CHAPTER 101

 

Alexandria, Egypt 49 BC

 

Alexandria burst on Gnaeus Pompey like Aphrodite upon the world. More numerous even than Antioch or Rome, it’s three million people inhabited what was arguably Alexander the Great’s most perfect gift to prosperity. His empire had perished within a single generation, but Alexandria went on forever. Though so flat that it’s biggest hill, the dreamy garden of the Panaeum, was a man-made mound two hundred feet high, it seemed to Gnaeus Pompey’s dazzled eyes more something constructed by the Gods than by clumsy, mortal men. Part blinding white, part a rainbow of colors, liberally dewed with trees carefully chosen for slenderness or roundness, Alexandria upon the farthest shore of Our Sea was magnificent (1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

Alexander knew that if he wanted to gain the support of the Egyptians he had to be extremely careful with their customs and, particularly, with their religion, not that this was extremely difficult for him, after all my King always was very devoted of the Gods. But, he never imagined that he would obtain more than he had dreamed when he arrived to this land of thousands of years of history.

 

- Do you know why all the Egyptians cities are built on this side of the Nile? –Alexander asked Hephaistion, standing near the edge of the sacred river. They had arrived to Memphis a few days ago, a city of almost three thousand years old, founded by Pharaoh Menes. This place, sanctuary of the God Ptah, had been the home of many Pharaohs, the resting place of the alabaster sphinx, a city that had been besieged by the Hyksos, sacked by the Assyrians and rebuilt. It had been a place for the education of royal princess, a religious center, the scenario for power struggles, the place of residence of the Persian satraps, and now, Memphis would enter another phase of its great history.

 

After the construction of Alexandria, Memphis became the second most important city of Egypt after being the center of royal activity. Not only the Ptolemys made their residence in Alexandria, also the Romans used it as the center of their administrative power in Egypt.

 

- I have no idea of why cities are built on this side –said Hephaistion—But I’m sure you are eager to tell me.

 

The King smiled.

 

- It’s because the sun always raised from the East which means life, so all the cities are build on this side, but, since the sun goes down to the West, representing death, then all the cemeteries and mortuary temples are located on the other side –he explained. 

 

- Someone has been studying a lot lately –his General smiled. He knew Alexander suspected that something was wrong with him. He was quieter than usual and even if the King had repeatedly asked him if there was something wrong he hadn’t told him a word about his dream and his father’s death…why? Because not even he could start accepting that he would never see his father again, then, how could he talk about it?

 

Hephaistion didn’t want to worry Alexander, and that was why he had accepted to come with him, that was why he forced himself to smile and look as if nothing happened.  

 

- I have to…but I didn’t call you here to talk about the Nile –the King’s voice suddenly changed, he wanted to talk about something serious.

 

- I’m listening.

 

Alexander started to walk and his beloved followed him, it was such a hot day that Achilles had stayed with his friend Cyrus inside the Persians’ tent, under the feathered fan of a skilful slave, making the most of his day off. 

 

- By right of conquest Egypt it’s now mine –he explained—I was talking to the priests and, according to what I have seen so far, no one can rule Egypt without their support. 

 

- And what do they think about having a Macedonian King instead of a Persian one? –he was starting to guess what was troubling his King. 

 

- They are delighted, especially after I made a sacrifice to Apis…you know, the bull God.

 

- I remember him.

 

- And that is why I want to talk to you –said the King, shielding his eyes against the burning sun to look at the people working on the rich black soil of the river. It was November, the Growing Season in Egypt; every year from June to September was the time known as the Flooding Season, during this time all the fields were flooded and, at the beginning of October the floodwaters started to recede leaving behind a layer of black soil. This soil was ploughed and seeded from October to February as the King could see in those moments.

 

- What do the priests want?

 

- They explained to me that, since the Persians conquered this land, the Great King had held the title of Pharaoh –Alexander continued—Now, that Egypt is in my hands, after defeating Darius, they want me to become their new Pharaoh.

 

- That doesn’t surprise me –said Hephaistion crossing his arms—This wouldn’t be the first time you are named as sovereign of a foreign land, after all Queen Ada adopted you.

 

The King shook his head.

 

- This time is different.

 

- How come? –his General couldn’t understand what was bothering him. The title of Pharaoh was the same as King, Alexander was a King, the only difference was that now he would rule over people who had a very complicated religion with thousands of years of traditions.

 

- A Pharaoh, Phai, is not just a King, it’s also a God –Alexander uttered those words with such intensity that Hephaistion laughed. The King frowned—What’s so funny?

 

- I’m sorry, but…Is this what is bothering you? That a bunch of foreign priests want to name you a God? –that had sounded terrible but the General couldn’t restrain himself for telling what was really on his mind.

