CHAPTER 98

 

When Leonnatos entered Gaza he was welcome by a sight that was starting to be extremely familiar to him. Every vestige of civilization had been left outside the walls and chaos was the new master of the city; people running and screaming on the streets prey of the very real fear to die; houses burning, the sound of metal against metal floating on the air…it was like reliving what had happened in Tyre just 3 months before. He shook his head and pressed the flanks of his horse to keep advancing with the rest of the small detachment of cavalry that Alexander had put under his direct orders. He had the mission of finding Melkar and Leonnatos knew very well what Alexander would do to him if he failed to capture the Carthaginian; the sole thought of that gave him the creeps. He took the reins, closing his fits until his knuckles were white, and forced himself to focus. 

 

- I want the house at the center of the city surrounded –said Philotas to the cavalry far from where Leonnatos were leading his men; raising his voice to be heard over the noise—The King ordered us to capture Batis before he can escape, and that is what we are going to do –Parmelio’s son turned and pointed at the center, his magnificent cloak, which was even better than the King’s, dancing at the mercy of the soft breeze—We are going to secure the area and all possible exits, Batis has to be taken alive, understood?

 

- Yes, sir.

 

- Kleopatros! –Philotas called him and Nikandros’ friend wanted to disappear; lately he had become the personal servant, secretary, bodyguard, messenger, slave of his commander and he couldn’t be more uncomfortable with the situation, but he forced himself to swallow his hatred and replied without hesitation.

 

- Sir!

 

- Choose 8 men and follow me to the front door –Philotas continued—The rest of you know what to do.

 

- Don’t you dare to… —said Nikandros under his breath when Kleopatros turned to look at him and smile.

 

- Nick! You can come with us –Hephaistion’s brother showed him his middle finger.

 

XXX

 

Far from the center of the city Melkar’s house stood proudly in a privilege area. The servants all around the house were busy covering the windows with wooden boards, reinforcing the doors and closing all possible entrances. One of the servants, a middle age man dressing an expensive tunic, ran through the hallways, his heart beating savagely and his whole body trembling while hearing the high-pitched screams coming from the streets. He closed his eyes for a moment, his imagination was playing tricks on him, conjuring up horrific images of torture that the Macedonians were causing to the unprotected population.

 

- Master! Master! –the servant came running into Melkar’s study, opening the doors without waiting for a reply—Master!

 

- Don’t shout –said the Carthaginian with calm, sitting on a magnificent chair in front of the only window without boards. From there Melkar had a privilege view of the city and the anarchy that had descended upon Gaza; but he was unperturbed. 

 

- Master, a group of Macedonian soldiers are gathering outside the house –said the servant, he was frightened and trembling from head to toe. 

 

- Then, you should leave while you still can –the Carthaginian left his cup of wine at his side; he could see the cavalry squadron from the window. The hetairoi cavalry had gone to apprehend him, he should feel honor. He smiled.

 

- But master…

 

- You heard me, now leave, I have guests to attend –said Melkar, as if death were nothing more that an old acquaintance who came to visit.

 

At first, the servant didn’t know what to do but fear was stronger than him and he ran away leaving his master. The Carthaginian closed his eyes and threw his head back. He could hear the soldiers hitting the heavy wooden doors of his luxurious house, and orders shouted in Macedonian. He never thought his last moments in the mortal world would be like this; he hadn’t chosen how or where he was going to be born but he had chosen how he was going to die.

 

A man should at least have that privilege –thought the Carthaginian, remembering very well what had Alexander done with his daughter. He didn’t blame the Macedonian King for that, why would he? If he were in Alexander’s place, he would have done the same…or even worst—But my dear King, I’m afraid that I won’t be able to give you the pleasure of my company one last time…a shame since I have so much to tell you.

 

Melkar didn’t regret anything… except maybe having chosen to serve a fool like Darius, but that was not important now…

 

The wooden doors cracked, surrendering to the force of the Macedonians’ ram, the sound echoing through the house, mingling with the screams of the servants; the soldiers came inside with Leonnatos leading the way, they advanced unopposed, the servants and slaves were too scared of them to attempt anything, they ran and tried to hide among the hundreds of nooks and crannies of this place. It wasn’t long until Leonnatos found the Carthaginian’s study, the tall doors still wide open.

 

- Melkar! –Leonnatos called him, but there was no answer. The Macedonian drew his sword, the sound of scraping metal against the scabbard fill the place, quiet like a tomb, and that gave him a bad feeling.

