Hello all,

Here comes the third entry to my Destiny tale. Dire Omens are gathering, but also good Friends and Helpers.

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,

/ NorthernLight

Author's Note: In old Babylonian belief Mars was the Planet of Nergal, a God connected with War, fire and destruction, but also with the Sun and lions. Jupiter was the planet of Marduk, a God connected with Wisdom and Harmony. That's why Shamash sees them as representations of Alexander and Hephaestion.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX

Escape From Destiny, Part Three

City Of Babylon, 324 BC

Autumn Auspices

The sky formed a velvet black cupola adorned with stars shining like sparkling pearls, diamonds and rubies over his head. Now the air was cool and pleasant, especially this high above the City. Shamash always enjoyed being on top of the Ziggurath watching the star lit sky. He spent hours and hours there after Darkness, making observations and watching the Sacred Signs.

This evening he saw something that badly upset him.

The planets of War and Wisdom, Nergal and Marduk, were hidden behind terrible dark clouds. There were no clouds at all on the other parts of the sky. The ruby red War planet was slowly fading away behind the shroud like black cloud. The sparkling diamond like Wisdom planet was totally hidden behind another shroud like cloud.

Shamash shuddered and pulled his dark blue cloak closer around him.

He knew that this was a Bad Sign for the two powerful Men who now governed the Kingdom of Persia. Shamash liked the young golden haired King and his auburn haired friend. He had met them after the surrender of Babylon and he held them in great esteem since they had promised to rebuild the Sacred places and actually donated generous funds to achieve this worthy cause. King Alexander was like the fiery War planet. Fortunately he had his friend's Wisdom to moderate his fiery and destructive temper.

The Persian Empire could not have found better New Rulers.

Now this balance was severely threatened. Shamash knew that all the known world was in danger from the Bad Sign that he had observed this evening.

The wise old Seer remained for another hour on the platform on top of his beloved Ziggurath. He hoped for the dark clouds to go away. Sadly they did not. He spent a night without sleep and rest in his chambers in the Ziggurath. His young wife Zirrath tried in vane to comfort him. She embraced him, she brought an evening meal with mulled wine and also calming herbal teas but to no avail. Shamash thanked her and then sent her away as he tossed to and fro on his broad feather bed. There was a big window in his sleeping quarters and through it he could see the clouded planets. The ominous sight chased sleep from his exhausted mind.

In the morning Shamash called for a Holy Sacrifice. He loved all animals so it was not an easy decision. The poor sheep came willingly to him. This was a Good Sign for a true prognostication. Unfortunately it held the worst of omens. Even if the sheep seemed to be in the best of health its liver missed one of its lobes. This was a very Bad Sign, indeed.

Shamash called for his good friend Arach the Archer and told him what he had seen in the night time sky and also about the Sacrifice. The Archer became morose and wrung his strong and able hands in dismay.

"I will go to Ecbatana and warn King Alexander and his Chiliarch. They must beware of all evils and dangers!", the Archer stated.

He then armed himself with his mighty bow and quiver and called for a fast gray steed.

Ever since the Battle of Gaugamela the Archer had held King Alexander and his best friend Hephaestion in the highest esteem. He had followed them on their long and arduous Campaigns all the way to India and they had become friends on the journeys.

Arach the Archer would do anything to save his King and his Chiliarch.

TBC

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX