CHAPTER 85

 

Between Appius Claudius and Kaeso Fabius Dorso

312 B.C Rome

 

“Have you heard of Alexander?”—asked Claudius.

 

“Alexander the Great of Macedonia? Who hasn’t heard of him? First he conquered Greece, and then the whole world to the south and east –Egypt, Persia, and faraway lands that lie beyond any map. My father says we’re lucky he didn’t turn his attention to the west, or else we’d have had to fight him on the banks of the Tiber. But Alexander won’t conquer anyone else. He’s been dead for ten years now”(1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

An avalanche of thoughts that threatened to crush Alexander came upon the young King as he ran with all his forces towards the harbor. After he heard that Hephaistion was taken to a ship and, in a matter of hours he was leaving Carthage, he had left Hasdrubal’s house, running as if he were chased by a horde of furious harpies. He didn’t wait to hear that his host could give him a horse, he didn’t wait to hear if Dismas’ men had other news, he didn’t wait for the rest of his friends, the only thing that mattered in that moment was the fact that Hephaistion, once again, was taken away from him, to a distant and foreign land.

 

Alexander could run so fast that it was impossible for Nikandros and the rest to follow him, they had to wait for Hasdrubal to give them horses and a guide to reach the harbor.

 

- Do you think that Alexander lost his way to the harbor? –asked Leonnatos, riding at Perdikkas’ side through the narrow streets.

 

- No, he has an incredible memory and a great sense of direction –said his friend, following the guide closely—He never gets lost. 

 

Nikandros started to get impatience. The streets were very narrow and very crowded, at some point in the march he had enough, dismounted and started to run, determined to rescue his brother this time. Nearchus and Dismas followed Nikandros’ example, and soon the entire group was running, pushing and crashing against the people coming and going from the harbor.

 

Alexander arrived first, and he asked the first man he encountered for a Roman ship. He was getting angry, no one seem to speak Greek here and he didn’t understand a word of that strange language. He cursed so angrily, that a couple of workers jumped when they heard him.

 

- Is there anybody here who speaks Greek? –he asked raising his powerful voice.

 

- Yes, sir. What can I do for you? –asked, without breath, a boy of 13 years old. One look at him and the King immediately knew he was Greek.

 

- You work here?

 

- Yes, I help the administrator…—he made a pause to take a deep breath—You need something? –the boy didn’t know who was Alexander but, something about the young King talked about power and greatness. The boy thought he must be someone important.

 

- I’m looking for a Roman ship, where a patrician is traveling –said Alexander, remembering what the servant had said.

 

The boy nodded.

 

- You are looking for Scipio’s ship –he said, and pointed at the right—There! At the end of that line of ships, next to 2 Egyptian vessels. It’s easy to identify it, it has red sails. 

 

The King thanked him and ran to the right.

 

XXX

 

When Hephaistion saw that he was taken onboard a ship he cursed.

 

Not again –he thought in total dismay.

 

The long trip from Gaza to Carthage, and the days he spent locked in that small room at the market, alone, except for those rare moments in which Adria came to see him, had depressed the Macedonian in a way he would never had thought possible. He wasn’t a depressive man or a man that accepted defeat so easily…but being alone for so long, and feeling bad because of his wounds and the seasickness, so far away from his home and the people he loved had made him lost hope.

 

But the auction at the market had woken him up from his depressed stupor, had made him remember who he was and that, no matter what, he was a Macedonian noble, only if he accepted his fate quietly and bow his head then all would be lost, but as long as he had a breath of life in him he would never surrender.

 

Hephaistion lifted his head, and saw the blue sky. He was going to escape and he would return to Persia, to his King’s side. It had been enough of self-pity. He settled his eyes on the ship and its red sails, following the vessel’s silhouette.  

 

First, I need to know who is the man who bought me…–he twisted his lips—“Bought me” what a horrible way of saying this, as if someone could “own me” –he smiled—Even if my heart belongs to Alexander I’m sure that, not even him, would dare to say that he owns me –he heard the crew on the deck speaking in Greek, to his complete astonishment—When I know who is this man, I can plan my escape.

 

The Roman ship, that look a lot like a Greek ship, wasn’t as big or as impressive as the Tanit, and Hephaistion was sure it wouldn’t be as fast, he only hope that the place where they were going wasn’t too far, he didn’t fancy another trip of several days…how was that Nearchos could tolerate being for weeks onboard?

 

Why do I bother? Nearchos is like the son of a siren and the Kraken, he had always preferred the sea –thought Hephaistion.

