CHAPTER 150

 

Parmelio spent all night up and alone in the study of his magnificent palace in Ecbatana. Thinking, thinking, thinking; calling his slaves every now and then to refill his oil lamps or to ask for more watered-wine. For moments he paced around the room, standing in front of the window, or simply staring at the piece of parchment in his hand. He had read that letter so many times that he could recite it even in his sleep.

 

Hegelochus had written to him, a coded message, with shocking news that were the cause of his present insomnia.

 

So Alexander named the Persian nobles, including Darius’ brother, hetairoi –thought Parmelio, paying no attention to the moth flying near the lamp resting on his desk that once had been the property of Artaxerxes Ochus— I knew Alexander was starting to adopt Persian customs but I never imagine he would get this far.

 

His blue eyes settled again of the letter and he read…

 

Several officers of impeccable record are deeply disturbed by the King’s behavior, among them only Melas Kleitos dares to complain in public, especially after the King started to wear trousers like a mountain chief of some uncivilized tribe. It has been a common practice now for Alexander to sign all the letters with his Macedonian ring if he is corresponding with Antipater or the Greeks, and the Persian ring seal if he is dealing with the barbarians, a distinction that hadn’t passed unnoticed and that pleases no one. The Persians, despite their lavish gifts and servile attitude, still held a grudge against the King for sacking Persepolis, and the Macedonians disapprove their King’s new habits.

 

The King’s court resembles more and more a barbarian one and, knowing about the discontent among the troops, Alexander decided to make another distinction, he doesn’t deal with the problems directly, he sends Krateros to deal with the Macedonians while his catamite Hephaistion deals with the Persians.

 

Things are far worst than I fear but these are really good news for me –thought Parmelio, smiling— If men like Kleitos are malcontent then my task of finishing with Alexander’s life would be not only easy, but seen as a heroic act. I can claim to be getting rid of a Tyrant, and Asian despot and no longer a true Macedonian King. And once Alexander is dead so will have to be his adopted son, which means I’ll have to deal with Hephaistion –he sighed. 

 

The old General took the letter and burned it in the flame of the oil lamp watching how the moth was caught in the fire and fell over his desk.

 

XXX

 

The army was now on the way to Bactria, ready to finish with Bessus after the satrap Satibarzanes had surrendered himself to Alexander bringing fresh news about the so called Artaxerxes’ IV movements and plans. The army was once again complete and with the baggage train and camp followers, which meant Hephaistion was able to see his sister again.

 

- You are pregnant –was the first thing the General said when he saw the round belly of Berenike under her beautiful yellow dressed of the finest silk.

 

His sister smiled.

 

- Joy to you too, Phai –she laughed—I’m also glad to see you again.

 

- I’m sorry, it’s just…never mind –Hephaistion felt like an idiot, he closed the distance between them and embraced Berenike—How are you? How do you feel?

 

- Well –his sister cocked her head. She could be pregnant but she looked very beautiful, and more importantly, she looked happy—I’m fine, feeling again like an elephant but in couple of months I’ll have my baby.

 

- A couple of months? Does Kleitos know?

 

- Yes, I wrote to him since I knew I was with his child –Berenike frowned—He didn’t tell you?

 

Hephaistion sighed and started to walk with his sister near to where the horses were kept. Berenike took his arm.

 

- We don’t talk much lately, not that we had been great friends before –he said, intriguing his sister.

 

- What happened? You 2 had a fight? –it was hard for Berenike to imagine what kind of problem could they have, it was as Hephaistion said, he didn’t have much contact with the hipparch and they were always in good terms, and for good terms one must understand: ‘I don’t mess with you and you don’t mess with me’.

 

- Not a fight –the General took a moment to arrange his thoughts, watching the slaves grooming the horses—Kleitos doesn’t agree with some of the things Alexander is doing.

 

- You mean the way Alex is treating the Persians? –Hephaistion looked at her with eyes wide opened.

 

- How do you know that? –the question made his sister laugh.

 

- Phai, believe it or not Kleitos talks to me –said Berenike, absently caressing her stomach—Besides I have ears.

