by T S Wieland
The thunderous stomping of horse hooves halted as the leader of the caravan raised his hand. He turned his attention towards Sem and Ally, and he whistled loudly for the five men closest to him on horseback to follow his lead. The small squad broke away from the large caravan, their bronze armor shimmering in the slivering morning sunlight as they rode hard to meet Sem and Ally before they could come any closer.
Sem turned to Ally. “Remember, not a word.”
Ally nodded and made a gesture of zipping her lips closed.
“Hold there!” The leader of the pack shouted as he rode towered over them on his gray horse. The five men circled Ally and Sem, their spears drawn and ready to strike. Ally could hear the man's words being translated into her right ear almost perfectly, while his spoken words sounded alien in her left.
“State your business,” ordered the leader, looking down upon them. Dark, sleepless bags ringed his eyes as his light brown hair blew in the desert wind.
“We are only travelers searching for our companion, sir,” said Sem with his hands in the air. Ally did the same with a smug face, still excited and baffled that all this was playing out before her like a Greek play.
“Companion? By what means does one lose a companion in this barren wasteland? Explain yourself.”
“We come from far away in search of our lost companion who wanders without sanity of mind. We were given the task to see to their safe return,” replied Sem.
Ally glanced over at him with her brow raised. Sem had told the man the truth, which she hadn’t expected. The question was now whether or not he would believe him.
“What is your occupation? A scholar? A prophet? Or perhaps a liar?”
“Only a man tasked with helping those in misfortune. Not by choice, but for honor.”
“Misfortune? Perhaps you are the one who brings this misfortune to our lands. Perhaps ridding the world of you two would be doing a service.”
Another rider approached them. The rider shouted at them. “Perdiccas! Silence your tongue before I part it from your mouth. I will not warn you again.”
The rider was perched on a lavishly decorated and armored horse swept towards them. His long hair was a dark, dirty blond and his eyes a light bluish-green.
“I will not tolerate hostility towards travelers in my lands,” he said.
“My lord, may I politely request you stay with the men?” said Perdiccas as he bowed his head.
“No. You lost your title as my ambassador after you battered that poor woman along the road who was asking for coin. Your words bring disgrace to my generosity,” said the man.
“What plague does Perdiccas bring upon us now?” said another tan-skinned man with short, dark hair as he rode up.
“A plague of death upon you, Ptolemy, for insulting my authority,” spat Perdiccas.
“Enough! I will not have my two arms fight amongst each other,” shouted the rider on the decorated steed, who seemed to be their leader. “Now, sheathe your words. Both of you.”
“But my lord, they could be here to kill you.”
“Very little would be gained by my death now. Besides, I would thank them for offering such kindness as we embarked on our journey to the afterlife together.”
“Please don’t say such words, my lord,” replied Ptolemy. He lowered his head in grief.
“’Tis true. Little is left for me but hope of life in Elysium. Now, enough of this dreadful talk.”
The man with blonde hair kicked his horse and made his way closer to Sem and Ally. He looked down at Ally as she tried desperately not to make eye contact. The men all lowered their spears. Sem and Ally rested their arms back down at their sides. “I wish to know what this beautiful flower is doing so far away from water.”
“She is my sister, my lord. A mute since birth,” said Sem.
Ally looked over at Sem, wanting to punch him in the shoulder.
“A mute?” replied the man. “Sad… I’m sure whatever voice the gods blessed her with in that case was so alluring, Aphrodite was jealous enough to take it for herself.”
Ally’s face turned red at the compliment. She tried her best not to make a sound.
“Tell us, from which lands do you come in search of this missing companion?” asked Perdiccas, perching his fingers along the hilt of his sword.
Ally looked over at Sem, expecting him to give another smooth response.
“We come from—”
Sem stopped mid-sentence. Ally could see the worry build on his face. He was desperately trying to name a place, but he had no names in mind. A drop of sweat rolled down his sideburn. Ally wondered whether he was sweating from the sun shining on his face or the tight spot he was now in.
