Day Five: One day at the royal Palace.
Little Hephaestion was nearly six years old and he had grown into a very good boy, always in a good mood and ready to help. He had a heart of gold and he was really committed to the people he loved and cared about.
Amyntas was at home, spending some time with his family, he had suffered a bad injury that obliged him to take some rest, because if he did not take those days or even months off, according to the royal doctor, he could end as a cripple, a feature that was not acceptable for a Macedonian General.
There was no need to say that the tough warrior was not doing well with all that rest. He behaved like a bear with a sore head and his mood was getting darker and darker with every passing day. His wife did not know what else to do to calm him down so she had decided, after some unusual shouting contests between them, that she would leave him to rant alone. It seemed as if only Hephaestion was able to be near his father without being "bitten" by the rude remarks or answers from the injured man. The little boy had the patience of an old man and the capacity to remain in silence for long periods of time. Amyntas had also discovered that he was a good listener too so, at the beginning, he had spent many hours ranting about his current miserable situation, but lately, he had started to retell Hephaestion their family history since the very first ancestors who had set their feet in Greek lands. The boy had started the design of their family tree, beginning with that ancestor his father had told him about and that according to the first Amyntoros, was Patroclus itself. The boy could not feel more ecstasy, his most favourite hero was his ancestor as well.
Many days were spent like that, in deep conversation; one sharing the information he had been retold years ago by his own father; the other writing down slowly all that information in his neat and clear handwriting. Hephaestion even dared to illustrate many of the scrolls, especially if there had been an event that had called his attention more than the others had.
The family tree became a thick book about their family, lots of scrolls, carefully written in Hephaestion's childish writing, with colourful drawings, all of them bound with a long and strong leather cord. Hephaestion said that the book would be passed from fathers to sons so they would be able to add more information and so any Amyntoros would say, in the future, that they did not know about their own history. Amyntas agreed with his idea and suggested that after they finished adding all what they wanted, he would give it to Lysander, the eldest of his sons so he could add about his own family and then it would be passed to the other two sons.
One afternoon, when father and son were deeply immersed in their work, a royal page arrived at the farmhouse. After having some water, on lady Amyntoros's insistence, the young man asked to speak to the General. He was quickly taken where the General and his son were.
Amyntas had started to put his full weight on the healing leg some days before but he was still walking slowly in comparison to his usual steady and strong march. However, he waited until the page was sent his way. As soon as the young man saw the General, he did not wait long to give him the news he was bringing. He told Amyntas that king Philip was looking forward to seeing him if he was up to the trip on horse to the palace. He also added that the king had some serious matters to discuss with him but that he was willing to wait if he was not feeling recovered yet.
Hephaestion looked at the page in wonder, the youth was wearing the king's colours, he was also the bearer of important information, a high honour in Hephaestion's eyes, and he immediately thought that the king would trust him a lot for that mission. He did not remember when his own brothers had that honour of being pages because he had not being born in one case or he had been just a baby in others to remember.
After resting, the page was gone and Hephaestion remained silent for a while. Amyntas could see that his son was in deep thoughts and he wondered what he was thinking about. The brave warrior could easily see so many good aptitudes in him and he could not help seeing him as a good soldier in the near future. In that moment, he decided that he was going to take Hephaestion with him on his trip to the palace; it was time the young boy met his king and maybe he could also meet the young prince that happened to be nearly of his same age, just some months younger.
That night Hephaestion was sent to sleep earlier than usual and his father told him that he wanted him dressed up with warm clothes at dawn. Hephaestion looked at him curiously and asked why he was asked to do that. That was another thing the General liked about his son; he was curious but respectful and he was always waiting for a straight answer. The man told him that he had an appointment with the king and he wanted him to ride with him towards the palace so they could meet each other.
A very nervous boy went to bed that night and many hours had gone by before sleep came to him. Eos was painting the sky with her rosy fingers when a very excited boy opened his cyan eyes; he got up and ran towards the basin in one corner of his room. After pouring some water into it, he washed his face with that cold water from the jar to brush the sleep from his still blurry eyes. He then proceeded to comb his brunette tresses that were now caressing his thin shoulders, he brushed his teeth and he was finally dressed up with his best chiton and his leather boots. He completed his attire with a short midnight blue cloak that his mother had gifted him for his last birthday.
