CHAPTER 151

 

Thoughts of Gordianus the Finder

47 BC Alexandria

 

The most opulent of these tombs is that of the city’s founder, Alexander the Great, whose mummified remains are an object of wonder to visitors who travel from all over the world to gaze upon them. Great tablets adorn the walls of the tomb, with painted reliefs that depict the conqueror’s many exploits. On this day, as on every day, a long queue of people stood waiting for their turn to step inside. One by one, they would be allowed to shuffle past the body of Alexander, so as to look for a moment (and at a distance, for the open sarcophagus lies beyond a protective chain and a row of guards) at the face of history’s most famous man. In the years that I had lived in Alexandria, I had never entered the conqueror’s tomb; the piece of admission had been too dear for a vagabond young Roman with no steady income. (1) 

 

-o-o-o-

 

- Phai, I need to talk to you –said Nikandros, storming into his brother’s tent unannounced as was his bad habit.

 

Hephaistion turned to face him as if he were a hallucination; what was his brother doing at this early hour in the morning? Nikandros never got up before noon, unless it was an emergency or they were under attack. Xsayarsa for his part looked at the newcomer as one would look a particularly annoying kid, he was helping his master to get dress, a task he always did with great pleasure, taking his time to make his patron look gorgeous and, occasionally, running his playful fingers over his creamy skin, and didn’t welcome the interruption in his sacred routine.

 

The General frowned watching his brother and opened his mouth to complain for such attempt to his privacy but then he thought things better and closed it again. He had been asking Nikandros to knock before entering since he was a child; it was pointless to argue with him, he would get more cooperation from a wall.

 

- What do you want? –asked the General in a bad mood, while Xsayarsa tied his long sleeve chiton of wool—I’m have a meeting with Alexander.  

 

A rather urgent meeting –thought Hephaistion. The King was in a terrible mood since he heard that Satibarzanes, whom he had just forgiven and confirmed in his post as satrap, had thanked his generosity slaughtering his Macedonian garrison and raising a revolt in Areia.

 

At the present moment the army was at the Margus River after marching for weeks, and Alexander was forced to stop the advance to Bactria to deal with this situation. Something that didn’t make him happy; every day Bessus was free and unpunished he had the opportunity to gather an even greater army, which meant more troubles for him.

 

- Your lover can wait, I have an emergency –said his brother, his voice trembling slightly and betraying his nervousness.

 

This caught Hephaistion’s attention, he had never seen his brother like this.

 

- Yarsa, leave us please –asked the General. The eunuch pursed his lips, he hadn’t finished and wasn’t happy at being interrupted but he said nothing and gave the newcomer a very nasty look on his way out.

 

- Fine, what did you get yourself into this time? –Hephaistion asked hearing the door closing. He had time before the meeting and Nikandros looked as shock as he had been when Leonnatos divorced Berenike. Something really bad must have happened.

 

- I need a drink –said his older brother, pacing around—Where is your Theban? 

 

The General sighed, it could be an emergency but still Nikandros behave as if this were his own place. He called Kyros. The young man was a freedman now but he still worked for his old master, at first Hephaistion wasn’t very sure if this would be a good idea, but he liked the young man and Kyros was heartbroken when he insinuated that maybe it would be a good idea if he worked for someone else.

 

- Nick, stop you are making me nervous. Are you going to tell me what happened or are you forcing me to guess? –said Hephaistion firmly but Nikandros only shook his head.

 

The General had to wait until the Theban returned with the wine and the lochagos emptied 2 cups before hearing another word. If things continued like this he would be late for the meeting. 

 

- Phai, what did you do when you knew about Aki’s existence? –Nikandros’ sudden question made Hephaistion blinked confused.

 

- What are you talking about? –what did this had to do with his brother’s alleged emergency?– Nick, I don’t have time for this, Alexander…

 

- Just answer the question –the lochagos filled another cup and the General sighed.

 

- You were there; remember? Just after the siege of Halicarnassus –said Hephaistion taking a seat at his brother’s side—I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t want Aki with me because we are in the middle of a military campaign and I had no idea of how to raise a child.

