CHAPTER 174

 

Not far from Hephaistion’s tent, Bagoas was indeed deep in conversation with one of the Macedonian officers, with Seleucus to be more precise. The office had tried with all his might to find someone who could help him to know more about what was going on between Achilles and Perdikkas; but, to his complete dismay, he had discovered that he had no acquaintances near enough to the King…or at least not someone who would give him this kind of personal information without asking a myriad of questions after watching him with distrust and, ultimately, refusing to say a word.

 

So, at the end, it happened that, the only one who could give him information, and more surprisingly, who was willing to do it, was this eunuch.

 

— Are you sure that Krateros, Ptolemy and Perdikkas asked the King to be the Prince’s erastes? –Seleucus did not like this and to be honest, he did not like the eunuch either, but he did not have the luxury to be picky with his informants.

 

— Yes, I was near when they talked to the Great King –answered Bagoas without entering in details of why or how he was “near”. He avoided at all times to make eye contact with the officer, his long and black eyelashes down as a sign of submission, and talking with that honeyed voice of his that the King liked so much but that was making Seleucus feel as if nails were scratching crystal.

 

— What was the King’s answer? –the officer was eager to know but he took the precaution to hide his interest, something told him it was not a good idea to let this eunuch knew too much about yourself.

 

— His majesty will respect whatever the Prince decides and whomever he chooses to be his erastes –answered Bagoas, and the little flame of hope lit inside Seleucus’ heart.

 

If that was the case he still had a chance, maybe a small one but he had one, because there was no way in which Alexander would choose him over his friends and most trusted commander; but, if Achilles was free to choose, then, there was still hope. Seleucus was intelligent enough to understand his reality and the fact that, despite his many years of service, he was not an important man in the Macedonian army.

 

He was a good officer, yes, that was true, he started his career under the orders of the late King Philip but he never had an important command and his roll so far in the campaign had been rather insignificant. Seleucus was 31 years old, single, and he came from a noble family from Upper Macedonia. The same as all noble Macedonians, he had served as page in the court of King Philip but he was not a friend of the King, not even a friend of his friends, and he knew no one inside the inner circle of Alexander. 

 

And Bagoas had appeared then, very conveniently, in the moment he needed him the most with information regarding Achilles after finding him asking very ambiguous questions to the pages. But, how was that the eunuch knew what was he looking for? He had no idea, but he knew he had to be careful. 

 

— You have my gratitude –said a very serious Seleucus, hands on his hips— But there is one thing I don’t understand –Bagoas lifted his big black eyes to looked at him with feign innocence— Why are you helping me?

 

The eunuch gave him his sweetest smile. He knew how to be adorable when the circumstances demanded it.

 

— I’m happy to be of service –he bowed a little, but he didn’t fool the officer. Bagoas wanted something, and now, even if he didn’t like it, Seleucus was in his debt.

 

The eunuch maintained the sweet smile dancing on his lips for a while, almost savoring his victory. All the pieces should be on their right place before he continued with his plan, and that included the young Prince. Bagoas knew Hephaistion hated the man standing in front of him because the officer liked his son, and now, he also knew Seleucus was genuinely in love with Achilles. Very useful information, he could always use the officer’s help against the hipparch, especially if he could make Seleucus believe that the Prince was in love with him too but that mean bad Hephaistion opposed to their relationship.

 

How far would the officer go to have what he wanted? As far as to kill the hipparch? Bagoas mind was racing as he felt his pulse quickening, if his plan to separate the King and his beloved failed he could always use plan B. The officer was going to open his mouth when…

 

— Seleucus! –Hephaistion’s voice surprised them.

 

Bagoas bowed and moved away, but remained close enough to hear. He would not go unless someone told him otherwise, and his curiosity was picked when he saw the hipparch was not happy, his jaw was clenched and his eyes fixed on the officer.

 

This is going to be easier than I thought –said the eunuch to himself, thinking about his plan.

