Chapter 131

 

CHAPTER 131

 

Between Gordianus and Quintus Sertorius

73 BC Hispania

 

“Do you believe in the white fawn yourself, Sertorius? Does she speak to you?”

 

He looked at me shrewdly. “I’m surprise that you even ask such a question, Gordianus. I’m a Roman General, not a credulous Spaniard. The white fawn is nothing more than a device of statecraft. Must I explain? One day my spies inform me of Pompey’s movements; the next day I announce that the white fawn whispered in my ear that Pompey will be seen in a certain place at a certain time, and sure enough, he is […] Do you think me blasphemous for resorting to such a device? The best generals have always done such things to shore up their men’s morale. Look at Sulla! Before a battle, he always made sure his troops would catch him mumbling to a little image he stole from the oracle at Delphi […] Even Alexander pulled such tricks. Do you know the story? Once when things looked bleak before a battle, his priests called for a blood sacrifice. While the sheep was being prepared at the altar, Alexander painted the letters N I backwards on the palms of one hand, and K E on the other. The priest cut open the sheep, pulled out the steaming liver and placed it in Alexander’s hands. Alexander turned it over to show his men, and sure enough, there it was, written on the liver in letters no one could mistake –the Greek word for victory!”(1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

Since that dreadful night at Babylon, Leonnatos knew he had to take a decision regarding his wife, but his feelings were interfering with the cruel cold logic of his brain with the result that, a month later, he still didn’t have a clue of what to do. He loved Berenike more than it should be legal, he had been extremely patience and tolerant with her because he understood he hadn’t married a common woman, a woman content with raising children and taking care of her husband, a housewife who never complained and always respected her husband’s decision in silence.

 

He had known that since the first time he laid his eyes on her, that day when she was only 16 years old and he and Perdikkas had accompanied Nikandros with a very sick Hephaistion after the Byzantium campaign. And Leonnatos loved her exactly for that, for not being a common woman…until she started to cross the line. Coming to Asia without telling him a word, serving in the army, having a hetaira for a friend and now sleeping with his superior officer. He knew what it had to be done, he knew what his father Anteas would have done years ago: divorce her. It was so simple and so difficult. Leonnatos could forgive many things but his pride and self-respect kept him for doing it.

 

He took a deep breath still looking at his hands. He never thought that so many people would know about this, at least not the King and Kleitos…least of all Kleitos. He never imagined that the hipparch would know that he had thrown Berenike out of his house. Maybe, if no one knew about this he could have had forgiven her, but now…

 

How can I forgive her when everybody knows what she has done? –thought Leonnatos—I would be the laughingstock of the army. 

 

He loved his wife but he had to preserve his honor first.

 

- Fine –Leonnatos said at last, lifting his head—I divorce my wife.

 

Hephaistion closed his eyes. He had feared this since the beginning, he had hoped, maybe be in vain, that his friend would change his mind, he knew how much he loved his sister and knew that, despite her faults, Berenike loved him too, but now…

 

Alexander nodded.

 

- I don’t want to hear again that you 2 were fighting –he said in his strong commanding voice—Kleitos your business are now with Nikandros and Leonnatos you will leave Kleitos alone.

 

- Whatever –in other circumstances the King would have said something about this blunt and rude answer but not now; Leonnatos had enough problems already. 

 

It wasn’t something easy but at least at that moment we could take a decision; Berenike was once again our family responsibility and Nikandros and I could think what to do now.  

 

- Phai –said the King before they arrive to the hall where banquet was taking place—You don’t have to stay, if you want you can go to your family.

 

The General shook his head, he had been awfully quiet since they left Leonnatos and Kleitos, so many things buzzing inside his head, but...

 

- No. I want to talk to Nick and see how is Eni but it’s my son’s birthday –he explained honestly—Besides, you invited all the nobles and notables of the city and I don’t want to leave you alone. I’ll talk to my family tomorrow.

 

The King smiled. Even if he didn’t want to ask for it, he wanted to have Hephaistion at his side; did that make him a horrible person? To want his General only for himself? Maybe, but that was how he felt. 

