CHAPTER 84

 

Twelve days after leaving Gaza, the Tanit, the ship named after the Carthaginian Goddess of Fortune, arrived at the port of Carthage early in the morning. Hephaistion saw, through the narrow window of his small room, the masterpiece that was the harbor of this famous Phoenician city. It was like anything he had seen before, and suddenly he became aware of how big was the world and how little was his knowledge of it. Hundreds of ships were anchored there, divided in 2 groups: the impressive military fleet, the silent witness of the maritime power of the Carthaginians; and the civil vessels. 

 

Carthage was in North Africa, in what is now known as Tunisia, and for almost 6 hundred years they had no equal in the Mediterranean. I’m sure you have heard about this famous city, its most known citizen was Hannibal Barca, that guy that crossed the Alps with his army and several elephants, a march that took him from Hispania to Rome, and the same one who defeated a far numerous Roman army at Cannae.

 

Each Carthaginian ship had 2 or 3 rows of oars and a bronze cover at the front to ram enemy ships. They were quick, deadly, very maneuverable and could hold 4 hundred sailors. These were magnificent ships and Hephaistion found himself wondering what would Alexander do with a fleet like this.

 

He would conquer the entire world –thought smiling. 

 

Carthage was a sea power since long before my time, they had no equal, but even with all their experience they were beaten on the sea by the newborn Roman navy least than one hundred years after my mortal life, at the battle of Mylae, one of the greatest of the First Punic War. 

 

But suddenly the smile left the Macedonian’s face. Carthage had been Tyre’s colony, they both were Phoenician cities; what if Tyre asked Carthage for help against the Macedonian army? What if this impressive fleet moved to the other corner of the Mediterranean and attacked Alexander while trying to besiege the island?

 

That would be disastrous –he said to himself. Not even the Persians or the Greeks had a fleet capable of beating this one, and Alexander had no fleet at all—I can only hope the Tyrians are fool enough to underestimate us, or hope for the Carthaginians to be lazy enough to not answer a plea for help.

 

Underestimate us? The Macedonian shook his head, he had to stop thinking like that, he was no longer in the army, now he was a slave, what happen at Tyre was no longer of his concern but he couldn’t help it. No matter where he was, his heart and mind would always be at Alexander’s side.

 

The ship suddenly stopped. Hephaistion couldn’t be more grateful, 12 days onboard had made him appreciate life on land; he rarely felt sick, and hated the sensation of not been able to stand up from bed because of dizziness and the constant urge to throw up. He barley ate in the last days and was very pale, but Adria had been very good with him, and had given him a tea to ease his stomach.

 

Someone shouted words the Macedonian didn’t understand, but judging by the urge in the voice and the sound of footsteps that followed, someone must be giving the orders to disembark. 

 

If Hephaistion thought the city was impressive from inside the ship, once he landed he almost opened his mouth stupidly. This was an overpopulated city where almost 300 thousand people lived; it was a cultural and commercial place for all the western Mediterranean, admired and feared for its naval fleet and the Macedonian felt overwhelmed by that sight.

 

He was still in chains but in those moments it didn’t bother him, he smiled lifting his head to the sky, the soft breeze was a relief to him, as was the sensation of walking on firm land, and soon, he was absorbed by his surroundings, his gray eyes trying to cover everything at once not knowing where to start. The harbor was a fascinating place, full with people, goods and animals; servants, slaves, freemen, rich men…everybody running from one corner to the other. Ships leaving and others arriving from places Hephaistion never thought could exist.   

 

- Ige! –screamed Hanon from his litter to a tall and strong man guarding the slaves—Take them to the market, and make them walk a little, I want them in excellent conditions before the auction.

 

- Yes, sir –answered Ige—The same place as always?

 

- Yes, yes…and if that rat of Khalil asks for his money send him to my house –said Hanon, and he disappeared behind the curtain of his litter.

 

- I will –he muttered under his breath.