 

— What can I do for you, hipparch? –asked the officer in a professional martial tone.

 

— I want a word with you… about my son –answered a very serious Hephaistion.

 

Very easy indeed –thought Bagoas, trying his best to avoid smiling.

 

— Of course –Seleucus and the hipparch walked away and Bagoas twisted and pursed his lips. There was no way in which he could follow them and he had no other choice but to walk back to the royal tent. 

 

XXX

 

Seleucus followed Hephaistion in silence through the rank of tents. Since the King had ordered that the whole army should work day and night to level the ground around Nautaca, many of the men, who had taken the night shift, were now sleeping and the occasional snored could be heard while they passed. The officer had an idea of why the hipparch wanted to talk to him, more probably, he would remind him that it would be a good idea to stay away from his son or that he would cut him in little pieces with the help of his 2 swords.

 

Seleucus understood Hephaistion’s concern, after all Achilles was his son and a boy worth to keep safe, but, how could he make the hipparch believe that he would never hurt the Prince? At the end he decided to wait for the other to begin a conversation, he was sure, would end in a very long rebuke.

 

— I never thank you for what you did for my son at Maracanda –said the hipparch, successfully surprising him— I may not like you, but I have to admit that you are always near when Achilles needs help.

 

— I care for him –said Seleucus with all honesty.

 

Hephaistion stopped and turned to face him, once they were away from curious eyes and ears.

 

— I don’t know if I misjudged you, Selelucus –he said, holding his unnerving eyes— So far you have proven to be trustworthy but, if you ever hurt my boy, you would wish you were never born –the hipparch’s words were as dangerous as a sharp blade and the officer believed every word.

 

— I would never hurt Achilles, you have my word –said the officer from the bottom of his heart.

 

— I hope so –and with that Hephaistion left him.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion and Seleucus took different paths. The hipparch went to his tent and to the mountain of work that was waiting for him there, and the officer went to look for Achilles; after hearing Bagoas’ information he did not want to lose time. He had a break before his unit started working on the precipices. It did not take him long to find the young Prince, but, what he found stole his breath and materialized his worst fears. Achilles, sitting on a fallen tree, was far from the working place, far for the dirt and the dust, with Bastet at his feet, laughing and, apparently, having a great time with no other than Krateros. Seleucus had no idea of what they were talking about but, whatever that was, was making the Prince laugh heartily.

 

It was a strange sight, even bizarre. Krateros was very tall and very strong, black hair and brown eyes, with well marked muscles, a terrible scared crossing his cheek and making his not graceful face even less graceful, while Achilles with his gold-bronze hair and uneven eyes, looked like the sun at his side. The Prince was delicate and fragile, not to mention 32 years younger than the commander. It was almost like watching a very weird version of the Beauty and the Beast.

 

—I never thought you were a funny man, commander –said the Prince, his face adorably red after laughing so much. 

 

— I wouldn’t say funny, just honest –said Krateros, his massive arms, more robust than Achilles’ legs, crossed over his chest. Sitting at the Prince’ side he looked like a small mound.

 

— Where are you from, Krateros? –asked the Prince with curiosity. He knew his father hated this man as he had never seen him hate anyone else, but he had never talked to him and, truth to be told, he found the ex taxiarch, now commander of part of the army at Bactria, really fascinating.

 

Krateros was bold, direct, a hardcore Macedonian but at the same time he admired Alexander, trusted him and was absolutely loyal to him. Achilles could understand that Hephaistion did not like him because he was also vulgar and sometimes rude, but the boy had no problems with that. Besides, what he truly liked about the commander was that Kratros treated him like a grown up and never like a fragile girl, like Perdikkas did. If there was something that could truly piss off the Prince was that people underestimated him thinking he was just a pretty boy. 

 

— From the mountainous canton of Orestis –said the commander proudly.

 

— From Upper Macedonia –said Achilles, leaning his weight back, against his hands— I wish I could tell you I know the place but –he sighed— It pains me to admit that I know very little of my own country.

