Chapter 166

 

Warning: Yep, it is an –M– Chapter. If you don’t like the idea of having all mighty King Alexander doing bottom, then I strongly recommend you not to read this chapter. You have been warned.

 

CHAPTER 166

 

Gordianus the Finder in Alexander’s tomb

47 BC Alexandria

 

We crossed the room and approached the golden chain that bisected it, beyond which sightseers were not permitted. From its perimeter, the sarcophagus was still several arms’ lengths away, but one could clearly see the familiar profile of Alexander and the play of the dim light upon the strands of golden hair tucked beneath the golden laurel wreath. The sight gave me a shiver, and I appreciated the patience of the multitudes who waited for hours to stand in that spot for a brief moment and gaze upon eternity.

 

Without hesitating, Rupa docked under the chain and strode directly to the sarcophagus. I felt a pang of superstitious dread, then did likewise. There were no guards to stop us, and the watchful stare of the conqueror’s statue showed no signs of displeasure at our invasion of his sanctum.

 

I stood beside Rupa, and the two of us looked down at the face of Alexander the Great.

 

I frowned. At such close proximity, the sight of that mummified countenance was not as edifying as it had been when viewed from a few steps farther back. Some semblance of the original flesh remained, but the inner life that gad given it beauty had long since fled. The skin was like worn papyrus stretched thin over the bony protrusions of the cheeks and the chin. Those responsible for admitting visitors to the tomb seemed to have gauged exactly how far back to place the golden chain so as to take full advantage of the flattering effects of the soft lighting and distance.  

 

“What do you think, Rupa?” A bit worse for wear, isn’t he?”

 

Rupa nodded. Then a youthful voice piped up: “But he’s not all that bad when you consider he’s three hundred years old!” (1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

By now Hephaistion was used to wake up feeling lost and confused after a dream such as this, one that showed him events that had not yet occurred surrounded by the most strange circumstances. It was like seeing his world but, at the same time, it was a different place. Long ago he had stopped asking what were these dreams and had only limited himself to accept their existence and that he would have to learn to live with them for the rest of his life.

 

This time he did not even bother to question the meaning of what he had seen because it was clear as water. He remained face down on bed, hearing Alexander snoring at his side, his eyes opened and watching, through the thin locks of his silky hair, the dark silhouette of the furniture hidden in shadows. The King was going to kill Kleitos. That much was obvious, but the question was: Why? His brother-in-law was one of his lover’s best commanders; he had served King Philip before Alexander and was a very respected man in the army.

 

Just like Parmelio –thought the hipparch.

 

Was Kleitos plotting something just like the old General? Hephaistion truly had no idea. He had heard from his sister that Kleitos disproved several of the King’s disposition about the Persians, and it was no mystery that his fellow hipparch openly dislike the way in which Alexander dressed, like a Persian, and the fact that he surrounded himself with Asian nobles. Kleitos was a Macedonian from the old guard, just like Parmelio, and considered himself more King Philip’s man than Alexander’s.

 

And nobody could blame him, after all Kleitos was 44 years old; he had grown up under the orders of the late King. He had seen King Philip transformed a backwater kingdom into a force to fear. His brother-in-law still remembered what kind of place had been Macedonia before being the Hegemon of Greece and the terror of the Persians.

 

But…Alexander had done nothing more than to increase the glory of his homeland, what could possible do Kleitos to provoke the King in such a way that Alexander would choose to kill him?

 

Hepahistion rolled until he was resting on his side, watching the King’s sleepy face. He knew this kind of dreams were always some sort of premonition, he did not dare to boast that he could actually “see” the future, it would be more accurate to say he had an idea of what was going to happen. But now that he knew that Alexander was going to kill Kleitos, what should he do?

 

Should I tell Alex? –that was the key question. But the hipparch did not know why, when or where this would happen, he did not know if Alexander would kill Kleitos because it was necessary, as it had happened with Parmelio and Philotas, and he pondered for a long moment what to do next. 

 

He caressed the King’s cheek with his index finger. Hephaistion loved Alexander so intently that was almost painful, but even he admitted that his lover was becoming paranoid. Ever since Parmelio’s execution the King saw plots everywhere, reason why he had ordered to check the correspondence of his men and had created a special unit with the malcontents, the Ataktot.

