Hephaistion led the way through the hall, heading to the chief's room. Alexander was there, having just finished washing himself. Hephaistion grinned at him and then stood aside as Perdiccas, Seleucus and Ptolemy came into the room.

Alexander hurried to them, embracing them, laughing and saying that he almost did not believe his eyes. "What are you three doing here?" he said, his tone full of disbelief.

"We missed you," Seleucus said, throwing a playful punch in Alexander's direction.

"Did you think we'd sit at home while you were having fun up here?" Perdiccas added.

Ptolemy reached up and ran his fingers through Alexander's hair. It had almost grown back to its normal length, but not quite. "It seems like Hephaistion was not the only one getting a haircut," he said.

Alexander pulled on a fresh, light green, tunic and embraced Ptolemy quickly, as if still not believing his companions were here. "We were captured by a tribe called the Glaucini, they're about a days ride from here, we were held captive though they meant to sacrifice us, only when this tribe, the Therici came, were we able to escape, then Hephaistion was injured by a poisoned blade…"

As he spoke he walked back into the hall, with the three men practically running after him to hear what he was saying. Only Hephaistion took his time, laughing at the effect that Alexander's concise update was having.

Alexander sat at a table where plates of meat, bread and fruit were ready, and a jug of Therici ale which they had grown a taste for at last. As he picked up some bread and ate, he went silent.

"Oh, and we're going into battle against the Glaucini," Hephaistion said, pouring the ale, before reaching for some bread and meat.

After a moment's stunned silence from the three, they burst into laughter, reaching for the food, sharing what gossip they knew.

Ptolemy shook his head. "A battle, eh?" He laughed. "Now, I'm glad I came."

"How did you find us?" Alexander asked.

"A chief, called Stegran, directed us. We accepted his hospitality the same as you did."

"He stole some of our equipment," added Perdiccas.

Alexander and Hephaistion laughed, admitting the same had been done to them.

"What happened to you, Hephaistion?" Perdiccas asked, looking with concern upon his friend.

Hephaistion shrugged his shoulders. "A poisoned knife cut my hand." He held his left hand up to show a fresh scar. "In the Glaucini, there is a giant of a man called Glanna, but I knew him as Ajax. He was trying to stop me from escaping, if I had known the blade was poisoned, then I would have been more careful." He could see the concern on Perdiccas' face, and so he added. "I am well now."

"Does each tribe have a giant?" Seleucus asked. "Who was the man so keen on protecting you?"

"Oh, you've met Talis then?" Alexander said, laughing and taking a drink of ale. "He's adopted Hephaistion. Though I think at the moment, I am the one in need of a father."

Quiet reigned for a moment, then Ptolemy finally spoke. "We have no news, Alexander, except to say your father is well. He made it clear we were not welcome at Pella on the morning he discovered you had gone. In truth, we couldn't leave fast enough, the mood he was in. We were worried in case he had you brought back, then we wished he would, in the hope that things could be sorted. I'm sure he'd meet you half way, Alexander."

"It would be too much to expect a full apology," Perdiccas conceded.

Alexander looked at Hephaistion before he spoke. "Messengers seemed to arrive at Dodona every day. None gave any hope of even a slight acceptance that he could have been wrong. I expect Attalus was standing right by my father's side as the messengers were sent."

"That man's as cunning as a fox," Ptolemy said, drinking some ale and then pulling a face. "How can you drink this?" he asked.

"You get used to it," Hephaistion replied. "We can only hope that the gods provide a chance for Attalus to get what he deserves," he said. "Though, I think Philip would have the sense to get the man away from Pella before he even thinks of calling for Alexander to return."

Alexander laughed bitterly at that comment. "If he finds out I am here, he will make it as awkward for me to stay, as he did at Dodona. Exile to my father means more than just leaving Macedonia, it means disappearing off the edge of the world."

Hephaistion put his hand on Alexander's arm, waiting until Alexander gazed upon him before he spoke. "Your father loves you, Alexander. He needs you. He knows this and he will send for you," he said, earnestly.

Just then Brandor and Talis came over to them, drinks in hand. They sat down at the table and helped themselves to some food.

"Welcome to Therici," Brandor said. He had asked Alexander and Hephaistion to help him to learn Greek. "You welcome…here. You sleep here," he added.