As soon as he finished dressing, he went to the kitchen to find that his mother was already up and preparing a hearty breakfast for her men. She also added some extra food in a leather bag for the trip, in case the boy got hungry during the ride. It was not a long one but it would probably take them two hours to get there and he was not so sure if the boy would be able to eat all his breakfast due to his inner nerves.
They finished their morning meal and the little one had had some problems in swallowing his food. Both parents exchanged a knowing look between them but they decided not to acknowledge the problem in front of their son's presence. After that, they went to the stables to fetch "Shadow", Amyntas's warhorse. The Amyntoros were famous horse breeders and tamers and Shadow was one of the best horses in the Macedonian cavalry.
Father and son mounted the strong and gorgeous beast and canted quickly towards the royal palace. In the way there, Hephaestion who was facing his father and resting onto the broad and comfortable chest, asked his father when he would have his own horse. The General chuckled and told him that Shadow had served three fine mares and they were all expecting so one of the foals would be for him. The boy was so happy about the good news that he continued chatting all the way to the palace and he wondered if his new horse and Sotiris would get along with each other.
The she wolf had not been happy at all when she was left at the farmhouse but little Hephaestion had explained her that she had an important mission to fulfill for him and that was to be in charge of his mother's safety and nobody on the farm doubted that the animal had clearly understood her little master's instructions.
The royal guards let the newcomers enter after saluting the great warrior. Little Hephaestion was proud of his father and he felt so much respect for him. He always asked the gods to help him be, just a quarter of a good man his father was. Time would prove that he would be greater than his own wish.
They entered the Throne room and were immediately greeted by a young man. Hephaestion was amazed at his bulky body and jet-black hair. He was accustomed to see strong men, his father and brothers were a walking proof of that strength, but he had never met anybody that big being so young. The young warrior formally saluted the General and after that, Amyntas enveloped him in a bear hug.
Hephaestion's father introduced the young man as Cleitus the Black and the soldier looked at the thin boy next to the strong father an smiled.
"Are you going to be a soldier too?" he asked with a deep voice.
"Yes as my father and brothers. But I am also an inventor" Hephaestion timidly answered.
"And what do you invent that it is not invented yet?" the man asked, teasing the child.
"Many things but mainly war devices. I have an assault tower, some portable structures to build things on the battlefield during a siege and then I have a lot of plans to design and build new cities" the boy answered more and more excited because that big man was truly paying attention to his words.
"You dream big, little boy" Cleitus replied smiling because, even though the boy was quite young, he could see his strong will in those oceanic eyes.
"Nothing is impossible if you are constant and faithful to your ideas" the boy said, trying to defend his ideas.
"You are quite a philosopher, too. You are certainly a good match for our princeling who is always dreaming about his future conquests and his heroic ancestors" Cleitus said with a tinge of jealousy in his words.
"Is the prince here?" Hephaestion asked curiously.
"I think so, however he must be practicing with his tutor Leonidas" Cleitus said seriously.
"Can I meet him?" the brunette boy asked eagerly.
"I am sure that king Philip can arrange for you to see him. Now I should go, they are waiting for me to practice some wrestling" Cleitus explained and left the two Amyntoros behind.
General Amyntoros was quickly taken to the king's presence and the little boy was impressed by his features, the king had fair hair and clear eyes, not a very common feature among Greeks.
"Joy to you, my king" Amyntas greeted happily.
"Joy to you, too, my dear friend. First of all, how are you doing? Is your leg still giving you trouble?" the king asked worried about his General and friend's health.
"I am doing better, the leg is almost healed and I think the limp will disappear in the next month or so. But I am just tired to be resting for so long; luckily this young man had helped me to tolerate my recovery" the warrior said while raffling his son's hair.
"I was going to ask who that boy beside you was but he is your spiting image, my friend" king Philip said laughing while approaching the boy with cerulean eyes, a shade clearer than his father's.
"I am Hephaestion Amyntoros, my king" the boy answered solemnly.
"My pleasure to meet you, son. Will you join my Army as your father and brothers did?" the king asked curious about his answer; he could see that this young boy had fire inside him.
"Maybe but I am sure that I will join your son's Army" Hephaestion said, shocking both grown men with his statement.
