CHAPTER 132

 

That was the worst birthday of Hephaistion’s life. The march to Persepolis was nothing like their march to Babylon or Susa, it was all but easy starting with the fact that now it was winter and continuing with a long list of problems from which the most important and most dangerous was Ariobarzanes and his small army. But, who was Ariobarzanes and why was he a pain in the Macedonians’ tushy? He was the satrap of the region of Persia, the very heart of the Persian Empire, but, contrary to what someone may thought, he wasn’t an old man, 38 years old, and was famous across Persia because he was also a good military commander…or so he claimed.

 

The problem with Ariobarzanes was that he was Darius’ loyal follower, he owed everything to defeated Great King, his power and prestige, and he was also the kind of person who thought that only his country and people were good enough. To try to reason with him would be as pointless as to try to convince the Macedonians that wine was bad. And nobody would have paid the satrap any attention if it weren’t because of 2 things: first he had gathered a considerable armed force after the crushing defeat at Gaugamela and planned to attack the Macedonian on their way to the sacred city, having at his disposal the not inconsiderable number of 25,000 men and 700 cavalry.

 

And second. Ariobarzanes was the satrap of Persia and he was blocking Alexander’s way to Persepolis. To conquer the Persian Empire without the Region of Persia was like having a body without soul, it was a half victory and Alexander was the kind of man that always wanted ALL.

 

When Hephaistion heard about the situation, he started to think that Alexander was right, children did repeat what they heard from their parents, and if Ariobarzanes’ nephew had called Achilles a barbarian it wasn’t very surprising that he was now blocking their way. Artibelus, one of Mazaeus’ sons that were traveling with them, had met the satrap in the past, and had assured the King that he would not surrender.  

 

If what young Artibelus had said was true, then a very difficult battle was waiting for them…

 

- We have to move quickly –said Alexander to his war council—Ariobarzanes will want to gain time in order to take Persepolis’ treasure out of the city. We can’t let that happen, if he takes the treasure with him he will handed it to Darius, and with those resources it won’t be difficult for him to raise an army to fight us again –he made a pause to let his words sink, he needed to make all his officers understand the situation and to see that this campaign wasn’t over. He had heard the soldiers talking, as a commander who liked to be closed to his men he was always among the firsts in knowing what was happening inside the camp. His men wanted to go home, but as long as Darius was on the run he was still a menace and they needed to understand this—We’ll divide our forces, I’ll take the route through the mountains and Krateros, with a strong detachment, will go up into the heights above the defile.

 

- Sire, but that means we’ll have to cross through the Uxians’ territory –said Eumenes carefully, he had read the reports of the scouts and heard the words of the guides, and had a very good idea of what lied ahead, waiting for them in that hostile territory.

 

They were far from their home, farther than the 10, 000 of Xenophon ever were, and this made the secretary nervous. They had to rely on guides from conquered cities, in their native allies, in men like Mazaeus’ sons who had fought against them in the beginning, in people who they considered barbarians. Eumenes didn’t like this, and the sour expression on his unfriendly face spoke louder than his words.   

 

- So? –asked Perdikkas without understanding what was the problem, his arms crossed behind his head, rocking the chair on its hind legs. The servants had quickly prepared the tent, when the army stopped for a brief rest, so the King could have his meeting comfortably safe from the cold outside. 

 

- The Uxians demand a tribute –explained the secretary, sitting straight and stiff with the arms on the table—Even the Great King used to pay them, what are we going to do? –Eumenes was stingy, and the King couldn’t decide if this was good or bad. Good because he never spent more than was needed, which didn’t necessarily make him as good administrator as Hephaistion had proven to be. And it was bad because sometimes he didn’t even spent when it was necessary, which had caused several problems. 

 

- You’ll see –said Alexander mysteriously—You’ll see what I have planned for the Uxians. 

