Warning: Once again Incest.

 

CHAPTER 162

 

Alexander remained seated, his uneven eyes settled on some point lost at the distance, watching everything and nothing, his fingers interlaced in front of his expressionless face. He was outside, surrounded by his military staff, on a hill near the river’s edge. In front of him everything was buzzing with activity, men running from one side to the other getting the floats ready to cross the Jaxartes.

 

The rest of the army formed it’s ranks outside the camp, waiting patiently for the King to take the auspices, hoping that this time the Gods would show their approval over this enterprise. But Alexander’s mind was elsewhere, far away from this place, lost in the unknown ahead of him wondering if Hephaistion had crossed the river with his brother.

 

It was still dawn when Achilles arrived running to the royal tent, pale, scared, worried, barefoot and panting. He had come to the King in the same moment he discovered his father and uncle were missing, thinking the worst and unable to imagine what had really happened, that both brothers had planned all this. Alexander ordered an immediate search inside and outside the camp, 4 cavalry squadrons where sent to look for the brothers in the area nearby while the King interrogated Lysanias and his beloved’s pages. Unfortunately, the pages knew nothing and the youngest son of Amyntor was as lost as he.

 

- I truly have no idea of where could they be –had said Lysanias that morning—But, if I can say something is that both, Nick and Phai, have been acting a little weird lately.

 

- Weird how? –asked Alexander but the young man shook his head.

 

- I don’t know how to explain it –said Lysanias—It’s probably nothing, but…Lately they spend a lot of time together, always talking in whispers, and when I asked them what were they plotting, Nick pinched my nose until I cried saying “midget, go and mind your own business”. 

 

That had left the King thinking. He too suspected something was happening between Nikandros and Hephaistion, but what?

 

- Sire –a page returned, panting heavily after running back— All the squadrons are back and there are no signs of either the hipparch Hephaistion or the lochagos Nikandros. The men looked everywhere.

  

The King didn’t move, and didn’t give signs of having heard a word, he looked just as the many statues of him that now adorned the principal cities of Asia and Greece. This was exactly what he had feared the night before, when Hephaistion arrived at his tent asking for forgiveness and kissing him as a good-bye, he knew something was amiss, he was sure of it, but…

 

I should have done something –he thought, his face betraying not a thought—I should have stopped him.

 

- But, where could have they gone? –asked Leonnatos, shaking his head. He too was worried and, the same as Achilles, feared the worst.

 

- Sire, I know you won’t like to hear this but I think the situation is quite clear –said Eumenes, taking a step forward—Both brothers are deserters.

 

- That’s nonsense! –exclaimed Perdikkas as outraged as Leonnatos. Even Ptolemy, Erigyius and Kleitos were angry at this remark—Hephaistion is not a coward, neither is his brother, and they are not deserters. 

 

- Perhaps not the Hephaistion you can used to call your friend, taxiarch –answered the secretary in a petulant tone—But, can you say the same about this man with no past? –those words silence everyone.

 

If the brothers were declared deserters the penalty for that crime was only one: death. It was a serious accusation but Eumenes had a point, every man missing after 3 days was declared a deserter; perhaps, if Hephaistion had told someone where he was going, but, as always, he had acted with utmost secrecy, his actions covered under the veil of mystery.  

 

- Hephaistion –said the King slowly, talking for the first time since he heard the news about his beloved—Is Hephaistion, with or without his memory, and he is no coward. If he and Nikandros are gone there is a reason.  

 

- But, sire…

 

- Enough! –Alexander interrupted Eumenes and stood up, the fabric of his cloak moving under the spell of the soft breeze coming from the river—I won’t hear another word about this, do you hear me? –the secretary had to avert his eyes, unable to hold the King’s gaze, but the blond delayed his eyes on Eumenes making him feel how fat drops of sweat ran down his spine. Finally, he turned to look at the rest of his military staff—If any of you hear or see something about Hephaistion’s whereabouts you will report to me immediately.

 

- Yes, Alexander –they answered at one voice. 

 

- Now, let us finish with this –the King walked to where the altar was standing, stopping at Aristander’s side to begin with the ceremony.