 

Ige took his master’s slaves inside a wagon that looked more like a cage, as if they were savage beasts; he would make them walk once they arrived, for now he wanted to leave the harbor as soon as possible before the heat was unbearable. Two fine horses pulled the wagon and took them away from the harbor into the crowded streets of a city that wasn’t big enough for all the people who lived there. How was then, that all that people could be there, inside the famous and strong walls of Carthage? But, as soon as Hephaistion asked himself that, watching with increasing curiosity the narrow streets, the wagon turned and he found enormous buildings, tall as towers, dominating the entire view.

 

- They are apartment buildings –said Ige, riding at the side of the wagon and catching Hephaistion’s attention. He noticed the Macedonian interest in the city and couldn’t restrain himself from talking about his homeland.

 

- Apartment buildings? –the Macedonian had never heard about this.

 

- Yes, several families can live there at every floor, see –he pointed at the nearest building where a woman was talking, through her window, to the neighbor on a floor above her home—We could say that it’s like having one small house over another, and each building has its own cistern with clean water. 

 

Hephaistion raised his eyebrows truly impressed and turned to see the apartment building again; it was an excellent way of saving space and to assure that everyone could have a place to live, he thought, surveying his surroundings with great interest and forgetting just for a moment his sad condition. 

 

XXX

 

Alexander left Kleitos and Krateros in charge of the army at Tyre. Even if the hipparch of the Ile Basilike wanted to accompany the King, Alexander thought it would be better to leave him behind. Kleitos could serve him better if he stayed and, between him and Krateros, supervise the mole’s construction and do whatever it was necessary to take Tyre. They both were fine commanders. 

 

- I’m not planning to leave for long –said the King to his officers, a night before his trip to Carthage—2 months top. No one can know where I am heading, the men will be told that I’m in Jerusalem, settling an agreement with the High Priest to assure the grain supply.

 

Years later, I heard stories about Alexander in Jerusalem. I smile every time I heard about that, Alexander never reached Jerusalem, but he did write to the High Priest asking him for assistance in supplying his army during the mole’s construction…Funny how gossip starts.  

 

Alexander took Nearchos, Perdikkas, Leonnatos and Nikandros with him; he wanted a small party of his closest friends, but Dismas insisted in accompanied him with 4 guards, the best of the Agema. Even if the King wanted a low profile, it was impossible to leave Dismas behind.

 

- I beg your pardon sire, but I’m the General’s second in command and it’s my duty to protect you –has said Dismas the night before. In his mind was still fresh the memory of the King’s kidnapping at the hands of Melkar’s men, and he had made a vow: that something like that would never happen again, even if that cost him his own life—If you insist in going to Carthage, then, I insist in accompanying you with 4 of my lads.

 

Not even Zeus himself would have convinced Dismas to change his mind, and at the end Alexander agreed, his officer was right, it wasn’t safe to travel alone.

 

Paltibaal offered his services as a guide for them, and put at the King disposal one of his biremes, assuring him that his ships were faster than the Macedonian vessels. 

 

- We should take his offer – Nearchos said when he was asked for his opinion—He is right, his ship is faster than ours, besides, the boys here would need every ship we have if they want to take Tyre.

 

Alexander agreed with him, besides, he wanted to travel incognito; it would be better to do it on a Phoenician ship. They embarked on their new adventure few days after Hanon’s ship had left Persian coasts, very few people knew their true destination and the King prayed to all the Gods that everything remain like this. If the Tyrians knew he had left the army it would be disastrous.

 

Alexander knew he was playing a very dangerous game, some would call him mad, others immature, lovesick, dependant even weak; what kind of commander leaves his army in the middle of a siege to rescue the love of life? The King smiled. He had always known that he wasn’t a common commander, and thanks to this he was the best. He was risking everything, but it had to be like this; if it weren’t for Hephaistion he would be dead, if it weren’t for Hephaistion he wouldn’t be the man he was…Yes, he had to risk everything to gain everything and couldn’t care less for what other people thought.

 

Alexander was the favorite child of the Gods; his luck would not abandon him now. 

