Dear readers, thank you very much for your support and kind comments. This means a lot to me.
I am happy that I was able to write this chapter in an almost record time however I want to warn you about the violence in the text below. I wrote it this way not because I enjoy describing cruelty or think that it will attract more readers but because it is my strong belief that life was quite unkind to many people who did nothing to deserve it and surviving at the Persian king's court (or any other for that matter) was a cutthroat business. Some personages, of whom we tend to think in most endearing terms were in reality nasty and brutal towards their enemies or those who stand in their way and thought nothing of causing somebody else's death if it suited their agenda. This note doesn't refer to this chapter only but applies to most of this story.
O
348 BC, late spring
"Your bath will be ready soon, my lord," announced Kamarta, appearing from the side curtain that hid a passageway between Mazaeus' bedroom and inner parts of his tent, "and here is the boy, do you wish to talk to him now?"
"Yes, Kamarta, and thank you, please leave us alone till my bath is ready," the satrap told his Chief Steward and waving invitingly to Hephaistion, bid him to come closer.
Hephaistion cautiously approached Mazaeus. Up until now, he had no reason to be afraid of the satrap, who was apparently his father's new friend and with whom Amyntor spent a lot of time since they came this side of the Middle Sea. But the events of the last day turned the boy's world upside down and because his father didn't return yet, Hephaistion was at loss of what was going on and he deemed everybody his enemy. Still, he followed his father instructions and managed to slip unnoticed into Mazaeus' tent. Kamarta, the man who discovered him, seemed friendly enough; besides, Hephaistion remembered him from the few times when he accompanied his father on his visits to the powerful satrap.
"Come, sit," Mazaeus indicated to the low couch nearby, "tell me what happened."
"My father and I were about to share a meal together, it was yesterday, late afternoon," started Hephaistion. "He send me to change clothes after I returned from the smithy, and then suddenly he appeared again saying he was unexpectedly called to the Great King's presence. I think he suspected that something was wrong. He bid me to change into my old dirty clothes and hide in the tent and then, if he fails to return, go and seek you out. He said the name of the person who came for him from the Great King was Anushta and you might know him. Do you?"
"Yes, I know who Anushta is," confirmed Mazaeus.
"Then you know why he came to summon my father to the Great King? Can you talk to him and ask him where my father is?" with hope asked Hephaistion.
"I am having a breakfast tomorrow with Artaxerxes, I will ask then where you father is," the satrap tried to reassure the boy.
"But what if my father is in danger? What if something happened to him? You must help him now, please!" pleaded Hephaistion.
"Anushta is one of the Great King's most trusted heralds, nothing would happen to your father on his watch. The Great King probably liked your father's company and invited him to stay near his person," explained Mazaeus not believing a word of what he said.
"But why father won't send a message to me?" Hephaistion asked the logical question. "He knows I will be worried sick about him, it doesn't make sense."
"Not everything make sense in this life, Hephaistion. Maybe your father couldn't find a messenger or maybe you're simply overreacting, maybe your father wasn't concerned about his or your safety at all, he just knew that he was going to be away for a few days and decided that it will be better if in meantime I keep an eye on you."
"No," Hephaistion shook his head, "I am not overreacting. Why would he told me to hide from everybody, even my friends saying they might betray me? Why to tell me to change into my old dirty clothes? It doesn't make sense. And, he gave me a message for you, he told me to repeat it word by word, exactly as is."
"What message?" with frown asked Mazaeus.
"Mazaeus, I ask you to keep the promise that you never gave."
The satrap's frown deepen.
"You know what my father meant, don't you? It didn't make sense to me but he said you'd understand."
"Yes, I know what it means, but you shouldn't worry. Did your father say anything else?
"No," simply answered Hephaistion hiding for himself his father's instruction to run away from Mazaeus if he felt that Mazaeus meant him harm. So far, the satrap didn't do anything untoward but at the same time he didn't seem too eager to help either.
A moment of silence was broken by Chief Steward's return and announcement that the bath was ready.