 

Someone shouted an order and the crew prepared everything to sail.

 

XXX

 

Alexander’s uneven eyes surveyed every ship looking for red sails, but, when he finally found what he was looking, he saw with despair that the ship was leaving the harbor. What could he do now? He couldn’t stop the ship, and then, in the same moments his eyes were looking at the foreign vessel, his heart skipped a beat when he distinguished the too familiar silhouette of Hephaistion standing on the deck.

 

- HEPHAISTION! –he shouted with his best parade voice—HEPHAISTION! –he stood at the edge of the dock. What to do? What to do? His beloved didn’t turn; apparently he didn’t hear him. He saw the sea and just one idea came to him, he was ready to jump and swim to the ship when 2 pairs of arms held him.

 

- Alexander, please you can’t jump –said Perdikkas, trying his best to hold the King with Leonnatos help.

 

- Let me go! –roared Alexander in a chilling voice, while Nikandros shielded his eyes watching the ship.   

 

- Isn’t a way to stop that ship or to catch them? –asked Hephaistion’s brother to their guide, but the man shook his head.

 

- No sir, we can stop them now.

 

- But surely there is a ship ready to sail that can take us after them…what about Paltibaal’s ship? –Nikandros was desperate, he couldn’t believe this was happening to them, not again, it was as if Hephaistion were smoke and trying to catch him were absolutely impossible. 

 

- That would take time, sir –the guide tried to make him understand—To prepare a ship takes time and we don’t have any authority to stop them.

 

Nikandros cursed and shouted in the most vulgar Macedonian against the Roman ship, drawing the attention of the people near them. The only one who was angrier than him was Alexander, who was no longer struggling; he was very still, like a statue, watching the ship at the distance.

 

- I want our ship ready as soon as possible –said the King in tone of voice that chilled their blood—We are going after them at once.

 

Nobody questioned him, and Nearchos ran to obey.

 

XXX

 

Onboard, Hephaistion thought he had heard his name, the words carried by the wind, but he didn’t turn, thinking he was imagining things. Who would be calling him in this place? A man took him below to a small room, he untied him and told him to eat and rest, the master would call him later.

 

- You are Greek –said Hephaistion, watching the man with curiosity while rubbing his wrists—From where?

 

- From the south of Italy, I’m from a town called Croton –explained the man named Diocles—The entire crew of this ship is Greek; you see Romans don’t have a fleet, usually, in the rare occasions when they have to travel across the sea they hire our services. So, this isn’t a Roman ship but a Greek one.

 

The Macedonian had heard about this, there were many Greek settlement at the south of Italy and it was because one of these settlements had asked King Alexandros from Epirus for help, that he had came with his army to Italian soil.

 

- There are so many Greek cities at the south of Italy –Diocles continued, he liked to talk, even more knowing that he had a good audience and, since Hephaistion knew nothing about Italy, he was hearing the man with all his attention—That the Romans called the region Magna Graecia.

 

- Romans? A Roman bought me? –asked the Macedonian, feeling how the word “bought” burned his tongue.

 

- Yes, and one of a very rich an ancient family; they called themselves patricians.

 

- What is that?

 

- Patricians are how the Romans called the noble families, the ones who descend from the first men who founded their city –Diocles explained.

 

- You seem to know this Roman –said Hephaistion and the man nodded.

 

- This is not the first trip we make with Scipio –said the Greek—He is part of a very small group of Romans that admire Greek culture. We once took him to Athens –he smiled remembering that—That was a good trip…—Diocles made a pause, watching Hephaistion for a moment—You are Macedonian? –Hephaistion nodded—I remember that 2 or 3 years ago an army from…how is it called? Epirus! Yes, an army from Epirus came to south Italy.

 

- Do you know what happened with them? –of course the Macedonian had heard from Alexander about the fate of his uncle, but he wanted to hear another version.

 

Diocles took a seat. Now he had a great pretext to avoid his duties and do what he like most.

 

- Well, I heard Tarentum asked for help to the Epirote King –he said—Once, not long ago, Tarentum was a very prosper and powerful city, the strongest of Magna Graecia, it had the biggest army and the largest fleet. But a few years ago, it started to decay and the city found itself unable to defend from its enemies: the Bruttii, the Samnites, and the Lucanians. So, they first asked for the help of the Spartans, but their armies where defeated; then, it was that they sought the Epirote’s help –he stretched his legs to the front— The Epirote defeated the Samnites, and then attacked the Lucanians and Bruttians. I also heard that he conquered Heraclea, and gave the pirates a great blow when he captured Sipontum, one of the pirates’ ports –he explained further when he saw that those names meant nothing to Hephaistion— He also captured several towns. If I don’t recall wrong, he also sent envoys to Rome. The thing was –he leaned to the front—That apparently the Epirote was in control of the situation, but then, when everybody thought he would prevail, his army was attacked by surprise. The last thing I heard was that the Epirote was killed near Pandosia. 

