephaistion mysteriously, it would be dangerous is everybody knew the son that Cleopatra tried to kill, was with the army in Asia.

 

- Someone? Lad, if I didn’t know it’s impossible I would swear you have a son with Alexander –said Kleitos, embarrassing him.

 

- He is my nephew –said the King walking to them.

 

Kleitos whistled.

 

- You slept with a Macedonian Princess? –exclaimed Ptolemy, seeing Hephaistion under a new light.

 

- Which one? –asked the 3 men at the same time.

 

- That’s none of your business –said Hephaistion, his cheeks slightly pink. 

 

XXX

 

- Why did you tell them my son is your nephew? –asked Hephaistion when he, the boy and the King were walking alone through the almost deserted street of Halicarnassus.

 

- Phai, be honest with me, do you really think they wouldn’t guessed in time? –said Alexander, watching Achilles walking very silently hand in hand with his father. For what Hephaistion was noticing his son was very shy around strangers—You didn’t tell me he looks a lot like me.

 

- I didn’t notice, I was in shock after hearing I have a son –said Hephaistion in a low voice, he didn’t want Achilles to hear.  

 

- What’s his name? –asked Alexander, stopping near a tree that miraculously had survive the fire. Then his best friend realized he hadn’t introduced them.

 

Hephaistion pulled softly Achilles’ arm to attract his attention.

 

- Why don’t you tell the King your name? –Achilles saw Alexander, then his father and shook his head, hiding again behind him. Hephaistion sighed—You will have to get use to the King –he said softly—He is your uncle.

 

His uncle… I haven’t thought that until now but it’s true –said Hephaistion to himself—My son is his nephew –and that thought made him very happy. 

 

Achilles poked his head out from behind his legs.

 

- He is your brother? –asked the boy making Alexander smile.

 

- Er…no. He is your…mother’s brother –Hephaistion’s words confused Achilles, until that moment nobody had mention his mother and he was so busy imagining his father that he didn’t bother. Besides, he had Nanny; he didn’t need a mother.

 

In that moment Hephaistion understood how much Achilles needed him. His own mother wanted to kill him, he would never know what was to have a mother like Antigone; and he was all Achilles had.

 

And I’m behaving like a coward –he thought.

 

Alexander bent over in front of the boy.

 

- My name is Alexander, what’s yours? –he asked softly and Achilles watched his feet.

 

- Achilles.

 

- That’s an excellent name; you don’t like it? –the boy moved his head up and down—Do you know who was Achilles? –the boy shook his head from side to side. The King lifted his head to see his best friend—You have a lot to do about this.  

 

- I know…Aki –the boy turned to see him—When someone asks your name you don’t answer Achilles.

 

The boy frowned.

 

- But that’s my name.

 

- Yes, but what I mean is…when people ask my name I say: Hephaistion son of Amyntor –he explained.

 

- But he didn’t say that –Achilles answered pointing at Alexander.

 

- Because he is the King, and don’t point at him.

 

- My uncle is the King?

 

- Yes.

 

That, left Achilles thinking for a moment.

 

- He doesn’t look like a King –he said after a moment.

 

Alexander laughed.

 

- Why not? –asked the King with curiosity.

 

- You don’t have a crown.

 

- I have one, but I don’t use it all the time –the King explained. For what Hephaistion saw, Alexander was more excited with the boy than he, why?

 

- Ahh…—Achilles lifted his face to see his father—Daddy? –that word made the King smile—Then, when someone asks my name, I have to say Achilles son of Hephaistion? –and as silly as it sound that made Hephaistion felt very good.

 

- Yes.

 

- He is a good kid –said Alexander, ruffling Achilles’ hair—And he looks a lot like you.

 

- I thought he could be your son –Hephaistion teased him.

 

- Just for the eyes, but…–the King took his time to watch the boy—He is like you, I can’t see a thing of my sister in him.

 

- I didn’t know you like kids –his best friend changed the subject.

 

- That’s because I don’t –Hephaistion lifted an eyebrow, he didn’t understand– But this one is different.

 

- How so?

 

- Is yours –that made his best friend blushed—Besides you made my dream come true.

 

- Your dream? –now Hephaistion was lost.

 

- Yes, I told you I wanted that you and I married sisters so our children would be cousins –explained Alexander happily—Now your son is my nephew; he has our blood in him.  

 

- You make it sound as if he were our son –said Hephaistion embarrassed.

 

But that was exactly what Alexander was thinking. He hadn’t any children nor was he married, Hephaistion wasn’t married neither, his sister Cleopatra didn’t want the boy, and now, watching Achilles carefully, he saw the boy had so much of them in him (and his name was Achilles, for the Gods Sake!) that made the King feel as if he were indeed their son.  

 

- But I’m seeing a flaw in your plan of our children being cousins –said Hephaistion.

 

- What?