 

Remember that I told you that Abulites never knew how to please Alexander? Well, that night of Achilles’ birthday was a good example. Since my son wanted a cult and beautiful woman that could sing to him, Alexander asked Abulites for a woman like this among the royal concubines. Of course the satrap misunderstood the King’s intentions and sent a very beautiful and voluptuous young woman with a body of sensual curves to him.

 

She made quite an entrance at the banquet, catching immediately all eyes and raising all kind of sharp and vulgar comments, but she was so happy to have been chosen by the new, young and handsome King that she paid them no attention.

 

- Your majesty, may I present you Musa from Parthia –said the satrap through his interpreter. Musa dropped his long eyelashes in a modest gesture full with sensuality and it was clear, even for the dumbest person in the room, what was she thinking. Not far from there, Thais nodded her approval—She speaks a little Greek, your divinity; and, as you asked, she can sing like the birds and knows many stories and legends, she is an inborn storyteller.  

 

- Looks like someone lost his place in bed –said Krateros, looking at Hephaistion and making the men around him laugh.

 

The General ignored him, and took another sip from his cup. Achilles stared at the concubine with big round eyes that made him look like a cartoon; she was the most beautiful and scarcely dressed woman he had ever seen. 

 

- You did quite a job finding her –said Alexander aware of the confusing—But I’m afraid she will have to change her cloths. 

 

Both Abulites and Musa looked positively confused, maybe the interpreter wasn’t as good as he claimed to be.

 

- I beg your majesty’s pardon –asked the satrap.

 

- I didn’t ask for her for myself, but for the Prince –now they were even more confused, Musa turned to look at Achilles as if he were the strangest thing she had ever seen, not a boy.

 

At the harem she had heard a lot of things about the Macedonians, mostly bad, but this? It took Alexander a while to explain what he really wanted and, by the end, Musa was very disappointed, but agreed to change and served the young Prince. Even Achilles was a little disappointed; he didn’t want her to change her cloths. 

 

Even if Achilles liked to say that he was a big boy he fell asleep on his couch long before midnight. He had had a very exciting day and, after taking two bites of his meal, Morpheus had claimed him. Hephaistion smiled fondly watching him, he couldn’t express how proud he felt of his son and how happy was to have him. That day, after the fall of Halicarnassus when they met, seemed very distant now; he smiled remembering how he had panicked knowing that he was a father, not knowing what to do with the little boy of 3 years old.

 

A servant approached to carry the Prince back to his room, but Hephaistion stopped him and did it himself.

 

The feeling of his slender body, his head against my shoulder, his warm…that is one of the things I missed the most, and I will always miss…

 

XXX

 

Next day was a hard one for Hephaistion, it was the day when Nikandros would take a decision about their sister’s future, and to do so, his older brother decided to consult with the rest of the family. And so uncle Althaimenes, cousin Demetrios, Lysanias, Hephaistion and Berenike were summoned to Nikandros’ house, not far from the palace.

 

Amyntor had always heard the opinion of the women in his house and his firstborn was going to follow his example, especially since this concerned his sister, she should have a vote here.

 

- This morning the hipparch Kleitos came to ask me, again, to marry Eni –said Nikandros and his family remained silent for a moment.

 

Hephaistion turned and looked at his sister, sitting in front of him, her hands on her lap and her eyes on the floor. Berenike was very beautiful; now at her 24 years old she could have been an artist’s muse to create a portrait of Aphrodite; it was as if having 3 children had increased her beauty.

 

She wasn’t crying, on the contrary, she was calm and strangely silent, it appeared to the General as if she were resigned with whatever future the Gods had planned for her and that made him sad. He truly wanted Berenike to be happy but her sister had worked hard to complicate everything. He sighed. It was pointless to start looking for culprits at this moment, the best they could do was to stand together and find the best solution for her.

 

- I think you should accept, Nick –said uncle Althaimenes after a while. He knew the decision was for Nikandros to make, but if he had asked for their opinion they had to be honest with his nephew.

 

- I was thinking that too –Nikandros nodded—But to be honest I don’t like the idea of giving him my sister as if she were a sack of grain, from Leonnatos’ possession to Kleitos’. 

 

- Then… —said Berenike shyly, making all eyes to settle on her—Why don’t you sent me back home?

