CHAPTER 97

 

- Krateros! –the King called his commander with Achilles behind him—You will lead the attack today, I’ll stay with the artillery. Wait until the bombing is over and then advance to the walls.  

 

- Yes, Alexander –replied Krateros, tying his helmet.

 

- Do not advance until you hear the trumpets, understood?

 

- Perfectly.

 

- Good man.

 

Krateros went back to his unit and Alexander headed to where the artillery waited for his orders.

 

- Aki, you should go back to the camp –said the King and the boy looked at him with “disappointed” written across his face.

 

- Can I stay with you? –Alexander shook his head.

 

- No son, this can be dangerous –he explained, still walking—But you can go to the camp and climb one of the sentry towers to watch the attack –he patted his shoulder.

 

- Fine –Achilles wasn’t very convinced but he obeyed. He would look for his friend Cyrus to watch the attack with him.

 

Alexander watched him run back, leaving a trail in the sand behind him, and felt a paternal pride seeing how the boy was changing. He smiled and allowed himself a moment of sentimentalism before concentrating on the upcoming battle.

 

Everything was ready to start with the attack to the southern sector, and soon the air was filled with the sounds of wood cracking and orders shouted. Alexander stood far from the wall, near the artillery, supervising the attack and watching how stones flew in wide arcs to reach it’s target. He waited a little and then ordered to sound the advance for Krateros unit.

 

The artillery and catapults stopped their attack and the uneven eyes of the King caught movement on the city walls.

 

- They are ready to receive our lads, sire –said Dismas at Alexander’s side, since Hephaistion wasn’t there, it was his second in command duty to guard the King. Alexander barely nodded.

 

Krateros’ men advance in close order on the earthwork but soon missiles were shot down at the Macedonians. The wind carried the words and orders of the officers, and the screams of the men, too slow to react, that were reached by that rain of arrows and missiles.

 

- Those are not ordinary missiles –muttered Dismas,

 

Alexander saw at once that his subordinate was right, these were fire missiles and not only that, the Arab mercenaries came out of the city, screams like demons and pushing back the Macedonian infantry. The artillery hadn’t done much damage to the southern walls and thanks now to the mercenaries his men were loosing ground. The King clenched his teeth so hard that Dismas thought he could hear them grinding.

 

- Bring me my horse –said Alexander, his eyes fixed on his men, fighting with all their might to reach the walls.

 

For an instant Dismas thought in asking if he was sure, he too had heard the seer’s warning, but he knew better than questioning his orders and immediately sent a page for the King’s horse. 

 

So far, Alexander had tried to be careful following Aristander’s warning, but he couldn’t stay there doing nothing while his men where loosing ground. He strode to the place where Kleitos had the Ile Basilike ready and soon they followed their King into the heart of the battle. A rain of arrows received them but that didn’t stop them.

 

Alexander opened a path among the enemies, crushing more than one under his stallion’s hooves and, the mere sight of their King served the men to recover their will to fight and they started to push the enemy again, fighting with renewed energy. Soon, the sand under their feet became muddy and slippery thanks to the blood shred, and at some places the battle formation was lost under the overwhelming force of the superior numbers of the enemy. The Macedonians found themselves fighting individuals duels against the Arab mercenaries and the King knew that, if he wanted to save his men, he needed to form them again in battle formation, if the phalanx had gaps it was completely useless and his men would be cut to pieces in a heartbeat.

 

It was no use to continue the attack, he would have to retreat and tried again another time.

 

- Sound the retreat –Alexander ordered and the taxei started to give ground. Their fierce discipline kept them from loosing their ranks while stepping back in that uniform ground.

 

The enemy artillery kept shooting at them without pause; Alexander moved to cover the right flank of the retreating men and then, he saw one missile shot directly to him. The King reacted instinctively and raised his shield, but the speed and strength of the missile was tremendous and, effortlessly, it pierced the shield and his corselet penetrating all the way to his shoulder. Alexander dropped his sword and took the reins of his horse to avoid falling after the impact. The horse snorted and stood up on his hind legs but he didn’t throw his rider.

 

Leonnatos was the first one to saw what had happened, and he kicked the sides of his horse, rushing to aid the King, and cutting down 2 mercenaries who tried to block his path. Alexander took his had to his shoulder and his finger soon found the warm blood, sliding through his breastplate; he tried to pull the missile out but was useless. The long wooden spear was stuck in his shield and armor and it wouldn’t come out without the surgeon’s help.