 

If Hephaistion mentioned his dream he was sure that Alexander would start looking for any signs of suspicious behavior until he found a pretext to arrest Kleitos or, ultimately, kill him. And who assured the hipparch that his actions would not be the ones responsible for his brother-in-law’s death? He sighed. It would be better to say nothing and let things take their course.

 

Hephaistion closed his eyes, he desperately wanted to fall asleep again but he was sure that was not going to be possible. He thought very seriously in the possibility of asking for wine because the idea of spending the rest of the night staring at the ceiling and hearing Alexander snored was not very appealing…Snored? Then he noticed the King was no longer snoring but… moaning.

 

The hipparch opened his eyes and watched his lover with curiosity. First he thought Alexander was in pain, or having a nightmare, then, he recognized the too familiar sounds, the sighs and moans, and a smile curved his lips. Only the Gods knew what was the blond dreaming about but Hephaistion had a pretty good idea of what it could be. 

 

XXX

 

— What were you dreaming last night? –asked his beloved next day while they ate breakfast. It was one of those strange occasions in which they had the opportunity to spend some time alone because, as the Great King, Alexander always had someone invited to eat with him in order to treat some important matter. 

 

—Why do you ask? –the King took a piece of bread while chewing.

 

—Nothing in particular it was just that, well, I thought you had a…nightmare –Hephaistion lied.

 

—Why?

 

—You were moaning –the King stopped chewing. He remembered perfectly well what was he dreaming but did not want to share it with his beloved, he knew what was his hipparch going to say.

 

—Ah! –Alexander continued eating but, when he felt Hephaistion’s gray eyes on him, he knew he would have to give a more elaborated answered or his hipparch would never leave him alone—It was not a nightmare.

 

—Really? –his beloved straightened himself, on the couch he was sharing with the blond, feigning surprise— Then, what were you dreaming?

 

The King watched him for a moment and knew what he was thinking.

 

—You know what was I dreaming, why do you ask? –Hephaistion laughed amused.

 

—Oh! No, no, no. I know you were having a wet dream but I don’t know the details.

 

—And what makes you think I am going to tell you? – Alexander answered defensively widening his beloved’s smile.

 

—Do you want me to guess? –the hipparch teased him.

 

—No, I want you to drop this.

 

—Why? This is much more fun –Hephaistion laughed and the King left the bread on the table at his side.

 

—If this is some kind of revenge because I didn’t have time to be with you during your birthday, I remind you that I already apologize for that –said Alexander.

 

—Mm, let us do something. I will forgive you if you tell me what were you dreaming –said the hipparch.

 

—You are evil –Hephaistion laughed.

 

—And you know what is the worst part? That you love me –the King started to have second thoughts about that—Why don’t you want to tell me?…Oh! I know, you weren’t dreaming about me. Were you dreaming about…that pretty eunuch you have, Bagoas?

 

Alexander watched him through narrowed eyes, his hipparch liked to tease him with his eunuch although he had no idea of why. He did not like Bagoas, and if he had to sleep with someone else, before bedding the eunuch he would bed 2 or 3 of the royal concubines that had caught his attention. But the part the King did not know was that Hephaistion pestered him with Bagoas because he found terribly amusing what Xsayarsa had said about the eunuch. 

 

—You know perfectly well I was dreaming about you –he said. 

 

—Then, why don’t you tell me what happened in your dream? –Hephaistion insisted.

 

Alexander sighed.

 

—You are not dropping this, are you?

 

— No.

 

The King snorted.

 

—Fine –he crossed his arms—I have been thinking a lot about what you and Nick told me.

 

—You mean the fact that we slept together –the hipparch had to admit that people were right and time did cure many things, it as easier for him now to talk about what had happened, especially if it were to tease the King.

 

—Yes –Alexander grumbled.

 

— So, you were dreaming about us? –Hephaistion gave him a mischievous smile. He was enjoying this, it was not everyday that you could embarrass the most powerful man of the known world. The King grumbled again and among the strange sounds that left his mouth he distinguished a “yes”. His beloved smile was even bigger and he leaned back, against the cushions, crossing his legs and adopting a business like demeanor—You know Alex, if you want so badly to know the details of what happened between Nick and I, I could tell you.