 

And sure enough, just as Eumenes said, the Uxians sent the Macedonian King a very clear and blunt message saying that, if he wished to cross through their lands he would have to pay a tribute. Hephaistion though that the poor Uxians had no idea with whom they were messing. The Macedonian King paying tribute to group of savages? He had conquered Darius, and the fact that the Great King had paid them tribute only served to reinforce Alexander’s idea that he wouldn’t do the same. 

 

Alexander’s answer was very simple, he told the Uxians to wait for him at pass to receive payment; it was dark by now and they would conclude their business next day.

 

As always, as soon as the last rays of sunlight died, the army got ready to built their camp to rest that night, starting to dig a ditch around what it would be the fortifications and then lift the walls and palisades. Every unit had a task, some would dig, others would bring the timber and materials, each man knew what he had to do and in a matter of hours the camp was ready.

 

- I’m sorry –said the King to Hephaistion, while they walked back to the General’s tent. They weren’t far from Susa but the weather was changing drastically, the more they got closer to the mountains, the worst the cold, and the King was sure that things wouldn’t improved, after all it was winter. 

 

- For what?…What did you do? –the General teased Alexander, kicking a rock that jumped a couple of times before landing near of a bonfire. 

 

- Nothing. I mean, today is your birthday and we couldn’t celebrate it properly –the General smiled and shook his head, his long silky hair was hiding inside his gray fur cloak, another of the King’s gifts. Apparently Alexander had found the cloak among Darius’s personal things, and since both, his beloved and the defeated Great King were almost the same height he had given the cloak to him, sure that it would look magnificent on him.

 

And I was right –thought the King, looking at his General.

 

- Don’t apologize –said his beloved—It’s fine just knowing that you care enough to feel bad.

 

They turned, leaving behind a group of hetairoi who were sharing their dinner, and the King took his hand and stopped, making him turned to face him. He looked at his General for a long moment of silence, his bronze-gold hair shone mysteriously thanks to the capricious light that the dancing fire cast from a close brazier; half of his beautiful face hid in the shadows and his dark gray eyes, looking almost purple, on him, watching him intently, silently asking what was in his mind.

 

They had met on Hephaistion’s 13^th birthday and this day it would be 13 years since the Gods had let him met his soul mate and other half. This was a very special day, not only because his beloved was still alive, making this world full with suffering and blood a better place with his existence, but also because it was their anniversary. If it were for him, he would celebrate this day as he had celebrated Achilles’ birthday, to let the whole world know how much he loved this beautiful creature standing in front of him. 

 

Hephaistion pinched his nose taking him out of his thoughts, and breaking the mysterious atmosphere that had fallen upon them.

 

- What are you thinking? –he asked in a whisper, dragging the words with a mesmerizing sensuality that had the King trapped in his spell. As an answer Alexander caressed his cheek, his fingertips throbbing, enjoying the creamy skin under them, and he slid his fingers over his beloved’s lips.

 

In 13 years Hephaistion’s beauty hadn’t diminished in one iota, on the contrary, against all logic each year he was even more handsome. Who cared if the social conventionalism said that he should have a younger lover, no teenage boy had that strong and well-formed body that had more than one daydreaming. 

 

- I was thinking that I love you –the King held his gaze and his beloved smiled, a sweet loving smile that was just for him.

 

- This is the best birthday present you could give me –the General squeezed his hand and closed the distance between them to kiss him making him feel as the most important man on the planet—Alex… —he whispered, softly, brushing his lips with his breath—I want to ask you…I want something…  

 

The King kissed him again, savoring his lips and the unconditional love that his beloved made him feel. All men and women live their lives wearing masks, showing different faces to the world and always concealing their true self under several layers of lies and pretences; some hide their true self because they don’t want to get hurt, others because they like to deceive, but what was especial about Alexander’s relationship with Hephaistion was that they learned to be just themselves in the presence of the other…no masks, no lies…

 

- Ask for whatever you want –he said, still holding Hephaistion’s hand—Anything…everything…—he caressed his beloved’s cheek with his own, leaving his lips unattended just for a moment and already missing them.

