Alexander headed for the kitchen. Thespis and Meda were just about to carry the breakfast things through to the dining hall.

"No," Alexander said, a little too abruptly. "We shall eat in here."

They put down what they were carrying, on the table, and Meda hurried to fetch plates. Thespis stared at Alexander, his face showing concern. Alexander noted the look and made more effort to appear relaxed. He sat down at the table, reached for an apple, then cut it with his dagger and placed a slice in his mouth. Aware all the time that Thespis was watching him.

The apple reminded him of being with Hephaistion when he found him at the river, it stuck in his throat. Thespis handed him a cup of watered down wine, and he gratefully took a drink of it.

Hephaistion appeared at the doorway.

"Handsome, Hephaistion!" Meda greeted him. "Come and sit, eat something."

Hephaistion made no move. He looked over at Alexander. "Your father has fetched Lysias from Methone. He has placed him in the Royal Bodyguard. He had him shown here to be with me, and he is to ride with us to Aegae tomorrow." Only then did he step into the room, followed by Lysias.

Alexander took his first proper look at the man who had Hephaistion's heart.

He was the same age, no, perhaps a couple of years older. Charm radiated from him as he stepped into the room and looked about, a white-toothed smile appearing easily. He was good-looking, but not handsome like Hephaistion. He was tall and lean, his skin tanned, his legs and arms well-muscled. His blue eyes now fixed on Hephaistion, and the smile grew wider, but lust, not love, was in those eyes.

Turning to look on Alexander, in the same way Alexander had just looked on him, as a rival, he sat opposite him. "Alexander," he greeted, reaching for some bread.

Alexander felt his hackles rise, at the man's informality. Meda banged a cup of wine down in front of Lysias, saying nothing. It calmed Alexander's mood to see he was not alone in taking a dislike to the man before him.

Hephaistion sat down, at the end of the table. He reached for an apple, making no effort to eat it but turning it in his hands.

"Were you sad to leave Methone, Lysias?" Alexander asked, gaining a look from Hephaistion as he asked the question.

Lysias shrugged, swallowed his bread, and answered. "It was too quiet at times. I expect there will be more going on at the palace," he grinned, and looked at Hephaistion. "It will be good to be with Hephaistion again."

"You are friends then?" The question came from Thespis, sitting at the other end of the table, his elbows resting on it, leaning forward in the hopes of an honest answer.

Lysias reached his left hand up to the side of Hephaistion's face, running his fingers into his hair, caressing his cheek with his thumb. "More than friends," he let his hand come back to the table, and turned to Thespis. "I'm sorry, I don't know your name."

"Thespis, his name is Thespis," said Alexander.

"And this is my wife, Meda," Thespis added.

"Meda," Lysias repeated, then drank some wine. "It's good," he said as he put the cup down. He looked over at Hephaistion. "Are you not eating?" He reached for some bread, then for a bowl of honey, placing them before Hephaistion. "Is that better?" he asked.

Hephaistion put down the apple and took the bread from Lysias. Breaking off a piece and dipping it in the honey, he ate.

Alexander watched him, watched the honey make his lips shine, watched as his tongue licked his lips.

Lysias ran his fingers through the dark curls of his hair, and yawned. "I need to sleep," he said, breaking off some of Hephaistion's bread, dipping it in the honey and eating it. "The messenger insisted we get here as soon as we could. He said he was following the king's direct order." He licked his lips. "Is there any meat?" he asked.

"No meat," replied Thespis, "not until tonight".

Alexander realised that this was his father's idea of making amends to Hephaistion. To bring the man he loved to him. With his statue due to parade with the gods at the wedding games, he wondered when his father had decided to take over from Eros. Hephaistion looked uncomfortable, perhaps Lysias' attraction was more visible in the barracks of Methone.

"What will you do today?" asked Meda.

Alexander looked at Hephaistion. He had no idea.

"There is a seer at Lefkadia," suggested Thespis. "He is an old man, he has been there for many weeks now. The villagers tend to him and people from other places come to see him and bring gifts and food."

"Is it far from here?" Hephaistion asked.

"Not far," Alexander replied.

