UnHeralded Strength, Book II; Chapter I
Author: Lysis (Copyright March, 2016)
It is a week after Hephaistion's birthday/lion hunt celebration as written at the end of Book I of UnHeralded Strength. Bagoas is up to some tricks and Hephaisition has a problem with the fairer sex.
**Many thanks to Vampire Reader for her assistance.
Deep from the darkest shadows of the quiet tent, a sound was heard, that of a mighty paw clawing upon thick rugs. Slowly, its great head tossing back and forth, the beast seemed to peruse the room as it moved forward. It gave a great yawn and open its wide, blood spattered mouth to roar when it tripped on a chess piece lying on the rug. A mighty pawn came down slapping the offending ground and a slash of giggling rent it mouth. Quickly it stifiled its chuckles when it sensed an invader on its stomping ground.
"Bagoas? Oh Hades! Where are you? I….help me.…do something! Is she still out there?" The tall form of Hephaistion rushed in, practically filling the small front space of Bagoas' quarters. He stood behind the green leather tent draperies peeking out. "I believe she foll..." Hephaistion's voice died off. The Beast clawed at the ground, and tipped its huge head to the side. The voice, that human cry sounded familiar. A moment it held its head high then the huge head shook from side to side. A great roar shook the small tented environs and it seems the tent it lit with a wild unearthly golden light coming from the great mane. Menacingly the beast came forward quickly at the sound of the human voice, crying out in shock and concern.
Beneath the heavy shaggy head Bagoas clamped his paw covered hand to stop a loud guffaw as he watch his prey, Hephaistion turned paler than he first had been. His hand raked his sword, as his lips became firm and defiant.
"Uh, oh, time to stop." Bagoas muttered and began a rapid back up until he was on his knees in the room behind Hephaisition.
"Ah, 'tis cruel, too cruel, but fun." He giggled softly to himself. "Just a small performance." Standing up to his full height facing the hapless Hephaistion "the lion" began a silly dance and song. Hephaistion's color suddenly turned rushing bright touches of color to his face. He made a face and a loud 'hurrrump" and tried to look stern as he poked Bagoas very lightly on the chest.
"Apollion, demon king take you, beast!"
"Think you Iskander will find it amusing?"
"Think you can manage to dance with his dagger in your heart? Have you gone bad Bagoas?"
"I only wish to amuse him. I thought it funny." Bagoas slid out from under the heavy skin. Hephaistion sniffed as he pulled the large lion skin upright.
"Oh he'll be amused alright, but you might not be." He guffawed as he tossed the skin into a corner. "I thought I'd near piss myself when I first saw the head." Bagoas bent his glossy head and sighed deeply, "Forgive me my Lord, I never meant any harm. 'Twas only a jest to please Alexander, and then when I saw you I realized I could test it out first. " He looked so forlorn Hephaistion could not help but laugh.
"Luckily Alexander he has you to keep him happy. I wonder that he will survive your presentation or you the response. You two, you are hopeless together."
"And you, great Lord, fear no one?" Hephaistion raised an eyebrow and grinned.
"Aye, I am without fear."
"I see 'tis only women you fear."
Hephaistion's brow thundered and he turned on Bagoas. "I fear women? What? That is absurd!" This time he turned his long dagger and prodded Bagoas in the side. "Take that back now!"
"I mean no offense my Lord Hephaistion, most beloved of the divine King Iskandar, but I could not help but note….I mean…Meli again?" Hephaistion made a terrible face at him as he sank down upon a pile of silken cushions.
"I deserve some wine after this perilous performance. I thought I saw the Moiroi dance before me, dangling my life thread, and then I find out 'tis only you."
"Nai, only I!"
Naturally," Hephaistion shook his head as he released a tent tie from his hand, and sighed as he approached Bagoas and took his arm in his hands. "'Tis healing well, I would think," Gently he poked the bandage on Bagoas' arm. He unwrapped the linen and studied the wound, which was reddish and bleeding again.
"Who did this, oh you, of course. Do not scratch at it so. It will become infected. 'Twas a brave wound taken in good service, but do not let it kill you. Surely Alexander had medicants for it?
"Aye, he did slather them on."
"Well then come and he will again. This is not good to continue as such. Neither Alexander nor I or the rest of the officers are so careless." Bagoas huffed out the answer as he pushed back his long hair with his hand. "I'm sure she's gone now." He grinned trying to pry Hephaistion's grip from his arm.
"Don't change the subject," Hephaistion scolded. "Both Alexander and I noted last week during my birthday - lion hunt celebration you were favoring your side."
"It was nothing much, just a stitch from dancing."
"And, do you lie to Alexander as you do me just now?" Bagoas pulled his exquisite mouth into a moue at the iron in Hephaistion's voice and shook his head. "Non, just you."
"Nai, so I thought." Hephaistion's own mouth opened in a reluctant smile and his blue eyes twinkled as they met the twinkle in Bagaos' eye.
"Truly I do not understand it." He bade Hephaistion to sit while he bathed his hands and offered wine explaining the incidents that had occurred in the past. The day he had been running back when the lion hunt had been near its height, someone had shot at him.
"Nor do I. It seems you have made an enemy of someone." Bagoas grimaced and sighed deeply.
"There is little I can do about that. I do recall, well. The arrow from that attack. I think Chares still has it. I believe he knew whose arrow it was. Possibly one of the pages. I am a Persian in a Hellene camp enemies are part of my night supper, I suppose."
"Aye, but you are not alone. Alexander needs to know…now, this day; you understand me?"
Bagoas pursed his mouth again, as he shook his head in agreement and muttered. "Nai, I will." He sighed as Hephaistion examined his arm.
"It wants a good cleaning and tighter stitches, Bagoas, you have loosed them with your scratching. Come, to Alexander. I will come with you."
"Afraid I'll run away; the soft Persian?" His words were steady, but his eyes teased.
"You are one person I know I can count on, you'd never run away. That is why I allow you with Alexander and it is one reason he loves and honors you." Bagoas looked somewhat taken aback at the words. He knew Alexander loved him, but did he truly honor him as well? It was something he had thought rarely of, his love was enough.
"Come." Hephaistion headed toward the curtain, threw them open then drew back abruptly, but it was too late. He had been spotted by his "beloved" who having spotted him cried out his name and made a bee line for Bagoas' tent. "Of fuck!"
"My Lord?"
"She's still out there." Hephaistion growled as he wrapped himself half in the tent curtain as he peered out, his brilliant violet blue eyes narrowed and thoughtful. "Why won't she leave me alone? I've given her no cause to consider I've affection for her. Why does she do this?"
Bagoas burst out laughing only to cover his mouth with his hand. "You delight her eye. By Paradise you delight many an eye. You are her hero or am I wrong?"
"Non, I did save her from those ruffians, but her thanks was enough. I need nothing more." He turned anxiously to Bagoas who was suddenly in a flurry of action, making up his eyes, lips and brushing his long blue-black wavy hair until it seemed to crackle, and then daubed on a rich scent. "Only for you or Alexander would I do this." Hephaistion watched somewhat mesmerized as the youth transformed into a young woman of indescribable beauty.
With the swish of silken fabric as blue as the sea as a mantle over his glossy head Bagoas grasped Hephaistion's hand. "Take my hand. I guarantee you will startle her, and leave her standing behind you speechless. She knows nothing of me, and will never guess. I will explain to Alexander, he will find it amusing, I hope." Bagoas winked naughtily at the startled Hephaistion as they left the tent.
TBC…