Hephaistion swallowed the lump in his throat; he was beginning to wish he hadn't spoken out of turn. He was meeting with so many unfriendly faces.

"I know how to deal with difficult people," he turned to Alexander "Another thing I learnt from my Father."

Alexander was thoughtful for a moment before he took his hand away from his mouth and waved for another chair. Hephaistion sat down squashed in between Alexander and Ptolemy, who passed him the pieces of parchment that they had been looking at.

Hephaistion saw that they were plans for a city, he was impressed by the detail of the architecture and scale of the plans, a lot of care and thought had gone into each drawing.

"These are plans to Alexandria, a city named after myself. We have most of the materials and the lay out should be completed sometimes next week, however we are lacking the simplest of material, the tiles needed for the roofs."

"Easy enough." Hephaistion replied "I can do that."

Alexander smiled "If you are successful, Hephaistion, I might have a very high position for you."

Three days later Hephaistion was stood in the courtyard along with a group of five soldiers, one of which was Ptolemy, Alexander closest friend. They were soon joined by the stable master and the stable hands with the horses. One of the stable hands stopped in front of Hephaistion with chestnut coloured with the white strip down its nose. This was the horse that Hephaistion had been learning to ride on, her name was Empress Fine Lady and though Hephaistion hadn't been learning long on her, they knew each other enough to make this journey an easy one.

Alexander arrived to see them leave, he was followed by an entourage of bodyguards and servant, some of which brought out sack full of provisions and the payment that will be used to secure the materials needed, with the help of the stable hands they attached them to three of the horses.

Alexander stood aside so that the riders could mount.

"Good luck." He said then gives the order to move out.

Ptolemy's horse went first and Hephaistion's followed without any instruction.

***********

They rode for three hours straight in a south-easterly direction. Hephaistion's legs began to tingle as the numbness of being in the same positions began to set in, he longed for a rest stop. Ptolemy must have seen his discomfort for he suddenly slowed down until he was in line with Empress

"There is a safe place to stop a few miles ahead,"

Hephaistion nodded his and wished that it was closer.

The stop was a small farm stead.

"Are you sure this is the place?" Hephaistion asked

"I'm sure, it is said that people have been stopping here for centuries."

They were met by an old man, Ptolemy dismounted and went over to him before he had a chance to get closer and took him off to one side where they began to talk in hushed voice.

Hephaistion had to hold on to Empress until some feeling returned in his legs.

"Drink my Lord."

Hephaistion looked down and saw a girl about ten holding up a medium sized goblet. He was shocked that she had called him a Lord, He looked down at himself, and in the clothes he was wearing it was untreatable why she thought him a lord. The girl looked worried at him so he smiled at her and took the goblet, it was welcome refreshment. He was about to say thank you but before he had chance to the girl had dash off to serve someone else.

Hephaistion went and sat down in a large tent and nursed his drink, soon Ptolemy came and joined him with one of his own.

"We are in luck it's going to a hassle free journey."

"Why?""They chased all the bandits and robbers that were preying on travellers away from here, it was bad for business."

"That is good yes."

"It's very good; it means that we will be early for our meeting."

****

Hephaistion was reluctant to get back on the horse he couldn't stand the numbness again. The party carried on in the south-easily direction only stopping to relieve themselves behind some large rock or in the amongst the trees while the other stood guard. With fewer stops Ptolemy's prediction of reaching their destination sooner than first thought came true.

It was a small town built on trade and showed signs of building work as it continued to grow. The Pharaoh's party were met by the Governor, He to have an entourage of servants and bodyguards to follow him about, though he stopped them and carried on only followed by two guards, Ptolemy and Hephaistion did the same.

"Welcome you must be tired after you journey please refresh yourself before we talk business."