"Last of this year's harvest- apples for five drachmas! Ten apples for five drachmas! Last chance for fresh apples!" A man, clothed in a fading chiton, shouted across the bustling agora.
"Five drachmas for ten apples!" his assistant chorused.
A man in official regalia appeared out of the boulerion, "The deputy archon is speaking on the Pnyx to the Assembly in ten minutes time! I repeat, deputy archon to speak on the Pnyx about the trade embassy going to Corinth."
"Hylas, how can we come if you don't tell us before the time?" A passing merchant shouted to the official.
"I put it on the stoa walls two days ago!" the man, Hylas, bellowed back. "You Athenians would make Council leave me jobless!"
"Nothing his new wife's money wouldn't be able to fix," Kyros smiled at Hephaistion as they traipsed the street to Xenocrates's school. His friend raised an eyebrow. "I'm told he's marrying Nikia, Polyxenos' the shipping magnate's daughter."
"And how did that come about?" Kallos gaped.
"Who can know such things," Hephaistion replied in wonder.
Kyros grinned, "Didn't you tell me the other day strange things happen when love is involved, Hephaistion?"
Hephaistion grinned and shook his head, abashed.
Xenocrates was as classically philosophical as could be expected from Athens' top philosopher. Nevertheless, there were only so many natural metaphors he could use to dismiss his class's building stress. Their final month of a three-year education at his school approached.
"Sir, would you say that the nobles who overthrew the tyrants were driven more by greed for power for themselves than for the best interests of the state?"
"Come now, Timotheus, what have I taught you in three years' worth of politics lessons? Power, and power for oneself, is the answer to almost everything!" Xenocrates replied, pacing around the class.
"Sir, I'm worried about the essay on what makes a statesman. I don't know how blunt I should be," Kallas asked.
"What do you mean, Kallas?"
"Must I be honest and say it's being manipulative and bribery and rich parents and a few assassinations?"
The class laughed.
"Or must I say what the ordinary people think it is? Charisma and following the law and I don't know, all that stuff?"
Hephaistion and Kyros exchanged exasperated looks.
"Firstly, Kallas," Xenocrates began. "You are generalising too much. Secondly, it's good you picked on reality and appearances. That's important. But a good politician will be both towards the manipulative and the charismatic sides. A good statesmen we assess by looking at his deeds and how he deals with state affairs, not so much whether he outlives his rivals- although of course, he cannot be a statesman if his rivals outwit him."
"How long can our final essay be, sir?"
"No more than three scrolls, Timotheus. I will set the topic next week and you will have it the following week."
"Did you see how high Pegasus jumped?"Lucius exclaimed ecstatically as he, Hephaistion and Eudoxia walked across the park where he and Gaius had been having their riding lesson.
"Yes, Lucius," Hephaistion replied laughingly. "I think we got the point now."
Eudoxia beamed and pulled him close, "You and him will be just splendid in the race."
They turned as they heard the fast trot of Gaius's horse. "Hold him, please."
Hephaistion obliged as his godson got down from the horse, "Your riding is looking really good, Gaius."
"I was thinking that after the race we should do something really fun," Eudoxia said as they walked across the street, "maybe go to Cape Sounion the next day?"
"You're only saying that so that Agrippina will stop nagging,"Lucius pointed out.
"I don't mind going to the temple again but I'd really like to go sailing. Do you think the weather will be good?"Gaius asked.
Hephaistion shrugged as he led Gaius' horse down another street towards their house, "Who can be sure of the gods' minds in the autumn. We can check with Uncle Alciades."
The cool air gently blew the curtains across the wooden furniture. Across the balcony were the Acropolis and the pale luminous moon. Hephaistion pulled the papyrus closer and signed his name, missing the recipient of his letter even though they had only been apart for two weeks.
He pulled a few scrolls from his satchel. He had a lot of work to do as the end of his schooling approached and there wasn't going to be much time to think about Alexander.
"Did you enjoy last night's performance at Uncle Alciades' house?" Amyntor asked his family as he dripped honey onto his bread.