Hephaistion replied in Illyrian, obviously praising him as Brandor's face lit up with a broad grin.

"Once we have defeated the Glaucini, he will be the new chief," Alexander explained, giving a nudge to Ptolemy who had his eyes set on Shanna. "And she will be his queen," he said, a gentle warning in his voice."

"You fight and us?" Brandor asked.

"We will," Perdiccas replied, noting the confusion in Brandor's eyes.

Hephaistion laughed. "Sometimes he says things and then does not understand the reply. He's working on it."

Talis stood up and walked round to the three newcomers, pulling at Ptolemy's chiton to encourage him to stand. He spoke as he took hold of Seleucus' arm and tried to lead him away.

"He wants to show you where you will be sleeping," Hephaistion replied.

"Can't it wait?" grumbled Ptolemy.

"It's still early," Seleucus added.

"You'll be glad of a good nights sleep," Alexander explained. "The days start early here and we have work to do."

He stood up and embraced the three men while Talis muttered 'Grecon' under his breath, then headed for the chief's room with Hephaistion.

Ptolemy gave Talis a look as if he might argue further, about being ordered to his bed, but Perdiccas put his hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear.

"You'd be a brave man to take him on, and even Alexander has retired," he said.

Ptolemy grinned. "He won't be sleeping for a while yet though."

"There are lots of girls here," Seleucus cut in, encouraging his two friends to follow Talis. "The night is still young."

OOXXOO

The next morning Alexander found them already awake and sitting back at the table eating warmed oats and milk. Ptolemy had his left elbow on the table and was resting his head in his hand while he stirred the contents of the bowl. Perdiccas and Seleucus were grinning at him, they were always more alert than Ptolemy in the mornings.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"I'd have slept better in the middle of a market place," grumbled Ptolemy. "There was talking until late, then snoring, and then women clattering pots and bowls and laughing with each other."

"It was mainly Ptolemy's snoring that kept me awake," joked Seleucus. "Though I liked Stegran's village best, there was a girl who kept me warm at night."

Alexander's face flushed a little. He reached over to take an apple from a wooden bowl. "When you've done, come and find me at the stables," he said, pulling his fur cloak around his shoulders before heading outside.

"You might have shared the same bed mate with Alexander," Perdiccas noted to Seleucus.

Seleucus looked surprised. "I've never been near a bed with Hephaistion."

Perdiccas gently cuffed Seleucus. "With the girl in the village. There's a story there."

Ptolemy laughed, surprising his two companions. "I can imagine Philip and Olympias' faces if Alexander ever marries a girl from a village." He stood up. "Come on, let's go see what the day brings."

"I'll go fetch Hephaistion. I'll see you outside." Perdiccas said, heading to the chief's room.

OOXXOO

Hephaistion was just reaching for his tunic top when Perdiccas walked hesitantly into the room.

"Perdiccas?" he said, looking to see if anyone was with him, but he was alone. "What is it?" he asked.

Perdiccas stepped up to him, looking to the floor before gazing into his eyes. "Before I left, I heard that Demaratus of Corinth had arrived at Pella….to talk with Philip. I think he is going to make Philip see sense and send for Alexander."

Hephaistion nodded his head. "Demaratus has been a good friend to both of them. If anyone can mediate a truce between Philip and Alexander, then he would be the man to do it.

"I didn't say anything to the others, I didn't know whether Alexander should know or not."

"He will probably hope to see a messenger arrive," Hephaistion replied, then shook his head. "Philip could have lost his son through this, we came close to death, Perdiccas."

Perdiccas reached up and traced a scar on Hephaistion's upper left arm. "It's healed well," he remarked. "I saw you wounded, putting yourself between Alexander and the Theban who might have killed him."

"Alexander can fight his own battles," Hephaistion replied, pulling the tunic over his head. "But at times, he is too much of a target. He goes forward without a thought for his own safety…"

Hephaistion's words were cut short as Perdiccas leaned in and kissed him full on the lips. It was so unexpected that he gasped, which Perdiccas took as an invitation to push his tongue into his mouth. Perdiccas' hand came up to clasp the back of his head, not allowing him to move away.

Holding himself still, not responding to the sweetness of it, or the desire in the kiss, Hephaistion raised his hands and placed then on Perdiccas' chest, gently pushing him back, though it took a while for Perdiccas to get the message and break the kiss.