 

Krateros took him by the shoulder.

 

— You will have plenty of time to wander around Macedonia when we get back –he said smiling, although, truth to be told, he did not look better smiling, that only served to accentuate the scare on his cheek. It had been a long time since the last time Krateros had such a good time and he thanked all the Gods above for this opportunity.

 

— Maybe, but, in the mean time, why don’t you tell me more about your birthplace? –asked the Prince with interest, he was always interested to know more about the hometown of the people around him because he was of the idea that, the place where you were born and raised, said much about who you really was.

 

Seleucus felt the jealousy burning inside him. Had he arrived too late? Was he a fool waiting all this time, never approaching Achilles thinking that he was still very young? The officer had no answer for his questions but, in that moment, he regretted all the opportunities he had to seduce the Prince, all those years wasted. What should he do?

 

What could I do? –he corrected himself when, suddenly, he remembered a very curious drinking competition between Hephaistion and Krateros. An evil smiled curved his lips and he went straight to the hipparch’s tent. 

 

XXX

 

— Your sister is driving me mad! –exclaimed Nikandros, storming into his brother’s tent with Xsayarsa screaming behind that he was a barbarian and a brute without manners.

 

Hephaistion, sitting at his desk, considered the possibility to scold his big brother for entering like this, unannounced, shouting and without a properly greeting. But at the end he decided this was pointless, the lochagos would never learn, he would just waste his time and he was extremely busy, so, he went straight to the point. 

 

— What did Eni do this time? –asked the hipparch, leaving the maps and notes, lifting his face to see his brother while Xsayarsa left, still cursing the lochagos in Persian.

 

— She refuses to go back to Macedonia –said Nikandros, slamming his hands on the desk in front of Hephaistion as if this were his fault.

 

— Why?

 

— To marry Leonnatos! Why else?! –exclaimed an angry lochagos, pacing around— I arranged that she and her children left with the last squadron heading back to Babylon and, do you know what she did? –the hipparch shook his head— Eni never showed up! And when I asked her what the hell is she thinking, her answer was that she doesn’t want to go back home. We had a fight and I said to Eni that there is no way in which I am going to let her marry Leonnatos again and, if that is why she wants to stay, then she can forget about it.  

 

Hephaistion sighed, rubbing his temples. What a problem.

 

— Do you want me to talk to her?

 

Nikandros snorted and dropped on the nearest chair so hard, that his brother feared for a moment he would break it.

 

— Go on, talk to her, but I am not sure it would work –he said, tired of fighting with his sister—Sometimes I wish Eni wasn’t so like dad, she is so stubborn! 

 

The hipparch smiled and approached his brother.

 

— Like the rest of us, Nick –he patted Nikandros’ shoulder. And both fell silent for a moment.

 

— When did you get back? By the way –asked the lochagos, his voice calm now, making Hephaistion laugh softly.

 

— Thank you so much for your concern –he said— And answering your question, it was last night.

 

The hipparch turned, looking for another chair but, before he could move, Nikandros took his hand with force. Hephaistion froze on his spot, without looking at him. That was not a common touch, he could feel electricity coming from his brother’s body, his hand so hot as if he had put it inside a brazier. He shuddered from head to toe, remembering too well a touch he never imagined he would feel again. The hipparch did not know what to say, to do, even to think!

 

Yes, he could live now with the memory of what had happened between them but he would be a liar if he said he did not feel anything for Nikandros any more, even if it were not the same savage passion he had experienced once, but still, it was not easy to be touched like that and to feel absolutely nothing. But, before his trouble self could find an answer to his inner turmoil, his brother released his hand. 

 

— I missed you –said Nikandros but Hephaistion did not know what he truly meant. Did he miss him because they were apart for almost a year? Or did he miss him because…?

 

— Sir –one of his pages called him from the entrance, breaking the spell and taking both brothers out of his most hidden and darker thoughts.