 

Alexander raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

 

—In exchange of what? –he asked in his kingly voice.

 

—Well, you rescued Nick –Hephaistion shrugged—And I never thanked you properly –the way in which he pronounced those words made the King’s nervous system dance.

 

This was too good to be true.

 

—So, you are going to tell me what happened? –asked Alexander, still doubting of his beloved’s good intentions.

 

— I will, but just for this morning –answered the hipparch—You have one chance to ask ANYTHING, but at noon I would close my mouth and say nothing more about this.

 

The King could not believe his good luck and he opened and closed his hands thinking in all the things he could ask.

 

—All right then –the blond cleared his throat—Did you sleep with Nick just once?

 

—No. We made love everyday during the week we traveled to see Tomyris –said Hephaistion. 

 

Seriously? The whole week? –thought Alexander, but his face remained impassive.

 

—Did you like it? –the hipparch smiled.

 

—Nick asked me same question –he said.

 

—And?

 

His beloved sighed.

 

—Yes, I liked it –he admitted and Alexander felt a tickling running through his body— Nick and I are more alike than you can imagine and both like the same things –he smiled— It was very intense and…incredible intimate to be with him, also…—he made a pause. 

 

—Also what?

 

—I don’t know how to explain it to you with words –said Hephaistion, watching the city from their privilege position on the terrace— I guess that, in a way, it was like making love to myself. Nick and I can be very different in some things but we are disturbingly alike in others, after all he is my brother.

 

—Alike how? –now Alexander was curious.

 

This beloved did not answer immediately. He remembered those nights perfectly, every detail and every words they had said, and he gladly discovered that it was not so difficult now to think about it.

 

— We have the same hot spots –he said at last, choosing one of the many things he discovered about Nikandros the lover—Nick always knew where to touch me.

 

Alexander’s body tensed with lust. He had always dreamed about watching Hephaistion and Nikandros together because they were alike. He had never desired anyone as he desired his beloved and, what better thing than to watch his hipparch with someone who was the closest thing of a twin? The King had fantasized with this but, to actually know that they were indeed so similar was igniting all his senses. How would it be to watch, or even better, to make love to 2 Hephaistions?  

 

—So, Nick knows you better than me? –asked the King, clearing his throat, but his beloved shook his head.

 

—No, nobody knows me better than you. You are my soul mate, the only one who can complete me –said Hephaistion meaning every word— But, watching Nick I could see myself in those moments when both of us had our defenses down; you don’t know what it is to feel hands exactly like yours touching you, or to watch into a face with the same traits as you. I don’t know if this has sense…—he held Alexander’s gaze—You and I are different and precisely because of this is that we complete each other, whereas Nick and I are the same, and he helped me to find what was in my heart in a time when I didn’t know who I was.

 

The King nodded.

 

— I think I understand –he said and his beloved smiled.

 

— I want to be honest with you, I liked to sleep with Nick but I don’t think I would do it again –those words caught Alexander’s attention.

 

— Why not?

 

— Leaving behind the fact that he is my brother, because there is no fun to be with someone who resembles you so much. It is…disturbing, in a way –Hephaistion laughed without noise, feeding even more the King’s powerful imagination—Besides, Nick never let me have him.

 

— I can imagine why –said Alexander. Was it him or suddenly that winter day had become a very hot one?—It wouldn’t surprise me to know you are the only man with whom he has slept.

 

— The second –his hipparch corrected him—Nick only slept once with a man. It was a royal page of 13 years old, my brother was 15 at that time and was eager to experiment new things. He had an erastes but his erastes never touched him, and after the page I was his second.

 

—You should feel honored –the King laughed and his beloved kicked.

 

They fell silent. A servant came, took away the empty plates and disappeared so quickly that for a moment Hephaistion thought he had imagined everything.

 

— So…Why don’t you ask me what you really want to know? –his beloved almost purred the words.

 

— And, according to you, what do I want to know? –Hephaistion accepted the challenge. He sat behind Alexander and rested his chin on his shoulder, the smell of the silk and perfume of his lover’s cloths fill his nostrils, and he whispered in his ear, in a husky voice that was increasing the heat inside the blond...

