A Soldier's Duty, Chapter 44

Hephaistion takes Niobe to meet Alexander.

** Many thanks to all of you for the reviews. I am truly appreciative of them and your kind words and thoughts. :D


"Is he like you? The King's son?" Hephaistion turned, blinking as the clear, small voice broke into his thoughts. With some consternation he studied Kastor's lead in his hand and realized with a start he had been so lost in his thoughts he had forgotten where he was.

"Alexander? Oh, not much like me. As I told you, he does not do silly things such as chase great fat hares on foot only to let them go. He is much more reasonable than I."

"I like rabbit stew with carrots and the bread Mintera makes. It…it was always very good. " Her voice had a light musing quality that brought him quickly back to the present.

"When did you last eat, Niobe? I for one am growing quite hungry. I believe I will perish if I don't fill my belly soon." He kept his tone light and playful as he swung up onto Kastor's back and spurring him into a light trot headed toward the camp. "I promise you I will find us something delicious to eat, even if I must hunt it myself."

She turned from within the protective circle of his arm, her eyes suddenly very wise and bright, a smile sweet up her small lips. "Oh, no, I think that would take too long." Her unexpected wit caught him off guard and he raised a burnished eyebrow and laughed.

"I think, Niobe, with you I shall have to be always on my guard." She did not answer his laughter with her own this time, instead he could feel her delicate fingers tracing the lines of his ring and he tightened his arm about her. They rode on until he felt a tremor shudder through her body and saw the tall tip of the sentry's spear glittering in the sun. He nodded calling out a greeting and spurred Kastor into a quick trot as they made their way through the picket lines until he pulled the stallion up smartly up before Alexander's tent. Gently he eased her down from Kastor's tall height.

"This is Niobe and she is Alexander's guest." He nodded toward Ptolemy's wiry grin who came toward him as he stepped from the tent and nodded in greeting. "Is Alexander within? I know he will want to greet her." His words were light and casual, but Ptolemy read the signals in his eyes and immediately stepped forward with that elegant manner that seemed to make all women his own, took Niobe's hand, and immediately began some chatter about hair combs and embroidered robes from Athens. Hephaistion wondered for the hundredth time how the man did what he did or even cared to know about such things…the latest fashion in himation's from Athens, perfumed unguents from Egypt, jeweled flowers from the Rhodian goldsmiths. If anyone knew where to find such things he did. Then again, he would have need of it for he had recently brought the lovely Thais back from Athens and having a hetaira of such quality as companion as she would not doubt require skills the sort Ptolemy was known for, at least in peace time.

"Alexander?" Hephaistion called out as he stepped into the cool darkness of the tent and padded toward the back of the hunting tent.

"Nai!" Alexander answered with a shout as he came from the smallest chamber where he slept and kept his armor, when on campaign. He was barefoot, in short kilt, carrying a kopis in one hand and his shield in the other.

"You are going into battle like that?"

Alexander laughed. "Non, with such spare time as we have I am polishing them."

"Well, I have brought you a guest with an interesting story. I think there is much to be learned." He stopped a moment, "I fear as you, there has been a sacrilege hereabouts." Immediately Alexander turned, set his armor aside and dressed quickly.

"Where is he? Have you questioned him thoroughly?" Hephaistion shook his head in answer.

"Non, we much go gently with this one. It is a small girl, no more than ten summers, if that. I found her by MA's shrine about two miles back. Her father's lands abut ours. I recall this man, Pelopidas, son of Thurmeion, he was the eldest son of my father's boyhood companion, Perikles. They have kept their land as long as we have ours. They are an old family and much respected and have a tradition of educating their oldest sons in Athens. Pelopidas, as I have had it from my father was educated there and returned to Makedon with Iphikrates when he came from Athens to treat with your grandmother Eurydice and offer her protection." He paused looked up and shook his head as he looked his companion in the eye as unspoken knowledge passed between them. "She, Niobe is much disheveled and distressed. I fear something terrible has happened. She mentioned her father was on his way to Poseidon's temple to offer a bull, a prized bull from the sound of it, accompanied by his sons and a man, Tekton. Tekton I have never heard spoken of in these parts. However, he seems to know who I am…" he continued on telling Alexander what Niobe had recounted about watching him chase the hare through the woods.

"Tekton…" Alexander mused as he buckled on his sword belt. "I know that name… somewhere, somehow… Attalus, you know of whom I speak?" Hephaistion nodded understanding clear. "He has or had a kinsman of the same name and I seem to recall something about a falling out among them. But, I do not know anything of him living in these parts. Come, let me greet my guest." He grinned as he whistled for his dog, Herakles who came trotting up to stand by his side. "Herakles is good with children. He will put her at ease. If as you say something has happened and she has knowledge of it, we must go carefully, for I will not have her harmed, but we must move quickly else Poseidon's wrath is rekindled for he is one god who will not be slandered without recourse."

TBC