Memorias de vampiro libro IX

 

Bonus chapter

Field of Glory Pt II

 

 

White walls surround us

No light will touch your face again

Rain taps the window

As we sleep among the dead

Your're dead alive

(Braking Benjamin, Anthem Of The Angels)

 

Pella, 169 BC

 

Where was I? Ah! Yes, I remember now; the now called Second Punic war was over. I had a very “interesting” time at Rome, for a while at least, and then I decided to go back to Macedonia. Why? Good question. Even now I try to avoid going to Macedonia because it makes me nostalgic and sentimental. It’s the same that happens to my friend Lucius Macro, just that Lucius actually likes to be in Rome, I honestly don’t know why since every time he sees the forum he had to make an effort to not cry.

 

It’s the same for me, even more at that time when Macedonia was still a kingdom, the royal palace at Pella was still standing on a hill, surrounded by the lake with the bridge, connecting the palace with the gardens, just as I remembered it from my mortal days.

 

But this time I had to come back. First, because my friend Scipio called the Africanus had died almost 20 years before the night I arrived home, I had nothing more to do at Rome, and, as I told you, I can’t stay for long in one place or people start asking “why doesn’t he age?” And Romans were very superstitious; if I had stayed any longer I’m sure I would have had an angry mob with torches behind me.

 

The world was changing very fast but I couldn’t appreciate it until years later, luckily if there is something I have is time. But what was happening? Alexander had been dead for 154 years; you know what happened after his dead so I would not bore you with the details. For more than a Century Antigonus’s progeny had been ruling Macedonia, and for more than a Century my kingdom remained as the strongest power at Greece. What happened then? The Romans happened.

 

When I came back I found a new King, Perseus; the oldest son of King Philip V had been crowned after his father’s death at Amphipolis. Ah, but don’t let his dazzling name to fool you, he wasn’t the mythological hero type…Not even by mistake.

 

Rome had defeated Macedonia 2 times by now, the last time had been 26 years ago at the Battle of Cynoscephalae, but Rome was still suspicious of King Philip’s intentions, reason why the Senate supported his pro Roman son Demetrios. Soon, a quarrel between Perseus and his younger brother started and Perseus succeeded in making his father believed that his brother was going to betray him in favor of his hated Romans. 

 

And King Philip executed Demetrios for treason. I heard that the King later discovered that his son was innocent and all had been a plot of his firstborn. But it was too late; King Philip V died a year after Demetrios’ execution, before he could name his cousin, Antigonus, his heir. And of course Perseus had this Antigonus killed as soon as he was safely sitting on the throne.

 

Now, as you can see, quarrels for the Macedonian throne didn’t just happen in Alexander’s time…

 

I arrived at Pella in a very cold night, and I went straight to my house. No, not the same house when I grew up; it was still there, if that is what you wanted to know but it wasn’t mine. After my father’s death, all his property was divided among Nikandros, Lysanias and me. As the older son, Nikandros had the biggest part and of course the house was his, it was also mentioned in my father’s will that Nikandros should take care of my mother, I have to say that he did it better than anyone would have thought.

 

All my siblings had children, and yes, before you asked, even Achilles had a daughter who married one of my older brother’s sons, but that’s another story. Nikandros’ elder son inherited the house, and since then his descendants had lived there. The owner of the house, at the time of my arrival, was my brother’s great grandson, a man of 56 years old named Amyntas.  

 

I liked to visit my childhood home from time to time, even if that was always painful for me, it was a place full with happy memories of a lifetime forever lost…But I’m changing the subject.    

 

Just a week later of my arrival I have a very peculiar visitor, no other than the new King’s right hand, Attalos…

 

- I wasn’t expecting such important visitors so soon –said Hephaistion, taking his guest to a spacious living room with an exquisite decoration showing part of the Asian spoils he had obtained 154 years in the past.

 

- My father knew your father, Hephaistion –said Attalos, a man in his mid forties, tall, with dark hair, dark eyes and severe expression—And he always spoke high of him so I felt obliged to come as soon as I heard you were back in Pella. 

 

That was half true, in fact I was the one who knew Attalos’ father, but I wasn’t going to say that, right?

 

For long moments the dark eyes of his guest wandered around the magnificent pieces in displayed, weapons, statues, and some furniture he had taken with him from the royal cities of the extinct Persian Empire.