 

—There was one night, while we were heading to Tomyris’ place, when we stopped to rest –the King’s pulse quickened, his beloved’s voice was like a caress, making his imagination fly—You saw the Scythians lands, a vast steppe far away from civilization, you can ride for months without seeing another human being and that sight was starting to depress us both. We rode all day without rest and by night we both agree to take turns to watch over our camp… but we failed miserably to do this because we always ended doing…something else –Hephaistion’s body was so close to him, his chest against his back; he felt the hipparch’s heat as if he were standing next to a brazier and that made the blond shuddered— That night I lit a fire and I was kneeling on the ground when I felt my brother behind me, his hand between my legs…

 

Alexander caught his breath in his throat when his beloved slid his hand between his legs. Hephaistion walked with his fingers over the silk, like a spider, making him feel as if lava were running through his system.

 

— …Going all the way up –the hipparch dragged his words and his hand, he slid down the Persian trousers that offended Kleitos so much, and didn’t stop until he reached the King’s manhood. He smiled when he found his lover was already hard. 

 

Alexander tried to suppress a moan when that hand, that knew him so well, ran up and down his length, but he failed miserably. His hipparch’s hot breath hitting his ear was going to be the end of him. 

 

—Do you want me to show you what happened next? –the King did not trusted his own voice and just nodded.

 

The hipparch kissed his cheek tenderly, feeling how Alexander rested his weight against him. With his left hand Hephaistion ran his fingers over the blond’s thighs, his caresses turning sometimes into tickles sending sparks through his body. He licked the length of the King’s neck, hitting his wet skin with his breath and leaving a kiss with his mouth open on his nape.

 

Alexander cocked his head and bit his lower lip with force until he tasted the metallic flavor of blood, shuddering and arching when his beloved’s thumb made circles around the tip of his manhood. He clenched his fists and closed his eyes, spreading his legs even more, wishing with all his forces that his lover never stopped, feeling a smooth heat spreading throughout his body. Hephaistion kissed his cheek and his lover turned his head up, looking for his mouth, letting him taste and lick the blood covering his injured lip. 

 

How Alexander had missed this! His beloved’s hands made him feel as only the battlefield could, alive, ecstatic, intoxicated, the adrenaline at his maximum level, his oversensitive body reacting even to slightest touch. The blond raised his arm looking for his hipparch’s hair, he wanted to touch him. He needed it! But just when the King thought his body would melt and dissolve Hephaistion moved his hands away. 

 

The blond sighed and groaned inside his beloved’s mouth, and the hipparch kissed his shoulder, as a silent apology for teasing him. Alexander was lost and then, he let him do whatever he wanted with him. He could be the Macedonian Lion but with Hephaistion he would always be a helpless lovesick teenager.

 

His beloved lifted one of his legs and surrounded his waist to lift him. Physically Hephaistion had always been stronger than him, not to mention taller. The hipparch knew this would be painful but he was not worried, he knew exactly what to do to have his lover moaning and twisting in pleasure and he could not avoid smiling when he felt Alexander shuddered when he made his way inside him; a loud moan escape from the King’s lips but was quickly silenced by his beloved’s mouth.

 

Soon Alexander needed air, he was almost choking on that kiss. His breath quickened at each thrust, savage thrusts of fierce possessiveness that appear to whisper without words that he belong only to Hephaistion. The blond was dizzy but his lips were trapped in that everlasting kiss that was stealing his reason.

 

The King’s whole body was melting and dissolving under those waves of pleasure, the friction between them was delicious and just when he thought he was losing his mind, the hipparch threw him to the front, making him rest his head against the couch, mounting him without care, thrusting inside him, deeper and faster, looking only to satiate his own hunger and almost making the blond fell.

 

Hephaistion ran his long fingers again through the blond’s hardened desire and that prove too much. Alexander rocked his hips at his beloved’s rhythm, his head was spinning around, his whole being throbbed and, in those moments, it was as if his body had ceased to belong to him in order to become Hephaistion’s slave, responding only to him. For a moment, Alexander did not recognize his own voice, he was saying something in… Greek? Macedonian? He did not know, he couldn’t think clearly.