 

- Don’t mock their beliefs –Alexander scolded him. 

 

- I don’t –Hephaistion corrected—You know perfectly well that I don’t believe in Gods, and certainly I found hard to believe that just because a group men decided to name you one you are going to become all-powerful and immortal…because last time I check Gods are immortal.

 

The King sighed and ran a hand through his face.

 

- What bothers me is not just that –he said slowly, choosing carefully his words—I’m worried because I don’t know how this is going to affect the men –his General could see now what was the problem—This people…and not just them, the Persians too, are the kind of people that not only obey and respect their Kings, they believe they are Gods and worship them like ones –he stopped and turned to look at his beloved—I don’t know how I’m going to handle this, I don’t want to offend the Egyptians but I don’t want to give my men the idea that I’m becoming…

 

- An Asian potentate who will demand to be treated like a God? –Hephaistion completed his words.

 

- Exactly.

 

- You are worrying too much –said his beloved—Deal with one problem at a time, first don’t insult the Egyptians and accept this honor as if it were just another crown, you can worry about the men later.

 

Alexander nodded slowly. 

 

- You are right –they were going to continue their way when they turned and found Kyros running at them as fast as he could. What had happened?

 

- What is it? –asked Hephaistion.

 

The Theban took a deep breath before answering.

 

- Your grandfather… wants to see you –he said panting.

 

The General felt his heart skipped a beat.

 

- Where is he?

 

- At your uncle’s tent, he is calling all the family –Kyros explained.

 

This is not good –thought Hephaistion. He turned to see Alexander and the King nodded.

 

- We’ll talk later.

 

- Thanks.

 

The General didn’t say one word and that caught the Theban’s attention. He was sure something had happened to his father, and now he was going to find out. As soon as he approached uncle Althaimenes’ tent he heard his sister crying and then he knew all his fears were true, he felt a knot inside his stomach and the cold arms of fatality embracing him. The flaps of his uncle’s tent look like the entrance of the underworld, promising to take him to a place of despair and sadness…

 

He took a deep breath and went inside.

 

All his family was there: his uncle, cousin, his brothers and sister and, at the center, his grandfather, sitting on a chair, as immobile as the marble statues of the Athenian Agora. It was curious but the first thing Hephaistion thought was that grandfather Demetrios looked one hundred years old. For a moment he didn’t understand what was going on, everything looked so unreal, the tent suddenly was very small and the faces around him were strange to him.

 

Grandfather Demetrios lifted his head when he heard footsteps, his eyes were red and puffy…and his face furrowed with wrinkles was marked by thick tears. So old, he looked so old.

 

- Son… —his grandfather’s voice was a ghost of sadness.

 

- He is dead, dad is dead –said Hephaistion and for a moment it was as if someone else had spoken, he didn’t recognized his own voice.

 

Grandfather Demterios closed his eyes and 2 thick tears slid down. Why had he said that? It was simple, Hephaistion didn’t want to hear it from someone else, he had known for days that his father was dead but, somehow, if he heard it from another mouth that would make it real.

 

Berenike ran and embraced him, hiding her face in his chest and, automatically, the General embraced her. He had no more tears, he had mourned enough the past days, alone, he felt his sister’s body trembling and her sobs drown against his chest. Near them, Nikandros was crying even if he did an effort to hide the sharp pain that felt in his heart. His older brother was never good dealing with his own emotions; anger, fear, love, sadness, loneliness…Nikandros didn’t know how to fight these faceless enemies and that made his mourning more difficult to bear.

 

Lysanias cried without shame, the now 15 years old boy looked as fragile as Achilles, more than ever he needed his mother, a hug, a reassuring word, but all here were so affected by the news that no one feel in conditions to comfort the teenager…

 

Mom…—thought Hephaistion suddenly. His mother was alone in Pella, and he could only imagine how devastated she would be. All her sons were on the other side of the Mediterranean and now her husband was in the real of death.  

 

- Have you…news about mom? –the General asked his uncle.

 

Althaimenes nodded and took a deep breath before speaking.

 

- She was the one who wrote to my father with the…news –he said with drown voice—Your father fell sick 3 weeks ago, the doctors said it was nothing serious but he didn’t got better and…– Althaimenes had to clear his throat several times—He died a week ago.

 

A week ago, when I had that dream –thought the General.

 

- How is she? –in those moments Hephaistion would have given everything to be at his mother’s side.

 

- She says fine but…

 

- One of us should go back –said Nikandros, wiping his tears with the back of his hand—Mom can’t be alone.

 

- She is not alone –said grandfather Demetrios, looking at his hands—She is with your aunt Thailea, she and her daughters went to Pella to stay with her.

 

- I…I…I’ll go back –said Berenike, taking her handkerchief to blow her nose, moving away from Hephaistion—I shouldn’t be here in the first place –she sobbed.

