CHAPTER 75

 

Alexander stared at Hephaistion with eyes wide open. What had he just said? In a second all his anger had vanished and had been replaced by astonishment. The General needed a moment to fully understand what he had said, and then, he paled. He had wanted to tell the King everything about King Philip’s murder, but…not like this; he had lost his temper, something that he never did, and Hephaistion said things in the worst possible way he could have done it.  

 

- What are you saying? –asked Alexander slowly, as if each word were extremely heavy and hard to pronounce.

 

What have I done? –thought the General, feeling a knot in his stomach.

 

Hephaistion turned his head; he couldn’t face him, how could he? In a heartbeat he had passed from being his beloved to be the son of the man who had murdered his father. Why had he said that? He blamed his sense of duty; he couldn’t remain silent, knowing that the grandson of King Philip's murderer would someday be king. It wasn’t right.

 

- Phai, what are you talking about? –the King insisted, taking a step to where he was.

 

- I’m sorry –his General said softly, asking for forgiveness as if he had been the one who had cut King Philip’s thread of life—I should have told you before…I…I didn’t want to tell you this way.

 

- Tell me what? –Alexander was making a great effort to keep his emotion at bay. Hundreds of ideas crossed his agile mind in a moment, but he didn’t want to take his own conclusions before hearing the whole story.

 

- When I was at the Persian camp –said Hephaistion, slowly, thinking quickly in the best way to explain this— I met Amyntas son of Antiochus

 

- I remember him, he fled when I was crowned King –said Alexander at once—I have always suspected that he had something to do with my father’s murder, and his sudden disappearance only served to make him look more suspicious.

 

- You are not mistaken –said his beloved, catching his attention—He was involved in the murder…he told me that. 

 

- And, he was also the one who told you, that your father was involved in this too? –Hephaistion nodded—Phai, how do you know Amyntas is not tricking you? 

 

The King knew Amyntor, he knew that Hephaistion’s father was an honorable man, one of the best he had met in his life, and it was hard for him to imagine that he could have done something as despicable as murder a King.

 

- Because…—how was he going to explain this? For the first time in many years, Hephaistion was scared. Of course he trusted Alexander, but this was something very serious, he was confessing high treason, and he knew how traitors were punished in Macedonia— Because 3 days before the murder, my father went to Aigai to talk to me –said the General, this was something he had never told the King…in fact, he had never talked about this with anybody—We talked. He was very worried because I was with your father, as his lover. He thought that someone had threatened me in order to oblige me to be with him.

 

- Why did he think that?

 

- My father…he knew King Philip had rape me –Alexander raised his eyebrows in astonishment, he thought that no one, except from him, his beloved, Nikandros, dr. Philip, and of course, his late father, knew about the rape. The King had no idea that Parmelio and Attalos knew; so, how could Amyntor have found out? Hephaistion took a deep breath before continuing— He told me: “Philip is just a man, a King but mortal. I won't let him hurt you again” –Hephaistion lifted his head to face Alexander—I’m sure that my father was behind Pausanias, I know him and I know of what he is capable of doing in order to protect me, or my brothers and sister –they fell silent—Alexander, you can’t named the grandson of your father’s murderer the Crown Prince...that is not right.   

 

The King didn’t know what to think. When his father was still alive he had thought in the possibility of killing him more than once, especially when he knew that his beloved, his other half and the most important person in his life, had made a deal with Philip in order to assure his future as the next King. It was possible that, if Amyntor hadn’t convinced Pausanias of committing the crime, maybe he would have done it. It was hard for Alexander to feel anger towards Amyntor, because he understood perfectly well why he had done it. He would have done the same to protect Hephaistion, and the part that pained him the most, was that he had been unable to protect his soul mate at that time. He had been just another spectator of that drama.

 

The General walked to him and, did the last thing Alexander could have expected: he kneeled in front of him and took his hand, leaning his forehead against it.