 

Hephaistion nodded, he had heard the same story, but he didn’t know about Tarentum’s situation. He had also heard another comment made by Kleitos, quoting Alexandros about that “he had faced men in Italy, while Alexander had only fought against women in Asia” (2) Hephaistion only hope that Alexander never heard that or he would be furious.

 

- What happened to Tarentum?

 

- They are trying to reach a peaceful agreement, but so far things are still very hot in southern Italy –said Diocles.

 

The fell silent for a moment, and then, Hephaistion asked the key question.

 

- Where is Rome?

 

You can hardly blame me for asking that question. Rome wasn’t born a great Empire as you saw on movies, Rome didn’t sprout from the earth like the city you watched at Gladiator; in fact the city remained a backwater place for many years since its foundation, you can say that Rome had a late start in history. But, there is no better way of explaining how insignificant was Rome than using Steven Saylor’s words about the Rome of the year 1000 BC:

 

“Elsewhere in the world, men built great cities, made war, consecrated temples to the gods, sang of heroes, and dreamed of empires. In far away Egypt, the dynasties of the Pharaohs had already reigned for millennia, the Pyramid of Giza was more than 1,500 years old. The war of the Greeks against Troy was 200 years in the past; the taking of Helen and the wrath of Achilles had already passed into legend. In Israel, King David had captured the old city of Jerusalem and made it his capital, and his son Solomon was building the first temple to the god Yahweh. Further to the east, migrating Aryans were founding the kingdoms of Media and Parsa, forerunners of the great Persian empire. But the island in the river, and the seven hills, remained unsettled by men and overlooked by the gods, a place where nothing of particular importance had ever happened”(3)  

 

- Rome is a city located at the center of Italy –said Diocles—The city used to be a Kingdom but, for the last 200 years, it has been a Republic. You can say the Romans are upstarts, they had won many battles against other Italian cities, like the Etruscans, but like…50 years ago the city was sacked and burned by a horde of Gauls, a nasty business. Everybody thought Rome was finished, but they rebuilt their city and in a very short time, if I may add. 

 

- What about the man who…bought me? You said he was important –said Hephaistion, trying to gather as much information as possible.

 

- His name is Publius Cornelius Scipio…these Romans and their names –Diocles laughed—But learn something, the longest the name, the more important the person. He is the only son of his father and he is also a little reckless, I wonder what is his father going to say when he heard that he spent a fortune in you –he scratched his head. 

 

- Why does he want me? –Diocles shrugged.

 

- I have no idea, lad –he said with all honesty.

 

XXX

 

After a couple of hours Hephaistion was summoned to his new master’s quarters. The room was smaller than the one Hanon had in the Tanit, but that didn’t surprise him, this ship was modest compared to the Carthaginian. Only one man was accompanying Hephaistion, and that caught his attention; Hanon didn’t let him go anywhere without at least 2 strong and badass guards. As soon as the door opened, the Macedonian found a young man of 28 or 29 years old, sitting in front of a desk full with scrolls.

 

- Leave us –said the Roman and the man left, leaving the Macedonian in chains alone with him.

 

Interesting –thought Hephaistion, watching closely his “master.” He was a very good-looking man, with chestnut hair, straight to the shoulders with a long silky strand crossing his face, and dark blue eyes. 

 

Scipio took his time to watch the Macedonian before speaking in fluent Greek.

 

- Do you have a name?

 

- Hephaistion son of Amyntor –he answered proudly, as if they were in the middle of banquet, and that made the Roman smile.

 

- You haven’t been a slave for long, have you?

 

- I’m not a…—but Hephaistion closed his mouth. No mattered how he felt, he was now a slave.

 

- You are far more interesting than I thought –he said, pleased with his decision of acquiring him.

 

- Why did you bought me? –the question left the Macedonian’s mouth before he could stop it.

 

Scipio took a moment before speaking again. Hephaistion was too bold and too impertinent, but he decided to let it pass for the moment.

 

- I heard you were captured in Persia, I presume you were in the Macedonian King’s army –said the Roman.