 

He advanced carefully expecting to be attacked in any moment, and that strange feeling of doom hover over him. He could feel his heart beating savagely, and his senses heightening while approaching the man sitting in front of the window. 

 

The rest of the Macedonian soldiers arrived at the same time Leonnatos found the lifeless form of Melkar sitting there, his head back and his eyes closed as if he were asleep, but the Macedonian officer couldn’t find a pulse. He took the cup of wine, resting on the table at his side, and smelled it: poison.

 

Leonnatos threw the cup furious against the wall, and it bounced on the floor twice before stopping and pouring the mortal remains of its contents; Alexander wasn’t going to be happy.

 

XXX

 

By afternoon the attack was over and Alexander could march into the now pacify city mounted on his war stallion, he couldn’t use Boukephalos any more, his faithful horse was too old and the King tried to let him rest as much as he could. Achilles wanted to go with him, and Alexander wanted to take him but at the last moment he dismissed the idea, it was dangerous and he couldn’t risk his Prince’s life.

 

The King marched through the streets and his men cheered him, he had leaded them to victory again and for many of them, he was the God of War in person. It was a shocking contrast, the victorious and euphoric troops against the silent and gloomy population, but that didn’t worried Alexander. This was how things must be.

 

The King entered Batis’ house and sat on the King’s audience chamber. Leonnatos had been right, as soon as he appeared in front of Alexander, his men carrying Melkar’s body, the King’s expression darkened breaking his handsome features in a frightening expression that chilled his officer’s blood.

 

- What’s this? –he asked, his uneven eyes on the lifeless form at his feet.

 

Leonnatos took a deep breath, fearing that his voice would fail him.

 

- Melkar took his own life, Alexander –said Leonnatos not daring to meet his gaze—When I found him he was already dead.

 

The King was furious, he had not expected this; it wasn’t supposed to be like this, why did the Gods deny him his revenge? He had to clean the offence, the suffering, the humiliation with blood but now…for a moment he thought that Melkar’s cold expression was mocking him, as if the Carthaginian, even dead, were making fun of him. He took the arms of his seat with force and the vein of his forehead pop up. Leonnatos took a step back instinctively.  

 

- Alexander! –Philotas voice floated to them and for once, Leonnatos was glad to see the hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry there to end with the awkward moment. The King lifted his head and saw Parmelio’s son leading a group that was dragging a big man heavily tied—Alexander, here is King Batis –he said with mockery and pulled the man to the front making him fall on his knees before the invader.

 

Batis had tried to escape among the confusion, but found all the possible exits blocked, it had been a rather easy task for the train soldiers of the cavalry to capture him and disposed of his bodyguards, who had fought to the last man defending their master.

 

Philotas hadn’t lose time in making fun of the defeated King, even calling him a Persian eunuch, but, even if his situation was bad, Batis had kept his head high and all his dignity, ignoring Philotas’ mockery and now facing Alexander as his equal, not as an scared and weak defeated enemy. Batis saw Melkar’s body at his side but he didn’t give him more than a glance. He stood up, and Alexander could see he was huge, a corpulent man, dark skinned, covered in blood, sweat and dust but looking as if he were dressed in his best cloths in the middle of a royal banquet.  

 

- Are you King Batis? –Batis didn’t answer—You would better answer my questions, you are now in my hands. 

 

The captured King remained silent, he would not beg for mercy, his pride didn’t allow it, and he preferred to die rather than stoop to the level of a slave. No matter how many questions Alexander asked Batis didn’t say a word and that made the King lost his tempered. His shoulder kept hurting, Melkar had taken his own life and now this ugly man dared to defy him… He would not tolerate this.

 

XXX

 

Achilles and Cyrus were on one of the sentries’ towers, again, trying to see at the distance what was happening and exchanging excited comments when they saw the commotions.

 

- What’s going on? –asked the Persian, shielding his eyes against the burning sun.

 

- I don’t know, but there is my dad –said the Macedonian pointing to where a page was standing at the side of Darius’s war chariot, outside Gaza’s walls. Alexander was there, on the chariot, while his guards had a man lashed by the ankles behind it. 

 

- What is he doing? –Cyrus narrowed his eyes, in his innocent mind the Persian Prince had no idea of what did the King pretend, why would he tied a man behind a chariot? And who was this man?

 

- Well, I’m not sure but… —Achilles thought for a moment—I think dad is going to drag that man behind the chariot, you know, like Achilles did with Hektor –Cyrus saw him with a blank expression—The Iliad…Homer?…Forget about it…  

 

And Alexander did just that, he was so furious after all he had been through that he dragged Batis around the walls of Gaza till he was dead…and what about Melkar? Well, my King ordered to nail his body to a public gibbet, like he had ordered to do with Gloomy Pausanias after the assassination of King Philip, and he let him rot under the sun.