 

- I know that, what I’m telling you, is high treason –said Hephaistion; he was talking to the King, not to his lover, and he was scared. That took Alexander by surprise; he had never seen his beloved like this before—And I know that according to our law you are in your right of condemning my father to die, but...he did this because of me, he did it because he wanted to protect me, so if you have to punish someone… 

 

Alexander kneeled in front of him, and embraced him with force.

 

- What nonsense are you saying? –asked the King in a whisper—How can you possible think that I could do such a thing? –the General leaned his head over his shoulder, trying to calm himself. His heart and head were a mess; too many things had happened in one morning and he felt as if his head was going to explode—Who else knows about this?

 

- Just Amyntas, I think –said Hephaistion, and for a moment, his own voice sounded so strange to him.

 

- Then, lets forget about this. You never heard this information and neither did I, understood? –said the King in the same commanding force he used in the battlefield.

 

- Understood.

 

In that moment, Hephaistion felt again like a child, helpless and weak at the mercy of someone more powerful than him, and that broke Alexander’s heart. He couldn’t bear the thought of his beloved being afraid of him. That was the worst thing that could happen to him.

 

- Phai, I don’t care about what your father did –said Alexander, meaning every word, tenderly caressing his back— This doesn’t change a thing between us; I love you, and I will always do.  

 

- I know…but this is so big, so…

 

The King kissed his head.

 

- Forget it, please.

 

My fall will be for you

My love will be in you

If you be the one to cut me

I will bleed forever

(Nightwish, Ghost Love Score)

 

And we did as he asked. I never told anyone else about this…until now. It was a secret that both of us kept and, to this day, nobody knows for sure who was the real murderer of King Philip II of Macedonia.

 

- Eni! You are not going to believe what just hap… —but Leonnatos stopped talking when he arrived at his tent, and found his wife laughing while Thais brushed her hair, teaching her how to comb it in an Athenian style.

 

- Joy to you Leonnatos! –said Thais. She knew him, in fact she knew all of Ptolemy’s friends, but they had never spoke before. 

 

- Leon! –exclaimed Berenike smiling—Do you know Thais? She is…

 

- Yes, I know who she is –said Leonnatos, in a cold and hard tone of voice that confused his wife.

 

- I better go –said the hetaira, she had an idea of why Leonnatos was like this and didn’t want to cause problems.

 

- But, you don’t have to –said Berenike naively.

 

- Yes, she has –her husband insisted. 

 

The hetaira walked to the entrance, and turned to see her friend with a smile.

 

- Health to you, Eni…Leonnatos –and Thais left.

 

Berenike stood up, brushing her hair with her fingers, walking to where her husband was standing.

 

- What’s wrong with you? –she asked without understanding his behavior, he was always so kind, why had he treated Thais like this?

 

- I don’t want her here –said Leonnatos with firm voice. 

 

- Why not? Thais is my friend, you never had problems with my friends before –said Berenike, without understanding what was his problem.

 

- Eni, Thais is a hetaira and she is Ptolemy’s mistress, do you think I want my wife in such company? –he said, leaving her in astonishment.

 

- You can’t choose my friends! –exclaimed Berenike outraged.

 

- Yes I can! And I don’t want you near Thais again; do you hear me? –his wife clenched her fists.

 

She felt so powerless, so trapped; Leonnatos had suddenly become her father instead of her husband, and she began to despair. Berenike was going to open her mouth, to give him a piece of her mind when she turned, and saw her brother Lysanias standing at the tent’s entrance.

 

- I’m sorry to intrude like this –said the page when he noticed the tension in the atmosphere—Hephaistion sent me, he wants to invite you to eat with him. 

 

Leonnatos took a deep breath to calm down.

 

- Tell him that…I’m very honor but I can’t go, I have things to do –that was true. Besides, Leonnatos had a good idea of why his friend had organized a sudden reunion.

 

Berenike crossed her arms.

 

- Can I go alone, sir? –she asked Leonnatos with resentment, and he sighed.  

 

- Of course you can go…Eni, don’t be like this –he softened his voice.

