Chapter 115

 

A/N: Well, this a…peculiar –M– chapter but an M chapter nonetheless.

 

CHAPTER 115

 

Hephaistion went back to his own tent, it was dark already and he was tired after such an intense day. The walked through the tents of his men and what he saw wasn’t very encouraging; they all were good and brave men, but they were nervous, talking in whispers among themselves, and many fell silent in the same moment their eyes found their General there.

 

I truly hope Alexander has a plan –he thought sighing, he didn’t dare to imagine what could happen if they were defeated. It would be like the story of Xenophon’s 10, 000 once again, a defeated army in the middle of unknown and unfriendly territory. Hephaistion shook his head, casting aside those dreadful thoughts, he had to trust Alexander as he had always done and everything would be fine.

 

When he arrived at his tent, the only thing he wanted to do was eat and sleep, but his plans were cut short as his eyes found his brothers, his grandfather, his uncle and cousin.

 

- Did something happen? –asked Hephaistion concerned, last time they had been together like this was when his father died.

 

- No! It’s… nothing –said uncle Althaimenes, feeling a little uncomfortable—In fact, we shouldn’t be here at all.

 

Hephaistion frowned; he didn’t understand a word.

 

- We just want to ask you if you know what’s the King planning for tomorrow –explained cousin Demetrios and the General laughed.

 

- And the whole family came just for that?

 

- Phai, this isn’t funny, we all saw the size of the Persian army this morning –said Nikandros, serious as his family had only seen him very few times.

 

- We can’t win against that –said Lysanias extremely pale, finally expressing his fears.

 

- Of course we can –said Hephaistion, sure of every word. 

 

- So, the King does have a plan –uncle Althaimenes wanted to know. Even if he didn’t want to show it, he was nervous and anxious, he had never seen an army like the Persian in his whole life and he thought exactly as Lysanias, they couldn’t win against that.

 

- Yes, he has one –five pairs of eyes settled on him, expectantly. 

 

- And? What is it? –Nikandros insisted, anxiously.

 

- You’ll know tomorrow –Hephaistion smiled, trying to end with the tensed atmosphere.

 

- Phai! Don’t give that crap –exclaimed his older brother angrily.

 

- I don’t know what’s his plan –the General raised his voice, he too was nervous and his brother’s attitude wasn’t helping—Alexander told me he found just one way to win but he didn’t tell me more.

 

- Boys, boys! –grandfather Demetrios stood up—We are all nervous, I also climbed the hill and have a good look of the Persian camp…

 

- How did you do that with the Persian scouts all around the place? –asked Lysanias with his mouth half opened. 

 

- I have my ways…but the point is –grandfather Demetrios took a deep breath—I know that tomorrow’s fight would be savage –they fell silent— I wish I were younger and I would fight with you –he smiled good-naturedly, he truly wanted to fight and he would have give anything to take part in a battle as important as this—We have a good King, and if Phai says he has a plan, I believe we can win. Besides –he looked at each one of them— I didn’t raise cowards, and I expect that all of you would behave gallantry –he said in a hard tone—Nobody would ever say that the son and grandsons of Demetrios the Barbarian were the first to run from a battle. Do you understand?

 

- Yes, father.

 

- Yes, grandpa.

 

- Good –grandfather Demetrios nodded—Now everybody out, have a good night sleep, eat a good breakfast, follow your orders and you’ll be fine.

 

But grandfather Demetrios was still talking when they heard a commotion outside, voices shouting and men running hastily.

 

- What’s that? –asked cousin Demetrios and, the first thing they thought, was that they were under attack.

 

They ran to see what was happening, expecting to find enemy soldiers all over the place, their arms ready and their bodies tense, but, instead, they found several men watching the sky and pointing at the moon.

 

- What’s going on? –asked Lysanias, frowning.

 

- That! –uncle Althaimenes pointed at the moon and they an eclipse.

 

XXX

 

Just as Alexander had predicted when word reach the Persians that the Macedonians were planning a night attack, the Great King ordered to keep a good number of him men up and armed around the camp. This time Darius wasn’t going to be taken by surprise, and he truly believe Alexander was going to attack that night, after all he was lost, he had no way of winning against his army, and a night attack sound desperate enough.

 

The Great King held a last military meeting with his satraps, captains and commanders, and, the general consensus was that they were going to achieve an overwhelming victory. The moral was high and they were confident in their superiority.

