Diomache and Laterides discovered that Alexander had left Pella, two days after the king had gone to Aegae.
Wondering why there had been no more invitations to attend the king they had taken it upon themselves to go and enquire. The news put Laterides in to a foul temper and left Diomache recalling every envoy that had ever been sent and how well they had been treated. Charilus reminded him that things were different in Macedon, they always had been, only to get snapped at so, like Hephaistion, he sat quietly and waited for the man to run out of breath.
When Diomache ran out of examples, Hephaistion found his silence did not make him invisible, as he was lectured on his failings, of the missed opportunities to get closer to the king, that he had done nothing to gain the favour he needed to be close.
"I don't want his touch," Hephaistion responded, "I won't seek it".
"Back in Sparta..." Diomache blustered, but was cut off from saying more by Hephaistion's response.
"You want to be gone when I kill Alexander, you want to be safe on a ship heading home. And you call me the trembler? Go now then, leave me here to do the task you brought me here for. I will run to Hades, I welcome it."
Diomache's face went red, he went to speak but nothing would come out of his mouth, instead he turned and walked away, slamming a door behind him as he went.
"You are loyal, Hephaistion, but you no longer have anyone to be loyal to," Charilus said. "It wasn't love."
"Don't pretend you know my heart," Hephaistion said and picked up his cloak before heading out in to the city.
OOXXOO
Hephaistion wrapped his cloak around himself and wandered aimlessly for a time, then found himself heading for the gymnasium, finding it deserted.
He wandered over to where three javelins stood upright in the sand and took the first in his hand, feeling the weight of it, running his thumb along the cornel wood as he looked at the target at the other end of the training ground. Without thinking he threw the javelin, watching it arc through the air and feeling satisfied as it hit home, though not quite in the centre.
Taking the second javelin, he gave a little more thought to his style of throwing, placed more strength in to the release and smiled as it hit the target with a little more success than the last. He took the third, for a moment mesmerised by the metal spear, pressing his lips together, tightening his grip. With a cry he launched the javelin at the target and with a thud it hit dead centre.
"Teach me how to do that some time."
Hephaistion turned and saw Perdiccas staring at the target for a long moment before turning and grinning at him.
"I am better with a sword," Perdiccas confessed, " well, I never excelled with the javelin. I can run, not as well as Alexander though, and I am thought good in ball games but then that is not so useful in battle."
Hephaistion nodded and then began to walk to the target to fetch the javelins back, surprised when Perdiccas went with him.
"Why are you so sad?" Perdiccas asked.
"Why not?" was Hephaistion's reply.
Perdiccas laughed. "I think that Spartans must have dull lives, perhaps too regimented, your life mapped before you."
"Like yours?" Hephaistion pulled the first javelin free, then allowed Perdiccas to take it from him.
"You never talk."
Hephaistion put his foot on the target to pull the second javelin free, then had to use a little more pressure to pull the third free. Perdiccas offered to take them but Hephaistion just walked back to where he had found them, placing the two back in position while Perdiccas placed the third. He took a deep breath, he had not been seeking company and was not sure he welcomed it.
Perdiccas apeared to hesitate, as if thinking what to say. He ran his slender fingers through his fair hair and frowned a little, looked around the gymnasium then back to the Spartan beside him. "Alexander has gone to Aegae, he told me to follow after him, I drank to much the night before he left and made myself ill on it. The others have gone." No answer came and he looked to the ground, kicking at the sand, then glanced back up. "Why don't you come? Rid yourself of the old men you came with. There is good hunting there, it's a different place to Pella."
His hand went to one of the javelins, then he released it, realising if he threw again Perdiccas would expect a lesson from him and he was in no mood to teach.
Unexpectedly, Perdiccas laughed. "I was just thinking you would be good company," he explained.
The comment made Hephaistion feel ashamed, he ought to say something but he felt removed from the world, half way to Hades.
"Come with me, it is two days journey, that is all. Alexander would be glad to see you, he relaxes there more than at Pella."
Hephaistion looked over at Perdiccas and saw his chance. "When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow morning, at dawn." Perdiccas grinned at him. "Will you meet me at the stables?"
"I'll be there," Hephaistion replied, stepping back then turning and walking away.
OOXXOO
Diomache clapped his hands with delight when he heard the news. "Kill him at the theatre if you can, it would be fitting that the son should die like the father."
"Kill him as soon as you get the chance," Laterides advised.
Hephaistion poured himself a cup of wine and took a seat, lifting the cup up to stare down at the red liquid, so like blood. He breathed in the aroma of the wine but did not drink it.
"Don't falter from the task."
Looking up, he saw Laterides studying him.
"We should leave," decided Diomache.
"Let's not appear too much in a hurry and let us think of a good reason why we should go without Hephaistion," advised Charilus.
Diomache went red with temper, he had come to resent Charilus' interventions. "Best we are back in Sparta, that we tell all what will happen so we can take the honours for it."
"You heard what happened to Demosthenes? He proclaimed Alexander was dead, told all of Athens the news, only to discover Alexander lived and was marching on Thebes. Let's not appear fools, Diomache, we will all benefit from the tyrant's death without needing glory for it." Laterides turned and stepped away, going to the door of the room as if to check no servants were close enough to overhear their conversation.
Charilus walked over to Hephaistion and put his hand on his shoulder. "Die well," he said, softly.
Diomache grunted and headed for his bedroom, saying nothing.
Laterides came over and sat beside him. "It is your chance for redemption, Hephaistion. Keep that in mind."
"You are uncommonly handsome," added Charilus, "use it to your advantage".
"I'll do what needs to be done," Hephaistion assured them, discarding the wine on to a low table close to him. Now that he had decided, he wanted to be in Aegae, to be free of these men who thought so little of him.
Laterides sighed loudly. "Leonidas' line...gone." He placed his hand over Hephaistion's. "Your ancestor was a great man, think of him when you need strength."
Diomache came out of his bedroom, holding a small bottle in his hand. He handed it to Hephaistion. "It is hemlock. If you fail to use the dagger perhaps you can pour it in to his wine."
Laterides folded his arms across his chest and leaned towards Hephaistion. "Do not forget the words from Delphi, 'A strike to the heart', they are never wrong, I have had my doubts about you but now I feel the prophecy will be fulfilled."
Hephaistion nodded and looked down to the small grey bottle in his hand, the seal still in place, holding the deadly poison. He resolved not to use it, a dagger to the heart would be the quicker way, the Spartan way. How had his life come to this? He remembered laughter and friends, days in the sun and nights in passion, swallowing back the memories as they brought pain now. He would never see Sparta again.
"We will not be able to pay honour at your pyre, Hephaistion, but rest assured that sacrifices will be made for you at the temples of Sparta."
"I doubt I shall have a pyre," Hephaistion replied, softly. He stood up. "I have to leave at dawn, I better go rest."
Diomache looked at Charilus and Laterides, his mouth saying words that would not come out. He coughed, then reached for the discarded cup of wine and took a drink. "We will leave the day after, make out we have been recalled to Sparta and leave a note for Hephaistion as though he will receive it on his return."
"Agreed," said Charilus.
Laterides stood up and stretched, he went to put his hand on Hephaistion's shoulder but seemed to change his mind, he said nothing.
Hephaistion went to his room, happy to close the door behind him. He reached for a bag and packed his things, placing the bottle of hemlock between two chitons, the gold dagger next to that, then he lay upon his bed unable to sleep, listening to the sounds of the city and watching the moon rise and fall in the sky.