“Athens, my lord,” said Ally, breaking her silence, feeling guilty for putting Sem in their current situation. She could now see he was a smooth talker but not a very good liar.
The men surrounding them laughed to themselves.
“By the gods’ grace, she is the most talkative mute I have ever heard.” Ptolemy chuckled.
Sem looked over at Ally with wide eyes. His jaw tightened.
“Or perhaps my own presence is enough to stir even the most silent into an uproar,” replied the man with blonde hair. “Either way, I feel over joyed to meet my own people so far away from home. What is your name, child?”
Ally looked back over at Sem, wondering what to say. His gaze now told her to finish what she’d started.
“Artemis, my lord. And this is my brother, Cypress,” said Ally, desperately pulling Greek names from her mind in hope they would seem legitimate.
“Artemis? Bearing a name of a goddess would explain why you were left a mute. The question now is why she let you speak?”
“I asked my brother to speak on my behalf. The sight of seeing my lord in the flesh silenced my voice,” she replied.
Sem looked up at the man and shrugged agreement. He was surprised how gracious Ally was in conversation, but he still expected things to turn ugly at any moment.
The men all laughed again.
“Well, let your voice be heard, then!” said the man, gesturing to the world around him.
“Tell me, do travelers such as yourselves always wear bloodied robes?” asked a man with short, braided hair sitting next to Perdiccas. He pointed down at Sem’s leg with his spear.
Sem looked down and noticed his leg had now bled through his pants and robe.
“I was . . .” replied Sem, trying to conjure up an explanation.
“We were attacked by raiders. No more than two days ago,” said Ally.
“Raiders?” asked the man with blonde hair, his face now serious. He waved Perdiccas over to him. Perdiccas rode over to his lords’ side.
“Perdiccas, send out a battalion. I want these raiders found! I will not have travelers being attacked in my lands.”
“Yes, my lord,” replied Perdiccas in an irritated tone.“The men are tired. Let them rest before you send them out on this proposed raider hunt,” requested Ptolemy.
“No. I will not tolerate barbarism. Especially those preying on victims so close to home. They must be brought to justice.”
Ptolemy looked Sem and Ally in the eyes, sizing them both up with a single stare.
“Why would raiders attack a man and woman, only to leave the woman untouched?” said the man with braided hair.
“My brother hid me from the raiders sir, while he fended them off. Unfortunately, our horse was killed in the attack,” said Ally coming up with a quick lie.
Perdiccas turned his horse around and began riding back towards the caravan.
“He must be a skilled warrior. A rather experienced one, too, having only sustained a leg injury,” said Ptolemy.
“Leave them be, Ptolemy. We have asked them enough questions. The city awaits, and I wish not for any further distractions,” said the man with blonde hair.
“Sorry, my lord. I do not trust them is all.”
“You're a great scholar and a dear friend, Ptolemy,
but leave the judgment of character to me. Now, as token of my generosity, would you care to ride with us? Perhaps we can help you find this lost companion of yours. A humble welcoming gift and apology for your long journey.”
Sem began to speak on their behalf. “No, my lor—”
“We would love to,” said Ally over Sem. Sem looked at her with a displeased expression. Ally ignored his stare.
“Wonderful! Artemis, would you care to ride at my side?” asked the man, holding his hand out to Ally. She felt mesmerized by his eyes and charm and took his hand without hesitation. Sem continued to stand idly watching her hop up onto the horse to sit in front of the man. His arms wrapped around her sides holding the reins. “Seleucus, bring Cypress a horse. The poor man has already suffered enough walking for a lifetime.”
The man with braided hair who had brought Sem’s injury to everyone’s attention, whistled to the caravan and waved. A soldier rode over, leading another horse by the reins.
“Come now, let us ride. I grow impatient to see home. Seleucus, help Cypress on his steed, and let's be on our way,” said the leader.