 

- Your majesty –said Phrataphernes, the man in charge of the men from Parthia, Hyrcania and Tapuria, all this squadrons of mounted troops—The Gods smile at you, the ground in perfect for the deploy of your army, and unlike at Issus, where you couldn’t use your men at their full capacity, tomorrow you’ll crash the Hannaeans. 

 

Many heads nodded their agreement. Even Paron of Phocaea and Glaucus the Etolian, who were now in charge of the Greek mercenaries, after the Macedonian Amyntas had died from an illness almost 2 years ago, were sure of the Persian victory. Everything was favorable for them, and they truly believed that only a mad man would present battle next day; even the best of the Generals should know when he can’t win.

 

The Great King had 10, 000 Greek mercenaries with him, and, in addition, another good number of mercenaries from other parts of the known world: Mysians, Taochians, Chaldeans, Mardians, Chalybians, Indians and even Arabs where among his troops.

 

The King of Kings smiled pleased. He was going to address his men when they heard the commotion outside, disturbing the peace of the meeting.

 

- What’s that noise? –asked Darius frowning and Oxathres, the son of Abulites, the man in charge of the Uxians and Susiani, stood up to see what was going on outside. The rest exchanged confused looks and whispers before Oxathres returned.

 

- It’s a moon eclipse, Great King –he said, standing in front of the military council—The men are scared because they say the moon it’s the symbol of Persia and now it’s covered by darkness. 

 

- The men are fools –said Darius with calm—Called the Magi, they would speak to the men and reassure them.

 

Oxathres bowed.

 

- Immediately, your majesty.

 

XXX

 

At the Macedonian camp the soldiers saw the sky without knowing what to think, it was a good omen? A bad one? Were the Gods please with them? Were the Persian Gods going to struck them down? In the camp reigned the confusion until Aristander came out from his tent. Striding between the rumor of his white tunic, and stood at the middle of camp; then, with great showmanship looked up at the sky, taking his time to increase the expectation of his anxious public.

 

- What a great omen in this dark hour –he said, loud enough to be heard by all—King Alexander would achieve a great victory under this self-same moon (1)

 

And those simple words acted like magic, reassuring the men and restoring the peace of every soul there. For once, Hephaistion was happy to see Aristander there. The men had been positively nervous before his appearance and now, they were more confident that victory would be theirs, how? They had no idea, but, against all odds this night they knew they could win.

 

XXX

 

Achilles, from the threshold of his room, saw when his father came back. It was late and he called Kyros to serve dinner before going to bed. The Prince sat on the floor and waited until he heard the Theban coming back to his room, after cleaning the table, and saw Hephaistion’s light extinguished. Then, the boy took his cloak and crawled his way out, holding his breath when he passed in front of his father’s bedroom.

 

Achilles heard a noise when he was approaching the front of the tent and stopped; he stayed very still. A voice sounded at the end of the tent and he knew it was Xsayarsa, the eunuch used to talk while he sleep but the Prince wanted to be sure that nobody was up. He stayed there, in the dark, for several minutes and when he was sure that everybody was sleeping, he continued crawling to one end of the tent when the ropes were loose, and sneaked out.

 

Achilles took special care in not catching the guards’ attention and ran to the Persian’s tent. He wanted to see his friend Cyrus and both had agreed to meet near the grain storages. The Prince took special care in not to be seen and, thanks to all the training of Kleitos, he reached his destination without problems. The boy looked everywhere until he found his friend, hidden behind a wagon. 

 

- Cyrus, Cyrus –Achilles called him, not daring to raise his voice, but the Persian Prince didn’t hear. The Macedonian Prince started to get impatience, and ran to where he was. 

 

Cyrus jumped scared when he felt his friend’s hand on his shoulder.

 

- Shush –Achilles silenced him. 

 

- You scared me –the Persian of now 8 years old scolded him. 

 

- You weren’t paying attention, come –both boys ran to the grain storages and climbed the stacked boxes.

 

Sitting on the edge they had a great view of the Macedonian camp, hundreds of fires lighting up the place and the sentries at the distance looking like small ants, ready to sound the alarm in case of being necessary.

 

- I heard daddy saying that your father has a great army –said Achilles suddenly.

 

- Yes, I heard that too.

 

- Are you happy?

 

- For what? –asked Cyrus confused.

 

- You are going to see your father soon –said Achilles, swinging his legs.

 

Cyrus shook his head.

 

- I don’t know. I mean I miss my home, but I like living here, I have never been so close to my sisters and…my mother –he said still sad after her sudden death—Until I came here, they were always busy, except for Drypetis, she is always nice with me –he made a pause—Besides, I never had a friend –he smiled at Achilles—I don’t know if I want to go back home…what do you think? 

