Chapter 10 310 BC

The castle of Amphipolis stands on a high cliff overlooking a great bend of the Strymon, just before it falls into the sea.The city was formerly fortified by Athens and Sparta, and Macedonian fortified and expanded it, and each conqueror added a fort or tower to it.No matter which direction the guards look at from the ashlar city wall, they all have a wide field of vision.On clear days they would point out to Alexander the distant landmarks of Thrace, or the peak of Mount Athos, and he would try to tell them the places he had seen as a child before coming here.But those years from the age of seven to thirteen were very long, and the past gradually faded in his mind.

He remembered fondly his mother's caravan, the maids and eunuchs in her tent, the palace at Pella, his grandmother's mansion in Dodona; he remembered the city of Pydna too much; What happened to his grandmother, though the servants were talking of course; he remembered his aunt Thessalonika crying loudly, even though she was getting married;Only one thing remained constant in his life: Soldiers were always around him.They were the only friends Kebes had had since he was transferred. It seemed he never met other boys, but he was allowed to go hunting as long as he was accompanied by soldiers.It seemed that every time he got to know them, joke with them, run races, get them to tell their stories, they would be sent elsewhere, and the soldiers with him would be replaced by two more.But with the same people on shifts over and over for five years, it's not hard to rekindle old friendships.

Some of them were unsmiling, and riding together was tedious; but within five years he had learned a strategy.The commander, Grocias, came to see him once every three days, and he would say that these soldiers were very interesting, and they were telling him about all kinds of wars in Asia; then they would be dispatched soon.He scowled when it came to his friends, so they could hang around for a while. Then he heard that Antigonus, the commander of Asia, was waging war in his name, and wished to bring him out of Amphipolis to be his guardian.He was only two years old when Antigonus came to see him, and all he remembered was a big one-eyed monster who screamed in fright when he approached.Now he is sensible, but he still doesn't want to be under his guardianship.His current guardian didn't bother him because he never came.

He hoped that his guardian would be Ptolemy; not that he remembered him, but that the soldiers said he was the favorite of Alexander's friends, and he fought as well as Alexander, a man so rare today.But Ptolemy was far away in Egypt, and there was no way to bring him a message. Recently, however, the war seems to be over.Cassandros and Antigonus made peace with the other generals, agreeing that Cassandros would remain his guardian until he came of age. "When will I be an adult?" he asked his friends.For some reason the question caught both parties by surprise; they urged him more earnestly than usual not to repeat what they had said elsewhere or they would never see them again.

They were always two, until yesterday, when Peros's horse limped for the first mile, and he begged Santhos to run with him before going home.So Perrus waited there, and they went to the races.During a pause to let the horses breathe, Sansos said, "You can't say that one word. But there's a lot out there about you." "Is there?" he said, suddenly regaining consciousness. "No one outside here knows anything about me." "You think so. But people can't keep their mouths open, don't we? Soldiers have time to ask for leave. Everyone says that your father killed someone when you were your age, and that you are a Promising lad, get to know your people. They want to see you."

"Tell them I want to see them too." "Tell them? Unless I want to be whipped. Don't say a word, remember." "If you don't stay silent, you will die!" This is their mantra.The horseshoes were light, and they returned to Pei Ruosi who was waiting. Roxani's suite was furnished with the furnishings of years of travel.Twelve years have passed since Babylon's glorious queen's suite, its openwork partitions, and its fishponds in full bloom; from there all she has left is Statella's casket and jewels.Recently, for no apparent reason, she put those things in places where they were not usually seen.But she was rich in ornaments and pleasures of life; Cassandros allowed her to bring a train of baggage, and brought her goods to Amphipolis.He said that sending their mother and child here is for safety, they have suffered all kinds of dangers in these years; no matter what, she must stay comfortably.

Yet she felt very lonely.At first, the commander's wife and some other officers' wives showed affection to her, but she felt that she was the empress dowager, and she didn't plan to live forever, so she maintained the solemnity of etiquette.Unexpectedly, after staying for so many years, she felt remorse and sent out a small signal of condescension, but it was too late, and the cold politeness was a foregone conclusion. Her son being king with only maidservants and common soldiers for company made her anxious.Although she knows little about Greek education, she also knows that her studies must not be neglected; otherwise, how can he preside over the grand plan in the court if he will be in charge in the future?He became more and more ignorant of the Greek he had learned, and gradually began to speak the vulgar Dorian dialect of his companions.How would his guardian feel about him when he came to visit?

He will come today.She had just heard that he had arrived unannounced and was already in the castle, meeting with the commander in private.The boy's ignorance would at least convince the regent that he must have studies and civilized companions.Besides, she herself should have returned to a regular court long ago, with ladies and ladies in service, and could not always be trapped among rustic unknown people.This time she's going to argue. Alexander came in, rode off, dusty and flushed, and she sent him to bathe and change.It was a long day without incident, and she sewed beautiful clothes for them both.After grooming, he changed into a blue toga with gold thread on the edge and an embroidered belt, which made her feel that he added the classic beauty of Greece to the elegance of Persia.Seeing his appearance, she was suddenly moved almost to tears.He has grown so fast recently that he is already taller than her.His soft black hair and fine eyebrows were hers; his eyes were brown, but there was something about the concentration in their deep sockets that touched her memory.

