Warning: This is an –M– Chapter. You have been warned.

 

CHAPTER 154

 

Between Decius Caecilus Metellus and Gaius Julius Caesar

59 BC Gaul

 

“Before I am done, I may have to subdue Gaul all the way from the Rhine to the Pyrenees. I may have to go all the way to Britannia.” said Caesar.

 

I almost choked on my Falernian. “That is a large chunk of territory to take on. Not to mention a large population of extremely warlike barbarians.”

 

He shrugged. “Alexander used to take as much territory in a year.”

 

There it was: Alexander again. I wished the little Macedonian bastard was alive so I could kill him all over again. Just one such maniac in all of history and he inspired fools forever after. Well, Macedonia is part of the Roman Empire now, which ought to teach people something.

 

“Gauls aren’t Persians.”

 

“No, and I thank Jupiter for it.”(1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

When dawn came it found a sleepless Hephaistion, lying on his bed, as immobile and expressionless as a corpse. The night before had been the worst of his entire life and that made him think that maybe this was how men felt when they just died, lost between the Hades and the realm of mortals, wandering without understanding what was happening to them: cold, alone, helpless, abandoned and without emotions.

 

- You look horrible –said Xsayarsa with brutal honesty, standing at one side of his bed. Hephaistion turned to look at him and the eunuch wrinkled his nose—And smell even worst. What were you doing last night? Did you wallow in the mud or what?

 

The General smiled, last night he thought he would never be able to do this again and was infinite grateful to prove himself wrong. He felt like finding the light at the end of the tunnel. He had been trapped inside his darkest thoughts all night, hearing over and over again Philotas’ screams, and now, not only the sun came out, wiping away the darkness, Xsayarsa’s good mood made him remember that he was still alive, he was no wandering soul, lost among the living.

 

Alexander is right, I think too much –he thought.

 

- Trust me Yarsa, you don’t want to know what was I doing last night –Hephaistion sat and rubbed his tired eyes. He felt as if suffering from a hangover, just without the previous fun.

 

- You need an URGEN bath –the eunuch declared, pinching his nose—Go outside, take off your cloths, and after burning them, and I’ll throw water at you while you clean…whatever is you have all over your body.

 

- It’s blood, dry blood –said his patron.

 

- I don’t care if it’s dry gold, you won’t bath inside the tent smelling like this…Ahura Mazda! How did you dare to sleep like that? That’s it! –he clapped his hands— I’ll burn the bed too! –declared Xsayarsa, and he left, still complaining in Persian about these Macedonians and his lack of hygiene.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion wasn’t hungry; the food tasted like ashes and the sole memory, of what had happened to Philotas, was enough to make him feel as if he had a giant rock in his stomach. But, watching Achilles eat with so much joy, savoring the recently baked bread and the fresh fruit made him much better. A world where his son could be happy couldn’t be that bad. 

 

- Sir, is it true that the hipparch Philotas will be executed today? –asked Kyros, bringing more cheese.

 

- Yes. It’s true –said the General, watching his piece of bread as if it were the most fascinating thing on the planet.

 

- Glycon told me he was convicted for treason –said the Theban, wanting to know more about the matter—I’m not surprise, he was always complaining about the King. 

 

They heard Xsayarsa screaming in his high-pitched voice while he burned his patron’s cloths and saw Atash running to help him when the fire came out of control, but nobody moved. They were too used to Xsayarsa by now to think that he was in actual danger. They all had learned the Persian screamed, as if they were under attack, virtually for anything: from a spider inside the tent to a special horrify piece of clothing, and they had seen him faint in front of horrible wounds. 

 

- Daddy? What will happen to General Parmelio? –Achilles joined the conversation.

 

- He will die too –Hephaistion stopped playing with his bread and turned to look at his son—Hegelochus named him as the leader of the conspiracy and he produced all the proofs Alexander needed to convict him too.

 

- It will be weird –said Kyros.

 

- What?

 

- The army. It’s going to be weird without Parmelio, he has been around for ages –said the Theban—I don’t know how old is he but he looks as if he has all the years on him.

 

That made Achilles laugh, and his laughter served to start healing the wound in his father’s heart.

 

- I suppose you are right –whispered the General. He sighed—What kind of army will be without Parmelio? 

 

XXX

 

Even if Hephaistion didn’t want to witness Philotas’ execution, as the General of the Agema, he had to be there. He went to the place, where a day before the trial had been held, but this time he was the last to arrive. As he approached, he saw 2 men carrying Philotas, who was incapable to walk after being tortured the night before; under the sunlight his wounds looked even more terrible and the General couldn’t avoid noticing that his left arm was covered in several bandages slightly stain with blood, hanging lifeless at the hipparch’s side.

