CHAPTER 146

 

Hephaistion had to admit that, even if leaving his son with Olympias didn’t make him happy, he was truly very excited with the trip, he would be able to spend some time alone with his lover, far away from his office, his problems, Parmelio’s strange behavior...and away from Achilles. He loved his son more than his own life, but there were days when he missed the time when Alexander and he could have sex in the kitchen without worrying if the boy would suddenly appeared.

 

He had a lot of plans, funny and kinky plans, that had him giggling alone, but couldn’t help it. That night after dinner when they stopped talking about the very rude, but surprisingly funny, parody that South Park had made of the blond’s band, Alexander, who couldn’t wait another moment, decided to make an announcement.

 

- Phai I have great news for you –said Alexander with a big smile, exited as if he had just won the lottery.

 

- Aki, don’t play with food, if you don’t want to eat just leave it alone –said Hephaistion and the boy pouted.

 

- Can I go to watch TV, daddy? –asked Achilles, pushing the dishes aside.

 

- Yes, you can, but I don’t want you with the TV on until late –said his father and the boy stood up and left running. He turned to look at his lover—You were saying, what news? 

 

- We are going to shoot our new video next month –announced Alexander.

 

- Mm, sounds good; any special plans for the video? –the blond had shot several videos and his beloved couldn’t understand why this one was especial.

 

Alexander’s smile widened.

 

- I have a great idea for this video and I convinced Julius of doing it –he said proudly.

 

- What are you planning? –a little voice inside him whispered it was a bad idea to ask, but he wanted to know.

 

- You are going to appear in the video –that made Hephaistion laugh.

 

- You are kidding me.

 

- No, I’m not –that erased his beloved’s smile.

 

- I can’t appear in a music video –said Hephaistion dead serious. 

 

- Why not? –Alexander leaned to the front, resting his arms on the table—You are my lover and you are absolutely gorgeous to have you hidden in that gray office of yours –that caught his beloved’s attention, since when did the blond call him ‘gorgeous’? Since the fight they had, thanks to the photo of Alexander and Julius kissing, the blond had been in an extremely loving mood. Not that he complained but, this?

 

- Alex, I don’t feel comfortable with the idea of appearing in a video that millions of people are going to see –Hephaistion explained. He could like movies and theater plays but he would never dare to imagine himself doing something remotely like that, he didn’t even know how to act and to do an international ridicule was out of question.

 

- But why not? –asked the blond in a perfect imitation of Achilles.

 

- Don’t be a child –his beloved’s narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.

 

- I’m not! You are the one who is behaving like one –answered Alexander—Please, it’s not big deal, you don’t even have to say a word –he pleaded with his puppy eyes.

 

Hephaistion sighed. That was low; Alexander knew he couldn’t resist his puppy eyes. 

 

- First tell me, what’s the video about? –the blond smiled, he knew he had won. 

 

- It’s the video of my new single, we are going to use ancient Greece as the scenario and I’m going to be a general –Alexander explained.

 

- O—k, and what am I going to do? –Hephaistion wasn’t sure about this.

 

- You are going to be my second in command.

 

- Right…—no, he still didn’t like it—And the rest of the band your officers?

 

- Precisely –the blond nodded.

 

Hephaistion sighed again and shook his head. Alexander was so happy that he felt like a heartless son of a bad mother saying ‘no’.

 

- Are you sure I won’t have to say a word?

 

- Positive, just…

 

- Just what? –his beloved knew there was a catch.

 

- Maybe, and just for one scene, you would have to…you know, take some of your cloths off –said Alexander and for a moment Hephaistion didn’t understand.

 

- Whoa! Wait a second; are you trying to tell me that you, Mr. I-have-serious-jealousy-issues, want me to appear naked in your video? –it would have been easier for him to believe that cows fly.

 

- Well, not fully naked…and what if I want to show the world that I have the most beautiful man at my side? 

 

- What if I refuse to take my cloths off?

 

- Well –Alexander leaned his weight against the back of the chair—We can always ask Julius to appear half naked, he is also gorgeous.

 

Hephaistion narrowed his eyes again.

