They spent a cold and restless night, but at dawn Hephaistion said that they should make a move, but it wasn't in the way that Theseus expected.
Hephaistion went to the stream, took a drink and then wet his face,before lifting his dagger and shaving his face. Then he turned and handed to dagger to him. "Shave your beard," he said. "It might suit an Athenian, but the Persians think that every companion of Alexander's goes beardless."
"I am no companion…"
"You are if we are stopped and you are asked. Say that you are Nicanor, son of Parmenion and they will think that they can ransom you."
"A son of Parmenion?" Theseus laughed, but took the dagger and stepped forward to shave his beard. His thoughts went to Dione, and her comments when his beard first started growing. He thought she preferred his face clean-shaven but after a while she had stopped mentioning it. The blade was sharp and the job was soon done, he stood up to see Hephaistion holding his horse, smiling at the new appearance.
"It suits you better," Hephaistion commented, putting on his helmet, before leaping on his horse and reaching his hand out again, to lift him up.
"How long until we reach Alexander?" Theseus asked, hoping it would be by nightfall at the latest.
"Some time tomorrow," came the reply.
Theseus bit back his disappointment, he felt safer with Hephaistion than he would have on his own, but being with the army would make him feel even safer.
As if sensing this, Hephaistion looked back at him. "I asked for reinforcements to be sent to bring in the supplies. When the scouting party returns to Alexander, he'll have men sent out to meet us. Hopefully, we'll run in to them and not the Persians."
They rode along, through the woods, picking their way through in places where the trees were dense. They found a track and followed it as it headed in the right direction. This made the going somewhat easier and they made some distance, before the track dwindled away to nothing.
Hephaistion guided the mare up a steep bank, then suddenly halted. An open space was before them and ten men sat on horseback, talking amongst themselves. The Persians they had been hoping to avoid. As they watched eight more men rode out of the woods, calling to the others.
"It seems that at least one of the prisoners spoke Greek," Hephaistion said. "They aren't riding to join Darius, they are hunting for us."
Theseus looked over to see if he recognised any of the men, he had watched them long enough. He recognised one man, dressed in black,and pointed him out to Hephaistion. "There is one of them," he said, as he spoke he saw another. "And him."
Hephaistion backed the mare down the bank, turning her. He turned back to look at Theseus, his face thoughtful. "I'll head back the way we came," he said, finally. "If I leave you there, to head north, you have a good chance of making it through. I'll come back here and hope to lose them."
"No, I'm going with you." Theseus was surprised to hear himself say it, but Hephaistion had saved his life and there was no way he could take the easy way out of this situation and abandon him.
"You'll slow me down, Theseus. My mare is fast, but she will be held back by carrying two."
Theseus had not thought of it, and the realisation that they had to part company distressed him. He swallowed his emotion back. "If Ifind the others…back at the village, we will come and find the army…and find you," he vowed.
Hephaistion smiled and nodded, then pushed his mare forward in to a slow canter. Feeling like a burden, Theseus hoped Hephaistion would not go too far before leaving him, he feared for him, he was the one they were hunting for and he was outnumbered, the Persians might be anywhere.
"Here, leave me here," he urged, jumping down before Hephaistion had brought the mare to a halt, but this time managing to stay on his feet. He reached up to clasp Hephaistion's right hand in farewell. "Don't go back that way," he pleaded. "Not if they are hunting for you, Hephaistion. Come back north with me and wait until it is safe."
Hephaistion shook his head. "This is the battle Alexander and I have talked about since we were boys. I have to be there, Theseus, or die trying."
Theseus stepped back, to see Hephaistion's head come up, his eyes scanning the woods. He turned to see what had alarmed him, only to see a line of cavalry coming towards them, cries already going up that they were found. Hephaistion held out his hand, and Theseus took it, leaping, once more, up on to the mare.
"Hang on!" Hephaistion warned, as the mare broke in to a gallop from a standing start.
Branches whipped at them as Hephaistion attempted to put distance between them and the Persians, by heading through the trees, going off track. He galloped up a bank, to find a wide gap between it and the ground beyond. Giving a yell, Hephaistion urged the mare on and she did a stag leap over the deep ditch, galloping on.