"Very well," said Mazaeus. "Hephaistion, you stay here for now. Are you hungry?"
"No."
"Well, then. You can sleep on this couch, nobody will come here. Tomorrow, I'll meet with Great King and will find out where your father is. You shouldn't worry."
"May I sleep somewhere else?"
"No. I don't want you running around my tent."
"I won't run around. I just…"
"I said no," Mazaeus firmly rejected Hephaistion's request. "Your father entrusted you to me and you have to listen to me and do as I said."
"More as you ordered," Hephaistion defiantly stood up to the satrap.
"My bath is getting cold and I have an early wake up tomorrow. I don't have time for your antics. Do I have to tie you or you are wise enough to do as you're told?" there was no anger in Mazaeus' voice just the harshness of reality.
"I will sleep here and won't run," promised Hephaistion realizing it was prudent not to argue.
"Wise decision," Mazaeus managed a conceding smile and went out.
While Hephaistion hunkered down on the couch, trying to figure out whether he should stay or escape, Mazaeus struggled to relax in the bath hardly paying any attention to the ministrations of his eunuch, who constantly added more hot water to the bath and rubbed satrap's back with soft sponge perfumed with most exquisite oils.
Mazaeus understood Amyntor's message loud and clear. The general obviously feared for his own life and tried to safeguard his son's life or, more precisely, his future manhood and honor by the only way he knew was real, entrusting him to Mazaeus in a vague hope that satrap…. "What? What Amyntor thought I would do?" Thought the Persian. "Why would he presume that I'll risk my king's benevolence and my family good fortune to save his son? What he is to me? Quite the opposite, if Artaxerxes found out that Hephaistion would make a very pleasing eunuch, which indeed he would, and sent a search party to look for him, all I have to do is to deliver the boy to the King and thus incur even more favor with Artaxerxes! Poor naïve Macedonian general.
Maybe Artaxerxes is right and those Macedonians are no real threat to our kingdom. If they all like this general Amyntor, who first served his king selflessly and then stupidly run away to his enemy, then they present to danger to us."
Mazaeus inwardly sighed, he could try to convince himself that Amyntor was naïve and foolish but his common sense told him Amyntor was not. Still, he brought his son with him and that was definitely foolish; persuasive, maybe, that he cut all his ties with Macedon but…..did he really come here to serve Artaxerxes or spy on him? The satrap was torn between his desire to easily write off Amyntor as rash and thoughtless and his inner voice that rather strongly disagreed.
"But what does it matter, really?" Mazaeus continued his wordless conversation with himself. "Whether he was a naïve fool or clever spy, most probably he is dead now. This is the only explanation for his absence. I should be more worried whether Artaxerxes is going to accuse me of collaborating with a possible Macedonian spy. Or did he kill him for some other unrelated issue? Still, somebody told him about Hephaistion. Or, maybe it's a wrong order of events? Is it possible that Artaxerxes demanded Amyntor to surrender his son into the hands of the Chief Eunuch of Harem, and the general stupidly refused and the Great King killed him for disobedience?
I should have never involved myself with Amyntor! Why was I so eager to advance his cause with Artaxerxes? I never truly believed in the sincerity of his words or intentions but he was, or maybe still is, such a clever, logical man. I truly enjoyed those long conversations with him. I simply wished his betrayal was real and he could have proved to become a valuable addition to Artaxerxes' court. I am so sick and tired of those overconfident satraps and generals who only think about their own advancement and don't care about the empire. They plot and plot, their only goal is to become more rich, to crash more rivals, to get more favors from the king whom they fear so much that they never tell the truth if they know it might harm them. But was Amyntor really better? He betrayed his own king, why on earth I should have liked him, let alone trust?
There is no point to procrastinate… I will find out tomorrow, unless Artaxerxes will send somebody to strangle me in the middle of the night," Mazaeus shivered at the idea and immediately rebuked himself for such an absurd thought. "I am too tired and have to have some sleep." He shifted in the bath and, putting his hands on the edges, lifted himself up.