 

- You shouldn’t travel alone –said cousin Demetrios.

 

- Maybe, but none of you can’t leave the army now –said Berenike.

 

Nobody asked grandfather Demetrios to go with her because he looked in no conditions to travel.

 

- I’ll go with you –said Hephaistion suddenly.

 

- You can’t, not if the rumors are true –Althaimenes crossed his arms.

 

- What rumors? –asked Lysanias, he wasn’t interested in what they were saying but he wanted to distract himself.

 

- About the King being crowned Pharaoh –his uncle explained.

 

Damn! I completely forgot –thought the General.

- It’s true –said Hephaistion without emotion. He sighed—You are right; I can’t go now.

 

- I’ll go with Eni –said Nikandros—I’ll ask a permission to go to Pella, it’s my obligation, I’m the older one after all.

 

Nobody said a word. What could they say? They have lost a father, a brother, a son, an uncle, and with Amyntor’s death all of them had lost something that would never get back…

 

XXX

 

It was already dark in Memphis by the time Hephaistion left his uncle’s tent. He wanted to go to Alexander’s side, to tell him about his father’s death, about how sad and impotent he felt, about his last dream…he wanted to ask the King to hold him tight, to whisper close to his ear how much he loved him, he didn’t want to be alone but…Alexander was going to be crown Pharaoh, he had more important things to attend. He was a King not a common man and he couldn’t be bothering him with his problems. Not now, it would have to wait as much as that pained him.

 

- Hephaistion! –when he turned and found who was calling him, he was sure that some cosmic conspiracy was working against him because he found no other explanation to the fact that Philotas were there in that precisely moment—I want to talk to you. 

 

- But I don’t –the General was in a bad mood, he turned with all the intentions of going back to his tent, but Parmelio’s son followed him.

 

- Hephaistion! –he called him again. Hephaistion stopped and faced him furious. 

 

- Look Philotas I’m in no mood for your stupidities, so right now you have 2 options –the General listed with his fingers—One: you go away or two: I’ll kick your ass so hard that you would taste my boots in your mouth.

 

The hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry walked to him and dropped his voice in a whisper, completely unaffected by the threat.

 

- Or three, you come with me and we talk about a very illustrative letter I receive from Glaukos, the old royal steward –Hephaistion saw him through narrow eyes. At first he didn’t understood what was he talking about until he remembered that Glaukos was the one in charge of King Philip’s pages when…

 

Philotas smiled when he was the realization on Hephaistion’s face, and the General felt a shiver going down his spine.

 

XXX

 

- Make it quick, I don’t have time to waste –said the General, arriving to Philotas’ tent. He had never been here before, but he wasn’t surprised to see the magnificent furniture, the wooden floor, carpets, even flowers flooding the place with its delicate perfume.

 

They were alone, no signs of his misters Antigone or of his servants, and that didn’t pass unnoticed for Hephaistion. The hipparch had everything planned.

 

- Take a seat.

 

- No, I don’t plan to stay long –Hephaistion replied coldly.

 

- Fine –Philotas walked around, coming near a table where a wooden box stood alone. He ran his fingers on the table, caressing the wood with his fingertips, without looking at his guest.

 

- Cut the crap and tell me, what do you want? –the General confronted him, he was tired of Philotas and in no mood for this.

 

- I want to sleep with you –he went straight to the point.

 

- You are insane –he headed to the door with all the intentions of leaving. 

 

- King Philip raped you, didn’t he? –that stopped the General. What had he just said? Hephaistion was glad that Philotas couldn’t see his face at that moment. The hipparch made a pause before continuing, he wanted the General to fully understand his present situation— I know what he did to you –he said slowly, leaving the side of the table to walk to him with the same stealth of a cat—He forced you into his bed many times, and Glaukos had to call the doctor more than once to treat your wounds after Philip had his way…—Philotas took his hand to Hephaistion’s butt, his blue eyes following the curved of his chiton—I wonder if you still have the scars here.

 

That was too much. The General turned quickly, took his arm, twisted it painfully behind Philotas’ back and hit the hipparch’s head against the table, making the wooden box jumped. 

 

- Listen to me very carefully asshole –he hissed with hate near his ear—If you think that you can blackmail me with this, you are even more stupid than I thought –Philotas forced a laugh—What’s so funny?

 

- You…do you really thought I was going to blackmail you? No, I’m planning something bigger…—the hipparch felt a sharp pain running through his arm but he forced himself to keep his voice still—What do you think…the men would say about our new Pharaoh if they knew that his father bedded you?

 

- That’s my problem not Alexander’s –Hephaistion couldn’t see his point. 

