CHAPTER 152

 

Thoughts of Gordianus the Finder regarding Julius Caesar encounter with King Ptolemy

47 BC Alexandria

 

To arrive at such a moment must have been one of the supreme accomplishments of Caesar’s long career, the sort of grand occasion that painters and sculptors might celebrate for generations to come. The master of the world’s new order was about to meet the ruler of the world’s oldest kingdom; the new Alexander was about to confront the heir of Alexander the Great, in the city Alexander himself had founded. In Caesar’s countenance I saw a man fully conscious of the moment’s import and radiant with confidence. (1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

That day Hephaistion had to leave Alexander’s side before dawn. A messenger came running with news that his sister was giving birth to her fourth child and the General went as fast as he could to see her. A half sleep King sent his personal doctor, Philip, to help, and after that he was left alone in the same bed with Achilles, who had come in the middle of the night because he had a nightmare. Normally this wouldn’t bother him, on the contrary, he liked to be with his son, but with all those rumors buzzing around his camp, like annoying bees, he didn’t know if it was a good idea to be alone with his Prince.

 

At the end he decided he was the Great King and he didn’t have to change his habits just because a motherless dog said he was banging his son. Every time he thought about it made his blood burn in rage and he felt the urge to break something or shout. Alexander watched Achilles’ peaceful face, he looked like an angel with his lips slightly parted and his long golden-bronze eyelashes, again he was completely spread on the bed embracing a pillow, and then, the King asked himself what kind of sick bastard could have thought that abomination about them.

 

The Prince rolled and kicked him making the King laugh. Maybe he should get up, didn’t think he would be able to keep sleeping after all.

 

As soon as Alexander stood up Bagoas appeared, ready to serve him.

 

How can he do that? –thought the King impressed. He had had servants and slaves all his life, but never one as efficient as this eunuch who appeared to be always near when he needed something.  

 

And, as if he had read Alexander’s mind, Bagoas had his bath ready, the place full with flowers and incense, hot water in the tub and clean fresh cloths. He helped his master to undress, carefully folding his sleeping tunic, and looked for the soaps and oils while the King step into the tub. It was a perfectly common morning with a well-established routine. Bagoas took his time to massage his master’s shoulders and bathed him when Achilles appeared, bare foot, a little sleepy and rubbing his eyes.

 

- You are finally awake –said Alexander, almost purring like a kitten while the eunuch lathered his blond hair. That felt really good.

 

- I’m sorry for appearing like that last night –the boy apologized, walking to the tub.

 

- You don’t have to apologize –the King changed to a more comfortable position— Was your nightmare that bad?

 

- Yes.

 

- What did you dream about? –this time Achilles didn’t answer immediately, as if deciding if it was or not a good idea to talk about it. That made the King smile, he was Hephaistion’s son after all, and was also very reserved with his personal things—You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.

 

The Prince moved his head up and down. 

 

- I’ll tell you, but promise me you won’t laugh –asked the boy very serious.

 

- You have my word –the King assured him and his Prince took a deep breath, resting his hands on the edge of the tub.

 

- I dreamed I was lost inside the Minotaur’s labyrinth –Achilles looked at the wall of the tent, painted like a beautiful wallpaper—It was a huge and dark place, I couldn’t see a thing or find my way out. Every shadow appeared to move as if they were alive and I could hear the Minotaur breathing near me. I shouted until I had no more energy but nobody came to help me. 

 

- It sounds scary –said Alexander, while Bagoas rubbed his back. 

 

- Do you really think so? –asked the Prince with suspicious, narrowing his eyes—I don’t believe you.

 

- Why not? –asked Alexander amused.

 

- Because you fear nothing –Achilles’ answer made him laugh.

 

- You may think so, but even I am afraid sometimes –said the King, feeling the hot water washing his shoulders. 

 

- Really? –Achilles crossed his arms and cocked his head.

 

Gods! He looks exactly like his father –thought the King fascinated.

 

- Really.

 

- And what are you afraid of? –the Prince wanted to know, still doubting his adopted father was telling the truth.

 

- I’m afraid of losing you or your father –Alexander spoke with all honesty and his answer took Achilles aback, he wasn’t expecting that. In fact he was expecting something like: ‘I’m secretly terrify of spiders’, but this had more sense than the spider thing.  

 

Bagoas went to take another soap from a close table and the King saw the Prince following the eunuch’s movements with attention. He leaned closer to Achilles, spilling water through the edge of the tub, and whispered in Macedonian.