The eunuch immediately grabbed the towel and started to massage his master's body trying to dry him up and invigorate at the same time.
"I want to go to sleep not go out to fight," tersely said the satrap, "give me my robe and be off."
The eunuch hurriedly followed the order, offering his master a warm robe, soft slippers and another towel to dry off the wet hair. Mazaeus grunted with approval but said nothing and silently went to his bedchamber.
Upon entering it he shot a quick glance to make sure that Hephaistion was still there. Then he slowly proceeded to his bed without saying a word. He sat on the edge and watched the boy in silence for a few moments.
"Why are you not asleep?" the satrap asked after a while.
"I can't," simply said Hephaistion, "besides, I found this map on your side table and decided to study it. I like maps but it is still hard for me to read your language."
"I don't like when people snoop in my personal belongings."
"I didn't snoop, it was on the table, in a plain view. I had nothing else to do," Hephaistion answered with a certain irritation in his voice and look with a challenge at the satrap."
"You could go to sleep, as I told you."
"I can't. I am thinking about my father all the time," Hephaistion's arrogance gave way to insecurity and fear and he hang his head not wishing to betray his feelings. But Mazaeus had two sons approximately the same age and could easily read through the boy's pretense. He stood up from his bed and went to the couch where Hephaistion was. He sat close to the boy and tried to ruffle his hair. Hephaistion shrank from the touch and tried to move away.
"Don't worry," Mazaeus said softly, "I have no interest in the boys, even as beautiful as you are."
"Leave me alone!" loudly whispered Hephaistion still trying to put some distance between himself and the satrap, "I don't need your pity! Go away!"
"You should listen to me," Mazaeus said patiently, "I am your friend, and, if something befalls your father, you have nobody else."
"I don't need you!" Hephaistion's whisper became a torn cry, "my father is alive! He will come back and rescue me."
"Shhh, don't cry, somebody may hear you."
"So what?!" Hephaistion went from defiant to aggressive in a matter of moments, "It is your tent, why should you care if somebody hears me? You don't want me being discovered here, do you? I know that people searching for me in the camp, I know they want to make a eunuch of me! Are you going to sell me yourself to your king?!"
"Hephaistion, stop this nonsense!" Mazaeus grabbed the boy by the shoulders and gave him a jolt. "I am not going to sell you to anybody, just calm yourself. Where did you hear this nonsense?"
"I have ears," muttered Hephaistion less loud, "Don't you think I saw all those glances that men in the camp gave me?"
"What glances and what do you know about eunuchs?"
"Dirty glances and other, older boys explained it to me. I am not a child, I am nine years old."
"Ah… that's explains it," said Mazaeus with a smile.
"Don't mock me. I know who the eunuchs are and what you Persians do to the pretty boys."
"Very well, so you know things that you're not supposed to know. And is your father aware of your advance education on this topic?"
"No, I didn't tell him anything," admitted Hephaistion, "I didn't want him to be upset. But I know he is worried about me. I think he is afraid that somebody may kidnap me and sell to the slave traders."
"He is right to be worried," Mazaeus said and looked at Hephaistion. He was glad to notice that Hephaistion calmed down and was more or less back to his usual self. "Whom I am kidding," Mazaeus rebuked himself silently while watching Hephaistion who, accepting Mazaeus close proximity and not quite knowing what to do about it, went back to tracing the lines on the map. "At least in this matter, Amyntor have guessed right, he knew that I won't be able to sell his son to the Harem. Damn the man, I wish he stays alive and take the responsibility for his son off my hands. I have my own family to think about."
"It is late, Hephaistion, let's call it a day, a very long one at that, and have some sleep. You may relax in your bed tomorrow till sun is high on the horizon, but I have an early start. Everything is going to be fine. And," Mazaeus smiled at Hephaistion at that moment when the boy, distracted by the satrap's voice, looked up and met his gaze, "if you promise to behave, I will find for you more fascinating maps to study. Deal?"