 

- Well, then you already know what’s happening –said Hephaistion—He was furious when Alexander named some Persian nobles hetairoi and since I’m among the few who support the King’s decision Kleitos is not very happy with me either.

 

- Oh no, he is not –said his sister remembering the last conversation she had with her husband regarding this—And not only he. Phai you should be careful, many men, the Old Guard Officers as Kleitos calls then, are calling you by very mean names –Berenike frowned, so serious that the General smiled. She looked a lot like their mother.

 

- I know, Eni –he kissed her cheek—They are calling me the King’s catamite.

 

- Arg! I hate that name –Berenike clenched her fists—I slapped Kleitos the only time he called you that.

 

Hephaistion laughed imagining that.

 

- What did he do when you slap him?

 

- He laughed –answered his sister—As if that were the funniest thing that had ever happened to him, but he stopped calling you that.

 

- Thank you, Eni.

 

- Don’t worry Phai –Berenike patted his arm—I’m here to watch over your honor and to slap the next dumb-ass who calls you that.

 

- Berenike! –exclaimed her brother—What kind of language is that?

 

- Try to live with Kleitos without learning bad words. I dare you! –said Berenike, when Hephaistion saw Nikandros, Lysanias, Achilles and Cyrus inspecting a great brown horse with a magnificent harness.

 

Since the camp followers had rejoined the army Cyrus Ochus was once again with them, and, from what Hephaistion had heard, he had solved his problems with Achilles and things were back to normal between them, but the Persian had changed. Apparently the death of Darius had affected the almost 10 years old boy more than anyone would have thought. Cyrus had become a quiet and reserved person and the only one with whom he talked was Achilles.

 

The General hoped the former Persian Prince wouldn’t hold a grudge against Alexander, because, if that was the case, then when Cyrus grew up he could become very dangerous, starting a revolt and having all the right to claim the Persian throne.

 

- What’s going on here? –asked Hephaistion, approaching the group with Berenike still holding his arm.

 

Achilles was the first to turn and smile when he saw his father.

 

- Daddy, I’m showing uncle Nick my new horse –answered a very happy Prince.

 

The General raised one eyebrow.

 

- New horse?

 

- Dad gave me another one –answered the boy.

 

- Why?

 

- Phai don’t be such a schmuck, if your lover wants to give the boy a horse, what’s the problem? –said Nikandros.

 

Achilles, Lysanias and Berenike laughed but Cyrus remained the same. In those moments the Persian reminded the General of gloomy Amyntas, Alexander’s cousin, and gloomy Amyntas had had a very sad and tragic end.

 

- He doesn’t need another horse –said Hephaistion, dead serious.

 

- Phai, this is not about ‘needing’, it’s about ‘being able to do it’ –said his older brother—Your lover is the Great King, why shouldn’t his adopted son have all the horses he wanted? 

 

The General wasn’t convinced but decided to say nothing. It was pointless to argue with Nikandros; besides, he had a point. Alexander was the most powerful man of the known world, and, as his heir, Achilles could technically have anything he wanted.

 

- This animal is awesome –said Lysanias, watching the horse like a hungry dog would watch a steak—Do you think the King would want to adopt me?

 

- Sure! Especially after you slept with him, midget –said Nikandros and Lysanias blushed so intensely that his face appeared to glow.

 

Hephaistion and his younger brother had made everything to keep what had happened with Alexander between them; Berenike had promised not to say a word and Alexander never talked about that. But Nikandros had found out by mistake, thanks to a very drunk Lysanias who had started to talk about that night in front of his older brother.

 

Achilles frowned looking from Lysanias to Hephaistion but neither said another word. He could be 8 years old, but he wasn’t as innocent and naïve as his both fathers thought. 

 

- This-this harness is cute –Berenike stammered, leaving the General’s side to approach the horse, and trying her best to change the subject. 

 

- Dad ordered to put Persian harnesses to all the Macedonian horses –explained Achilles at once.

 

- Really? Wow! That must have been expensive –exclaimed Berenike impressed.

 

Hephaistion said nothing and watched the harness. He was sure that more than one Macedonian was going to complain for this. One could think this was a very generous gift but, in that particular moment with so many people unhappy after Alexander named some Persian nobles hetairoi, the use of Persian harnesses looked like a terrible idea.  