 

- Like what? –she walked to the entrance, to look for Netikerty and her children—You were the one who started all this –and with that she left.

 

Leonnatos hit a table, what was he going to do with her?

 

Hephaistion had called an urgent meeting with all the members of his family who were in the camp, he wanted to tell them about Alexander’s decision of naming Achilles as his heir before they heard it from someone else, he felt it was his responsibility.

 

Xsayarsa, knowing that his new patron was having an important meeting, had prepare everything and the General’s tent looked like the beautiful room of a Persian palace. Every day, Hephaistion found something new in his tent from a vase to a carpet. Where did the eunuch found all these things? He had no idea, but he had to admit that the Persian was a great housewife.

 

The first one who arrived at his tent was Nikandros, but that was because he had a favor to ask.

 

- Phai, led me money –asked his older brother, before saying “Joy to you!”

 

The General frowned; this new Nick without manners was starting to bother him.

 

- Why? In what problem you get yourself into? –he asked while cleaning the mess on his desk.

 

- I found Vashti’s twin sister, her name is Ayesha –Hephaistion didn’t like this—Krateros has her –now he didn’t like this at all—But he refuses to give her to me. I tried my best to hide the fact that they are twins, but he found out, and now he wants to buy me Vashti.

 

The General truly felt sorry for the girls. He couldn’t start to imagine how terrible was the fate of a slave, unable to make choices and always at the mercy of their masters.

 

- And do you need money to convince Krateros to sell her to you? –Hephaistion guessed. 

 

- Yes, maybe if I can present him a lot of money he would reconsider…of course that there is always that other option –said Nikandros mysteriously.

 

- What other option? –the General knew his brother was doing this deliberately, but he asked anyway.

 

- Krateros told me he wants something –explained Nikandros. 

 

- And why do I have the impression that this has to do with me? –his elder brother smiled.

 

- He wants your horse, the golden mare –and that made Hephaistion laughed as if he had heard a really good joke—I can buy you your horse –said Nikandros.

 

- Nick, Alexander gave me that horse. What on earth makes you think I’m going to sell her to you, so you can gave her to Krateros, in order to obtain a woman to satisfy your perverse fantasies? –asked the General.

 

- Because you are my brother and you want to see me happy –said his brother, trying to look at him with his best puppy eyes.

 

- Bite me!

 

- Come on! Phai! Think in the poor girl –Nikandros changed his strategy—What future could she have with Krateros? She would be much better with her sister.

 

- You have no shame, Nick –the General scolded him.

 

- We already know that, but why does this girl have to suffer? –Hephaistion sighed.

 

- Let me think about it…but don’t get too excited, I’m not sure that I’m going to help you –the General didn’t like the idea of giving away a present from Alexander but…his brother had a point, this girl would be much better with him than with Krateros. 

 

A few minutes later, Berenike, her children, Lysanias, grandfather Demetrios, uncle Althaimenes and cousin Demetrios arrived at his tent. It had been a while since they had been together, so Hephaistion had to wait 2 hours before he could say what he wanted. Not that he was in a hurry, having his family reunited like this made him remember his peaceful days back at Pella. Only his parents and Cadie were missing…

 

Of course the center of attention that afternoon was Berenike. Her uncle and grandfather were still in shock after discovering that she had taken part in the last battle, and even more when the King had rewarded her with Darius’ magnificent bow. Uncle Althaimenes disapproved her actions, but since he wasn’t her father or her husband, he said nothing.

 

- Who have thought that you were the one who wounded Darius during his flight? –said grandfather Demetrios, he was very proud of her.

 

- Why are you so surprised grandpa? After all, you were the one who trained me –said Berenike proudly.

 

- You trained her, father? –asked uncle Althaimenes—You shouldn’t have, did Amyntor knew about this?

 

- Of course not! –exclaimed grandfather Demetrios—He would have opposed and thrown me a half and hour speech of how wrong was I for thinking in the possibility of training a woman. And I tried to teach her how to use a sword, but she is helpless.