 

- Alexander!

 

- I’m fine –said the King through clenched teeth, the sounds of the battle appeared to be something very distant and for a moment the pain on his shoulder was all that mattered.  Leonnatos shook his head.

 

- No you are not, come, I have to take you out of here –his friend took the reins of the King’s horse and, at the same time, the rest of the Ile Basilike arrived covering the King’s retreat.

 

XXX

 

- Can you see what’s happening? –asked Cyrus. He was with Achilles on one of the sentry towers of the Macedonian camp, as the King had suggested, to watch the battle at the distance.

 

Achilles narrowed his eyes.

 

- I think our soldiers are retreating –he said.

 

- Look there! –the Persian pointed with his finger at the group of hetairoi, lead by Leonnatos, who came rushing back to the camp with Alexander at the center—Wait, is that the King?

 

Achilles stood on his toes to have a better view, and, feeling a knot in his stomach, he saw his friend was right; it was the King with a missile stuck in his shoulder. The Macedonian Prince came down, running on the wooden stairs and ignoring Cyrus calls. He ran with all his forces to Alexander’s side; he had no idea where were they taking the King, so he decided to follow the group through the narrow streets of the camp. 

 

Leonnatos ordered to take Alexander to his room and shouted to the pages to go for the doctors. The tent burst into activity in a heartbeat, people running everywhere getting everything ready to receive the wounded King. Leonnatos took off his helmet, brushing his sweated hair back and cursing their luck; he too had heard Aristander’s warning, then, why hadn’t Alexander listen?

 

If only Phai were here, he would have convinced him of staying out of the battle or he would have protected him –he thought, when he saw Achilles running at him.

 

- What… happened, uncle? –asked the boy panting.

 

- The King is wounded, but I trust is nothing serious –Leonnatos couldn’t know how serious was the wound, but he didn’t want to alarm the young Prince.

 

He tried to smile to reassure him but the boy looked at him suspiciously.

 

- Can I see him? –he asked.

 

- I don’t think that’s a good idea, he doctors have to take care of him –said Leonnatos and that alarmed Achilles, if he couldn’t see his uncle that couldn’t be a good sign.

 

XXX

 

- Are you sure? Your men hit the barbarian King? –asked Batis, standing near the big window of his study from where he had a privilege view of the city.

 

Batis was a tall man in his mid fifties, with dark hair and brown eyes, but, in one word, he could be describe as an ugly person. It was difficult to see the King and not stare at him, trying to figure out if he was wearing a mask or if his face was truly like that. Another man with that appearance would have compensated the fact that, the Gods hadn’t blessed him physically, with a friendly nature, but not Batis. He didn’t talk much, and was sometimes considered rude. His only positive attribute was that the King of Gaza was extremely competent and new how to do his job. Reason why the Great King had put him in charge of the garrison here. 

 

- Yes my lord –answered the Persian officer—The artillery hit him, I saw it.

 

- Is he dead? –Batis eyes’ shone with excitement with the sole idea; the Great King would reward him beyond his wildest dreams if he killed the invader.

 

- I don’t know, my lord –the officer shook his head—But he surely is seriously injured.

 

Batis didn’t answer; he scratched his beard while watching how his men, and the Arab mercenaries, hurried to reload the artillery on the walls and to take the wounded down to the hospital wing.

 

- Call Melkar –said the King after a moment.

 

- My lord?

 

- Maybe his spy can give us more information about the invader’s health –said Batis and his man bowed slightly.

 

- Yes, my lord.

 

Batis didn’t like the Carthaginian and he had a bad feeling of why, such an important man was there, in his city, looking for a way to get out as soon as possible. Melkar had told him he had business to attend in Carthage, but Batis was no fool. Something had happened. He needed to be careful with Melkar but he wasn’t going to hand him to the Macedonian that was out of question. The Carthaginian was very close to the Great King and he wasn’t planning in giving Darius’ friends to the enemy, even if that meant to withstand a siege.

 

Let’s pray the barbarian King is dead, that would end with all our problems –thought Batis.

 

XXX

 

Achilles knew he shouldn’t be there, Leonnatos had told him to go with his aunt Berenike and wait there for news about the King’s condition. But he couldn’t do that. He waited outside the King’s bedroom, leaning behind a giant flowerpot and, when the door opened to let the doctors enter, the boy sneaked inside, among the commotion, and rushed to hide behind a long curtain.