 

- You have quite a collection –said Attalos, his eyes lingering on the magnificent golden armor that Alexander had given him from the treasure at Susa.

 

- My great grandfather fought at the side of the Great Alexander –said Hephaistion, taking a seat on the nearest couch and his guest nodded.

 

- Many of our great grandfathers fought at his side…And who knows, maybe now we would also have an opportunity to fight a great campaign ourselves –the Tzimisce frowned, he had heard rumors about an upcoming war but this was the first official thing he heard about it.  

 

- Why did you came here tonight, Attalos? –he went straight to the point, more than a Century later had learned him to read the mortals as open books and he knew that Attalos wanted something.

 

His guest smiled and took a seat in front of him.

 

- The King wants to see you –Hephaistion raised one eyebrow, he wasn’t impressed just a little curious. He hadn’t heard good things about Perseus and didn’t fancy the idea of meeting him. 

 

- Why? I don’t know him –he crossed him leg, the ankle resting on his knee.

 

- Because of your family, everyone knows who was your great grandfather –Attalos was a straightforward man, and hated to lose time, something the Tzimisce appreciated—I don’t know much but the King is assembling the army.  

 

- So, he is going to fight Rome after all –that wasn’t a question. Hephaistion leaned back and his mortal guest nodded slowly—Strange man the new King, I heard that his first act, as soon as he was crowned, was to send a representative to the Roman Senate to be recognized as King, then he went to visit the oracle at Delphi with his army threatening Rome’s allies, scared the neighbor kingdoms and now he has openly declare war against the same Rome with which he had a pact.

 

- You don’t approve the war? –the Tzimisce shrugged.

 

- It doesn’t matter what I think –he brushed his hair back, but the truth was that this war worried him more than he was willing to admit...at least for now. 

 

The door opened and Dion, Hephaistion’s ghoul, appeared with a jug of wine and 2 cups.

 

- I heard you were in Rome –said Attalos, his eyes on the jug that Dion was holding.

 

- For some time, yes. I’m a Roman citizen now –he smiled, an arrogant and lazy smiled that made Attalos blushed against his will—Why do you ask? Does that make me a traitor now? I heard Demetrios died for having Romans friends, maybe I should be worried –he said almost amused.

 

- You are a strange man –Hephaistion laughed without noise.

 

- You have no idea –the ghoul served the wine and left. His guest took a sip and nodded his approval; it was an excellent wine.

 

- The King is expecting you tomorrow morning –said Attalos, back to business, the “young” man in front of him was as smart as he was beautiful and he didn’t want to make a fool of himself.

 

- Impossible! –answered the Tzimisce immediately—I already have things to do.

 

- It’s the King we are talking about.

 

I was very tempted to say: “please, I left Alexander waiting several times, why shouldn’t I do the same with a nobody as Perseus?” But, I bit my tongue and said nothing.

 

- I can’t meet Perseus tomorrow morning, but let me see if… —Hephaistion took a moment to think—Maybe the night after tomorrow.

 

Attalos looked as if the Tzimisce had just confessed that he had killed his own father.

 

- You can’t do that! –he exclaimed with eyes wide opened.

 

- Of course I can! –Hephaistion cocked his head and rested it on his hand—If Perseus wants to see me he would do it at my convenience.

 

- You are playing a dangerous game.

 

- Just the way I like it –and Attalos blushed again, like a teenage girl, for his utter disgust.

 

And just as I said I went 2 nights after this meeting to the royal palace. In fact I didn’t have much to do, I could have gone early but I wanted to make him wait. I know it was childish but it has some appeal to leave a King waiting.

 

- Master? Are you all right, Master? –asked Dion as soon as they reached the palace entrance. The Tzimisce had suddenly stopped, watching the place with deep sadness that had his ghoul in shock. He wasn’t use to see his master like this, so vulnerable so…human. He was more used to the cruel demon who prey upon the living and like to play with people, the beautiful creature who liked to seduce the mortals…not this.

 

But in that moment, time seemed to have stopped for Hephaistion as his dark gray eyes wandered through the entrance. The place had changed but at the same time it was the same place he remembered; for a moment of foolishness he thought he would find his friends there, that he would see Alexander at the throne room asking him with a smile why was he so late, and that made a thick blood tear to slid down his cheek.