 

— What is it? –asked the hipparch, brushing his hair behind his ear. 

 

— Officer Seleucus son of Antioch asks to see you –said the boy.

 

Now what? –thought Hephaistion.

 

XXX

 

When Hephaistion saw Seleucus at his tent the first thing he thought, even if he could not explain why, was that something had happened to Achilles, but, when the officer said the words: “Krateros is with the Prince because he wants to be his erastes” It was as if someone had opened the door to mayhem, chaos and destruction. In that moment, the hipparch understood all too well how angry Alexander had felt when he killed Kleitos, because he felt a very violent urge to kill Krateros and throw his pieces to the dogs in those moments. 

 

He strode to the place where Seleucus had found them, watching all red around him, feeling as if the whole earth trembled at each one of his steps. Krateros wanted to be his son’s erastes. Had the world gone mad while he was away? When had this happened? How it had happened? Had the commander done something to his boy? Oh, if that were the case then, not even all the Greek and Persian Gods combined would be able to help Krateros. He heard his son’s laugh and instantly took the hilt of his sword with force, as if he had heard him screaming in complete terror or pain.

 

— Achilles! –his father called him in a hard tone, barely containing the hate and anger he felt. The Prince turned and stood up, the smile leaving his face. It wasn’t necessary to be a genius to know why was the hipparch so angry, but Krateros remained as if they had not been interrupted, comfortably sitting on the fallen tree— Go! –ordered Hephaistion and his son obeyed without opening his mouth with Bastet behind him.

 

— It has been a while! So long since I had the pleasure to see your beautiful ass –said the commander in a jovial tone that made the hipparch’s blood burn.

 

— Do you think I’m stupid? –asked Hephaistion.

 

Krateros laughed.

 

— Do you really want an answer to that? –the hipparch closed the distance between them and this time, the commander stood up. He was almost a head taller than Hephaistion but he knew, even if he would never admit it, that the man standing in front of him was stronger and far more dangerous than Bastet and all her family of wild cats together.

 

— I know why you are behind my son –hissed the hipparch— You are doing this to piss me off, but I won’t let you touch one hair of Achilles’ head.

 

— Everything must be always about you, eh? –answered Krateros, holding his gaze like a predator, challenging him— So arrogant are you that now you presume to know what I think? You know nothing about me!

 

— I give a damn about you or what you think! I don’t want you near Achilles, and the only way in which you would be his erastes is over my death body –Hephaistion meant every word, he was perfectly capable of killing the commander if it was necessary, despite Alexander’s anger, he would kill him if he put his son in danger.

 

— This is exactly why I don’t like you –said Krateros, pointing at him with his index finger— You think you are all powerful and that you can do as you please with the lives of others.

 

— You are out of your fucking mind!

 

— Am I? –the commander raised his eyebrows— The only one who can forbid me to be the Prince’s erastes is the King –he raised his voice at each word without noticing. 

 

— Achilles is my son.

 

— Achilles is the Crown Prince, and you behave like a goose-mother –said Krateros and Hephaistion clenched his jaw so hard that people at Nautaca could hear the gnashing of his teeth— Your problem Hephaistion is that you think that, just because you have a pretty face, you own the fucking world. A fluttered of your eyelashes and Kings do whatever you want. You behave like a woman and that is why I dislike you; only women use their beauty to gain power, only women use sex as a weapon because is the only thing they have, but you do precisely this! Why are you hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry? Because you are better hipparch than Philotas was? No! Because you are good spreading your legs before the King…

 

Krateros almost did not have time to dodge Hephaistion’s fist. He had moved faster than the commander had even seen. 

 

— You have no idea of what you are talking about! –shouted the hipparch furious.

 

There were so many things that crossed Hephaistion’s mind in that moment. Krateros thought that his beauty had made things easy for him, how wrong he was! He wanted to shout at him how he had been raped because of this, sold as a slave because a Persian Great King could not have his way with him, suffered humiliations and the hate and envy of his companions who thought exactly what the commander had said. Everything was more difficult for him because he had to demonstrate, to prove everyone, that he was where he was because he was worthy not because he was good in bed. 