 

Achilles sat down and embraced his legs against his chest, trying to make as little noise as possible. He heard the doctors talking, asking for several things to the pages: clean water, bandages…but the urgency in their voices was making the Prince feel nervous, was his uncle going to die? Alexander didn’t scream, but Achilles could hear him groaning and moaning in pain, while the doctors took off his armor and stripped off his cloths. 

 

- The spear is stuck –said one of the doctor whose voice Achilles didn’t recognize.

 

- We’ll have to cut more in order to take the tip out –said doctor Philip. The long wooden spear hadn’t pierced the King from side to side, but it was deeply buried in his flesh—Sire, we have to open more the wound to take the spear out, it’s going to hurt much more but it’s necessary. 

 

The King couldn’t speak, he just nodded and the doctors proceed. One of the assistance gave him a piece of leather to bite, and two of the guards rushed to hold the King, taking him by his good arm and shoulder. 

 

The strong smell of blood filled Achilles nostrils, and he heard the sound of flesh being opening along with Alexander’s groan when the spear finally came out. Achilles poked his head out of the curtain and saw how the doctors were cleaning the wound, pressing it to stop the bleeding. 

 

- The blood is clean and it’s sliding, not coming out with pressure…it looks good –said one doctor nodding.

 

Other doctor took a big needle, that gave the boy the creeps, to stitch the wound, and doctor Philip gave the King something to drink for the pain. Achilles swallowed, watching one page carrying several blood cloths, and had to clench his fists to stop trembling. But then, someone else caught the boy’s attention, the same Persian servant that had looked so suspicious to him days ago was there, he brought clean water, and waited a little trying to see how was the King condition before a guard called him. Achilles would have to ask Cyrus who was this man.

 

It took the doctors another hour to stabilize Alexander before they could let him alone to rest; and Dismas issued instructions that no one, except for the doctors and pages, would be allowed inside. He was a little paranoid and felt a cold shiver down his spine imagining what Hephaistion would do to him if something happened to the King.

 

Achilles waited until the last guard left, and, when he couldn’t hear Dismas’ voice he came out and ran to the bed. After the commotion the place felt abnormally quiet. For a moment he thought the King was dead because he was extremely paled, his chest didn’t move, and before he could stop himself, he started to cry. The sobs woke Alexander up, his eyelids trembled and with difficulty he opened his eyes to find his Prince standing at the side of his bed, his little fists covering his face, while his shoulders trembled every time he sobbed.   

 

- Aki… —the King’s voice was a phantom of what it usually was, like a faint sigh, but it was sufficient to make the boy lift his head.

 

- D-d-dad?

 

Achilles reacted before thinking of what was he doing. He climbed the bed and embraced Alexander with force surrounding his chest. The King closed his eyes in pain, but he said nothing, he was moved by the boy’s display of affection, and he didn’t want to be alone. He patted the boy’s back with his good arm, feeling a sharp pain through his spine and let him cry on his chest. There were few things in the world more pure that the love of a child and Alexander had always had a strange need to be loved. Soon the King closed his eyes and fell a sleep feeling Achilles’ warm body next to him.  

 

XXX

 

- Dad, open your mouth –asked Achilles, sitting at Alexander’s side, holding a spoon. The King had been in bed for 2 days and the boy had insisted in taking care of him for Alexander utterly amusement. 

 

The King opened his mouth eating everything the Prince gave him. 

 

- This is your free day, Aki –said Alexander, licking his lips—Why don’t you go outside to play?

 

The boy shook his head.

 

- I want to be here –he said, when the same peculiar Persian servant entered the room.

 

Achilles’ eyes followed the man, watching how he changed the cushions of the couch, before leaving again. Alexander saw the boy’s interest in the servant and frowned.

 

- What is it? –Achilles turned to see him without understanding the question.

 

- About what?

 

- The servant.

 

- Oh, it’s nothing –said the boy—It’s…

 

- What? –Alexander insisted, he liked to talk to Achilles, and so far the boy always told him everything, so he was truly intrigued by his present behavior.

 

- Don’t you think he is…weird? –the King laughed.

 

- Weird?

 

- He looks suspicious and it’s always around when something important happen –said Achilles catching Alexander’s attention.

 

- What do you mean?

 

- The day you were injured, he was here trying to see how were you doing, and days before I saw him outside Cyrus’ tent and he looked very nervous, and now –the boy started to whisper— He comes daily with any pretext.