 

- Those are dangerous words, my King –the General kissed him again, his voice was a husky whispered with a playful touch—But I just want to spend the night with you.

 

Alexander smiled like a child, with pure happiness and left a sweet kiss on his neck, the fur of his cloak tickling his face and the soft smell of chamomile fill his nostrils.

 

- Then lets go to my tent; it’s cold out here.

 

- Really? –his beloved surrounded his waist and pulled him closer to his firm body—Because I can’t feel it –the King laughed.

 

Alexander moved away from him reluctantly, feeling again the increment cold. His body was screaming to feel again the soft warmth of is beloved, to have his skin pressed against his own.

 

They hurried to the King’s tent, like teenagers hiding from their parents, trying their best to not draw the attention of the men still awake around the braziers. Every man in the army knew Alexander had always time for them, to listen to their complains and concerns; everyone loved him for that and approached him when they had the chance, asked him to share a cup or simple stay to share a moment with them.

 

Alexander always accepted, but not tonight. Tonight he only had eyes for his General, and so he moved like a spy, hiding in the shadows and avoiding his men. Both arrived without breath, barely able to contain the urge to feel the lips of the other again, but, when they turned, they found Eumenes pacing in front of the King’s tent, like a vulture patiently waiting for his prey to die. And now that Hephaistion thought about it, the secretary did look like a vulture, especially with that dark cloak floating behind him…

 

- Shit! –exclaimed Alexander under his breath, hiding behind a nearby tent and pulling his beloved’s hand to follow him.

 

- What?

 

- I completely forgot about Eumenes –the King hit his forehead with his hand.

 

- Do you have something to do? –asked Hephaistion, whispering. A small cloud left his lips at every word. It was getting colder.

 

- Bloody paperwork –he cursed, how was that he had forgotten? Easy, he hated paperwork so much that his mind had blocked it.

 

The General was disappointed, but tried his best to hide it. He truly wanted to spend that cold night with the most important person in his life, but, as his father used to say: duty first.

 

- It’s all right, we can leave this for later –he said, forcing himself to smile.

 

- No, it’s not all right…Come, let’s go to your tent –said Alexander and his beloved tried hard not to laugh.

 

- Seriously? You are going to hide from your secretary? –even if this was childish Hephaistion couldn’t deny he was very happy with the prospect of kidnapping the blond and hiding him from the intolerable Eumenes. 

 

- Or if you prefer I can go back to work…

 

- No, no, no –Hephaistion interrupted him, raising his hands in front of him—I like the first plan.

 

They walked back to the General’s tent, again hiding like thieves and running as fast as they could when they saw Perdikkas leaving his tent. Thirteen years later and Alexander still ran faster than him, how he did it with legs shorter than his own? That was Hephaistion’s eternal question, but of course he said nothing. This time he wasn’t in the mood to tease his King, he was in the mood to do other things to him. 

 

A smile curved Hephaistion’s lips, remembering the last time they had been together and some of his favorite moments, but his smile disappeared as soon as he saw Glycon, going to his tent with several parchments and notes under his arm. He took Alexander’s arm to stop him.

 

- We can’t go to my tent –he said.

 

- Why not? –the King turned and saw Glycon—You too have work to do?

 

The General sighed and ran a hand through his face.

 

- Come, lets hide somewhere else, Glycon will wait for a couple of hours tops and then go –he explained, following the young man’s silhouette at the distance.

 

- Fine…Where are we going to hide? –it had been a while since the last time Alexander had done something like this, maybe the last time had been at Mieza, and he was having the time of his life.

 

- I don’t know, where do you think is the last place people would look for us? –the King took a moment to think.

 

- Near the baggage train, we can hide under the wagons –Hephaistion laughed, and started to walk again.

 

- I can’t believe this, the Great King hiding under a wagon –Alexander laughed too, following him.

 

- See what you make me do?

 

- Now it’s my fault.

 

- Shush, lower your voice –the King scolded him, closing his fur cloak to protect himself from the weather.