 

- It’s nothing –he cleaned the tear, ignoring his ghoul’s shock, and kept walking—I want you to wait me outside, I’m not planning to stay long.

 

- Yes master.

 

Inside Hephaistion was taken to the King’s private study, another painful reminder of his mortal days; a sad smile curved his lips when he saw the corridor he used to take to go to his room when he was a page. As they approached to the King’s study, he could hear from the hallway voices and a heated discussion between Perseus and his military staff.

 

- You can’t count with the Aetolian league’s support –the Tzimisce heard one man saying—They fought for the Romans in the past.

 

- Yes, but now they are not happy with them –replied Perseus.

 

- We could still reach an agreement with Rome, it’s not too late –the King hit the table with his fist and all fell silent.

 

- The Romans don’t want an agreement –Perseus raised his voice—This can’t be solved by ceding part of our territory or by yielding to their demands, the whole problem here is that Rome doesn’t want a strong King so near them –Hephaistion thought that this wasn’t exactly true; after all the same could be said of Perseus, that he didn’t want such a strong power so near him—It’s clear what it has to be done, we are going to fight the Romans.

 

Several voices rose in agreement.

 

- You can’t win that war –said Hephaistion, stepping inside and successfully making everybody to fell silent.

 

- Who are you? –asked the King, frowning, angry at being interrupted like that.

 

That was the first time I saw Perseus; he was tall, blond with blue eyes, he could have passed from a member of the Argead family, in fact his father Philip V liked to boast that they had a distant ancestor from the previous royal family. I don’t know it that was true but Alexander had several sisters so…Who knows?

 

Attalos stood up and walked to the King’s side.

 

- He is Hephaistion son of Hephaistion –he explained. 

 

Confusing isn’t? But not always I could be introduced, as “Hephaistion son of Amyntor” Even less here, in Pella where so many people knew my family.

 

The King nodded.

 

- I was expecting you 2 days ago –he said in a bad mood.

 

- I had things to do –answered Hephaistion almost bored, and more than one in that room had to make an effort to suppress a smile at such bold arrogance.

 

Perseus said nothing but it was clear that he wasn’t happy.

 

- Leave us –he asked and his military staff obeyed. Many took their time before leaving, wanting to admire the beautiful and arrogant young man standing there, but the King was in no mood for this and they had to keep walking. The last one to leave was Attalos, he wanted to stay and he waited a moment expecting the King to say something but, when he saw that Perseus wasn’t even looking at him, he left and closed the door behind him.

 

The King waited a moment and, when he could no longer hear footsteps, he pointed at a couch.

 

- Why do you think I can’t win this war? –he asked, taking a cup of wine. 

 

Hephaistion didn’t answer immediately, looking around with curiosity. After all this wasn’t the same place he remembered, the palace had changed…a lot during the past Century, but the changes were more evident from inside.

 

Of all the Kings who devoted their time to re decorate the royal palace of Pella Cassander was the one who made most of the changes, he ordered the constructions of baths inside, for example…Oh! Please, don’t look at me like that; yes at my time there were no bathrooms inside the palace.

 

- Rome is too strong now –said the Tzimisce at last and Perseus twisted his lips, as if he had tasted a lemon.

 

- Rome is nothing, what was Rome 150 years ago when our ancestors were conquering Asia?

 

- We are not living in the times of the Great Alexander –Hephaistion reminded him—Things have changed. 

 

- Maybe, but Macedonia is still a strong kingdom –the King made a pause, he tried to hold Hephaistion’s gaze but found it impossible, those dark gray eyes kept under lock thousands of secrets, it was overwhelming to look at them—They are sending 2 Legions and a good number of allies and auxiliary troops to fight against me. 2 Legions! No more than 12, 000 men, and their auxiliaries and allies are Lydians, Phrygians and Numidians, mine are Gauls and Thracians, warlike people.

 

- If you said so –muttered the Tzimisce, skeptical. 

 

- I’m sure of it! –exclaimed the King and his immortal guest took his time before speaking again.

 

- Perseus, Rome has been in a constant state of war since Hannibal invaded Italy and that was 49 years ago –said Hephaistion slowly, as if he were talking to a child. He didn’t want to see his homeland become a Roman province, and this man in front him was the only one who could do something to prevent that humiliating fate.