She put on her best gown, and a necklace of shining gold set with sapphires, a present from her husband in India.Then she remembered the sapphire earrings in Statella's jewellery, and she took the case from the closet and put it on. "Mother," said Alexander while waiting, "don't forget that Sansos told me yesterday not to say a word. I promised. You didn't tell anyone, did you?" "Of course not, my dear. Who among these people can I tell?" "If you don't stay silent, you will die!" "Hush. Here he comes." Cassandros nodded to the leader of his colleagues to step back, and entered by himself.

He noticed that she had put on weight in her leisurely years, though she still had clear ivory skin and sparkling eyes; flushed.He saluted her solemnly, inquired about her health, and, without waiting for an answer, turned to her son. Alexander, who had been sitting when he entered, stood up now, but deliberately.He had known for a long time that the king had no one to stand up for.On the other hand, this is his home, and he has to perform the host's hospitality. Cassandros saw it and didn't comment.He said without expression: "I see your father in you." "Yes." Alexander nodded, "My mother saw it too."

"However, your stature has surpassed him. Your father is not tall." "But he's strong. I exercise every day." "Oh? How do you spend the rest of your time?" "He needs a teacher," Roxani put in. "If I hadn't forced him, he would have forgotten how to write. His father was taught by a philosopher." "That can be arranged. Well, Alexander?" the boy thought.He knows he is being measured how long it takes him to reach adulthood. "I often go to the city wall, watch the ships, and ask people as much as possible where they come from, what kind of places and local people are like. I exercise every day on horseback, and I have guards. The rest of the time," he said carefully Continued, "I consider the way of being king." "Really?" Kassandros said sharply. "And how do you plan to rule?" Alexander had thought about this for a long time.Immediately he said, "I'm going to get all the people I can find that my father trusts. I'm going to ask them all about him. And before I make any decisions, I'm going to ask them what he's going to do." For a moment he saw with astonishment that his guardian had grown so pale that the red spots on his cheeks had an almost bluish tint; he wondered if he was ill.But his face turned red again, and he only said, "What if they don't agree?" "Then I'll do what I want, I'm the king after all. That's what he is." "Your father is—" Cassandros stopped himself, though he could hardly help it.The kid was childish, but the mother had shown cunning before.He added: "... a man with many sides. So you will find... well, we will consider these matters and implement them as we go. Good-bye, Alexander. Good-bye, Roxani." "Am I doing well?" Alexander asked after he was gone. "Very good. You resemble your father. I see more of him in you than I ever did." The next day the autumn frost first fell.He rides along the coast with Santhos and Peros, his hair blowing, and he tastes the sea breeze. "When I am of age," he cried over his shoulder, "I will sail to Egypt." That was the thought that filled his mind when he came back. "I must see Ptolemy. He is my uncle, or half-uncle. He knew my father from his birth to his death. Kebes told me. And my father's tomb is in Egypt, I should go sacrifice there. I haven't offered him anything yet. You must come too, mother." There is a knock at the door.A young female slave of the ruler's wife stepped in, holding a fragrant jug and two tall and deep cups.She put down the drinking utensils, curtseyed, and said, "Madam made this for you, I hope you will drink it to dispel the cold." She breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that she didn't say a word.She is Thracian and finds Greek difficult. "Thank you mistress," Roxani said kindly. "Tell her we'll enjoy it." When the girl had gone, she said, "She still wants attention. After all, we won't be here long." .Maybe we should ask her to come tomorrow." The salty air made Alexander thirsty, and he quickly emptied his cup.Roxani was at a tricky stage in her embroidery, and she did not drink her glass until she had finished sewing the flower she was sewing. She was telling him a story about her own father's war—he should remember that his mother had fighters on her side—when he tensed his face and stared past her.He looked anxiously at the door, then ran to a corner, hunched over, retching.She ran to him and hugged his head, but he broke away from her like a wounded dog and vomited hard again.It came out a bit, smelling vomit and spices, and another smell that had been masked by the spices. He could see it in her eyes. He staggered to the table and emptied the jug on the floor, seeing the dregs at the bottom.Another convulsion seized him.Suddenly there was rage in his eyes; not the tantrum of a child, but the rage of a man; the only time she had seen his father's rage. "You've said it!" he cried. "You've said it!" "No, no, I swear!" He could barely hear her, gnashing his teeth in pain.He was dying, not old age but now; he was aching and afraid; but more overwhelming than pain and fear was the knowledge that his life was taken away, with his dynasty, his glory; his voyage to Egypt, his A chance to prove yourself as the son of Alexander.Although he held on to his mother, he knew that he was looking for Kebes, and he told him about his father, how he faced death resolutely, and greeted every soldier with his eyes after losing his voice.May Santhos and Peros be there, to be his witnesses, to tell his story... No one, no one... Poison in his veins, his thoughts dissolve in pain and nausea; He lay frozen, staring at the rafters of the roof. Roxani was feeling her first nausea as she curled up on top of her son, moaning and weeping.Instead of the hard face with the blue mouth, and the sweaty white brow beneath the wet hair, she saw Statella's half-formed child, clear and terrifying, frowning in Perdiccas' hands. Alexander's body tightened violently, and his eyes were fixed.The cramping pain in her own stomach turned into a cramping pain, knife-like.She crawled to the door on her knees and yelled, "Help me! Help me!" but no one came.