 

Nikandros nodded remembering that. Grandfather Demetrios had told him about Hephaistion’s doubts but, at that time, he had been more interested in the scandal of knowing that his always-righteous brother had slept with Cleopatra, daughter and wife of Kings, than in his nephew’s fate.

 

- Do you regret your decision of keeping Aki with you?

 

- What he hell has gotten into you? –Hephaistion frowned.

 

- Phai, please, just answer me –his brother pleaded and the General sighed heavily.

 

- No. I don’t regret my decision and I will never regret it –said Hephaistion from the bottom of his heart—I love my boy more than my own life –he fell silent for a moment—Now, would you please tell me what’s going on here?

 

Nikandros drank his third cup of wine and looked at his brother for a moment, not knowing where to begin, struggling to find the words to explain a very complicated situation. 

 

- Phai, Vasthi is pregnant –he said at last.

 

- Is yours? –all right that had sounded wrong, but it was the first thing it came to Hephaistion’s mind. He had nothing against the Persian concubine, in fact to tell the truth she was very sweet, but he didn’t know her well enough, and taking in consideration that Vashti lived in a military camp everything was possible. 

 

- I’m positive –sighed the lochagos taking no offence, playing with the jug of wine, and looking at his reflection over the polished silver.

 

The General started to understand what was bothering his brother; they could be different in many many things, but, after all, they were their parents’ sons. 

 

- What are you going to do now? –Hephaistion’s voice was soft; Nikandros needed a friend in those moments, not a nagging brother.

 

- Do you think that if I had a freaking idea I would be here? –Nikandros exploded, then he seem to reconsider and shook his head—I’m sorry, I just…I don’t know what to do and I have been thinking over and over again about your lover’s new policy.

 

- Which one?

 

- The one about the concubines –answered his brother—Alexander is offering money to every Macedonian who marries his concubine. 

 

- That one –said Hephaistion. Of course he had heard about it, the King had decided that, if his soldiers took wives among the local women it would be more unlikely for them to demand to go back to Macedonia, reason why he was encouraging the marriages with the concubines—Wait a minute, are you telling me that you are seriously thinking to marry Vashti? MARRY her? 

 

Now he was impressed. Nikandros was allergic to marriage.

 

- Why not? I’m 30…

 

- 31 –Hephaistion corrected him.

 

- Whatever, the point is that mom is always pestering me saying that I should marry, why not to do it now? –the General looked at his brother for a moment, as if trying to see beyond him.

 

- Nick, tell me the truth, why are you considering the possibility of marrying Vashti? –this could be the greatest mystery of the era and he wanted to know.

 

- Well, she is hot –said Nikandros but Hephaistion kept staring at him—You are not dropping this, are you?

 

- Do you love her?

 

- Why are you always so sentimental? –the lochagos chuckled, but it was obvious, even for a monkey, that he was nervous.

 

- Fine, I’ll ask again in your own language –said the General, clearing his throat— Do you care for her?

 

Nikandros looked everywhere but his brother.

 

- Yes, I care for her –he admitted after a long moment of silence—And…

 

- And?

 

- I don’t want my child to be born as a slave…or a bastard. 

 

There! Why is so difficult for Nick to admit what he really feels? –thought Hephaistion. Sometimes he just wanted to punch his older brother, but not this time. He patted his arm. 

 

- Then marry her –said the General, in an understanding tone. If he had had a choice, if his situation had been different, if had known that Cleopatra was pregnant he would have asked to marry her so Achilles wouldn’t have been a bastard. It was in moments like this that Hephaistion was sure they were brothers and nobody had adopted Nikandros, as they liked to joke—You are going to make mom very happy but more importantly, you’ll feel better. Trust me.

 

Nikandros embraced his brother with such force that the General thought he was going to break him a bone.

 

- Thank you –but just for this was worth it.

 

So far our advance through Asia had been a very “neat” one. Cities surrendered, a few sieges took place, and a strong army engaged us in battle every now and then. But, from this point on things begin to complicate. The worst thing that can happen to a well organized army, like the Macedonian, is a guerrilla, and if you don’t believe me then ask yourself why the Romans had so many troubles conquering Britannia.

 

First it was Satibarzanes. Alexander left Krateros in change of the main army and went back to deal with the rebellious satrap. Then, after a few weeks of battle, we rejoined Krateros only to receive intelligence that another satrap had raised in arms, this time it was Barsaëntes, who valiantly fled when he heard that Alexander was advancing personally to deal with him. 