 

The Macedonians had 4 days on Paltibaal’s ship and Leonnatos and Perdikkas were already bored. So far they had played dice, marbles, knucklebones, and checkers, they were like kids with a lot of free time. When they got bored of the games, they started betting about everything: “I bet you that bird would beat that other; I bet you that fish would eat that one…” Nikandros didn’t give a damn about what they were doing, he was far too concern for his brother; but they were starting to piss Nearchos off, and before he decided to beat them until they were unconscious, Perdikkas and Leonnatos decided to explore the vessel and finally, when they got tired of that, they started to talk to everybody.

 

- Have you ever been in Carthage? –asked Leonnatos to Paltibaal, when he and Perdikkas found him on the ship’s deck.

 

- Just once, but it was long ago –answered the Sidonian. It was a beautiful morning and the captain had told them they would arrive sooner than he had planned, thanks to the excellent weather; and of course these news had pleased Alexander immensely.

 

- I heard they once were part of Tyre –said Perdikkas, changing his weigh from foot to the other.

 

- Yes, but it was long ago –Paltibaal cleared his throat for what was going to be a long story—According to the legend, almost 7 hundred years ago, the sister of the King of Tyre, a woman named Dido, fled from her homeland after the murder of her husband at the hands of the King, and sought refuge in a no man’s land in North Africa. She bought land from the locals and built a city. A couple of years later, I heard from my brother that the King of Libya wanted to marry Dido, but she refused and killed herself instead; burning herself alive on a funeral pyre.   

 

Perdikkas and Leonnatos saw him with eyes wide open.

 

- Why? –they asked at the same time.

 

The Sidonian shrugged.

 

- I don’t know… maybe it was a way to discourage the King of Libya and avoid that her new city would fall in his hands…I truly don’t know –he said.

 

- And what happened then? –asked Leonnatos with curiosity, like a little boy, his attention captured by the tale. 

 

Paltibaal sighed.

 

- Well, for many years Carthage was Tyre’s colony, as you already know –he continued—But they became very powerful, not at land but at the sea, now they have a lot of colonies in islands of the Mediterranean, and they control almost all North Africa.

 

- What a story! These Carthaginians sounds like tough guys –said Perdikkas. 

 

That was exactly the same thing Alexander was thinking, listening to their conversation from nearby, but he said nothing and acted as if he hadn’t heard a word.

 

He used to spend mornings at the deck, watching the vast sea unfold in front of his uneven eyes, as if the ship could travel faster just because he wished it so. The King felt so impotent, doing nothing while his beloved was at the hands of a slave trader, only the Gods would know how was he treated; he prayed every day that Hephaistion’s wounds had healed, that he had survived and were fine…He lifted his head and saw the clouds with their strange shapes, sailing through the sky with laziness and, suddenly, he started to think in Achilles. That thought curved his lips into a smile.

 

A night before departure, he had talked with the boy about his travel to Carthage in order to look for Hephaistion and, to his astonishment, Achilles had understood everything, better than many grown up men. 

 

- Don’t worry dad, I know you are going to find daddy –had said Achilles—I will take care of things here.

 

Those innocent words had made Alexander laughed. Achilles had changed and, it was in moments like this, that he truly regretted the boy were so young.

 

If he were at least 14 years old, I could have left him in charge, like my father did with me when he went to besiege Byzantium –thought the King watching the clouds—Aki will be a great King one day, I’m sure of that.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion spent 4 more days inside Hanon’s quarters at the market. The Carthaginian ordered to have him alone in a small but comfortable cell; his wounds were almost healed by now since Hanon wanted him in excellent conditions to sell him at a high price. Adria came to see him often, to bring him food and to change his bandages, and he was truly grateful for those moments in which he was not alone...if only he could read something. 

 

- Tomorrow is market day –said Adria, while he ate his dinner.

 

- That’s the reason why I have been here doing nothing? –asked the Macedonian with curiosity.

 

She nodded.

 

- On market days take place the slave auction –Adria explained—People from all over the Mediterranean came to the city, it’s a very noisy and colorful day –she smiled—One can see the most strangest things you can image and people talking in many different languages.