"If you will excuse me, I need to sleep," said Lysias, standing up and stretching. "Where is your room, Hephaistion?" he asked.

"There is no need to share a room," Thespis said. "Follow me and I will show you to the dormitory, there you can have your pick of beds."

Lysias turned to Hephaistion, lifting his chin up so that Hephaistion looked up to him. "I will see you later," he said, placing a soft kiss on Hephaistion's lips, then he followed Thespis out of the room.

"Did you want to go to Lefkadia, Hephaistion? Or, would you rather stay here, with Lysias?" Alexander asked, sharply. He suddenly wanted to ask just what he was doing at the river, falling so easily into Lysias' arms.

Hephaistion seemed not to have heard Alexander, at first. As if woken from a dream, he gazed into Alexander's eyes. "Lefkadia," he said.

Alexander nodded in acknowledgement. At least he would have Hephaistion's company, for the day. He picked up his cup, and drank down his wine, reminding himself that Hephaistion would only ever be a friend. But not a close one, not if Lysias followed him everywhere like a shadow. How could he bear to see Lysias' hands on Hephaistion?

Thespis returned, looking at Meda and shaking his head.

Alexander stood up. "We better get the horses ready, or else the morning will be gone before we set off," he said.

Hephaistion stood up, he was clasping the apple, once again. He followed Thespis and Alexander outside. Thespis went to fetch the bridles and blankets for the horses, while Alexander went to Bucephalus and Hephaistion went to his horse.

Alexander looked over at Hephaistion. He was feeding the apple to the horse, talking softly to it. Lysias' horse now shared it's paddock. Alexander sighed. His eyes fell to Hephaistion's legs, an image of him lying on his bed at the palace, with them parted, came to his mind. His hand running along those muscular thighs; his lips kissing that perfect mouth. He banished the thought.

Thespis returned and handed out the tack, keeping up a stream of conversation as they prepared to ride out. Alexander leapt onto Bucephalus' back to see Hephaistion ready to leave. He nodded to him, and they wheeled the horses round in the direction of Lefkadia.

OOXXOO

Hephaistion did not know what to say. Alexander seemed annoyed by Lysias' arrival, but there was nothing he could have done to stop it, not if Philip had arranged it.

Sitting at the breakfast table, that morning, Hephaistion was torn between the old and the new. Lysias was far too sure of himself, he had cringed at his behaviour to Alexander and when he had asked for the meat. But Lysias was….Lysias. In his tender moments, he was at his best.

Alexander rode a few strides ahead. Hephaistion knew he could push his horse forward, to catch up, but he did not know what to say. When Alexander let Bucephalus stop to drink at a stream, he had to find the words.

"Lysias' arrival has displeased you?"

Alexander studied Bucephalus' neck for a moment, before turning to Hephaistion.

"I hoped we might be alone at Mieza," he replied.

"I wanted that too," said Hephaistion. "We are alone now, Alexander. We have the day together."

Alexander nodded and forced a smile. "Yes, we have the day. But go back if you want to. I know that you would rather be with Lysias, don't let me stop you." He pushed Bucephalus forward and into a canter up the hill.

"We have the day," Hephaistion whispered, knowing that Lysias would claim the night. He urged his mare forward, to follow Alexander.

OOXXOO

By early afternoon they arrived at Lefkadia. They had managed to have an uneasy conversation on the journey, since the stop at the stream. Hephaistion had asked Alexander where Aristotle had gone on to, if he would ever return to Mieza. Hephaistion already knew the answers, but it relieved some of the tension between them. The easy friendship of yesterday was gone. Any desire had flown from Alexander's eyes.

The villagers recognised Alexander and ran out to greet him warmly. Alexander reached down to clasp hands with those who reached for him, asking where he might locate the seer. They led him to a small house at the edge of the village, it showed signs of neglect, one wall had fallen down and a wooden shelter erected in its place, with an old cloth awning providing shade. It was here the seer, Anaxagoras, sat, with some of the village elders keeping him company.

They stood up, as the children that ran ahead, shouted that Alexander was coming. They turned to help the seer to his feet, but Alexander quickly dismounted Bucephalus, handing the reins to Hephaistion, before hurrying over to insist Anaxagoras stayed seated.