 

They fooled the guards around the baggage train, it was so easy that Alexander made a mental note to scold Meleager, after all his men were the ones on guard duties that night. He could have a whole army under his commander but he did remember every order he gave. He and his beloved ran to hide under the first wagon they saw, and they were so concentrated in what they were doing that Hephaistion didn’t notice that Chrysaor was one of the men guarding the baggage train. They tried their best to not laugh and draw the men’s attention, but every time they saw the face of the other they suffered from a laugh attack.

 

- I can’t believe we are actually doing this –whispered Hephaistion, rubbing his arms under the wagon—Damn cold.

 

- I can help you with that –said Alexander, crawling towards him. He sat behind, and embraced him with force, his beloved relaxed in his arms, leaning his back against his chest, and the King slid his hand through his thigh, taking it between the General’s legs.

 

Hephaistion gasped and bit his lower lip. Alexander’s fingers were cold and first the sensation had been one of utterly discomfort, but, as soon as his hand moved up and down his length he forgot all his complains. 

 

- Mmm…Are you sure you want to make love here? –his beloved whispered, licking his lip as if he were tasting the most delicious sweet in the world, spreading his legs and cocking his head, feeling his body melting.

 

- I don’t mind, unless you are too delicate for this –Alexander looked for his lips and Hephaistion moaned softly, trying his best to be quiet, feeling already the heat running through his body.

 

The General threw the King on his back to the cold ground, caressing his blond hair back and kissing him with hunger. Alexander opened his mouth, and bent his knees up at each side of his beloved, he arched wanting to feel his beloved’s firm body, silently begging to feel him closer. He had always knew that Hephaistion’s kisses would be his doom one day, but he couldn’t care less, he would give everything just to feel his lips.

 

The General rested his weight on his arms, at each side of the King’s head and rocked his hips against Alexander’s, slowly, taking his time to watch every expression on his lover’s face, and that was enough to make the blond moan and shudder.

 

- Do that again –whispered the King, and he moaned again when his beloved obeyed. It was a strange contrast, the cold and hard ground under him and the soft and warm body over him, but that odd sensation was having an arousing effect on him.

 

He opened his beloved’s cloak, sliding it down through his shoulders, and his hands quickly moved up and down his arms, under the long sleeves of his tunic.

 

Hephaistion kissed him slowly, truly enjoying him, caressing his cheeks with his lips and fingers and hitting his skin with his breath. He attacked the King’s lips without truce, sucking and nipping them, while feeling the blond’s playful hands on his back, over the fabric of his cloths. Soon the cold was forgotten and that matter in that moment was Alexander, to feel him and to have him...

 

At some point, Hephaistion raised his head and hit it against the wagon making Alexander laugh.  

 

- Shut up! –exclaimed the General keeping his voice low but the King kept laughing, until…

 

- I knew I have heard something! –exclaimed Chrysaor, squatting beside the wagon with a torch in his hand.

 

Everything froze in that moment. Alexander and Hephaistion saw the newcomer unable to believe their own eyes: the King for the fact that he had been so suddenly discovered in such a moment; the General for his bad luck watching Chrysaor, of all the people, there. Chrysaor was the only one who was as calm as if he had caught the couple walking under the sun through a camp of flowers, instead of horny, under a wagon, and one over the other.  

 

- Preciousness! It’s you!…I’m sorry but I can’t remember your name –said the pezetairos; but then, he gave a better look to Hephaistion, his cheeks pink, his hair sliding through one of his shoulders like trickles, and his lips wet and swollen—Wow! You are hot –he said spellbound.

 

Alexander and his beloved woke up from their inicial shock and sat, arranging their cloths and closing their heavy cloaks.

 

- What are you doing here, Chrysaor? –asked the General stupidly, brushing his hair behind his ear. This was what he got for listening to his hormones, he should know by now that nothing good comes from listening to them. 