 

- Sounds interesting –said Hephaistion sincerely, but then a sudden sadness invaded his heart, thinking in all the things he wanted to tell Alexander, about what he had seen, about the city and its fleet… but that wasn’t possible because he would never see the King again.

 

- Don’t be like that –said Adria in a sweet tone—Not all masters are cruel, I’m sure a good man will buy you.

 

He forced a smile, she had misunderstood him, but he was grateful for her concern; it was nice to have someone with him.

 

XXX

 

As the captain said, Alexander and his companions arrived at Carthage a night before market day. As soon as they landed, Paltibaal went to see one of his father’s old friends and the man, named Hasdrubal, received the group in his house, a magnificent place near the Agora with a great view of the city and the harbor. 

 

- Paltibaal! It has been years since the last time I saw you or your brother –said Hasdrubal, a man of almost 60 years old with a big and warm smile, embracing him as if he were his grandfather—You are a man now…I was very sorry to hear about your mother’s death, she was a fine woman.

 

- The best of all –said Paltibaal, while Hasdrubal guided them inside the house.

 

It was a warm night, the sky without a single cloud and a gentle breeze caressing the plants around the house. 

 

- But please, come in –said their host to all of them—I wish you had told me you were coming to Carthage Paltibaal, I would have sent my servants to pick you and your friends at the harbor.

 

- That’s very kind, but we came in a hurry and there was no time for letters –said Paltibaal.

 

- And who are your friends? –asked Hasdrubal with curiosity.

 

- Yes, of course. They are Macedonians –said Paltibaal, now speaking in Greek—We met at Sidon.

 

- I’m Alexander son of Philip –said the King, not wanting to reveal his true identity.

 

- Hasdrubal –said their host—But please, come, dinner is ready; we can’t talk with an empty stomach.

 

XXX

 

- Now, you can tell me why are you here –said Hasdrubal, while dinner was served.

 

- We are looking for a man that was taken prisoner and we believe is going to be sold as a slave –said Paltibaal.

 

Perdikkas and Leonnatos happily ate everything, after days eating the ship supplies this was a great change; Nearchos only rolled his eyes watching them and Alexander and Nikandros followed the conversation with all their attention.

 

Hasdrubal scratched his beard.

 

- A Macedonian? –he asked.

 

- Yes, he is the most important person in my life –this time Alexander intervened—As Paltibaal said he was taken prisoner 3 weeks ago and we know a man named Hanon brought him here. 

 

- Hanon? –his host asked with interest.

 

- Do you know him? –asked the King.

 

- Everybody at the market knows Hanon –said Hasdrubal, taking his cup—He is one of the richest men in the city; if he has your friend you could only free him paying for him.

 

- That’s no problem –said Alexander at once. He hadn’t much cash, thanks to the army’s expenses, but he had taken with him a very valuable ring that was in Darius’ baggage train. He couldn’t cause troubles in Carthage, nobody knew him here and he didn’t have his army to back him up, he had thought a lot about this and agreed that the only way to free Hephaistion was paying for him.

 

- Then it’s your lucky day –Hasdrubal continued— Tomorrow is market day, and if Hanon has him, he would sell him there, at the auction –the King nodded—How much money do you have with you? –a hunch told him to ask.

 

- In cash none, but I have this –Alexander looked among his cloths and showed him the ring.

 

Hasdrubal took it and he and Paltibaal watched it with interest.

 

- Very beautiful, this is worth a fortune; is it Persian? –said their host and Alexander nodded.

 

- It was the Great King’s ring –he explained, increasing Hasdrubal’s interest in it.

 

- You will need to sell it first in order to get money and buy your friend…lets do something –he gave the King back the ring—I’ll buy you the ring, what do you say?

 

The King smiled.

 

- You have a deal.

 

XXX

 

- I have never seen so many people before –said Nikandros impressed, when they arrived at the market next day.

 

The market was huge and, as Adria had said, it was full with the strangest and most exotic things. Leonnatos and Perdikkas were like children, watching everything with fascination, and stopping every now and then to watch carefully something that had caught their attention. 