 

- That’s correct.

 

- I’m intrigued about the Macedonian King –Scipio admitted—I heard a lot about his battles and conquests, and I would like to hear from you about his campaign.

 

This was the last thing Hephaistion would have expected to hear. He held the Roman’s gaze and saw that he was telling him the truth...or half the truth. 

 

- One Talent and a half are far too much just for wanting to hear about the Macedonian campaign –the Macedonian questioned him.

 

- It’s my money and that’s my problem, don’t you think? –said Scipio, standing up. Hephaistion thought that he was hiding something, but knew that pressing the subject was a bad idea— Jupiter! You are as tall as a Gaul…what rank did you had in the army?   

 

- General of the Agema of the hypaspist –Hephaistion tried to guess what kind of man was this Roman, but so far he wasn’t like any other he had met before.

 

- You were in charge of the King’s security –that impressed the Macedonian.

 

- How do you know this?

 

- As I said, I’m interested in your King’s campaign and also in the composition of the Macedonian army –Scipio was please to see that he had surprised him—Why were you sold into slavery? How were you captured? –he sat down again.

 

Hephaistion took a second to think if he should tell this stranger the truth.

 

Well, why not? –said the Macedonian to himself.

 

- I was a spy in the Persian camp, working as the new commander of the Persian troops –he explained—The Great King found out and was furious. One of his agents set me a trap, captured me and sold me to a Carthaginian as a slave.

 

Scipio watched him fascinated.

 

- What a story! –he exclaimed.

 

- What do you plan to do with me?

 

- Patience, Hephaistion –said the Roman—I can think in many possible things you can do, you seem strong and intelligent, a rare combination.

 

The Macedonian had never been vain, but here was something strange. So far, Scipio hadn’t made reference to his appearance. He was no longer that naïve boy that had served as a page for King Philip, he knew he wasn’t like the rest and that his looks were the source of half of his problems, but, this Roman hadn’t said a word about this…why?

 

- I’m not a cruel master –continued Scipio—If you behave you won’t be ill-treated –Hephaistion said nothing—You may go now.  

 

XXX

 

- There! Do you see now? –asked Hektor, Philotas’ younger brother, to Kleitos. Both men were standing over a hill looking directly to Tyre. On it’s walls where a group of men placing the artillery—They started to work 2 days ago, and the sentries said they also saw ships coming near the gates, my guess is that they are evacuating the women, children and noncombatants. 

 

Kleitos took a moment to think about this new piece of information. He too had noticed the Tyrians had stopped jeering and shouting their rude words at the men for some days now.

 

- They are scared –said the hipparch after a moment—I bet you that they never expected to see the quick and efficient progress of the mole. First they thought this was a joke, now they are taking us seriously.

 

- What now? –asked Hektor.

 

- If I were them, I would call the fleet back –said Kleitos, walking back to the camp—I have to speak with Krateros, I can bet you my whole portion of the war spoils that they are going to attack soon. 

 

A woman laughed and that made the hipparch turn. First his dark eyes saw Thais and her slave, but then, he distinguished Berenike helping Netikerty to carry water back to the camp. Kleitos felt a hot tickling through his body watching Berenike, her dress was wet and sensually attached to her body. He had seen her many times after their night together, but now, watching her there and knowing that Leonnatos was in Carthage with Alexander, his desire burned with renewed force.

 

- Kleitos?

 

- Mm? –the hipparch turned distracted.

 

- About the grain, I was thinking in double the ration of the men working at night, what do you think? –Hektor asked again.

 

- Yes, sure, why not –Kleitos patted his shoulder; but before they continued their way, the hipparch saw Achilles walking in his direction—Hektor, I’ll go in a moment, I need to do something. 

 

Philotas’ brother saw the young Prince and nodded. Everybody in the camp knew Kleitos was training him, which had increased Achilles’ popularity among the men: such a young boy asking the hipparch to teach him to fight…yes, the men loved that kind of stories.

 

Kleitos crossed his arms and watched the boy. Achilles had his tunic torn and covered in mud, his hair was disheveled and dirty and his arms and legs showed bruises; but that sight didn’t touched the hipparch.

 

- Where is the rabbit? –asked Kleitos with his powerful voice, catching the attention of the women nearby.

 

- He escaped –said Achilles holding his gaze, he no longer hide or look down. 

 

The hipparch nodded gravely.

 

- Too bad, in that case you won’t eat today.