 

As the day before, the seer sacrificed a goat and read in his entrails the will of the Gods. Alexander watched Aristander’s thin and bony hands covered in blood, growing impatience in a wait that appeared to extent to eternity. His beloved was somewhere at the other side of the Jaxartes, his scouts were unable to locate him anywhere near the surroundings and it was impossible for the brothers to be very far away, and this meant only one thing: they had crossed river.

 

They had to be on enemy territory and, where was he? Stuck here! Unable to move until the omens were propitious while his beloved, his soul mate, the only person he had ever loved was lost the Gods knew where. The King was worried and the shouts and jeers of the Scythians on the other side of the river didn’t help to improve his mood. He growled. If he wanted to see Hephaistion again he had to hurry and, for the first time in his life, Alexander wasn’t sure he would follow the Gods’ will if they pronounced themselves against his enterprise. One way or another he would cross the Jaxartes River today.

 

Aristander took his time, he knew his King was impatient, he knew what the conqueror of Asia wanted to hear but he was no sycophant, he liked to think of him as a true seer and as one, he would only said the truth to Alexander. He checked again and again the entrails of the sacrificed beast until he was sure of what the Gods had to say. The seer stepped down the altar, Aristander was so thin that his long tunic appeared to hang from him instead of dress him, and approached the King. What he had to say wasn’t easy but the Gods weren’t there to please mortals, still, his voice low so only his sovereign could hear him.

 

- Sire, the omens are clear and the Gods declared it’s dangerous to cross the Jaxartes today –said the seer, as always, with his dramatic and histrionic demeanor that had made Perdikkas a fool of himself, laughing more than once in the middle of a sober ceremony.

 

This was what the King had feared.

 

- It will be better to face the worst of perils than for the conqueror of nearly all Asia to make himself ridiculous to a pack of Scythians, as Darius the father of Xerxes, had done long ago (1) –answered Alexander, defiant as always. The message was clear but the seer refused to yield, he would not change his prediction only to please him and Aristander straightened himself, he could be taller than the King but was far less impressive.

 

- The Gods’ will is clear, sire –he said again—And it’s not safe to cross the river today.

 

The King nodded.

 

- So be it –he answered, ready to accept whatever punishment would befall upon him for this disobedience.

 

The catapults and ballistae where positioned at the river edge and soon the place burst of energy and movement. The Scythians were at the other side, ready to stop the invader before they could set a foot on their lands, even armed with light armors and bows they were terrible opponents, full with promises of death and suffering. The Macedonians would face the great peril while crossing the dangerous waters. Alexander knew this kind of operations was always tricky and, to protect his men, he ordered the artillery to keep the Scythians at bay while the army crossed on the floats.

 

The hardest part would be for the first group to cross, they would have to hold the enemy until the rest arrived but Alexander was ready and he had chosen his best men for this task. This would be difficult but not impossible and the King would show the Scythians that they had messed with the wrong man.  

 

XXX

 

After one week riding to the north, watching nothing more that the endless Sea of Grass, one started to feel a little depressed. Nikandros woke up first that morning and found himself missing his friends and companions, even if it had been just one week, the lack of human contact was hard to bear.

 

Lack of human contact –he smiled, shaking his head while looking among their supplies for that day’s breakfast. He could hardly complain about the lack of human contact, couldn’t he?

 

Alone, with Hephaistion, in the middle of nothing…He sighed. Kings would have crossed the world and great Generals would have gladly burned entire cities just for the pleasure the Gods had laid for him on a silver plate. Nikandros was definitely going to Hades, no matter how much he had repeated to himself that he wouldn’t take advantage of his brother, and, that that night of passion had been only one happy mistake, the temptation was too great and, after all, the lochagos wasn’t made of marble.

 

Besides, Nikandros liked to think that, if the Gods didn’t want to see him with his brother, then they wouldn’t have sent both of them together in this adventure.

 

Everything comes with a price –thought the lochagos—What price I’ll have to pay for this unearthly pleasure?

