CHAPTER 57

 

The Macedonian army camped in Ancyra just before moving to the volcanic mountains. Alexander knew this was their last chance to get some rest, if half of the things he had heard from his guide were truth, then a very painful journey awaited for all of them across the mountains, long, hard and without an opportunity to get more supplies.

 

— You are very quiet –said Hephaistion and Alexander lifted his head. He was studying a map on his lap, when his best friend entered his tent. It was late, again, everybody must be sleeping but not the King, he had to plan carefully what were they going to do next. 

 

— I was thinking.

 

— About what? –the General climbed to bed, and took a seat behind him. Hephaistion kissed his shoulder, embraced him surrounding his waist and leaned his head against the King’s back, his legs bent at each side of Alexander. 

 

— About our next destination, we need to get to Tarsus but we have to cross the mountains –said Alexander absently, his eyes still on the map. It was so good to feel his best friend’s warmth against him that the King could start purring like a happy little kitten. 

 

— Oh –he sighed— I’m so tired, you truly are going to kill me one of these days –whispered the General closing his eyes, feeling Alexander’s fingers caressing his arms.

 

— You should sleep, tomorrow is going to be a hard day –Hephaistion kissed the King’s neck. 

 

— With you, all days are hard…but I don’t want to sleep –he slid his hands to Alexander’s chest, kissing his neck, caressing him with his lips and nose, licking its length, sucking the skin before covering it again with soft kisses—I was thinking that maybe –he kissed his neck again—We could do something else—Alexander sensually moaned when he felt his best friend's teeth pinch the exactly points he needed to make his blood boil. He smiled against the soft skin of the blond and the King tilted his head to one side, to give him more space.

 

Before he could notice, Hephaistion threw him on the bed, trapping him between his strong body and the hard mattress, attacking his lips without pause and drinking in every breath that left Alexander’s mouth. The King raised his arms over his head, opening his legs to receive the strong and slender body of his beloved; moaning long, soft and lazily inside the other’s mouth. The blond felt his body melting under the delicious sensation of Hephaistion weight over him, making his General squirm with pleasure, rubbing his body against the King, up and down like a cat.

 

— Oh Gods!… do that again –asked the blond without voice.

 

— What? –a lazy and arrogant smiled curved Hephaistion’s lips, making him look like a predator ready to strike his helpless prey.

 

Oh, Gods! He is so damn sexy –thought the King rapt, his eyes slightly closed and his chest heaving rapidly.

 

— This? –his General rocked his hips against Alexander and the King moaned.

 

His body reacted instantly, every fiber of his being was screaming for Hephaistion to continue, never stop, to touch him more closely; the heat in Alexander’s body threatened to burn him and, feeling his General’s body touching the most sensitive part of him, only made his desire increase. He didn’t realize when he clung the blanket beneath him, with his elbows rose above his head, or when he opened more his legs in an innocent attempt to feel more, nothing cared in those moments, nothing besides feeling.

 

Alexander arched below Hephaistion and his beloved put his arms behind his back, lifting his chest slightly to kiss it over the annoying fabric. The King surrendered completely to Hephaistion’s kisses, enjoying the gentle warmth in him and the wonderful feeling that was overwhelming his senses at each caress.

 

— Sire, I got what you…

 

Awkward moment. Very awkward moment.

 

When Hephaistion lifted his head, the found his brother’s eyes. He blushed savagely and, was so embarrassed to be found between Alexander’s legs, that he didn’t notice the hate and jealousy burning in the page’s eyes.   

 

— Lys? –asked Alexander slightly lost: Who was he? Where? And what was happening? He straightened and needed a moment to put his ideas in order—What are you doing here?

 

Lysanias blinked watching the red spots on the King’s cheeks.

 

— Sire, you ask me to bring you a message from a man named Dolon as soon as it arrive –explained the page, avoiding seeing his brother.

 

— Leave it on the table –said the King and Lysanias nodded—Lys, one more thing.

 

— Yes, sire?

 

— When General Hephaistion is with me, always knock or ask for permission before coming in –said Alexander and his page blushed.