 

And it was during these turbulent months, while we traveled to the distant satrapy of Bactria, that took place one of the darkest chapters of my mortal life…

 

- Phai, you won’t be able to hide this any longer –said Perdikkas one night. The taxiarch, Leonnatos, Ptolemy and Hephaistion were drinking and talking in the first’s tent. They were at the Lake Seistan, and now that it was winter the weather was extremely dry and cold, there wasn’t snow, but the wind was freezing, making them all feel as if they were naked at its mercy.    

 

- I know –sighed the General, watching the dark liquid in his cup—But, what I don’t understand is how these rumors started. 

 

- Like all rumors, I guess –said Leonnatos, shrugging—The men have a lot of free time and they like to talk.

 

- Hephaistion –said Ptolemy, leaning to the front—I know you love Alexander and everything, but even you have to admit that he is changing. We no longer can talk to him without asking first for an audience, that’s outrageous!

 

- That’s because he is extremely busy –the General defended his lover, raising his eyes from his cup—He is the Great King now and has more subjects and obligations.

 

- We understand that Phai –said Perdikkas softly—But that’s no pretext to start adopting the Great King’s customs. Next thing we are going to hear is that he wants us to prostrate in front him –the three of them laugh but Hephaistion remained serious. 

 

- And the men are less understanding than we are –said Ptolemy—Have you heard what they are saying? They say we lost our King; Alexander is becoming very distant and more and more officers are starting to turn to Parmelio.

 

- I don’t like that –Leonnatos shook his head—Parmelio could be very bad news.

 

- He already is –muttered Hephaistion, brushing his hair behind his ear.

 

- What was that? –asked Ptolemy frowning—Do you know something about Parmelio? 

 

The General didn’t answer; he wasn’t going to tell everybody about his dreams. He served another cup of wine and drank in silence.

 

- What I don’t know, is where the men got the idea that Alexander is sleeping with Aki –said Leonnatos disgusted—I mean, Aki has been with the army for years, why now?

 

- I also hear someone saying that you manipulate the King –said Perdikkas to Hephaistion.

 

- I heard it too –the General admitted, stretching his legs on the couch—And when I heard that I started to think something.

 

- What? –asked Leonnatos and Perdikkas intrigued.

 

- Someone is trying to damage Alexander’s image.

 

- Where do you get that? –asked the taxiarch.

 

- Think about it. First, a rumor starts saying that Alexander sleeps with his adopted son, portraying him as an incestuous degenerate King, just like Darius who married his own sister –Hephaistion explained—Then, someone says that I manipulate the King. I have been at Alexander’s side for almost 14 years and now people starts saying that he does as I say, why? –he left the question unanswered increasing his audience interest—Because now someone will be benefit if the men lose faith in Alexander.

 

- Someone. You mean Parmelio? –asked Ptolemy, holding the General’s dark gray eyes.  

 

- Yes.

 

- You know? That’s crazy, but it does have sense –Perdikkas admitted and Leonnatos nodded at his side.

 

Ptolemy shook his head.

 

- Crazy and dangerous, you don’t have proofs of what you are saying and Parmelio is a very powerful man…—the commander made a pause— What are you planning to do? –he wanted to know but Hephaistion didn’t answer and watched the his cushion as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.

 

- And this takes us again to the beginning of the conversation –said Leonnatos sighing—You have to tell Alexander everything. You have been hiding from him the rumors and complaints of the men, but now, if we add Parmelio to this, the situation is becoming really complicated.

 

- I’ll talk to Alexander –said the General at last. The prospect didn’t make him happy but he had to do it—He is going to be furious but he has to know.

 

XXX

 

Philotas left the headquarters that day in rather strange mood. He had returned 3 days ago after the funeral of his brother Nikanor, and everybody thought he would be depressed but the truth was that there wasn’t a single person who understood what was wrong with him. The hipparch kicked a rock and watched it bounced 3 times before hitting a tent; he was angry and had complained several times with his father because, since this war of guerillas had started, Alexander had greatly diminished his participation in the army.