 

- You know him? –Alexander turned to see his beloved in shock. In fact, what he really wanted to ask was: “why do you know him? Who is he? And why does he talk you like that?” He wasn’t worried in the least for had been caught under a wagon, he was more interested in know why did his Hephaistion know this guy.  

 

The pezetairos laughed.

 

- What am I doing here? I guess I should be the one asking that –he pointed at them with his chin—But that would be a very stupid question –his extremely pale eyes traveled along Hephaistion’s legs bothering the King.

 

- You are on guard here –said Alexander extremely serious—What’s your name? 

 

- Chrysaor son of Attalos, and you?

 

The question was so spontaneous and innocent, so unexpected and blunt that both lovers looked at the young man doubtfully. For a silly moment, Hephaistion actually expected to hear Chrysaor laughed and said: “Just kidding!” But that didn’t happen.

 

Is he serious? Doesn’t he recognize the King? But he said he saw Alex when he addressed the troops –thought the General when the truth hit him…Well, actually it was only his head hitting the wagon again. But he realized that: it was dark, Alexander wasn’t precisely looking very “kingly” in those moments, the pezetairos had only seen the King at distance and…who in his right mind would be expecting to find the, soon to be officially, Great King under a wagon making out with him?

 

Surely the pezetairos would like to imagine that someone like Alexander had more decent and fancy places to make out with his significant other. 

 

Alexander opened his mouth with all the intensions of introducing his important self, but his beloved spoke first.

 

- He is my lover, Alexander son of Philip –the King turned very quickly to look at him.

 

Of all the things Hephaistion could have said, from Great King of Persia, Pharaoh of Egypt, son of Zeus-Ammon, King of Macedonia to the not less glamorous undefeated conqueror of the known world, he had to choose this. Although he had to admit that the title of “Hephaistion’s lover” was more precious to him as all the rest put together.

 

Chrysaor whistled.

 

- So, you are taken? –then his curious gaze settled on the King—Would you mind to share?

 

The General would have laughed to tears if he hadn’t had to restrain Alexander before he punched the pezetairos.

 

- YOU…— growled the King, and Chrysaor stepped back. An angry Alexander was a very scary sight that had made more than one to run away on a battlefield, and there was nothing that enrage him more that to know that his Hephaistion had an admirer.

 

- Whoa! Take it easy pal, I was just asking –said the pezetairos, recovering for the initial shock—You have a jealous lover, Preciousness.

 

- His name is Hephaistion –the King corrected him in an icy tone.

 

- Yes, he told me…—answered Chrysaor with all simplicity when someone called him.

 

- Something wrong, Chrys? –asked a man, a little far away from the wagon.  

 

- No! I just found a couple of love birds having fun under the wagon –the pezetairos made a very rude gesture with his hands, making Hephaistion blush and the man laugh.

 

- Tell then to get the hell out of there, before the taxiarch comes and kicks them so hard that they would be tasting his boots for weeks –said the man.

 

- This is ridiculous, I’m…

 

- We are going –Hephaistion interrupted the King again.

 

- What?! –exclaimed Alexander and Chrysaor laughed.

 

- Oh, I can see who is the “man” in this relationship –again it took all of Hephaistion’s strength to restrain the King before he broke the pezetairos’ neck.

 

The General practically had to drag Alexander from under the wagon, and pushed him to start walking back to his tent. The air was cooler and it felt like needles against his hot cheeks. Now that Chrysaor’s torch was illuminating the place, Hephaistion could see that several guards were not far from the baggage train, some of them looking in their direction with curiosity, others cursing the cold while rubbing their hands in a vain attempt to warm themselves.

 

We better get going before someone recognizes Alex –thought the General.

 

- Hey, Heph! –Chrysaor called him, running after to catch them.

 

- Now, what? –asked the King harshly—I hope you are not expecting us to tuck you in bed.

 

- It depends –said the pezetairos, looking again directly at the General—Is he going to be in bed too?