Hephaistion hold Mazaeus' glance for some time and then, silently nodding, returned the map to the satrap.
"Good lad," the Persian said in a friendly voice and, took the map from Hephaistion's hands. He made a few steps towards the side table to return the map to its original place when he heard a commotion somewhere inside the tent and a few moments later his Chief Steward entered the room in a hurry.
"What's the matter, Kamarta?" asked Mazaeus with a frown.
"Sharan with his minions and a slew of guards are coming in the direction of your tent. They are probably already here. I told Artamazes to stall them but he can't refuse the entrance to the Chief Eunuch. What are your orders?"
"Chief Eunuch or not, he can't barge in here," Mazaeus said in a cold voice, "but we will let him…."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Go back and delay him, tell him I retired to the bed already and ordered not to be disturbed. I need ten or fifteen minutes. You have to be firm, remember, I am the Great King's favorite and won't brook such a rude intrusion, especially in the middle of the night, but, in the end, you will let him in, right into my bedroom, so …. be arrogant but hesitant enough for Sharan to become suspicious and wanting to risk to incur my anger."
"All right," agreed Kamarta and left in a hurry.
"What are you doing?" whispered Hephaistion in confusion. "You promised not to sell me and now you're going to deliver me right into the hands of eunuchs? You promised!"
"Don't be stupid," Mazaeus rushed back to the couch where Hephaistion was sitting and grabbing his hand, dragged him off the couch towards his bed. "You have to trust me and you have to obey my orders, don't question my actions, I don't have time to explain and I am risking my own head doing what I am doing. Undress!"
"What?!"
"I said undress and don't argue," sharply ordered Mazaeus and, dropping his own robe to the floor, started to undo Hephaistion's own attire.
"Don't touch me, go away!" shouted Hephaistion trying to fight Mazaeus.
"Don't be an idiot!" hissed the satrap and slapped Hephaistion across the face. "If I already slept with you, you're spoiled goods, not fit to become a eunuch for the Great King's pleasure. I won't harm you in any physical way, just do what I say and try to look compliant when Sharan bursts in here."
Shocked by the burning sensation that Mazaeus' hand left on his cheek and trying to process the satrap's words and determine whether he should believe them, Hephaistion froze on the carpet letting Mazaeus to completely undress him. When the last piece of Hephaistion's closing joined Mazaeus' own robe on the floor, the satrap pushed the bewildered boy into the bed.
"On your stomach!" commanded Mazaeus, "and raise your bum."
Instead, Hephaistion crawled to the far end of the bed and pushed himself into the corner. Mazaeus exhaled in frustration and, grabbing Hephaistion by the wrist, hurled him on his stomach in the middle of the bed. Hephaistion tried to fight but the satrap was obviously far stronger. "Either you do what I said or I will personally deliver you to the castrator, the less skillful one at that."
Hephaistion continued to fight, less vigorously now. With his left hand Mazaeus shoved Hephaistion's head deep into the enormous pillow and pushed his right hand under Hephaistion's stomach forcing his bum up. Having the boy in the position he wanted, the satrap pushed his knee between Hephaistion's legs and repositioned his own hands just above Hephaistion's waist.
The heavy silence hanged in the air broken only by the laboured breathing of the man and the boy. Then, there were loud voices somewhere really close and they continued to increase in volume with every passing moment. Hephaistion felt Mazaeus genitals moved against his bum but the satrap didn't make any effort to push inside, instead, he started to rock the boy back and force imitating the real coupling.
Then the entrance curtain was pushed aside and there was a loud outcry; seconds later Mazaeus thrust Hephaistion aside and turning around let out a long stream of expletives.
"How dare you!" screamed Mazaeus and, jumping from the bed, he quickly picked up his robe and put it on. Then he strode towards the intruders and hit the first of them with such a force that would send the offender to the floor if he wasn't supported in his fall by the people who stood behind him. But that wasn't enough, Mazaeus, his face red with pretended anger, grabbed the Chief Eunuch by his flowing robes and dragging him to the nearby empty side table, smashed his head against its wooden surface.