 

- Do you realize this is low even for you, right?

 

- Yes.

 

- You are nuts! –his beloved exclaimed.

 

- So, what do you say?

 

His beloved sighed.

 

- Ok, I’ll do it –and as soon as he pronounced the words he regretted it, but Alexander looked so happy…

 

XXX

 

It was near midnight when the telephone rang. Hephaistion was going to turn Achilles’ TV off when he stopped to answer. He couldn’t restrain his expression of ‘oh, it’s you’ when he heard Julius’ voice. No matter what, Hephaistion would never like his lover’s manager; even less knowing that he had kissed his blond. He had to admit that a part of him, a small and very hidden part of him, was curious to know what had really happened that night, how had been that kiss, had his lover liked it? He had heard his sister saying that those two looked freaking hot together, and his small and hidden, very hidden, part agreed with her. But his jealous were stronger and he would probably never know what had really happened…But he could live with that.

 

He looked for Alexander and found him watching TV with Achilles. He frowned. The blond knew the boy wasn’t allowed to watch TV at that hour, but Alexander always behaved like another kid. Lately their son had developed a liking for Japanese animation that Hephaistion found unhealthy, but so far neither of them had said a word against his new hobby.

 

- Alex, it’s him –he said handing him the phone. 

 

The blond had to smile. Since the incident of the kiss for his beloved Julius was ‘he, him, or that man’. Alexander took the phone and went outside.

 

- Aki, what are you watching now? –asked Hephaistion, hands on his hips.

 

- Dragon Ball –answered the boy, his eyes on the screen.

 

- That’s the one with the Monster Cards?

 

- No daddy, that’s Yu-Gi-Oh!.

 

- Oh –Hephaistion gave up—Do you know what time is it?

 

- Midnight?

 

- Achilles –the boy sighed and turned off the TV. He knew that arguing with his father would lead him to nowhere, except to a certain punishment for disobeying.

 

- Phai, Phai –Alexander came back running—You are not going to believe what happened? –he said genuinely in shock.

 

- What?

 

- Darius is dead.

 

- Dead? How? –for a moment his beloved didn’t know how to react. He didn’t like the man, but dead?

 

- He was murdered, the police are looking for one of his men, I don’t know if you recalled him, his name is Bessus– Alexander explained.

 

- He did it? –of course he remembered Bessus, but, he was Darius’ relative, wasn’t he?

 

- The police think so.

 

- Wow!…I mean, I never thought he would end his days like this.

 

- Me neither.

 

Who would have thought this? –said Hephaistion to himself. 

 

XXX

 

When Hephaistion woke up he was alone in the King’s bedroom. Alexander had many things to do at Ecbatana and little time, he had to chase Darius as soon as possible but first he had to settle things here and he had got up before dawn. The General stretched, he could feel the bed still warm where Alexander had slept. His gray eyes surveyed the place, and, at first, he didn’t know where he was, something that happened to him often, especially since they changed their residence so fast in a very short time. He sat lazily, letting the blankets swirled on his lap and took his hands to his face trying to think.

 

Darius was dead…That or he would be very soon. Over the years he had learned to trust his dreams and was sure that, what he had seen, would become his reality very soon, but, what to do with this information? So far he hadn’t learned to use his dreams in his advantage. What could he do?

 

Think Hephaistion, think! –he said to himself—If Bessus killed Darius, what could this mean?

 

He raised his head, hearing distant voices on the hallway. One thing was sure, if Darius was dead that meant bad news for Alexander who had expected to capture him alive and force him to abdicate in his favor, but now Bessus had became his new enemy making everything more difficult.

 

At the end the General decided to say nothing to Alexander, at least not now, but to be ready for the worst.

 

XXX

 

- I heard the news –said Hegelochus, arriving at Parmelio’s magnificent residence in Ecbatana. The old General was standing near a big window with a privilege view of the city. The sight was like a painting, beautiful and immobile, but he didn’t pay attention to it, more interested in a letter in his hands.

 

- What news? –Parmelio left the letter on his desk and moved away from the window, the fine curtains dancing lazily at the wind’s mercy.