"And why do you think my little boy will have his own Army?" Philip asked, more curious than before.
"I know it for real because the very same Ares told me that in a dream" Hephaestion replied seriously but feeling a bit uneasy.
"Ares himself talked to you in your sleep? Are you a seer, Hephaestion?" king Philip asked, approaching the little boy and measuring him with his clear eyes.
"No, my king but sometimes, the gods talk to me in my sleep and he told me that he would have the biggest army the world had seen and that he would conquer many far away lands" Hephaestion added.
"I believe you, son, don't be worried or afraid of me. Let's sit and I will tell you a story" king Philip said and took Hephaestion's little hand in his bigger and calloused one and they both sat on the throne, Hephaestion on the king's lap.
"What is that story about, my king?" the little brunette asked, totally mesmerized by the unique situation he was living.
"When Alexander was born, there was a priest in the room and when he saw his two coloured eyes …" the king was interrupted by a tiny voice.
"Excuse me but I don't understand, do the prince's eyes have different colours?" he asked, doubting the truth.
"Yes, he has one grey eye and the other is green, so when the priest consulted the oracle about that, it answered that Alexander would reign over two kingdoms, that is why I believe you about conquering many lands" king Philip explained and remained silent because he could see that the boy was assimilating all the information given.
"That is why Ares said that … now I can understand better" Hephaestion said without realizing that the king was looking at him marveled at his quick understanding and acceptance.
"I have one further question to ask you, Hephaestion" the king said seriously, making the boy turn on his lap and looked at him.
"Of course, my king" the boy submissively answered.
"Will you follow my son up to the end of the earth?" he asked and held his breath because he knew that he was living an important moment in the future of his kingdom.
"Yes but with one condition, he must be loyal and faithful to his ideals and above all, he must take care of the peoples under his command" Hephaestion answered looking directly into the king's clear eyes.
"You will have your hands full with this little one, my General" king Philip made that joke because he was in serious need to lighten the thick atmosphere.
"I am sure I will; he had an old head onto his very young shoulders" Amyntas said, sensing the gravity of the whole moment.
"So Hephaestion, let me ask you something, my son and some of the heirs of the noblest Macedonian families will go to Mieza to take lessons with Master Aristotle. Would you like to join them? I think you would really benefit from his lessons and it will also give you the opportunity to know your future king and companions. You could also grow together, not only in knowledge but also in social skills and I do think that you could become a very good diplomat in the future because you have already showed me loyalty to a person you have not known yet. And, according to your father, who I believe in blindly, your ideas are quite unique and modern, two characteristics that are highly appreciated among us" king Philip said, hoping the boy accepted his invitation because he really thought he could become a very good, if not the best, asset for his Army and his son's army.
"I will join your son and his friends only if I can bring a friend of mine with me" Hephaestion requested and his final decision would depend on what the king answered.
"You are full of conditions, son. That is good because you perfectly know what you want and how to achieve it. Well, tell me, who is this friend of yours?" king Philip asked, realizing that he had been manipulated by a boy of only six years and it seemed that he was already wrapped around the boy's little finger.
"Her name is Sotiris and …" but the boy was suddenly interrupted by the king.
"No way, we do not allow women to study in Mieza, they will just be a distraction and I really do not need that and …" but the king was the one interrupted this time.
"My king, Sotiris is not a girl, she is a she wolf" Hephaestion explained with his voice tinged with pride.
"And why would you need her here with you?" he asked curiously.
"Why not? Some children have a dog as a pet, I have a wolf" he replied as if he were explaining why the sky is blue and not of another colour.
"Will you be able to control her? it is not her natural environment" the king said, a bit worried at such strange occurrence.
"I will and I need her here mainly because she saved my life when I was two and I fell into a lake and I also know that I can train her to go into battle with me, when the correct time arrives" he seriously explained his reason.
"Good point son, so I will be waiting for you and Sotiris next spring" king Philip answered and then asked Amyntas if he was ready to discuss those important matters that had originally asked for a meeting between them.
Little Hephaestion was dismissed and after such an emotional encounter with his king, the little boy fell asleep and he dreamt of his future in the Macedonian army.
mashou no tenshi ; thanks for your review; Alexander will appear too