“No, no. I’ll be fine, my lord. Thank you,” said Sem as the soldier handed the reins to him. Sem hobbled alongside the horse and hopped on with one swift jump, appearing unaffected by his injury.
“You're a strong man, unshaken by what ails you. I only wish my men could be so sturdy,” said the leader with blonde hair, jokingly in admiration.
Sem gave him a pathetic laugh, pretending to be amused.
“Come! Onward!” shouted the leader as he led the group of horsemen back towards the caravan.
◆◆◆
Ally sat perched on the front of the maple-colored horse, her back resting against the man’s finely decorated chest plate. Sem rode behind them with Ptolemy at his right, feeling more and more irritated with Otto’s plan. The sun was now fully shining in the morning sky, and the grand walls of Babylon grew larger as they approached.
As they drew close to the city, Sem scanned their surroundings to make sure no one was watching him. He lifted his bracelet cover just enough to look at his watch and see the time. Fifteen hours and forty-eight minutes left.
“How long was your journey from Athens?” asked Ptolemy as Sem slipped the cover back over his watch.
“Two months, my lord,” said Ally.
Ptolemy nodded with a look of astonishment. “Impressive. It took us far longer.”
“Indeed. However, they did not have that coward Darius standing in their way,” replied the man with blonde hair.
“May he wander Hades for eternity, mocked for his cowardice!” shouted Seleucus from behind Sem.
“How long have you all been away?” asked Ally, her curiosity growing. She reached forward and began petting the back of the horse's head.
“Far too long,” said Ptolemy.
“Long enough to know we are meant to return home,” said the man with a mellow voice.
He leaned to one side of Ally and noticed his horse seemed to lift his head back further for Ally to pet. Ally patted the soft coated steed on the mane gently.
“He likes you,” he said to her with a smile.
“He’s very beautiful,” she replied, sitting back upright.
“Bucephalus has a resilient soul. He and I have traveled rather far together. Sad to say his days are numbered, as are my own.”
Ally thought for a moment. The pieces to a hidden puzzle began to slip into place in her mind. She had heard the name Bucephalus before—along with the names Ptolemy, Seleucus, and Perdiccas, though only now did she realize where from. Ally’s voice softened with shock.
“You’re . . . Alexander the Great,” she said under her breath.
“The great? Such a title sounds far too heroic to describe me,” replied Alexander.
“The ‘Great’ Alexander. I would say it is a title well-suited to you my lord,” replied Ptolemy.
“Flattering, Ptolemy. But a king who turns away from his destiny and place in history is not worthy of such an honorable title. Greatness is to be left to those of noted worth.”
Ally turned her head and looked at Sem, expecting him to be just as shocked and surprised as she was to be in the presence of the historical king. But Sem sat on his horse, listening to the conversation with an annoyed expression, unmoved by the moment. She turned back around and shook her head in disappointment.
As they drew near to the outer city walls, the large, wooden gates to the city creaked open. Alexander closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. “Sad as I may be, it is good to be home.”
The gates opened slowly with the clamorous sounds of the city beyond of them. People stood at the roadside near the front gate, waving palm leaves through the air as they cheered, welcoming them home.
Ally gazed at the city that surrounded her with a large smile on her face. The stone buildings towered over her, as people waved at her from every window. Ally waved back, feeling like a queen. Sem did his best to give a smile every now and again, not enjoying the attention one bit.
The group made their way up to the center of the city towards the garden palace, across a large central stone bridge, ultimately stopping to be greeted by a large audience of people, all dressed in their finest robes. The crowd bowed to the travelers and offered up bowls of lavish foods and flasks of wine. Alexander stopped his horse in front of the hanging garden palace. Ally stared up at the garden, observing the plant life that grew wildly all around it’s stone walls. Like giant stairs reaching to the sky, each step flowed with trees all the way down to a moat that surrounded the luxurious palace.
Ally took hold of the servant’s hand waiting to help her down from the famous steed. Alexander dismounted his horse and handed the reins a servant waiting near the stairs.