 

- I’m scared –the Macedonian admitted, catching his friend’s attention.

 

- Why?

 

- Yarsa said your father’s army is as numerous as the stars…–Achilles took a moment, lifting his head to look at the night sky—What if you father’s kills dad and daddy?

 

Cyrus would have loved to tell him that this was not going to happen, but after Darius had sold Hephaistion into slavery, he believed his father capable of anything.

 

- I don’t know what to tell you? –said the Persian and the Macedonian shrugged.

 

- It’s fine…Cyrus?

 

- What?

 

- Do you miss your mother?

 

- Yes…a lot –Cyrus admitted, trying his best to not cry—What did you do when your mother died?

 

- My mother is not dead –Achilles frowned.

 

- No? Then…where is she? –now his friend was confused, he had always believed the Macedonian’s mother was no longer in this world. 

 

- I don’t know, dad told me his sister is my mother but I don’t even know what’s her name –said Achilles.

 

- But, she is your father’s wife, isn’t she? Because if not…

 

- If not what? –Cyrus didn’t know how to explain this, he had heard at the court how people spoke about bastard sons, considered them something shameful, a disgrace, even if he didn’t understand why—What, Cyrus? 

 

- It’s nothing, if your mother is not married to your father there you would be a…a bastard –said the Persian.

 

- And what is that? –Achilles had heard that word before, but in a very different context and always as a bad word. Kleitos used it a lot with his men: “you lazy bastards” “get moving, bastards” “I don’t give a damn about you bastards”

 

- It’s an illegitimate son, a son born from a couple that its not married –Cyrus explained.

 

- And its bad to be a bastard? –asked the Macedonian remembering Kleitos.

 

- On yes, it’s bad.

 

- Why?

 

- Er…I don’t know –the Persian admitted, shaking his head—But at the Persian court people always spoke bad things about bastards.

 

- I’m going to ask daddy –until now Achilles hadn’t thought much about his mother, but now that Cyrus mentioned her, he didn’t know much about her. He would have to ask his fathers. 

 

XXX

 

That night was difficult for all of them. Many couldn’t sleep, like Ptolemy who spent the night walked all around his tent, or like Leonnatos who started to talk alone to fight his nervousness, for his wife’s horror. Perdikkas kept sharpening his sword blade almost compulsively and Kleitos were to the stable to groom his horse.

 

Hephaistion also couldn’t sleep, but his insomnia wasn’t just nervousness, he was experimenting something a little more embarrassing: he was horny. He was always like this before a major battle, but this time there were many things bothering him: nervousness, anxiety, worry…and all his emotions appeared to have joined the strongest one.  

 

The General had tried to sleep in vain, he had tried everything, from counting sheep to drink hot milk, he didn’t drink wine because he needed to be sober next day, but nothing seem to work. In any other circumstances he would have gone to look for Alexander, but not this night. The King was should be still working and how was he going to distract him just because he wanted to get laid.

 

Hephaistion rolled to rest on his back and puffed his cheeks out. He needed, he HAD to sleep or he would be more tired than the Persians, who were still on guard expecting a fictitious night attack, but how?

 

He brushed aside the locks covering his face and an idea struck him. Hephaistion felt his face burning with the sole thought of that, but…he found no other solution, he hadn’t done this before, because, when he was a teenager, King Philip had successfully killed his libido, and after that he had always had Alexander at his side. Of course they had been apart, but never for years, or something like that and, so far, he hadn’t felt the urge to do what he was thinking…until now.

 

What did it matter? He didn’t have a better idea and that heat that ran through his body, as an electric shock, was threatening to drive him crazy if he failed to satisfy it soon. He snorted, shaking the strands of his hair. Hephaistion turned to the door to make sure no one was coming but the tent was as silent as a tomb.

 

Good –he said to himself, before returning his eyes to the ceiling, that same ceiling that had been his companion in endless nights of insomnia. How many times had he envied Alexander for being able to sleep like a baby, completely abandoned in the arms of Morpheus as if nothing in this world worried him.

 

Maybe this is why I can’t sleep, one of us has to worry –the General thought smiling. His cheeks burned with such force that someone would have thought he had fiber.

 

At last after several minutes of indecision, Hephaistion slid his fingers through his abdomen, over the fabric of his tunic, until he reached his crotch. He felt like a fool for being doing this, alone in the dark, any other in his place would have called Kyros or one of his pages; he knew the Theban would be more than willing to share his bed, the same as his pages, but he couldn’t do it.