 

- I should have brought the money of my spoils –said Perdikkas, watching a magnificent cloak.

 

- We didn’t come for this –Nearchos scolded him.

 

- Nick, you are awfully quiet –Leonnatos observed.

 

- Mm? Oh! I’m concerned for Phai –said Nikandros, trying to smile but failing—This is the second time something bad happen to Phai and I’m unable to help him –he cursed, angry and sad—What kind of brother am I?

 

- Relax, I’m sure Phai is going to be fine –said Perdikkas, his arms crossed behind his head—You heard Hasdrubal, the ring is worth 70 minae, about 7,000 drachma. A slave doesn’t cost that much, you know that; last time I bought one, he cost me 7 minae.  

 

- Yes, I know –said Nikandros cocking his head, but he didn’t sound convinced. Many things could go wrong, and even if he knew that Perdikkas was right he wasn’t going to feel better until Hephaistion was again with them.

 

The place where the slave auction took place was full with people from all over the Mediterranean. For the Macedonians was like entering another world. For people here, Greece and Persia were distant places, but for Alexander and his companions Hispania, Gaul and Numidia could have been other planets because they knew nothing about these lands.

 

- Just when I thought I have seen it all –said Perdikkas, his eyes big and round, not knowing where to turn because everything was fascinating and new. 

 

In other circumstances, Alexander would be impressed too, but this time he had too many things in his head to pay attention to the city. He barely slept the night before, thinking over and over again in Hephaistion; and while Dismas and his men opened a path for him and his companions, he could only think in rescuing his beloved, no matter what. But…what if Hephaistion wasn’t here? What if Hanon had sold him in other place?…He shook his head, it was useless to worry about things he didn’t know for sure.

 

Alexander needed to trust the Gods, they had never abandoned him, he knew, deep inside him, that Hephaistion was here, and his instincts were always right.

 

Hasdrubal took them to his special box in the market, and they sat comfortably there, protected from the sun by a tarp. A servant ran to serve them snacks, while Dismas stayed alert standing on guard.

 

The auction began shortly after they arrived.

 

There was big dais at the front, a rather short man stood there and began by addressing a few words to his audience.

 

- What is he saying? –asked an anxious Alexander to Paltibaal.

 

- Well, he is welcoming us and…he says he will start with the Numidian slaves –said the Sidonian.

 

The King had never before been in a slave auction and he began to despair, seeing how time passed, and group after group of slaves passed through that dais. The voices of people bidding, the shouts from the man on the dais, the angry voices of the slave traders when something went wrong or when they didn’t get as much money as they had expected, the curses of the guards, the clink of coins when they changed from hand to hand… Everything seem so far, it was as if the King wasn’t there, his mind and heart with the love of his life.  

 

After what seem hours, the man on the dais started to speak again, many people moved closer and, for what the King saw, they were very excited.

 

- What’s happening? –asked Alexander.

 

- They are bringing the most expensive slaves now –said Hasdrubal, his personal slave fanning him—The most beautiful women and the strongest man, the ones that can be used as guards or fighters, or the ones who can be sold as tutors because of their knowledge. Many Greek scholars chose to sell themselves as slaves to make money at some illustrious house here or in Rome. 

 

- That’s the craziest thing I have ever heard –said Nikandros, frowning—Who would sell himself willingly into slavery?

 

Hasdrubal laughed.

 

- It happens more often than you can imagine, young man –he said—Men who want to serve as guards, others who want to serve at important houses… There are many different reasons to do it; specially if you were born in a poor family and your only choice is to hope that some important man would buy you and give you the life you will never have in any other way.

 

- I still think its…weird –Nikandros insisted.

 

- There many reasons of why a person is sold as a slave –explained Hasdrubal—Do you remember the twins they sold at the beginning of the auction? The boys? Well, I’m sure their own parents sold them to get money, it happens a lot when a family is too big and too poor to sustain all its members…but don’t look at me like that –he laughed watching the expressions of the Macedonians—Not all the slaves work at the mines or as rowers in a military galley, the great majority live very well, specially the ones that work for rich men. 