 

It was necessary to dispose 6000 soldiers around the camp to avoid trouble among the soldiers and the camp followers who had gathered, like bees around honey, to witness the execution. Alexander stood again before his men and read to them his hipparch’s full confession; it goes without saying that the Assembly condemned him to death at once after that. But this wasn’t enough, now that a purge had started Alexander would finish with all the traitors once and for all, if he wanted to continue further into Asia he would have to do it with his most loyal men.

 

He brought another man to pass judgment that morning, Alejandro of Lyncestis, who had been imprisoned for 3 years now after Parmelio had uncovered a plot, in which Alejandro was implicated, to assassinate Alexander by the orders of the late King Darius. How ironic was life. First Parmelio helped to save the King’s life and now he was going to die for trying to kill him. The Gods surely have a lot of fun watching mortals. 

 

- Aki, go to your room –said Hephaistion when the execution was about to begin. The boy had followed him when he left his tent, and, at moment looked at him a little confused.

 

- But yesterday dad asked me to come.

 

- I know, but I don’t want you here –the General’s voice was cold and hard, he wasn’t in the mood to be arguing. He had agreed to have his son during the meetings regarding this whole affair, but he would not have an 8 years old to witness how a man was stone to death, not even if Alexander wished so.

 

The Prince knew better than to argue with his father, especially when he was in this strange mood, and obeyed at once.

 

It gave me no pleasure to witness Philotas’ execution but, somehow, I felt at peace knowing that all of this had finally ended and that I would never had to suffer Philotas again. When he exhaled his last breath, it also died that feeling that something was going to happen to Alexander and, in that moment, I knew that what I had done had been the right thing.

 

In a way, I felt better when everything was over, I felt a strange peace while Philotas’ lifeless body was removed, and I was sure then, that I had tortured him because I wanted to protect Alexander, because my King had ordered it and because I would do anything, everything, for him…

 

I will burn for you

Feel pain for you

I will twist the knife and bleed my aching heart

And tear it apart

I will lie for you

Beg and steal for you

I will crawl on hands and knees until you see

You're just like me

(Garbage, #1 Crush)

 

What about Parmelio? Well, Alexander took every precaution to avoid that knowledge of what had happened to his son reached the old General, and meanwhile he sent Polydamas directly to Ecbatana with orders for Parmelio’s second-in-command, Cleander, to execute King Philip’s best General.

 

In a way Kyros was right, the Macedonian army would never be the same after this…

 

Polydamas traveled disguised, with two Arab guides, on racing camels to arrive as fast as possible to Ecbatana. Parmelio had agents and spies everywhere and even if the King had taken precautions to avoid that any news about Philotas’ fate reached his father, he didn’t want to take any chances. Polydamas would travel faster than anyone and no letter would be able to arrive before him.

 

He followed Alexander’s instructions by the letter, knowing that his mission was not only important but also extremely delicate. Parmelio was a well-respected and popular officer, and, if they didn’t do this right, they risk having a mutiny here, or, even worst, an open revolt with the old General heading the soldiers he had under is orders and that would be catastrophic.

 

Polydamas’ first stop, once he arrived to Ecbatana, was at Cleander’s quarters. The second-in-command didn’t bother to hide his shock after reading the King’s letter for 3 times, to make sure of what was what his sovereign wanted from him. He turned to look at the messenger, whose face was a perfect mask of seriousness, and struggled to find the right words for a moment like this.

 

- Is this…? The King wants me to execute…—Cleander couldn’t say it, this was truly the last thing he would have expected that morning when he woke up and asked the heavens “what can happen today?”.  

 

Polydamas nodded.

 

- Philotas confessed his and his father’s part in the conspiracy to assassinate the King –he explained, his voice a whisper—The General has to die –the second-in-command shook his head, and the messenger frowned—If your incapable of doing this…

 

- I never said that –Cleander interrupted him, and stood up. He was in a complicated position, to say the least. He knew nothing of what had happened at the King’s camp except of what the letter said, that wasn’t much, and what Polydamas explained, again, that wasn’t much. He respected Parmelio and didn’t want to kill him like a common criminal in cold blood, but at the same time his guts told him he didn’t want to refuse and appear like the old General’s agent and being executed too like a traitor. Death by stoning was a great way to get the men doing what you wanted. Cleander cleared his throat—I’ll do it, but I won’t lie to you, this is truly unexpected.