 

— Yes, sire –he put the letter on the table and left the tent, feeling his ears burning. He had been reprimanded because of his brother, whom he had found kissing the King, HIS King. Lysanias could feel his jealousy burning inside him and decided to run back to his tent without paying attention to anyone.

 

— Oh, this is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to me –said Hephaistion, covering his face with his hands.  

 

— I still think it was worst when you spanked me and, said that I was so short that I could find myself trap in a horseshoe –Alexander playfully pinched his nose—Phai, it was your brother’s fault, he should have ask before coming in.

 

— Maybe…but, Lys is trying so hard to be a good page.

 

— He is a good page but…

 

— But what? –now Hephaistion was curious.

 

— I overlook things that Lys does –explained the King— Things I wouldn’t tolerate from another page.

 

— Why? Because he is my brother? –that took the General by surprise, Alexander didn’t spoil Nikandros or his father, then why his younger brother?

 

— No, because he looks a lot like you.

 

— Now I’m confused –his best friend sat in front of him with his legs crossed.

 

— Phai, call me stupid but…–the King ran a hand through his hair—Lys reminds me when you were a page –Hephaistion saw him in complete silence, his elbow on his thigh—For you being a page was horrible, and I truly don’t know what would you have done if you hadn’t been able to go to Mieza –his best friend sighed. He really didn’t want to talk about that; in fact, he had never told Alexander how had been his life back then, but he couldn’t. The King took his hand tenderly, caressing it with his thumb— Phai, I can’t go back in time and stop my father from raping you –now Hephaistion wasn’t looking at him, leaning his face on his hand—But, somehow, I feel that treating your brother well, is a way of making things right after what my family did to you.

 

His best friend swallowed he couldn’t talk or risk starting crying. Those words meant more to him than Alexander could imagine. He was right, it had been a living hell to be King Philip’s page, he had had to sleep with him many times, but maybe Alexander didn’t know it and he just couldn’t tell him; it was still very painful.

 

— Thank you –was all he could say after a while. Alexander embraced him tightly and kissed his cheek several times, looking for his lips.

 

— I love you –his words were soon drowned with a kiss, a loving sweet kiss that evolved in a series of passionate and hungry kisses. Alexander loved kissing him; he couldn’t get tired of his lips and Hephaistion needed to forget all those painful memories. What better way of doing it that losing himself in his King’s body?

 

Ten years had passed since the first time King Philip had forced him in his bed and he still remembered everything as if it had happened yesterday. Hephaistion was sure he would never forget it, but, he could live with that, even more knowing that he had the love of a man like Alexander. He could endure everything as long as he had the King with him; after all, hadn’t been Alexander the one who had rescued him when he was a boy like Lysanias? His life had changed so much in 10 years but he didn’t regret anything. How many men could say the same?

 

The King kissed his neck, his chest and went all the way down, lifting his best friend’s military chiton. He took his fingers through Hephaistion’s legs, exploring his calves and reaching a sensitive spot behind his knee that made his best friend shudder slightly. He continued his path towards his General’s thighs, toured the curves and depressions along the lines that mark his muscles.

 

— What are you doing? –asked Hephaistion, seeing where he was heading when the blond took off his loincloth.

 

— What kind of question is that? –said Alexander playfully, talking against his skin. He deposited a kiss on one of his thighs, sliding his lips over the creamy skin, looking for his groin.

 

— Wait! –the General pushed him away by the shoulders—You can’t do this.

 

For a moment the King was lost.

 

— Why not?… You don’t like it? –that was the only explanation he could find.

 

— Of course I like it…I mean, I have only do this once, b-b-but…–great! Now he was stammering—You are the King, you shouldn’t do this.

 

Alexander smiled truly amused.

 

— Well, If I don’t recall wrong, you were the one was who was complaining because we weren’t equals –he reminded him.

 

— I never complained about that –Hephaistion clarify— I just expressed how I felt.

 

— Fine –the King sat again in front of him, and brushed his hair back—Tell me something, and I want the truth. If Memnon were doing this to you…

 

— Alexander! –his beloved scolded him, he truly didn’t want to be talking about the mercenary—Leave the poor man alone, he is dead, what else do you want?

