CHAPTER 76

 

Next day the army assembled very early; again in battle formation and in front of a dais, just like days before, when the funerals took place. Hephaistion had dressed Achilles according to the occasion with a white chiton, but when Alexander planned all this, he didn’t thought that the boy would refuse to walk with him to the dais because he had stage fright. Of course his father had told him he had to walk at his uncle side in front of the army, but one thing was telling him and another completely different to see almost 40 thousand men there.

 

- Aki listen to me –said his father, kneeled in front of him—You have to stand at your uncle’s side, that’s all, you don’t even have to say anything.

 

- But I don’t want to –said the boy, stubbornly.  

 

- What have we talked about doing things we don’t want to do but we have to do? –asked Hephaistion.

 

- Can’t you go with me?

 

- No, this is something you have to do on your own –said the General—You have to be brave, Aki. Do you think that Achilles needed his father when he fought against Hector? 

 

- No…–said his son.

 

- Your ancestor did things on his own, or do you want the whole army to think that you are a coward? –all right, that was low, but Hephaistion truly needed to convince him and didn’t have much time.

 

- No –said Achilles very serious, for a boy of his age. The General patted his shoulder.

 

And so it was done, Alexander made the announcement in front of his whole army, that his nephew would be the Crown Prince and Achilles just stood there, very serious and behaving impeccably. More than one thought that Achilles was really his son and not his nephew, and the news, although shocking, didn’t cause any major problems. Now they had a Crown Prince.

 

The Macedonian army continued its march to the south by the old Phoenician road. But, almost a week later, when Alexander reached Marathus, something happened. Two Persian envoys came to him to deliver Darius’ armistice proposals and to ask for terms for the release of his mother, wife and children.

 

- Are you sure you want me to read the letter? –asked Hephaistion that night at the King’s room, and Alexander nodded.

 

- Yes, I want to hear your opinion –he insisted and his beloved took the Great King’s letter.

 

“King Philip of Macedonia and the Great King Artaxerxes III were on terms of friendship and alliance; but, upon the accession of Artaxerxes’ son Arses, King Philip was guilty of unprovoked aggression against him. Now, since my rein began, you have sent no representatives to my court to confirm the former and ancient friendship and alliance between the 2 kingdoms. On the contrary, you have crossed into Asia with your armed forces and done much damage to my people.

 

For this reason, I took the field in defense of my country and my ancestral throne. The issue of our last battle was as some god willed it; and now, me, Darius the King, ask Alexander the King to restore from captivity my wife, my mother and my children, for whom I’m willing to pay an appropriate ransom.

 

It is in my interest to make friends with you and become your allied, and I, in my authority as the Great King, would cede you the territories and cities of Asia west of the Halys River.

 

For this cause, I urge you to send me, in company of Meniscus and Arsimas, who have brought this request and who are representatives of my own, in order that proper guarantees may be exchanged”(1)

 

Hephaistion left the letter on the desk and sat at Alexander’s side on the bed.

 

- What do you think? –asked the King.

 

- I think that he is being very polite and generous; he is offering you what your father always wanted: everything from Cilicia to Sinope –said his beloved—Darius has changed, I guess the defeat at Issus truly killed something in him.

 

- And what would that be?

 

- His confidence –said Hephaistion—Now, he is not sure that he can actually win this war. But…this moment of weakness is not going to last. Darius is very vulnerable now, but in a matter of days, maybe months he will regain his confidence and assemble an army, as you want.

 

The King nodded.

 

- I have a problem now –said Alexander, dropping on his back, his arms crossed behind his head—If Parmelio knows about this letter he is going to force me to accept Darius’ terms.

 

- Only Parmelio? –his General leaned his head on his abdomen, using him as a pillow—Everyone wants to go back home, but you are right, Parmelio is the one who is going to speak louder in favor of Darius’ proposal. 

 

- Then, there is only one way out –said the King, his uneven eyes on the ceiling—They can’t know about the real content of this letter.

 

Hephaistion frowned, and straightened himself to look at him.

 

- What do you mean?

 

- I can’t hide from them the fact that I received a letter because, everyone knows by now, that 2 Persian envoys came –Alexander explained—So, I’m going to rewrite his letter.

 

- You are not serious –this was the craziest thing his beloved had heard.