 

- Nick, I almost forgot. Have you talked to Vashti? –asked his sister in a strange tone of voice, as if she knew something his brother ignored.

 

- No, I have no time –answered Nikandros yawning.

 

- No time? What have you been doing? –asked the General, crossing his arms.

 

- My duty, what else? Or do I have to remind you that your lover has been throwing mind blowing parties almost every night? –said his older brother laughing.

 

- I have been wondering about that –said Lysanias—The King had never done this before, what are we celebrating?

 

Hephaistion watched his younger brother for a moment. He had changed. Lysanias was now 18 years old and no longer looked much like him. His hair was now darker, he was shorter than him and he resembled more the late Amyntor than his striking brother.

 

- Dad is trying to calm down his officers –answered Achilles.

 

- Calm down? –asked Lysanias confused.

 

- They are unhappy with dad’s policy of including the Persian nobles in the new regime, so dad is indulging his officers with parties to keep them happy –explained the boy with simplicity.

 

Nikandros blinked a couple of times and laughed out loud.

 

- Well, I have to say I like his policy –he said.

 

Hephaistion said nothing. He understood why Alexander was doing this but was worried, many important Macedonian officers were really angry with the inclusion of the Persians in the hetairoi cavalry, and this could end really bad. He turned and caught a glimpse of Seleucus, not far from there. The officer was walking away but something told the General he had been watching Achilles from a far.

 

XXX

 

Alexander and Hephaistion rolled over the bed, kissing as if there were no tomorrow. The King moaned softly, feeling his beloved fingers over his chest, playing with his nipples until they were hard under his touch, while his lips attacked his mouth relentlessly. His beloved loved to kiss him, and he never got tired of him. Alexander raised his arms over his head, opening his legs to receive the magnificent body of Hephaistion; he moaned softly and lazily inside his mouth when he felt the General’s weight over him.

 

Alexander slid his lips over his neck, licking his length, sucking the tender skin and covering him with kisses and rubbing his body against his beloved’s… but he stopped his caressed when Hephaistion remained still. 

 

- What’s wrong? –asked the King in a whisper against his skin, his hands caressing the General’s sides.

 

- Mm? Nothing –Hephaistion caught his lips again, but didn’t fool his lover.

 

- Nothing? Something is bothering you, what is it? –Alexander insisted between kisses.

 

- It’s…Are you sure you want to hear it now? –asked Hephaistion, brushing his blond hair with his fingers, his elbows resting at each side of the King’s face.

 

- You are not very concentrating in this anyway –the blond smiled, kissing his cheek. The General sighed.

 

- I’m thinking about Aki –he admitted. 

 

- What happened to him? –asked the King intrigued, but taking his hands to his beloved’s sides.

 

- I…I’m not sure but –Hephaistion made a pause trying to find a way to explain this while Alexander kissed his neck—I’m positive that Seleucus likes him.

 

That was enough to stop the King’s caresses. Alexander looked at him with all his attention.

 

- Seleucus what? How do you know this? Did he do something to Aki? Did Aki say something? –the General blinked taken aback, but soon he smiled, he was touched by the King’s concerned.

 

- No, Seleucus has done nothing but I saw him watching Aki the night of the fire at Persepolis –said Hephaistion, brushing again his blond hair—He likes Aki, and I’m a little worried.

 

- Why are you so sure he likes Aki?

 

- Because I know all too well the look his eyes had that night –said Hephaistion with all certainty—His eyes were full with desire.

 

Alexander fell silent for a moment.

 

- I will talk to him –he said very serious.

 

- Please don’t, I already did that.

 

- And?

 

- He promised to stay away from Aki –the General explained and the King kissed him again.

 

- This is your fault, my love –Alexander whispered against his lips—Aki is going to be as beautiful as you are.

 

- I just hope he would be luckier than me.

 

- Trust me, if someone tries to do as much as to touch one of Aki’s hairs without his permission I will crucify the motherless dog –and Hephaistion believed him.