 

- Leaving your children here? –asked cousin Demetrios and Berenike saw him confused, narrowing her eyes.

 

- What do you mean? Isn’t Leon…natos –she corrected herself—Going to send them back to Iokaste?

 

- You didn’t tell her? –asked uncle Althaimenes, frowning at his nephew and Nikandros sighed.

 

- Eni, Leonnatos is keeping Amyntas and Sophia with him –Hephaistion explained for his sister utterly astonishment.

 

- Why?! –she had thought the opposite.

 

- I don’t know –the General shook his head.

 

- Even if he sent them back to his mother we can’t send you back home –said Nikandros, holding his sister’s gaze—That would further disgrace you, Eni. In your present situation the best thing we can do is to marry you again as soon as possible, and the best choice is the same man with whom you slept with while you were with Leonnatos.

 

- Eni, Nick is right –said Hephaistion slowly—…Or you don’t want to marry Kleitos? 

 

Even if that were the best solution if his sister didn’t want to marry him the General would support her. But Berenike nodded, she had ruined everything, she didn’t even know if would be able to see her children again, she was still sad and confused and couldn’t think correctly. If her family thought this was the best she would do it because she no longer trusted her own decisions.

 

- You are right –said Berenike at last—I’ll do it.

 

- Are you sure? –asked Lysanias worried—Because Kleitos is much older than you.

 

- I know, but…I’m fine, and I know it’s the best.

 

As you can imagine the only one who was happy with this was Kleitos. Berenike was determined to do things right this time and to have her children back, she had no idea of how to do it, but she wasn’t going to give up. Leonnatos appeared to be fine, but I knew better, as soon as he heard that Berenike was getting married again before we left Susa, he started to act as if he didn’t care…I was sure that inside he should be angry and sad, but he didn’t say a word. 

 

XXX

 

In a matter of days the Macedonian army was leaving Susa, this time their destination was the sacred city of Persepolis, a key place for Alexander’s plans. The King had decided that Darius’ family: his mother Queen Sisygambis, his two daughters Stateira and Drypetis, and his son Cyrus Ochus, would stay at Susa. It was pointless to have them traveling with the rest of the army, the Royal Family would be more comfortable at Susa and he would have one concern less. He had already assigned them tutors so all of them could learn Greek as soon as possible.

 

- All of them are staying here? –asked Hephaistion as soon as he heard the news.

 

- You know is the best thing to do –said Alexander, sitting at the desk checking the maps to find the best route to Persepolis. They would be leaving Susa soon, approaching the Persian heartland of the Niriz Basin. The King knew perfectly well that, from now on, he could no longer claimed to be the “Liberator of the Greeks” and this would change his relations with the people he was going to encounter on the road.

 

He had money now, but money wasn’t the only thing he would need, he needed supplies and so far he had been able to obtain them from local people willing to help him, but once Alexander was inside Persia things would be very different. The King had already sent several cavalry squadrons to gather information about: the roads, resources, ground and also the weather of the region they were about to enter. He wouldn’t leave anything to chance.

 

- What about Cyrus? –Hephaistion insisted.

 

The King left the maps and lifted his head to face his beloved; it wasn’t like his General to interrupt him when he was working, even less to insist so much about something, but he had a good idea of why was he doing this.

 

- What’s your point, Phai?…Are you worried about Aki? –he asked.

 

His beloved sighed.

 

- Cyrus is Aki’s only friend –he took a seat in front of the King—And you are going to separate them.

 

The King leaned his weight back. 

 

- I know Phai, but Cyrus is also Darius’ son –he said—It would look as if I have him as my hostage.

 

- Could you at least think about it? –his beloved insisted—I know you are taking Bahman with us, and I’m very grateful, but please, think about taking Cyrus too.

 

- I will think about it –said Alexander—But I can’t promise anything. 

 

His beloved nodded and both fell silent.

 

- When are we going to Persepolis? –asked Hephaistion, watching the several maps over the desk.

 

- In a week –the King rubbed his eyes, he hadn’t slept much but there were so many things to do and only he could do them.

 

- But it’s winter –the General pointed out.

 

- Yes, and thanks to that Darius won’t be expecting me to march on Persepolis –the King explained—I’m not planning in giving Darius more time to gather an army.