 

They decided to say no more about the subject. They all had slaves but they had never stopped to think about their slaves’ story, because, well: they were slaves! 

 

- Phai must be among this lot, isn’t that right? –said Leonnatos, changing the subject.

 

Perdikkas and Nearchos nodded, Nikandros surveyed the dais, but the King remained as a statue, no one had the slightest idea of what was he thinking.

 

- Now, I’ll present you one of the most exotic slaves among today’s collection –said the man on the dais, as two strong and tall men brought Hephaistion. A general gasp, as if it had been rehearsed, could be heard. Alexander stood up, feeling his heart beat faster, hitting his chest savagely.

 

- It’s him! –exclaimed the King and Hasdrubal’s eyes doubled his size.

 

- Sweet El! –his host exclaimed impressed. 

 

Hephaistion's hair fell forward, partially covering his face; Hanon had dressed him in a clean and short wool tunic, he looked in perfect condition, beautiful and strong as ever and that had the audience impressed, still and in totally silence. Hanon smiled happily, sitting comfortably on a couch in his personal box. He was going to make a fortune with Hephaistion.

 

- A Macedonian! –said the man on the dais, his voice reaching all the corners of the market—Capture in Persia –he added to increase the public interest in him—24 years old, tall and strong as you can see.

 

- That’s not a man –shouted someone among the crowd—That’s a god!

 

- 6 minae –said someone.

 

- 6 minae? I’ll pay that for a horse –said the man on the dais—We are talking here about a strong man and skillful fighter –he nodded to the guards, and one of them tried to lift Hephaistion’s chiton to show his magnificent thighs, but the Macedonian kicked him behind his feet and the guard fell on his back, making the audience laughed.

 

The man on the dais turned to see Hanon, and the fat Carthaginian shook his hand, indicating him to continue.

 

- 7 minae! –said the man on the dais, addressing the audience—Who offers 7 minae? He can read and write in Greek.

 

- 7 minae!

 

- 8 minae! –said someone else.

 

That was the most humiliating and disgusting spectacle that Alexander had ever witnessed, his blood burned, he was furious seeing how the most important person in his life was treated like an animal. Paltibaal was translating for him, but at some point he considered the possibility of stop doing it, because the King looked ready to kill. Of course Alexander had slaves, and not only that, he had sold almost the entire population of Thebes into slavery after destroying the city years ago, he had sent the mercenaries captured at the battle of the Granicus to work at the mines; he was not against slaves, but the Macedonian King was against the way Hephaistion was treated.

 

The man on the dais took Hephaistion’s hair, bushing the locks away from his face and the audience gasped again, seeing his beautiful face and his mysterious dark gray eyes. People went crazy, and the biddings reach scandalous amounts that had the people near the market shocked, but of course that made Hanon immensely happy.

 

- What’s wrong? What haven’t you bid? –asked Leonnatos to Hasdrubal.

 

They had agreed that their host would be the one making the bidding, after all, he was the one who knew more about the Carthaginian market, but so far he hadn’t opened his mount. 

 

- I’m waiting –said Hasdrubal with patience.

 

- Waiting for what? –asked Nikandros angry—For Hephaistion to be sold?

 

He, Perdikkas, Leonnatos, Nearchos, Dismas and his men were outraged watching that grotesque spectacle and, they couldn’t understand what was Hasdrubal doing, or was their host planning to betray them?

 

- Waiting until the highest bid is made –explained their host—Then, I’ll make an offer.

 

Only Alexander seem to understand this, and he said nothing, but his companions didn’t understand why they couldn’t just make a bid and end with Hephaistion’s humiliation. After 2 more biddings, Hasdrubal considered it was time to act. 

 

- 30 minae! –said their host and murmurs started among the crowd.

