Chapter 109

 

CHAPTER 109

 

- Where is Aki? –asked Nikandros. They had left Berenike at Leonnatos’ house, and after a very emotional reunion, where Leonnatos had been one step of crying for Nikandros utterly amusement, he, Hephaistion and grandfather Demetrios, headed to the General’s house, to eat a well deserved meal after a long day.

 

Hephaistion, the same as other officers, were staying at houses inside Tyre while the rest of the army camped at the mainland; and of course the one who had been left with the worst of all, by Alexander’s direct orders, had been Philotas. The General had heard him complaining that his room had a leak that kept dropping on his head.

 

Now, months after the savage assault and the long siege, the city was slowly coming back to normality thanks to the constant presence of the fleet, the garrison left there and the comings and goings of soldiers; but it was still too soon and several buildings and streets were destroyed.

 

- Aki is with Alexander, he insisted that his Prince should accompany him to inspect the fleet –explained Hephaistion, playing with a piece of breath between his fingers.

 

- Mom asked us a lot of questions about him –said his brother, chewing a piece of chicken—She is very glad knowing that he is fine and very happy with you; she even sent him a letter.

 

- Aki is going to be delighted; our mom is the only mother he has ever known –said the General smiling, his arms resting on the table.

 

Kyros brought more wine and took the empty dishes. Nikandros smiled.

 

- You know, Phai? Mom cooked for us her famous chicken with her secret ingredient –he teased him and Hephaistion narrowed his eyes.

 

- I hate you.

 

- And it was so damn delicious –the General kicked him under the table, like they did when they were kids and his brother laughed.

 

- Easy boys! –grandfather Demetrios scolded them.

 

- Mom sent you and Lys bread –Nikandros continued, successfully calming his brother down.

 

- And why didn’t you say that before?

 

- Because I ate it –answered his brother without shame and Hephaistion was one step of drawing his sword.

 

- You did what?

 

- I was hungry, and mom’s bread smelled so good –the General kicked him again and his brother had to stand up quickly to dodge the second kick.

 

- I said ENOUGH! –their grandfather raised his voice—Zeus, Hades and Poseidon! You are like children…Nick, what news do you have about Agis? –he asked changing the subject and Nikandros sighed, sitting down again.

 

- In Pella people don’t speak about anything else besides Agis –he said, crossing his arms and leaning his back against the chair—The Spartans are urging the Greek cities to join their revolt, but, you’ll not believe this, Demades, dad’s old friend, managed to convince the Athenians not to join the Spartans, and not to put at Agis’ service their powerful fleet. 

 

Grandfather Demetrios laughed softly.

 

- Good news indeed, Alexander is going to be very happy –he said. 

 

- Yes, but I also heard that Thrace is in revolt too –said Nikandros, alarming Hephaistion.

 

- Is it true? –his older brother shrugged.

 

- That’s what people are saying I don’t know for sure –answered Nikandros—But Cassander was complaining a lot because Alexander doesn’t send reinforcements or money and his father can’t cope with everything…I saw Antipater once, he looks like one hundred years old. 

 

- I can imagine –whispered Hephaistion.

 

I truly hope this is just a rumor because if its true, then Antipater is going to have an even harder time dealing with both, Sparta and Thrace –thought the General, sure that Alexander would not send his regent help, the King had left that clear enough time ago.

 

XXX

 

Berenike was extremely happy to be back and Leonnatos couldn’t hide the fact that he had missed her, and his children, more than he thought he would. They spent several days of peace and quite in Tyre, Berenike complaining for the sorry state of her husband and scolding all his slaves and servants. She couldn’t believe that, she was gone for a few months, and Leonnatos’ cloths were a mess, and he had been eating so bad that 2 times he had fell sick. At the end she decided that men were helpless alone.

 

One afternoon, when Berenike was tired of sewing back clothes, she went to look for Thais, she had so many things to tell her friend, including the latest gossip in Athens courtesy of her aunt Thailea, but since Leonnatos had spent all his free time with her, she didn’t have a chance to do so until now.

 

- Can you believe it? My Kitty-pon is now one of the Somatophylakes –said Berenike jumping happily while they walked around the city—He told me that Alexander chose him to fill the position left vacant when Arybbas died of an illness in Egypt.

 

- Those are great news! –Thais smiled, the last rays of light were painting the clouds in a beautiful array of orange and red—Your mother is going to be very happy –those words erased Berenike’s smile—What’s wrong? –asked a concerned Thais, fearing that she had said something inappropriate.

 

- I don’t think mom is in the mood for this –said Berenike, her hands at her back and her eyes on her feet—She is not crying or anything like that, she smiles and talks with us as if nothing had happened but…mom looks so distant and her smile never reaches her eyes.

