CHAPTER 119

 

Cyrus arrived to his tent, visibly shaken and scared. It was hell all around the camp. The 8 years old Prince had tried not to look, just run with his eyes on the front, but the screams…Gods! The screams were something that pierced his ears and had made thick tears slid through his cheeks. He wanted to get out of there. As soon as he reached his family tent, he found his grandmother and sisters, surrounded by their servants in the reception “room”.

 

Cyrus was panting after running like crazy, and he stood motionless in the threshold, watching how one of the Queen Mother’s eunuchs kneeled before her, trembling with happiness and joy, still unable to believe their good luck.   

 

- Your highness, I have great news –said the eunuch with emotion—Our Great King, your son, has won an outstanding victory today –Cyrus froze in his place, what did he say? Was this the reason why the Macedonian camp was in complete anarchy?—“The enemy had been routed with great loss of life, and they are being stripped of their baggage”(1) Many nobles who had been taken prisoners are free now, your highness, and they urged you to end with your sorrow and join them to go back to the Persian camp. 

 

Both Princesses, Stateira of 15 and Drypetis of 14 years old, exchanged excited glances, finally their captivity was coming to an end and their life would go back to normal; but the Queen Mother Sisigambis stayed impassive, “not a word left her lips and there was no change in her color or expression” (2) She didn’t know what to think. It was true that the Macedonian camp was being plundered, she could hear the terrible screams of the Macedonian soldiers, slaughtered without mercy, but she needed more proof that her son had won the battle.

 

The Queen Mother had prayed for this day to come, the day in which she could return home and the glory of the Persian Empire restored, but…she had a hunch, something was not right, even if she couldn’t explain it with words. 

 

- We are not going anywhere –she said at last, confusing her grandchildren, servants and attendants—Outside only anarchy and terror reign, and I will not leave my tent until the Great King in person comes here –and Sisigambis sat down—Stateira, Drypetis and Cyrus –she called her grandchildren—Come and stay here with me, we’ll wait together until this is all over. 

 

Cyrus obeyed, feeling confused and lost. His father had won the battle, those were good news but…what was going to happen to Achilles? As he sat down at her grandmother’s side he started to regret the fact that he had left his best friend outside but, one look at Queen Mother Sisigambis told him that she would have never agreed to hide the Macedonian Prince here, not with all the confusion around the camp. And what if his father found Achilles?

 

Cyrus shook his head, he didn’t even want to imagine that, and now, he could only pray that Ahura Mazda kept his best friend safe.

 

XXX

 

Achilles ran with all his forces, not daring to look back, hearing her aunt, cousins, Thais, Xsayarsa and the 2 slaves screaming and running behind him. He felt the muscles of his legs burning with the effort; he had been running for hours now, since they left the King’s tent. But he couldn’t stop, he had to run away…

 

Run away? –that thought made his face burned with embarrassment.

 

He didn’t want to run away, he didn’t want to hide among women, he wanted to fight like his father and uncle, to make Kleitos proud, but, what could he do? His sixth birthday would be in 2 months, but he knew how to fight, and wanted to defend himself. Achilles saw the way before him was divided in 3 and without thinking he took on the right while his aunt and children turned left and the rest ran to the center.

 

The Macedonian Prince found a fire, consuming without mercy one wagon and a dead body near a half destroyed tent, a wounded pezetairoi who had fought until his last breath, and still holding his sword, sitting in a strange angle with dry blood on his face. Achilles stopped. He wasn’t going to run anymore.   

 

The boy took deep breaths and turned side ways, he was alone. He walked towards the corpse, and, with trembling hands, reached to take the sword. He felt a shiver, when his fingers touched the cold and dead hand of the soldier, but he forced himself to take the weapon. It was much heavier than the one he had to practice with Kleitos, but he would have to get use to it. 

 

XXX

 

- Mommy I won’t leave you –said Amyntas, while Berenike pushed him. They all had split when the Scythians attacked, running in different directions and Berenike and her children had lost their pursuers for a moment, when they hid behind the granary stores.  Hephaistion’s sister was panting with on hand on her round belly, she knew she couldn’t run fast enough in her condition so she took her children and ordered them to run away together.

 

- Why can’t…you come with…us? –sobbed Sophia, crying.