 

- Exactly! –exclaimed Perseus— They are tired. Rome has been in war for almost 50 years, first Hannibal, then Antiochus…

 

- Your father –the Tzimisce reminded him—The Greek campaign…And what does this tell you? That now they have a strong and veteran army.  

 

- Their army is a militia, Hephaistion –Perseus was getting angry—The Roman army is full with farmers and commanded by aristocrats who have no military skills.

 

- Right, like Scipio the Africanus –Hephaistion mocked him. 

 

- Africanus is dead!

 

- Yes, but his brother-in-law, Lucius Aemilius Paulus is the one who is marching against you –said Hephaistion—And in his family are not strangers to war, the father of Aemilius Paulus fought at Cannae against Hannibal.

 

- Rome lost that battle.

 

- So, now you are Hannibal? –asked the Tzimisce.

 

The King clenched his jaw.

 

- I can beat them, my army is stronger, is a professional one, and I have in store 10 years supply of grain for my 30, 000 infantry and 5, 000 cavalry and enough money to pay for 10, 000 mercenaries (1) –he explained—50 years of constant war have weaken the Romans, but Macedonia has been in peace for 26 years, I have now more men in age to fight than them.

 

Hephaistion closed his mouth, Perseus was determined and he couldn’t change his mind, it would be a waste of his time to try.

 

Why didn’t I control him with Dominate? The vampire Discipline to control other’s mind. Well, I was young, 154 years old, I didn’t know how to use Dominate since its not one of the Disciplines of my clan, it’s a Ventrue Discipline. But I truly considered the possibility of killing him; at the end I did nothing because that would have been of no use. Perseus had adopted his younger brother, a teenager named Philip as his son, and his own son, Alexander, wasn’t old enough to face a situation like this. Philip and Alexander…ironic isn’t it?

 

- If you have everything under control, why did you call me? –asked the Tzimisce, trying his best to control that savage impulse that was telling him to kill the King, that voice inside him clamoring for blood.

 

- I heard an interesting tale –said Perseus in a calm voice, and he took his time before speaking again— If I’m not mistaken your great grandfather was one of the Great Alexander’s Generals…more than that, he was his lover, Hephaistion son of Amyntor. 

 

- Yes, so? –Hephaistion kept his face expressionless.

 

- I want you to fight for me –said the King—I’m offering you the same post that your great grandfather had.

 

The Tzimisce smiled, cocking his head.

 

- You mean, as your lover? –he teased him and Perseus almost blushed. He loved to make the mortals uncomfortable in his presence, to see them fight their urge to jump at him and satiate their lust.

 

- No, as the hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry –the King explained, trying his best not to let his guest to see the desire burning in his eyes.

 

- Ah!…Why? I’m sure you have more, how to say it? Trustful men than me –said the Tzimisce— After all you don’t know me.

 

- No, but men like symbols, your great grandfather was the hipparch of Alexander and I want you to me mine so…

 

- So the men would think of you as the next Alexander –Hephaistion interrupted him, and Perseus clenched his jaw again, he didn’t like be interrupted. The Tzimisce noticed that but couldn’t care less—First you are Hannibal and now Alexander.

 

The King ignored him.

 

- I have with me young Alexandros son of Amyntas –that caught Hephaistion’ attention—Have you heard about their family? 

 

- Of course I have, we are related –the King nodded. 

 

- Young Alexandros is the great grand son of King Achilles –the Tzimisce was extremely serious—He is going to command the Ile Basilike.

 

Let me explain. Do you remember that I said that my Achilles had a daughter who married Nikandros’ son? Well, Achilles had this…peculiar and very Persian idea that the members of the Royal Family should marry between themselves in order to avoid having outsiders as possible pretenders to the throne. It had sense of course, he married his cousin, Sophia and their daughter, Antigone, married Nikandros’ son.

 

This Alexandros we were talking about wasn’t only my brother’s great grandson, but also mine; and Alexander’s great great grandnephew. Now, why was that nobody had killed my family during all the dynastic disputes for the throne? First because I always tried to look after them; after Achilles assassination I swore to myself that this would never happened again. And second, because my brothers, sister and mother were truly smart and never involved themselves in politics after Achilles’ death. 