 

But what was the point? The hipparch did not want to open his heart to Krateros, he would never understand and would only mock him, claiming that he did nothing more than cry like a woman.

 

— I don’t care what you think of me –said Hephaistion through clenched teeth— You can despise me all you want, but let me tell you this again, if you try to vent the hate you feel for me over my son, trust me, your mother would have a very hard time trying to recognize what is going to be left of you.

 

With that the hipparch left. He was sure that, if stayed any longer, he would end killing the commander. He strode back to his tent, feeling the anger throbbing in his temples and trembling from head to toe trying to calm down the fury running through his veins. It would never cease to amaze him Krateros’ ability to enrage him, it had always been like this, but one thing was to bare the commander’s attitude and rude words and another completely different to let him do whatever he wanted to his son. The sole thought of him at his son’s side sickened him. 

 

— Phai –he turned when he heard Alexander’s voice. The King was walking directly to him, looking worried and alarmed— And Krateros? –he asked fearing the worst.

 

— Alive if that is what concerns you –Hephaistion answered in a horrible mood. 

 

The King fell silent. Achilles had ran straight to him when his father arrived like a furious bull, fearing he would get himself in trouble and Alexander had came as fast as he could.

 

— Come, we need to talk –he said and his beloved followed him back to the royal tent.

 

As always Bagoas was there, folding the Great King’s cloths when they arrived. The eunuch was surprised to find them here at this hour, something have happened? But he had no opportunity to find out because Alexander gave him a direct order to leave them alone. He had no pretext to linger there, for his absolutely dismay, and bowed before obeying.

 

Alexander walked to the table where a silver jug and cup rested and filled the cup with wine without water, handing it to his beloved. Hephaistion drank everything in one gulp and sat down on the nearest couch, still angry but trying his best to calm down, taking deep breaths.

 

— Phai, I know you dislike Krateros –the King started and his beloved snorted. That was a very nice way to put things, but he said nothing— And maybe I did a mistake when I never mentioned that he wanted to be Aki’s erastes, but I was sure you would be furious.

 

His beloved turned to look at him in disbelief.

 

— You knew?! –he exclaimed— Since when?

 

The King took a moment, waiting for his hipparch to fell a little calmer.

 

— While you were away, Krateros came to inform, personally, about the situation in Bactria –Alexander explained—And he took that opportunity to ask for my permission to be Aki’s erastes, along with Ptolemy and Perdikkas –he added, hopping to divert his beloved’ attention from the commander to his friends…and it worked.  

 

Hephaistion watched him as if he could not understand what was he saying, assimilating this new piece of information.

 

— Ptolemy and Perdikkas too?

 

— Yes.

 

— And what did you say? –the hipparch wanted to know.

 

— I answered the same thing to the 3 of them –said Alexander, taking a seat at his beloved’s side— That I will respect whatever Aki decides. 

 

— Mm…—now Hephaistion understood everything and looking at the empty cup before speaking again— That’s why Krateros was wooing Aki, then.

 

— Phai –the King took his hand, making his beloved to look at him— You dislike Krateros, I like Krateros, but this is not about you or me, is about Aki and I think the best both of us can do is to trust him and let Aki choose whoever he wants.

 

The hipparch sighed. It was hard for him but Alexander was right. This was not about what he thought or what his lover wanted, Achilles could not take decisions based on what his father and the King believed, he had to make his own judgment and the only thing Hephaistion could do was trust him. If he was right and Krateros was only looking to be his son’s erastes to hurt him, then he had to trust that Achilles would be wise enough to guess his intentions or he would truly be behaving like a goose mother. He nodded.

 

— You are right –said Hephaistion.

 

The King kissed his cheek.

 

— Cheer up, Krateros is leaving in a couple of days –said the blond— He needs to go back to Bactria.