 

Uncle Althaimenes shook his head, now he was glad that he had no daughters.

 

Nikandros and cousin Demetrios laughed, catching the attention of the rest of the family.

 

- What? –asked Berenike.

 

- Nothing, I was just thinking that now you are no longer a monster –said Nikandros—You are a “Soldier Girl” –his sister rolled her eyes and ignored him. 

 

They shared a wonderful meal, and when they were eating their dessert, Hephaistion finally had the opportunity to speak.

 

- Why did you call us, son? –asked grandfather Demetrios.

 

Hephaistion left his cup aside.

 

-Kyros, come here and take a seat –he asked—I want you to hear this.

 

The Theban didn’t know what to expect but he did as he was told. He liked his master’s family…except for Lysanias, but the rest were very good and kind people.

 

- What’s with all the mystery? –asked cousin Demetrios, liking his spoon.

 

- I want to share with you some news before Alexander announce this tomorrow –said Hephaistion, successfully catching their attention—At today’s meeting Alexander…he named a heir to the Macedonian throne.

 

They looked at him expectantly.

 

- He named you? –asked cousin Demetrios, stupidly.

 

- NO! –exclaimed Hephaistion and Nikandros hit his cousin’s head—He…he is going to adopt Achilles and name him his heir.

 

In other circumstances the General would have laughed, watching 7 pairs of completely round eyes looking at him.

 

- But…he can’t do that! –exclaimed uncle Althaimenes, as surprised as the rest of the family—Aki is your bastard son.

 

Hephaistion sighed and told them with detail about the meeting, about Parmelio’s, Kleitos’ and Eumenes’ words and of course, about Alexander’s reply. By the time he finished, they were even more surprised, if that was possible.

 

- Zeus, Hades and Poseidon! My nephew is going to be King –said Nikandros in shock, but extremely happy with the news.

 

- What do you think about this, son? –asked grandfather Demetrios, having a good idea of what was his grandson feeling.

 

Hephaistion sighed.

 

- I don’t like the idea, but…I guess Alexander has no other choice –he said—He needs an heir and well, after all Aki is his nephew. 

 

- Speaking about him…where is Aki? –asked Berenike. So, this was what Leonnatos was going to tell her when he found Thais in the tent.

 

- With his friend Cyrus…Which reminds me that I have to talk to him –said Hephaistion, rubbing his eyes. This was one of the longest days of his life and was far from over.

 

- Do you want me to go for him? –asked a very impressed Kyros, reading his mind.

 

The General nodded.

 

- Yes, please. 

 

- You have to write to your father –said uncle Althaimenes—These are huge news; he is going to be impressed…and happy, of course.

 

Nikandros said something to his cousin and both laughed. 

 

- Oh, stop doing that, is annoying –Berenike scolded them.

 

- What is so funny? –asked Lysanias with curiosity.

 

- Your brother is telling me that now, Phai truly is the King’s wife –said cousin Demetrios trying not to laugh again—He even gave him an heir to the throne.

 

That made his family laughed too.

 

- Bite me, Nick! –exclaimed Hephaistion angry.

 

XXX

 

Kyros was late. He had left almost an hour ago, and hadn’t come back. Almost every day Achilles went to visit his friend Cyrus and the Theban was the one who took him there and who later came back to bring him home… but, never took this long and that worried Hephaistion, did something have happened?

 

- Maybe he got lost –said grandfather Demetrios, he had stayed with him after the rest of the family had gone. Since Amyntor wasn’t with them, he felt with the responsibility of taking care of his grandchildren.

 

The General shook his head, walking around the place like a caged lion.

 

- He never gets lost; he knows this camp perfectly –he said— After all, is always arranged in the same way.

 

- I know Phai, but now that we have the Persians with us, you have to admit that this place is much bigger –his grandfather insisted, but the General was sure something else had happened.

 

- Sir –said Lysanias, and both turned to see him—If you want I can go and look for Kyros.