 

That morning, watching the desolated landscape unfolding in front of him, Nikandros was haunted by several thoughts, wild and crazy dreams of freedom. What if he ran away with Hephaistion? Just the 2 of them, heading to the unknown, looking for somewhere they wouldn’t be recognized where they could live like lovers. But the lochagos dismissed the idea as soon as it was formed in his mind. Those shifting horizons played tricks on him, tempting Nikandros to take something it was not meant to be his. His brother belonged to Alexander and he was here to help them, he shouldn’t forget that, no matter what.

 

What was going to happen when Hephaistion regained his memory after all that had happened between them? One problem at a time, and the lochagos had decided to seize the moment and deal with the rest when the time came. He yawned and stretched his arms up. He shouldn’t have fallen asleep, they were supposed to take turns for the night watch, but, last night both were exhausted. He smiled again, like a predator in front of a helpless succulent prey. 

 

Nikandros surveyed the distance, it was hard to distinguish between north and south here, everything looked the same. What had happened with the Macedonian army? Lost in the middle of nowhere it was impossible to know but he hoped for the best. The lochagos yawned again. He was getting used to this routine: get up early, eat breakfast and ride until tiredness demanded them to stop, but this morning was different. The eternal and unchanging landscape underwent a change, there was something, not far from them, towards the north.

 

- Phai, Phai –Nikandros shook his brother—Wake up, I think we have company.

 

Hephaistion opened his eyes immediately and stood up in a jump, this was truly interesting news. After one week they had only encountered groups of warriors, female and male, heading to the Jaxartes River to join the battle, but this time, the group in front of them was different, they were still far, but for their trained eye it was easy to see it was a group with children, women and old men, for the way they moved.

 

- What do you think of this? –asked Nikandros, shielding his eyes from the sun.

 

- I don’t know, we can be a little pessimistic and say it’s a group left behind by the warriors fighting at the river or –Hephaistion made a pause, looking how they rode towards north—Or we could be very optimistic and think they are looking the same thing as we are.

 

- There is only one-way to find out –said his big brother.

 

They packed their things quickly and followed the group, it didn’t take them long to reach them and, when they were closed enough, a couple of brawny and bad-looking men, clearly hired bodyguards, rode to meet them. Their Greek was atrocious but at least it was understandable; the men explained that indeed this group was heading to seek Tomyris’ help and, after a long talk, and a couple of heavy coins later, they joined the group and rode with them the whole day.

 

Hephaistion observed everything carefully. This was truly an unusual group, not all of the people here were Scythians, in fact, the great majority came from very distant lands, people without hope, suffering from all kind of maladies and from whom Tomyris was their last chance to survive. The hipparch caught his brother frowning and making faces at some of the people with very unnerving and disgusting looks after months, or even years, suffering a long and cruel sickness. He couldn’t restrain himself from smiled, shaking his head; that was Nikandros, the worst person to feel a little sympathy for someone who weren’t of his own family, or his friend.  

 

Just when his very impatient big brother was starting to think they had been better alone, the group stopped, almost at nightfall, reaching a peculiar place on the steppe. It was truly a curious sight: there was only one enormous tent and around it several horses, a woman was attending a pot on the fire while another cut herbs, adding them to the pot and smelling the vapors to see if the mix was right.

 

The group dismounted and approached the women with almost religious reverence while the 2 brothers stayed behind, waiting to see what was happening. Several people kneeled in front of the woman cutting the herbs, pleading their cases with trembling voices and tears in their eyes.

 

- That’s Tomyris –said one of the bodyguards and Hephaistion raised his eyebrows in surprised. Nikandros laughed out loud.

 

- Really? –asked the hipparch—But she is, she is…

 

- Hot! –exclaimed the lochagos—Wow! I would definitely do her.

 

The bodyguard laughed.

 

- Most people think she is an old hag –he said and Hephaistion had to agree with him. The idea of a wise healer woman went usually hand in hand with old and ugly, but Tomyris was a very attractive woman. She was about 28 or 32 years old with a voluptuous body, her skin tanned and her lustrous long black hair combed in a braid. The only detail that didn’t make Nikandros happy was her legs, bow shaped, like all the Scythians thanks to all the hours they spent riding.

 

 - I guess we’ll have to wait our turn like the rest, don’t you think? –asked the hipparch, approaching his brother.

