For the next several days, Alexander and Hephaestion managed to avoid each other. Any interactions they had were clipped, to the point, and they barely made eye contact. Pretty much everyone around them noticed it.
They were meeting in council, discussing upcoming plans for their next march. There was disagreement on the need to go so soon, however, as the men were enjoying their time here and were in no hurry to leave. The generals questioned everything Alexander had said, and they all ended up arguing over pretty much everything.
Hephaestion leaned against the wall, silently observing it all, but saying nothing.
Finally, an exasperated Alexander stood with his hands on his hips and glared at his generals. He stomped his foot in a move that looked to them like something a spoiled child would do. "There is no further discussion on the matter! This is what we are going to do, and that is final. I am your King, and I will bear no further argument from any of you! Is that understood?"
The men exchanged glances. Some of them gave a slight nod to Alexander in acknowledgement, and there were a few mumbled affirmative responses. None of them was happy at all.
"Does anyone else have anything to say?" Alexander asked, daring someone to speak. He fixed his gaze on Hephaestion, who merely stared back. No one spoke.
"Good. Make plans to march in a week. I expect everything to be ready as I have instructed." With that, he turned and left the room, leaving the men to stare after him.
"What in Hades is his problem these days?" Perdiccas asked. "He acts like he has a bee up his butt or something!"
"I wish I knew", Leonnatus mumbled. "I am afraid to say anything to him."
Ptolemy glanced over at Hephaestion, who was still silent. "Hephaestion, you have not said anything during this whole assembly. What is your opinion on the matter?"
Hephaestion sighed, then made his way over to the table and sat down. "Alexander is the King. We have to do what he orders us to do, whether we agree with him or not."
"That is not an answer, Hephaestion!" Ptolemy stated.
Nearchus studied Hephaestion carefully. "Have you spoken to him? He seems to listen to you most of the time."
Cassander caught Hephaestion's eye and shrugged.
A sharp-eyed Ptolemy noticed the exchange and wondered what was going on. He looked from one man to the other. "Hephaestion, is there something we need to know? Is something wrong? Alexander has not been himself of late. The past few days he has bitten the heads off everyone who has approached him. Do you know what the matter is?" He fixed his gaze on Cassander. "Cassander, do you have any input here?"
Cassander snorted. "Why would I have any idea what is going on? Why would you assume it has anything to do with me?"
His tone sounded a bit too defensive to the other generals. "You are not exactly at the top of Alexander's list of favorites at the moment, Cassander. Relax; I am not blaming anything on you." Ptolemy then looked at Hephaestion. "You…you know more than you are letting on. What are you not telling us?"
"Yes, Hephaestion", Craterus growled, "what is it? A lover's spat?"
Hephaestion did not answer, but his the tightness of his lips and the angry glare he fixed on him answered the question.
"Should have known!" Craterus scoffed.
Hephaestion finally spoke. "Look, gentlemen, I know Alexander has changed a lot over the last few months. I know his behavior of the last few weeks has been even worse, and now he is being quite unreasonable. All I can say is that I do not know why he has changed. I do not care for the changes, but there is nothing I can do. His mood of the last few days has much to do with me. I will not elaborate, but suffice it to say that I am not in the best position to talk to him about anything just now. We will simply have to follow his wishes and cope with him the best we can. That is really all I can say on the matter."
"Well, that was certainly not helpful" Leonnatus grumbled as they all filed out of the room.
Hephaestion caught Cassander by the arm as he went to leave. "Cassander, a word please?"
Ptolemy noticed, and thought it odd since, as far as he knew, those two did not get along. Something in their behavior that last few days had been different, less confrontational. He wasn't sure what was going on, but if it had anything to do with Alexander's bizarre behavior, he really wanted to get to the bottom of it. He knew a few of the pages, and knew it should not be too hard to find out. He followed the others out.
"So, Hephaestion, what can I do for you this evening? More debauchery?"
Hephaestion sighed. He was starting to feel slightly guilty about what they were doing to Alexander.
Cassander knew exactly what he was thinking. "Hephaestion, don't you dare feel guilty! Think about it! Think about all you have given up for Alexander. Think about all the times he fails to notice you are alive because that damned eunuch is humping his leg like a dog. Think about the times he spends rolling around with that barbarian woman of his. And we both know he has at least one other mistress. And you…what has he expected you to do all this time? Sit and wait until he needs you to bail him out of some mess he has gotten himself into?" He gave Hephaestion a good-natured bump with his shoulder and winked at him. "I think we should go find Bagoas and make out in front of him."
Hephaestion had to laugh. This was so unlike the Cassander he had been used to. This one was, well, fun.
"Cassander, you are an evil, evil man." He grinned. "I love it!"
Cassander motioned for him to go out. "After you, General Amyntoros." He smiled widely as Hephaestion moved past him through the door. This was working out so much better than he ever expected. Alexander was miserable, and he finally had the Athenian all to himself. He almost felt the need to thank Bagoas. Yes, he had succeeded in turning Hephaestion against Alexander, and he was reaping the benefits. Life was good.