 

Hephaistion nodded.

 

- All right, but whatever you find, you come back and inform me –said his brother.

 

- Yes, sir.

 

Grandfather Demetrios, leaned his weight back against the chair and stretched his legs to the front, waiting until Lysanias had gone to speak again.

 

- Did you and Lys have a fight? –he wanted to know; something wasn’t quite well there—Lys is afraid of you, and you are very hard on him.

 

- We are at the army, grandpa –Hephaistion answered— I can’t treat him as if we were at home

 

- Don’t be smart with me –Demetrios scolded him—Something happened between you.

 

The General sighed; he had been rude. But he was so tense that the words had just escape from his mouth. 

 

- I’m sorry…—he took a seat in front of his grandfather—Yes, we had a…problem –it was pointless to lie to him.

 

- What happened? –but Hephaistion shook his head.

 

- I’m sorry grandpa, but that is between us, I don’t think it would be right if I told you –Demetrios nodded.

 

- All right, I respect that, but –said his grandfather—Don’t forget that he is your brother, Phai, no matter what he did.

 

Hephaistion decided to say nothing, he didn’t want to argue with his grandfather; besides if he told him what he really thought, that would mean telling him that Lysanias had slept with the King, and even if he wasn’t very happy with his brother, he didn’t want to cause him more problems.

 

It was almost dark when Hephaistion, tired of being waiting, took his swords and went outside to look for his son, Kyros and Lysanias. One of his pages, Laphanes was behind him with a torch.

 

Where, in the name of 3 Judges of the Underworld, are these boys? –thought the General, really worried for them. He was seriously considering the possibility of taking his men with him, and start a search, when he saw Lysanias with his chiton torn and cover with mud and blood, limping with Achilles on his back. Kyros was at his side with Prince Cyrus, and neither boy looking better than Lysanias.

 

He ran to them, feeling his heart beating faster at the sight of his son in such conditions.

 

- What happened? –asked the General, carrying Achilles who had a very nasty cut on his leg. When the boy was in his father’s arms, he embraced him, and curled on his chest.

 

Lysanias and Kyros saw each other. 

 

- I went to the women’s tent looking for Aki –said Kyros at last—But the guards told me he had gone out with Prince Cyrus, so I went looking for them.

 

- I found Kyros when he was looking for them –Lysanias continued—But we couldn’t find them anywhere inside the camp; we asked the guards, the servants, the soldiers…we even asked General Nikanor, who was near the south gates, so we thought in the possibility of looking outside. And we found them.

 

- Outside the camp?! –exclaimed Hephaistion, kneeled to check his son’s injure, it was a nasty cut and his leg was bleeding—But that is crazy, how could they possible go out? There are sentries all over the place.

 

- You should ask him, sir –said Lysanias, looking at Achilles—Apparently he and Prince Cyrus found an opening in the palisade and they sneaked out. Cyrus fell in a hole, near a big tree.

 

- Aki tried to help me –Cyrus continued with the story, his Greek was excellent, no doubt that Bahman was doing a great job with him—I asked him to go for help, but he refused to let me alone, and he fell too when he tried to pull me out.

 

The General puffed out. This was just great, a day before Alexander’s announcement Achilles decides to sneak out and hurt himself…and with Darius’ only son to make things even better.

 

- Kyros, please take Prince Cyrus back to the women’s tent, Laphanes –he said to his page—Go with them. Kyros ask Bahman to take a look at Prince Cyrus’ and your wounds –said Hephaistion thinking quickly—Lysanias, you, Aki and I are going with dr. Philip.

 

The 3 teenagers, including his page, saw him with the same interrogation expressions of: “why don’t we go all together to see the same doctor?” But neither said a word. The General knew what they were thinking, so he explained.

 

- We can’t take Prince Cyrus to dr. Philip, if something goes wrong it would look bad to have a foreign doctor treating the Prince of Persia; and I can’t take Aki to Bahman…not now and you know why –Kyros, Lysanias and Laphanes nodded.

