She shook her head, her expression shocked. ‘Millis isn’t a man. He’s a eunuch. You mustn’t send him away; he’s been given to you. You insulted him by asking him to leave.’ Her expression softened when she saw my distress. ‘He’s an excellent masseur. You’ll see. He’ll make you feel as if you just slept twelve hours instead of riding all day. Now, don’t get upset. Come and take a bath. Here, give me your robe. That’s a good girl.’
I handed her my robe and climbed into the warm bath. I was embarrassed and tired, and I didn’t feel well. My nose was going to start bleeding again if I didn’t get hold of myself, so I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Warm hands started kneading my shoulders, and I tried to relax. After all, I was surrounded by hundreds of fragrant, pink petals in a white marble bath with a gorgeous man, no, sorry, eunuch, sitting behind me in the water rubbing my back. I felt as if my bones were turning into light feathers, and my muscles loosened like warm taffy. I floated in water scented with roses and kept my eyes squeezed shut.
When he finished with my neck and back, he started on my buttocks and I was helpless to stop him. Then he turned me over, resting my head on a pillow on the edge of the tub. He massaged my feet, my legs, my belly, my hands, and my arms, and soon I had no more strength left. I couldn’t even make the effort to open my eyelids.
Millis got to his feet and lifted me out of the bath. He laid me on my bed and dried me off. Then he pulled the soft linen covers over my body and kissed both my eyelids. I was asleep before he kissed the second one.
Chapter Seventeen
I didn’t miss supper. I woke up an hour later feeling like a new person. I stretched and yawned. If I were a cat, I would have purred. I sat up in bed and saw I was alone. My outfit had been put on a chair, an ice-blue silk dress that matched my eyes.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and almost stepped on Millis. He was curled up on a mat. He sat up at once and bowed. I sighed.
‘Millis, you can’t sleep on the floor. You’ll have to find somewhere else to sleep.’ He nodded his head, but I put my hand on his chin and held it. ‘No, Millis. You don’t understand. I won’t have it. It’s an order. I won’t be able to sleep a wink with you lying on the floor. You’re a human being, not a pet.’
He looked into my eyes with confusion mixed with fear. His lashes were very long and dark. His eyes were gold and green with metallic glints in them. I touched his smooth cheeks. He took my hand and pressed it to his mouth.
‘I want to thank you,’ I said softly. ‘You are a very talented masseur, and I feel much better now. I hope we’ll be friends, but I don’t want you sleeping on the floor next to my bed. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, do you understand me?’
He nodded briefly, his eyes bright. Cross-legged, he sat on the floor and put his chin on his hands, studying me. I felt my resolve begin to weaken. Then he leaned back and peered at me. What he saw must have pleased him, because he grinned. I shook my head. This was going to be tricky. I would have to talk to Alexander about it.
I didn’t see Alexander. The woman dined in one room, the men in another. Sis told me I would see Alexander when he sent for me. First, he would be expected to meet the satraps, see about organizing the government, and get the city in order.
‘Everything is a total mess,’ she confessed, her cheeks bright with emotion. ‘Darius is a fool. I told him, time and time again. After Granicus I told him. “You silly fool,” I said. “You’ve lost your son, two of your sons-in-law, and your brother. Why not give in to Iskander now? Especially since you know him so well. He’ll never give up. Give in now, and he’ll let you rule Persia in his stead.” Oh, I admit, it wasn’t quite the right thing to say. The words ‘in his stead’ stuck in his throat. He was too proud, and now look where it has gotten him.’
‘But where has it gotten him? I mean, I haven’t seen him here. Where is he?’ I hoped I hadn’t heard correctly. Alexander had killed her son, her grandson, and two of her sons-in-law? No, I must have misunderstood. I concentrated on her next words.
‘He’s fled to Bactria. The silly fool. With Bessus, the satrap of Bactria. And I wish him well. Bessus is a scheming man. They certainly have something planned, but he wouldn’t tell me what. He only said, “Mother, Iskander killed my son, and now I have the chance to do the same.” But I just laughed; Iskander has no son. Why, child! What’s the matter? Millis! Come quick! Carry her to her quarters! Call a doctor! Oh dear, what did I say?’