 

- Because I can’t run as fast as you –said their mother, turning to see if someone was approaching—Don’t cry honey, we’ll be together soon, I promise.

 

- I’ll stay with you –Amyntas insisted stubbornly and, in that moment, he reminded her of Leonnatos.

 

- No, you have to take care of your sister –Berenike heard steps and she pushed her children—Go, go, go, NOW!

 

The children weren’t convinced but they obeyed and ran as fast as they could, hand in hand. Berenike let a sad smile curved her lips and ran in the opposite direction, but a strong hand took her arm before she could get away. She tried to fight but soon, 2 Scythians restrained her with force, and she let her bow fall.

 

- Look what I found –said one of them in a language Berenike didn’t understand, smiling a horrible smile.    

 

- Not bad for a barbarian –said his companion, his eyes following Berenike’s curves.

 

Even if she didn’t understand a word their expressions told her everything; she swallowed, she was afraid but not for her, she was more concerned for her unborn child, what could she do now? One of the Scythians took her dress by the shoulder and pulled the fabric, tearing it. Berenike tried to kick, bit and hit the man, but his companion held her with force, hurting her and she screamed.

 

- Be quiet! –the Scythian shouted angrily, showing her a sharp dagger that flashed menacingly—Be a good girl or I’ll open you in half –Berenike sobbed, that man’s expression scared her, her eyes were on the blade and she trembled but kept silent—Better.   

 

The man took her legs and she thought she was going to faint. He was going to rape her. Berenike closed her eyes with force, unable to believe that this was happening to her, this wasn’t possible, it had to be a nightmare. Berenike waited for the worst to happen but, then, she heard a moan of pain and felt something warm over her. She opened her eyes again and saw that she was covered in blood; she didn’t understand what was happening.

 

The Scythian behind Berenike let her go, she fell on her knees, and the man tried to take his sword, but the newcomer pierced his heart before he could do something, letting him dropped on the floor like a lifeless sack of grain.

 

- Lass, are you all right? –asked a very concerned Kleitos kneeling at her side.

 

- Kleitos? –Berenike saw him with big round and watery eyes. Her hair was a mess and her clothes were torn, she was very scared and, to see a familiar face in the middle of that chaos was the most wonderful thing that could have happened to her. She embraced him with force and cried with all her forces, cuddling against his chest.

 

- You are safe now –said the hipparch awkwardly, he wasn’t used to comfort people and had no idea of what to tell her, so he just embraced her back. 

 

- My…children…we have to find them –she sobbed.

 

- All right, come –Kleitos helped her to stand up, rubbing her arms.

 

XXX

 

Amyntas ran with his sister without knowing exactly what to do. They had no way to go out and nobody to ask for help, and for a moment the boy had no idea of what to do, besides of running. 

 

- We have to…hide –said Sophia still crying—We have to…found…a place to hide… –she sobbed.

 

- Right –said her older brother.

 

That was good idea, now, where could they hide? They stopped for a moment looking around them when they heard the clash of swords and the neighing of horses.

 

- They are coming –said a very scared Sophia.

 

Her brother took her hand again and started to run, but Sophia stumbled and fell. Amyntas tried to help her but, from the other side, came a horsemen riding very fast directly at them. Sophia screamed with all her forces, and Amyntas, unable to do something more, embraced her. They heard a whistle and a javelin sailed through the air over their heads, digging into the chest of the enemy. The man pulled the reins of his horse trying to stop his fall, and the beast changed his course, avoiding the terrified children standing in front of him. 

 

- Zeus, Hades and Poseidon! Are you all right? –for a moment either knew who was the man kneeling in front of them, it was a Macedonian hetairoi, but so cover in blood and dirt that they didn’t recognized him until he took off his helmet—Please, say something –Leonnatos insisted. 

 

- DADDY! –exclaimed Sophia embracing him, and crying as if her heart were falling apart. Even Amyntas, who wanted to appear strong and cold like a soldier, started to cry and embraced his father.

 

- There, there, I’m here now, nothing is going to happen to you –Leonnatos embraced both children and looked around—Where is your mother? –Amyntas shook his heard and Leonnatos felt a knot in his stomach—Where is she? –he insisted, speaking louder than he had intended.