 

- At least we are already here, that’s something.

 

XXX

 

Things weren’t going too well for Alexander, in fact, they were one step to be disastrous. Even if he had managed to cross the river with his army he had suffered 2 major injuries: a rock had hit him on the throat and he could barely speak thanks to the intense pain on his neck, this was bad enough, he couldn’t shout orders and even to move his head supposed a great effort, but his bad luck was just starting, and, to make things worst, he was also hit by an arrow while leading his men at the front line, the head of it firmly lodged in his leg. His men had had to take carry him back and doctor Philip had expressed his concerned when he saw the wound, it was serious but at least the arrow hadn’t reached the bone.   

 

But the hardships were starting. Just as the King had thought the Scythians didn’t present battle as a well-organized army, they just rode in circles and shot their arrows at them, then they moved back to a safe distance. When the whole army had already crossed the river Alexander led a pursuit, even with his injuries for his doctors complete horror, and at some point, after the tiresome march, thirst had been too terrible to ignore and he had drank foul water. So now, apart for all the previous wounds, he was sick, suffering from dysentery. 

 

- This is Hephaistion’s fault –declared Kleitos one day—Every time something happens to him Alexander goes mad. Last time I had to save his sorry ass at the Granicus before a bloody Persian cut him in two –the hipparch spat at his side. 

 

Perdikkas shook his head.

 

- What I don’t understand is, where is Phai?

 

- Wherever he is Alexander is convinced he is somewhere in Scythian territory –said Meleager—That’s why he is pressing us all to advance without pause, even risking his own life. The problem is that, at this rate, we’ll accomplish nothing. These lands are extremely extensive, the Scythians didn’t even have to fight us, they just need to retreat and we’ll never catch them.

 

- Do you think Phai could have been taken prisoner? –asked Leonnatos.

 

- Hephaistion?! Are we talking about the same person, lad? –asked Kleitos, crossing his arms. Leonnatos frowned and bit his lip, he hated the hipparch since what had happened with Berenike but he always made an effort to be civilized or the King would be truly…displease, which meant troubles for him—My brother-in-law is a weapon of mass destruction, it would have taken a whole squadron to submit him.

 

Perdikkas and Meleager held their breath. “My brother-in-law” That had been deliberately an insult and they could see Leonnatos face turning into an unhealthy purple.

 

- A-a-any way, as I was saying, we’ll have to cope with Alexander and his madness until Hephaistion comes back –said Perdikkas, making his best effort to change the subject but Kleitos and Leonnatos kept staring at each other like rabid dogs.

 

Luckily for them, just when Meleager was thinking to call the guards before a slaughter began, a page arrived. The King requested their presence immediately.

      

XXX

 

Tomyris sat in front of Hephaistion for a long time. After hearing his story she checked his head, looking for the wound that had caused his amnesia and then, said nothing, just stayed there, looking at him. The hipparch tried his best to remain still even if the deep piercing black eyes of this woman were starting to unnerve him. Then, after what appeared to be an eternity, Tomyris sighed. 

 

Hephaistion was tempted to ask, ‘what?’ but managed to stop himself, remain with cool detachment, and wait for her to explain.

 

- I have seen this only once –her Greek had a very heavy accent that Nikandros found extremely hot and the hipparch a little irritating—And there is no safe way to restore your memories.  

 

- What do you mean? –Hephaistion frowned, his whole body tensed as if he were about to engage in battle.

 

- You could die –Tomyris voice didn’t tremble, she was sure of what she was saying and that only served to give her words an even more ominous aura—I need to hit your head again, a very precise blow, too hard could kill you, too soft would serve for nothing. The decision is yours.  

 

If any other person would have said this to him, Hephaistion would have thought he or she was crazy, this sounded almost as bad as the man who had wanted to drill a hole in his skull; but, these past 2 days, while he waited for his turn to see Tomyris, he had witnessed of what she was capable of. She knew what she was doing.  

 

- You said you saw this once before, what happened to that person? –he had to ask, even if he dreaded the answer.

 

She smiled, almost sweetly.

 

- Why do you ask? Afraid?