 

- Of course I’m serious –the King sat again—Phai, I don’t want to go back, I can’t go back now, and I can’t possible show my military council this letter. What other choice do I have?

 

Hephaistion took a moment to think about this. He was right, if Alexander show this letter to his military council they would force him into accepting Darius’ proposals and that would mean good-bye to his dreams. He nodded.

 

- How are we going to do this? –that answered made the King smile.

 

A few minutes later, both of them were sitting at a magnificent desk, one in front of the other, with several candles and lamps. Alexander had found more of that fine paper that Darius used inside the drawers of this desk, and, since Hephaistion was the one who had the most beautiful handwriting of the 2, he was copying the letter, trying his best to imitate the same style.

 

- Write the same, just change the ending –said Alexander, leaning to the front, to see what was his beloved doing.

 

- Do you want me to eliminate the proposal about ceding you territory? –asked the General, writing slowly and with all care.

 

- Yes, the rest can be the same.

 

- All right. 

 

The General kept writing, for a moment they just heard the sound of the reed pen sliding over the parchment, until Hephaistion noticed that Alexander was doing nothing except watching him with all his attention...him, not what was he doing. 

 

- Stop doing that –asked this beloved.

 

- Doing what?

 

- You know what I mean –the General lifted his head—Stop staring at me.

 

- But I like to watch you.

 

- Yes, but is unnerving –Alexander pulled one of his locks playfully, and gave him his most adorable smile. They were like a couple of boys, forging the signature of their parents to skip classes. Hephaistion smiled back, he could help it—Alex, I want to ask you something.

 

- Ask.

 

- Do you remember that golden mare you gave me as a gift? –asked the General.

 

- Yes, what about that? 

 

- Would you mind if I gave the mare to my brother Nick?

 

- Of course I mind! I gave YOU that mare –said Alexander, he wasn’t angry just surprise, his beloved didn’t used to do these things—Why would you want to do that?

 

Hephaistion sighed, and told him about the whole business of Vashti and her twin sister Ayesha. By the time he finished his story, the King was laughing as if he had heard the funniest story of his life.

 

- This isn’t funny –Hephaistion protested.

 

- I’m sorry my love, but it is –said Alexander—Your noble heart never ceases to amaze me. I propose you something else: I will take both girls.

 

- Why?

 

- I’ll give them both to the one who proves to be the worthies –said Alexander with simplicity.

 

- In other words, you are going to give them as a reward –said Hephaistion, that was typical of the King, to judge the men by their actions. It was a good solution, but he couldn’t stop feeling bad for the girls, what if Krateros won them? 

 

- I know what you are thinking, but I think is the best way to avoid future problems between Nick and Krateros –the King took his hand—Your brother is a great hetairoi and Krateros and excellent commander, I don’t want problems between them that could affect their performance in the battlefield.

 

He was right. Hephaistion would have to trust his brother to prove to be the best man.

 

Alexander’s plan worked perfectly. Next day he presented his military council the letter I rewrote. As you can imagine, without the part of ceding territory, there wasn’t one of us who were in favor of accepting the Great King’s proposals. Alexander was expecting this and he immediately sent for the Persian envoys to give them his answer, contain in a letter…

 

“Your ancestors invaded Macedonia and Greece and caused havoc in our country, though we had done nothing to provoke them. As supreme commander of all Greece, I invaded Asia because I wished to punish Persia for this act, an act which must be laid wholly to your charge. You sent aid to the people of Perinthus in their rebellion against my father; Ochus sent an army into Thrace, which was a part of our dominions; my father was killed by assassins whom, as you openly boasted in your letters you yourselves hired to commit the crime, having murdered Arses with Bagoas’ help, you unjustly and illegally seized the throne, thereby committing a crime against your country; you sent the Greeks false information about me in the hope of making them my enemies.

 

You attempted to supply the Greeks with money, which only the Lacedaemonians were willing to accept, your agents corrupted my friends and tried to wreck the peace which I had established in Greece, then it was that I took the field against you; but it was you who began the quarrel. First, I defeated in battle your generals and satraps; now I have defeated yourself and the army you led.

 

By God’s help I am the master of your country, and I have made myself responsible for the survivors of your army who fled to me for refuge: far from being detained by force, they are serving of their own free will under my command.