 

- What do you want? –asked Hephaistion before Alexander started to curse in the most profane words of the Macedonian language and naming the most impossible and anatomically incorrect human positions.  

 

- I’m just wondering when can we go out for a drink –asked Chrysaor and the King rolled his eyes tired.

 

Is this guy dumb? What part of: “Hephaistion is with me” he doesn’t understand? –thought Alexander.

 

The General smiled.

 

- We’ll see.

 

XXX

 

- “We’ll see?” What kind of answer was that? And why, in the name of all the Olympians, you didn’t let me introduce myself? –the King questioned him as soon as they were alone in his beloved’s tent.

 

Hephaistion sat down on his bed and yawned, after a very hard march, a difficult day, their little adventure and finally warming himself inside his room he was feeling very sleepy. He was tired, next day they had to get up early to meet the Uxians and his bed was so soft that it appeared to be whispering to him: “come and close your eyes”.

 

- I don’t want to have all the camp gossiping about how their King was caught under a wagon making out with the General of the Agema –explained Hephaistion, going straight to the point and yawning again, oh his eyes felt so heavy— That’s why I didn’t want to tell Chrysaor who you really are.

 

Alexander looked at him for a moment, crossed his arms and rested his weight on one foot.

 

- Why is this…Chrysaor so familiar with you? –Hephaistion knew this question was coming; why did his King have to be so jealous? Although he had to admit that it was very flattering.

 

- Honestly, I don’t know –his beloved dropped on his back, his legs hanging at the edge of the bed—I met him days before we arrived at Susa –he yawned—… Apparently he came with your new reinforcements from Macedonia…He says he fought for Zopyrion. 

 

- Just that? –Alexander insisted, taking a seat at his side—Does he know you are the General of the Agema? 

 

- No…

 

- Why not?

 

- I don’t know –the General turned and rested his head on the King’s thighs, it was a great effort to stay awake—He talks too much and… I didn’t have the chance.

 

- Do you like him? –Alexander spoke before thinking. 

 

- Who? –asked a very sleepy Hephaistion.

 

- Chrysaor.

 

- I like…you…

 

- Phai? –but when Alexander turned, his General was sleeping. He smiled and kissed his beloved’s forehead. Maybe he was overreacting.

 

XXX

 

Next day the army moved before dawn, amidst a long litany of insults; the men complaining about their officers for forced them to march at such ungodly hour, and the officers complaining because of the lazy men. Hephaistion smiled, hearing some of his lads cursing in the most colorful way while Dismas shouted to keep them in line. These were most discipline men in the world, they could achieve the impossible and would obey in an instant even if their lives were at stake, fight like demons when they were asked and wait patiently when it was require.

 

But that didn’t mean they weren’t going to complain, it was part of the life in that army, cursed the officers was as natural as breathing air, but when it mattered they would always obey thanks to their fierce training.

 

The King had a very simple plan that day, he never thought seriously in the possibility of actually giving the Uxians the tribute they were asking, and if they didn’t want to let him pass, then Alexander would have to force the stubborn Uxians, reason why he had sent Krateros to the mountains, he had a surprise for them.

 

Following their Susian guides they took a hidden route under the cover of darkness, the march was hard for all of them since the ground was rough, these mountains were extremely rocky almost without vegetations and the few trees, grass and plants that could be seen were almost brown, their path was cover a dusty one, formless and uneven and some parts were covered by snow, making their advance even more difficult. It was difficult to breath thanks to the dust, and the General found himself thanking Alexander for leaving Achilles and the baggage train behind, his son wouldn’t have been able to breath there.

 

The air was cooler there but at least the cold was bearable, and the more they advance over the mountains the more Hephaistion felt his head heavy, something that had never happened before to him, but maybe this was thanks to their rapid advance.    

 

In a matter of hours they reached the Uxians villages, and the King ordered his men to descend on them, forbidding the use of the trumpets to give the orders. Everything was very still in the village, and not even the most early risers roosters were awake, several extinguished fires from the night before could be seen, the smoke rising lazily to the heaven. It was dark but not for long. Hephaistion almost felt sorry for the poor souls resting in their warm beds, oblivion to the very real danger that was going to fall upon them.