 

The Theban and the page took the Prince back to his family and Hephaistion carried Achilles again. They walked to dr. Philip’s tent silently, Achilles wasn’t crying but he knew his father was mad at him so he didn’t speak, Lysanias had nothing to say and Hephaistion was too angry for small talk. But then, the General noticed his brother was limping. He stopped and looked at his ankle.

 

- You can’t walk.

 

- It’s nothing –said the page, without looking at him.

 

- Come, I’ll carry you on my back –said Hephaistion, kneeling.

 

- But…that’s not necessary…r-really…–the page stammered, he always did that when he was nervous.

 

- I can carry you both –the General insisted. His brother was scared of him and that made Hephaistion feel bad, especially after his grandfather noticed it; one thing was that he wanted to teach him a lesson, another completely different that he feared him. 

 

Lysanias nodded and his brother carried the 2 boys.

 

Doctor Philip was attending the wounded of the battle. Yes, the battle of Issus had been a major victory for the Macedonian army, yes it would go down in history as one of the greatest battles of classic history, yes Alexander and his men had lay their hands on a magnificent treasure…but there was also the other side of war, the other face of victory, and that were the wounded.

 

The funeral pyres hadn’t impressed Hephaistion as much as the wounded; it was a horrible spectacle, the smell of blood and, in some cases of infection, filled his nostrils at the same time the moans and wails reached his ears. It was the worst place to take a child but he had no other options, besides, even if the idea pained him, he had to stop pampering his son. They had to wait at least 15 minutes, and while they were sitting on a wooden bench near the entrance, the General saw his brother making faces at the sight of man, who had a stump where his foot had been before.

 

- You better get use to this –said Hephaistion with soft voice, Achilles was sitting on his legs with the head against his chest, his small hand clutched to his clothes—I know its not pretty but is part of war, not everything is celebration banquets and rewards.

 

His brother nodded.

 

- I know, I always knew this wasn’t going to be easy but…I never thought it would be this hard –said Lysanias with honesty.

 

- What were you expecting then? –he really wanted to know what did his younger brother thought.

 

- I don’t know anymore…–the page shook his head—I suppose I wanted to be better than you and Nick, to shine in the battlefield and to achieve something big.

 

- We all dream with that, Lys –now he was speaking like his brother, not like his superior.

 

- No, its not the same…I…I want to be noticed, I want to hear dad talking about me as he talks about you and Nick…now even Eni has been rewarded by the King, he gave her Darius’ bow! –exclaimed the page, his face resting on his hands—I’m the youngest, and by the time I be your age, you and Nick would have done everything that matters.

 

- You are exaggerating –said Hephaistion.

 

- Oh, really? –he turned to see the General—Phai, you are a Somatophilax, no one in the family ever was one, you are the General of the Agema, which means that you have a superior rank than uncle Althaimenes, dad, Demetrios and Nick together –said his brother, speaking very quickly, letting out all the feeling he had been keeping for so long— You are the King’s lover and tomorrow your son will be a Prince…what am I suppose to do to compete with that?  

 

- Lys, this isn’t a competition –now he was starting to understand him, at last.

 

- Easy for you to say that, you weren’t back home listening to dad talking of how wonderful you are –said Lysanias, resentfully.

 

They both fell silent. Lysanias was right, Hephaistion didn’t know what was to feel like him, his brother wanted to be noticed and he, all he had ever wanted since he was a boy, was to be like everybody else; but thanks first to his looks and intelligence, and latter to his skills as a warrior, he always ended catching the attention of important men and getting himself into a lot of troubles.

 

They truly were very different.

 

Doctor Philip finally could see them. Hephaistion felt a little silly for bothering him when it was clear he had more important things to do, but he truly needed Achilles in good shape for next day, and he trusted this doctor with his life, after all he had been the only one who accepted the challenge of treating Alexander in Tarsus.