 

- Do you like him? –he knew Bagoas was struggling to learn Greek, and, for what he had heard, he had done a lot of advances in a very few weeks, but still he didn’t want to risk that he understand a word or two of what they were saying.

 

The King expected his Prince to blush, or to be embarrassed, as he had been when he asked the boy if he liked Thais during the siege of Gaza. But, to his absolute surprised, Achilles just watched the eunuch again, as one may do with a piece of art, without caring if Bagoas noticed his gaze or not.

 

- I like him, he looks like a very beautiful girl –he said and Alexander laughed, as if he had never heard a funnier thing in his entire life.  

 

The eunuch didn’t understand a word but again, he was sure they were talking about him. That was starting to be annoying and he vowed again, for Ahura Mazda, to learn Greek. At that moment, Ennychus, one of the King’s pages, arrived with a gold tray with fruit, cookies, freshly baked by Darius’ favorite cook, and watered-wine. 

 

- Ennychus! I’m glad you are here –exclaimed the King in a great mood, a nice change after weeks angry for what had happened with the rebellious satraps—Go to hipparch Kleitos’ tent to ask about his wife. The last thing I heard Eni was having a baby and I want to know if she is fine –the page, who was always ready to obey him, vacillated to follow his orders and that caught Alexander’s attention. He looked at the boy closely and noticed that he was nervous and very pale—What’s wrong, Ennychus? 

 

- Sire…I…

 

- Yes? –the King insisted while Bagoas cleansed the soap from his chest.

 

- Sire, I have a message for you from a…er, young man named Cebalinus son of Bisaltes –said Ennychus at last.

 

- And? –Alexander was starting to be impatient. Achilles went for a cookie while they talked.

 

- Cebalinus said he has information about a plot to…a-a-assassinate you, sire –now the page had the King’s complete attention. Alexander raised his hand and Bagoas stopped what he was doing; the Prince turned to pay attention to what the boy had to say, with the cookie suspended half way to his mouth.

 

- Where is Cebalinus? –asked Alexander, even his voice was different now. Now, he was the King again and his mood was not as good as it had been a moment ago.

 

- I-I-I have him hidden in the-the armory.

 

- Bring him here –said the King, stepping out of the tub. Bagoas ran to fetch a towel.

 

XXX

 

Cebalinus told Alexander exactly what he had told Philotas, but, contrary of the hipparch, the King was extremely interested in what he had to say. It could be his recent conversation with Hephaistion about Parmelio, but as soon as he started to hear the names of the men involved in the alleged plot, he immediately grasped what it took Philotas a while: all those men were close friends or trusted companions of the old General.

 

Achilles, sitting near the King, thought exactly the same as Philotas, that the only thing Cebalinus had was the word of his brother Arion against some of the most important men of the new empire, but he said nothing. Nobody had asked for his opinion and he had learned not to intervene in his father’s affairs.

 

- When did you hear about this plot? –asked Alexander.

 

- Three days ago, sire –answered the young man, feeling a little intimidated talking to the King himself.

 

- And why did you wait this long to come to me?

 

- I didn’t know how to approach you, sire –said Cebalinus with honesty—You are always so busy, so, as soon as I heard about the plot, I thought it better to told everything I knew to the hipparch Philotas.

 

This piece of information made even Achilles frown. Philotas knew about this? Then, why on earth hadn’t he said a word?

 

- When did you talk to Philotas? –the King paced around the room, thinking.

 

- Three days ago, sire.

 

- What did he said?

 

- He instructed me to talk to no one about the plot and assured me he would talk to you, sire –Cebalinus explained, twisting his sweaty hands compulsively behind his back.

 

- If the hipparch instructed you to say nothing, why did you decide to come today? –Alexander wasn’t angry with him, his voice was calm and his face was free from all emotion. This gave confidence to Cebalinus and he confessed the truth.

 

- I had the feeling that the hipparch Philotas never spoke to you, sire –he said—I asked the hipparch several times if he had already told you about the plot but he never gave me an answer. Then, I remembered that one of my tent mates is a friend of Ennychus and I asked him to talk to you, sire. 

 

The King nodded and turned to see his page.

 

- Ennychus, go for General Hephaistion, he is in the hipparch Kleitos’ tent and tell him to come here, urgently. Speak to no one about what have happened here, not even to the General, I don’t want people overhearing –said Alexander and the boy nodded.

