Ajax soon tired of standing around watching the training. He pulled Hephaistion away and took him around the village, sitting and talking to two older men for a while, about the weather, and then about how when they fought like Greeks they would have more land, more to gain.
One of the older men commented on Hephaistion being handsome, then said that the one training was not offensive to the eye. He wondered if the Sacred Band were chosen for their looks.
Ajax cupped Hephaistion's chin in his large, meaty hand, as if studying him for the first time. He laughed and pushed Hephaistion away saying that he would prefer a woman any time. He did not realise how relieved Hephaistion was to hear it.
Pulling Hephaistion along, he went to the paddock, where the men who were going hunting were fetching their horses. In the background, the chief stood and watched while a couple of his men tried to put a bridle on Bucephalus.
It was a job any groom at Pella could do - those who did not fear the stallion. Bucephalus must have done something to put the Illyrians on their guard, as they feared him now, and sensing this the stallion was playing on it, keeping them at bay by striking out with his hooves.
Hephaistion half expected Ajax to wade in with his usual advice and conviction that he knew the answer to everything, but he stayed back and stayed quiet.
The chief walked away, turning his back and waving his hands, as Philip had, when he had decided the black horse was not worth the money or effort. Alexander had been there to save Bucephalus that day. As the hunting party rode out, the tribesmen with Bucephalus drew their swords.
"Wait!" Hephaistion called out, then turned to Ajax, explaining that the stallion could be handled if you showed no fear.
Shouting out, Ajax pulled Hephaistion in to the paddock, repeating his words but acting as though he had thought of it. It did not matter so long as Bucephalus was not slaughtered.
Ajax was handed the bridle, the chief returned to watch. Hephaistion could sense Ajax's fear, and so was not surprised when Bucephalus obviously could. Ajax pulled his dagger from his belt and cut the ties binding Hephaistion's hands together, handing him the bridle.
Hephaistion smiled. The thought passed through his mind as to how easy it might be to leap onto the stallion's back and go fetch Alexander. If the idea began to seem possible, then it was killed when Hephaistion remembered the rope shackles on his feet.
He spoke to Bucephalus, stepping up to him as he would at any other time. The stallion lowered his head and accepted the bit.
It began to snow. The chief, who might have considered riding the stallion that day, stepped away, this time obviously pleased that the animal could be tamed.
Hephaistion removed the bridle, and stroked Bucephalus' neck, talking gently to him, before his hands were retied in front of him and he was pulled away by Ajax.
This time he was taken to where a man worked at a forge, making swords. It was not unpleasant to stand by the fire while Ajax cursed the weather. The blacksmith poured Ajax a drink, then went back to his work, he pointed with his hammer at Hephaistion, commenting that the Sacred Band were defeated at Chaeronea, that they should have a couple of Macedonians teaching them.
Hephaistion looked away, biting his lip to suppress a smile. If only they knew.
The snow began to fall heavier. Ajax headed back to the training ground to see what was happening. The men shouted out at him, when he appeared, Alexander had stopped to rest, and even though the chief had agreed to it, they wanted him to carry on.
Alexander was on his knees. Ajax released Hephaistion and strode over to him, pulling him up by his chiton. Without giving Alexander the chance to stand by himself, he struck out, knocking him backwards.
Ajax suddenly found himself struck across the neck, then his feet were pulled from under him. He looked up to see Hephaistion standing above him. "You're supposed to strike me. Remember?" Hephaistion said, then translated his words in to Illyrian.
Ajax gave a roar and sat up, intending to fight. Hephaistion's hands formed in to a fist and pulled back intending to strike out, when the tribesmen over powered him and wrestled him to the ground.
Alexander was held at bay by swords, seeing the chief, drawn by the commotion, striding over to them, no doubt asking what had happened as he shouted authoratively.
Trying to kick out at Hephaistion, who was shielded by tribesmen, Ajax yelled above the rest, pointing to Alexander, and then to the rest of the men. The chief spoke to some of them, his face showing his impatience at what they said. He strode over to Alexander, pushing at him, then looking up to the snow-filled sky. The training was abandoned, some of the men moved away.
Still roaring his anger, Ajax was swinging his arms, his hands held together as Hephaistion's had been. The chief raised his voice louder, quietening Ajax. Hephaistion was brought to his feet, the ties holding his hands were cut, then his hands were pulled behind his back and retied. Ajax was handed the rope, and then the chief and the other tribesmen went to the hall with Alexander.
Alexander looked back. Ajax was pulling Hephaistion along behind them. He was tugging on the rope and loudly cursing Hephaistion, but did not go to strike him, the chief had obviously told him he could not.