 

- It’s caution, not cowardly.

 

Tomyris laughed.

 

- She regained her memory –answered the woman—But it was a very painful and long process.

 

Hephaistion nodded.

 

- I’ll do it.

 

XXX

 

- I don’t know, Phai –said Nikandros, as soon as his brother explained everything to him—This sounds…crazy at best and dangerous at worst.

 

- I know, but you have seen of what is this woman capable –said Hephaistion holding his gaze—I trust her.

 

- Fine – the lochagos threw his arms in the air— Let’s assume she is right –he sighed—What if…?—he couldn’t say it, it was so hard even to think about it—What if you die?

 

Hephaistion smiled sweetly.

 

- I won’t, I still have many things to do. I can’t die –his voice was so firm, so sure of what he was saying, that Nikandros believed him. It was foolish but it was almost as if his brother knew, actually knew, what had the future in store for him.

 

- I hope you are right Phai, because if you die I’ll never forgive you –Hephaistion closed the distance between them and kissed him. 

 

XXX

 

Tomyris rested Hephaistion’s head on her legs, the hipparch lying on his side while she parted his hair with one hand, looking for the wound, holding a rock with the other. Hephaistion felt terrible nervous but he gave no signs of it, he closed his eyes and tried to think in something else, looking inside his almost empty mind for something that could comforted him and the first person who came to him was Alexander. 

 

He had to do this for him, to clarify his feelings, to understand what was happening in his heart. He loved the King but he also loved his brother, that couldn’t be, and he needed desperately an answer.

 

- Remain still –said Tomyris and Hephaistion clutched his fists before the blow. 

 

XXX

 

When Tomyris said it would be painful she had been very kind. This was the mother of all headaches and migraines, Hephaistion threw up several times, his head throbbing as if a war drum were inside his skill, and his surroundings spinning around; he suffered for severe vertigo and couldn’t lay down because he felt again the urge to vomit. He never knew for how long he was like this but it wouldn’t have surprise him if it had been days. 

 

- What did you do you to my brother?! –shouted Nikandros furious, taking Tomyris with force by the arms, a dangerous glint in his emerald eyes. He looked ready to kill her with his bare hands if it she gave him a pretext. 

 

- I told him this would be painful and dangerous –she answered with calm—You’ll have to wait until the process is over and his spirit is complete again.

 

- What the hell are you talking about woman?

 

- When he hit his head part of his spirit left his body, that’s why he can’t remember, another blow was necessary to call the spirit back, to make an entrance for him – Tomyris explained—Its painful but he will have to endure it.

 

- I have no idea of what are you talking about witch, but hear me, if my brother dies I’ll kill you, and not all the spirits in this world or the other would suffice to help you –Nikandros hissed the words but nothing appeared to impress this woman.

 

- I see –she said, impassive—He is your lover.

 

- What?! –those words made the lochagos released her—Are you out of your mind? He is my brother…

 

- And your lover –said Tomyris again, bluntly—He will survive if he is strong, that’s all I can tell you.

 

And with that she left him.

 

XXX

 

The situation for Alexander was turning very complicated. He received news that Spitamenes was still besieging Maracanda, he had to go back and deal with the situation in person or risked losing Sogdhiana but he couldn’t leave, not without Hephaistion, never without him! He knew the Scythians weren’t important but he hadn’t found Hephaistion. The King kicked the table with his good leg. His eyes settled on the map in front of him; the Scythians had ambushed his forces and killed a whole squadron the day before, he had to do something but… 

 

There is no other way –thought Alexander—I have to go to Maracanda.

 

He hated to accept defeat but he couldn’t lose time and couldn’t afford taking his forces further into the unknown with a crisis behind him. Would he be willing to sacrifice the whole satrapy, his army, everything, in order to find Hephaistion? The King knew the answer.

 

Where are you, Phai? –he asked to the night sky.

 

XXX

 

- Are you awake? –asked Tomyris, moving Hephaistion with her feet. He was lying on the floor, on an elaborated carpet of several colors, one arm over his face.