 

- She just lost her husband, it’s too soon –said the hetaira and her friend nodded.

 

- I still can’t believe that dad is dead –said Berenike, lifting her head to look at the sky—It seem impossible, my parents were the perfect couple and to see mom alone it’s heartbreaking.

 

- That’s how life is Eni…—Thais turned and saw Ptolemy at the distance—Eni, I’m sorry to leave you like this, but I have to go.

 

Berenike shook her head.

 

- Don’t worry; we’ll talk later.

 

- Health to you! –the hetaira left her and she sighed, watching her friend reaching Ptolemy.

 

- Yes, I suppose that this is how life is –Berenike whispered.

 

She looked around, it would be dark soon and she was in the most desolated part of the city, she headed back to Leonnatos’ house, lost in her thoughts, still thinking in her mother, the warm welcome from her husband, her children, what was she going to do now and what were they going to have for dinner when she crashed against someone. She lost her balance and almost fell. 

 

- Oh dear Hera, I’m so sor…YOU? –Berenike couldn’t believe her bad luck: it was Kleitos.

 

The hipparch was as surprised as she, looking at her with eyes wide open. He was heading back to his own house after spending the day checking the horses of the Ile Basilike and the equipment of his unit, thinking about the war, the spoils and what could be Alexander planning for them, when he crashed against the last person he could have expected. He didn’t even know she was back. 

 

- What are you doing here? –he asked, voicing his thoughts.

 

- Me? What are YOU doing here? –asked Berenike, frowning—You are following me, aren’t you?

 

Kleitos laughed truly amused.

 

- Why on earth would I be doing that? Do you think I don’t have more important things to do? –he asked with an arrogant smile that was unnerving Berenike.

 

- You are an ass.

 

- Watch that language young lady –the hipparch mocked her and she showed him her middle finger, which only serve to make him laugh even more.  

 

Berenike lifted her head with all the dignity she could gather, and started walking. The Gods must hate her because she couldn’t find another explanation to this unfortunate encounter. She was so eager to leave as quickly as possible that Berenike didn’t see where was she stepping and she tripped over a rock, falling on her right elbow.

 

- Ouch! –she cried and Kleitos kneeled at her side.

 

- Are you all right?

 

- Leave me alone –Berenike tried to stand up, but her ankle hurt like hell and she fell again. She took her ankle and closed her eyes in pain.

 

- Let me see that ankle –asked the hipparch with all the patience he could muster.

 

- Why?

 

- Because I said so, now shut up and do as I say –it could be his commanding tone or the fact that she was in pain, but Berenike obeyed and Kleitos took her sandal off to find a swallowed ankle. She closed her eyes when he touched her and, as an answer, she punched his arm.

 

- You are a brute! –Berenike punched him again—That hurts.

 

- You were hit by an arrow and fell from a horse, and you are complaining for this? –the hipparch shook his head—You’ll be fine, its not broken. 

 

Berenike saw with horror how he stood up with all the intentions of leaving.

 

- Wait! Where are you going? –she asked.

 

- Back to my house, it’s late and soon would be dark –Kleitos explained as if he were talking to a 3 years old girl.

 

Berenike turned her head both sides and saw nobody around, she couldn’t even hear a sound, besides of the insects. She was, literary, in the middle of nowhere.

 

- You can’t go, you can’t leave me here –she said, realizing that she couldn’t go back by her own and had no way to ask for someone else’s help.

 

- Girl, that’s not my problem, besides, to help would mean to carry you in arms, and you don’t want me to touch you –she made a pout.

 

- All right! You can carry me –said Berenike, as if she were doing him a great honor and Kleitos laughed.

 

- No, I have more important things to do –he gave his back to her and she panicked.

 

- Wait! Wait, wait! What kind of man leaves a damsel in distress? –said Berenike and he sighed, turning to see her again.

 

- You truly are noisy, lass.

 

- Are you going to help me or not?

 

- Fine, I’ll help you but I want something in return –she didn’t like this.

 

- What?

 

- A kiss.

 

- Go to hell!

 

- Fair enough, I hope you enjoy spending the night here.

 

- WAIT! –Kleitos stopped again. He was playing with her and Berenike knew it but, she also knew that, he was more than capable of leaving her in the middle of a desert street to spend the night with a swallowed ankle that was painfully beating– Fine.

 

- Fine what?

 

- You are enjoying this, don’t you? –as an answer the hipparch’s smile widened. She sighed—I’ll kiss you if you take me back to my husband’s house –she made a special emphasis on the word “husband.” 