My nose was gushing blood, and I was half-choking. I flailed my arms, screaming, ‘Alexander!’ and tried to struggle, but darkness came upon me like a heavy curtain. I must have called for Usse, though, because when I awoke he was kneeling beside me, his kind face drawn in lines of worry.
‘Usse,’ I cried, ‘Oh, Usse, he’s gone to kill my son, you must tell Iskander; he’s gone to kill my baby,’ and then I started crying again, harsh sobs that hurt my throat.
‘Hush, hush. Iskander will come shortly. Sisygambis is nearly mad with worry. I told her you were prone to fits of divination, and now she thinks her son is in danger. The whole gynecie is in an uproar.’
‘Usse, listen to me. I had a baby. You know that.’
‘I know that, yes. The boy Olympias stole from you.’
‘Darius kidnapped him, and gave him to someone in Bactria. Now do you understand? Sis told me that Darius left with someone named Bessus and swore to kill Iskander’s son, because Alexander killed his son. Is that true?’ I asked worriedly. ‘Did he kill Darius’s son, his sons-in-law, and his brother?’
Usse bit his lip. ‘In a way, it’s true. You are surrounded by women who have been widowed or lost sons or brothers to Iskander in battle. Yet they love him still, and you can trust them, I think.’
‘You think?’
‘Iskander and Darius have known each other since childhood. As children, they played together in the palace. Iskander and Philip were frequent visitors.’ He shook his head. ‘No one blames Iskander; Persia attacked Greece, not the other way around. Darius is a fool, but Iskander loves him. Now you say he means to kill the babe?’ He shook his head. ‘Surely he won’t do that. He knows that will bring the gods’ wrath upon him. It is an abomination to kill an innocent child.’
‘Please, you must tell Iskander,’ I said. ‘They won’t let me out of here. I feel like I’m in prison.’
He stroked my forehead. ‘You must try to rest. You will lose your child if you lose any more blood. You are far too pale. Drink this and sleep.’
‘Usse?’ I asked, after I’d drunk a bitter potion and started to feel as if I were floating several inches above my bed.
‘Yes?’
‘What is this thing with the eunuchs here? Are they allowed to sleep with the women? What is the custom?’ I giggled. I didn’t know what was in the potion but whatever it was, it was making me awfully indiscreet.
He looked interested. ‘The eunuchs? They are the sons of the slave girls who live in the men’s quarters. They are often kept as slaves after they’ve been castrated. The women can sleep with them if they wish. Why?’
‘Is Millis related to Darius, do you think?’ Millis was standing near the doorway, watching us.
‘Probably. Hush, don’t worry about it. The slave girls often bear the babes of kings. Millis does look like Darius.’
‘And will Iskander have a baby with a slave girl?’ I asked, troubled.
‘Who can know? Why, is it important?’
‘Yes,’ I whispered. ‘If he does, and it’s a boy, you must make sure he’s never castrated and never a slave. You tell Sis that I said so as an oracle. Make her scared,’ I said, and giggled again. ‘Please, Usse, it’s important.’
‘You love him so much?’ he asked.
‘More than you think,’ I said, ‘much more.’ I closed my eyes. The potion was making me sleepier and sleepier but I had to know something. ‘Usse?’
‘I’m here.’
‘If Iskander makes love to a slave girl, does it mean he doesn’
t love me?’
He chuckled. ‘No, child, he will always love you. Now sleep.’
I fell asleep to the sound of his warm voice, holding tightly to his hand. But when I woke the next morning, I was holding Alexander’s hand. He was kneeling next to me, his face drawn with sleeplessness and worry.
‘Alex,’ I said, and smiled.
‘You know about Darius,’ he said simply.
It all rushed back and I blanched. ‘How can we stay here?’ I asked. ‘You killed his whole family! Why did you bring me here?’
‘Hush,’ his voice was strained. ‘You don’t know what you’re saying. Sis loves me, she will protect you. Darius is a fool.’
‘Everyone seems to agree about that,’ I said. ‘But I don’t want to stay here. I want to go after my son.’ I closed my eyes. ‘What will happen to Paul if we don’t catch Darius?’
‘No harm will come to him, you must believe me.’ Alexander looked at the floor and bit his lip. ‘Darius has taken his army with him, and I heard that Barsine’s father has joined him. They mean to make war against me, and they’re counting on Bessus to rally Bactria around them.’