 

Oh My lifestyle (Birth is Pain) determines my deathstyle!

a rising tide (Life is Pain) that pushes to the other side!

My lifestyle (Death is Pain) determines my deathstyle!

a rising tide (Its All The Same) that pushes to the other side!

(Metallica, Frantic)

 

XXX

 

Alexander arrived at Pelusium in one week, after pushing his men on a killing pace to reach this city in a record time. He wanted to reach this city, located in the eastern extremes of the Nile Delta, and be reunited with his fleet before continuing the advance to Egypt; the King was tired of Gaza, the water supplies were still scarce and the campaign had been delayed enough thanks to the last 2 sieges…at least that was the official version, but Ptolemy and Thais were of the idea that, what Alexander really pretended, after pushing them all so hard during a week, was to be with Hephaistion as soon as possible, after all the General was the one in charge of the fleet and it had been near 3 months since the last time they saw each other. 

 

I’m sure you have heard about Pelusium…no? Think again, have you ever heard of Gnaeus Pompey? Sure you have, with all those movies about Queen Cleopatra out there. Well, Caesar’s enemy in the Civil War, Pompey, was assassinated here, in Pelusium, where the men of King Ptolemy XIII cut his head, put it in a basket and later presented it as a gift to Caesar…and yes, this King Ptolemy was descendant of my Ptolemy. Curious turns of history…

 

- Epizelos! –Krateros called one of his officials while walking among the ranks of the exhausted men of his taxei.

 

- Sir –the veteran pezetairoi ran to where the bulky form of his commander was standing. Epizelos was sweating, his face spoke louder than words about his tiredness after marching without pause; but the veteran soldier would never complain before his superior, he would be damn if he ever did as much as said a word about his countless sleepless nights. 

 

- How many men fell during the march? –Krateros’ eyes surveyed the faces of his men, quickly finding the gaps left by those who couldn’t keep the pace and fell along the road.

 

As soon as the order to halt had been giving, the pezetairoi had dropped on the ground, too tired to do something else. They looked for their canteen and the last remains of water.

 

- 10, sir –said Epizelos at once—4 reached us later, and the rest were picked up by the baggage wagon.

 

Krateros scratched his chin; he could feel his brain cooked inside his skull, after hours marching with his helmet under that harsh sun.

 

- 10 men…that doesn’t surprise me after all the men are exhausted –he murmured—In 10 minutes, give the order to start with the camp construction outside the city.

 

- Yes, sir.

 

Alexander entered Pelusium alone, just with the Agema and his high-ranking officers, and, as soon as he put a step inside he heard from the notables that his fleet had arrived the day before. His heart beat faster with the anticipation of being with Hephaistion again. But duty called and he had to attend first the rapturous group of Egyptians that had assembled there to cheer the Macedonian King as their liberator. 

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion was near the harbor, sitting under a palm tree with a letter in his hand. His father had wrote to him weeks ago with a request, a very peculiar one and the General had had to read the letter twice before being sure of what Amyntor wanted. According to his father, a young Samian named Aristion would arrive at Asian coasts to talk to him on behalf of Demosthenes. Apparently, the old Athenian orator wanted to seek reconciliation between him and Alexander, and was asking for Hephaistion’s intercession with the King.

 

The General sighed; he truly didn’t like the idea of having to speak in Demosthenes behalf but…

 

Hephaistion, I know you don’t like what I am asking you, and I know you well enough to know that you dislike Demosthenes, but remember that Demades granted my descendants and me the Athenian citizenship almost 3 years ago (1) and it’s our duty to help Demosthenes. Think of it this way my son, you can help our King to finally come to terms with one of his staunchest opponents in Athens…

 

He re read his father’s letter. He had no choice; Hephaistion couldn’t deny his father a favor when he asked him like this, not after all that Amyntor had done for him. Besides, his father was right, it would be very beneficial for Alexander to come to terms with Demosthenes.

 

- General! –he lifted his head slowly—The King arrived –said the sailor in front of him. 

 

Hephaistion stood up, folded the letter and put it among his clothes.

 

- Then, let’s not make him wait –he said, walking towards the city.

 

Pelusium was a city that had suffered greatly in the past, it had been near it’s gates that almost 2 hundred years in the past, the decisive battle for the Egyptian throne had been fought against King Cambyses II, son of Cyrus the Great and the same one who had conquered Gaza.