 

His beloved smiled.

 

— Those are truly great news –he said happily.

 

Nautaca

Winter, Dystros

 

The siege of Nautaca was taking longer than Alexander had expected. He had sent Oxartres to negotiate with Sisimethres, just as he had told Hephaistion, but, just as Ptolemy had warned him, his wife/mother had ruined the negotiations when she dramatically claimed that she would “die rather to submit to anyone’s power” (1) There was no clearer way to say that they declined Alexander’s peace offer.

 

At the end Nautaca would fall into the Macedonians hands, sooner or later, but what bothered the young conqueror was that, apparently, it would be later than sooner. The King walked back to his tent after hearing Oxartres report, thinking in what had the Persian said about Sisimethres, his interview with the satrap and his wife/mother. If Oxartres was right then the satrap was afraid and truly wanted to surrender but he did not have the nerve to challenge his wife/mother. What to do now?

 

The only thing we can do, continue with the siege –thought the King when Hephaistion’s silhouette caught his attention. His beloved was hidden under the protection of the shadows that this night without moon gave him. But what he was doing there and at that hour?

 

The King was going to approach, curious of why was his beloved there, when he noticed his hipparch was not alone. His heart skipped a beat, with who was Hephaistion? He thought to call him but before he could open his mouth his beloved walked away, and, in that moment, Alexander saw he was with Seleucus. 

 

What the hell? –thought the King confused.

 

By the time Alexander arrived at his room, after stopping to talk with Artorius about the progress of the work at the precipices, Hephaistion was there, standing at one side of the bed with the back on him; he was undressing slowly, giving his King the impression that the fabric of his cloths was caressing his creamy skin like the expert hands of a lover. Alexander forgot about Seleucus in the same instant his uneven eyes settled of his hipparch’s naked body.

 

The King stood there, mesmerized for a long moment, his eyes traveling along the canal of his beloved’s spine ending in mankind’s most amazing butt, and he did not wake up from that pleasant dream-like state until his hipparch was about to put the sleeping tunic on…

 

— Don’t –said Alexander. Hephaistion stopped what he was doing and turned with the sleeping tunic in his hands— Let me see you.

 

The hipparch smiled with a thin lock of hair trapped between his lips.

 

— As you wished –he threw the tunic to the closest chair— I did not know you were here.

 

— If your warrior instincts couldn’t detect my presence, then, maybe you are getting old –said Alexander, sitting on the bed, his back resting against the bedside, and his right ankle over his other one.

 

— Haha –answered Hephaistion without humor, climbing over the bed.

 

For the King’s complete fascination, his beloved crawled to him like a cat in heat, and, very slowly, he sat down on his lap, making him sighed and moaned softly feeling his weight resting over his manhood.

 

— I have news for you –purred Hephaistion— Do you know whom Aki chose to be his erastes? –he asked, watching fascinated how the red spots appeared on the blond’s cheeks.

 

— No –Alexander did his best to keep his cool kingly exterior but was failing miserably. 

 

— Well –his beloved shook his head to retire an especially annoying lock of hair— Aki decided to be like his adopted father and not have an erastes –the King watched him genuinely surprise.

 

— You are kidding… me! –that last word sounded like a very ill-concealed moan thanks to the soft rocking of his beloved’s hips.

 

Hephaistion bit his lower lip and moved his head slowly to negate.

 

— You were right, after all, he knows what is best for him –whispered the hipparch.

 

— How do you know this? Did you…Nn…asked him? –asked Alexander, feeling his pulse quickening and the heat increasing from the waist below.

 

— Not exactly –Hephaistion moved his hips a little harder and the King threw his head back, his chest heaving.

 

It had been Seleucus the one who had told the hipparch this, but this was not the time or the place to tell Alexander the whole story. Apparently the officer had asked Achilles to be his eromenos and the boy had given him this answer. But, Seleucus had not look for Hephaistion to tell him only this, he had warned him about Perdikkas. Should he tell Alexander about this? 

