Chapter 14
Bagoas is feeling a little sad and fretting about what he has done and reflects on his first memories of Alexander
"Come here, Vashti, my beloved." Bagoas leant over his bed to pick up the large, snowy white Persian cat that reclined as though she were the Empress of Persia herself, on the blue, red and gold embroidered spread. "Setapas could you bring her some fresh food? She looks hungry. Aren't you my beautiful lady?" Bagoas turned toward Setapas who was grinning at the young Persian who stood with the cat in his arms. He was kissing and petting her, lifting one of the cat's white paws as those gesturing for the food herself.
"Only if you will consent to eat something yourself." Bagoas made a small face at Setapas who merely smiled.
"You are unfair, and seek to bribe me."
"It is what I have fallen to. Do you not keep your strength, you will not be able to dance for the king, and this will make him most unhappy."
Bagoas sighed and slumped down on his bed. "I fear that will not happen anytime soon. He is too busy with other duties."
"Ah, the Chillarch?" Bagoas nodded slowly with a sigh and lay full length on the bed drawing his cat back close to him and petting her until the room filled with her sonorous purrs.
"You will spoil her Bagoas, and then she will have us performing the prostration to her and carrying her about on a litter of gold. Beware to spoil her lest she demand to be worshipped as a goddess, as cats are worshiped in my land." These last words were loudly whispered by Setapas, lest Vashti hear him. "And then we will have no peace until we build a temple in her honor, and I will end my days as a scribe in her necropolis." Setapas teased trying to coax his master out of the deep melancholy he noticed seemed to have quickly fallen upon him.
Briefly it seemed to help, for Bagoas turned to Setapas smiling "Yes, and it would be most fitting that I should join you, we will both be scribes in Vashti's honor. There I will end my days in Egypt in service to a cat." Setapas laughed and shook his head as he rubbed the cat's warm fur and got a loud purr in return.
"No, Bagoas you will end your days as they had begun, loved." Bagoas turned from him and then buried his face in Vashti's fine fur to hide his tears.
Bagoas brushed back a private tear and tried to lead his thoughts anywhere from where they lurked toward Alexander and Hephaistion. Bagoas had heard the joy in Alexander's voice earlier in the day when Hephaistion had entered his chamber. He had shut the door quickly upon them he hadn't been able to bear it any longer, the thought of them together. Then with all that had ensued with the unexpected arrival of Kassandros Bagoas had gotten caught up and forgotten all save Alexander's safety. Now, however... He knew Alexander had gone back to his chambers and was with Hephaistion who had quickly taken control of the king in the aftermath of the conflict with Kassandros. Hephaistion was treading on his territory. Bagoas had always seen to Alexander's needs, well, he had, when Hephaistion was not present when matters such as those with Kassandros arose.
"Bagoas, come eat something. This is the most delicious lamb." Setapas tried to tempt him with an appetizing bowl of stew accompanied with fruit and bread. The younger man picked at it, feeding most of it to Vashti who clearly was more interested in the food than anything else. For a moment both men laughed as they watched the delicate cat dip a paw into the stew and daintily lick the rich sauce from it.
Setapas frowned for a moment as he watched the cat's antics. "It is most odd, Bagoas, but I have thought of a mystery that has been confounding me. Perhaps you can help me solve it."
Bagoas looked up from where he was swirling bits of stew meat around with a knife and teasing Vashti with them. "How can I help you? You are more astute than I in most things, Setapas. I have long noticed this. Perhaps it is you who should see to the King, for…"
Setapas alert to Bagoas' every mood moved closer with a sly smile. "Aye, it is about that very subject I wish to speak with you. I have noticed things are a bit strange."
"How so?" He began flicking grapes at the cat who batted them back and forth on the floor.
"The Chiliarch, it did seem to me that something is odd about him. He is himself, but something is different. Have you not noticed this?" Bagoas froze for a moment he knew Setapas was not the mere slave he professed to be. The man could read and write, and most likely had been a scribe. This meant he was well educated in an Egyptian temple. There was a mystery to the handsome Egyptian, yes, Bagoas admitted he was handsome and had become a bit more of a companion than slave. Perhaps one day he would share the truth of his origins.
Bagoas shrugged trying to appear unconcerned. "Is he different? I have not thought so he seems himself, always the king's right hand." Aye, oh, Hephaistion was too much himself right now, to glowingly alive Bagoas admitted glumly. He was so drawn into his own melancholy he failed to notice Setapas' observation of his behavior.
The Egyptian said nothing more but moved about the room directing a slave to gather the supper dishes and attending to various projects while he watched his young master's behavior. He smiled watching Bagoas tease Vashti with a spangled violet scarf causing her to leap and flip in the air trying to catch it.
"Perhaps you ought to see if Alexander would enjoy some entertainment." The sloe eyed Egyptian raised an eyebrow at the Persian who continued to recline in what was clear dejection on his bed. Bagoas simply shook his head. "Non, Alexander has other entertainments to chose from." Stroking Vashti he reflected unhappily on how little he thought Alexander needed him just now. How odd, he thought to himself, he rarely cared beyond what was necessary for his own survival that Darius had called for him. Oh, he had honored and was pleased to serve so great a man, and as had everyone at the court who lived in fear to incur the Great King's anger, but it had been his service, what he was trained to do. And, he had done it well, but Darius was never as Alexander, he never held his heart in keeping. Nor was he as beautiful, he smiled thinking on the young Greek king. He had not his smile, nor the perfect physicality, nor that soft lustrous glow that would warm his eyes until one was a willing victim at his feet. He had once had the pleasure of seeing Hephaistion similarly beset when Alexander had smiled at him. The Chiliarch was a man rarely at a loss for words, or composure, but he had beheld him once speechless and blushing as a youth before the King who was teasing him. For a moment his lips rose in a wide smile. He liked the idea of the tall, proud Chiliarch so beset by the King's charm. He also had to admit he could certainly understand why Alexander was so drawn to Hephaistion, if he had not known Alexander… Ah, but he had seen Alexander and lost his reason and heart to him.
"Ah, you smile. Something has caught your attention and pleases you, I see."
Bagoas pulled himself from the bed, his eyes sparkling at the memories. ""Yes, I was thinking of Alexander, the first time I came before him. He was not what I had thought. He was so simply dressed, barefoot, which I could see quite scandalized Lord Nabarzanes that he was speechless at first. My gaze found Hephaistion first then Perdikkas who as you know bears a resemblance to Alexander but is taller. Truthfully Setapas I thought Alexander one of the pages."
"Still, there was something that called you to him, was there not?" Setapas could not help but tease the younger man whose face was aglow with the memory.
"Aye, " Bagoas began to laugh, "Even then thinking he a page I…I could not keep my eyes from him. While one cannot help but let their eyes wander toward Hephaistion - who can help themselves in the face of such perfection? Alexander steals one sense's until one is dumbstruck and speechless wanting to remain forever in his presence." He covered a sudden rush of shyness by pulling a glittering scarf before his face to tease the cat with.
"The eye follows the heart." Setapas smiled thinking on the King who though he might keep a grand court, was a simpler man than one might think.
Bagoas nodded thinking from the moment he had laid eyes on the Greek King; Bagoas had known he would never want to be with anyone else. Also, he had to admit, he preferred the rough style of Macedonian camp life to the elegance, courtly life of the Achaemenids. He liked the rowdy life, the friendly companionship of the soldiers. It recalled to him something he had never really had, a youth akin to those of the youth he would have grown up with had he not been sent in service to the Court.
To be continued….