 

— I want to know if you would have stopped him –he held Hephaistion’s gaze.

 

— You know I would –the idea of having Memnon in Alexander’s place made him shudder, he needed to stop imagining that, or having both of them in bed with him…All right! He was a pervert, he needed a new thought.  

 

— No, no, no. You do not understand –said the King—If you weren’t in love with me and he were doing this, would you have stopped him?

 

Hephaistion sighed and brushed his hair behind his ear, Alexander wasn’t helping his imagination.

 

— No.

 

— Then shut up and let me do this.

 

His General smiled and shook his head.

 

— Speaking of which, do you even know how to do this? –he teased the King.

 

— Of course I know –Hephaistion lifted his eyebrows in disbelieve.

 

— Really? Wow! And practicing with whom did you become a master doing blowjobs? –his beloved questioned him.

 

— I-I-uh…well –Alexander held Hephaistion’s gaze—All right, I have no idea. But that doesn’t mean I can’t do it.

 

— Fine –the General was truly amused.

 

Hephaistion smiled, sitting on the bed with his legs slightly open but, when he saw that golden head bent over his manhood was as if all the warmth of his body was concentrating down his waist.

 

All right, how difficult could this be? –thought the King, licking his lips.

 

He recalled the expert way in which Hephaistion had done this to him and tried to imitate him the best way he could. His beloved blushed furiously and felt his entire body burning while his lover’s tongue followed his length and he clenched his fists on the bed when the warm mouth surrounded him. It had been since that night, when Nikandros took him to a brothel, that nobody had done this to him and, he had almost forgotten how good it felt. All right, the King was very clumsy, something that his beloved would never tell him, but Hephaistion had to admit that what Alexander lacked in practice he made up for in enthusiasm, making him moaned with all the force of his lungs.

 

— Oh…my…Nnn…Alex…s…stop…—he took Alexander by the shoulders, breathing hard with his cheeks burning and all his hair sliding to the front. He certainly didn’t want to come inside his mouth, it was enough that the King had accepted to do something like this, he was sure many respectable women wouldn’t do it and many prostitutes would charge you an extra fee for this. But Alexander did not hear him, did not care or did not know why he was asked to stop because he didn’t stop his attentions—Mm…please…stop… —the General closed his eyes tightly. 

 

Hephaistion let out a long sigh of pleasure when he found his release. He breathed rapidly and, when he opened his eyes and saw Alexander’s face, he began to clean him with his own chiton.

 

— I told you to… stop… –he panted.

 

— Why?…Phai, stop that, I’m not a child –the King complained, but his beloved ignored him, and kept rubbing his face.

 

— Shut up.

 

— So?

 

— So what?

 

— Wasn’t I good or what? –Hephaistion started to laugh, and Alexander frowned—Why are you laughing? 

 

— It’s nothing.

 

— Aren’t you going to tell me?

 

— No.

 

Hephaistion kissed him and embraced him, trapping him again against the mattress, how he loved his reckless and crazy lover. It was a good thing the King’s tent were so far from the rest, because otherwise, no one would have slept that night. 

 

XXX

 

The peaceful and beautiful days of the Great King in Susa reached their end in the same moment he received the news of Memnon’s death. His best and most brilliant commander had died from sickness inside his flagship. A sad end to a man like Memnon who deserved a glorious dead on the battlefield. Darius had given him a splendid funeral and his widow, Barsine, had his ashes in a magnificent gold urn.

 

But he still had a very big problem: Who was going to command his forces now? Darius’ latest intelligence was that the Macedonian King was traveling south, probably heading to Tyre, but he moved at a speed that had the Persians with their mouths opened in astonishment. The boy King, as the late Memnon used to call him, was unpredictable and Darius needed to do something immediately to stop him.

 

And this was the principal topic to discuss in this meeting with his council. The council of the Persian King, as many of the court jobs, were always temporary posts, “and could be transferred from one day to the next to another trustworthy man”(1) and was integrated by a large number of people, including the chiliarch, who held the second rank in the State, the Parnaka, head of the economic administration of Persia, and the official cupbearer. Because, no King who boasted of being a Great King, could travel without his cupbearer.

