Alexander rolled up the map. It was time to make his way done to the feast in honour of Hephaistion. A few hours ago he had told his Generals to "enjoy it since they wouldn't be doing this again for a while."
The companions looked at each other, they were worried and they had hoped he would change his mind and not go but he seemed to have found a new found energy that he took with him into the great hall.
Alexander drank and drank, he was so drunk he didn't care how he acted, the alcohol made him feel alive, he didn't care that people were giving him dirty looks, he rebuked anyone who commented on his behaviour causing them to shuffle back and leave him to it.
Halfway through Cassander stood up to leave.
"Don't go." Alexander said " The night is young, and so are we."
He looked around waiting everyone to laugh which they did much to Alexander's delight. Cassander smiled to at the joke.
"Forgive me, but I have something that needs attended to."
"Can if wait?"
"No it won't."
With that he bowed and left leaving Alexander open-mouthed but he soon got over it.
" oh well there are plenty more of you."
He picked up his drink and simply carried on.
A figure cloaked in shadows stood waiting for the signal, the passage way was empty except for the occasional servant bring wine in to the great hall, the biggest usually were for the king. The figure pressed himself closer to the wall when the door opened and out came Cassander, one of the king's companions, it was time. Once Cassander disappeared the figure remained very still in waiting, he didn't have to wait long. A servant came carrying a cup for the king when he passed the figure hiding place he stroke out capturing the servant in a choke hold and putting his hand over his mouth . There was a little struggle but the servant soon sub come to the assassin. He took the cup that he had caught before the servant had time to drop it, under his cloak was servant dress from a hidden pocket he pulled out the pouch that contained the herb which he added the whole content of it into the drink before carrying it in to the great hall.
Alexander was to drunk to noticed the new servant that gave him his cup, his eyes flicked up at him when he took the cup but it didn't register.
"You're not going to finish all that." Ptolemy commented
Alexander arched his eyebrows before suddenly standing up using the back of the couch to steady himself, he began shouting slurring his words.
" Who else thinks I won't be able to do it…who else think I won't be able to conquer Arabia."
Everyone in the room sobered up enough to hear what Alexander was saying, it would appear what people were saying Alexander was no longer hearing.
" I'm Alexander… the greatest Alexander and I'll prove you all wrong."
He swept a finger across the room "I'll prove you all wrong."
He put the cup to his lips empting it one long gulp much to the delight of his fellow drinkers. He fell back into a sitting position with a triumphant smile before waving the servant over for another.
As he sat waiting spots began dancing in front of his eyes as his vision tunnelled. He could hear one side of the room but he no longer see it, he had lost the feeling in his right hand he reached out to the person next to him but he couldn't find the his hand felt floppy. Finally the was a stabbing pain in his lower back. His final coherent thought was "I'm coming."
For Cassander, who had just re-entered the room in time to see the king collapse and most people in the room it was history repeating it's self. They picked up on the fact it was the same illness that had taken Hephaistion. As the king was carried back to his room and made comfortable the more open minded among them begin to wonder. A illness that came so suddenly, an illness that nobody else seemed to have, a illness that only seemed to have chosen the king, a king that was beginning to make a lot of people very unhappy and the king's companion who people hated cause of his friendship with that king. All this added up to one thing…
Dire things were afoot.