 

- I know –Polydamas gave him 2 letters, one from the King and another one bearing Philotas’ seal. Both were for Parmelio.

 

Cleander saw the letters for a long moment, weighing them, as if waiting to get a magical answer to all his problems from 2 pieces of parchment.

 

- I have to talk to my staff first –he said.

 

- Do what you have to, but this has to end today.

 

The small staff of Macedonian officers reacted just like Cleander, they were shocked, and asked a lot of questions for which their superior had no answers; he was incapable of explaining much because he didn’t know much, but did what he could to handle the situation. Even if all the men there respected Parmelio not one dared to oppose the King’s direct orders for fear of being implicated in the conspiracy. And so, near noon, Cleander headed to the old General’s quarters armed with 2 letters and a sharp dagger hidden beneath his cloths.

 

Parmelio never suspected anything. The last letter he received from Hegelochus came a week ago, and he never knew Philotas had discovered the plot, he never knew about Arion and Cebalinus, and he never knew the terrible death his firstborn suffered. That morning, when Cleander arrived with the letters, the only thing Parmelio thought was that this was a beautiful day, the sun finally showing itself after gray sad days and, to make things even better, his personal cook had outdid himself with a splendid breakfast.

 

- These arrived for you, sir –said the officer, handing the letters to the old General.

 

Parmelio smiled when he saw Philotas’ seal.

 

- At last he remembers he has a father –the old General joked and opened first his son’s letter.

 

He was starting to read when he felt the cold blade of Cleander’s dagger between the ribs. Parmelio didn’t have time to scream, not even to question what was happening, his second-in-command acted quickly, and stabbed him again in the throat. Blood gushed from the mortal wound and Parmelio fell like a sack of grain. He was death before touching the floor, still holding Philotas’ letter. 

 

And so it ended such an important man, after years serving King Philip and King Alexander, after surviving endless battles and hardships, he was dead, killed by his own ambition.

 

Cleander sent Parmelio’s head to Alexander as a proof that the deed was done, but as soon as the men knew of his commander’s execution they demanded to honor him with a proper funeral. The men loved him and they didn’t understand what was happening. Even with the evidence of the old General’s treachery, his troops never forgave his execution, and never forgot it.

 

After all, what were long speeches and complicated words to men who had witness the courage of the old General and suffered with him during all those years of campaign? According to the soldiers a man like Parmelio deserved a more honorable death, traitor or not, and this would become a great source of problems and headaches for Alexander in the future.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion stand watching the imposing sight unfolding before him. In all those years of campaign he had never seen something like this, mountains as tall as Titans, perpetually covered with snow, silent guardians with promises of a cruel death. He stretched his neck but the clouds hid the peaks, giving the impression that the mountains had no end and they went on and on reaching the Gods. The now hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry had heard the guides calling this place Hindu Kush, a rather aggressive name meaning Killer of Hindus, because raiders used to take captive Hindus through this mountains to slaughter them.  

 

Months had passed since Philotas’ execution, it was spring again, and now, the 27 years old Hephaistion was one of the 2 commanders of the most important force, not only in the army, but also in whole world: the hetairoi cavalry, along with his brother-in-law, Kleitos. Alexander thought it unwisely to give one man too much power, and he couldn’t name his lover as the sole commander of his most important force, at least not now, because this would mean trouble with the most conservative fractions of the army.

 

And the King already had problems dealing with the men after Parmelio’s execution. So many people thought it was wrong to kill the old General like that, as if he had been nothing more than a common criminal, that Alexander had to create a whole unit with all the malcontents, a especial disciplinary unit called: Ataktot. If he named Hephaistion the sole hipparch the situation would become unbearable, so he split the command. And now Hephaistion was his brother’s, Nikandros, and his cousin’s, Demetrios, superior officer, something that hadn’t made his older brother happy.

 

- There you are! –exclaimed Nikandros, walking to where the hipparch was—I have been looking for you for hours.   

 

- Something happened? –asked Hephaistion, absently. His eyes and mind still on the mountains in front and the hard task waiting for them all.

 

- No, I was just bored –his older brother patted his back.

 

The hipparch brushed a long lock of hair aside and turned to look at him.

 

- How are Vashti and the twins?

 

Nikandros sighed.

 

- Fine.

 

- You don’t sound too happy –asked Hephaistion, frowning. 

 

- Try to sleep with 2 baby girls crying all night, I dare you –his brother’s answer made him laugh—I don’t see the fun in this. You were a lucky bastard, Aki came to you when he was 3 years old.