 

- You have a point…What do you think is going to happen at Persepolis? –his General wanted to know. 

 

- Honestly, I have no idea –answered Alexander—But I can tell you what do I expect to happen. I expect the Persians to surrender the city and receive as the Great King, if not…I would have to make an example with them.

 

This was the second time the King mentioned something like this, and Hephaistion soon found himself wishing with all his forces that Persepolis would receive his King as Babylon and Susa had done.

 

XXX

 

That night Krateros made this way through the streets of Susa until he reached a very dangerous neighborhood where you could get kill for free. It was a warm night, the full moon could be seen in the starry sky; even if Susa wasn’t Babylon the taxiarch found several Macedonians partying at that hour, and that made him smile; the men deserved to rest after all the hardships they had suffered to get here.

 

He wandered for a while until he found a tavern hidden at the end of the alley. As soon as he entered the heavy smell of vine, food and humanity filled his nostrils but he couldn’t care less. The place was full, and Krateros could see many of the men of his own taxei there, including Chrysaor who was drinking with his friends and playing dice among laughs.  

 

It took a moment for Krateros to find the person he was looking for, a woman dressed in dark cloths and completely covered by a black cloak, sitting at the darkest corner of the place.

 

- If you are trying to pass unnoticed you are doing a terrible job –said the taxiarch, taking a seat at her side.

 

The woman turned to look at him. It was Antigone, Philotas’ mistress.

 

- I can’t stay long or he will notice my absence –she said in a whispered and Krateros nodded.

 

- What do you have for me? –asked the taxiarch, resting his massive arm on the table.

 

The woman took a moment before answering, she was young, 19 years old, with beautiful skin and long wheat-colored hair, she was Macedonian but had been captured and sold as a slave until the hipparch of hetairoi cavalry had bought her and made her his mistress. Krateros had offered her a great amount of gold if she agreed to spy her lover for him.

 

- Not much –she said at last, still in whispers—Just his rambling…

 

- What did he say? –the taxiarch insisted and she sighed.

 

- He says many things, but a couple of days ago he was pretty angry and started to say that, in this campaign “the greatest deeds were those accomplished by himself and by his father, and he called Alexander a stripling who reaped on their account the fame of empire”(2) –Krateros laughed amused—He also…He also said that…—she dropped her voice even more— That Alexander was a fool if he thinks he is truly a God after being crowned Pharaoh.

 

- Oh that’s priceless, but unfortunately doesn’t serve me for much –said the taxiarch, he looked for a couple of coins and gave them to her—Keep me informed of whatever he may say or do.

 

Antigone took the coins and nodded.

 

- Why are you so interested in what he does? –she wanted to know.

 

- That’s none of your business –he taxiarch stood up and went to where a group of his men were having fun.

 

Since the fail attempt in blackmailing Hephaistion at Egypt Krateros had been trying to find a way of getting rid of Philotas; he had killed Hektor, it hadn’t been so difficult to arrange his apparently accidental drowning in the Nile, and now he had to find a way of accusing Philotas of treason, that was why he was paying Antigone to spy on him, but so far all he had was complains and empty words, nothing serious. He would have to be patience and wait for an opportunity to act.

 

XXX

 

Next day, Hephaistion followed Alexander through the magnificent hallways of the royal palace at Susa; the King had received that morning a large quantity of purple cloth sent by his mother, Queen Olympias, together with the women who had wove it, and Alexander thought this would be a very nice present for the Queen Mother Sisygambis. And so he was heading to her chambers followed by the women, 2 girl servants and his beloved; it was beautiful day and he was in a splendid mood, which was great for all the people who had to deal with him.

 

The group turned left and then the General saw his son walking, almost running, through the garden, one hand on his face and the other in a fist at his side. Hephaistion stopped and, a better look at the boy told him his nose was bleeding, he had a purple eye and several bruising on his arms and legs, also his chiton was torn and cover with mud.

 

The first thing that came into his mind was that Achilles was coming back from his training with Kleitos, but then he remembered that Kleitos wasn’t training him that week because he was busy with his wedding. A small Hephaistion with a label that read “Father” started to jump inside him, something had happened to his boy, and then he decided to see what was wrong.