 

The King did pay attention to the servants but Achilles’ words made him curious. His Prince wasn’t an ordinary boy, and if he said the man looked suspicious it wouldn’t hurt to investigate more.

 

- Sire, the hipparch Kleitos asks… —but Dismas stopped talking in the same moment he found Achilles sitting at Alexander’s side, and one of his eyes started to tremble. 

 

Dismas didn’t know how, but Achilles always appeared inside the King’s bedroom, fooling the guards and the servants, and that had him in the verge of a nervous breakdown. If the boy could enter so easily, who else could? He had ordered the guards to not let anyone enter to the King’s chambers without his personal authorization, and every time some asked for an audience, Dismas checked the man 3 times before letting him in. 

 

Alexander saw his subordinate’s expression and smiled; of course he knew Dismas was paranoid, his officers had complained about his excessive security and the fact that they were questioned about every single detail of their presence there before he allowed them to enter.

 

- Dismas, did you saw a servant leaving with some cushions? –he asked, taking Dismas by surprised.

 

- Yes, sire –he cleared his throat, regaining his composure—I saw him a moment ago.

 

- Good. Send one of your lads to interrogate him –said the King.

 

- Interrogate him, sire? –Dismas frowned without understanding. Had he missed something? Had someone tried to attack the King? Had someone attempt something against Alexander under his very nose? 

 

- To know why is he so interest in my health –said Alexander with calm. His shoulder hurt like hell but he wasn’t going to complain in front of his subordinate. 

 

- I’ll see to it immediately, sire –said Dismas at once. He thought in sending one of his men to do the task, but at the end he decided to do it himself, after all, the King himself had shown some concern about this servant. 

 

- Thank you. You were saying about Kleitos…

 

- Yes, sire; the hipparch wants to see you sire, and… –but Dismas didn’t finish because in that moment Thais entered the room—What are you doing here woman? –he asked in a harsh tone making the hetaira jump.

 

- I came to see the King –answered Thais with simplicity, taken aback by the sudden reception.

 

Achilles saw her with eyes wide open. It was his Goddess again.

 

- Who let you in? Nobody is allowed here unless I said otherwise –said Dismas, his eye trembling again.

 

- Oh…I wasn’t aware of that, the guards at the entrance said I could come in –explained Thais and Alexander almost laughed when he saw Dismas expression.

 

Of course the guards had let her in! Thais was a very beautiful woman, and Dismas ran a hand through his face imagining that it took the hetaira one smile to pass through his security. 

 

- It’s all right Dismas –said the King—Let her in. 

 

- But sire…

 

- You heard the King –said Thais in a singsong tone, walking to Alexander’s bed—Joy to you, sire –she bowed slightly.  

 

Dismas saw her through narrowed eyes.

 

- Dismas –the King called him—Tell Kleitos to wait, I’ll see him after the change of guard.

 

- Yes, sire –Dismas saluted and left, not before giving Thais a nasty look.

 

- What can I do for you Thais? –asked the King. He had spoken to her very few times and he couldn’t think of a reason to justify her presence there.

 

- Sire, I’m afraid your correspondence arrived to Ptolemy’s tent –said the hetaira, giving him a letter.

 

The King’s eyes shone with excitement and his heart beat faster as soon as he recognized the seal.

 

- From Hephaistion? –he asked, taking the letter.

 

- I think so –said Thais, moved by the pure expression of happiness in Alexander’s face.

 

- Thank you, Thais.

 

- My pleasure, sire. I’ll leave you to your letter –said the hetaira—Health to you, Achilles!

 

Achilles, who until that moment had been staring at her with big crystalline eyes, blushed savagely and said nothing. Once the door closed, and both were alone again, the boy found that Alexander was looking at him with curiosity.

 

- You like Thais, don’t you? –said the King amused, going to the point and his Prince blushed even more.

 

- No… —Achilles lied but that only made Alexander laughed.

 

- She is a little old for you, don’t you think?

 

- I don’t like her –now the boy was embarrassed so the King ruffled his hair and dropped the subject.

 

- Do you want to know what your father says? –he showed him the letter and the boy moved his head up and down. The King broke the seal and cleared his throat before reading a loud… 

 

To Alexander King of the Macedonians, from Hephaistion son of Amyntor. Hail!