 

Who is this Cambyses and why is he so important? Well, Cambyses was crowned King after the death of his famous father Cyrus, but unlike Cyrus, he was a ruthless man. In my time I heard a Persian saying “Darius I was a tradesman, Cambyses II a Tyrant and Cyrus a father”(2) When Cyrus the Great was still alive, Egypt was governed by Amasis II, who by the way is considered the last great Pharaoh, but it was until Cambyses became King that problems between the 2 of them started.

 

Cambyses asked Amasis for one of his daughters in marriage, Amasis refused fearing that his daughter would be treated as a concubine instead of a wife, and sent him Nitetis, the daughter of a previous Pharaoh. When Cambyses found out that he had been tricked he declared war against Egypt and finally, after the Battle of Pelusium, Egypt became part of the vast Persian Empire, ending with it’s glorious history and the ancient dynasty of the Pharaohs. 

 

Now, why did the Egyptians receive my King as his savior? Because the Persians treated them like a big granary store, like the Romans did after them, and did the most terrible thing they could have done: mock their religion.   

 

It was almost night by the time Hephaistion could see Alexander; the General was inform that the King was staying at one of the most beautiful houses in the city and headed to it, waiting patiently until the King had time for him. Maybe, any other person in his place would have demanded to see Alexander at once, but not him, the General never liked to intrude in his King’s duties.

 

But the wait was worth it. One page told Hephaistion that Alexander’s was expecting him in his room, and as soon as the King saw him, standing at the entrance, he ran to kiss him, closing the door behind them, and leaning his beloved’s back against the door. He could feel Hephaistion’s lips curving against his own and his arms surrounding his waist, while his firm body undulated against him. 

 

- I missed you –the General whispered before kissing him again, in those moments his King’s kisses were more important than air.

 

- Me too –the King left a trail of kisses on his way to his cheek.

 

- How is your shoulder? –Hephaistion slid his hands down, until he reached his butt. How he had missed him…

 

- Better, I don’t have to use that sling anymore and doesn’t hurt when I raise my sword –he said kissing his lips one last time.

 

- You are a mess when I’m not around –Hephaistion caught his lower lip and nipped it, slowly, sending sparks through his body, while his hands played on his butt, massaging it over the fabric.

 

- I’ll complain to your King for sending you away –his beloved laughed.

 

- And Aki?

 

- You are going to be very proud of him –said Alexander excited, stopping his caresses for a moment—Aki found Melkar’s spy in our camp.

 

Hephaistion raised his eyebrows in astonishment.

 

- How?

 

- He observed that one of the Persian servants was acting strange –the King took his hand, guiding him to take a seat at his side on the bed—He told me and I sent Dismas to investigate. As things turned out, he was the spy and, after a couple of hours with your lads, he told me everything I needed to know. 

 

Hephaistion took a moment to absorb the information. His son had discovered a spy, not even in his wildest dreams he would have imagined this. Achilles’ birthday had been a few days ago and to think that a 5 years old boy could pay that kind of attention to details had him amazed.

 

- And what about Melkar? You told me in one letter that he was inside Gaza –he asked and immediately, Alexander’s expression changed, his love, excitement, happiness and arousal after seeing his beloved again, disappeared remembering what had happened.

 

- He took his own life –the King was furious—I sent Leonnatos to capture him, but when he arrived Melkar was already dead.

 

For a moment Hephaistion didn’t know how to react. He hated Melkar even more than Alexander, and he gladly would have killed the Carthaginian painfully and slowly if he had had the opportunity; only once in his life the General had hated someone this much, and that one had been King Philip. He didn’t know what to feel. Melkar was dead, but by his own hand, which meant he hadn’t paid for everything he had done to them. He had to take a deep breath to calm down that rage inside him.

 

- But Melkar wasn’t alone –said the General slowly, catching the King’s attention—He was acting on Darius’ orders –Alexander’s eyes shone in understanding—This is not over.

 

- No –said the King. How could he have forgotten about Darius? Of course! Melkar was only a pawn, and he had to go directly against the culprit. May the Persian Gods had mercy on the Great King because Alexander won’t. 

 

- You look tired –Hephaistion observed, leaning his back against the headboard. He made an effort to forget about Melkar, he didn’t want to spoil his reunion with the King remembering the Carthaginian and cursing him for something that had no solution now. 

 

- I’m tired –Alexander rubbed his eyes and rested his head on his beloved’s lap. Hephaistion smiled and caressed his head, gently brushing his hair with his fingers—And I’m worried. 

 

- About what?

 

- I have many casualties after the sieges of Tyre and Gaza –said the King, closing his eyes.

