Alexander felt restless. He discarded the story he had been reading, that of Xenophon's escape from Persia, and got up from the couch he had been lying on, stretching his body and walking over to the balcony to stare across at Pella.
It might have been the place he was born, the place he had lived but somehow it never felt like home and he had no regret that he would leave it again, as he had no longing to return. Yet things needed to be settled before he went to Persia, he had to wait, while plans were made. His father had not left him rich and an army cost money, he needed to be sure of success.
He leaned on the balcony and listened to the city sounds, thinking of the past, of all his father had tried to teach him. He had been so anxious to have his chance to shine, that at times he had wished his father gone, but how much would he give now to see the man back?
A door opened and Alexander looked to his left to see a servant of his mother's appear and whisper to a servant of his own. More messages from her, begging his attention. He sighed and looked down, he would have to go and see her some time. She wanted him to marry. Parmenion and Antipater were all urging him to marry, to leave an heir before he left for Persia. He had been fighting the idea but now he was beginning to see some sense in it, so long as they found a girl his father had not touched.
Pushing himself up from the balcony he had a look across to the river, seeing ships arriving, ambassadors seemed to arrive daily now...and how they had all run away when his father was murdered. He shook his head and began to walk through the rooms, his father's rooms, wondering why he could not settle, why he felt so ill at ease in the place that had always been his home.
The guard jumped to attention as he left the rooms and made his way to the great hall where he found Ptolemy and Leonnatus drinking wine and involved in a debate over a horse, one they had never seen, it appeared.
"The breeding is wrong for battle," Leonnatus argued.
"No, it is the best kind," said Ptolemy, "you'll see when it arrives".
Leonnatus sighed loudly then took a sip if wine. "The man was bragging, I've never seen him with a decent animal."
Ptolemy saw Alexander approach and got to his feet, nudging Leonnatus to do the same.
"I'm not disturbing you am I?" Alexander asked.
There had been a subtle change in how he was treated these days, a little too much reverence for his liking, but where his father would have joked and relaxed people Alexander did not have that gift, he could only hope it would settle and his friends would be his friends once more.
"We're not doing much," Leonnatus said, putting down his empty cup of wine.
Ptolemy stretched, a little too theatrically. "I wouldn't mind a visit to the gymnasium, I am getting lazy and need to move a little."
Leonnatus laughed. "Then a visit to the brothel would do you just as well."
"What about you, Alexander?" asked Ptolemy, ignoring Leonnatus' jibe. "Would you accompany me?"
Alexander sighed. If truth were told he would have stayed at Dion, he had lingered there for as long as he could but knew he had to return to Pella before he could ever go to Persia, reluctantly he had gone back, greeted by his mother who held him tightly as if she never would let go. She never would. One reason why she wanted him to marry was to give him a reason to return, she knew him too well, could always tell what was in his heart. Perhaps she was a witch, like they said. She was a murderess, that was true. Pella stank of intrigue and plots, if he had not Persia in mind then he might look for another place to build a palace. He was restless. Uncertain.
"Alexander?"
Before he could reply Craterus and Seleucus appeared, both laughing at some shared joke. Craterus stepped forward and embraced Alexander, pulling him close enough so he could smell the wine on his breath. He kissed him and ruffled his hair. Alexander's grey eyes showed that he knew it was all to tease. Long ago, at Mieza, he had come to realise that Craterus would never be more than just a friend and not so close as he might have wished. Craterus was too sarcastic, too quick to anger, though in battle he shone and his loyalty was undisputed.
"My King," laughed Craterus, bowing low, as if he had forgotten himself.
Seleucus laughed and pulled on Craterus' chiton to get him to stand upright, if a little unsteady on his feet.
Ptolemy shook his head. "Well into your cups at mid-day, Craterus?"
"It was good wine that got us there," Seleucus replied. "We came to fetch you. Perdiccas is about to wrestle this giant, a merchant from Corinth...who sold us the wine. Perdiccas is going to be slaughtered." Laughing again, Seleucus pulled Craterus free of Alexander and dragged him towards the door.
"It should be fun to watch," Leonnatus said, looking at Alexander.
"Perhaps we should go, just to stop Perdiccas getting hurt," Ptolemy murmured.
Alexander gave a nod of consent and allowed himself to be herded along to the gymnasium. Just as they got outside a messenger came from Anitpater to say that a Spartan delegation had arrived. He told the messenger to ensure they were given lodgings and what they needed and he would receive them soon enough, then went on his way.