 

—Let…Nnn…let…me see…you… –the blond panted. He loved to see his beloved’s eyes while making love, to watch that monument to perfection that was his body coming in and out of him, but Hephaistion just smiled and kissed his back.  

 

—No –the hipparch voice was different, husky and deep, and at the same time full with authority. 

 

The King felt overwhelmed, this was the Hephaistion that fed his most hidden fantasies, the one who haunted his dreams and could transform the all mighty King into a servant. Alexander’s moans and sighs became louder and longing, asking for more caring no more for appearances, just wanting to feel.

 

At some point Alexander stopped thinking; he placed his hand over the one between his legs, the one that so expertly touched him on his most sensitive places. Hephaistion slid his lips up and down his back until he reached his neck, he nipped the tender skin and bite him with force. It was painful, but for the King it was also extremely arousing; soon his body would not be able to bear it for much longer but, before he could find his relief, the hipparch closed his hand around his arousal with force.

 

—What?…Did you thought I would…let you…come before me…? –panted Hephaistion, dragging the words in arrogant tone that made Alexander shuddered from head to toe.

 

That was something the King had never felt before. He was sure he was going to pass out at the mercy of those powerful emotions, he was at the exact place where pain and pleasure met and he could even feel his soul burning. Hephaistion thrust one last time with all his forces and both came together.

 

—Do you…really…Did you 2 make love…like this…? –panted Alexander moments later, resting against Hephaistion’s chest.

 

His beloved embraced him like a big teddy bear and kissed his head fondly.

 

—Yes.

 

—Every day… for a week?

 

—Yes. But… not the same way –the hipparch took a deep breath—If there is something I have to give Nick is that he has imagination.

 

—Ah –and the King said nothing more.

 

What can I say about that winter? Nearchos came with reinforcements from the coast, mostly mercenaries, but still they were very welcome. After the Thessalians and the veterans left we certainly needed every man we could get to crush Spitamenes’ revolt. I did not notice at that time but Alexander was becoming little by little the legitimate Great King, every day since Darius died, and Spitamenes soon became nothing more than a rebel.

 

 During our stay at Zariaspa my King received several embassies coming from every corner of his empire. Of course Achilles was always at his side, and, by now, with Parmelio dead, there was no-one, not even Eumenes, who didn’t see my son as the legitimate Crown Prince. Was everybody happy with this? Of course not! Many despised me and they certainly would have danced happily if Alexander had woke up one morning saying he was going to disown my son. But, since that never happened, my enemies didn’t have other choice than to smile and nod.   

 

And during these meetings with embassies and delegations was that something very curious happened…

 

Pharasmenes, the King of the Chorasmians, came personally all the way from his domains at the Black Sea, to seek the great conqueror’s help. Pharasmenes was immersed in a war against his neighbors, the Colchis and the Amazons, and what he wanted was to assure that Alexander, who was widely recognized as the most powerful man of the known world, would support his cause.

 

Hephaistion was not always present when his King received other Kings, rulers and nobles seeking his help, but this time he was there, the same as Achilles and, to his complete disgust, Seleucus. He did not like to have Seleucus in the same room as his son although he had to admit that the officer had kept his word and had never again talked to the young Prince.  

 

It never ceased to amaze Hephaistion how much Achilles had grown, if, when the Prince was 7 years old, his father was surprised to see him looking more like a young man than a boy, now that he was almost 10 years old, he was without words…and feeling old. In a year or 2 the young Prince would be taller than the King and that thought made him smile amused.

 

Yes, Achilles was now a young man not a boy; tall, intelligent, taking part in important audiences and always properly dressed in Greek or Macedonian fashion, something that had won him the approval of the most veteran soldiers of the army. Sometimes Hephaistion thought his son was more cunning that he imagined, maybe Achilles was well aware that the men did not like to see their King dressed like a Persian and did this on purpose, or maybe it was just a lucky guess, he was not sure.

 

The only thing that bothered Hephaistion about his son’s appearance was his hair. Lately he let his hair long, undoubtedly to look as him and as Kleitos, but Achilles looked like a girl with his straight gold-bronze hair loose and almost reaching his elbows. Still the hipparch had said nothing, knowing how touchy had been his son lately, realizing how delicate was his appearance; reason why he always took wrong when people praised his cousin Amyntas’ manly skills.