"No," Hephaistion breathed, looking deeply into Perdiccas' eyes, trying to understand.

Perdiccas' face flushed. "I've wanted to do that for so long." Seemingly unaware, his hands came to rest on Hephaistion's waist.

"But you are always with the girls," Hephaistion said, still shocked by his friends actions.

Perdiccas laughed. "Why would I want to lie with another man, when the one I want is right here before me. When the one I want can't be mine….yet." He smiled. "That's my one consolation, that one day Alexander will take a wife, may take other lovers…"

"It won't change the way we feel," Hephaistion replied earnestly. He put his hands over Perdiccas', not to encourage him, but to stop them roving over his body. "It's more than a physical relationship, it's the feeling that I have known him in another life before, that we are meant to be. I'm sorry, Perdiccas, you're waiting for something that will never happen."

"Ah." Perdiccas smiled, his face flushing a deeper red as he stepped back, releasing Hephaistion. He looked to the floor, then back to Hephaistion. "I don't know what the future holds for Alexander, but I don't envy the fact he is a prince, and if he inherits the throne, gains glory in battle, has all the riches in the world, I still won't envy him." He sighed. "But I envy him that he has you, Hephaistion. I just hope he appreciates what he has."

He began to turn, meaning to go, but Hephaistion reached for him and pulled him into an embrace, holding him tightly. "He does," he said, earnestly. "He knows it, Perdiccas, he tells me every day."

Perdiccas hesitated then lifted his arms to return the embrace, breathing in Hephaistion's scent. "I had to try," he said.

"I know. I'm flattered by it. Honestly, I am."

Perdiccas pulled back and smiled. "Alexander just said he was going to the stables."

Hephaistion grinned, taking him by the arm and leading him from the room. "Come, Perdiccas, let me introduce you to the pleasure of shovelling shit."

OOXXOO

It was over the next few days that things finally began to come together.

Galadrian had played up about the fact he had been demoted in favour of Ptolemy. He raised his voice and banged the table with his cup, when the news was broken, looking around, hoping for a word of support. But all the men stayed silent, secretly wishing he were not even a part of it, so he bit his tongue, if only not to be excluded.

From then on he kept close to Ptolemy, careful to copy him in everything that he did, so as not to make mistakes.

On the final day, before they were due to leave for the Glaucini village, Hephaistion cantered over to Alexander, bringing his mare alongside Bucephalus.

Alexander had been silently watching, concentrating on the practice taking place before him. A gentle smile appeared on his face, the only sign that he was aware of Hephaistion's presence, then he turned his head and the smile widened. "You might even mistake them for Macedonian cavalry," he said.

Hephaistion turned and watched for a moment, then returned the smile. "If it were not for the lesser quality of the mountain ponies they ride, or the furs they have swathed themselves in, then they might have been mistaken for Macedonian cavalry…new recruits to the Macedonian cavalry."

"Shouldn't you be with your troop?" Alexander asked, ignoring the jibe.

Hephaistion looked over to the men, they were faultless in their part. "They are eager to be gone; eager to get the job done," he replied. He turned to Alexander. "We better make the most of the bed tonight. When the battle is won, Brandor will take Shanna as his queen."

Alexander looked surprised. "That quickly?"

"Our plan worked. The men are already talking of Brandor as if he were their chief." Hephaistion bit his lip before he spoke again. "But you could still take it, Alexander. If you wanted to."

Alexander surveyed the scene before him. Of the small village and the people in it, then looked east. "I want more," he sighed. He turned back to Hephaistion, who was smiling at him. "But you would go along with what I wanted," he stated. "To the ends of the earth?"

Hephaistion now looked over the village. In a short time they had found a home here. Then he gazed back on Alexander and knew where his heart truly called home. "To the ends of the earth, Alexander," he said.

Alexander pushed Bucephalus into a gallop, calling in the men, they had done enough. He was aware of Hephaistion right behind him, and of Ptolemy, Seleucus and Perdiccas, encouraging their horses forward to join them. It turned into a race, circling the village, the thunder of hooves echoing through the valley. At the front, anticipating the battle ahead, Alexander leaned his head back and gave a war cry, turning and laughing with Hephaistion as it followed the thunder down the valley.