 

The attack was quickly; the Uxians woke up when they heard the Macedonians approaching but it was too late. Some tried to fight, but soon lost their nerve as soon as the first corpses fell to the ground, the first sunrays illuminated the scene showing the whole extend of the carnage, the pools of blood glowing almost like gold thanks to the light. The Uxians ran away, scattered in all directions, heading to the mountains, just to fall in the hands of Krateros and his men, waiting for their prey and finishing them with savage efficiency.

 

After the carnage, the King, proudly standing among his men demanded to receive an annually tribute of 100 horses, 500 pack-animals and 30, 000 sheep; it the cruelest joke for the Uxians, instead of receiving a tribute they would have to give one…annually. Any Macedonian could read the anger in their enemies’ faces but there was nothing that they could do now.  

 

- And easy victory –said Parmelio, approaching the King, while the men collected a first payment of the Uxians tribute. The old General thought Alexander hadn’t heard him, too concentrated looking at the mountains—Alexander?

 

- For now… an easy victory for now –he turned to look at Parmelio. He looked old…All right, Parmelio was almost 70 years old, but, until now he hadn’t noticed, he hadn’t taken the time to actually see that his father’s most valuable General was an old man. Was he still a threat? Had he overestimated him?

 

Parmelio knew the King was analyzing him, trying to see beyond him, but he gave nothing away, he forced himself to remained calm and impassive, waiting for Alexander to speak again even if those uneven eyes made him nervous.

 

- Ariobarzanes is still waiting for us –the King continue as if there hadn’t been any interruptions—I want you to take the baggage train, the Thessalians and the heavy-armed troops, and march through the main southern road, the Royal Road. I’ll take the rest of the army across the Zagros Mountain range to deal with Ariobarzanes, I need to get there as fast as I can before the Persians take the treasure out of Persepolis.

 

- I heard Ariobarzanes built a defensive wall across the Susian Gates –said Parmelio.

 

- Yes, he did…—if the old General was expecting the King to give him further explanations about his plans, he waited in vain because Alexander said no more.

 

- Alexander, if I’m taking the baggage train through the Royal Road –said the old General—Does that mean that Prince Achilles is coming with me?

 

The King took a moment before answering. Until now Achilles had always traveled with him or with Hephaistion; he didn’t want a Parmelio in a strong position and to leave Achilles with him was to give him power, but he couldn’t take a child as the Prince with them, not across the mountain in that weather and knowing that the enemy was waiting for them at the end of the road. He needed to move fast.

 

- Yes, my son is going with you –said Alexander and the old General nodded.

 

XXX

 

- You did the right thing –said Hephaistion, while they moved through the mountains, following a path, that could hardly been called that, but according to their guides it was the fastest route to Persepolis—Aki will be fine with Parmelio, this –he pointed at the road with his chin—Would have been extremely difficult for him.

 

Alexander nodded, but knew this but still, he didn’t like the idea of leaving his heir with the old General, maybe it was just he and his ideas, but he had a hunch…

 

It took the army 5 days of hard march to reach the Persian Gates, the path through the mountains was more difficult at each step, more than one fell on that rocky and rough ground, and orders were shouted to the men to be careful, they couldn’t afford sprain ankles.

 

Lysanias was one of the few soldiers of the Agema who fell, bruising his knees horribly, breaking the skin. Unfortunately he couldn’t stop and attend his wounds, so he clenched his jaw and kept walking, feeling the blood sliding down his legs. 

 

The march was difficult and what they found when they arrived at their destination wasn’t very encouraging. The so-called Persian Gates were nothing more than a narrowed road between the mountains, the road itself was covered by a thick carpet of snow and, at each side, the tall rocky mountains guarded it like impenetrable walls. Hephaistion had to narrow his eyes and, at the far end, he could distinguish a human made wall. He didn’t like it, and liked it even less when they approached and had a better look at the artillery above the wall.