The man was very old, his sight was fading, and he had but a few yellowed teeth left. His grey hair was sparse and long, his beard the same, but he smiled in greeting and held his arms up, so that Alexander might lean forward and be embraced.

Without Alexander having to ask, the village elders left him with the seer, signalling that everyone should leave and give the prince his solitude.

Alexander looked over to Hephaistion. He had dismounted and stood quietly, at some distance, holding the horses as they grazed together.

"You have a question you need answering," the seer said.

"Not one that I…" Alexander paused and smiled. "You know my heart," he said.

The seer smiled, and nodded his head. "I do…. King Alexander."

"I will be king?" Alexander was concerned that the seer would just be telling him what he wanted to hear.

"The fates have already decided it," Anaxagoras replied.

"King of Macedon?"

"Yes….and perhaps beyond."

Alexander felt a weight lift from his heart. If the seer spoke the truth, his father would choose him to inherit one day. He reached into his purse to fetch out some gold, when Anaxagoras put his bony hand on his arm to stop him.

The old man leaned forward, as if to share some secret with Alexander. Then he slowly stretched out his right arm and pointed at Hephaistion. "You will be king, but you will be a great king, a king who will never be forgotten throughout time, throughout eternity, if he is by your side. He shares your dreams. He can be your strength. He will never desert or betray you, Alexander. If you win his love, he will love no other…ever. For he is the other half of your soul. He too is Alexander."

Alexander followed where Anaxagoras still pointed. Hephaistion was looking over at them, no doubt puzzled by what was being said, that would include him. He looked back to the seer. Before he could speak, Anaxagoras continued.

"He has his own path. He must come to you. Watch over him, Alexander. If ever you lose him, you will follow him to the House of Death shortly after. Such will be the union between the two of you."

"He will hope to speak to you," Alexander said.

Anaxagoras shook his head. "I will not guide him to you." He closed his eyes, his conversation done.

Alexander placed several coins by the man, he stood up and said farewell, but the seer spoke no more.

He straightened his chiton and walked over to Hephaistion, Anaxagoras' words reverberating in his mind.

"What did he say?" Hephaistion asked.

Alexander was surprised he could not keep the seer's words from Hephaistion. "He said I would be king," he replied, taking Bucephalus' reins from him and leaping onto his horse.

Hephaistion looked over to the seer.

"I will hold your horse if you wish to go to him," Alexander offered.

Hephaistion shook his head and leapt onto his horse. Only as they rode back into the village did Alexander remember that Hephaistion had no money. Without a gift, he would not have asked for the seer's wisdom. He had not thought of it before, it was too late to offer a payment now.

OOXXOO

Alexander stayed to speak with the village elders and to eat with them. Hephaistion was made welcome, but he kept to the back of the room.

As he ate and talked with the elders Alexander finally realised he was being too harsh. Hephaistion did not know what lay in his heart, even if he suspected that he had wanted to kiss him last night, he had said nothing, done nothing else to show his love. He was acting like a child, being cruel to a friend who had done no wrong.

He looked over at Hephaistion, hoping to get his attention and to call him over. An old woman was talking to him, pointing out her daughter who was serving wine. Alexander smiled, everyone thought Hephaistion worth having.

Finishing his food, and his conversation, he stood up and made his way over to Hephaistion. "I'm sorry," he whispered, and pulled Hephaistion into an embrace, glad to feel Hephaistion's strong arms encircle his waist. He held his face against Hephaistion's, for a moment, and then released him. "It is not for me to judge Lysias. It is enough that you love him," he said.

Hephaistion smiled and nodded. "Thank you," he replied.

The elders around Alexander looked confused, they nudged each other, thinking that they had been impolite to exclude the man who rode with Alexander. They had thought him just a guard, but the prince had just embraced him, and whispered words which could only be endearments. They went to invite them back, to have them sit together but Alexander said he needed to return to Mieza before dark.

Having left Lefkadia, the ride back to the school was easier. They laughed together once more and their words flowed easily. Alexander now took Anaxagoras' words to mean that Hephaistion would be a true friend, not a lover.