 

- The King is leaving you here and he is sending the Greeks back home.

 

The old General gave him a scornful smile.

 

- Clever, isn’t he? –Parmelio pointed at a couch and sat down in front of his guest.

 

- But this is outrageous! After all the years you have served the Argeads, after all you have done, it’s unthinkable that you are discharged like this –Attalos’ nephew was so angry that his face was starting to look purple—Your men will complain.

 

- No my dear boy they will not –said the old General, so calmed that he took Hegelochus aback. He had expected to find a completely different scene, an enraged Parmelio shouting curses over Alexander, not this.

 

- But…Aren’t you angry, sir? –he sat down, his fists over his thighs.

 

It took Parmelio so long to answer that question that it appeared as if he had all the time in the world.

 

- I’m not as angry as I am surprised –he said at last—I always knew Alexander wanted to get rid of me but I never imagined he would do it like this…You have to admit it was extremely clever of him. He masqueraded my discharged behind a very valid argument about my age; besides, he left me in command of the mercenaries and even gave me a task: to pacify the tribes near here. 

 

- Even so, the message is clear –Hegelochus insisted through clenched teeth—He is diminishing your importance and influence in the army.

 

- Of course he is! He has always wanted to diminish my influence but he couldn’t –Parmelio smiled, like grandfathers when their grandsons do something amusing—And now nobody is going to complain that old Parmelio is left behind, on the contrary, the men will say that the King, in all his generosity, is leaving the old man to rest and enjoyed the luxury of Ecbatana.

 

Hegelochus stood up and paced around.

 

- We can’t let this happen! –exclaimed the Iliarch and Parmelio narrowed his eyes.

 

- We can’t do a thing to stop the King…for now –the last remark didn’t pass unnoticed to Hegelochus. The Iliarch stopped and looked at the old General with attention.

 

- What do you mean?

 

Parmelio leaned to the front and dropped his voice until it became no more than a whisper.

 

- Alexander is going to destroy us all –he said, slowly but firmly—He started with me but he is not going to stop until all that remains of King Philip’s army is obliterated. I don’t have to tell you this, you have witnessed how Alexander favors his friends and changes the army to his liking. He even gave us the bastard son of his lover as our Crown Prince –he made a pause—He says he only wants to capture Darius to become truly the Great King, but think of it, we didn’t come here to crown him Great King, we came here to free the Greek cities from the Persians –Hegelochus nodded, taking a seat again in front of him—And he is not going to stop, not even if we capture Darius. He can’t see it but if he continues chasing this ridiculous dream of glory he is going to destroy Macedonia.  

 

- I understand this, sir, but what can we do? Alexander is stubborn and would never listen –the Iliarch answered in whispers as well.

 

- No, he won’t –Parmelio dropped his voice even more—That’s why he has to be put to dead.

 

Hegelochus had thought about this, more than once to be honest, but one thing was to think about something and another completely different to say it aloud, and to hear this from Parmelio’s lips made him shudder.

 

- You are serious –that wasn’t a question and the old General nodded slowly.

 

- I’m afraid that the time has come to stop complaining and start acting –Parmelio intertwining his fingers over his lap —I have…talked to others, a few but loyal men, and we all agree this is the only solution.

 

- Your sons, sir.

 

- What about them?

 

- Do they know about this?

 

- No, and trust me, its better this way –the old General sighed, his eyes on the wall behind his guest as if trying to see beyond it—Nikanor is too naïve and noble and wouldn’t understand, and Philotas hates Alexander so much that I’m afraid he would be incapable of keeping his mouth shut –he made a pause—And before you ask my son-in-law, Koinos, doesn’t know a thing either, he is one of Alexander’s friends and I don’t trust his reaction.

 

- I’m honor, sir, that you have chosen to trust me –Parmelio nodded and turned to look at him.

 

- The army is leaving tomorrow to the Caspian Gates –said the old General—Keep me informed about everything but be careful, I have noticed that Hephaistion has been watching me for some time now.

 

- Do you think he suspects something? –the Iliarch narrowed his eyes. 

