For the first time Hephaistion came face to face with his mirror image. He walked around in a circle supported by Alexander. The other Hephaistion refused to meet his gaze, just kept his eyes on the floor.
"Do you know this man?" Alexander asked
Hephaistion shook his head "NO."
He had to look over to Alexander to reply. As he turned back he found the other man looking up at him but quickly looked away again.
"Who are you?" he finally asked gently
When the other man remained silent Alexander stepped in
"My General asked you a question answer it."
The imposter flinched at the demand he stammered to find his voice.
"My name is Altair. I was raised on the street by Danaus."
"Yes, we know all that." Alexander snapped "Before."
"I don't remember much."
"Then what do you remember?" Hephaistion asked taken the softly approach.
"We use to live in a house. We were visited once a month by a rich man. One day he stopped coming and we couldn't stay in the house."
"And that is how you came to be out on the street?" Alexander asked Altair nodded. "What happened to your mother?"
"She died a beggar and a prostitute."
Hephaistion had been listening to Altair's tale so intently that he zoned out. There were things happening in his mind, things from his childhood. He stumbled back and had to grab hold of the nearest chair.
"What?" he asked vaguely when he realized that Alexander was speaking to him.
" I Said are you alright, you look a little pale."
Instead of answering the question Hephaistion replied under his breath " It all makes sense now."
Alexander looked confused and then Hephaistion began to explain with a story of his own.
" When I was little I had a nurse made called Aspasia. She was my favorite. One day I couldn't find her so I went looking. I found her with my father and they were…" his voice tailed off as if embarrassed by the memory he quickly changed the subject "She left my family's employment not long after that day. I was so upset, I kept asking why she had to go but my parents especially my mother refused to speak about her. I think she knew about my father's indiscretions. As you know my father was a merchant. He could be gone for day's even months. Sometimes I would go with him where we would stop by this house. I was left to play with a boy my own age while my father saw to his mother whom I never saw. Afterwards I was told never to speak about our visit or the little boy to anyone including my mother.
So you see I guess that would mean you are my…"
" Half brother." Alexander finished off
Hephaistion finally looked at Altair "I sorry for everything that has happened to you, really I am. My father stopped coming to visit not because he didn't care, He died so suddenly in his sleep."
Altair remained still, the only moment was a single tear rolling down his cheek.
"What is going to happen to me?" he asked in a small pitiful voice.
Hephaistion looked at Alexander who looked back at him as if to say I'm leaving this one up to you.