 

- But you told me in one letter that you are going to receive reinforcements soon –Hephaistion felt Alexander’s body relaxing under his touch.

 

- Yes, but mercs and Greek volunteers and, you know as well as I, that only Macedonians can be used in the phalanx –said Alexander—I have many gaps in the phalanx, all taxeis are under strength and without them I can’t go on. 

 

Hephaistion nodded, he knew that the backbone of the Macedonian army was the phalanx, that, along with the hetairoi cavalry, was what made this the most powerful army in the world.

 

- What are you planning?

 

- I sent Amyntas…the son of Andromenes, to Pella along with 10 triremes to bring me fresh recruits –answered the King, absently caressing his beloved’s thigh.

 

- Antipater is not going to be happy –said Hephaistion and Alexander cursed.

 

- I’m sick of Antipater and his complains…he had been pestering me with letters about Agis’ activities –said the King angrily. 

 

- Agis? –Hephaistion frowned—The King of Sparta?

 

- The same. Antipater has the idea that he is planning some sort of revolt –Alexander explained.

 

- And why this doesn’t concern you? You can’t afford a revolt in Greece in this moment –the King sighed.

 

- We have talked about this Phai –said Alexander, opening his eyes and turning to see him—I can’t go back and I need men; if Agis is planning a revolt Antipater would have to cope with his own resources. 

 

Hephaistion didn’t agree. If Agis was planning a revolt Antipater would need every men to fight against the Spartan, and Alexander should first assure the safety of their homeland before seeking to conquer more land. The men wouldn’t follow him if they knew their families were in danger…but the King was right, they had talked about this and the last thing the General wanted was to argue with him. After all Alexander was the King, and they didn’t even know if the revolt was a fact.

 

- You disapprove –said Alexander as if he had read his mind.

 

- Yes, but…you are the genius and you know what you are doing…I hope –Hephaistion playfully pinched his nose making the King smile—How did everything go with the Egyptians?

 

- Splendid –Alexander cuddled again on his beloved’s lap— They hailed me as their liberator, I guess I should be very grateful with the Persians and their harsh treatment towards these people, they are making things extremely easy for me…did you know that Cambyses dispatched the sacred bull Apis with his own sword? 

 

- Alex, you have to forgive my ignorance but, who is Apis and why does he have a sacred bull? –the King laughed.

 

- Well, apparently the Egyptians have many God-animals, and one of them is a bull called Apis –Alexander explained— The Egyptians believe that a powerful bull represent the personality of the King because it symbolize his courageous heart, great strength, virility, and fighting spirit. The Priests identify a sacred bull and once the bull is proclaimed to be a god incarnate, he is taken to the temple where he is purified, stabled in majestic quarters, fed the best foods…and everything else (3)

 

- So, this Cambyses killed a bull that had been labeled as the reincarnation of a God –Hephaistion summarized.

 

- Yes, and as you can imagine that enraged the Egyptians.

 

- I can imagine.

 

- The Persians did a lot of damage to this people –Alexander continued—But that is going to serve me well –Hephaistion yawned before he could stop himself—You are tired too.

 

- I didn’t sleep well onboard –said his beloved.

 

- Want to sleep with me? –that made Hephaistion smiled.

 

- I was going to ask you that –the King kissed one of his thighs.

 

- Remind me to never send you again away for so long –he said, talking against his creamy skin. 

 

His beloved smiled and shook his head, he would never do such a thing because, as he had said many times before, he was Alexander’s General not his wife…but it was pointless to say that so he just kissed the King and lay at his side ready for his first peaceful night after months onboard. 

 

XXX

 

(1) Where did I get this? Well, I read about Hephaistion possibly obtaining the Athenian citizenship here: Waldemar Heckel. The Marshals of Alexander's Empire, p: 59

 

“A decree of Demades granting Athenian citizenship to Amyntor son of Demetrios and his descendants in 334 B.C. It is tempting to see Amyntor son of Demetrios as the father of Hephaistion. Amyntor may have used his influence (perhaps even through Hephaistion) to persuade Alexander to treat the Athenians with leniency in 335, or to back down on his demand for the expulsion of the prominent Athenian orators. At any rate, Hephaistion himself was thus, by extension, awarded Athenian citizenship and became the contact for Demosthenes at Alexander’s court”

 

So, as you can see I didn’t invented that Hephaistion’s grandfather was called Demetrios ^

 

(2) Pierre Briant. From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire, p 50

 

(3) Anita Stratos. Divine Cults Of The Sacred Bulls.