 

- Wrong –Philotas smiled, his face red because of the effort of talking in that position—Some people think he and his mother killed Philip, but, if they knew that Philip raped you, they would be sure that Alexander killed his own father for you.

 

Hephaistion got paled. He released the hipparch and started to see clearly the situation. Alexander was going to be crowned Pharaoh he was the center of the attention in those moments, and, if Philotas made this public the men…Philip’s veterans, the faction of Parmelio would assumed he had been involved in Pausanias assassination conspiracy.

Philotas rubbed his arm.

 

- Let’s be honest, Hephaistion –he continued, watching carefully his expression—Who would doubt that Alexander killed Philip for you? We all know how jealous he is, and also that you are worth enough to kill a King –his eyes full with lust follow the length of the General’s legs—Parricide is an awful crime, even the Gods cursed those who commit it, imagine, what would the Greek allies say if they knew this? Alexander who killed his father just to be between your legs.  

 

Hephaistion clenched his jaw so hard that his teeth chattered.

 

- Don’t you think in killing me Hephaistion, or doing anything crazy like telling Alexander this, or else my partner would reveal the contents of Glaukos’ letter before you can do as much as think of stopping us.

 

Partner? –thought the General.

 

- How do I know that you would not make this public after sleeping with you? –he was dead serious and that made the hipparch smile.

 

- You have my word.

 

- I piss on your word Philotas –the General could barely restrain his hate and the burning rage inside him. 

 

- I can tell…I’ll give you Glaukos’ letter, what do you say? –said Philotas, not offended by the last remark—But I would have my prize first.

 

Hephaistion close his fists.

 

- Fine –it was like sealing his death sentence.

 

The hipparch felt as if all his wishes were becoming true in that moment; he could hardly hide his excitement.

 

- Now? –Philotas’ pulse quickened with the sole idea of having the General under him that same night.

 

- No, not now –Hephaistion didn’t wait for an answer and left the tent.

 

The General hated to admit it but this time Philotas had him in his hands. He couldn’t allow the hipparch to blame Alexander for a crime that his own father had committed, and not only that, Philotas was right, parricide was a terrible crime and his rape gave the King all the excuses he needed to kill Philip.

 

Another excuse –thought Hephaistion, almost running back to his tent. He knew very well that some people thought that Alexander and his mother had killed Philip, they had many reasons to do it, he didn’t want to add another one.

 

XXX

 

- You are an idiot, Philotas –said Krateros next day, hearing what had happened with Hephaistion—The pretty boy toyed with you, you let him have the control of the situation; what is this crap that you let him go just like that? “Not now” who is he to decide when are we going to bang him?

 

The hipparch didn’t like to be called and idiot, even less by someone he consider only slightly more intelligent than a donkey, but they were partners in crime and he had to swallow his pride.

 

- We have him in our hands now –said Philotas—Hephaistion can’t do a thing, and I warned him to not try something funny or you would make the letter public.

 

The commander’s eyes double their size.

 

- You told him I’m in this with you? Are you retarded?

 

- I didn’t mention your name…

 

- This is just damn great! –exclaimed Krateros furious—Hephaistion is not stupid, now he knows you are not alone and it would be just a matter of time before he guesses I’m working with you.

 

- You are paranoid, nobody will know a thing –the hipparch reassured him—I’ll send him a note to tell him when I want him to meet us. 

 

- A note? Bloody brilliant! –the commander laughed rudely, enraging Philotas—No notes or letter, dumbass, nothing that can probe that we are blackmailing him.

 

Even if the hipparch wanted to pierce Krateros with a spear and left his body to rot under the sun, he had to admit he was right: no notes.

 

- What do you suggest? –asked Parmelio’s son and the commander leaned closer.

 

- We’ll send… —but Krateros stopped talking in the same moment he found Hektor standing near them. How long had Philotas’ brother been there?

 

The hipparch turned and when he saw his brother he frowned.

 

- What the hell are you doing here? –he asked rudely, how much had he heard?

 

- I…came looking for you, father sent a letter –Hektor explained, watching his brother and then Krateros, he was nervous and the commander knew that he had heard more than he should.

 

- Can’t you see I’m busy? I’ll go later to Nikanor’s tent –when Hektor didn’t moved, Philotas sighed angrily—Out!

 

- Fine…you don’t have to be an ass –his brother left, and when he was far away Krateros crossed his arms.

 

- He heard something.

 

- Hektor? He doesn’t know anything –Philotas shook his hand, downplaying the matter.

 

Krateros said nothing, but he was sure that Hektor knew more than he should.

 

I’m not going to risk my neck just because of a brat  –he thought—I’ll do something about Hektor.

 

XXX

 

(1) Colleen McCullough. Caesar, p 677

 

A/N: I hope you liked it, and pretty please don’t forget my review –big adorable eyes– ^