 

The Amazons? You are wondering why I said nothing about the Amazons. Well, that’s quite simple, you see, there were no Amazons. Don’t tell me you really think the Amazon Queen, Thalestris, came to see my King asking to have his child and they had sex for 13 days while the army patiently waited while my King performed? The army was in the brink of mutiny, the officers malcontent for the attitude of Alexander towards the Persians and the rank soldiers longing to go back home, do you really think they would have wait 13 days doing nothing? Even more, after all I have told you about my King, do you think he would have lost 13 days doing nothing while Bessus was out there?  

 

I’m glad you see my point now.

 

Bagoas walked through the streets of the Macedonian camp. He wasn’t used to be in a military camp, especially since the Persian one had looked more like a city, but he soon learned the distribution and where were the storages and the important tents. He was good at what he did, he was the perfect housekeeper, and a very impressed Alexander soon gave him more and more tasks to do leaving him in charge of his Persian cloths and of his personal care. But nothing more. 

 

That day, the eunuch walked back to the Royal Tent with a bouquet of beautiful flowers to put in the King’s bedroom, when he saw Achilles talking to Chrysaor. By now he knew the boy was Alexander’s adopted son, but for Bagoas Achilles was as good as his biological one because the King loved him deeply. The eunuch had even heard people saying that the boy had became his heir because he was also the King’s lover, and one look at the Prince was enough to encourage those rumors. Achilles was lovely: delicate and fragile, tall and slender, but still boyish enough to not look like a girl.

 

If this were true, Bagoas goal to seduce the King would be even more difficult, but so far he was sure this was just a very malicious gossip. Hephaistion had been horrified the first time he heard that abomination, but his brother Nikandros, with a calm that only he was able to gather in such circumstances had said:

 

- Honestly Phai, it doesn’t surprise me one bit. A man like Alexander, as powerful as he is now, is famous for having excess because he can do literally everything he wants. Nobody remember Darius for his devotion to his children, and Aki is not even your lover’s son. You 2 already have a complicated relationship; do you think people will understand that you, 2 single young men, are raising a child like a married couple? Really, the most common thing in this case is for a King to take a young beautiful boy as his beloved. Period.

 

And for Hephaistion’s indignation he had to admit his brother was right. So far they had managed to hide this from Alexander, because no one wanted to imagine how was the King going to react, but each day more and more people heard this rumor started by no other than Parmelio’s agents. The old General wanted to kill the King, but first he was going to kill his reputation.  

 

Bagoas knew a little of Greek by now, and just a couple of words of Macedonian, but still he approached the young Prince to know what was he doing.

 

- I don’t understand why the lads make such a fuss –said Chrysaor to Achilles—The Persian harnesses were superb, even I got one –the pezetairos, who had become the happy owner of a horse after the Prince gave him one, couldn’t be more happier. 

 

- They don’t understand why the Persians, who were our enemies and who are barbarians, should now be treated as our equals –Achilles explained. 

 

- But, what has that to do with the damn harnesses?

 

- The harnesses give the impression that my father is trying to transform his cavalry into a Persian one, even more since dad started to dress like a Persian –said the boy and Chrysaor laughed.

 

- Where do you get all this stuff? –asked the pezetairos—Too complicated for me –he crossed his arms behind his head—I say, take whatever the King wants to give you and have a good life. If your father wants to dress himself in woman clothing I don’t have a problem with that while he keeps paying me.

 

Achilles laughed.

 

- Not everyone think like you –said the boy—But I think they are right.

 

- About what?

 

- Dad shouldn’t dress himself like a Persian –said the Prince—If he wants to gain the Persians favor he has to respect them, for example, he should learn Persian. Those things are more important than cloths, that’s why I dress always like a Macedonian.

 

- Isn’t it tired to be always thinking about politics? –asked Chrysaor—I have said it before, but you should behave more like a boy.

 

- I’m a Prince; I have to behave like one –said Achilles.

 

- Yes, whatever.

 

They fell silent for a moment. The Prince saw his bodyguard a little shyly, as if he wanted to say something but didn’t dare to do it, and that caught the pezetairos’ attention.

 

- What?

 

- What, what? –asked Achilles, making Chrysaor smile that wolfish smile of his.