Gripping Hephaistion's chiton with one hand and reaching round his waist with the other, Theseus looked back. The Persians had stopped, hesitating to follow. He gave a cry of joy, of relief, as Hephaistion pulled the mare right. Theseus looked left to see more riders coming after them. The mare halted, bouncing on the spot. Theseus looked right to see more cavalry closing in. The mare span and he caught site of more men behind them. A trap was being sprung, even he could see that.
With a cry, Hephaistion pushed the mare on again, making for the woods once more, galloping straight ahead as on their left and right the Persians moved in. It seemed a lifetime to the woods, the mare was tiring, they did not seem to be moving fast enough to get through the closing gap. Somehow, Hephaistion got more speed, breaking through and in to the woods, but the trees were dense and slowed them, branches almost unseating them.
Guiding the mare down a slope, Hephaistion headed for a stream, and the mare leapt down in to it, the way now clear for them to pick up the pace again. Theseus could not see the enemy cavalry, but he could hear them, even above the crash of water as the mare galloped on, blowing hard now, and he remembered what Hephaistion had said about slowing him down,and felt guilty for it. The mare was fast enough to have outrun the enemy easily enough, if he had not been an extra load upon her back.
The stream widened out, but as it did the trees grew sparser, when they needed the cover. The enemy cavalry appeared, riding parallel to them. There was nowhere for them to go but forward as the bank on the left was too steep and rocky.
Theseus looked behind to see two riders in the stream behind them, gaining on them as the mare tired, and slowed, coming to a halt. Looking forward he saw the reason why, they were surrounded. Hephaistion drew his sword, but archers pulled arrows back on their bows, and so he threw it down. Theseus wondered if he had done it as surrender was the only option, or if he would have fought to the death had he been alone.
Five riders dismounted and stepped in to the water to pull them from the mare. Cries of victory went up as they took Hephaistion, though he struggled against them. Theseus was surprised to find that he felt no fear for himself, only for Hephaistion, even as they disarmed him.
He was held by two men, whereas the three who held Hephaistion were quickly joined by two more, who dragged him forward, not caring when he stumbled forward into the stream. More horsemen arrived, no doubt alerted by the cries. Theseus pulled himself away from watching Hephaistion's plight, to look at them and stood aghast as he saw Aepytus riding with them, the man in black,who had been their prisoner, by his side. They pulled Hephaistion towards the Athenian captain.
"Hipperfestion?" they asked, pulling Hephaistion's helmet from his head, discarding it, then grasping his hair to hold his face towards Aepytus.
Aepytus smiled. "Yes, you have Hephaistion," he nodded, to be met with more cries of victory.
"Traitor!" Theseus yelled, pulling against the men who held him, his anger giving him a courage that he never knew he had.
All too late he saw Aepytus turn to gaze on him, saw the recognition and expected to be named a moment after, but Aepytus bit his lip and said nothing. He might have been thankful for it except the mercy came from a man who should have been ashamed to call himself Greek.
The man, wearing black, pulled his horse around and rode over to where Hephaistion was held, leaning forward and speaking to him. Hephaistion did not answer, he only seemed to study the man before him, then looked to the man who had caused his capture.
"How long do you expect to live once you have served your purpose, Aepytus? They will soon see that you are inept," he looked to the man before him. "If they have not realised it already."
"How long you expect live, Hipperfestion?" the Persian asked, in poor Greek.
Hephaistion replied, in Persian, surprising Theseus with the way the words flowed from him, as if he were Persian himself.
Whatever he said caused the Persian's face to go red with anger, and he hit out,striking Hephaistion across the face, before reining his horse back. Then he looked to Theseus. "Who is he?" the Persian asked Aepytus.
"Nicanor, son of Parmenion," Theseus shouted up before Aepytus could answer, he looked to his former captain, praying he would not betray him now, then glanced over to Hephaistion to see a look of approval.
The Persian translated to his men and another victory cry went up. "I think the Great King be pleased with me. Say I do good," the man said, grinning to reveal two broken teeth. "We know then how Alexander fight."
Two more men came over to Theseus, pulling his arms in front of him and tying them with rope. Theseus heard the rattle of chains and looked to see men going to Hephaistion. They meant to chain him, and the thought of Hephaistion having to suffer that indignity made Theseus fight forward, only to be pulled back as the men laughed at him. They fastened a metal collar around Hephaistion's neck, locking it in place. A thick metal ring hung from it at the front, through which a thick chain had been threaded. On both ends of this chain were metal cuffs, which they locked in place on Hephaistion's wrists, then they brought a piece of chain around his waist, over the other, securingthat at his back so that he was limited as to how far he could move his hands.