 

She was holding a small bowl in one hand, looking down at her patient with her usual calm and detached demeanor that nothing could disturb. The hipparch growled, moved his arm from his face and opened one eye. When he saw the world had stopped spinning around and that the pain had subdued he felt as if he had born again.

 

- Here, eat this, it will help –Tomyris kneeled at his side and handed him the bowl. 

 

Hephaistion sat with a little difficulty, feeling a little dizzy, and took the bowl.

 

- How long…have I been here? –his voice sounded strange, almost as if it wasn’t his voice at all, but that didn’t surprise him. His tongue left doughy and his mouth was dry and tasting a litter bitter.

 

- 3 days –answered the woman—For a moment I thought you weren’t going to make it –he remained silent and ate; he was hungry and, whatever it was in the bowl, was really good—Do you remember something? 

 

Hephaistion took his time before answering. It was such a simple question, just a “yes” or a “no” would suffice and yet…But before Tomyris could press for an answer Nikandros appeared, he had heard his brother’s voice and rushed inside making their hostess frowned; she would have complained but, by now, she was used to Nikandros “manners”.

 

- Phai, you are awake, how are you feeling? –the lochagos sat down at his side, looking fascinated how his brother devoured everything in that bowl. It was a miracle! Nikandros had truly thought Hephaistion was going to die and now, to see him up and eating… He had no words to describe the joy filling his heart. Tomyris decided her presence wasn’t required and left them alone, they had much to talk and she had much to do.

 

Hephaistion chewed in silence for so long that Nikandros started to think something was wrong, maybe that second blow on his head had left him mute or something more terrible, and that thought made him feel a hollow inside his stomach.

 

- Phai? –he took his brother by the arm and then, Hephaistion turned to look at him. His brother was disappointed when he found confusion in those dark gray eyes; but then, he looked closer and the confusion behind them was somehow different—Phai? How are you? Do you…remember something?

 

- Yes –he finally pronounced that word and Nikandros’ heart beat faster. He had hoped, with all his heart to see his brother fine again, but now that his plead had been answered he was afraid. 

 

- It worked?

 

- Yes.

 

- Does your head hurt?

 

- No.

 

His brother frowned; something was amiss. He could see this was his brother, the man with whom he had grown, but…  

 

- What’s wrong with you? Why are you answering like this? –he wanted and needed to know, and the hipparch held his gaze almost challenging him to step inside his heart and to see for himself his darkest secrets, to venture in his most hidden thoughts and take a glance of what lie there. 

 

- Nick, I remember everything –he said, making an especial emphasis on the word “everything,” saying so much with so little—And I don’t know what to think.

 

- What do you mean? –the lochagos felt his mouth suddenly dry, he would have to face his worst nightmare and he wasn’t ready.

 

- I want to be alone –said Hephaistion, looking at his bowl, holding the wooden dish with such force that his knuckles turned white.

 

- Why?

 

- Because I slept with you! –exclaimed his brother, finally letting out all his frustration, anger, confusion, the pain he had felt for 3 days, everything exploded in that moment making Nikandros’ fear terrible real.

 

Hephaistion had mixed feelings, he remembered when he was 6 years old and used to follow his big brother everywhere, thinking of him as his hero, wanting always to do what an 11 years old Nikandros was doing and more than once suffering a beating because he annoyed his older brother. But, at the same time, he remembered clearly spending the nights of his journey here making love to that same older brother, under the night sky, and enjoying it greatly.   

 

He loved his brother, but that same love had turned out in 2 different ways: the brother who tricked him at his 5 years old into licking a frog with the promise that the poor animal would turn into a toy and the brother who had made him cry in pleasure under the stars, feeling his whole body twisting in desire. His feelings towards the same person were like trying to fit a square piece into a triangular space. Hephaistion felt lost, confused and needed time to assimilate what had happened and to give order to the turmoil in his heart.  

 

He had hoped that once he regained his memory everything would be fine but now…Everything would have been fine if it weren’t for this.

 

- Leave me alone –asked Hephaistion.

 

- Phai, I know that you must feel confused…

 

- LEAVE! –his heart was a mess, his head was a mess, and he wasn’t in the mood to be talking, he didn’t know what to do and the only certain thing was that he wanted to be alone.