 

Why? Not for lack of desire, that was for sure, that hardness between his legs was very clear on that, but he knew that, if he did this, Alexander would be furious and he loved him, he didn’t want to upset him, even if a naughty tiny voice inside his head were telling him that the King would never know. 

 

But I would know –he thought.

 

Hephaistion ran his finger through his length and a soft moan like a purr escaped from his lips. It was so strange to feel his own hands instead of Alexander’s, going up and down, first with bashful shyness, then more quickly and with force. He closed his eyes and bent his knees up, clearly evoking Alexander’s handsome face. 

 

Alexander…

 

That served to increase the intensity of his own caresses. The General moved his legs over the mattress, brushing his creamy skin on the sheets, feeling the fabric as a soft touch. Hephaistion rested his cheek on the pillow, his rapid breathing made the silky strands of his hair dance; his lips were slightly parted looking for air while he rocked his hips. He spread his legs completely and one of his hands sought for his most intimate place, and, as his fingers were caught in that narrow warmth, his body tensed and shivered.    

 

Hephaistion bit his lower lip and arched. Now, all his shame was in the thrash can along with his last coherent thoughts and the remnants of his self control, the only thing that mattered now was feel, feel, feel…At the end, all his feelings frustrations, worries and desires had found one way out.

 

The General writhed on his sheets, moving his fingers inside him. The muscles of his legs tensed and he knew that he would not last for much longer. Hephaistion began to called again and again Alexander’s name, as if he were praying to some god, as people used to call upon the name of Dionysus during their orgies, and finally reached his release.

 

Hephaistion remained in the same position for a while, in the stillness and loneliness of his room, face up, his narrowed eyes fixed on his silent companion the ceiling, his lips parted looking for breath, his cheeks burning, his chest rising and falling and his legs resting on the messy loose sheets.

 

At least now, he hoped, he could sleep.

 

September 30

 

The trumpets sounded clear and loud across the Macedonian camp, calling the men to wake up before dawn. At first lonely figures started to come out from the tents, the officers first to set an example. Hephaistion was among the first ones in reaching the center of the camp, after all he had been able to sleep and now felt ready for the upcoming battle.

 

Dismas joined him shortly after his arrival; his armor shone so intensely that the General was sure his second in command had spent the night polishing it. He could hardly blame him, they all were nervous and everyone had their particular way of dealing with the painfully wait…he almost blushed remembering his own particular way in dealing with his insomnia. 

 

- Joy to you, sir! –said Dismas, speaking louder than he had intended. Yes, he was nervous.

 

- Joy to you, Dismas. Did you see that the men ate their breakfast? –asked Hephaistion.

 

- Yes sir, double rations as the King ordered –said Dismas at once. 

 

- Good –the General’s dark gray eyes surveyed the faces around him, until he found the person he was looking for: his brother Lysanias.

 

He walked towards his brother, who was talking to his friend Iolaos, ready for their first battle as members of the Agema of the Hypaspist. Hephaistion didn’t like the idea of having boys of 16 years old among his men, but, as he and Dismas had said time ago, after a page finished his services couldn’t wait to enter the Agema, not in the middle of a military campaign, and in a battle like this, where they were outnumbered, they could hardly spare a man from fighting.

 

- Lys –his brother turned when he heard his name—A word.

 

Lysanias left his friend and followed Hephaistion a little apart from the rest of the Agema, feeling that his armor weighed far too much at each step.

 

- What’s wrong? Did I do something? –asked his brother concerned.

 

- No, I just want to talk to you –the General smiled—Lys, I know you are nervous…and scared, we all are scared, but trust me in this, if someone can defeat the Persians that one is Alexander.

 

Lysanias nodded.

 

- I know that but…I have never been on the battlefield and…–he didn’t want to admit it but Hephaistion was honest with him so he decided to say what he really thought—Phai, I’m scared, the Persian horses are all covered in armor, they are like Titans and there are so many of them.

 

- Lys, I’m not going to lie to you. There is nothing more horrifying that a cavalry charge, to see hundred of horses running directly at you is terrible –Lysanias swallowed—But, as grandpa said, the trick is to follow the orders. Together we can defeat anything.

 

- Right –Lysanias wanted desperately to believe this.

 

Hephaistion patted his back.

 

- Think in what’s important to you –he said—Think in mom, and how sad would she be is one of us dies here, if you think you will see her again you will –Lysanias nodded not trusting his voice.