 

- She…she told us to run…that…I have to take care of Sophi and… she stayed behind – sobbed Amyntas.

 

- Where was the last place you saw her? –now Leonnatos was truly afraid. The boy pointed at the south.

 

- In that direction.

 

Leonnatos nodded and carried both children. He had no place where to leave them; they would have to come with him, even if he didn’t like that idea in the least. In what moment the battle had moved from the plain to their camp? He had no idea but now he was very angry; no one endangered his family like this and went unpunished.

 

XXX

 

When Berenike and her small group split, almost all the enemies went after Achilles, they knew he was the Macedonian Crown Prince and that the Great King would give them a good reward for taking the boy to him or, they could ask for a handsomely ransom from the invader, if he was still alive of course. Either case the boy was very valuable and soon they arrived to where Achilles was, standing with the sword in his hands, in the attack position that Kleitos had taught him. He wasn’t going to run away anymore.

 

The Scythians laughed amused and dismounted.

 

- What are you playing at? –asked one of them in Persian, walking to where Achilles was standing.

 

- Stay away –answered the Prince in Persian taking his enemies aback. But, after the initial surprise they laughed again.

 

- Put down that sword before you get hurt –said the same Scythian again, but Achilles remained in his attack position—Be a good boy and we’d be nice with you. 

 

- I don’t believe you –said the Prince. 

 

The man in front of him sighed.

 

- Have it you way then –he attacked the boy with all the intentions of disarming him. He didn’t want to kill him, the Macedonian was more valuable alive. But Achilles stopped the blow surprising the Scythian; someone had taught that boy to fight.

 

Not far from there, Alexander led the cavalry inside, shouting orders to finish the enemy. Darius had left the battlefield, he had watched the satrap Bessus taking his men and retreating too, and Mazaeus with his forces heading back to Babylon, but, a great number of enemies where inside the camp, and the King didn’t have his whole army with him, many were chasing the Persians, and others still finishing the enemy on the plain.

 

He had with him the hetairoi cavalry and other cavalry units, in total they were almost 3 thousand, like the enemy, but they were extremely tired after the long and hard fight, whereas the Scythians and Cadusians were in better conditions. But this was not the worst part, the worst was that here, inside the camp, they couldn’t maintain their ranks. It was like fighting inside a city, just, that this time, the fight was on their ground.

 

- Philotas! Keep the men together and take these bastards out! –shouted the King.

 

- Alexander! –Ariston called him, pointing with his arm at the front—Look!

 

The King turned and saw Achilles, fighting against a man and surrounded by several more a few paces from them.

 

- Shit! –Alexander cursed, and without thinking it twice, he headed straight to where the boy was.

 

The rest of the Ile Basilike, that was still with him, rushed after their King. Achilles wasn’t too far but for Alexander, watching how his Prince tried to fight against the Scythian while he and his companions laughed at the boy, it was as if Achilles were miles away. 

 

- I’m getting tired of this –said the Scythian, he attacked Achilles without mercy and disarmed him, the sword went flying to one side and nail into the floor away from them; then, he kicked him making the boy fell on his back, without air.

 

The man walked to him, and took the Prince by the hair pulling it with force to make him stand up; his companions mounted again, ready to go, when a cry made them all turned at the same time. One of the Scythians had been pierced from side to side by a javelin, and then, they paid attention for the first time to the savage charged with the King at the front.

 

- Shit! –the Scythian cursed, took Achilles and mounted, ready to leave with the boy.

 

- Achilles! –shouted Alexander and the boy lifted his head, looking around until his uneven eyes found the King.

 

- DAD! –the Prince tried to kick or bite the man, but the Scythian hit him on his cheek with the back of his hand, so hard, that even Alexander heard the blow.

 

The King clenched his jaw, furious beyond all reason when he saw this.

 

- GET THEM! –shouted Alexander and his men attacked the Scythians like a horde of savages.

 

Several enemies fell on that charge, and the King went after Achilles, but the Scythian watching this, kicked the sides of his horse and ran away.