 

- I’m sorry Philotas but you’ll have to stay in the camp, I have little use for the hetairoi cavalry as a whole in these moments –those had been the King’s welcome words and of course the hipparch had written a very long letter to his father complaining for the undignified way in which he had been treated.

 

But his rage didn’t last long, that same afternoon he was laughing himself to tears when he heard from his mistress, Antigone, the rumors about Alexander and Achilles.

 

- That doesn’t surprise me –had said Philotas to Antigone—I should have thought about that before; and you know what? I don’t blame him, I would have slept with the kid myself if I had the chance, the bastard is as beautiful as his father.

 

And then next day Philotas was in a dark mood, remembering his late brothers and, to everybody’s surprise, his friend gloomy Amyntas. Krateros had seen him drinking and crying shouting all kind of curses against Alexander and blaming him for killing his best friend. He was starting to look like a bipolar person.

 

Nobody wanted to go near the hipparch, and so it was a complete surprise when a young man named Cebalinus approached from nowhere asking to talk to him in private. Philotas first impulse was to send Cebalinus to say hello to Hades, but the urgency in the young man’s voice and his nervousness caught his curiosity...and he had nothing better to do that day thanks to Alexander who, again, “had no use” for the hetairoi cavalry.

 

- Fine. I’m listening –said the hipparch at last, crossing his arms, standing a few paces away from the King’s headquarters.  

 

Cebalinus turned, looking like a scared rabbit, and shook his head emphatically.

 

- Not here, sir. What I have to tell you it’s…confidential –he said and Philtas sighed.

 

- This must better be good –the hipparch muttered in a bad mood.

 

XXX

 

After Cebalinus talked for what seen like hours, Philotas watched him trying to assimilate every word. An uncomfortable silence fell upon them but the hipparch appeared unaware of it, too immerse in his thoughts. He moved in his chair and leaned to the front, elbows on his thighs, while the young man in front of him changed his weight from one foot to another, not knowing what to think and clearly shaken after all he had said. He had talked like a torrent, unable to stop once he had started.  

 

- Let me see if I get this right –said the hipparch at last, looking like a King about to pronounce a verdict—Your younger brother is the beloved of Dymnus.

 

- Yes, sir.

 

- And Dymnus asked your brother to join him in a plot to assassinate the King.

 

- Yes, sir –Cebalinus nodded, feeling his hands sweaty and his heart racing.

 

Philotas knew Dymnus, he was one of his father’s subordinates and always loyal to him, a middle age man with a great appetite for gourmet food and beautiful boys, a truly hedonist who indulged himself in all the pleasures he could get. The hipparch had never liked him, but again, Philotas seen to hate everybody. He took his time to look at Cebalinus, and decided that, if his brother was as good looking as the 19 years old in front of him, then he could understand why he was Dymnus’ beloved. 

 

- And Dymnus told your brother about this plot in which several important men, including Demetrios, is involved –Philotas summarized.

 

- That’s correct, sir. And my brother refused to join the conspiracy, of course –the young man hastily added.

 

The hipparch also knew Demetrios; he was an old friend of his father and had been part of the King’s somatophylakes since King Philip was alive. This was a serious accusation; this young man was accusing important men, friends of the King, with serious charges of high treason.

 

- What’s your brother’s name again? –asked the hipparch. 

                                                                                                        

- Arion, sir. Arion son of Bisaltes.

 

- How old is your brother?

 

- 15 years old, sir.

 

- 15 –Philotas repeated, thoughtful—Why didn’t Arion come to tell me about this plot himself? 

 

- He is scared, sir. He is barely a man and when he told me he couldn’t stop shaking –Cebalinus explained—It’s not every day that a 15 years old boy hears about a plot to assassinate the King. 

 

- Do you realize that what you are telling is very serious?

 

- I do, sir –Cebalinus answered without hesitation. 

 

- Do you have any proof? A letter or anything about this…plot?

 

- No, sir. Nothing.

 

- So, basically this is the word of a teenager against some of the most important men in the kingdom? –the young man paled—All of the men you mentioned here are…

 

But Philotas didn’t finish; an idea stuck him so hard that he could almost feel physical pain. All these men were his father’s friends, ALL of them, what if his father was involve? What if this was indeed a serious plot to assassinate Alexander? Cebalinus had mention Hegelochus’ name and he knew for a fact that the Iliarch had been writing to his father almost every week.