 

Come to me, therefore, as you would come to the lord of the continent of Asia. Should you fear to suffer any indignity at my hands, then send some of your friends and I will give them the proper guarantees. Come, then, and ask me for your mother, your wife and your children and anything else you please; for you shall have them, and whatever besides you can persuade me to give you.

 

And in the future let any communication you wish to make with me be addressed to the King of all Asia. Do not write to me as to an equal. Everything you possess is now mine; so, if you should want anything, let me know in the proper terms, or I shall take steps to deal with you as a criminal. If, on the other hand, you wish to dispute your throne, stand and fight for it and do not run away. Wherever you may hide yourself be sure I shall seek you out.” (2)

 

Someone call the ambulance

there’s gonna be an accident

 

I’m coming up on infra-red,

there is no running that can hide you

cause I can see in the dark

I’m coming up on infra-red,

forget your running, I will find you

(Placebo, Infra-Red)

 

- Do you realize that Darius is going to be furious when he read that letter? –asked Hephaistion, watching the Persian envoys galloping at the distance, completely oblivious of the content of Alexander’s letter.

 

- Yes.

 

- And also that many things that you said, like accusing him of being the murderer of your father and a usurper, are not true? –his beloved insisted.

 

- Yes, Phai; I’m completely aware of that –said the King with all calm—And I truly hope to make him really angry, so he would think about this war as something personal, a matter of personal honor and would come to attack me directly again.

 

- I hope you are right.

 

- You don’t need to hope, I’m right –said Alexander with all confidence.

 

XXX

 

Darius was back at Susa and back to his comfortable rooms and luxury palaces, when he received Alexander’s letter, and of course, as the Macedonian King was expecting, he was furious. After all, how dare a simple boy of 23 years old write to him, TO HIM, the Great King, in such way? This was insulting; who did this boy thought he was? Now, this had gone too far, he, Darius III of Persia had had a moment of weakness and had wrote to this pompous barbarian as an equal, offering him his friendship, offering him part of his vast empire, approaching him with courtesy, and what he received as an answer? Threats! Insults! Defamations!  

 

He couldn’t stand this; now his honor was compromised. Two times the Macedonians had made fun of him: first Hephaistion and now his lover. Darius would not tolerate this anymore.

 

- Your majesty –said Melkar, a very peculiar and strange character who could have been very handsome if it weren’t for a horrible scar that crossed his left eye—If I may –he asked after hearing his King cursing, for almost half and hour, since he read Alexander’s letter.

 

- Speak, Melkar –said Darius; he was in a terrible mood.

 

- Your divinity, this…barbarian had insulted you beyond the limits, and to insult you is to insult the Gods. He is committing blasphemy! –said Melkar, raising his voice to give a dramatic effect to his words—He must pay!

 

- I already know that! –exclaimed Darius, throwing his cup against the wall.

 

Melkar bowed and waited a moment before continuing. 

 

- Your mightiness, I heard you want to capture one of this barbarian’s officers, a spy –he said with caution, he knew this was something delicate—For what I have heard, this…spy, is also the barbarian King’s lover. If you want, I can bring this man to you, and you can have your revenge on him and also, on the barbarian King.

 

The Great King thought for a moment. He liked what he heard, but…

 

- Hephaistion is too strong, I don’t think a single man would be able to defeat him –he said, remembering how he had tried to kidnap him without success.

 

- I know, your majesty. Hephaistion son of Amyntor cut Kingu’s arm on a single combat –said Melkar. He was famous because of his spies, it was said that Melkar knew everything, and he paid splendidly to anyone who could give him juicy information—But I have my…ways.

 

- If you can bring him to me, Melkar, you will have my gratitude –Melkar bowed again, he knew perfectly well what it meant to have the Great King’s gratitude.   

 

Melkar lived in Tyre, but he wasn’t born there. He came from another Phoenician city: Carthage in North Africa, the home place of Amilcar, Hannibal and Hasdrubal, the Generals who made Rome tremble almost 2 hundred years after this day. Originally, almost 300 years ago, Carthage had depended on Tyre, but eventually it gained its independence, and by now it was flourishing, gaining status and power in the Mediterranean, as a commercial center. About 200 years before, Carthage had signed a treaty with Rome imposing itself on the still barbarian city, and subjugated the Libyan tribes that surrounded it. Only the kingdom of Numidia remained as a power like them in North Africa.  