 

XXX

 

In the middle of that confusion Hephaistion arrived at the King’s tent, the ground was covered in blood, and he found several dead bodies on his path. The place was ransacked, and several fires could be seen around the place; he looked among the corpses, his arm hurting horribly, but he didn’t care for the pain; the General felt a great relief when he didn’t find his son or any of this love ones among that pile of destruction, and then, he rushed to look for Achilles.

 

- Phai! –Nikandros arrived panting, his horse was so tired that he looked about to drop dead at any moment—Phai, I can’t find grandpa or Eni.

 

- They must be hidden somewhere –Hephaistion knew this was a very optimistic thought, but he had to think they were all right.

 

His brother dismounted.

 

- And Aki? –he asked but the General shook his head—Don’t worry, I’ll help you to look for them.

 

Hephaistion just nodded, he was too worried, too tired and in pain to say more but, inside, he was extremely grateful with his brother, he didn’t want to be alone at a moment like that. They searched the surrounding areas, fighting each man that crossed their way, and even if Nikandros didn’t say it aloud, he was very impressed by his brother’s skills as a warrior. 

 

- Are you all right? –asked Nikandros, noticing that Hephaistion didn’t use his left arm if he could.

 

- Yes –he lied, he didn’t want to explain what had happened.

 

After a while they heard the sound of a fight and ran to see what was going on. They found Thais, Sophonisba, Netikerty and Xsayarsa hidden while grandfather Demetrios fought against 4 men.

 

- Grandpa! –shouted both brothers running to help him.

 

Hephaistion stopped 2 blows and, before his brother could join him, he had already cut the throat of one man, and had pierced the heart of the second, his arm hurt atrociously but he clenched his jaw and forced himself to keep fighting. Grandfather Demetrios finished his opponent and Nikandros took care of the last one.

 

Thais was the first one to leave their hiding place and run to them.

 

- Thank all the Gods you are here! –exclaimed the hetaira, crying again—We thought you were all dead.

 

- Where is Aki, Thais? Have you seen him? –asked the General, sheathing his sword.

 

- Yes, he was fine but then…a group of men came after us and we split. Eni, her children and Aki ran in different directions –Thais cleaned her tears with her hands— We found your grandfather at some point but I haven’t seen the rest –Hephaistion nodded, there was still hope.

 

- Grandpa! –Nikandros’ voice made them all turned and they saw Demetrios falling on the ground.

 

Hephaistion and Thais ran at his side.

 

- Grandpa! Are you hurt? –asked the General kneeled besides his grandfather.

 

Grandfather Demetrios was covered in several bruises and bleeding from many wounds, but Hephaistion couldn’t see a mortal one.

 

But grandpa is too old for this, 76 years old, and only the Gods know for how long has he been fighting today –he thought, felling a shiver down his spine.

 

- I’m…so tired –said Demetrios in a tone of voice that scared them all.

 

- You are getting old, grandpa –said Nikandros, trying to joke—This is nothing, you just have to eat and rest.

 

Grandfather Demetrios smiled.

 

- Are…everyone…all right? –he asked.

 

- Yes Demetrios –said Thais, kneeling too—We are all fine thanks to you.

 

Grandfather Demetrios nodded.

 

- What happened?…Did we…lost? –he wanted to know.

 

- No, we won. The Great King ran away and what is left of his army followed him –Hephaistion explained, and grandfather Demetrios’ smile widened.

 

- Was… it a great battle?

 

- The greatest…but, don’t talk like this –said the General extremely worried—We’ll have time later to tell you the whole story.

 

- Phai…I’m very proud of you –said his grandfather scaring them—And also…of you…Nick…

 

- Grandpa?…GRANDPA?! –the General shook him scared and his brother leaned his head against his chest.

 

- He is still breathing –said Nikandros, as scared as Hephaistion—But we should take him to the doctor.

 

Nikandros was still talking when they heard a commotion; they all turned at the same time and found a Scythian rider holding Achilles with Alexander and the Ile Basilike behind him.

 

- What the hell was that? –exclaimed Nikandros, but the General ignored him and ran looking for a horse.

 

- Nick, take care of grandpa –Hephaistion shouted, and, as soon as he found what he was looking, he joined the pursuit.