 

- Sir, I’m well aware that my brother and I have no proofs, but my brother is not a liar –said Cebalinus carefully but with intensity—He is telling the truth and someone has to warn the King.

 

Philotas didn’t hear one word he said but he nodded slowly.

 

- You did well in coming here –said the hipparch, changing drastically his tone of voice for one soft and understanding—Who else knows about this?

 

- No one, sir –answered the young man feeling more at ease—I told my brother not to say a word until I came to you.

 

- Good lad –said Philotas, standing up. He patted Cebalinus’ shoulder—Leave this to me and talk to nobody about the plot, understood? 

 

- Yes, sir –the young man nodded emphatically.

 

What’s my father playing at? –thought Philotas.

 

XXX

 

- Alex? –Hephaistion called the King when he stepped inside his tent. For practical uses he no longer used the monstrous tent of the late Darius, but his tent was no longer as austere as it used to be he had came to Asia years ago; he had finally learned to live like a true King. 

 

- In here! –Alexander answered and the General walked further inside until he found his King laying face down, naked from the waist up while Bagoas gave him a massage.

 

- Am I interrupting something? –asked his beloved in a playful tone, hands on his hips.

 

- Oh, you have no idea –the King sighed and moaned in pleasure—Bagoas is a genius! –the eunuch didn’t understand his words but he recognized his named and the happy tone of his master. He smiled content—You have to try this, Phai.

 

- Maybe later. Er…listen, we have to talk –said Hephaistion changing the subject abruptly. Alexander opened one eye to look at him. His beloved looked as if his mother had died and that worried him.  

 

- What’s wrong? –for an answer, the General’s eyes settled on Bagoas and the King took a seat, confusing the eunuch—Leave us –the blond ordered in Persian and Bagoas bowed and obeyed…but he stayed near enough to hear behind a door. 

 

Alexander dressed again, put on a big fur cloak and walked with Hephaistion to the balcony. The sun could be shinning but the air was freezing.

 

- Have you noticed that every time you say “we have to talk” is because something is wrong? –the King smiled but Hephaistion found himself unable to return the gesture.

 

- Maybe I should find another way to address you when I have bad news –Alexander frowned.

 

- So, there is something wrong.

 

The General sighed and brushed him hair behind his ear. A bad sign.

 

- Do you remember that day when we were chasing Darius and I told you about my dream where I saw him dead? –asked his beloved and that put the King on alert.

 

- Of course I remember.

 

- Well, at that time, with all that was happening, I didn’t tell you all about my dreams –Hephaistion confessed.

 

If Alexander was surprised he didn’t showed it, he closed the distance between them and waited for his beloved to continue. He knew how hard was for the General to speak about his dreams, he didn’t like to talk about himself: his fears, his thoughts and hopes, and years at his side had also taught him that the best thing you could do with Hephaistion was to let him speak at his own leisure, without pressures.

 

The General cleared his throat.

 

- I have dreamed several times about…—he dropped his voice— Parmelio.

 

That caught the King’s complete attention.

 

- What have you dreamed?

 

- It’s…complicated –answered Hephaistion, walking to rest his back against the banister—I dreamed he is conspiring to do something, but I’m not sure what. What I think is that we can’t trust him and for some time now I have been paying special attention to all his movements.

 

- Did you discover something?

 

- Nothing incriminatory, but I noticed he writes very often to Hegelochus –answered the General—I don’t have the authority to read their mail but I have seen the letters, they write to each other almost every week.

 

- Hegelochus has always been a favorite of Parmelio, it wouldn’t be strange if they write to each other this often –said the King, resting his arms on the banister.

 

- I’m aware of that –Hephaistion nodded—But I have a hunch that this is not the case.

 

If any other person had come to Alexander with charges against Parmelio armed only with dreams and hunches, the would have called his guards to throw the poor devil out; but it was Hephaistion, and if he said the old General was planning something, he believed it.

 

- You can’t check Hegelochus’ mail but I can –said the King—I’ll investigate this.

 

- Thank you, but there is more.

 

- More?