 

- Yes, sire –he was going to leave when…

 

- One more thing, on your way called Dismas, I need him here now –said the King in his best commanding voice—Do you understand?

 

- Perfectly, sire.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion had no idea what could be so urgent but he ran back to the King’s tent. Berenike had given birth to a healthy baby girl, and she was fine; his brothers, uncle and cousin were with her, not to mention a very nervous Kleitos who had almost passed out at the middle of the delivery. The General had to admit this had been funny to see a man as big as the hipparch so scared with something so simple. Vasthi, whose Greek was very passable now, was taking special care of her, undoubtedly preparing herself to be a mother and Thais was so excited that she had stared to cry. 

 

Alexander knew how important was his family for him, and, if he had requested his presence with such urgency then something important had happened. 

 

Hephaistion expected to find the King in his room but instead he found him sitting on his throne, dressed in Macedonian fashion with a fur cloak covering him. Achilles was standing at his side looking so serious that he appeared to be another adult there; the entire military staff was there with the sole exception of Philotas, but something that caught the General’s attention was that the Persian nobles were no way to be seen, not even Bagoas was there to serve the King, only his Macedonian pages.

 

- What happened? –whispered Hephaistion in Perdikkas’ ear.

 

- I have no idea, Alexander called us all here but didn’t say why –answered the taxiarch, and then, almost as if the King had heard him, he stood up to address them all.

 

- You must be wondering why did I call you all with such urgency –said Alexander, making a pause while he surveyed the faces of all the men reunited there, only his most trusted friends and officers—This morning I received intelligence about a plot against my life –the reactions were immediate, whispers, gasps, shock expressions and fear— I summoned you so you can pass judgment on the man who, hiding like a rat, conspired to kill your King.

 

They heard noise at the entrance and then Dismas appeared, his men behind him were dragging the half conscious form of Dymnus, he had a bandage around his abdomen, but the cloths were stain with fresh blood. The rumors rose again.

 

- What’s this? –asked the King, frowning at the bloodied, pale figure in front of him.

 

- Sire, Dymnus fell on his sword when he arrived –Dismas explained, looking serious and grim—We tried to stop him but we only managed to treat his wounds.

 

Alexander strode to the dying Dymnus. He was extremely pale and judging by his breathing he wasn’t going to live for long.

 

- “What great wrong have I planned against you, Dymnus that you should think Philotas more worthy to rule the Macedonians than I am myself?” (2) –exclaimed the King and his words caused even a greater shock among the present. Philotas? What had Philotas to do in all of this?

 

The accused was beyond words at this point; he barely saw the King through narrowed eyes, opened his mouth but no sound came out, only a thick tear of blood, and he expired.

 

- Take him away –ordered the King.

 

Hephaistion was still trying to assimilate what had happened. There was a plot to kill Alexander, how was that he knew nothing? He felt like a stupid, he was in charge of his King security and he knew nothing. He clenched his jaw watching the lifeless form of Dymnus. Why had Alexander mention Philotas? Had his fears come true? Had Parmelio been plotting something?

 

He was still questioning himself, determined to get to the bottom of this conspiracy, one way or another, when he saw Kleitos standing at the threshold while the guards took Dymnus’ body away. How long had been the hipparch there? He had left Kleitos at his sister’s side, but clearly someone had summoned him, or warned him. The General knew Kleitos was in good terms with Parmelio, very good terms, and for a moment he feared his reaction before this extraordinary events.

 

Alexander turned to look around him, the shock faces of his men, and then he nodded.

 

- Dismas! –he said, his eyes on Hephaistion—Bring the hipparch Philotas.

 

XXX

 

- I can’t believe this nonsense! –exclaimed a very indignant Philotas when he arrived at the royal tent. Only Alexander, Hephaistion, Achilles, whom the King had insisted in having there, along with Krateros, Koinos, Perdikkas, Leonnatos and Erigyius of Mytilene were there. The King wanted them here to hear Arion’s declaration of what he knew about the plot and, after that, heard what the hipparch had to say—Why are you accusing me? Because I failed to report a teenager’s stupid allegation of a plot? You can’t possible be serious!

 

- What I want to understand here is, why you didn’t tell me a thing about this? –said Alexander, as expressionless as a block of ice.

 

- Because the lad had no proofs of what he was saying –answered Philotas in a bad mood. He knew the plot to kill Alexander was real, even more, than his father was involved in it, but so far nobody had mentioned his own name as part of the conspirators because he didn’t know a thing about this until Cebalinus came to him.