 

100 years ago Carthage had 2 wars against Sicilia, and by now, its navy was famous across the Mediterranean. But Melkar was bored in Carthage, and he had left his natal city looking for money and power in Tyre, where in short time, he became one of his most prominent citizens. But that wasn’t enough, and soon, his ability to collect information caught the attention of the Great King. Now, Melkar was where he wanted, but he still wanted more.

 

He knew everything he needed about Alexander, and of course, of the beautiful Macedonian who had defeated the deadly Kingu, and had tricked the Great King. Now, it was his opportunity to shine and had what he always wanted, making honor to his name, the name of a Phoenician God who was the Lord of Tyre.    

 

XXX

 

Almost a week ago, Parmelio was sent to Damascus to retrieve the Great King’s baggage train, a very boring and highly administrative task that of course, Alexander didn’t want to do but it was extremely necessary. Meanwhile, the young King continued with his march going south. It was January now, and soon it would be Hephaistion’s birthday.

 

- You wanted to see me? –asked his beloved, arriving to where Alexander was standing, near a hill, watching the path before them, and carefully thinking about his next course of action. It was early in the morning, but he had many things to do that day. 

 

- I need a favor to ask you –said the King, his eyes still on the distance.

 

- Of course, what is it?

 

- What do you know about Sidon? –asked Alexander.

 

- Not much, just that is a Phoenician city, and like all Phoenician cities, it’s located at the coast and it’s very famous for its commerce. Once, I heard my father saying that Sidon is very famous because of its glass, purple dyes, and I also heard, that its women's are excellent in the art of embroidery, or so my sister said –said Hephaistion—Why do you ask? 

 

- Well, I need you to go to Sidon and found them a King –said Alexander and his beloved laughed, he truly thought he was joking.

 

- No, seriously?

 

- Seriously –this time the King turned to see him—You see Phai, the Sidonians hated their reigning Prince, apparently they executed him, and they asked me to chose a successor for them. I don’t have time to do it, and you are excellent reading people, I can’t think of a better person than you to do this –Hephaistion fell silent—Phai –Alexander walked to him, and took his hand—Sidon is strategically for my plans, they hate Tyre, even if both are Phoenician cities, and I’m planning to follow the path to Tyre. I can’t do it until I know for sure that Sidon is completely in peace and on my side.  

 

His General nodded slowly.

 

- I know… I’ll do it –Alexander smiled—When do you want me to go?

 

- As soon as you are ready.

 

XXX

 

- You are going where? –asked Xsayarsa, while Kyros and Hephaistion were packing all the necessary things.

 

- To Sidon; Alexander wants me to go and chose a King for them –said the General, looking for his dark cloak.

 

- Have you ever been in Sidon, Peris? –asked the eunuch.

 

- Never in my life –he brushed his hair back— And you?

 

- Once, but it was long time ago, I went to buy fabrics for the harem –said Xsayarsa—Do you want me to go with you?

 

- I was going to ask you –said Hephaistion smiling.

 

- Oh, dear Ahura Mazda! –Xsayarsa took his hands to his face—But I have to pack. ATASH! –the eunuch left, calling his servant and speaking very quickly in Persian.

 

The General smiled, he had the impression that Xsayarsa was going to travel with more baggage than he.

 

- Can I go too? –asked Achilles, sitting besides his father’s trunk on the bed.

 

- No, Aki, you can’t –said Hephaistion, that disappointed his son—You are going to stay with your uncle. 

 

- Why? –asked the boy.

 

- Because, now that you are the Crown Prince, you can’t skip classes and you have things to do too –the General explained—You are staying with Aki, Kyros.

 

- Are you traveling just with Yarsa? –asked the Theban in shock.

 

- No, I’m taking Lysanias with me.

 

- Are you sure that is a good idea? –Kyros hated Lysanias, he had always been very mean with him, although he had to admit the page was changing for good…but he didn’t trusted him.

 

- I want to spend some time with my brother…don’t look at me like that Kyros, I’ll be fine –said Hephaistion, patting his shoulder—Please, take care of Aki and see that he doesn’t cause too much troubles.