"How dare you to violate my inner chambers," shouted Mazaeus and dropped the helpless man to the floor, "do you remember who I am?!"
"We tried to stop him," explained Artamazes, the main officer of the Mazaeus' night guards, "but he pushed in under the pretext of being under the direct orders from the Great King himself."
"Of course I am under the direct orders from the Great Artaxerxes himself," weakly squeaked Sharan from the floor trying to raise himself up using as a support the table that his head was smashed against just a moments ago. "Otherwise, I would never be so presumptions as to disturb your night rest with my untimely visit."
Mazaeus coldly watched Sharan's unsuccessful attempts to stand up clearly showing no intentions of giving a helping hand. Despite Sharan's high position at the Artaxerxes' court, none of his attendants made any efforts to help him, Mazaeus stood incomparably higher in the complex hierarchy of the Persian court and he was a close friend of Bagoas, the all-powerful Hazarpatish whom many feared even more that the Great King himself.
"When the Great King desires to urgently see me, he doesn't use somebody like you as his messenger."
"His Divine Highness didn't send me to fetch you specifically."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"On Artaxerxes' orders I am looking for a boy, son of the Greek traitor Amyntor, who is said to be more beautiful than Tammuz(1) himself. The Great King desires to possess him, make him a eunuch and have him educated in the ways of pleasure," Sharan cast a nervous glance towards the bed where Hephaistion, mostly hidden under the pile of blankets, sat deep in the corner, only his dishevelled locks and frightened eyes visible to the world. "I am afraid now it is impossible but… but… I didn't mean to interrupt you. It is well known that you don't take eunuchs into your bed for pleasure and you never indulge in Greek vice of bedding young boys, I came here because Amyntor was your protégé and I thought you might be harboring his son."
"Harboring?!" Thundered Mazaeus.
"I didn't mean like harboring an enemy," in a shaky voice Sharan continued to excuse himself, "I just thought you might know where the boy is, and, being away for a few days in Sidon, you didn't know that Artaxerxes was looking for him."
"Don't try to justify yourself with your lame excuses. There is no reason on earth to warrant your untimely intrusion."
"I am in the service of the King," Sharan tried to rationalize his behavior, "I don't know day or night rest when the Great Kings gives me his orders. Sisiwa failed in his mission to locate the boy and the Great King showed his displeasure by ordering twenty five lashes and banishing him to serve for half a year in the lower level of his Harem. I am Artaxerxes' Chief Eunuch, I can't afford failing him. Please, don't be angry with me," Sharan started to plead humbly. Abandoning his efforts to stand up, he crawled a few steps towards Mazaeus and hugged satrap's knees in a gesture of complete supplication and submission.
"You are a pathetic failure," disdainfully scoffed Mazaeus and shook his legs to get rid of Sharan's grasp. "I will suggest to Bagoas to find a better candidate for this position."
"Please, don't do that, please," begged Sharan now fully prostrating himself before Mazaeus on the carpet, "I will do anything, I will obey your every word."
"You are supposed to obey King's every word!" Mazaeus scolded the hapless eunuch fully realizing that he was putting the man in the impossible position. But the rules of survival at the Great King's court demanded as much show off of power as actually wielding it. If Mazaeus was to display any compassion where he was in a position to crash and destroy at his whim, he would be challenged by others and who knows where that might lead. Mazaeus was absolutely sure that next day this incident would be the talk of the court and the army and his opponents would be given an additional reason to think twice before deciding to move against the powerful satrap. Of course, Artaxerxes might not like the way he treated his Chief Eunuch, but unless the satrap was already marked by the king for the destruction for his support of Amyntor, all Artaxerxes would do was to mildly rebuke his favorite for such a rough treatment. Many years ago Sharan was warming the bed of previous Great King and later given a highly craved, among the eunuchs, position of the Chief Eunuch. Artaxerxes inherited Sharan from his father and didn't have any particular liking towards him.