 

Bloody Cebalinus! Why did he have to talk to the King? –thought a very angry hipparch—By Ares’ balls! I have to calm down or I’ll start to look suspicious. 

 

- All that Cebalinus has is the word of his brother against very important men. Friends of the King! –said Philotas, trying his best to remain calm, taking a deep breath and counting to 10—For all I know this whole plot can be only a quarrel between Dymnus and his beloved. Who assured me the boy didn’t want to take revenge on his lover? Ask Dymnus, he would know better.

 

- Unfortunately, Philotas, that’s not possible any more –said the King—Because Dymnus took his own life this morning.

 

The news took the hipparch aback. His situation was more and more serious at every moment but still, there was nothing that incriminated him; he had nothing to fear.

 

- That’s regrettable –said Philotas, keeping his composure while his mind worked quickly—Maybe I should have reported this matter before, and… I apologize for that. 

 

Alexander watched him for a long movement, making them all feel uncomfortable, and then he nodded.

 

- I accept your apology, Philotas –he said to everybody’s surprise, except Hephaistion, who knew all too well that tone of voice—You may leave.

 

The King waited until they were alone and then he asked what his companions thought about the whole matter.

 

- Philotas has a point, Alexander –said Koinos. He was the hipparch’s brother-in-law, and even he had no love for him and wasn’t going to risk his neck for Philotas, he was determined to say what he really thought—We all hear Arion’s testimony a moment ago, and he doesn’t have proofs, only his word, as Philotas said, and Arion didn’t even go in person to talk to him, he sent his brother.  

 

The King nodded.

 

- I grant you that Koinos, but tell me, why didn’t Philotas investigate a little more? Why he didn’t call Arion to interrogate him? –asked Alexander, taking a seat at the side of Hephaistion. Achilles was behind him, he was still a child and couldn’t participate in the discussion but his father wanted he present to learn—I’ll tell you what I think. I’m sure you all have noticed that all the names mentioned in this conspiracy belong to close friends of Parmelio –he made a pause to let his words sink, and for the expression of more than one, they hadn’t noticed this— And I found hard to believe that Philotas didn’t notice this too. What I think is that he didn’t say a thing about the plot because he was protecting his father, and I do think he is involved in the conspiracy.

 

- That is a very serious accusation –said Koinos, feeling a shiver running down his spine, fearing for his father-in-law.

 

- But it makes sense –said Krateros at once. He looked immense wrapped in a heavy fur cloak, and, with that beard he was like a giant wild bear— Philotas has no love for the King, one has only to hear what he says about how he and his father made all the King’s victories possible.

 

Alexander frowned. 

 

- Where did you hear that? –the taxiarch Krateros made an effort not to smile.

 

- Antigone, Philotas’ mistress, told me.

 

- And how is that you came to be such a good friend of his mistress? –-asked Hephaistion, sure that he was hiding something.

 

- That’s my business.

 

- Alexander, Philotas complains about everything –said Koinos and that made Leonnatos smiled.

 

- There he has a point –muttered Perdikkas.

 

- But complaining is not the same as serious plotting against your life –Koinos insisted—Or is it that now we are no longer allow to say what we think? 

 

Alexander ignored the last remark. He had hated Philotas for a very long time, and he would have executed him in Egypt when he tried to blackmail Hephaistion if it hadn’t been for Parmelio. But, the old General was in Ecbatana, far from here, and his older son was seriously implicated in a plot to assassinate him. Now, he could finally make him pay for what he had done to Hephaistion, for that night when he almost raped his drunken beloved, for blackmailing him, for everything.

 

- I say we should torture him –said Krateros suddenly—I too believe he is implicated and that he is hiding something. Lets force him to talk!

 

Perdikkas and Leonnatos, who had been talking to Hephaistion about Parmelio just a few days ago, nodded their agreement. They too thought Philotas knew more than he was saying.

 

- What do you say Koinos, Erigyius? –asked the King, leaning back against the chair. 

 

- I agree with Krateros –said Erigyius. He didn’t want to contradict Alexander. 

 

- I think this is going too far, but –Koinos made a pause—I also agree that Philotas is hiding something.

 

- Hephaistion? –deliberately he had left his beloved at the end, his was the most important opinion.

 

- I think that, for once, I agree with Krateros –said the General.

 

- Philotas has defied me before –said Alexander, nodding slowly and silently signing his hipparch’s end—He will stand a trial for treason and will be tortured. 

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion remained seated in a beautiful couch inside his tent. He wasn’t a hedonist, surrounding himself with luxuries even if he could do it, but he had grown found of this piece of furniture, so comfortable that it appeared to be a cloud. It was almost midnight, Alexander had issued orders to arrest Philotas but the whole operation would be done in the utmost secrecy, the King didn’t want to risk having the troops standing by the hipparch, that is the troops loyal to Parmelio.

 

The General was nervous but also determined and angry with himself, he had failed to discover the plot but he would see the end of this and, if Philotas had in fact conspired to assassinate his lover, he would make him pay dearly. One thing was to mess with him, another very different to attempt against the life of the man he loved the most in this world.

 

- Daddy? –Achilles’ voice took him out of his dark thoughts, and he turned to find his son standing in front of him.

 

- You should be sleeping –said the General.

 

- So do you, are you worried about the conspiracy? –asked the Prince and his father smiled.

 

- You too, eh? –Hephaistion patted the couch—Sit, I can use some company.

 

Achilles did as he was told.

 

- Daddy, do you think is a good idea to torture Philotas? –that was something the General didn’t want to discuss with his son but, since Alexander had insisted in having the boy at the meeting, there was no way to avoid the conversation now.

 

- I do –that was an honest answer.

 

- Why?

 

- You wouldn’t understand.

 

- I’m not a fool –said the Prince offended and Hephaistion bit his lip, regretting his words.

 

- I didn’t mean that.

 

- Then, why don’t you explain this to me?

 

The General sighed.

 

- Philotas has always hated Alexander, and I’m convinced that his father has been up to something for some time now –he explained—I didn’t know for sure but Parmelio’s behavior was suspicious and he kept constant correspondence with Hegelochus; who was also behaving in rather strange way. It’s hard for me to admit this but Krateros is right, I also think Philotas knows something and he has to be interrogated…tortured if that’s what it takes to loose his tongue.

 

It was clear for Achilles that his father was angry, his voice trembled a little trying to keep his emotions at bay, and he could see fire in his dark gray eyes.

 

- You hate Philotas –said the Prince.

 

- I do.

 

- Are you sure your feelings aren’t blinding you in this? –Hephaistion raised his eyebrows in surprise. His boy was growing faster than he thought.

 

- Aki, Philotas has done to me things that I can’t forgive –said the General with intensity—Since I was a teenager in Mieza studying with Aristotle, he has always been there, causing me problems.

 

- Why?

 

That was a good question and for a moment Hephaistion considered if it was a good idea to tell his son everything. At the end he decided to be honest, if Seleucus had noticed his son’s beauty it was a matter of time before someone else did it, and maybe his own experience could serve the young Prince.

 

- When I was 15, Philotas wanted to be my erastes –the General explained—And he didn’t take it well when I refused.  

 

- Was he in love with you? –asked Achilles with interest. He loved when Hephaistion told him stories about Mieza, and he had expressed his desire, more than once, to study with Aristotle, something that, at the moment, was impossible.

 

- I wouldn’t say in love –his father sighed—I would say obsessed. And, since we were at Mieza Philotas has been jealous of Alexander.

 

- And what happened then?

 

- Philotas has tried everything to force me to be his lover –said Hephaistion, giving his son the censored version—He even tried to blackmail me once.

 

- Really? –the Prince raised his eyebrows in surprise.

 

- Really –the General smiled—Aki, what you have to understand here is that, one thing is that Philotas messes with me, but, to plot to kill Alexander is more than I’m willing to tolerate. I vowed to protect the King, and I’ll eagerly give my life for him, and if that motherless dog of Philotas even thought in the possibility of harming Alexander, I will skin him alive.

 

Achilles watched him with big round eyes, he had never heard his father talking like this and he was impressed, and a little scared. His father wasn’t a man to take lightly.

 

- Daddy, how is dad going to arrest Philotas? –he asked with curiosity.

 

- Alexander invited him to dinner –Hephaistion explained, taking a deep breath to calm himself—Philotas has no idea of what is waiting for him once he arrived.

 

- You aren’t going to be there?

 

- I’m going in a moment, I just…I wanted to be alone –he said.

 

XXX

(1) Steven Saylor. Roma Sub Rosa: The Judgment of Caesar, p 117 and 118.

(2) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 342

 

A/N: Dear readers I made a mistake, Cebalinus’ brother was Nicomachus but since I couldn’t find his name last week I renamed him Arion :P I apologize.