Hello all,

Here comes the eleventh entry to my Destiny tale.

Amanda and Doctor Philip do their very best to cure their important and loved patients - but their work is hard and they are very worried over the health of their Dear Ones.

Help is also coming from Alexander's Persian Allied. The Archer is fiercely riding on the Royal Road, bringing greetings and more from Shamash the Chaldean Seer.

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,

/ NorthernLight

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Escape From Destiny, Part Eleven

Ecbatana, 324 BC

A Vigil Of Healers

The Royal Bedchamber in Ecbatana was an elegant and and well equipped bedroom. Amanda and Doctor Philip liked the fine furniture made of dark oaken wood, the sea green and blue fabrics, bed spreads and quilts in harmonizing colours. They were especially impressed by the enormous double bed made from one single oak stem. It was an unique piece of furniture. Sleeping in it must feel like being embraced by Mother Nature herself, Amanda thought.

Yes, both Healers enjoyed the Royal bedchamber - but they would have been much happier if they had not been needed there at all!

Now they sat in fine wooden chairs, wrapped in warm turquoise coloured blankets. They could have been most comfortable - but they certainly were not.

Their King and Chiliarch were now resting calmly in each others arms. They slept a sound, deep and salutary sleep. Their colours and temperatures were almost back to normal, they breathed with ease and their hearts beat in a calm and steady pace. Amanda saw to it that the sea green blankets and deep blue quilts were carefully laid over her dear patients and that the soft sheep fleeces were warming them both.

She watched them with care and concern. They were still young men, but their golden and auburn hair manes had strands of gray and silver and they were severely worn out by their many wounds and hard campaigns.

/ "Will the peaceful rest in this beautiful Palace and city be enough to restore them to their former strength?, "Amanda mused to herself. "I certainly hope it - but I am not so sure anymore." /

The Healers remained in the Royal Bedchamber all day. Servants discretely came and lay out a delicious lucheon and evening meal on the fine oaken table. They ate in silence, not wanting to disturb their important patients. Towards evening King Alexander started to move. He stretched, yawned and sat up. Then he realized that he was not on his own in the bedchamber and he modestly wrapped himself in the deep blue warming quilt.

"Amanda! Doctor Philip! Why in Earth's Name are you here?"

"My King, you and your friend the Chiliarch have been very ill, "the good Doctor stated. "Your Guards could not wake you up in the morning. You were so very cold and your friends so very feverish. We had to give you some most potent remedies. I am happy to see that you are well once more."

Alexander looked through the window. Out there he saw the fiery sunset paint the eternal snow on the Orontis Mountains in fiery orange and crimson scarlet.

"Oh no! How long have we been asleep?"

"All day long, My King, "Amanda told him. "We have been watching over you, seeing to it that our remedies did their good work."

"Oh no. You cannot mean that! Not all day long! I have so much to do. What about all my assignments?", he asked in an outrage. "And - how is HE?"

He looked at Hephaestion who was sound asleep, resting well in a prone position. His head was turned to the side and his auburn hair mane spread like a soft cloak over his broad and muscular shoulders.

"Your friend is well, I hope, "The good Doctor stated. "He is not fevrish anymore. He just needs to rest a bit from all his excessive administration duties!"

Alexander nodded and gently stroke his friend over his hair, chin and shoulder. Then Hephaestion started to stretch and move. He yawned and sat up, curiously watching the guests in the Royal bedchamber. He was given the same explanation as King Alexander recently had heard. The Chiliarch took in the disturbing news with an even worse outrage.

"What do you say? Do you actually mean that we have slept all day long and that the Secretary Eumenes have taken over my administrative duties and the Generals Ptolemy and Craterus have managed the King's duties?"

"Yes, "Amanda prudently answered, "and the realm seems to have survived all their ministrations. Now you will have a good evening meal, some bread and broth and then you will go to rest again. We hope that you will feel better in the morning so that you can managed all your assignments once more."

The King and Chiliarch listened to their Healers. They put on warming sea green fur rimmed woolen dressing gowns and sat down to a light but delicious evening meal. Afterwards they went to bed once more and fell to sleep in each others arms.

The faithful Guards watched over them. All was well once more - Guards and Healers hoped.

Babylon, 324 BC

Miracle Remedies Of The Chaldean

Shamash the Chaldean Seer had never been so worried in all his life. He was scared and worried for King Darius before the Battles of Issos and Gaugamela. He KNEW that those battles would end up with disaster. Now Persia had a new High King and also a new Chiliarch. They both were just what the realm needed. After years of wars and turmoil now there was peace and prosperity once more.

Shamash did not want the wars and disorders to return, not ever! He knew that there was no reality in his wishes. All the same he wanted the peace and propserity to last for a very long time!

He knew that the threats to the health of the King and his Chiliarch were most serious. Serious ilnesses craved serious and precious cures.

Shamash went out on the roof of his beloved ziggurath. There, under the star lit sky he composed the Persian Sovereign Remedy. The stars sparkling like diamonds and the full moon offered him enough light to mix the secret and obscure ingredients. The result was a shimmering deep blue concoction with golden dust simmering around. Its fragrance was strong and sweet smelling as he poured it into an aquamarine sea blue round flagon. It was adorned with golden rims and pearls. Shamash read a warm and earnest Prayer of Health and Prosperity over the flagon.

He sat watching over it all night long.

Eearly in the morning he went down from his ziggurath and gave it to Arach the Archer. His faithful friend was preparing himself for the long journey on the Royal Road far up in the north, to the city of Ecbatana. He carefully watched the gear and equipment of his fine gray steed and he looked up as the veneraable old Seer came to him with the precious blue and golden flagon.

"Arach, my friend, "Shamash told him in earnest, "you must bring this with you on your journey. It is a most potent Persian Sovereign Remedy. You must give it to the King's Healer. She will know how - and when to use it."

Arach the Archer looked at the blue flagon with great respect and curiosity before he took it and wrapped it in a soft sheep fleece. He then put it in one of his travel bags, the one he had the best opportunity to wield careful control over.

He then mounted his fast gray steed and rode north on the cobbled stones of the Royal Road.

The city of Ecbatana awaited him.

Shamash the Seer watched him ride away. He could follow his friend a long time from his excellent outlook on the high roof of his beloved ziggurath.

His warm and earnest Prayers of Health and Prosperity followed the Archer and the precious flagon all the way to that distant rainbow walled city.

TBC

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