 

Alexander cursed, if only Hephaistion turned he would be able to see him, but his beloved kept his gaze at the front, his head proudly raised; he was furious but was determined to not let this mob see him defeated. The King started to pace around, considering that this whole thing had been a bad idea, they should had rescued Hephaistion by force, that way his beloved wouldn’t have had to suffer such humiliation, but the rational part of him reminded him that this was the safest and wisest curse of action. He had to be patience. 

 

The man on the dais smiled, 30 minae for a slave! That was historical.

 

- Noble Hasdrubal, is this correct? 30 minae? –he had to ask.

 

- Yes, 30 minae.

 

Hanon’s smile was huge.

 

- The Macedonian is sold to…

 

- 50 minae –said someone else, a man Hasdrubal didn’t recognize, and the murmurs rose once again.

 

- 55 minae –pushed Hasdrubal.

 

- 60 minae –said the same man again. Hasdrubal paled and the audience murmurs increased.

 

- Who the hell is that guy? –asked Nearchos. 60 minae was the equivalent of a Talent, which was a fortune. Who pay one Talent for one slave? The most expensive slave Nearchos had had in his life was worth 25 minae, and his father had almost killed him for paying that just for one woman. 

 

- I have never seen him before –muttered Hasdrubal—He is the agent of someone important but I don’t know who could be his patron.

 

The King was starting to lose his patience.

 

- 70 minae –said Hasdrubal with strong voice. Darius’ ring was a marvelous piece but, 70 minae were all that ring was worth.

 

- One gold Talent and a half! –those words unleashed hundreds of voices around the market. You could buy a small ship with that kind of money.

 

Hasdrubal tried to swallow but his throat was dry.

 

- What’s wrong? –asked Nikandros, his eyes on their host and then on the mysterious man among the crowd—Do another bid.

 

- I can’t –said Hasdrubal, and Alexander turned to see him.

 

- Why not? –asked the King.

 

- One gold Talent and a half is a fortune –said Hasdrubal—This ring –he showed them Darius’ ring—Is worth 70 minae top, which is a little more than one Talent –he made a pause— In common circumstances this should have been more than enough to buy your friend… 

 

- But? –asked the King, feeling his heart aching.

 

- I don’t know the man who is offering that much for a slave, but he wants your friend badly and has the money to pay for him –their host’s words alarmed Alexander; what if other of his enemies was behind this? What if someone else that wanted to hurt him and his beloved had bought him?

 

- Sold for 1 Talent of gold and a half! –announced the man on the dais. Hanon almost fainted; indeed, he had made a fortune that day.

 

- What now? –asked a very depressed Leonnatos. What was he going to tell his wife now? How was he going to face her?

 

- We use force now –said the King without hesitation—First I need to know who bought him.

 

- Easy –said Hasdrubal at once. He called one of his servants, gave him a few instructions and the man left running—We’ll know soon enough.

 

- Thank you –said the King, dead serious—Dismas, send one of your men to follow Hephaistion, I want to know where is he taken.

 

- Yes, sire –said his officer.

 

- Once we know who bought him, we’ll go to rescue him –said Alexander thinking quickly. His friends nodded.

 

- I give you this back –said Hasdrubal, Darius’ ring still in his hand—I’m very sorry.

 

The King shook his head.

 

- Keep it, please; you have been of great help.

 

- What I don’t understand –said Perdikkas, his eyes still on the dais, where another man was brought—Is, who could have paid 1 gold Talent and a half for Phai?

 

That is the key question –thought Alexander.

 

XXX

 

- A Roman? –exclaimed Alexander when they were back at Hasdrubal’s house—A Roman bought Hephaistion?

 

The servant nodded.

 

- Yes, sir –said the man, his eyes on the floor—I heard at the market that he is a noble Roman, they called themselves patricians.

 

- And where is he now? –the King insisted.

 

- He is on his way to the harbor –said the servant—I heard he is coming back to Rome today.

 

- What?! –exclaimed Alexander. He didn’t know where was Rome but one thing was for sure, it wasn’t close if this man needed a ship—Dismas! –he called his officer.

 

- Yes, sire –Dismas came running.

 

- Call the rest now; we are going to the harbor.

 

XXX