Chapter two
Two days Alexander was sat in his tent at the meeting point it was night time and Hephaistion was late.
He heard a noise outside and he looked up to see Ptolemy enter his tent.
"Anything?" Alexander asked
Ptolemy shook his head "There is probably a reason why they are late," he said "I won't worry Hephaistion knows how to take care of himself."
Alexander agreed and smiled, but in his mind he began to feel the tiny steps of doubt come calling.
Somewhere in the mountains Hephaistion was woken by someone shaking him very genteelly. He groaned as he reached up and touched his forehead and his fingers came away stained red
"Are you alright." asked a young officer whose name he could never remember
He sat up but he nearly feel back when a wave of dizziness washed over him he closed his eyes until it stopped.
"Where are we?" he asked
"Don't know." came the replied
The young officer helped him stand "Thank you" he said
He helped him limped over to his men all had cuts, bruises and broken limbs; they were being held in a wooden cage and were chained together somewhere in the mountains in the hands of the enemy, out of the twenty five they had started out with he counted fifteen,
Hephaistion went over to the bars and tried to get the attention of a Persian officer who was urinating against the corner of the opposite building.
When he turned around and found Hephaistion waving him over him sorted himself and came over. He smiled at Hephaistion then spat on to the floor just in front of Hephaistion's feet before walking away laughing.
Hephaistion rested his head ageist the bars
What do I do now?" he thought
Suddenly a group of Persian came over and rounded them up like cattle and they were taken to a large building.
They were stood together in front of a wooden table and chair; they were not kept waiting long, the door at the fair end of the building opened and a Persian General came in and sat down at the desk.
"You are members of the invading party who is your leader." he demanded
Hephaistion thanked the Gods that he was still dressed in his plain clothes and matched his men he continued to stare at the floor.
When nobody came forward the Persian stood up and began to walk down the line, Hephaistion was stood in the middle of two officers and blended in perfectly.
The General was stood in front of a young officer who had just joined the company and had yet to gain the trust of Hephaistion and his men. Hephaistion had a funny feeling about this man. The Persian General was staring him down and Hephaistion saw the officers eyes move to looked at him, Persian General followed his gaze and he to was now looking at Hephaistion.
He turned away and began to walk over toward him and was a few metres away when somebody stepped forward.
"It is I."
Everyone including Hephaistion turned to look; it was the officers whose name he could never remember.
The Persian General looked at Hephaistion who put his head down and then at the young man who claimed to be there leader then back at Hephaistion he walked away from Hephaistion.
Hephaistion looked up from the floor and watched as the General looked up and down with disgust at the officer, what happened next made Hephaistion look away; the younger officer fell to the floor with no head and covering Hephaistion and the other in blood.
The General went to stand if front of another man and kicked him to his knees
"If you want to save your men I suggest you come forward only a fool would allow this to happen." he said looking directly at Hephaistion as he nudge the body on the floor "or do I have to kill more."
He raised his sword high above his head and then brought it down. More blood landed on Hephaistion he wiped some of it out of his eyes to see that the General now ready to behead another man.
Hephaistion closed his eyes and made a spilt second decision he step forward
"I'm the one," he paused "I'm their leader."
The General snapped his fingers and Hephaistion was unchained from his men and his arm was twisted sharply behind his back.
"Let my men go and I will tell you everything." Hephaistion said
The General thought about the offer and shook his head "Take him to the dungeon and kill the rest.
Hephaistion tried to break free but something was put over his head and he felt himself being half carried and half dragged out of the room.