 

- Now you have a deal.

 

Kleitos carried her with ease, almost as if she didn’t weighed, and, against her will, Berenike blushed intensely. She had fresh in her memory that night she had spent with him, more than a year ago, and even if she was unwilling to admit it, a small part inside her, her irrational and wild part, was dying to feel him again. Berenike closed her eyes with force; she needed to stop thinking those things.

 

They arrived at Leonnatos’ house and, before Berenike could say something, Kleitos kissed her. She could feel every inch of her body burning and, without noticing, she opened her mouth and moan softly. Nobody had kissed her like that, Leonnatos was very sweet and loving, but his kisses didn’t have such fire. Just when she was starting to enjoy it, he put her down and patted her shoulder. 

 

- Health to you girl!

 

Wait…what? –for a moment Berenike didn’t know where she was or what had just happened. And the hipparch had disappeared as if he had dissolved in the shadows—He is going to drive me crazy.

 

XXX

 

We didn’t stay at Tyre for long, Alexander was eager to continue his advance further into Persian territory, and, in a matter of weeks, the army were moving through north-east Syria, reaching Thapsacus for the King’s 26 birthday. The heat was horrible, especially for all of us who were carrying battle equipment, but at least there were sufficient water supplies along the way. We took the route of the Phoenician coast to Seleucia, the same route that years later the Romans: Crassus, Trajan and Julian followed when they tried to attack the Parthians. 

 

We stayed at Thapsacus several weeks planning the next strategy to follow against Darius. And one night…

 

- My scouts came back with a very interesting report –said Alexander, pacing around his study while his beloved watched carefully the maps in front of him.   

 

- About what? –asked Hephaistion, taking another lamp to see better.

 

- Darius’ men destroyed all the bridges of the Euphrates –he explained—And not only that, he sent a detachment of cavalry to guard all the possible cross points to stop us.

 

The General lifted his head to see him.

 

- You don’t look concerned –he observed.

 

- I’m not, I have a plan –the King smiled—I’m going to built 2 bridges, on the least likely places, as fast as I can to take the Persians by surprise.

 

Hephaistion nodded slowly.

 

- It’s not a bad idea, but you need to send someone really capable to accomplish that…I suppose that you are sending Artorios, if there is an engineer that can built 2 bridges in record time, he is the one –said the General. 

 

- Yes, I thought that too, but I need to send also an officer.

 

- Perdikkas is really good.

 

- I have never doubted that but I want to send my best officer –said Alexander and Hephaistion frowned.

 

- If you are thinking in sending Krateros…

 

- I was thinking in sending you –the King laughed softly and his General closed his mouth immediately.

 

- Oh! –that was all that Hephaistion could say, he felt like a fool in those moments.

 

Alexander walked to him and rested both hands on his shoulders, leaning to the front to smell his hair.

 

- It’s a dangerous mission, you will have to deal with the Persians if they find out what we are doing –he whispered against his hair.

 

- I know, but I can take care of myself –said the General, sure of every word. Alexander took his fingers to his neck and slid them up and down, feeling his fingertips beating against his beloved’s smooth skin.

 

- I have a hunch of what is Darius planning –the King said suddenly—I can’t explain why but…I think he is trying to corner me at Cunaxa.

 

Hephaistion dropped his head back to look at him.

 

- Alex, this time I don’t agree with you –he said—That would be foolish even for Darius, why would he even think of that? 

 

- Because in that place Artaxerxes II defeated young Cyrus and his army, which included the 10 thousand of Xenophon –the General turned to face him, resting his arm on the back of his chair.

 

- Exactly! It’s too obvious –Hephaistion insisted—Who haven’t heard about that battle? Besides, if he is planning to set you a trap there, what makes him think that you are heading to Cunaxa in the first place? He is expecting that you do what he wants, and that is a dangerous assumption.

 

- Honestly Phai, after what you have seen of Darius, do you think he is not foolish enough to do this? –the question left his beloved thinking—He is waiting for me there, I’m sure of that, he knows I’m heading to Babylon, just like young Cyrus did once. Besides, he had a cavalry squadron following my moves, why do you think?

 

- Because…if you change the route and don’t go straight to Cunaxa, he would be informed and would be able to follow you –said the General, weighing his words carefully.

 

- Yes, Phai.

 

- Well, that has sense…

 

The King saw the maps on the table and ran his finger over one.

 

- What are you looking for? –he wanted to know.

 

- Oh!, nothing especial, I just want to know if a place exist –Hephaistion brushing his hair back. Again, his hair was long and he would gladly cut it but the King had made such a drama last time that he had no heart to do it. 