 

Their descendants did the same, never aimed to hold the throne and kept themselves in the shadow.

 

I didn’t like what I heard that night at Perseus’ study, I was sure that this campaign was doomed, and the last thing I wanted was that a member of my family would die because of this moron’s ambition, even more knowing that, if someone had the right to rule over Macedonia that one was this young man of 26 years old, Alexandros.

 

- I won’t fight for you –said Hephaistion.

 

- Why not?

 

- I already told you, because it’s suicidal –Perseus threw his cup of wine against the wall.

 

- You are a coward!

 

- Think what you want.

 

I left behind an extremely furious Perseus, but the King’s rage was the last of my concerns. As soon as I left the royal palace, the only thing I could think about was that I had to visit Amyntas and convinced him to forbid his son of fighting against Rome, but that wasn’t as easy as I thought…

 

- I can’t do that, Hephaistion –said Amyntas 3 night after his encounter with King Perseus.

 

Hephaistion had done the last thing he wanted: go to his house. Amyntas knew about him, about their blood bonds, even if they had never met before and received him as if they had known each other all their lives. The Tzimisce felt a knot in his throat watching his house, almost hearing his mother’s voice coming for the kitchen or his brother discussing with his father in his study. It was the same house he remembered. 

 

- I understand that what I’m asking is insane –said Hephaistion softly—But trust me, this is a war Perseus can’t win.

 

- I understand that –said Amyntas nodding.

 

- You do? –that caught the Tzimisce by surprise.

 

- I’m not an idiot –said the man who had the same green eyes of his mother—But the King is giving my son a great honor naming him hipparch of the Ile Basilike. No, don’t say anything –he raised his hand when Hephaistion opened his mouth—I know why is he doing this, I know that, if we didn’t have such famous ancestors he would have never named a 26 years old as his hipparch but…Alexandros is very excited and I can’t forbid him to go just because of a hunch.

 

- This is not a hunch, Amyntas –Hephaistion insisted with intensity—Perseus can’t win…

 

- Of course he can! –exclaimed someone standing at the threshold.

 

- Son! I’m glad you are home –Amyntas stood up to receive Alexandros and the Tzimisce raised his eyebrows in utterly astonishment.

 

Alexandros was blond, just like Alexander, but had his same dark gray eyes; he was tall and handsome and looked more alike to the late King than his son by Roxanne ever did. He could have been Achilles’ brother and that left Hephaistion speechless for a moment. He missed his son so much…

 

- Alexandros, this is our distant cousin –said his father—He is Hephaistion son of Hephaistion.

 

- Joy to you! –said the young man and the Tzimisce nodded, standing up—I overheard you talking about the campaign.

 

- Yes, I was saying to your father that I think is dangerous for you to take part in this war –he went straight to the point.

 

- Why? Because you think we can’t defeat the Romans? –asked Alexandros with overconfidence, almost laughing at the sole idea that they would be defeated.

 

- Alexandros, don’t be rude with our guest –his father scolded him.

 

- No, don’t worry Amyntas, let him speak his mind –asked Hephaistion, sitting down again.

 

- We can’t lose –said the young man with all certainly—King Perseus assembled an army of 43,000 men, no Macedonian King ever have such an army beside from the force that the Great Alexander took to Asia. 

 

- Numbers are not all –said the Tzimisce slowly—Darius made that mistake at Gaugamela and it cost him his Empire.

 

Alexandros smiled.

 

- You speak as if you have fought there –he said—Don’t worry cousin, we’ll be fine. The King addressed the troops this morning, he said to us “[Our] enemies have such arms as each penniless soldier could supply for himself; the Macedonian have arms drawn from the royal arsenal, arms produced in the course of so many years as a result of his father’s planning and expenditure [that we] also have the spirit shown by our ancestors, who, after subduing the whole Europe, had crossed into Asia and opened up with their arms a whole world unknown even by report, and had not desisted from conquest until there was nothing left for them to conquer within the confines of the Indian Ocean. But now, he solemnly assured [us] fortune has arranged a contest not for the farthest coast of India but for the possession of Macedonia itself”(2)     

 

Hephaistion said nothing, for him this was just another proof of Perseus stupidity. If he had done things right we wouldn’t have to be fighting for the possession of his own kingdom.