‘How do you know all this?’ I asked, licking my dry lips.
‘Ptolemy told me. He’s been here for months now, keeping Sis safe.’
‘Who’s Ptolemy?’ A nagging pain had started in my back, but I ignored it. It turned into a deep cramp, making sweat stand out on my forehead.
‘He’s my half-brother.’ Alexander cocked his head. ‘Are you all right? You look pale.’
‘I’m fine. You have a brother?’
‘Well, two actually. Ptolemy is the youngest. He’s in my army. And then I have another half-brother.’ His face darkened. ‘He’s an idiot, a curse upon the family.’
‘What?’ I tried to sit up but there was a sharp pain in my abdomen and I gasped. The pain grew and grew, swallowing me. I felt as if my body were a glove being pulled inside out. My stomach cramped and I felt a gush of warmth between my legs. I knew I had lost my baby. ‘Get Usse,’ I gasped. Alexander leapt to his feet. His voice cracked like a whip, and the slaves near the door disappeared.
‘Ashley! Are you all right? Answer me!’ He bent over me, shaking my shoulder.
I wished I could faint when I really needed to. Waves of pain carried me along, and all I could do was clench my teeth and try not to scream. I had already given birth, so the pains were not unfamiliar, but they were sharper, more tearing. I tried to speak calmly. ‘I’ll be all right.’ A new pain made me gasp. ‘Where is Usse?’
Usse came in with a rush. He took one look at me and his shoulders sagged.
‘Don’t feel bad,’ I said.
He pulled the covers back, and Alexander gave a hoarse cry. The bed was soaked with blood. Usse shook his head sadly. He gave me some of his ‘magic potion’ and then waited until I’d drifted off. Then he made sure everything was finished. His hands were deft and gentle, and I felt practically nothing. Afterwards he supervised Pyron as she cleaned me and changed my bed linens. I slept then, until the next morning.
In three days, I was better. Alexander wouldn’t leave me alone and I had a constant stream of visitors, a thing unheard of in the gynecie. Sis was torn between shock and awe. I didn’t know why she was so deferential, until I found out that Plexis had told her I was Demeter’s daughter, Persephone.
‘Why on earth did you say that?’ I asked, angrily. ‘Usse already told her I was prone to fits and told the future. Now you go telling her I’m some sort of goddess! It’s absurd!’
Plexis bowed his head and looked at his hands, clasped in his lap. ‘I was afraid for you,’ he said simply. ‘When the slaves came searching for Usse, they were panic-stricken. They said you’d been poisoned.’ His face twisted. ‘I wanted to put the fear of the gods into them. Sis would rather die herself than let anything happen to you now. I had to tell them, don’t be angry, please. I’m so sorry about the babe,’ he finished, and he turned away so I wouldn’t see the pain in his eyes.
However, I had seen it, so I pulled him down, holding him to my chest. I told him that he was the best friend I’d ever had, and that I loved him, and that I would never forget how good he was to me. He put his face into the crook of my neck and his warm breath tickled my skin. I felt at peace. But it didn’t last. When Plexis left, a tall dark-skinned man walked in the room. He was escorted by two slaves and Sis.
Sis hardly dared look at me any more, so I wondered who this person could be. He bowed, touching his forehead to the floor. The slaves stood back with wide, spooked eyes, staring at me as if I’d turn into a monster. When I smiled at them they jumped. I sighed.
‘O daughter of Demeter,’ the man said in a rich, low voice. ‘Please grant us this interview. We need your advice.’
I sat up and reached for my robe. I was tired of lying around in bed anyhow, and since I was better, I might as well get up. ‘Who are you, if I may ask?’
‘Ptolemy.’
I raised my eyebrows. Was this Alexander’s half-brother? I smiled and tried to look harmless. ‘I’m pleased to meet you, I’ve heard such nice things about you. Iskander said you were his brother.’
Ptolemy gaped. He looked like a fish gulping for air. Then he recovered. ‘No, my lady. I am Ptolemy, son of Lagos. Iskander’s brother is also called Ptolemy.’
‘Oh.’ I blinked. ‘I’m sorry. All right.’ I put a robe over my shift and tied a silk belt around my waist. ‘What can I do for you?’ I asked while I laced up my shoes and looked for my sandalwood box.