 

- What place? –now Alexander was curious.

 

- Gaugamela –since the General had that strange dream he had been looking for that place. He was sure Darius was waiting the King there, but he wasn’t sure if Gaugamela was a place, a zone, a city, a town a river, a mountain…and so far he hadn’t found anything useful.

 

- Why are you looking that? –it was a simple question with a  very complicated answer.

 

- I…dreamed about it, and I don’t know what it means –said Hephaistion, eyes resting again on the maps.

 

- You dreamed? Like those dreams where you see the future? –asked Alexander, very interested in this. He was addicted to omens.

 

- Something like that.

 

- And what happened at this place?

 

- I…I don’t know, I mean –the General closed his eyes and sighed before opening them again—Alex, I’m not a seer or anything like that. I just have a very strange dream where someone mentioned that something big was going to happen at this place. That’s all –the King looked a little disappointed—But I promise that, if I find something I’ll tell you immediately. 

 

- Fine –Alexander sat down at his side—Phai.

 

- Mm?

 

- You never told me what do you think about Harpalus –said Alexander and Hephaistion frowned.

 

In the last days the King had made many administrative changes, one, for example was to remove Arimmas, the viceroy of Syria, because of his terrible job supplying the army, and other, very important, was to name Harpalus as his treasurer.

 

I haven’t mention Harpalus in a while, have I? Well, his case is a strange one. Harpalus was Alexander’s childhood friend, you must remember him, he was at Mieza studying with us…well, “studying” is a very strong word for him. He was wasting Aristotle’s time and later, he was exiled for giving Alexander ridiculous advices regarding Pixodarus’ marriage proposal for Philip Arrhidaeus, Alexander’s half brother, do you remember?   

 

Alexander always had a soft spot for his friends, and he gave splendid things to all the 4 friends that had been exiled after the Pixodarus’ affair, for example, Ptolemy became one of the Somatophylakes years later, Erigyius was the commander of the allied cavalry, and his brother, Laomedon, was in charge of the war prisoners thanks to his fluent Persian. Harpalus had a lot of health problems and thanks to this he never served in the army, he had the post of quarter-master-general before suddenly disappearing.

 

There were many rumors around him and his strange behavior but the truth was that he was at Athens as Alexander’s spy, and, as soon as he came back, he was named treasurer. I never liked him, but I wasn’t going to criticize the King’s decisions. It was his army, his kingdom and his money.  

 

- I said nothing because you already know what I think about Hapalus –said Hephaistion after a long and uncomfortable silence.

 

Alexander sighed.

 

- He is not that bad.

 

- Alex, he is your friend and you are the King, you can do whatever you want, but, if you want to hear my opinion, I think you did a terrible mistake in giving a man like Harpalus a post when he is going to have direct access to all the war spoils and gold –said the General dead serious—But you don’t like when people speak ill about your friends, so I won’t say another word about this. 

 

The King shook his head.

 

- Fair enough…—he looked at his beloved in silence for a moment—I saw Perdikkas today, he is acting really weird. 

 

- I noticed that too –said Hephaistion, happy to change the subject—I hope he is not in any kind of trouble…you know who has been acting weird too? My sister.

 

- How so?

 

- I don’t know, its as if she were hiding something, but I could be wrong –said the General—The only one who knows immediately what’s wrong with her, or with any of us, is mom –Alexander took his hand and caressed the palm with his fingers.

 

- Maybe Eni is just sad for your father.

 

- I truly hope so…where do you want me to go to the Euphrates? –the King didn’t answer immediately, taking his time to enjoy the feeling of Hephaistion’s skin.

 

- The day after tomorrow –his beloved nodded.

 

As things turned out Alexander was right and Darius was even more foolish than I thought. The Great King was planning to attack the Macedonian army at Cunaxa, using almost the same strategy that Artaxerxes II used against his younger brother, he even ordered to built scythe-chariots like the ones used by Artaxerxes II.

 

Mazaeus, the governor of Babylon, was the Persian in charge of the cavalry squadron that was following every move of the Macedonian army. “Fast mounted scouts were at once sent out to reconnoitre all the main crossing points; these would report back to an advance force under Mazaeus, who would in turn notify Darius himself”(1) It was such a perfect plan that it was doom to fail.

 

Even if Mazaeus desired with all his heart the success of his mission, thanks to Darius’ offer of giving him his daughter Stateira in marriage, things weren’t going to be as they planned. 

 

The main body of the Persian army was about 100 thousand men; such a large group was extremely difficult to move fast and the Great King was so sure that Alexander would go straight to Cunaxa than didn’t bother to take other precautions.

 

XXX

(1) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 283