 

Why was that nobody said that he could be a great soldier too? About Achilles people said other things like, what a brilliant boy he was, but the Prince wanted to hear that he would be a warrior like his father.

 

Hephaistion had tried his best to reassure his son that he was still very young and that he did not look like a girl but that hadn’t convinced Achilles.

 

I will have to think a way to speak to him about his hair without hurting his feelings –he thought.

 

The meeting with Pharasmenes had nothing unusual or particularly interesting, on the contrary, it was a very boring meeting. After the long formalities the foreign King exposed his case, through an interpreter, in the most tedious, elaborated, pompous and presumptuous way Hephaistion had ever heard. It took almost an hour for Pharasmenes to praise Alexander and almost all morning to say what he wanted.

 

The hipparch made a supreme effort not to yawn and he could see from the corner of his eye that Seleucus was one step of falling asleep. Even the guards were bored for the Gods sake! They would have had more fun watching a snail race than hearing this man. But just when the Macedonians were starting to consider that Pharasmenes was the incarnation of Morpheus, everybody woke up in a start when the foreign King, among his several praises, said through his interpreter…

 

— No doubt his majesty has been extremely blessed by the gods and one only has to take a look at his beautiful daughter to know this –Pharasmenes’ eyes settled on Achilles and, the boy blushed so intently, that Hephaistion was sure they could cook an egg on his head.

 

It was an odd moment. Nobody spoke, Pharasmenes kept watching Achilles with a placid smile, and the hipparch’s eyes traveled from his extremely embarrassed son to Alexander and then to Pharasmenes. Seleucus watched the foreign King with wide opened eyes and Alexander raised one eyebrow surprised. The guards at the door had that look people have when they are about to witness an accident. 

 

—Never before have I seen a girl whose beauty can compare to your daughter’s, with such hair as a cascade of bronze. I have a son about her age –continued Pharasmenes through his interpreter, completely oblivious of the commotion around him—If your daughter already had her first blood you could consider my boy as a possible candidate for her –the Prince wanted to disappear in that moment. 

 

—King Pharasmenes –said Alexander at last—You have my gratitude for your compliments and gifts, but –his uneven eyes settled on Achilles who by now looked like a giant incandescent light bulb—Achilles is my son and heir, he –the blond made a especial emphasis on the word—He is my Crown Prince.

 

If Pharasmenes was surprised he did not show it. Hephaistion had to admit that, despite the embarrassing mistake, he acted as if nothing had happened maintaining his composure at all times; he apologized for the misunderstanding and continued talking in the same tedious and monotonous tone.

 

Achilles did his best to keep his composure but it was clear for his father that the foreign King’s words had affected him more than he would have thought.

 

Well, that certainly made the point of his hair clear enough –thought Hephaistion—I will have to talk to him after the meeting.

 

He knew his son was a proud boy and this had been extremely humiliating. The hipparch thanked all the Gods that Alexander had answered so quickly to stop their guest from making further comments about his beautiful daughter, and he was also grateful for Pharasmenes’ reaction. It could have been worst.

 

After that embarrassing mistake, time appeared to freeze again in that meeting. And the soporific voice of the foreign King and his interpreter was cooing them again. Alexander looked regal despite this but Hephaistion recognized the King’s “I am so bore that I stopped listening half an hour ago” face. The hipparch began to get impatience, he had so many things to do and was losing his time here, but then, he caught the eyes of one of Pharasmenes’ kinsmen.

 

Hephaistion narrowed his eyes angry. This man, contrary to his King, had taken an especial interesting in the Prince since he heard he was a boy, and was looking directly to Achilles in the same way Philotas used to look at him. Hephaistion took a deep breath and counted to 10…then he counted again. It would not look if he crossed the room, and beat the man demanding to stop staring at his son like that.

 

He looked around but nobody seemed to be paying any attention to this man, nobody but Seleucus. The officer was also watching Pharasmenes’ kinsmen with burning hate.

 

This is new –thought the hipparch. 

