A Soldier's Duty, Chapter 43
While stopping at a roadside shrine while riding alone, Hephaistion learns of an impiety that may have been the cause for the earthquake in the Verminos' foothills.
The child was standing by a country shrine at roadside. Hephaistion riding out alone for a bit, such was his need for private thought, he had not noticed until he was nearly upon them and then looking up hearing a small voice call out. Whether boy or girl, he could not tell at first, such was the despair upon the small white face and the child's garments were dark with grime. Swinging from Kastor's back as he came nearer he saw by a fall of long blonde hair it was a girl – who clutched a small bouquet of yellow and wild pink roses in her tight small fist. Gently he smiled at her, and was rewarded when she smiled back and didn't cry out. The warmth of his smile seemed to soothe her and as he came nearer great crystal tears began the slow trek down her small face.
"You make offerings to MA?" He noted the ancient shrine with its antique statue which was near black with age. The child nodded as she carefully pushed her offering toward the goddess' statue.
"What do you –"However, before he could utter another sound she launched herself at him sobbing loudly now. Used to small children for there had been many at his father's estate he propped her against his leg as best he could and wiped her face with his cloak. "There, 'tis well now. You've no need to fear me, I'll not harm you."
"I know, I know you, I saw you hunting hare on Hermes' day. You were near our woods and ran chasing a black hare rather than using your bow. You didn't even catch it. I saw it get away. Why did you do that? My brother always uses his bow. You seemed to be angry, because Tekton heard you shouting and..." At that she stopped speaking and try as he might Hephaistion could not urge her on. Finally, keeping his face carefully smooth he led her toward Kastor and drew a plump orange from his saddlebags.
"If you are kin to these woods as am I I'll bet you love oranges." She smiled when he offered her half and gradually coaxed her back to speech as she ate, still leaning into his long legs as though the only safety offered her against the cruelty of the strong earth. "I am Hephaistion, and as you say I live near these woods. My father, Amyantor's estate lies near. What are you called?"
"Oh, Niobe, I am Niobe, after my Father's Mother." She paused a moment to daintily remove a bit of peel on the orange and tugged at his chiton. "Why did you let the hare go? Tekton thought you were silly for it was a fat hare and would have made a goodly stew." Hephaistion shrugged, grinned widely and shook his head.
"Nai, I was very silly that day. Who is Tekton?" He asked carefully. She seemed calmer, but the tears seemed to roll down her face unnoticed and this disturbed him greatly.
"Oh, Father would have come, he had a white horse, a stallion from Thrace, and the biggest bull I have ever seen, Kryptos, that's the bull; he had him from a calf and was going to the god's…" Again, speech died upon her tongue and the strong glow of fear rose in her blue eyes. Watching her carefully Hephaistion decided not to push her. His senses were on alert hearing her words. Glancing about for something that might soothe he stopped and then bent down and pulled a perfect white daisy from a bush growing nearby.
"Do you know the story of our land? How the god of the sun, Ile fell in love with MA, our mother goddess and their son was Makedon." he nodded at her handing her the flower. "We are the children of this land, the Makedoni." Slowly watching him her face much calmer he took her small hand in his and opened it he placed his signet ring, which was a gift from his father upon gaining his sword belt. "You see this is a flower, do you see it?" Shaking her head, her small fingers traced the emblem of the royal house of Makedon.
"My father had a ring like this, but not with the pretty flower. His was… was – not like your's." She said softly as she passed the ring back to him.
"Where is your father, Niobe?" His small companion frowned and looked about as just recalling something that had been vexing her.
"I, I don't know. He left for the god's temple, but Mother has been waiting him. She has been waiting for many days. Tekton went with him and my brothers Kyron, Lysikles, Patron and Amyantas, but it has been many days." Turning to him, her small brow knit with worry she turned. "Have you seen them? Tekton saw you chasing the hare. Did you see them?"
"Ah, non, but I have been at work on my father's estates. I am not allowed to run about any longer chasing hares." He looked at her beneath his lashes hoping she would smile, but tears kept running down her face. Thoughtful, Hephaistion sensed a story and more here, and decided quickly that Alexander too should hear. Being a priest Alexander would know if an impiety had been committed. Indeed, the night before they had spoken of the very thing. Leaning down with a broad smile he picked up the girl and set her on Kastor's back.
"How would you like to meet the King's son?" The child's eyes grew wide as she gazed up into his face.
"The king's son?" She echoed him disbelief resounding in her voice.
"Nai, he is my companion." Hephaistion smiled as he took up Kastor's reins and began to lead him toward their temporary encampment. "I promise you will like him. He is not at all silly and does not chase hares in the field only to let them escape. He is an excellent hunter and can make the best rabbit stew…umm, umm, umm." He patted his belly with a smile and as her clear peals of silvery laughter filled the air and Hephaistion found himself joining in.
TBC