 

Now, Darius was in Babylon, raising an army to, at last, face the Macedonian menace.

 

The Great King let his eyes wander around the magnificent room where the meeting was taking place, everything around him talked about splendor, riches and power, an ancient power that he had inherit, not only from previous Persian Kings, but also from the old Babylonian Kings as Nebuchadnezzar, the man responsible for the creation of the Hanging Gardens, or Hammurabi, who established the law code. And suddenly Darius felt ridiculous for being scared of a mere boy from a backwater Kingdom. The Great King shook his head smiling. He laced his fingers in front of him and concentrated on the meeting.

 

He needed a new commander. So far, Pharnabazus and Autophradates had taken the Rhodian’s place; they had taken Mytilene and garrisoned it with 2,000 mercenaries, after that, they had gone on different ways, Autophradates went to fight among the Aegean islands and Pharnabazus took his troops to Lycia, to win back the Macedonian conquests along the coast.     

 

— We must know first if I’m going to continue with Memnon’s plans of invading Greece –said Darius to his council, and his personal army of scribes and other members of his staff who were always with him—I don’t consider that this strategy of invading Greece could succeed without General Memnon –many heads nodded—This was his plan, and, since he is no longer with us, I decide that we are going to abandon it –again the heads nodded, only one stayed very serious, with his lips pursed, another Greek mercenary, Charidemus from Athens—Now, I think we should fight the Macedonian army directly, here –many sounds of approval, all heads nodded and again, only Charidemus remained silent, he was the only foreigner there, and the only one with sufficient military knowledge to know this was a bad idea.

 

— Your divine majesty –said Bessus—If you allow me to speak…

 

— Speak –Bessus made a bow and stood up.

 

— It would be good for the troops morale if you lead them in person, to have the presence of our beloved King among us –many supported the satrap’s proposal, but Charidemus, who couldn’t stand this anymore, stood up.

 

— Your majesty, may I speak? –asked the Greek.

 

— You have permission.

 

— Your majesty –said Charidemus with a strong voice—You are making a mistake –those words worked like magic and everybody in the room felt silent. Nobody tells the Great King he is making a mistake, the Great King makes no mistakes. Darius’ face was now extremely serious.

 

— And why is that? 

 

— You can’t fight against the Macedonian King in a frontal battle, sire –his Persian wasn’t very good but it was enough to understand him—The Macedonian army is far superior than yours –angry protests and murmurs raised.

 

— Do you think so? –asked Bessus, leaning his back on the chair—Then, according to you, how many troops do we need to fight against this barbarian King? How many men?

 

— 100, 000 men –said the Athenian at once—One-third of this should be Greek mercenaries; your infantry is no match for the perfection of the Macedonian phalanx. And not only that, only a mad man would risk his throne in this fight, you should stay here, and leave a professional General lead this war.

 

— Are you telling ME what to do? –said Darius, now really angry—This Macedonian King is a nobody from a backwater land, and you are saying to us, that we must hide like mouse when we are the most powerful empire in the world?

 

— Your majesty, Cyrus the Great was also the King of a backwater place called Ansan when he defeated the 2 most powerful kingdoms of his time: Babylon and Media –said Charidemus.

 

— How dare you to compare this barbarian to the Great Cyrus! –exclaimed Bessus outraged.

 

— You want to lead our army, you want the post for yourself! –shouted a Persian noble, and many voices joined him.

 

— Are you planning to betray us?! –shouted someone else and then Charidemus lost his temper.

 

— You Persians cowards! –said the Athenian—Do you really think for a second that you can defeat the Macedonian King with your pitiful army?

 

— ENOUGH! –said the Great King raising his voice—Guards, seized him by the girdle!

 

Again, all the Persians fell silent and the strong guards ran to obey.

 

You seem confused. Let me explain. To “seized by the girdle” meant put to death. The girdle was a symbol for the Persians of the tie between the superior and the bandaka (or servant), so, to take the girdle meant the bond was broken (2)    

 

— Listen to me Darius! –shouted Charidemus, while the guards restrained him—You will pay for this injustice! You will LOSE YOUR THRONE AND KINGDOM!… DO YOU HEAR ME?!