They brought up the mare, from the stream and lifted Hephaistion up, on to her back, pulling the reins over her head, to lead him. Another horse was brought up and Theseus was lifted on to that, its reins were held by a Persian, who kept looking back on him, sneering at him and saying things in a voice that held dark threats.
Aepytus brought himself alongside Theseus, looking at him. "They are taking Hephaistion to Darius, it would help if you also confirmed who he was…Nicanor, son of Parmenion."
Theseus looked about, fearing that any conversation might be overheard.
"It's alright," Aepytus assured him. "Only the head man speaks any Greek, and it was the head man that we captured, so don't try to tell me that Alexander would not have wanted to interrogate him." He laughed. "How things change. Now it is Hephaistion who will be interrogated, and soon enough because Darius is on the move."
"But…Darius was waiting…"
Aepytus laughed. "I told them where they could locate Alexander, it seems that Darius has grown impatient with waiting."
Theseus would have struck out at the man, if he could have reached him, hands bound or not. He looked for Hephaistion, wanting to call out, almost as if Hephaistion, chained as he was, could do something to stop what Aepytus had started. "The sick and wounded are all that remain, you know that Aepytus. They will be slaughtered and all because you seek to protect your miserable life."
Aepytus chewed the inside of his mouth. "Take care…or I might remember that your name is Theseus," he warned.
"Hephaistion says that you will not live for long. I hope you do, Aepytus - long enough for Alexander to punish you for what you have done."
"Alexander will be dead," Aepytus sneered. "Darius has thousands of men, the Macedonian boy is greatly outnumbered, and he should see that his days are numbered."
Theseus lifted his leg and kicked out at Aepytus, knocking him from his horse, almost falling from his own in the process. It caused such a commotion that the man in black rode back, stopping Aepytus, now back on his feet, from pulling Theseus from his horse.
The man hit out with a whip, forcing Aepytus back. "He valuable," the Persian said.
"He's no such thing!" yelled Aepytus. "He's called Theseus, a mere hoplite, and an incompetent one at that."
The Persian looked at Theseus, as if he might believe Aepytus. Theseus thought that he was a dead man, and looked to the large dagger hanging from the Persian's belt and at his sword, wondering which weapon would be selected for his execution. He tried to speak, to open his mouth to argue, but it had gone dry with fear. Past the pounding of his heart he heard words spoken, Hephaistion's voice, speaking in Persian, and whatever he was saying seemed to be calming the lead man.
"He say that you are try to harm Nicanor because he once use you badly in phalanx, that you bear grudge on him, would see dead."
"Nonsense," Aepytus retorted, spitting on the ground. "I was bringing men from Athens and I would know my own man."
"Quiet," the Persian commanded, his eyes gazing over Theseus. He reached over and examined the gold brooch with the index finger of his right hand, then ran his fingers over the chlamys that Theseus wore. "Parmanin's son," he smiled and nodded.
Aepytus continued chewing the inside of his mouth, but said nothing,his face was flushed with anger. They moved on. The pace picked up and more riders joined them, having been called for as they rode along. The woods were thick with Persian cavalry, seeking their valued prize.
Eventually, they came to a large open plain, with a mountain range before them, the horses were pushed to a gallop as they crossed the level ground. Theseus struggled to keep his seat on the horse they had given him. He reached forward and clutched it's mane, sending a prayer to Zeus that he would not fall. He guessed that Nicanor would have been born to ride horses, and that if he fell they might start believing Aepytus. They brought him close to Hephaistion, but not close enough to talk, if he could have found the words, as he was too busy hanging on. He still felt angry for what Aepytus had done, and hated the thought that the man might benefit from talking too loudly, making poor decisions and only caring to save his own skin.