 

- Aki, Aki…AKI! –he shouted, running to catch him up.

 

- What?! –answered the boy in a terrible mood taking the General aback, he had never seen him so angry.

 

- What happened to you? –asked his father worried, but when he approached him with all the intensions of caressing his cheek, Achilles stepped back.

 

- Nothing –the boy wasn’t looking at him, he just wanted to get out. He had planned to cross the garden unnoticed and lock himself in his room; he hadn’t expected to find someone here, least of all his father. 

 

- Nothing? It looks as if someone has beaten you –now that Hephaistion had a closer look at him, he noticed that he had also mud on his hair.

 

- Leave me alone –for a moment the General saw him as if he didn’t knew who he was, his son had never talked to him like this, he was such a sweet boy that something really bad should had happened to him, his eyes were read and puffy and that worried him.

 

- Aki, please tell me, if someone beat you…

 

- Are you deaf? LEAVE ME ALONE! –he shouted.

 

That was one of the most uncomfortable moments in Hephaistion’s life. This was the first time his son talked to him this way, and even if he knew this was going to happen one day, it caught him with his guard down and for a moment he didn’t know what to do. The General fell silent and saw the boy with the same hard and cold expression he adopted when his men did something wrong and Achilles understood immediately that he had gone too far.

 

The Prince saw his feet, breathing heavily, completely lost and not knowing what to do now.

 

- Come with me, Achilles –ordered Hephaistion, it was clear he wasn’t happy and his son obeyed at once, his eyes still on the floor.

 

Once they were alone in the General’s bedroom, Hephaistion asked Kyros to leave them alone and saw the young Prince for a long moment in silence, making the boy uncomfortable. 

 

- I don’t know what happened to you, Achilles –said his father is a cold hard tone that reminded the boy that he was, not only his beloved father, but also a General in the Macedonian army—But I won’t tolerate that you speak to me like you did.

 

- Yes, father –he was ashamed, and didn’t look at him.

 

- If you do this again I swear to you that I’ll leave you without teeth, do you understand? –he raised his voice. He wasn’t Alexander to gather all the force necessary in his voice without shouting, a voice capable to mobilizing thousands of men. He did as his father Amyntor had used to do with him and his siblings, and it worked.  

 

- Yes, father…I’m sorry.

 

They both fell silent again. Hephaistion walked to the window to open it, he needed fresh air, he was angry but he wanted to talk to his child calmly.

 

- What happened to you? –asked the General again.

 

Achilles took a deep breath, clenching his fists while his father took a seat in front of him.

 

- Bupares and his friends hit me –he said at last in a low voice.

 

- Who is Bupares? –Hephaistion soften his voice a little.

 

- The satrap Abulites’ youngest son –the Prince explained—Dad told me that the satrap insisted that I should play with children of my own age and since his youngest son is also 7 years old, he arranged me to play with him and his friends. They all are the sons of Persian nobles… 

 

- And why did they hit you? –now the General was concerned.

 

Achilles sighed; he tried not to cry.

 

- Because they are stupid –he said at last—They do stupid things and talk like fools…And, every time I gave my opinion they got mad, but… —he took a moment to take a deep breath—For example, Bupares said that Cyrus built Susa, everybody knows it was Darius I –he said exasperated—But if I corrected them they said that what could I know if I’m not Persian… And it was like that until this boy Dabir said that I was the fool because…

 

- Because?

 

- Because I am a barbarian and that my father is not a King but a brute thief –the Prince cleaned the tears with the back of his hand, he didn’t want to cry, he didn’t cry in front of them, but now...

 

The General stretched his arm and his son ran to sit at his side and embraced him with force, hiding his face in his neck and finally crying on his shoulder. It broke Hephaistion’s heart to hear him cry like this, while he rubbed his back. He had never thought this carefully but now he saw things clearly. Achilles was like Alexander, extremely intelligent, and until this day, his son had only been surrounded by adults or boys older than him, like his cousin Amyntas or Cyrus Ochus who were 9 years old. Of course that boys of his own age would look foolish to him. And the King was like this, after all, almost all of Alexander’s friends were older than him.