Hephaistion swallowed a mouthful of egg and nodded, "Yes, and I liked how short it was."
Laconike met her parents' eyes exasperatedly, "You need to start undervaluing your time, Hephaistion. I think it could've gone on till midnight and I'd have been straight-backed, sharp-eyed and laughing right through."
Europene smiled, "It was very funny, and in a way no Athenian play could've been."
"That's a bit mean, mother," Athene replied as she poured juice into a cup.
Europene shrugged with sparkling eyes and picked up a letter beside her plate.
"I'm going again with Helen tonight," Laconike added. "For her birthday."
"No surprises she's chosen to do that on her birthday,"Lycania quipped dryly.
"Mmm, full of phallic references," Athene consented, atypically grinning.
"Grandma's asking whether we're headed for Crete over the winter," Europene stated, her eyes perusing the letter in her left hand, her other hand holding a cup of mixed wine. "My sister wants to go to the springs near Epirus; she plans to go with her."
"Why is grandma even asking such a question?" Athene exclaimed with a note of irritation. "We always go to Crete."
"Athene, she misses us, that's all," Lycania reprimanded, her voice breaking.
Laconike sighed, "Well, it's unfortunate but Crete is just ten times more fun than Macedon for the second time this year."
"And I've already confirmed with the tenants at the house. We mustn't lose money unnecessarily," Amyntor added.
Laconike's gaze fell on her brother reading a letter and turned playful. "Unless," she teased, "Hephaistion thinks Macedon is more fun."
Hephaistion looked up and tried to glare at his sister. "Well, when you're trying to pass your education, anywhere is more fun than Athens."
"Don't be silly; you know that's not the question,"Laconike rebutted from across the table. "Isn't that from Alexander?"
Hephaistion looked at her with playful, warning eyes. Luckily, his father had finished his breakfast, "Is it, Hephaistion? Because if we're inviting him, you should ask him when you reply."
Europene frowned and replaced her letter on the table, "No, Amyntor. I think I should write to him. It's only proper. Maybe we both should."
Amyntor looked at his wife and then conceded, "Fine, fine. Have you started on my list, though?"
"I have," she replied, "although I don't see why you can't simply invite Demades yourself- in person, even."
"It's the same like why you won't let Hephaistion invite Alexander himself."
"Yes, well, you've known Demades for over twenty years. Hephaistion only knows Alexander six months- not even!" She said tersely. She looked to her daughters, "Men really seem to think their wives are just there at their disposal to spend hours doing whatever they command."
There was a silence in which no-one knew whether or not to laugh. Europene changed her gaze to her only son, "Please don't be like that to your wife."
There was another silence in which Amyntor's eyes widened and two slaves exchanged glances. Europene looked on Laconike, "And Helen, daughter of Theseus is most definitely not getting a formal invitation from me!"
Laconike cracked and laughed, "Mother, it's for her brother. He's never been."
The rest of the family sniggered. "Oh no,Laconike," Europene said wearily. She looked at the rest of the family, "I think you Athenians take this protocol way too seriously. I will write to Alexander and I will write to Aeschines and I will write to Eudoxia and her family. And fine, I will write to Helen and her brother since it is his first time. But I'm not writing invitations to all your friends like they are kings."
"I didn't even know Alexander was on the guest list,"Hephaistion hesitated as he and his father rode to the Boulerion. "Are you sure it's a good idea?"
"He's your lover. Nevermind all the politics- isn't it a bit rude to exclude your lover?"Amyntor responded.
Hephaistion nodded thoughtfully, slightly bashful.
"Does Adama know you are coming to the dinner tonight?"Amyntor carried on.
"Yes," Hephaistion replied. "But must I really go? I have so much to do still for school."
Amyntor glanced at Hephaistion, "You can't pull out now. At least you don't have to do those dreadfully complicated experiments Kallas does, son. Or make those long speeches I had to for law."
"We have speeches to do for next week. For rhetoric."
"What is the topic?"
"I am trying to persuade the Athenians to not listen to Pericles. Peloponnesian war."