 

- What do you want to ask? –the boy, sitting on a wooden box with the hands at the edge, watched his feet. This was the most strange thing, Achilles was always very sure of himself and now, he resembled that shy boy who had met his father after the siege of Halicarnassus years ago. 

 

- I heard something that I don’t understand very well –said the Prince at last, still looking at his feet.

 

- Shouldn’t you ask Heph? He is cleverer than I –but Achilles shook his head.

 

- He won’t answer me.

 

- Why not? –now Chrysaor was intrigued but the boy fell silent again—Hey! –he sat down at his side—You can ask me whatever you want, what are friends for, eh? –he nudged him affectionately.

 

- All right…I heard something the other day –said Achilles without looking at him—About me and dad.

 

- What?

 

- Well, someone said that I was dad’s lover –Chrysaor got paled, he had heard that too, in fact, he had break the nose of the man who had said that in front of him.

 

- Oh, that –the Prince turned to look at him. 

 

- Did you hear that too?

 

- Yes, I did. But you shouldn’t pay attention to those things, these people don’t have a freaking idea of what are they talking about, have a lot of bloody time and nothing better to do than talk like old women –the pezetairos assured him, as indignant as Hephaistion had been.

 

- But…What do they mean by that? –asked the boy, and the Chrysaor remembered he was talking to an 8 years old boy. It was so easy to forget that—Do they mean that we are like dad and daddy? 

 

- Er…well…

 

- What’s exactly a lover?

 

- Well…

 

- And why is everybody so offended?

 

- Well…

 

- Daddy was like you, furious! That’s why I can’t ask him this –Achilles watched Chrysaor intently and the pezetairos swallowed.

 

- I don’t know what to tell you, Achilles –Chrysaor admitted.

 

- Tell me truth…please –he saw his bodyguard with big round puppy eyes and the pezetairos sighed.

 

- Fine. But don’t tell Heph we have this conversation, deal?

 

- Deal –Achilles assured him, nodding.

 

The pezetairos took a deep breath.

 

- A lover is a person who has sex with you. Like Heph and the King, Heph is the King’s lover.

 

- What’s sex?

 

Oh, this is going to be a very long afternoon –thought Chrysaor.

 

- Have you seen animals mating? Like horses or dogs? –asked the pezetairos.

 

- Yes…oh! –Achilles fell silent, thinking about this—Chrys?

 

- What?

 

- Sex is the same as ‘fuck’? –Chrysaor laughed out loud.

 

- Yes, where did you hear that? I don’t think Heph talks like that in front of you.

 

- Oh, no. I hear the soldiers talking, and I have seen them doing… “things” –said the boy, and the pezetairos felt a little stupid. Achilles had grown up in a military camp, of course he had seen things—So, people think dad and I do “things”? 

 

- Er…well, em…yes.

 

For Chrysaor surprise Achilles just fell silent and said nothing more. Only the Gods knew what was the boy thinking. Neither of them noticed, but Bagoas did, he saw Seleucus not far away watching the Prince for a moment before leaving. 

 

XXX

 

- Phai, Nikanor is dead –said Alexander one night.

 

For a moment Hephaistion didn’t understand what the King had said, it was impossible, how could this be? He remembered the first time he had talked to Nikanor, after he was appointed General of the Agema of the Hypaspist, Nikanor’s smile and his friendly attitude.

 

- How? –asked the General with the mouth dry.

 

- He fell ill and died last night –the King explained and his beloved remembered Nikanor’s cough. He never recovered completely after that march to Ecbatana. How curious was life. Achilles, who was always so sickly and weak had survived, whereas the strong and veteran Nikanor was dead. Alexander stood up and took Hephaistion by the shoulder – I know you appreciate him; I liked him too. He was a good man.

 

The General cleared his throat.

 

- Does Parmelio know? –he asked. 

 

- I wrote to him in the same moment I hear the news –answered the King—I’m leaving Philotas here to arrange his brother’s funeral and we’ll continue the march tomorrow.

 

Hephaistion nodded. Nikanor was dead, he had been with the army since the very beginning and now…It felt so strange to know he was never going to see him again.

 

Who would be the next? Who is will die next? –the General asked himself.

 

XXX