 

The heavy doors closed and Darius left the room using a back entrance. He was in a terrible mood and only wanted to be alone. It had to pass a long time before he felt better, and by nightfall, after spending a peaceful afternoon practicing fencing, he regretted his decision of executing Charidemus. He was his last capable commander, and now he had no one else to entrust with the military affairs of his kingdom.

 

The Great King cursed. Memnon’s death was the worst thing it could happen to his empire and he started to consider that maybe the Macedonians had poisoned him. It was very convenient that, just when the Rhodian was ready to invade Europe, he had died. Very convenient indeed.

 

Darius left his sword aside and a servant ran to take it, then, he saw Hephaistion’s letter on his desk. He had received it days ago and laughed when he saw the ingenuity in the Macedonian’s words, he didn’t feel offended, on the contrary, he felt amused. This people truly were simple peasants to him. But then, the Great King had an idea. He had tried to bring Hephaistion by force and failed, he had invited him and failed again, he would offer him gold. Oh yes, these Greeks and Macedonians went crazy with Persian gold. Well, so be it.

 

And not only that. He had heard many things about this Macedonian officer, then, why not offer him Memnon’s post? Yes, yes, yes, Pharnabazus was going to be the commander in chief, but only for the time being, everybody knew Pharnabazus wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Until now he had hired only Greeks, but hadn’t the Macedonians defeated Thebes and Athens? He could pay Hephaistion more than Alexander could. The Great King smiled, happy with himself.

 

Gold would solve his problems. 

 

XXX

 

The Macedonian army moved from Ancyra to the south, the plan was to march thought the Cilician Gates to Tarsus, then down the coast to Tyre and Sidon and after that stopped at Egypt. In that time, this territory was divided in two satrapies, one covering the central and inland part, which had the name of Cappadocia, and the other one was known as Pontus.

 

Alexander took his army through the open treeless plains, green and enormous pastures with sheep, but almost desolate and surrounded by masses of mountains. However, while venturing into the territory, and the more they went up the mountains, was goodbye to the green pastures and hello to the rocky terrain of these volcanic mountains. It was an impressive spectacle, bare hills dotted with very little green extending as far as the eye could see. But it was also a distressing sight, as they had no way to obtain provisions. They had to march under the unmerciful sun and the cold wind with scarce water and food.

 

— Daddy, I’m thirsty –said Achilles one afternoon, while they were resting, sitting on the ground, after a terrible march during the morning.

 

They had almost no water, and Alexander had issued instructions that the very little they had must be rationed. The first ones to get water were of course the soldiers, then, the pack animals, after that the servants, camp followers and the rest. 

 

Hephaistion cleaned his face with a cloth, he was sweating a lot, his long hair was combed in a ponytail, but some rebel strands had adhered to his face and neck. His face was slightly pink and when he smiled to his son he looked adorable, even if he had his lips chapped because of the scarce water.

 

— You know what? I’m not thirsty anymore –the General lied—So, you can have my water ration –he gave the boy his own goatskin.

 

— Are you sure?

 

— Yes, I’m sure. Here –Hephaistion held the goatskin to help him drink.

 

— Phai! –came Kyros running—Phai! A letter arrived for you –he said patting. 

 

— For me? From whom? –he took the letter but he didn’t recognize the seal.

 

— I don’t know, Glycon said it arrived with the King’s mail –said the Theban taking a seat at his side—Why is so hot here? –he narrowed his eyes, the sun was just too strong.

 

— Beats me –Hephaistion put the letter aside—Hey, Kyros, you soon will be 15 years old, isn’t that right?

 

— Yes, just like Glycon –answered Kyros. 

 

— Really? Well, that means he is going to be mine after he finishes his services as page –said the General—That doesn’t make you happy?

 

— Yes –the Theban smiled happily.

 

Hephaistion patted his back.

 

— What do you want for birthday present? –the General asked.