 

- Cousin –said Alexandros, leaning to the front—Our family has an obligation to defend this kingdom, we descend from 2 Kings, the Great Alexander and Achilles, we…

 

- We don’t owe Perseus anything –said Hephaistion angry, making a great effort to not show his fangs—I don’t want to see my homeland reduced to a mere province, and this is what is going to happen if Perseus doesn’t reach an agreement with Rome.

 

Alexandros shook his head.

 

- Do you think that the Great Alexander would have done that? –he asked—Seek an agreement with Rome?

 

- No –he answered immediately—Alexander would have fought but he was unique, he could have won this war. Achilles for his part wouldn’t have even anger the Romans in the first place… —the sadness in his voice betrayed him and Amyntas and his son exchanged confused gazes— I won’t waste your time, if you want to fight then do it, but be careful.

 

- I will.

 

What happened next? Well, it took a year for both armies to engage battle, and when it finally came to that, the famous battle of Pydna, Lucius Aemilius Paulus defeated the Macedonian army completely. I was still in Pella, and visiting Amyntas more often that I had planned in the beginning. Alexandros survived the battle of Pydna but was very disappointed because Perseus ran away; yes you heard me right. It took the defeated King months to realize that he had lost everything, hidden in Samothrace, and finally surrendered to Aemilius Paullus.

 

It was one of the most humiliating things I have experience in 2000 years. Perseus went to the Roman camp to surrender, dressed in dark cloths and accompanied by his son, a great crowd assembled to witness this not only because Perseus was a defeated King, but also because he had great prestige, why? Because of his linage and what he represented; but Livy explained that better than I when he says that “not only his own renown and that of his father, his grandfather, and the other with whom he was connected by blood and race, made him a figure of universal interest; the glory of Philip and Alexander the Great, who made Macedonia the greatest imperial power on earth, shone upon him”(3)

 

I went to the Roman camp, I wanted to talk to Perseus and since I was…sorry, my “father” was such a good friend of Scipio the Africanus, his brother-in-law received me as if I were his old friend. You should have seen Perseus’ expression when he saw me there; he wasn’t in a cell or anything like that, he had his own tent, surrounded by guards of course, but comfortably as if he were in his own room at the palace.

 

- You again?! –he exclaimed when Hephaistion approached him.

 

- Yes, me again.

 

- What are you doing here? –asked Perseus harshly.

 

- I’m a Roman citizen too, so I asked the General to let me see you –he explained with simplicity.

 

- Why? Did you come to mock me? To say “I told you”? –the defeated King walked around in a bad mood.

 

- What for? –the Tzimisce shrugged and sat down—To tell you the truth I don’t even know why I am here either, I suppose its because of you…You are the last link that was left of that time…

 

- What are you talking about? –the King frowned.

 

- My great grandfather wasn’t the one who fought at Alexander’s side –said Hephaistion catching his attention—It was I –for a moment Perseus didn’t know if he should laugh or start screaming that he had a crazy man in his tent; but one look at his eyes gave him the shivers. He wasn’t in front of a common man.

 

- What are you? –he asked without voice and this time, when the Tzimisce smiled, he could saw his fangs.

 

Perseus stepped back, crashing against the table and making the cups and plates to fall.

 

- Good question, you are not as fool as I thought –answered Hephaistion, leaning his back against the chair—I am Hephaistion son of Amyntor and I was the hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry, what am I now? I’m a demon –Perseus got paled—Don’t Panic Perseus, I didn’t come for your blood –he said in a conversational tone—I came…because with you ends an era, and with you will die the last remnants of my King’s legacy –Perseus was in shock and didn’t quite understood his words. Hephaistion stood up and headed to the exit—Health to you Perseus, the last King of Macedonia.  

 

Lucius Aemilius Paulus, later known as Macedonicus, had a splending triumph in Rome, and guess who was paraded in chains? Yes, Perseus. I was there, in Rome, at that time and I cried of rage that night. Later, Macedonia was divided and sacked, and became a Roman province, never again would it what it was once…

 

XXX

 

(1) Livy. Rome and the Mediterranean, p 501 and 502

(2) Livy. Rome and the Mediterranean, p 537

(3) Livy. Rome and the Mediterranean, p 606