 

XXX

 

The Scythian knew he was lost; he had no hope now. If he surrendered Alexander would kill him, if he killed the boy, he would be tortured and killed, if he used the Prince as a hostage he would be dead before he could do as much as open his mouth. He had made a mistake and his only choice now was to reach the remains of the Persian army and got lost among them. Yes, that was his only way now, because, even if he threw the boy off the horse, that would not stop the Macedonians.  

 

He cursed the moment he thought that taking Achilles with him was a good idea, and kept riding.

 

Behind him, Alexander had his eyes fixed on the enemy in front of him. He was furious, but he also felt guilty, if he had ordered Parmelio to chase the enemy to their camp, this would have never happened, how could he have forgotten about his son? He clenched his jaw, he was not use to make mistakes and this day 2 things had gone wrong: Darius had gotten away and Achilles had been kidnapped.

 

- Please Boukephalos, just a little more –he whispered to his horse.

 

Then, the King heard a whistle; a sword flew at his side, spinning like a windmill, and hit the Scythian on his back. The man screamed and his horse reared, Achilles lost balance and fell but Alexander ran and caught him before he hit the ground. Hephaistion arrived quickly after that; he had thrown that sword, and with his remaining one, cut the man’s head, hearing the flesh and bone tearing and cracking. 

 

- Son, are you all right? –asked the King, checking Achilles. He had a purple and read bruise on his cheek and a stroke in the eye, where the man had beaten him. Alexander clenched his jaw; he was beyond fury.

 

Achilles didn’t answer; he saw the King with big round eyes and started to cry, embracing him, sobbing against his breastplate like a baby.

 

- Aki! –Hephaistion called him, rushing at their side—Aki, are you hurt? –he caressed his son’s head and examined him.

 

- D-da-daddy…hic… —the boy cried, having a hiccup attack, and taking his father’s hand with force. He had been so scared, as scared as he would have never thought possible, and for a moment he had thought his father and uncle were dead.

 

- I think he has nothing serious –said Alexander, happy to find that his beloved was fine too.

 

- Alexander! –a horsemen approached a great speed—Alexander, General Parmelio asks for orders.

 

- Tell Parmelio to take the Persian camp, I’ll go after Darius and tried to catch him –said the King and the man left as quickly as he had arrived.

 

- I’ll take Aki back to our camp –said Hephaistion, his arm hurt horribly, he was feeling dizzy thanks to the blood loss and he wanted to know how was his grandfather, but Alexander shook his head.

 

- I want you with me. Demetrios! –the King called his beloved’s cousin—Choose 5 men to guard Achilles until I come back. 

 

- Yes, Alexander –said cousin Demetrios approaching them—Aki, come with me –he said to his nephew but Achilles didn’t move. He didn’t want to leave them, not again after all that had happened. 

 

- Aki –said Hephaistion softly—I promise we’ll come back soon, but we can’t take you with us, is dangerous.

 

- You…hic…promise? –asked the boy sobbing.

 

- Yes, son.

 

- All right.

 

Achilles went with cousin Demetrios and Alexander ordered to pursuit Darius.

 

We chased Darius for hours, when night fell, Alexander let us rest for a couple of hours and then, we continued our search near midnight. By the time we arrived to the town of Arabela, Darius had vanished, leaving behind, again, his chariot and bow. And what about me? Well, by dawn I truly thought I was going to drop dead, I couldn’t feel my left arm, except for that throbbing pain. Why I didn’t say a word to Alexander? Because he had more important things in mind and I never liked to bother him.

 

We headed back to our camp, that had been moved to where the Persian was, just like we did after the battle of Issus. The only thing I could think about was in going to the doctor and sleep, but I had to see how was my family. To my great relief I found my sister waiting for me, unharmed but with red puffy eyes, I thought she had been crying, just like Achilles, because she was scared but…

 

- Phai… —she said with trembling voice.

 

Hephaistion felt light headed and had to make a great effort not to close his eyes; he was so tired and feeling so weak.

 

- What is it? –his voice sounded strange, almost as if someone else had spoken.

 

- Phai…grandpa is dead… —Berenike cried again and the General thought he was dreaming because, that was not possible; his grandfather? Dead?

 

- That can’t… —but that was too much and Hephaistion passed out.

 

XXX

 

(1) and (2) Diodorus Siculus. Library of History, Book 17: Chapters 55 to 61.