 

XXX

 

- Leon! Leon! –Berenike ran to where the Ile Basilike was assembled, and found her husband preparing his warhorse. It was so ironically how her husband was under the orders of who just recently had been her lover.

 

- Eni, what are you doing here? Don’t run, you can fall in your condition –Leonnatos scolded her, taking her arm to help her.

 

- Leon, for the last time, I’m pregnant not invalid –said Berenike—And I came to wish you good luck.

 

That took Leonnatos by surprise. So far Berenike had never come to wish him “good luck” but she was feeling extremely guilty, what if Leonnatos died? She had been the worst of wives while he had been the sweetest and most loving husband in the world.

 

- Thanks…I guess –Berenike embraced him and started to cry.

 

- I’m…sorry –she sobbed, puzzling Leonnatos.

 

- Sorry for what?

 

- For…being…a…terrible wife –he thought she was talking about her adventure as an archer and patted her back.

 

- You are not a terrible wife, you are just especial –Berenike cried even more and Leonnatos started to fell uncomfortable, because the rest of the Ile Basilike was watching them.

 

Not very far from them, Kleitos saw them like a bird of prey and, for a moment, he was tempted to call Leonnatos, after all he was his superior officer, but at the end he shook his head and concentrated on the up coming battle. He didn’t want to admit it, he couldn’t admit it but…he was jealous.

 

XXX

 

Everything was ready but there was no sign of the King. Parmelio asked Hephaistion, the pages and the guards if someone had seem him, it was time to form the men into battle formation and the only one who knew the dispositions for the battle was Alexander. At the end the veteran General decided to go personally for the King and found him deep asleep in his room. Face down and snoring, as if this were just another morning where nothing of significant importance was going to happen.

 

Deep asleep. How could he possible be deep asleep with such a battle ahead of them? Parmelio was in shock; he sighed and shook Alexander to wake him up.

 

- What? –the King moved lazily, rolling to rest on his back, yawing and stretching. His hair was a mess and he had the mark of the pillow in one his cheeks.

 

- It’s time Alexander –said the General.

 

- It’s dawn? –asked the half sleep King, one eye more opened than the other.

 

- The sun came out a while ago.

 

Alexander opened his eyes immediately and sat down.

 

- Shit! I overslept –he jumped on his feet, calling for his pages to bring his armor.

 

Soon his room was full with people coming and running, the pages brought his armor, and his servants the breakfast.

 

- I must say that I found remarkable that you could sleep this well –said Parmelio with admiration—Almost all of my men didn’t sleep at all.

 

- “It is not remarkable at all. When Darius was scorching the earth, razing villages, destroying foodstuffs, I was beside myself; but now what am I to fear, when he is preparing to fight a pitch battle? By Herakles! He has done exactly as I wanted” (3)

 

Parmelio said nothing. Years had made him not only older but also wiser, and he knew that the upcoming battle was truly something worth of worrying about. But, on the other hand he was happy to see that their supreme commander were this confident.

 

I only hope that this confidence is not foolishness –thought Parmelio.

 

XXX

 

Kyros knew he was crazy for doing what he was doing but, deep inside his heart he knew that, if he didn’t do this he would regret it for the rest of his life. He walked through the ranks of the Agema looking for Glycon, until he found him, checking his equipment for the tenth time in that morning. He was impeccable, as always, but in his face the Theban could see how tense he really was.

 

-Sir –Kyros called him. He was just a slave and wouldn’t dare to call him by his name in front of his companions.

 

- Kyros! What are you doing here? Does the General require my presence? –asked Glycon.

 

- No…I came to…wish you luck and to –the Theban dropped his voice—I’ll pray for your safe return.

 

Glycon smiled.

 

- Thank you, I’ll need all the divine help I can get –that made Kyros smiled too, but he felt a knot in his stomach, fearing that he would never see Glycon again.

 

XXX

 

Preparation were almost ready when Hephaistion found Xsayarsa and Achilles standing near his men, the eunuch was stretching his neck looking for him and the Prince was very serious. The General smiled, even if physically Achilles looked a lot like him, his gestures were exactly like Alexander’s. 

 

- Looking for someone? –asked Hephaistion, walking towards them.

 

- Peris, this young man had been insisting in coming to wish you good luck –said Xsayarsa—And I want to tell you that I’ll pray to Ahura Mazda to keep you safe, I like you and I don’t want to have other patron.

 

- Thank you, Yarsa.