"Get out and take your henchmen with you," Mazaeus announced roughly pushing Sharan further away from himself by the ball of his right foot.
"Please, don't destroy me, I was just following the orders," pleaded the eunuch.
"Get out!" Shouted Mazaeus leaving Sharan in the dreadful uncertainty about his fate. "Somebody, take this pile of fat from my bedroom. And you," the satrap turned to his officer on duty, "will get ten lashes tomorrow morning and will forfeit your pay for the three months for forgetting what your responsibilities are."
Nobody really wanted to stay near the enraged satrap any longer. Two of the Sharan's subordinates quickly rushed to help their master on his feet and away from the furious satrap and Kamarta and Artamazes shooed the rest of the spectators out.
When the last of the intruders disappeared from the bedroom, Mazaeus turned around and went to sit on his bed. He looked at Hephaistion who was staring at him with his eyes widely open; Mazaeus wasn't sure whether it was in fear or in awe, or maybe the mixture of both these feelings.
"It seems I am not getting any rest tonight," Mazaeus allowed himself to relax his rigid posture and slumped on the bed.
"Why did you do it?" asked Hephaistion in a low voice.
"What? Saving your ass both literally and figuratively speaking? I wish I knew. Stupid really, if you ask me. Artaxerxes may have my head on the plate tomorrow."
"Why did you do it?" Hephaistion repeated his question quietly.
"I said I don't know. Ahriman (2) probably put this suicidal idea into my head."
"You don't think my father is still alive?"
"What it has to do with anything? Well, speaking the truth, I don't know. Besides, even if your father is still alive, he wouldn't be able to protect you if Artaxerxes wished to place you in his harem."
"But you did, I don't really understand why. I am nothing to you."
"Well, sometimes we behave in a way that defies any logical explanation."
"Like you ordering your night officer being lashed and going without pay? It wasn't his fault, you ordered Kamarta to let Sharan and his retinue in."
"This is easy to explain, my boy. To the outsiders, he failed to guard my night sleep as was his duty and he has to be punished. He is a hardened soldier and ten lashes is nothing to him. As for going three months without a pay, believe me, I have other means to reward him and he knows it."
"What about Sharan? He too was simply following his orders."
"Did you wish him to succeed?"
"No but you shouldn't have treat him like that."
Mazaeus sighed, "You yet have to learn a lot in this life in order to survive. Now, move over, I still hope to catch a few hour of sleep tonight."
"Can I go back to my couch?" asked Hephaistion.
"No, you better stay here," after a moment of contemplation said Mazaeus, "in case somebody else decides to pay us unexpected visit. Don't worry, I won't touch you again and sorry for the previous rough handling, I just didn't have time for elaborate explanation. If you want, you can go and fetch your own blanket from the couch."
Hephaistion nodded in agreement but didn't move from the bed.
Mazaeus chuckled, figuring out the reason. "What, you don't want me to see you naked again? Aren't you Greeks are always proud to display your naked bodies at every possible occasion?"
"I am Macedonian, but still, we do it only during exercises."
"Sex is one of the best the exercises there is and can be quite vigorous, didn't your older friends teach you that yet?" Mazaeus teased the boy noticing how the spreading blush made Hephaistion's face even more beautiful and desirable. "Or do you think you can have me, one of the most powerful satraps of the whole Persian Empire, at your beg and call?"
Hephaistion didn't answer but stared at Mazaeus with a pleading look.
"Fine," relented the satrap and got off the bed to bring Hephaistion his blanket, "one day you will break many hearts, Hephaistion son of Amyntor. Here, take it and let's go to sleep, I hope you don't kick me too much during the night."
O
"Ah, Mazaeus, here you are, come," Artaxerxes waived gleefully to one of his favorite satraps. "I am told you caused quite a stir tonight. Tell me all about it."