“Cypress, Artemis. I would humbly request your presence at our feast tonight. Your company is most welcome at my table,” said Alexander.
“We would be honored, my lord,” replied Ally with a huge smile on her face.
“Excellent. Seleucus!”
“Yes, my lord?” replied Seleucus walking over to Alexander.
“Take Cypress and Artemis to the market to buy aid for his wounds and any other supplies they may require. Inform the merchants that the wares will be paid for by me personally.”
“Thank you very much, my lord!” Ally replied as she clasped her hands together in gratitude.
“It is my pleasure. I will have my men on alert in the streets in search of your missing companion and hopefully have news for you later this evening.”
“Your generosity seems to know no bounds, my king,” said Ally, blushing.
Sem rolled his eyes as he hopped down from his horse. Crippled by the pain in his leg, he stumbled to the ground. An older man reached down and grabbed him by the arm. The man helped lift him to his feet. Sem bent down and brushed the dirt from his robe, then stood back up and looked at the man.
“I can handle myself, thank you very mu-” said Sem forgetting how to speak for a moment.
He stopped and stared at the man before him with a sudden curious fixation.
The man's face was covered by a thick sash wrapped around his head and mouth, but his pale blue eyes could be seen vividly in the sunlight staring back at him.
Sem looked at the man, stunned and in disbelief. He stared into the man’s eyes, feeling his blood turn to ice in the desert heat as his breath escaped him. The man turned and casually walked away into the crowd of people surrounding everyone, without even taking a moment to look back. Sem just stood idle, staring at the crowd until he lost sight of the man. His heart was stopped by the chill of seeing a familiar ghost in the flesh before him.
“Se . . . I mean, Cypress. Come on,” said Ally. She patted him on the shoulder trying to get his attention. Sem turned and looked at her, his face white and lost in the moment. Ally and Seleucus stood looking at him, waiting for him to respond.
“Hey… You alright?” whispered Ally.
“Fin
e… I’m fine... Let's go,” Sem replied, shaking off the feeling, questioning if what his eyes he saw was just simply a mirage. Yet, he would never be sure.
◆◆◆
Ally and Sem wandered through the streets of Babylon, packed with merchant stalls and shops as they were pervaded by the sounds of shouting salesmen. The smell of incense, cooked food, and rancid meat lingered in the air. Seleucus walked behind them, seemingly unamused with each step. Both Ally and Sem pretended to browse each of the shops, unsure of what to buy. Sem limped over to a small shop, and pulled Ally alongside him, watching Seleucus over his shoulder.
Seleucus stood at the entrance to the shop, scanning the crowd with his left hand tucked in his robe, and his right perched on the hilt of his sword. Watching Seleucus turn his back to them, Sem turned his back pretending to look through the finely decorated pots sitting on a table in front of him. Ally stood next to him, looking through the pots and textiles on the table, genuinely interested in the decorations on each one.
“Come! Come, my dear! Would you care to try some of our finest perfume? A lovely woman cannot go along without this fresh scent,” said the shopkeeper, walking over to Ally and lifting the perfume up to her nose.
“Oh, no thank you. That smells very lovely, though,” she said with a regretful smile. The shopkeeper bowed to her, then turned and walked back over to his table of perfumes behind him.
Ally turned and looked at Sem to see his lips pursed and his forehead scrunched. He stared directly back at her, scowling through his blue and brown eyes.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, looking through the pottery.
“What’s wrong? You're what's wrong for a start!”
“Shh!” Ally replied lifting a finger to her lips.
“What’s wrong?! You did everything I told you not to do. I told you not to speak, and you spoke. I told you to follow my lead, and you did the exact opposite. I told you to not get involved in the affairs of this world, and you went out of your way to get us tangled up with a Roman emperor!” Sem replied in a softer voice.
“King of Greece, actually. I guess he would actually be King of Macedonia now as well, to be more specific.”