 

- I don’t cause troubles, I’m a good boy –said Achilles at once, making his father laugh.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion was going next day so, he went to Alexander’s tent to have dinner with him and some of his friends. It was a good change, to see there only his closest friends: Perdikkas, Leonnatos, Kleitos, Ptolemy, Koinos, Nearchos, Nikanor…but sadly also Krateros and Philotas was there, the latter with his younger brother: Hektor. Even though they were having a great time, it was almost as if they were back home when Alexander was still the Crown Prince and they had their head full with dreams. 

 

- Alexander, I heard that Philoxenus wrote to you today –said Nearchos.

 

Philoxenus was the commander of the King forces at the sea-board. Of course, Nearchos knew him and, since he had heard about his letter, he feared that something bad had happened at the sea. He had wanted to return with the fleet, but Alexander needed him here.  

 

The King’s smile left him at once, and he cursed, catching his friends’ attention.

 

- It was a stupidity! –he said at last, after a long litany of bad words that would have made Xsayarsa faint. 

 

- Why? What happened? –asked Perikkad, who until 30 seconds ago didn’t give a damn about Philoxenus and his letters.

 

- Apparently Philoxenus has the impression that I’m some kind of sugar daddy –that made Hephaistion laugh and almost choke with his food. He had heard about the letter but didn’t know about its content; he had been very busy the whole day, preparing his baggage and leaving Dismas instructions of how to proceed in his absence. 

 

- Why? –asked his beloved, coughing.

 

- He wrote me that, and I quote him: “there was with him a certain Theodorus, of Tarentum, who had two boys of surpassing beauty to sell, and he enquired whether I would buy them” –all his friends laughed, except Hephaistion—Honestly! What shameful thing Philoxenus has ever seen in me that he should spend his time in making such disgraceful proposals!

 

His friends laughed a lot with that, and Alexander kept cursing, sincerely indignant with this letter, what was he? A lecherous old man like his father? Since when he needed a pimp to get him young beautiful boys? He really was haunted by the same question since he read that letter; what had he done to make his commander think that he would want to buy 2 boys for pleasure?…

 

- Maybe he thought Hephaistion is getting old –said Krateros, making them laugh even harder and Hephaistion felt a knot in his stomach. 

 

- But seriously, for example, Perdikkas, would you look at me and say that I’m the kind of guy who would want a sex slave? –Alexander insisted.

 

- No Alexander, but you have excellent taste, I mean one just have to look at Phai to know you like beautiful people, and maybe these boys are truly something and Philoxenus thought you would like them –said Perdikkas.

 

- I say you should let Philoxenus buy the boys –said Ptolemy, having the time of his life—Now I’m curious, maybe they are really a beauty.

 

- No, I’m not letting Philoxenus buy anything! –exclaimed the King angry, but not with them, with the situation—I don’t want that latter the whole army would be saying that I like to have sex slaves.

 

- What I don’t understand is, why Philoxenus asked you first? –asked Koinos, while a servant filled his cup—If he wanted to gain your favor, why not just buy the boys and send them?

 

- Because Philoxenus is a cheap bastard –said Nearchos at once—And, if these boys are truly as beautiful as he says, then they must be really expensive.

 

They kept guessing how the boys may look like, and Alexander kept cursing until he turned and saw Hephaistion’s expression. He wasn’t even looking at them, his dark gray eyes were on his cup of wine, and he brushed his hair behind his ear.

 

XXX

 

- Phai! –Alexander called him, when everybody else had gone—What’s wrong? Why are you so quiet?

 

- It’s nothing –the General forced himself to smile—I’m just tired and tomorrow I’m going to Sidon.

 

- Phai, why do you insist in lying to me when you know it’s useless? –the King pat his side and his beloved sat again, on the couch next to him—What’s wrong? You were perfectly fine before Nearchus asked me about Philoxenus’ letter. Are you mad about that?

 

- I’m not mad –Hephaistion saw his hands—It’s just…my birthday is the day after tomorrow.

 

- I know, I would want to have you here to celebrate but this whole thing of Sidon can’t wait –said Alexander, then he thought quickly—What does your birthday have to do with Philoxenus’ letter?

 

- Alex, don’t you see? I’ll be 24 in 2 days –the King blinked in utterly confusing.