 

Kyros saw him as if didn’t understand him.

 

— What do you mean?

 

— Just what I said, I want to give you something, so what do you want? –Hephaistion asked again.

 

The Theban’s green eyes shone with excitement.

 

— Let me think and I’ll tell you.

 

— Fine –Hephaistion. For a moment they fell silent, enjoying the view. Time and weather had eroded the soft volcanic rock into hundreds of strangely shaped pillars, cones and "fairy chimneys", in colors ranging from pink to green and yellow (3)

 

— Daddy, why do the mountains have this form? –asked Achilles.

 

— I don’t know Aki –said Hephaistion—Probably because of the weather here.

 

— I don’t like this place, I want to go home –said the boy, pouting— I want to see Nanny, why can’t we go back?

 

Watching his son’s big uneven eyes, the General felt his heart was breaking. How could he explain a 3 years old boy that they couldn’t go back home because they were in the middle of a military campaign?  

 

— Aki, we can’t go home now.

 

— Why not? Are we lost?

 

— No, we are not…I hope –he added in a low voice—But we can’t leave your uncle alone.

 

— We can take him with us –for a boy like Achilles everything was simple.

 

— Yes, we can…but he wants to stay –said Hephaistion patiently—Besides, weren’t you the one who wanted to fight against the Great King? Are you going to leave before the battle?

 

Achilles said nothing and leaned his head against his father’s side. Their situation was bad, and to make things worst, the goat that Hephaistion had bought for Achilles’ milk had died 2 days ago.

 

The General kissed his son’s head and took the letter lying at his side, but as soon as he broke the seal he went pale, this letter was from Memnon. His hands shook and he tried to swallow but his throat was dry. 

 

To Hephaistion son of Amyntor, from Memnon the Rhodian. Hail!

 

Hephaistion, you have no way of knowing how many times I was going to write you but find myself unable to. Our conversations during your captivity with me are one of my most precious memories, very few times I had the opportunity to meet a man like you, not only you are intelligent, you have your head full of these strange and fascinating ideas, ideas that I’m sure, belong to other time and place, not ours.

 

I have so many things to say, but in this moment, while I’m writing, I can’t think of a single one. After my family you are the second thought in my mind, how I wish you had accepted my proposal of staying with me, but now I realized that, if you had accepted, then, you wouldn’t be you.

 

I have heard about the prowess of your King; quite amazing for a lad of his age, I won’t denied it, he is a brilliant commander but, is he too a good King? I can hear your protests right now, telling me that of course he is. Well, I’m not too sure.

 

You will know better than I, but I think your King is dangerous. He has the ability to conquer the entire Persian Empire, but I don’t think he would stop here. Your King is young, Hephaistion, and, if he succeeds, is going to be drunk with victory and full with riches. We, Greeks, diminish the Persians treating them like barbarians. Well, Hephaistion, they are not, I would even say they are more civilize than we are. Take a look at the Royal Road and tell me, where in Greece have you seen a road like that? Covering 1,677 miles and in excellent conditions. Their cities are beautiful and well organized, Babylon had nothing to envy from Athens.

 

Persians are great administrators, and, from what I heard about your King, he is not.

 

He will not stop here, he will never stop and that is why I am determined to defeat him before he destroys the world.

 

I want to see you again; I don’t think I would be able to forget you, not now not ever.

 

Take care, Hephaistion son of Amyntor, and I truly hope that your King is worthy of your love and devotion, but my heart tells me he is not.

 

Memnon.

 

— Daddy, why are you crying? Does your tummy hurt? –asked Achilles and Hephaistion cleaned his cheeks with the back of his hand.

 

— I’m… fine –his voice trembled and the boy embraced him, feeling like he was going to cry too.

 

— Bad news? –asked Kyros, as surprised as Achilles.

 

— No –and that was all the General explained to them.

 

In case you are wondering I still have Memnon’s letter. Like I said, I was fond of him and his dead truly was a blow, I never told Alexander about this letter, I think it was the only secret I have with him, but he would have insisted in burning it. No, that letter was only for me.