 

- As things are now, I don’t think Leon is going to let you have a son with my sister –Alexander laughed as he had time of not laughing.

 

Hephaistion smiled. And he saw the King so happy that decided to ask later about his promotion as the new leader of the Agema of the hypaspist and a new member of the Somatophylakes. 

 

XXX

 

Days after his defeat in Halicarnassus, Memnon arrived at Susa. He had to give his report to the Great King and also, he was eager to see his family. “Susa was situated on the border between the Mesopotamiam plain and the Zagros mountains”(5) with a magnificent royal complex of many palaces.

 

I’m sure you have heard about Susa, is the city in which takes place the story of Queen Esther in the Persian Court. See, I knew you have heard of it. It was a very ancient and beautiful city, remodeled and embellished by the Kings Darius I and Xerxes. It’s a pity that nothing remains of it.

 

A servant took the mercenary to the garden where Darius was practicing fencing with his Greek instructor. This was not the first time Memnon came to see the Great King, but he would never get use to it. Darius was a very tall man, dark short hair and intense dark eyes, and was also very attractive which made him extremely vain. He was like the male version of the evil stepmother of Snow White, asking his mirror every day: who was the handsomest man of his Empire. 

 

That wasn’t all, Darius was good in fencing, he had talent and considered himself the most skilful swordsman of his Empire, and who was going to say otherwise to him? But let’s be fair, the Great King was also an intelligent man, well educated with a strong personality…but sadly for him his own interests and wishes were first than his duty.

 

That day was a very beautiful day, blue sky, soft warmth breeze, the birds singing on the trees and a beautiful melody filling the place. The Persian nobles were there witnessing their King’s fight and applauding his most spectacular moves.

 

Memnon felt uncomfortable in the court but he was very good hiding his discomfort, he waited near the steps that lead to the garden and saw the source of the music. An extremely beautiful boy, in the most feminine way, of 12 years old was sitting on a bench playing the harp. This was the second time the mercenary General saw this boy, what was his name?…Bagoas.

 

Memnon was dozing when an ovation woke him up. Darius had won the match (obviously) and the court burst into praise for their King; the mercenary had to wait a long time before he would talk with the Great King. Oh, how Memnon hated that protocol, to complicated for the taste of a man as practical as he.

 

The mercenary bowed and had to wait until Darius spoke.  

 

- I heard a rumor, General –said the Great King in a perfect Attic Greek that many Greeks would envy, and Memnon embraced himself waiting to be blame for his defeat —I heard a man defeated Dardanos in a single combat.

 

The mercenary needed a moment to understand what was the King saying. He knew Darius knew about his defeat at Halicarnassus, then why was he asking about this trivial thing?

 

- Yes, Great King, that’s true –he said at last.

 

- Who is this man? –asked Darius with interest, with an army of servants, nobles and guards behind him.

 

- A Macedonian officer, your majesty.

 

- A Macedonian… –the Great King fell silent for a moment—I want to meet him –Memmon face looked as if he had swallowed a rock— I also heard your men were scared of him in Halicarnassus –now they were Memmon’s men, not Darius’ troops—Do you know him?

 

- Yes, your majesty; I know him –it was pointless to lie.

 

- How does he look like? Is he like Dardanos? –asked Darius, taking a sweet fig from a tray.

 

- No, your majesty; he doesn’t look a thing like Dardanos, in fact he is a very handsome man –the Great King stopped eating.

 

- Really? How handsome is he? 

 

- Enough to be the Macedonian King's lover –that was childish but Memnon was really enjoying seeing Darius so serious. A great swordsman and also a handsome man, that was a combination the Great King wasn’t going to allow. 

 

- Interesting. I shall meet him… but first General, tell me what happened at Halicarnassus.

 

Memnon almost sighed.

 

- Yes, Great King. 

 

XXX

(1) Colleen McCullough. The Grass Crown, p 317

 

(2) I have to explain this. According to Dr. Heckel, Hephaistion was in charge of the Agema of the hypaspist during the battle of Gaugamela. Now, after Halicarnassus, when Ptolemaios died, the one appointed as commander of the Agema was a guy named Admetos; and after Admetos died, Hephaistion was in charge of the Agema. Well, I skip poor Admetos and gave dear Hephaistion the Agema before time ^_^

 

(3) and (4) This is a personal joke. I took these awful words about Hephaistion from Dr. Peter Green and Dr. Waldemar Heckel (textually) it’s my own way of saying I DO NOT agree with them.

 

(5) Lindsay Allen. The Persian Empire, p 66

 

And my last explanation. This whole thing that Alexander wanted that he and Hephaistion married sisters, is true, I took it from The Marshals of Alexander’s Empire, page 94, “But to Hephaistion he wedded Drypetis, the sister of his own bride Stateira, for, according to Arrian, ‘he wished his children to be the first-cousins of Hephaistion’s children’