At first light the next morning, they awoke to snow and prepared to head to the Therici village.
While Alexander fetched Bucephalus, Hephaistion watched the tribesmen fetch their horses. There were fifteen men left from the delegation that had approached the Glaucini.
Brandor pulled at the sleeve of his chiton, speaking as he pushed a another fur in to Hephaistion's hands. Hephaistion turned to see that Alexander already had been given one to give extra warmth as he brought Bucephalus along. "They have spare horses that came with them, Brandor wants me to go and pick one" he translated, in a way sad that he could not ride with Alexander, they had been denied each other's touch for so long.
He wiped his sleeve along his brow, the fire had made him hot, he guessed he had grown too used to being cold, the snow falling on his skin felt good to him. He followed Brandor and broke in to a grin as he saw Briseis standing amongst the horses. He went to the mare, checking her over. Brandor asked if she was his, and Hephaistion nodded in reply.
Brandor fetched a rope, fashioning it into a bridle, adjusting it to fit Briseis, then handed her to Hephaistion. He was surprised not to have had to argue for the return of his mare, someone like Stegran would have most likely claimed ownership.
Giving his thanks, he leapt on to the mare, then rode her over to Alexander, who turned and grinned himself to see Hephaistion reunited.
"So you don't need to ride with me today?" Alexander asked, regretting the loss himself.
Hephaistion held out his right hand, then leaned down to kiss Alexander, one that conveyed his longing.
Brandor's friend, Talis, rode by at that very moment. "Grecon,' he said, and shrugged and laughed, as if understanding it was inevitable that two Greek men would take pleasure from each other.
"We should tell them we are Macedonian, before they mistake us for the Sacred Band as well," smiled Alexander, before turning to get on to Bucephalus.
OOXXOO
They rode down towards the frozen lake, going around it, heading east. Going up in to the hills before coming down a long valley, then at a river they turned right to ride along it.
Alexander rode along with Hephaistion, not talking much, just curious to see where they would end up. The snow had not stopped, but it fell gently enough as there was no wind to stir it up. The tribesmen made some comments, that Hephaistion did not bother to translate, he seemed cold, even with the fur wrapped around him. He wore the fur hat, which framed his face perfectly, Alexander decided that it was worth putting up with the cold just to see Hephaistion as he was, in furs with snow softly alighting on them. He wondered where they might sleep that night, he hoped it was somewhere secluded, it had been so long.
By mid afternoon Brandor rode back to them, pointing ahead and then sweeping his hand across the horizon, smiling broadly before heading back to the front of the line.
"This is their land," Hephaistion replied, then suddenly reined Briseis to a halt.
"What's wrong?" Alexander asked, alarmed to see Hephaistion bend forward, breathing hard.
Hephaistion shook his head, then allowed himself to slide from his mare. "I feel sick." He let go of the reins and took a couple of paces forward before collapsing to his knees, putting his hands out on the snowy ground before him, he began to heave.
Alexander was by his side in moments, holding him around the waist, rubbing his back. Brandor cantered back to them, pulling his horse to a stop, jumping down and calling for Talis, halting the rest of the tribe.
Hephaistion was sick, then heaved a little, before he felt he could be helped to his feet. As Alexander pulled him up, Talis came over. He held Hephaistion's face between his strong hands, studying it, while Hephaistion assured him he was well, but he spoke in Macedonian, not Illyrian.
Talis grunted and reached for Hephaistion's left hand, pulling off the bandage, asking him questions, that he nodded to give the answers to. Hephaistion laughed softly, then looked up at the sky and made a remark about Apollo, that Alexander could not understand.
Alexander turned himself, to stand in front of Hephaistion, still holding him but needing his attention. "What is it?" he asked.
"He thinks the blade was poisoned," Hephaistion replied.
"And how long have you been feeling like this?"
"I was hot this morning…I thought it was the fire…that was all. But during the day it has got worse. I hoped to make it to the village." He heaved again, falling to his knees once more, he had been starved by the Glaucini and his empty stomach had little to give, though he wretched violently, his body shaking with the effort. As the nausea subsided he stayed as he was, almost too weak to move.
This time Talis brushed Alexander away and lifted Hephaistion up in to his arms. Brandor had been giving orders, Shanna took off at a gallop with four of the men. Talis signalled for Alexander to get on Bucephalus. When he did, he passed Hephaistion up to him, as if he weighed nothing. Brandor shouted, pointing the direction they should go. He was keen to hurry and watched Alexander as the horses progressed from a fast walk, to a trot, and then to a steady canter. Obviously deciding that Alexander could safely hold Hephaistion at this pace, he went forward and led the way.