 

- This is a little harder to say –the General brushed his hair, again, behind his ear—There have been several rumors circulating around the camp…about you. 

 

Alexander snorted.

 

- I know. I have my own agents; remember? –he said—The men are unhappy with my “Persian customs.”

 

- I’m glad you know about that but that was not what I was going to say –answered Hephaistion.

 

- What are they saying now? That I’m creating my own harem? –the King joked but again his beloved was unable to smile.

 

- No, they are saying that I manipulate you and…

 

- But that’s none sense! –Alexander exclaimed—Every man in this army knows you since we were boys in Pella, how can they say that?

 

- I think Alex, but that’s another hunch, that someone is spreading these rumors –said the General.

 

- Why would someone do such a thing?

 

- To damage your image –said Hephaistion.

 

- By saying that you manipulate me? Only a fool would believe that –Alexander insisted.

 

- Well, maybe, but there is another rumor.

 

- Hit me.

 

This time the General vacillated. He wasn’t afraid of the King, he knew he had nothing to fear from him, but he was afraid of how was this going to affect his lover.

 

- The rumor says that…you…sleep with Aki.

 

Defying all laws of physics Alexander’s eyes reached an astronomical size looking impossible round, then his face turned an unhealthy red and the vein on his forehead looked about to explode.

 

- What did you say? –his voice was colder than the wind that day and then Hephaistion understood why nobody had dared to tell him about this particular rumor. Everybody knows the messenger of bad news always dies—Aki is my son, how could any one think that I…? –he growled and hit the banister with so much force that, as absurd as it sounded, the General thought he was going to break it—Who is the motherless dog who is saying this monstrosity? 

 

- Alex, it’s a rumor, I don’t think anyone knows how it started –said Hephaistion calmly.

 

- But you said someone is behind this –the King shouted, his tone was hard and rude but the General wasn’t upset for this outburst, he knew Alexander wasn’t angry with him. 

 

- I think someone maybe behind this, but it’s just a hunch.

 

The King started to pace around.

 

- Mark my words Phai, if someone started this rumor deliberately and I found him, the son of a bad mother would wish he was never born –and again, Hephaistion believed him.

 

XXX

 

Determined to know what was happening, the hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry looked for Hegelochus in the first opportunity he had. It took him 2 days to find him because the King had sent the Iliach on a mission, and during that time Cebalinus had been pestering him, asking constantly if he had already talked to the King. Why couldn’t the damn kid wait? Finally he had the chance to talk to Hegelochus, and then he didn’t lose time, going straight to the point.

 

- I want to know what is my father plotting? –the question was so abrupt and so bold that it took the Iliarch a moment to understand what was happening.

 

- What are you talking about? –he said at last, turning to make sure his slaves were away and nobody was eavesdropping outside his tent.

 

- Don’t try to fool me, I know he is up to something and I want to know what is it –said Philotas in a whispered holding Hegelochus’ gaze.

 

Once again the Iliarch turned to see that no one was near and closed the distance between them, dropping his voice so much that it was difficult to the hipparch to understand him.

 

- What do you think you know? –asked Hegelochus, he wasn’t going to risk the plan without being absolutely certain of what Philotas knew.

 

- My father is conspiring to kill Alexander.

 

All right that was clear enough. The Iliarch sighed heavily; Parmelio had been very clear about Philotas, the old General didn’t want him involve in this but…Hegelochus held the hipparch’s gaze and saw fire there. Now it was impossible to leave him out. 

 

- How did you come to that knowledge?

 

- That’s my business –an arrogant smile curved Philotas’ lips—So, it’s true, eh?

 

The Iliarch nodded almost imperceptibly and the hipparch felt a strange emotion running through his body.

 

- When? –that was the only thing he could think in those moments.

 

- Soon, but there are still…things we have to take care first –answered Hegelochus.

 

- What things?

 

This time the Iliarch took his time before answering. Could he trust Philotas?

 

Not that I have a choice now –he thought.

 

- Your father is waiting for the malcontent in the army to grow –answered Hegelochus—When the men are in the brink of mutiny then we’ll strike. 

 

Philotas nodded. This was the best news he had received in a very long time.

 

XXX

 

(1) Steven Saylor. Roma Sub Rosa: The Judgment of Caesar, p 103