 

I know you must be angry because I didn’t write to you before but I’ll explain my actions in person, I promise. It’s a little long and complicated to do it by letter. I’m as fine as I could be onboard a ship, the captain said that I would get use to the sea in a week, but I have been here for more than a month and I still feel terrible. I wasn’t born to live on the sea, period.

 

I don’t have much to tell, I have a quiet time with the fleet, and I would have been extremely happy with this break if it weren’t for my seasickness. Yes, in case you haven’t noticed, I hate the sea and next time you think in sending someone to command a fleet please think in Nearchos. I’m kidding, you know I’ll always do what I have to be useful to you.

 

By the way, do you remember those strange dreams I told you about? The ones where I see things that later came true? Well, you must think I’m crazy but I dreamed again and I think something is going to happen to you, you are going to be injured, so please, be careful, I know what a mess you can be when I’m not around to take care of you…

 

- How could daddy know about Aristander’s prophecy? –asked the boy, interrupting Alexander.

 

- I don’t know Aki…but your father told me he had dreams where he sees things that are about to happen –said Alexander, thinking in what Hephaistion had written. Could it be? Did Hephaistion know about his wound even before the omen? 

 

- Really? That must be great! –exclaimed Achilles.

 

- Do you want me to continue?

 

- Yes, please.

 

Write me as soon as you can to tell me everything is fine. How is Aki? I hope he is not having a hard time with Kleitos. I truly wish the siege ends soon because I can’t wait to be again at your side and frankly I don’t think I would endure another month with the fleet.

 

- I’m not having a hard time with Kleitos –said Achilles.

 

- I know but your father cares for you…hey! I have an idea, why don’t you write him a letter –said Alexander, and the boy opened his eyes, excited.

 

- Really? –Achilles stood up—I’ll go to ask for parchment.

 

Alexander saw him running to the door, and then he saw the letter again: “write me as soon as you can to tell me everything is fine” He sighed.

 

Phai is going to kill me when he heard about my shoulder –he thought.

 

XXX

 

For two weeks Alexander had to stay behind the line of action, doing what most of the Generals of his time, and of coming years, did: lead the army from the rear. Achilles was always at his side, not only because he wanted to see the battle but also because he was taking care of him.

 

- Dad, do you want more water? –asked Achilles while the King watched his men at the distance, standing near the artillery.

 

Alexander turned to look at him and smiled.

 

- Aki, that’s the pages’ duty –he said.

 

- Yes, but if I don’t take care of you, daddy is going to be mad –that made the King laughed and Dismas thanked the Gods.

 

The past days Alexander had been in a terrible mood, his shoulder hurt terrible, he had to use a sling, which itched and made him sweat, he had attacked Gaza 3 times without success, ordered to raise earthworks two fur-longs broad and 250 feet high (1), the heat was killing him, the first day he could leave the bed his leg was cracked by an artillery stone during one of the attacks, his men were crestfallen, the mysterious servant that had caught Achilles’ attention confessed to be Melkar’s spy and, to make things worst, Hephaistion wasn’t with him.

 

He hated Gaza…and Batis.

 

But he couldn’t be mad with Achilles, not after the boy had taken care of him the best way an almost 5 years old boy could, and helped him to found the spy inside the camp.

 

- No, son, I’m fine –said the King—Come here, I’ll show you what are we doing.

 

Alexander helped Achilles to climb on the table with his good arm, and pointed at the front, at Gaza, to where his heavy infantry was marching towards the walls by three different sides.

 

- The wall there crumbled –the King explained, pointing at the front—This time is going to be easier for our men to enter and finally take the city, we can’t lose more time here. 

 

From that distance Achilles could see the ladders and the men getting ready to climb the walls in the places where the siege equipment hadn’t been able to open a gap, but he could also see the enemy getting ready on the walls to counter attack. Achilles narrowed his eyes and saw that the defenders efforts were in vain and soon the Macedonians entered the city. At that distance, the Prince thought the soldiers looked like ants covering a mound of sugar.

 

Dismas and his men cheered around him, and the veteran officer congratulated the King.

 

- Sire, the city is yours.

 

- So it seems –said an extremely happy Alexander.

 

- Sire, did you ever doubted if we could take the city? –asked Dismas.

 

- Not even for a moment, I just didn’t know when will the city finally fall –the King smiled—After all Aristander was right, I was wounded the same day he pronounced the words, it was only a matter of time to fulfill the second part of the prophecy –Dismas returned the smiled, his King was right.

 

XXX

 

(1) Arrian. The campaigns of Alexander, p 146