 

- I’m sure of it –said Parmelio—When you contact me, be careful, it would be disastrous if Hephaistion learns about this.

 

- I will, sir.

 

XXX

 

Those days was everybody’s wonder where could Darius be, he was present everyday in the Macedonians thoughts, especially in Alexander’s mind, but the most curious thing was that the Great King was closer than anybody expected, hidden a little beyond the Caspian Gates. His camp was starting to resemble again a military camp, he had received reinforcements, almost all of them from the eastern provinces of the vast Persian Empire, those provinces that hadn’t suffered from the war, those that didn’t know of what the Macedonian invader was capable of. 

 

These were good news, a year had passed since Darius’ defeat at Gaugamela and now, only now, he was regaining hope. But his new recruitments also brought him a new problem, since all his new men came from the east that meant that one man among the Great King’s entourage was becoming extremely powerful, the same man who controlled the east as the satrap of Bactria: Bessus, and soon it became evident for every man in the Persians’ camp that a conflict was about to start. 

 

- What are you saying? –Darius was surprise but more than that, he was furious, and his voice made Nabarzanes, the chiliarch of the royal cavalry, felt a shiver running down his spine.

 

The Great King could be a defeated man, running away like a criminal in his own land, but he could still intimidate his subordinates summoning the authority that centuries of Persian rule gave him, and every man inside his tent, attending to that war council, fell silent, all eyes on the chiliarch who had dared to say what everybody was thinking. 

 

Nabarzanes wasn’t a coward, he had fought in the battle of Issus commanding the cavalry against Parmelio, he was in his mid forties and, before Alexander came to Asia, he had been a loyal subject of Darius. Unfortunately for the Great King the chiliarch was also the kind of man who jumped first to abandon a sinking ship, and now Nabarzanes was sure there was no future at Darius’ side.  

 

- Your divinity, think of my proposal, is the best thing we…the best thing you can do in these moments –Nabarzanes insisted.

 

Darius spat at his side.

 

- What you are proposing is madness, and treason! –he raised his voice, he was so angry that it appeared as if the vein on his forehead would explode—How dare you! How can you suggest that I should abdicate in favor of Bessus.

 

The satrap of Bactria didn’t move, he looked like a statue, sitting there in the shadows, at the Great King’s left, among his kinsmen and nobles, just watching with attention and waiting.

 

- Only as a temporally measure –the chiliarch tried to explain himself, he had been sure this was a good idea, until he saw Darius’ expression redefining the phrase “killing rage”—Your majesty, we are approaching the eastern provinces and Bessus is very well known and respected here, if we are to defeat the Macedonian barbarian we’ll need troops, and troops from the eastern provinces; besides, Bessus has also Achaemenid blood and he hasn’t been defeated on the battlefield.

 

That was just too much for Darius, he started to see red all around him. What was Nabarzanes saying? In a few words that he was incapable of being the Great King, how could he propose such an outrageous and humiliating thing? To abdicate in favor of Bessus ‘temporarily’? Bessus was one of the most greedy men he had even known, if he acceded to this, it would be same as signing his own execution.

 

I didn’t survive twice to Alexander only to give my Empire on a plate to a snake –thought the Great King furious.

 

Darius stood up in a jump and took his scimitar, he moved fast and would have killed Nabarzanes if it hadn’t been for the chiliarch’s great reflexes and Bessus’ men, that ran to intervene before the Great King could cut his chiliarch’s head.

 

- I’ll leave my crown to NO ONE! Do you hear me? NO ONE! –shouted Darius in the middle of that chaos. Bessus’ stood up, his men protecting Nabarzanes and the Greek mercenaries covering the Great King while Artabazus took his sovereign to a safe place.

 

XXX

 

- You know what this means, don’t you? –said Nabarzanes, later that night at Bessus’ tent—The camp is divided now, Darius still has loyal men to him: his Greek mercenaries and Artabazus’ Persians.

 

The satrap of Bactria kept eating, his dark eyes on a beautiful woman lying half naked on his bed, and he took his time before answering.

 

- Yes, but we have the Bactrian and the eastern contingents –he said.