 

- So? Are you going to turn into a pumpkin or something like that? –his General saw him through narrow eyes.

 

- You know perfectly well that after a man turns 24 years old is not right for him to have a male lover…at least not an adult male, because people start to question about the manliness of the lovers –Hephaistion explained. This was something he had feared long before they came to Asia, since his father told him that he had to get married.

 

- Phai, since when do you care about these things? This is just a social tradition, an unwritten law –said Alexander, failing to see what was the problem—I couldn’t care less about it, why should you? It’s ridiculous! Why should I stop loving you just because you are 24 now?

 

- Alex, I don’t care about other people, but I can’t damage your reputation –said Hephaistion holding his gaze—I have feared this moments since years ago, and Philoxenus’s letter reminded me that you should have a younger lover.

 

The King took him by the arm and threw him, on his back against the couch, with force.

 

- Listen to me very carefully Hephaistion –he whispered near his lips, his weight against his beloved’s body, his breath hitting the long locks of his hair—I don’t give a damn if you are 13, 24 or 50 years old. I love YOU, and only you; so stop thinking this nonsense.

 

His beloved needed a moment before a sweet and loving smile curved his lips. He could never explain his King much these words meant to him. He put his arms behind Alexander's neck and spread his legs to allow the King's body to fully rest on him: and for a long moment, they stayed like this, in silence.

 

- I don’t want to leave you –said Hephaistion in a loving tone of voice that he rarely used.

 

- And I don’t want you to go, but, can you imagine if I send Kleitos to Sidon? –the King asked, kissing his beloved’s cheek—He would name King the first man who could drink as much as him –the General laughed imagining that—Or if I send Perdikkas, he would name King the richest man. 

 

- In other words the one who could bribe him, poor Perdikkas but he loves gold too much –whispered Hephaistion, cocking his head and looking for his lips. The King moaned softly, how he loved his kisses.

 

- I’m very curious to know…—Alexander slid his lips over Hephaistion’s—What kind of man are you going to chose as King –he kissed his beloved again and the General opened his mouth obediently.

 

- Well –sighed Hephaistion between kisses—I could always name King –he took Alexander’s lower lip and nipped it—The man who kisses better….of course that, in order to do it, I would have to kiss everybody.   

 

The King saw him extremely serious, and his General laughed.

 

- I can’t see the funny side of this.

 

- Why are you so jealous? –asked Hephaistion, truly intrigued.

 

- Would you like to hear me talking about kissing everybody? –Alexander asked.

 

- I’m just joking.

 

- I don’t like these jokes –the General pinched his cheek playfully. 

 

- Don’t get mad; you know perfectly well that I’m only yours –he kissed the King again.

 

Then, Hephaistion started to remember something that Xsayarsa had said nights ago about kissing; he knew he was crazy to be thinking in the possibility of actually following the eunuch’s advices but…what was the worst that could happen? He gathered all his courage and left a hungry kiss, with his mouth open in the sensitive area between Alexander’s collarbone and the base of his throat. His teeth closed gently on his skin, slowly, taking his time to enjoy it and sending shivers down his spine.

 

- Gods!… –he almost smiled when he heard the King moan. Maybe Xsayarsa’s advices weren’t so bad— I don’t know what am I going to do without you? –said Alexander, taking one of Hephaistion long locks and curling it in his finger.  

 

- You can always tell Philoxenus that you want these boys –the General teased him, making him cursed again.

 

- Phai, tell me, why do you think he asked me that? –Alexander just couldn’t drop the subject. His commander should be proud; he had successfully traumatized the Macedonian King.

 

- You aren’t going to leave this alone, are you? –the King’s face told him everything. He sighed—There is nothing wrong with you, I think that Philoxenus thought that, since you and I have been together since we were 13, you liked young beautiful boys. It’s like I told you before, the normal, or the most common thing, is that men of our age have younger lovers, so Philoxenus must have thought that you wanted another one. 

 

Alexander sighed.

 

- I guess you are right...Phai?

 

- Hm?

 

- I love you.

 

- I love you too.

 

XXX

(1) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, p 128, and Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 240

I have to explain. To write this letter I copy the 80% from Arrian, 10% from Dr. Green and the 10% left was my own invention.

 

(2) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, p 129 and 130

This letter is exactly the same, I didn’t change a thing.