 

Doctor Philip cleaned and bandaged the boy's leg, and even if Achilles was about to cry when the doctor applied an ointment over his wound, he didn’t, he just clenched his jaw. Lysanias had a sprained ankle, but would be fine in a couple of days.

 

When they were back at his tent, Hephaistion sat Achilles on his bed, he knew the boy was tired and scared, and that this was the worst moment to talk to him, but he had to. It was already late and next day Alexander would make the announcement in front of the whole army, that Achilles would be his heir and the boy needed to know.

 

- Achilles, we need to talk –he said, in a serious tone he had never used with him before.

 

Achilles moved his head up and down.

 

- You are angry –said the boy, without looking at him.

 

- Yes, Achilles. I’m angry –said Hephaistion, taking a seat at his side—Why do you think is that? 

 

- Because I sneaked out without permission –said Achilles, both hands on his lap.

 

- Why did you do that?

 

- I don’t know…

 

- Achilles you know perfectly well why you did it, tell me –said his father, trying his best to not shout.

 

- Because…they said I wouldn’t dare to go outside and climb the tree –said the boy at last. 

 

- They?

 

- The other boys in the camp –explained Achilles—Cyrus and I found them near his family’s tent, and they said they had found a hole in the wall, and that Cyrus and I would be cowards if we didn’t go out.

 

- So, you and Cyrus ran to the tree and he fell –his son moved again he head up and down— You can’t do this again; do you hear me? –said Hephaistion, trying his best to not scold him as his anger demanded. This had been a terrible day, first Alexander’s announcement at the meeting, then his confession about his father’s participation in King Philip’s murder and now this—You can’t endanger your and your friend Cyrus’ lives…and you’ll be grounded. You can’t go to play with Cyrus. 

 

- Yes daddy –said a very sad Achilles.

 

They fell silent for a moment. Hephaistion took a deep breath and counted to 10 before speaking again.

 

- Aki…we have to talk about something else –said the General, thinking how to explain the situation to his son. 

 

- I haven’t done anything else –said the boy at once.

 

That made the General smiled.

 

- I know, I’m not going to scold you again –he said, softening his voice—It’s about your uncle…do you now how the Macedonians chose a King?

 

- More or less, professor Kallisthenes told me that the Assembly chooses a King –said Achilles.

 

- He is right, but the previous King has to name an heir –his father explained—Usually is his elder son, but sometimes, when he doesn’t have a son, he can name another person, especially another male from his own family. For example, King Alexander’s II heir was his brother Perdikkas III, because he died very young and without sons –he made a pause—Your uncle has to name an heir now.

 

- But he doesn’t have brothers –said Achilles.

 

- As a matter of fact he has one –his son opened his eyes in astonishment.

 

- Really?

 

- Yes, really; but is his half brother.

 

- What does that mean?

 

- That means that your uncle’s father…your grandfather –oh that had been so difficult to say; now the same man who had rape him was his son’s grandfather—Had a son with a woman that is not your grandmother.   

 

- All… right –thanks to Alexander, Achilles now knew he had a grandfather who wasn’t Amyntor, and a grandmother that wasn’t Antigone, but all of this was a little confusing.

 

- But your uncle can’t name his brother as his heir because he is sick –said Hephaistion—So, he is going to…he wants to name you his heir.

 

Achilles watched him in silence, thinking about this.

 

- That means that I will be King some day? Like my uncle? –he asked.

 

- Yes, Aki, that’s exactly what this means…of course that, when the time comes, the Assembly would have to ratify you as King and you would be much older, I hope, but…—now he was rambling, so he closed his mouth.

 

- Mm…so, my uncle needs my help because he doesn’t have any sons?

 

- Yes… I guess you can put it that way –his son moved his head up and down. 

 

- I want to help my uncle –he said at once.

 

- That is very noble Aki, but you have to understand that this means that you will be a Prince just like your friend Cyrus –Hephaistion wanted to be sure that he understood the situation—And you will have to behave like one.

 

- Yes, daddy.