 

- That’s not what worries me –the chiliarch insisted, moving in front of the table until he stood between Bessus and the beautiful woman—If we want to defeat the Macedonian barbarian we need to stick together. 

 

Bessus chewed his meat, finally looking at him.

 

- Then, there is only one thing we can do –he held Nabarzanes’ gaze and the chiliarch knew what he meant.

 

XXX

 

Alexander was famous because he could cover long distances very quickly, always arriving before his enemies had time to come out of their shock; but the march from Ecbatana to the Caspian Gates was especially hard because of the merciless heat. First it had been the terrible cold and now an infernal heat.

 

The march took them 11 days but the King was angry because he was sure they could have done much better…if it weren’t for the weather, he was starting to believe now that the Persian Gods were angry at him after the burning of Persepolis, but not even the Gods would be able to stop him now. Every man felt as if the sun was cooking them inside their armors in that forgotten and dry land; no plants could be seen, no river, no lakes, no trees, no nothing, only dust and rocks, a big blue sky without clouds and a gray land that was starting to depress them. And to make things worst, soon they ran out of supplies and started to suffer from dehydration and heat-stroke.

 

Alexander had expected something like this, reason why he hadn’t taken the entire army with him, just a part, the lighter troops to cover as much ground as possible in the less possible time, but even so they were suffering greatly for the lack of supplies thanks to Darius who had ordered to put the land to waste, expecting to be follow by the Macedonian invader.

 

At some point they had to stop and, for Alexander’s utterly displeasure, wait 5 days to gather supplies. His guides had informed him that beyond this point they will find a deserted place and the King would need water if he wanted to come out alive.  

 

In the flames of hell we fire at will the fires of doom has come

With the forces of the blackest knights they're staring at the sun

Far across the distant plains of ice we're searching for the sword

When the time has come for the battle now we follow with the horde

Burning fires burning lives on the long distant roads

Through the lost mountains endless so far away from home

Warrior soldiers forever we fought long ago

We're all lost in the darkness so far away from home

(Dragonforce, Soldiers of the Wasteland)

 

- Damn heat! –the King exclaimed one morning, coming back after inspecting his troops.

 

- Come on! Don’t be so negative –said Hephaistion smiling—Darius can’t be better than us, don’t you think?

 

- Maybe, but he knows these lands better –the King cleaned the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and a page came running with a bucket of water and a cup.

 

The General surveyed the distance, hearing Alexander drinking water; he could understand his men’s depression watching only rocky and dusty mountains, for people like them, used to the see the green landscapes of Macedonia this was an imposing sight. Then, his dark gray eyes stopped in Achilles’ silhouette, standing not far from them with Chrysaor a few paces behind, ready to protect the Prince.

 

After what had happened on their way to Ecbatana, Alexander was thinking in leaving the boy behind but this time it had been Hephaistion the one who insisted in taking him. He didn’t want to leave his son with Parmelio. And Achilles had been more than willing to come, eager to prove that he too could be a soldier like his fathers, and so far he had manage to endure the march, riding Pegasus at Alexander’s side everyday and never complaining.

 

But then, another distant figure caught the General’s attention. Seleucus wasn’t far from there, giving orders to one of his men.

 

It’s now or never –thought Hephaistion.

 

- I’ll be right back –said the General, his eyes on the officer. 

 

- Where are you going? –Alexander wanted to know, while his page filled his cup again.

 

- I need to talk to Seleucus –the King frowned, that was certainly the last thing he had expected.

 

- Why?

 

- Long story, I’ll tell you later.

 

Alexander confusion and surprise, knowing that his beloved had business with Seleucus, was nothing compared to the officer’s reaction when he saw Hephaistion standing before him. Like everybody in the army Seleucus knew the General was his King’s lover and also, like everybody else, he thought that the beautiful man standing in front of him was too striking to be a soldier, but he was clever enough to keep his mouth shut in front of the striking man. As incredible as it sounds, Seleucus never fancied the General; yes, he admitted that Hephaistion was gorgeous but nothing more. 

 

- I want to talk to you –said the General without preamble, but what caught Seleucus’ attention weren’t his request but his cold tone of voice. What had he done?

