Chapter 6

It had been nearly a week since Cleitus had fled the palace with the guilt of stabbing Hephaistion, living a beggar's existence and dodging Alexander's soldiers.

Though a wanted man he stayed close to the palace waiting for those black banners to be hung and the construction of a funeral pyre to begin.

But when none of those things happened he knew that Hephaistion had survived yet a part of him thought that it was all a false illusion to try and draw him out.

He suppressed those thoughts by telling himself that Alexander was cunning but he would never played with Hephaistion's death whether he was dead or not.

These thoughts plagued him for many days and nights till he could stand them now longer, he had to know for himself.

So under the cover of darkness dress in his tatty clothes and cloak Cleitus stood watching and waiting for the guards to change, he knew that there would only be a brief window of opportunity.

As soon as that moment came he jogged over to the wall and climbed over dropping down into the garden below, he crouched there for a second looking left and right before moving staying low and in the shadows.

He had just made it in the palace and upstairs when the new guards came on duty.

He ducked into another room as someone walked passed, he waited till they had passed before he slipped out and continued heading for Hephaistion's room.

When he arrived he found the room empty with the bed looking like it had not been slept in for days.

He wondered aimless brushing his hands over objects while the stabbing played over and over in his mind he stopped at the spot where he had left Hephaistion bleeding, there was a large faded stain followed by a longer trail.

He followed that and found another large fading stain by the door there were several scratch marks in the wood.

By Hades he thought Hephaistion had been alive.

The need to see Hephaistion began to take over and he found himself going on a dangerous mission to find him.

He ducked in and out shadows and doorways to avoid the guards and servants; he had a gut feeling where Hephaistion would be.

He stood outside Alexander's room and knew that Hephaistion was inside he took hold of the handle and slowly twisted it causing the door to genteelly swing open.

The room was dark as he moved towards the bed yet again keeping to the shadows, he could make out a body in the bed as he moved closed he could see that there was only one and by some twisted fate the person in the bed was Hephaistion.

His mind screamed at him to leave in case Alexander or someone should come back and find him but he seemed not to hear his minds plea.

He shakily reached out to touch Hephaistion's hair but as he did so Hephaistion moved and rolled over causing him to pull his hand away.

He stood watching for a minute before turning to leave only to find Alexander stood blocking the door with a sword pointing at him.

"I wondered how long it would be before you showed." he said moving further in to the room

At the same time Hephaistion woke up and was shocked to find Alexander stood with a sword pointed Cleitus

"Alexander," he said in confusion as he looked between the two

"Don't worry I have this under control." Alexander replied keeping his eyes fixed on Cleitus

Hephaistion got up using the bed frame as support, he came to stand in between the two.

"You said I could deal punishment." he said placing his hand on Alexander's sword arm and pushing it down " But I need more time."

Alexander looked over at him but the smallest movement made by Cleitus he would begin his sword up .

He nodded his head " I did say that, He said " And so you shall."

Then he turned to Cleitus and said

"I hope for your sake that Hephaistion is merciful."