 

That night we camped in the mountains. It was extremely difficult to built a camp there, we couldn’t dig to make a ditch and the irregularities of the ground didn’t allow the camp to be settled into the normal order, so Alexander had to think how to place sentries and avoid a night attack.

 

By night the mountains were extremely cold, the worst of all was the wind. The wind felt like little needles sticking into the skin, and the men slept as tight as possible within the tents to keep themselves warm.

 

Alexander didn’t sleep that night, even if he didn’t feel too good; he had things to do. He went to check the camp, talk with his men, and listen to his officers complains and needs; the King knew their situation was bad, he knew what were the needs and had listened at least for a dozen of times the same complains, but, nevertheless, he kept asking his officers and listening to them as if they were the most important of his advisors, making them feel that his King cared about them and was interested in their problems. Alexander needed them in good mood, and what better way to achieve this than to spend time with them?

 

— Sire? –Lysanias arrived to where Alexander was, after speaking for almost half an hour with a group of pezetairoi—I brought you another cloak, it’s cold.

 

— Thank you, Lys –the King took the cloak coughing and his page swallowed, he had been looking for an opportunity to ask him to be his erastes but hadn’t found one.

 

I’ll do it now –thought Lysanias, but before he could speak again, an officer called the King and Alexander was gone. The page sighed.  

 

The King always left to the last his Generals and Marshals, he spent almost all his time with them, and he knew what were they going to say. Near 2 in the morning he arrived to Hephaistion’s tent. He left his best friend to the last because he was planning to rest there, a good change after so many days marching across this lands.

 

When he arrived, Hephaistion wasn’t asleep, he had many things in his mind and he decided to read with Achilles sleeping at his side.  

 

— I though you would be asleep by now –said Alexander, taking a seat at his side—You should rest, we still have a long journey ahead of us. 

 

— I know but…I can’t sleep –he left his book aside.

 

The King kissed him and took his thumb to Hephaistion’s lips, caressing them. He frowned seeing those sensual lips chapped.

 

— You are not drinking enough water –he said.

 

— I’m fine.

 

— No, you are not. Why aren’t you drinking enough water? –Alexander wanted to know—Do you have problems again with Eumenes? Isn’t he giving you your rations? 

 

— No, I don’t have problems with Eumenes –said his beloved sighing—I got enough water but…

 

— But what?

 

— I’m giving my rations to Aki –the King stared at him for a very long moment; the General noticed he was breathing with difficulty.

 

— Why? He has his own rations –said Alexander.

 

— Yes, he has, but he is a child –Hephaistion explained—You can’t expect him to adjust like any other soldier to this hard regime –they both fell silent—I’m fine, really, stop staring at me like that.  

 

Alexander sighed and coughed.

 

— We are almost out of here –he said in a low voice—According to our guides we are reaching Tarsus in one day.

 

— At last –Hephaistion couldn’t express how happy made him those words— This place has its beauty, but I don’t want to stay here any longer.

 

— I agree, this pla…–the King started coughing—This place is terrible, there is no way to obtain –he coughed again—Provisions.

 

— Are you all right? You have been coughing and wheezing –said Hephaistion worried—You should go to see doctor Philip. 

 

— I’m fine, it’s just this damn weather –said the King, looking for a handkerchief to blow his nose—Too hot during the day and too cold in the night –he blew his nose.

 

— Are you planning to stay here tonight? –his beloved wanted to know.

 

— Yes, that was the idea, why do you ask like that?

 

— I don’t want you coughing near Aki –said Hephaistion and the King blinked in confusion.

 

— What?!

 

— Last time, Aki was very sick and I couldn’t sleep taking care of him –explained the General.

 

— So, you are not taking care of me? –asked Alexander in a childish tone that made his beloved smiled.

 

— But you are a big boy.

 

— No, I’m not when I’m with you –Hephaistion kissed his cheek.

 

— You win, I’ll take Aki to Kyros bed, after all I think he is in the pages’ tent –now, it was Alexander turn to smile.

 

XXX

(1) Pierre Briant. From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire, p 258

(2) Pierre Briant. From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire, p 325

(3) Interactive Travel Guide.