 

— Gods! Do that again –asked the King and with that, the hipparch forgot what was he thinking.

 

XXX

 

Bagoas was outside Hephaistion’s tent, hidden in the shadows waiting for Kyros to leave the place. He had now a great idea to make the King believe that the hipparch was cheating on him. After thinking this really carefully the eunuch decided that he could not just come one day saying: “hey, I think your lover is cheating on you” Or he would risk losing his head. He needed proofs and to obtain proofs he needed those aphrodisiac herbs he had found inside the hipparch’s tent.

 

I’m an idiot! I should have though this before –the eunuch reproached himself.

 

When he first found the herbs he did not pay especial attention to them, and now that he had a use for them he couldn’t enter again in Hephaistion’s tent. The problem was that lately Kyros and Xsayarsa appeared to take turns to guard the place. Bagoas had started to think that they knew he had been searching among the hipparch’s belongings, but soon he discarded the idea. If they knew something they would have told Hephaistion and, by now, Hephaistion would have talked to him. The eunuch decided they had nothing certain but suspected something.

 

And just when Bagoas was seriously considering the possibility of giving up and go back to his room, Kyros finally left the tent heading to Glycon’s place.

 

This is my chance –thought the eunuch, hurrying to the hipparch’ tent.

 

Dahae, Spitamenes’ camp

Spring, Xandikos

 

Why was there a banquet? Ankasa, Spitamenes’ wife, truly had no idea. Her husband had been defeated a couple of days ago by a Macedonian called Koinos, and Spitamenes barely saved his life losing, not only many of his men, their shed blood on the prairie that witnessed such a humiliating defeat and their bones nothing but food for the carrion birds; but he had also lost prestige and now, many of his previous allies had turned their backs on him.

 

As time passed Spitamenes had no place to hide or to act, his “mobility was becoming increasingly restricted by the establishment of garrisons and the mobile Macedonian cavalry detachments stationed around the country” (2) At the beginning of the revolt he had obtained great victories against Macedonian officers, like the destruction of Andromachus’ force that had been a severe lost for the Macedonians, but now, his new opponents were nothing like Andromachus.

 

Koinos had been brilliant in the battle against him and the other one, Krateros, had done everything in his power to prevent Spitamenes to get reinforcements from Bactria. It was the end of it, Ankasa knew it even if she did not understand about military strategies. She had heard her brothers talking, the whole power of the revolt lied in their knowledge of the terrain, small numbers and speed to strike fast and then hide before the Macedonians could do as much as blink. 

 

But, if they could not move as fast and freely as they used, then, they were doom.

 

This never was an army this has always been a group of raiders and thieves, and a thief can’t defeat the Macedonian King –thought Ankasa angry.

 

Ankasa had asked and begged her husband to give up the fight, but as soon as she uttered the possibility that he, a Soghdian baron, had to surrender to the Macedonian invader, a killing fury took prey of him and soon he tried to kill her, piercing her heart with the sword in his hand. It had been thanks to her brothers that she was now alive, watching through the veils of the tent how her husband abused of the wine while giving a banquet for his friends.

 

Ankasa clenched her fists. This stupid revolt had to end, one way or another. She waited in the shadows until everyone had gone and Spitamenes lied on his couch, snoring, after a night drinking like the Macedonians he hated so much. Ankasa waited a little longer and then, she approached her husband like the shadow of death. He picked up, from his side, the same sword Spitamenes had raised against her and watched his sleeping face with burning hate.

 

This madness has to end, one way or another –Ankasa thought, her eyes reflected on the blade for a brief moment before it fell against the unprotected neck of her husband.

 

The blood tainted her shoes and the edge of her beautiful dress but this did not seen to bother her. Ankasa remained there, watching the head, still with his eyes closed, rolling away from the decapitated body.

 

XXX

 

(1) Curtius. Book 8 # 1 19 to 52

(2) Donald W. Engels. Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army, p 105