Fresh horses were brought up, he was pulled down and pushed on to a grey, there was much talk amongst the Persians, and Darius' name was mentioned. They appeared like excited children, in a hurry to see a hero who was coming in their midst. No water was offered, although the sun was still strong, and Theseus' throat was dry. His wrists were chafed where the rope cut in to them, but he guessed it was nothing compared to the heavy chains that Hephaistion had been made to wear. He wondered what sort of man Alexander was. If it might break him, if Hephaistion was killed, or if he would grow stronger still and seek revenge on the whole of Persia for the crime.
Alexander was supposed to be sending men back for them, there had been no sign, but he realised he was lost, and had no idea how far they had come. The grey was wider, and easier for him to stay seated on. They galloped on, as if they might never stop, until eventually the mountains drew closer and then they were amongst them. The pace slowed, as they picked their way along a narrow trail, before coming out on to an open space. It was growing dark. The leader seemed as if he wanted to go on, but his men argued the point, enough to start making a camp, lighting fires and producing meat to cook.
Theseus was pulled from the grey, and dragged over to a dead tree, which in it's day had stood tall among the rest. He was tied to it, by a rope around his waist and chest, but allowed to sit and he was grateful for that, although he felt sore enough from the journey. He was more grateful when a skin of water was brought to him and he was allowed to drink. The guards stepped back, going behind him to check the ropes that held him. They stepped away from the camp, talking amongst themselves, laughing and relaxed. His right hand fell on to his leather pouch, and he tried to reach inside it, for the comfort of seeing Dione's face. One of the guards, coming back towards the camp, saw him, and caught his hand, reaching in to the pouch himself and pulling out the terracotta head.
"No." Theseus protested at the theft, as the man examined the object in his hand, calling over his companion to see it. He ran a thumb across Dione's face, kissed it with wet lips, then laughed and dropped it on the ground, picking up a rock and crushing it. Theseus pulled against the ropes, but was held too tightly. "No," he repeated, but his voice was low as he looked at the shards of clay. The man stood up and kicked the broken terracotta, mixing it with the dirt. Theseus said nothing, but he felt as if he had lost Dione, that he would never see her again. Tears filled his eyes as he looked down and prayed to Zeus for help, for him and for Hephaistion. The Persians were confident, seeming to celebrate as if the battle was already won.
They had held on to Hephaistion, changing the guards on him as they set up the camp, then holding him, standing him between the leader and Aepytus. Flasks were passed around amongst themselves, then food, and they chattered, sang and laughed. Hephaistion was given no food or drink, simply made to stand, which he did as if no part of it all. Then one of the men pulled him forward, by grabbing at the chain where it threaded through the collar. He held up a flask and had Hephaistion drink. Wine was in it, he held the flask too high so it flowed too fast for Hephaistion to swallow, and ran down his chiton.
It became a game, to make Hephaistion drink the wine. He shook his head, and fought away from them, but this only encouraged them to try harder. More of them came up to hold him still, to pull his hair and hold his head back. Only when Hephaistion choked did they leave him be, at the orders of their chief.
The man, who had started it all, made some comment and ran his hand along Hephaistion's thigh, Hephaistion kicked out and head butted the man, knocking him down. Chaos erupted at the affront, and Theseus could not see for a moment as men crowded in, though he could hear the leader shouting above them all. The men stepped back, Hephaistion was on the ground, just lifting himself up on to one elbow. The chief looked about and found a strong stick, destined to be thrown on the fire.
With an order Hephaistion was lifted to his feet, then dragged to another tree, close to where Theseus was bound. They held him against it, cutting away the linen corselet before the chief whipped Hephaistion for his defiance. Ten strokes that came down hard. When he was done, Hephaistion spoke, mentioning the name of Philip and then Alexander. The chief's face grew red with anger and although he was already breathless, he struck out two more times,before discarding the stick and striding away, yelling orders as he went.
Two men pulled Hephaistion round, putting his back against the tree,while another ran off. They held him, pushing him back and laughing, until the other man returned with shackles. Hephaistion fought them then, not wanting the shackles fitted. They struck out at him, hitting him to the ground, then knelt on him while they fitted the metal cuffs around his ankles, without bothering to remove his boots. This made them tight and undoubtedly uncomfortable. Lifting him back up, they pushed him against the tree and secured him, standing up against it, with rope around his waist and chest, pulling it tight. With final, insulting words, they rechecked their work before walking away.
Hephaistion was breathing hard. He tried to push himself up, to be standing straighter, and winced in pain as he did so. Then with a sigh he turned his head and looked to Theseus. "And how are you, Nicanor?" he asked and smiled.