 

- When he could talk –said Hephaistion, smiling—And he used to talk until dawn, shaking me every time I fell asleep. 

 

Nikandros starched his head.

 

- I still can’t believe I’m a father of 2 girls. I’m only 30 years old.

 

- You are 32 –the hipparch corrected him—Why do you keep doing this? I’m your brother and I know exactly how old you are.

 

- Whatever –Nikandros ignored him—I received a letter from mom, by the way.

 

- How is she?

 

- Very excited knowing she is a grandmother, and ecstatic when she knew one of my daughters is named after her –his brother explained.

 

- How will you name your other girl? –asked Hephaistion with curiosity.

 

- Ayesha, like Vashi’s late sister.

 

- Ow! You know, Nick? That’s very sweet of you –he teased his brother, nudging him.

 

- Bite me –Nikandros fell silent for a moment, watching the mountains—Tell me something, do you think Alexander will go back home after capturing Bessus?

 

Now it was the hipparch’s turn to sigh. His brother was starting to think like the married man he was and looking after his family, it didn’t surprise Hephaistion to see that he wanted to go back to Macedonia.

 

- With all honestly Nick, I don’t think so –said Hephaistion, holding Nikandros’ gaze—I don’t think he will stop any time soon.

 

His brother nodded.

 

- I thought so…Tell me, what are we doing here? –he asked, changing the subject.

 

- Bessus is hiding on the other side of the Hindu Kush –Hephaistion explained.

 

- And we are going after him.

 

- Yes.

 

- What about the camp followers? –asked Nikandros. Oh, yes, he was now thinking like a family guy. 

 

- They will stay in Hyrcania, including all the non-combatants –answered the hipparch—It’s the best, trust me. Alexander ordered to burn the wagons and a march through the mountains would be too hard for them.

 

- I guess you are right –Nikandros smiled—At least I’ll be able to sleep. And Aki?

 

- Aki is coming with us –said a very serious Hephaistion and his brother guessed immediately what was bothering him.

 

- Phai, he is the Prince, is obvious that your lover wants him at his side.

 

- He is a boy, Nick.

 

- Whatever.

 

XXX

 

The Macedonian army was now officially in the satrapy of Bactria. 64, 000 troops and 10, 000 cavalry horses trying to cross the mountains in one of the hardest marches they had ever faced. Alexander’s plan to invade the place was to arrive from the flank, and to move to the southeast, a region rich in agricultural fields. The north had already exhausted its supplies and the King couldn’t afford to risk leaving his army without food and water in the middle of hostile territory.

 

Ten days after the difficult march through the Hindu Kush and they were having problems with their supplies, not only the place was perpetually covered in snow, to make things worst, Bessus had ordered to destroy the few fields that could have given his enemy some sort of advantage. But, again, the King showed he was the favorite son of the Gods because they managed to reach a river that wasn’t frozen and rest for a day.

 

There, Alexander received his friend, Erigyius of Mytilene, as a hero. He had successfully destroyed the rebellious Satibarzanes’ army and had covered himself in glory killing Satibarzanes himself in a single combat, the chronicle of the fight had been highly exaggerated by his own soldiers but nobody cared, in those moments the most important thing was to keep the moral high.

 

And, that day, even it were only for a while, the army forgot their hardships crossing the mountains and cheered Erigyius as if he were Achilles, while he paraded the rebellious Persian head like a macabre trophy. Everything was joy that day, even the harsh weather didn’t seem too bad, but the King noticed someone was missing. Hephaistion was nowhere to be seen.

 

- Phai! –the King called his beloved, coming inside the hipparch’s tent covered from head to toe in a heavy fur cloak. He shook the snow from his cloths and went to the small room at the back. One of Hephaistion’s pages had lit a brazier and the interior was comfortably warm—Phai!

 

When Alexander entered his beloved’s room, Hephaistion put his finger over his lips, shushing him.

 

- Aki is sleeping –his hipparch whispered. He was sitting on his bed, his back against the headboard and Achilles’ head resting on his lap.

 

The King sat at his beloved’s side and fondly caressed the boy’s head.

 

- How is he? –he asked, whispering.

 

- Better, I stayed with him the whole day and when he stopped coughing, he finally fell asleep –answered Hephaistion, yawning.

 

- You must hate me by now –Alexander smiled, turning to look at him.

 

- I understand that you want to have your son near you, but the cold is going to kill him –said the hipparch very serious.