Mazaeus haughtily moved past the lesser vassals and dependents of the Great King and took the seat indicated by the King. Despite the many spectators and slew of servants that surrounded the two men, it was considered a private meal and intended to publicize the great honour that the Great King bestowed on one of his most prominent subjects.
"A stir, my King?" Mazaeus pretended to be unaware of the subject, "I know nothing about it, I returned quite late from Sidon last night being appraised by you messenger that you wished to talk to me."
"Don't play coy with me. Is that boy really so beautiful?" asked the king with the eagerness of the horny teenager.
"Ah, the boy. I wasn't aware that you have your eye on him, otherwise I would never bed him."
"I believe you, but I wish your were my Chief Eunuch instead of that useless Sharan. I had him strangled at the first rays of sun. He dared to disturb my sleep just to announce about his failure. What a useless pile of excrement, I should have get rid of him long time ago. I will ask Bagoas to find me a new one."
"Of course, but let's not to pollute our meal with talk about that garbage. Are you still interested in the boy?" gambled Mazaeus.
"Nah, you can have him though I was told he is really pleasant to the eyes. Is he?"
"He is definitely not ugly but completely unskilled. You know, I always prefer soft women but Amyntor was offering and I hoped he would prove a good sport. I bedded him only a few times and I still have to put a lot of effort into his education if he's going to be of any use."
"Why don't you leave his education to my eunuchs? They will teach the boy all the tricks there are."
"I prefer to educate the boy myself, it's more fun and if I desire a pleasure from the expert, there is always a willing concubine. Besides, I allow him to go and see his father when he manages to bring me pleasure I seek. Works marvels on his willingness."
"Ah, I am afraid I just robbed you of your teaching tool," admitted Artaxerxes falling into the trap skillfully placed by Mazaeus.
"How so?" innocently asked the satrap.
"I decided that Mentor was going to conquer Egypt for me," said Artaxerxes. "I have had enough of this war campaign and wish to go back to my beloved Persepolis. But I needed to show Mentor what was going to happen to him if he as much as thinks of betraying me. So, I brought them both to my presence yesterday and showered Amyntor with the promises of my favors and when he was dismissed one of the Immortals strangled him on my orders. Then I displayed his body to Mentor so that he'll remember how precarious my favor is and what will happen to him if he disobeys me."
"I thought having his family with you in Persepolis would be sufficient. Was it really necessary to have Amyntor killed? He could have provided us with a lot of useful information about Philip's intentions."
"Bah!... I can always find another traitor, besides, you shouldn't complain, now you can have that boy all to yourself. See, I wasn't even aware that you had his son. But we both should be glad how it all turned out, I got rid of the useless Chief Eunuch and you got to keep the boy all to yourself."
"You could have get rid of Sharan whenever you wanted."
"Mazaeus," Artaxerxes' friendly disposition suddenly turned into a menacing one, "don't try the boundaries of my benevolence. You may discover yourself on the wrong side of my favours. Do you want me to investigate for how long that boy warmed your bed in reality?"
"There is no need for that," Mazaeus bent his head in submission, "your generosity towards my unworthy person is truly magnanimous and I don't wish to incur you wrath, especially because of some pretty boy, old fat eunuch or renegade general."
"Good," Artaxerxes smiled again, "now try this delicious pear preserved in honey, my cooks came up with this new recipe, it simply melts in you your mouth and the taste is heavenly," Artaxerxes clicked his fingers and a servant hurriedly presented the satrap with the new delicacy swimming in a sick syrup on the beautiful silver plate.
Mazaeus dutifully tasted the offering and made his face reflect such a supreme ecstasy as if he was having an orgasm. Mazaeus hated sweets.
"See, I told you, heavenly," Artaxerxes was definitely satisfied with satrap's reaction. "Beats an uncouth boy any time."
o
Tammuz – Sumerian and later Mesopotamian god of food and vegetation, beloved of goddess Inanna. The Greeks knew him as Adonis, beloved of Aphrodite.
Ahriman – the evil spirit or an incarnation of evil in Zoroastrian religion.