 

He didn’t have to say it twice, the lochagos stood up and left so abruptly that, in the same moment he crossed the door, Hephaistion was tempted to call him back. He didn’t mean to hurt Nikandros, he didn’t hate him and knew it wasn’t his brother’s fault; he had pursued him, teased him and seduced him, but…Hephaistion needed time to adjust to this situation, to find a way to cope with the fact that his brother and his lover had been the same person for a while, that he had learned to like Nikandros as a man. 

 

XXX

 

Nikandros reached the place where their hostess kept the horses. The moment he had dreaded had finally came and it had been just as he had imagined: Hephaistion hated him, and he couldn’t blame him. He had tried with all his might, and the Gods knew how hard he had tried, to stay away from him but his brother had seduced him until…

 

- We have a problem –said Tomyris, approaching him and the lochagos smiled without humor.

 

- Tell me about it.

 

- There are men, armed men, looking for the Great King’s favorite –she said catching the lochagos attention.

 

- What?! Where?

 

- Outside. They don’t mess with me and won’t dare to enter in my domains by force but I can assure you they won’t leave and I can’t hide you 2 forever –Tomyris explained.

 

- But, who are they? –Nikandros walked and surveyed the distance.

 

- Scythians, allies of a Persian leading a revolt against the Great King –said Tomyris—They heard the Great King’s favorite was here and are seeking him. Is your brother the man they are looking for, is he not? He is too beautiful to be a common person.

 

- Yes, he is –said the lochagos, watching the armed men surrounding the area occupied by Tomyris. They were too many, and there was no way Hephaistion and he could fool them and ran away.

 

And ran away where? –thought Nikandros. In the past days, while his brother was recovering, he had heard news about the Macedonian army, about the King’s wounds and illness. They were far from the Jaxartes, which meant far from the safety of the Macedonian army and they would never reach them in time to lose their pursuers, besides, these men where Scythians and knew the steppe far better than them.

 

- Nick, this is your brother –his mother’s voice sounded clear in his mind, while the memory of the day Hephaistion was born floated to him.

 

He remembered that cold day of January: a very young Antigone was sitting on her bed, her long gold-bronze hair combed in a ponytail and her face pale and cover in sweat after long hours of labor; she was exhausted but so happy that she appeared to glow. His mother was holding a baby tightly wrapped in woolen blankets that Antigone had made herself. 

 

- Come here sweetie –his mother called his 5 years old son, until he sat at her side on the bed. Antigone uncovered the baby and Nikandros watched the sleeping Hephaistion with fascination—He is your brother, honey –she said again.

 

- He is very small.

 

- He is now but he will grow up.

 

- And will he play with me?

 

- Yes dear, he will –said Antigone, smiling and caressing Nikandros head—You are a big brother now, and you will take care of this little angel. It’s your duty to protect him, do you understand?

 

Yes mom, I understand –thought the lochagos. Even with everything against them, he knew exactly what it had to be done. It was strange, but he felt in peace with his decision.

 

- I have a favor to ask for you –said Nikandros, holding Tomyris dark eyes and she raised an eyebrow.

 

- What favor?

 

- Take care of my brother until he is strong enough to head back to the Macedonian army –said the lochagos and she nodded, understanding better than Nikandros would have thought.

 

XXX

 

The Scythians surrounding the place strained when they saw Nikandros walking directly to them and pointed at him with their bows at the same time.

 

- Who are you? –asked one of them with strong voice.

 

- I am the person you are seeking –the men exchanged glances and the leader approached his horse to the lochagos, moving around him, so close that the Macedonian could smell what had his horse eaten that morning. Nikandros felt the impulse to take his dagger but that would ruin everything, so he forced himself to remain still. 

 

- Are you Hephaistion son of Amyntor?

 

- Yes, I am the son of Amyntor –that was true, and the thought made Nikandros smile.

 

- It’s him –said another, approaching them—He matched the description: tall, straight hair and good looks.

 

Good looks? Wow! Thanks I guess –thought the lochagos.

 

The leader nodded.

 

- Very well, son of Amyntor, you are coming with us.

 

XXX

 

(1) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, p 206