Forest Child Chapter 13
Hephaistion entered Olympias' room to find her sitting at a vanity table waiting for her serpent messenger to return. As they entered she stood up to greet them. She was dressed for going outside.
"Thank you, my sweet." She said gently picking up the snake and creasing it before allowing it to return to the fold.
Hephaistion now had her undivided attention.
"Come, walk with me." She said holding out her arm for him to link.
"It would seem that once again the life of my son rests on your shoulders." She began "You are good to him."
"It was he who was good to me first," Hephaistion replied
Olympias smile and nod "I remember. Have you found any clues as to who it is that is after Alexander."
Hephaistion didn't say nothing but he didn't have to.
"Yes," Olympias said smiling at his sheepishness "He did tell me to stay away and not to interfere. But you know I too have the means to go places he does not."
"You know I'm right." The last part was spoken in his head.
After a pause Hephaistion asked "What are we to do."
Again she smiled that smiled. It said I've gone against the wishes of Alexander and come up trumps. "I have something to show you."
They left her part of the place with an armed guard following, close but not close enough to disturbed their privacy and out towards the countryside. They stopped outside a cave that was blocked off by a thick wooden door that was chained shut. Only the guards standing on duty could unlock the secrets held within.
"This belonged to Phillip," Olympias explained before Hephaistion had a chance to ask but was thinking. "It's where he kept his treasures and secrets. Of course he thought I didn't know about this place but..." she tailed off ending with a shrug. At their arrival the two guards bowed before one stepped aside to unlock the door. Without a second thought Olympias took one of the burning torches so she could lead the way. Hephaistion took the other and followed.
They arrived in one of the side room using their torches to light more of the torches dotted around the space. In the centre chained up by his hands so that they were up above his head was a man. Judging by his shabby clothing, the dried blood and lots of bruising he had been down here for some time.
The pain in he was in radiated towards Hephaistion making him feel cold and sick to the stomach. If Olympias was feeling the same she didn't show it.
"Who is he?" Hephaistion asked
"He belongs to a household," Olympias began to explain "Attalus is its head, or rather was. His niece Eurydice married Alexander's father became Alexander's stepmother. Then she had a son, but of course Phillip was murdered while the child was still an infant. And despite efforts to remove that family, Eurydice disappeared taking the child with her. And the rest scattered to the four winds. "
She brought the tale to the current situation.
"He was found trying to leave the city," "He had a letter on his person, a very important letter. Over there on that table."
She nodded with her head to show Hephaistion the item she had just listed. Hephaistion went to the table and picked up the letter.
"Does Alexander know of any this?"
"Of course not, why would he. Like I said they all disappeared."
"Then it would appear that they simply went underground. Took shelter with the enemy" Hephaistion added "The child grew up to be Demeas, now a general in their army."
"And now he wants his ravage."