 

- I know but…When the Philotas’ conspiracy was discovered, months ago, did you ever read Hegelochus’ confession? –the King suddenly changed the subject taking him aback.

 

- No, I wasn’t in the mood after…after what happened with Philotas –Alexander nodded.

 

Hephaistion never told him what had really happened that night he tortured Philotas, his beloved didn’t want to talk about it and probably he would never tell him, but, as long as the hipparch were fine, the King could live in ignorance.

 

- Parmelio wasn’t only planning to kill me, he also wanted to get rid of Aki because he didn’t want to have your son as the next King –the news didn’t surprise Hephaistion—You know, better than anyone here, how many problems I have with my father’s veterans, and if I die tomorrow they probably won’t accept Aki as their King.

 

- I know –his beloved sighed, looking at the peaceful face of his boy.

 

- I want Aki near me, not because I’m a heartless bastard, but because I want the men to get use to him –said Alexander—Besides, Aki won’t be able to lead an army with such a fragile health and he has to strengthen his body. Trust me, these experiences would be good for him.

 

- I truly hope you are right –said Hephaistion softly. He was tired, cold and worried, but, in the same moment the King kissed him, it was as if all his problems had disappeared into the void of oblivion. It was like magic.

 

The hipparch’s body relaxed and he opened his mouth, letting Alexander do with him whatever he wanted. He moaned softly, feeling his cheeks burn when his King took his chest and started to rub insistently his nipple over the fabric, his thumb playing until it was hard under his touch.

 

- Alex… –he whispered between the wet sounds of kisses—Alex…don’t.

 

- I want you my love –breathed the King against his lips, taking his beloved’s hand and kissing the back, sliding his mouth through his fingers and licking them.

 

- Mm, I know –Hephaistion sighed, feeling the heat increasing inside his body. He caressed his lover’s lips with his thumb—But Aki…

 

It took just a moment for Alexander to consider this.

 

- Lets go to his room.

 

With utmost care the hipparch left his sleeping son on his bed, covering him with several blankets, and followed the King to the next room. The tent was unusually quiet, but this was because Xsayarsa and Kyros had stayed at Hyrcania along with Cyrus Ochus and Bagoas. All non-combatants had been left behind so the army could move faster.

 

Hephaistion never knew how, but soon, he was laying on his back, feeling Alexander’s mouth over his body, his hands under his cloths looking for his creamy skin. He closed his eyes, this time he just wanted to feel, to be loved, to be spoiled. Many things had happened in those months: Philotas’ and Parmelio’s execution, the malcontent of the men, his new post as hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry, the constant attacks from rebellious Persians, Satibarzanes’ revolt…

 

Those had been difficult months and now they were on a hard march through the mountains. The truth was that Hephaistion was exhausted, and the past night, taking care of his sick son, had done nothing to improve this situation. But now…Now, feeling those lips over him, Alexander’s hands sliding through his thighs all the way up, and his breath making him shudder; now, he felt as if he had finally reached the Elysian Fields, and all his worries had dissolved under waves of pleasure.

 

Hephaistion moaned softly and raised his arms over his head feeling the King’s fingers playing behind his ear. Long, long ago, when he was still a boy, before meeting Alexander, he would have never imagine that his life would be like this. He was 27 years old and his life at Pella as a page, his time at Mieza…everything was like a dream, so far, far away. But, feeling the King’s body over him reminded him that everything had been real, they had been together then, and they would always be, in this life and in the next. 

 

The hipparch moaned louder when Alexander sucked his nipple, it was a contrast, to feel his hot naked body expose in that cold night. He caressed the King’s blond hair, feeling him nipping and sucking, while his fingers ran over his hard undulating abdomen, his muscles contracting under Alexander’s touch. Hephaistion spread his legs for him, surrendering himself to his King’s wishes. 

 

- Alex…Mmm…—Hephaistion panted when he felt Alexander’s fingers inside him, while his lips left a trail of wet kissing all the way up to his neck.

 

This was not a night full with overflowing passion, this was a night of tender kisses, slow caresses and soft words of love. Hephaistion melted under Alexander’s body, kissing his King’s cheek, savoring his skin, surrounding his waist with his long legs while Alexander thrust inside him slowly, in a sensual dance, wanting this to last and to enjoy that beautiful body he loved so much. The blond caressed his, again, long gold-bronze hair, whispering again and again, like a prayer, how much he loved him.

 

Neither wanted this moment to end, but, all good things have to end sooner or later…

 

XXX

 

(1) John Maddox Roberts. SPQR series: Nobody loves a Centurion, p 51