Authors Note: Wow, I have been busy. Sorry this has taken so long to update, but assignments come first.
The page boy was hit hard and fast by Alexander's fist as anger erupted from Alexander's mind. Who was trying to kill him? Why were they trying to kill him? The page boy took the abuse silently, as Alexander retracted his red hand and stood there, staring at him, the content of the goblet spilled out across the ground like blood.
"Who told you? Who told you to do this?" He said sorrowfully, trying not to cry as he held the boy's face with his hands, the boy shrugged and didn't say anything, gigantic sobs escaping his lips.
"Please, Please why… Why!" Alexander demanded, but he said nothing.
"You realise you could be executed for this! This is high treason!" Alexander exclaimed, rousing his sleeping wife who came outside to see Alexander beating into one of his young servants.
"My King!" she exclaimed, coming over to Alexander, "What is this? What are you doing?"
"Agh!" Alexander screamed in exasperation, trying to control his rage, as a soft slender hand encased his arm gently. He glanced at Roxane who was trying to calm his shattered nerves.
"Do you truly think a servant boy would do this, Alexander?" she asked him, showing the ring glistening in the mid morning sun, he just stared blankly at her, his eyes showing his defeat and his sadness.
"He refuses to tell me the truth, what am I to do?" Alexander asked her slowly, as his hands loosened as the boy wriggled away.
"Ask him nicely, Alexander" she said to him, looking at the poor boy that was clearly shaken, "Ask him without force"
Alexander glanced at her with suspicion, why would she tell him to be gentle with someone was five seconds away from committing murder? Murdering the King of Babylon and Greece? He shook his head of the condemning thoughts and turned to the boy, his features softened a little.
"Please, I am sorry for hurting you but you must understand…. What you were asked to do, by whoever it was, was wrong"
"I know that, My King" the boy said softly, as Alexander knelt down to his level,
"Than pray tell, who was it?" Alexander asked him, and the boy took a breath.
If he told him it was Cleitus or Cassander Alexander would surely disbelieve him and he would be executed by Cleitus or Cassander, tortured even. If he told him it was his master how would he live with himself?
He paused, glancing up to Alexander's eyes, which were big with worry, and said slowly and very quietly,
"Philotas, my King. It was my trainer, Philotas"