 

- Of course –the officer dismissed his subordinate and followed Hephaistion until they were out of earshot. Seleucus truly had no idea of what Hephaistion could possibly want but he was sure it had something to do with the army or an especial assignment from the King, because anything more personal was very unlikely—What can I do for you, General? –he asked in a professional tone.

 

Sometimes the General wasn’t aware of his own importance, he always thought of himself as another one of his King’s men, but for the rest of the army Hephaistion son of Amyntor was an important and powerful man and already more than one was wondering what was going on between him and the officer of unnerving blue eyes. By the end of that day half of the Macedonia army would be talking like old women about these two.

 

- I’m glad you ask –answered Hephaistion, serious, as very few times in his life —I want to know what’s your business with my son? 

 

Seleucus opened his eyes slightly. Could it be? Was it possible that the General had seen right through him reading his most intimate and hidden desires?

 

- I don’t understand exactly what you mean, sir –he kept his face neutral, without any trace of emotion that could betray his thoughts. 

 

- I saw you with him the night of the fire at Persepolis –said Hephaistion. 

 

But what exactly did he see? –thought the officer, his mind working fast.

 

- I put the Prince to safe that night, along with your mother and the rest of the King’s guests at the palace –Seleucus explained, keeping his voice steady, only the savage beating of his heart betrayed him.

 

Hephaistion watched him in silence for a long moment before speaking again, trying to see beyond the man standing in front of him. Was he wrong? Had his tormented past played tricks on him? Had he misjudged Seleucus? No, he was sure of what he had seen.

 

- I don’t know you Seleucus –he said at last, in a soft but strong voice that made the other man’s hair stand at the back of his head—But I know very well the look your eyes had that night –the officer remained impassive— Mark my words, if you ever do as much as to look again at my son with those eyes full with lust, I will take them off.

 

The officer nodded, he didn’t trust his voice in those moments. He had heard a lot about Hephaistion’s strength and he believed every word that had left those sensual lips, he was sure the General would show him no mercy if he didn’t do as he was told. But the question was, could he do as he was told? He would never hurt Achilles, but he couldn’t hide what his heart fell for him.

 

And, as he watched Hephaistion go, he started to consider the possibility that he had actually lost his mind for the young Prince.

 

XXX

 

By the time Hephaistion was back he found a commotion around the King. The entire military staff, his advisors, Achilles and even the few Persian allies were there, hearing to what Hydarnes was saying with the help of an interpreter.

 

- What’s going on? –asked the General in whispers to Nikanor.

 

- Do you remember Mazaeus? –asked Parmelio’s son, his arms crossed over his chest. He still had a friendly and pleasant face but a red scar crossed his right cheek. Now he looked like a veteran instead of a boy and that made Hephaistion think about all they had been through since they left Macedonia.  

 

- Yes, of course –answered the General, remembering the first time he had seen Mazaeus, standing at the other side of a bridge.

 

- Well, 2 of his sons are with us, Artibelus and Hydarnes but one, Antibelus, is with Darius –Nikanor explained, coughing. He had been coughing since that terrible march through the ice and snow—And apparently he wrote to his brothers with news about his master.

 

- And? –the General could feel his pulse against his throat.

 

- Darius has been deposed –Hephaistion felt a knot in his stomach, and immediately he thought about his dream—The strap of Bactria, Bessus and the chiliarch of the cavalry, Nabarzanes, deposed him and now he is a prisoner.

 

The General had met Bessus when he had been at the Persians camp, he remembered quite well his dark eyes and severe expression and wasn’t too surprise to hear this news, but he had no idea who Nabarzanes was.

 

In the same moment Hydarnes stopped talking Alexander gave his orders: they were going to continue the march in that same moment.

 

- But Koinos hasn’t come back yet with the supplies –said Ptolemy.

 

- I know, but we don’t have time to waste –said the King, thinking quickly—I’ll take with me the hetairoi cavalry and the Ile Basilike, and pressed the march, the rest will follow as soon as Koinos is back.

 

Darius deposed not dead…This was truly the last thing I expected –thought Hephaistion.

 

XXX