‘Please tell us what to do. We wish to know whether Darius is in danger or not, and if we should stay and fight the Persian army here, or go into Bactria. Perhaps you have heard that Bessus plans to make war on Iskander if he goes into his territory.’
‘He’ll probably make war on Iskander whether he goes or not,’ I said shortly. ‘If Darius went with Bessus, then they’re most likely plotting together.’ I eyed him appraisingly. ‘Does Iskander know you’re here now?’ I asked him.
He paled. ‘No, he does not. I thought only to ask your opinion.’
I tipped my head to one side, considering. ‘And you didn’t know whether you should follow him or not? Is that it?’
He looked miserably at Sis, and she shrugged as if to say ‘I told you so.’
‘I will listen to you,’ he said.
I wasn’t sure if this Ptolemy was important or not. I did know that a certain Ptolemy would found a dynasty in Egypt, but I had no idea if it was this man. Ptolemy was a common name here. I’d already met five, actually. But I couldn’t afford to make a mistake. I tried to look mysterious. ‘Do as Iskander commands,’ I said in a deep voice, praying that was good advice, and wouldn’t change the history books.
Ptolemy swallowed hard and nodded. ‘Very well, I will ride with Iskander to Bactria. I will lead the Macedonians. We will fight.’
Eyes closed tightly, expecting to be erased, I held my breath waiting for some sort of sign. I don’t know who was more nervous – me, Sis, or Ptolemy. Then I opened my eyes and saw them both staring at me, leaning forward on the balls of their feet. If I had said ‘Boo!’ they would have fallen right over.
Nothing happened. History was still on the right track. I grinned feebly. ‘Let’s go.’
‘Now?’ he choked.
‘Now.’
I packed my things and hugged the women of the gynecie goodbye. If everything went according to the scant history I knew, I would see most of these women again in four years. I hoped I’d have a little boy with me. My eyes brimmed with tears. He was alive. I knew he was. And we were going after him.
Chapter Eighteen
The army moved out, but this time it was organized differently. The cavalry were all mounted. The infantry followed, and the engineers with the phalanx brought up the rear. Alexander was sure they would be attacked from behind. He wanted to go as fast as he could to catch Darius. The rest of the army would have to catch up with him.
For weeks we sped
across the mountains and plains of northern Iraq. The horses were pushed to their limits, and I wondered how the army would keep up, but there were rarely more than twenty miles separating the cavalry and the army.
News came to us in fits and starts. First it seemed that Darius would turn and fight. Then it was rumoured that Barsine’s father had decided to join Darius, and that they had gone to rally the tribes of Bactria. Then news came that Darius had lost his crown to Bessus. It came one perfect summer morning.
We were just breaking camp. Alexander and I were watching a hawk wheeling in the sky. Alexander was telling me he wished he could fly. He was wondering if he could make some papyrus wings strong enough to hold his weight, when the hawk suddenly folded its wings and plummeted towards the ground. There was a soft thud and a spurt of grey feathers. Alexander shouted and bounded towards the hawk sitting on the ground, a pigeon in its talons. The hawk screeched defiantly at the man leaping over the rocks, then abandoned its prey, flapping away with a last, frustrated scream.
Alexander paid it no heed. He knelt by the pigeon and carefully peeled a thin paper from around its leg. He unrolled it and held it smooth against his thigh. After a moment he raised his head, and I saw his face was bleak.
‘What is it?’ I cried. ‘Bad news? Whose pigeon was that anyway?’
‘It was one of Bessus’s. We were lucky to have intercepted it. The message says the Persian army is on our heels. It also says he’s claimed the crown of Darius, and that Darius is now his prisoner.’
‘How far away are they?’ I gasped.
‘Not far, perhaps twenty miles.’ He stood up and I saw the king had taken control.
He mounted Bucephalus and ordered one thousand of his best cavalry men to accompany him. Within the hour they had set out to save Darius. The ground shook as the horsemen galloped away at full speed, and the dust they raised was like a sandstorm in the desert.
He forbade me to follow, but I threw a dusty cloak over my bright hair and mounted the grey mare. Drumming my heels into her flanks, I galloped after the cavalry, deaf to the cries of Plexis and Usse behind me.
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