 

If the Gods had one day sat down and say “hey, let’s create the perfect place for an ambush” That place was the Persian Gates, a narrow path with no escape route and artillery at the front. The General felt a knot in his stomach. When they heard about the Persian Gates Hephaistion had imagined many things…not this, but he trusted that Alexander had a plan because he always knew what to do…right?

 

- Do you think they have catapults too? –asked Leonnatos, shielding his eyes, at the General side, but no one answered him, they were too concentrated in the enemy ahead, all of them thinking the same thing: this was a trap.

 

- Keep the battle formation! –shouted Alexander and soon the order was repeated through all the squadrons.

 

- Battle formation? –repeated Chrysaor as if his taxiarch Meleager had asked them to dance for the Persians—But…the King is insane –his pale gray eyes surveyed the tall rocky mountains at each side of them. 

 

This would be the first time that the pezetairos was going into battle under Alexander’s orders and he was nervous. After the disaster of Zopyrion he was prone to distrust his superiors, even if he had heard from his companions that the King could dispute the title of God of War with Ares, he had his doubts. The artillery at the front looked a very real threat to him.

 

XXX

 

One the Persian side, Ariobarzanes, a tall and strong man of broad shoulders and a perpetual scowl, ran to the walls to see what was happening. He was greeted immediately by the sight of the Macedonian army in battle formation, getting ready to advance directly at the wall. What was the barbarian King thinking? The answer eluded him, because only a mad man would think in ordering a frontal attack to a wall, in such a narrow place with the artillery there.  

 

But he had always known that the barbarian King was crazy.

 

- Prepare the artillery! –shouted Ariobarzanes and his men hurried to obey.

 

XXX

 

As soon as the Macedonian soldiers advanced, a hail of arrows and great rocks fell upon the invaders, without pause and without mercy, and it wasn’t long before the taxeis and the heavy infantry had to stopped the advance, trying their best to cover themselves with their shields. Ptolemy barely had time to cover himself with his shield before 3 arrows hit him like a straw doll for training.

 

- I think this answers your question, Leon –said Ptolemy.  

 

-DISMAS! –Hephaistion shouted to his second in command, pulling the reins of his horse, hurrying to keep his men in formation—Get everybody back in line!

 

- Yes, sir –his second-in-command answered immediately.

 

The men of the Agema hurried to obey while trying their best to cover themselves from the incessant rain of arrows and javelins, their duty was to guard the King and that was what they would do, even at the cost of their lives. 

 

And we all are really going to die here if this continues –thought the General, turning to see Alexander and praying that he should sound the retreat soon. 

 

The Macedonians hard discipline kept them in their positions, they reformed the ranks quickly and marched against the wall, but it was a disaster. The Persian artillery didn’t give them a respite, nor did the archers. But that wasn’t the worst part, the worst came when heavy and big rocks were rolled down from the mountains, at each side of the narrow path, Ariobarzanes had hidden his men over the Macedonian’s heads, and soon they started an avalanche.

 

- Shit! –exclaimed Chrysaor, his eyes round and big watching the rocks coming directly to him, the ground shaking as if this were an earthquake.

 

Meleager, turned at the same time as his young pezetairos, and cursed.

 

- Break ranks! –he shouted in his best parade voice and his men ran away, trying their best to move away from the rocks’ path.

 

Chrysaor threw his shield and ran with all his forces, hearing behind him the terrible screams of his companions, crushed without mercy under the rocks. He felt his heart beating savagely, the snow slowing him down and filling him with the very real fear of ending his days as pulp under a rock in a forgotten place far far away from home. 

 

Many of the Macedonians, who actually reached the wall, tried to climb it, but all appeared to be in vain, they were trapped and the enemy had all the advantage in this place. It didn’t take the King long to understand that the fight was lost and he ordered to sound the retreat a sound that for many of them were the most beautiful in the world.

 

XXX