 

- You can’t die or I’ll never forgive you –said the eunuch, trying his best to not cry.

 

- You have my word that I will come back –said Hephaistion with intensity.

 

The General kneeled in front of his son and Achilles saw him very serious.

 

- Is it true that the Persian army is as numerous as the stars? –Hephaistion laughed.

 

- Where did you hear that?

 

- I heard uncle Nick talking with grandpa –said the boy—And Yarsa said the Great King has millions of subjects, as numerous as the stars.

 

The General turned to look at Xsayarsa and he shrugged.

 

- It’s true –said the eunuch on his defense.

 

- Is it true daddy? –asked the boy with apprehension.

 

- Aki, listen, its true the Great King has millions of subjects but his army is not that big –said Hephaistion carefully choosing his words—It’s a big army I won’t lie to you son, but we can beat them.

 

- Are you sure?

 

- Have I ever lie to you? –Achilles shook his head—We’ll see each other at night.

 

- Do you promise?

 

- I promise. Now give me a hug –the boy did as he was told, embracing him with such force that, if it weren’t for the fact that Hephaistion was wearing his armor, he would have had troubles breathing.

 

XXX

 

When Alexander came out of his tent he found his men ready and waiting for his orders. He made first the appropriate sacrifices to the Gods attended by Aristander, dressed in a white tunic with a gold crown on his head, and, when all the religious rites were complete he called all his officers to the front. 

 

The King waited until they were all there and then, and, for a moment his eyes found his beloved’s; Hephaistion held his gaze but didn’t smile and neither made the attempt to talk to the other. They were preparing for battle, there was no room for sentimentalism, least of all in front of the rest of the army. Alexander nodded to his General and then, prepared to give his final instructions.

 

- There is no need for any words from me to encourage you to do your duty –said Alexander to all his officers, captains, generals and commanders— There is inspiration enough in the courage you all have shown in previous battles, and in the many deeds of heroism you have already performed. All that I ask for you today is that every officer of whatever rank, whether he commanded a company, a squadron, a brigade, or an infantry battalion, should urge to their utmost efforts the men entrusted to his command. We are about to fight, not as before, for Syria or Phoenicia or Egypt, but this time we are fighting for the sovereignty of the whole Asia –he made a pause—What need, then, is there for words to rouse your valor when that valor is already in your own breasts? Let me just remind each one of you to preserve discipline in the hour of danger, to advance when call upon to do so, in utter silence; to watch the time for a hearty cheer, and, when the moment came to roar out their battle cry and put the fear of God into the enemy’s hearts. All must obey orders promptly and pass them on without hesitation to their men –he took a moment to look directly to the faces of officers—Finally, every one of you must remember that upon the conduct of each depend the fate of all; if each man attend to his duty, success is assure; if one man neglect it, the whole army would be in peril (3)

 

So many references to ones duty, to obey, to follow orders didn’t pass unnoticed for Hephaistion. Alexander had a plan, yes, but that plan needed a high degree of discipline and precision, one mistake could be disastrous. The General held his breath and turned to look around him, at his companions, at other officers, all of them were as nervous as he was, including the most veteran ones like Krateros, Kleitos and Parmelio, but they all did a splendid job hiding their feeling. 

 

Someone patted his shoulder and when he turned he found Nikanor smiling at him.

 

- May the God keep you save, Hephaistion –said Philotas’ brother—This is the first time you are leading the Agema on a battlefield, am I right?

 

The General nodded.

 

- True –at the battle of Issus Alexander had insisted in having him with the rest of the Ile Basilike, but now, he was going to lead his men into battle with the very important mission of protecting the King’s life.

 

- You are going to fight near my men –said Nikanor—You’d be fine, you are a good commander.

 

- Thank you –said Hephaistion—After the battle, remind me of buying you a drink.

 

Nikanor laughed.

 

- Deal. But what if you die? –he teased him—With whom am I going to drink?

 

- Nikanor, if the Persians manage to kill me, what makes you think you would be still alive? –Philotas’ brother laughed so hard that several officers turned to see what was happening.

 

- Good one –Nikanor started to walk back to his men—Take care, Hephaistion, it would be a shame to lose you.

 

To lose…me? –the General turned to look around him, and a question raised inside him: how many of them would come back that night?

 

XXX

(1) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 286

(2) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 289

(3) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, p 162.

I’ll explain. According to Arrian this was what Alexander said to his officers. I changed a few words but we can say that the 95% are Alexander’s words, not mine ^^