 

At some point the interpreter finally reached the important part of this meeting, meaning: the support of Alexander against King Pharasmenes’ enemies. The foreign King assured the Macedonian conqueror that, if Alexander “should ever contemplate an invasion of those countries with the object of reducing the various people in that part of the world as far as the Black sea, he was willing to act as his guide and to provide all the necessary supplies for his army.”(2)

 

Alexander, waking up at last, took a moment to think carefully in what Pharasmenes had said: an expedition to the Black sea.

 

— King Pharasmenes, I thank you for this offer, rest assure that you would be always welcome here as a friend –Pharasmenes bowed his head slightly—Regarding a possible expedition to the Black sea, I am afraid is not convenient at the moment. My thoughts are now occupied with India, and once India is in my hands, then I would truly be the master of all Asia –Alexander made a pause—Once this is achieve I plan to return to Greece and then, we could talk about an expedition to the Black sea region by way of the Hellespont and the Propontis, with all my combine forces of land and sea. Only then it would be possible. (3)

 

The King’s words caught Hephaistion’s attention. He had always known that Alexander’s hunger for conquests would be hard to satiate, his lover had trusted him with his most hidden secrets and plans, but, one thing was to be told in private about his plans and another completely different to hear them in an audience in front a foreign King.

 

Alexander would never stop –thought the hipparch—But, as long as there is life in me, I would follow him even to the very end of the world.  

 

XXX

 

Achilles was upset, angry, sad and embarrassed by the time the audience ended. He strode away from the chamber before his father, or someone else, could ask what was wrong with him. He was not in the mood to give explanations or to hear anything about what had happened, what he wanted to do was forget everything, hide and never come out from his room ever again.

 

The King’s beautiful daughter –he thought fuming.

 

The Prince reached the garden and there he found his personal guard, Chrysaor, dozing, standing with his back resting against a wall. It was a very peaceful afternoon and the relaxing sound of the nearest fountain, combined with the lack of action, was cooing him.  

 

—Chrysaor! –Achilles called him, raising his voice, and the guard woke up giving a start.

 

—I’m awake, I’m awake –said Chrysaor almost dropping his spear. The Prince walked to him with determination.

 

—Give me your dagger –Achilles was not asking, was ordering, in a tone of voice so like the King’s that the guard reacted before thinking, handing him the weapon.

 

The Prince took the dagger in one hand and, with the other, he took his hair in a ponytail at his nape. Before Chrysaor could do as much as to ask ‘what was he doing?’ Achilles cut all his hair.

 

—What the…?! –exclaimed the guard, but the Prince threw the dagger to the ground and left behind his very confused guard. 

 

Achilles wanted to be alone, he ran back to his bedroom with the thought of hiding under his bed and locking his door, but before he could reach it someone grabbed him with force by the arm.

 

—Daddy I am not in…

 

—I am not your father –answered Seleucus, his unnerving eyes looking at the mess he had done with his hair—You did this because of what Pharasmenes said?

 

—What do you care? –the Prince could not think of another time when he had been this angry. And what was Seleucus doing there? What did he possible want with him?

 

The officer did not answer; he stayed there, watching him as if he had all the time in the world, grabbing his arm. Slowly, Achilles started to calm down and his breath stabilized. Then, only then, Seleucus caressed his hair, running his fingers through the uneven and badly cut strands of his hair with such tenderness that he took Achilles aback.

 

—You shouldn’t pay too much attention to what people say about you –whispered Seleucus as a lover would have done in the ear of his dear one.

 

Achilles watched him confused. Nobody had even talked to him in that tone, like silk, caressing him and he did not understand why did it make him feel something warm inside him. For an instant the officer’s fingertips touched the Prince’s blushed cheek and Seleucus felt a powerful emotion running through his body. He had to go or would be unable to restrain himself.

 

The officer released the boy’s arm, held his gaze for one more time and then left. Before Achilles could even react, Hephaistion appeared. His father had looked for him everywhere and when he finally found him, he stared at his son’s hair in disbelief. He shook his head. What to say? The Prince and he were very much alike and after what had happened with King Pharasmenes the worst thing he could do was to bring up the subject. Also, to ask how he felt was stupid because it was obvious that he was upset, so…

 

—Yarsa is going to be furious –he said and his son smiled.

 

XXX

(1) Steven Saylor. Roma Sub Rosa series: The Judgment of Caesar, p 187 and 188

(2) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, p 227

(3) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, p 228