 

Achilles was a complicated boy because he appeared to have several ages at the same time, he spoke like an adult, behave sometimes like a teenager, but got surprised with small things just as the child he was. It was easy to forget he was 7 years old because of his intelligence, but, as all the boys of his age, he liked to play. Hephaistion couldn’t be more grateful that he had found Cyrus, because it was hard for a child like his own to have friends, but Alexander wanted to leave the Persian behind.

 

And now this –thought the General, kissing the Prince’s head—Apparently not only Alexander has a hard time convincing the Persians to crown him as the Great King, but also Aki has problems is fitting among the Persian nobles’ sons.

 

XXX

 

- You should have seen Queen Sisygambis, Phai –said the King during dinner, it was a rare event but this time they were alone, without friends or guest to entertain—I thought she was going to suffer a heart attack when I gave her the purple cloth and asked if she and her granddaughters wanted to learn how to weave it –he smiled—Apparently royal Persian ladies don’t do these things and she thought I was treating her like a servant –Alexander shook his head and tore another piece of bread—I had to explain that my mother and sisters weave and that I didn’t mean to offend her…Phai?

 

- Mm?

 

- Why are you so quiet? –the King frowned. 

 

- Mm?…I’m thinking –said Hephaistion absently, playing with his food.

 

- About what?

 

The General wasn’t sure if he should tell him about what had happened to Achilles, or how to tell him, and he was still thinking in silence when the door opened and the young Prince appeared.

 

- Sorry I’m late –he said, taking his place at the King’s side. Achilles was clean now, but his eye was still purple, his lip cut and showing several bruises on his arms and legs.

 

Alexander saw him in silence while the servant at the Prince’s side gave him a plate with meat and dates.

 

- What happened to you? –the King wanted to know—I thought Kleitos have given you a break. 

 

- I fell from a tree –said Achilles without looking at him, while taking a date.

 

- Before or after fighting against it? –the boy froze—I’m not an idiot, Aki. Did you and Cyrus have a fight? –the King raised his cup and a servant ran to fill it again.

 

The boy lowered his eyes, feeling a knot in his stomach and suddenly all his hunger disappeared; he left the date again on the plate. 

 

- Aki –said Hephaistion softly—You should tell Alexander the truth.

 

- But it’s humiliating –the boy complained, leaving his plate at his side.

 

- What truth?…What happened? –now the King was intrigued, sure that this was what had his beloved so quite during dinner. Achilles puffed his cheek out.

 

- Bupares and his friends beat me…—said the Prince in a bad mood, telling the same story he had told to his father. But, by the time he ended the King was furious.

 

- Who’s that boy that called you a barbarian? –Alexander demanded to know, the vein on his forehead popped up.  

 

- He is the nephew of Ariobarzanes, apparently his uncle fought against you at Gaugamela commanding the Persian troops from the neighborhood of the Persian Gulf…I think he lives in Persepolis –explained Achilles, not knowing exactly why was the King so angry, but having a slightly idea. 

 

- Alex, they are children, and children do these things –Hephaistion tried to calm him down but the King shook his head.

 

- No, Phai. Children always repeat what they hear from their parents –said Alexander in a terrible mood—And if they said that to Aki it’s because the Persian nobles are speaking behind my back.

 

They all fell silent.

 

- How do you feel? –the King soften his voice, looking at his Prince.

 

- Like shit…

 

- Achilles! –Hephaistion scolded him but Alexander laughed—You are not helping –his beloved scolded him.

 

- I’m sorry, Phai –the King saw the boy’s sad expression and sighed—Aki, I have a surprise for you –the boy lifted his head—Your friend Cyrus can come with us.

 

- Really?! –exclaimed Achilles immensely happy.

 

- Really –the boy ran and embraced the King, making his father smiled.

 

My sister married Kleitos that week; it was a very private ceremony and only her family and the hipparch’s closest friends attended, and of course Alexander was there too. We didn’t have much time to rest after that because, just a couple of days after the ceremony, we left for Persepolis, one day before my 26^th birthday.    

 

XXX

(1) Steven Saylor. A Gladiator Dies Only Once, p 59 and 60

(2) Waldemar Heckel. The Marshals of Alexander’s Empire, p 17