 

Achilles said nothing; this was his second day without a decent meal. He knew what Kleitos was trying to do; he wanted to make him strong and capable of taking care of himself because, if he couldn’t take of himself, how could he protect someone else?  

 

- Are you out of your mind? –Berenike’s voice made the hipparch turned—You can’t leave Aki without food –Berenike walked to her nephew and kneeled to look at his wounds—My poor thing –he turned to face Kleitos—You are a brute.

 

- I’m training him, lass –he corrected her.

 

- No, you are torturing him –Berenike stood up again—What do you think is this? The Spartan Agoge?

 

- That is exactly my intention –said Kleitos and she looked at him with eyes wide open.

 

- But Aki is only 4 years old –she said without believing his words— Not 7 like the boys in the Agoge.

 

- The King asked me to train him, and the boy asked me to train him now, I don’t see why I should be explaining myself to you –said the hipparch, raising his voice.

 

- Because he is my nephew –Berenike reminded him, not one bit afraid of him.

 

- You know what? This kind of things are the ones that made this kid so weak and sickly, always coughing in the corners –said Kleitos, shaking his forefinger at her—Between Hephaistion and Alexander had spoiled this kid too much, and now you. The last thing he needs right now is to have a woman intruding in his training.

 

- I won’t let you treat Aki…

 

- His name is Achilles, for Ares’ balls! –said Kleitos—This mania of yours to use nicknames –those words caught Thais’ attention—One day, this kid would be a King –he pointed at Achilles—A Macedonian King, and if you haven’t noticed this kingdom has prospered thanks to the conquests of King Philip and King Alexander. Conquest follows the path of war, and I’m training this kid for that: FOR WAR! He has to be taught in the virtues of aggression and obedience, the kid needs to be capable of enduring hardship, pain, and deprivation. I need him to learn how to survive on his own, to think so he can recognize opportunities and seize the initiative, to be able to track, hunt, and fish, to navigate by the stars, to provide first aid, to recognize poisonous and medicinal plants, to build fortifications and to undermine them (4) –he gave a step toward her— And I, as long as I live, won’t let a King of my land to be a weakling and a wimp, a pamper boy who hides behind his aunt’s dress.

 

Berenike just stared at him without saying a word.

 

- And why are you still here? –asked the hipparch and Achilles jumped, taken by surprise—You have classes with Kallisthenes, go now.

 

- Yes, sir –answered the boy and ran back to the camp.

 

Kleitos turned his back on Berenike and left her, muttering: “women” under his breath.

 

- Urg! That brute! –exclaimed Berenike angry, kicking a rock.

 

- Did you noticed? –asked Thais in a low voice, walking to her. No mattered if Leonnatos didn’t approved of her friendship with the hetaira, Berenike kept visiting her every time her husband was busy, and now that Leonnatos was gone, both women could spend more time together. 

 

- What? –asked Berenike with interest.

 

- The way Kleitos treated you.

 

- Like an ignorant and foolish woman? –Berenike was offended.

 

- No! He gave you explanations, he answered your questions and he knew that you use nicknames to refer to other people –said Thais, her blue eyes shining with excitement.

 

- So?

 

The hetaira gave her a pat on the head.

 

- I think he likes you –Berenike blushed savagely.

 

- You are a hallucinating –Berenike went back to help Netikerty and Thais laughed shaking her head.

 

XXX

 

Night had fallen in Carthage, but this wasn’t a pleasant and warm night, this time thunders could be heard at the distance, harbingers of a terrible storm that was approaching. 

 

- What do you mean we can’t sail today? –asked an angry Alexander to Paltibaal.

 

The Sidonian wanted to disappear in that moment; the King’s fury scared the living hell out of him.

 

- Sire, a storm is coming, is not safe to sail today, but we can…

 

- The Roman ship sailed today! –Alexander didn’t raise his voice but his tone was dangerous.

 

- Yes sire, but when they left the weather was fine –Paltibaal tried to explain.

 

The King took a deep breath, making an effort to calm down his boiling anger.

 

- When can we sail?

 

- It all depends on the storm –Paltibaal explained— But if everything goes well we can leave tomorrow.

 

Alexander took both hands to his head and puffed out, every minute without Hephaistion was a terrible agony for him, and now this.

 

Wait, he hated to wait; but he also knew it was a bad idea to challenge Poseidon.

 

XXX

 

(1) Steven Saylor. Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome, p 296-297

(2) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 223

(3) Steven Saylor. Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome, p 16

(4) Nigel Kennell. In The Gymnasium of Virtue