Theseus could see a bruise on Hephaistion's forehead, and a bruise on his cheek, his lip had been cut. He wondered at Hephaistion's ability to be calm under the circumstances. "They broke my portrait of Dione," he replied, realising too late that that was the least of Hephaistion's worries. He thought of what might be relevant. "Aepytus has told them…he has directed them to where the sick and wounded lie, telling them that they will find Alexander there."
Hephaistion looked up to the sky, where the first stars were appearing. "It was a dark day when Aepytus left Athens," he said. "Darius is on his way here, they're in a hurry to meet him. Because there will be a slaughter tomorrow, of men who have no chance to survive."
Theseus thought for a moment. "Surely, Darius is not such a king as to allow the slaughter. It's battle with Alexander that he wants."
"Alexander won't know that Darius is at his rear either. He's moved from where we expected him to be…and Darius will slaughter the men we have left behind, he will listen to his advisors and he'll know he will be in no danger."
Feeling sorry for Hephaistion's plight, Theseus watched him struggle to stand up again. They had pulled him back and tied him so he could hardly get his feet under him, he could not sleep like that, and in the morning they would take him to the Great King…take both of them,and they might both be executed. Swallowing hard, Theseus thought of his family, and of Dione, and wondered if they would ever learn his fate. Deciding they would not, nobody would know him, amongst the many who would die tomorrow. "Alexander was to send men back," he said, clinging to the hope of that. "I know there are many here, now, but if they saw us…saw you, and saw what was happening, then would they go back to Alexander and tell him, would he come here with his army? He'd come to rescue you."
Hephaistion laughed, and Theseus wondered if he was drunk on the wine. "We went nowhere near where they would see us, though they might have found the wagons, if our hosts have not moved them." He looked over at Theseus. "If you see Alexander, if I do not, then tell him that I was thinking of him."
"What did you say to their leader, to the man in black, who was our prisoner?" Theseus asked. "He whipped you further for it, I was curious to know."
Hephaistion looked over to him and smiled. "I told him that Philip hit harder and that Alexander would hit him harder still."
Theseus wanted to ask how close he was to Alexander, if he reallyshared the king's bed, and what he gained from it, what had made him lie there, but he bit his lip. He leaned his head back, and looked up at the stars, seeing the constellations that he recognised from Athens, looking upon them like old friends, wondering if Dione looked upon them too. His thoughts were disturbed by Aepytus coming over to them, obviously having waited for his chance. It was almost too dark to see the man's face, but you could hear his sneering laughter, a false laugh, as he approached.
Theseus thought that Hephaistion must still seem dangerous to the man, despite the chains, despite the ropes that bound him to the tree. Like a lion, that might still strike out and harm, despite its captivity.
"How the mighty are fallen," Aepytus said, keeping his distance. "And you, Theseus, perhaps I can still save you, if you will confirm to Darius that we have Hephaistion."
"Go rot in Hades, Aepytus," Theseus replied, hardly knowing himself, for the tone he used.
"I think that you will rot there first, Theseus," Aepytus spat. "Do you hope to be ransomed, as the son of Parmenion? Is that what he told you? Then you are more stupid than I thought, Theseus. They have no intention of ransoming you. There is enough gold in Persia, they do not want any more. You'll die tomorrow, unless you decide to side with me."
"They hold you in no regard, Aepytus," said Hephaistion. "They have talked of killing you. I heard them."
Aepytus blustered, stepping forward, so he was seen more clearly. "They sent a messenger ahead," he said. "When I told them where to find Alexander. Imagine, the Great King moving, because I gave him information."
"Imagine, Alexander crucifying you for your treachery," Hephaistion replied.
"He's a dead man," Aepytus cried, chewing his lip, realising that the lion was winning the attack. He retreated, stepping back in to the dark.
"You're the dead man, Aepytus. You don't know Alexander, if you did then you would see what he is capable of," Hephaistion said calmly. Aepytus stepped back, then turned and walked away.
Theseus sat quietly, looking down in to his lap. He had been given hope, to have it taken away. "You knew about the ransom," he said, softly, turning his head to look towards Hephaistion.
"I knew," Hephaistion said. "But every man needs hope."