The room remained still as all held their breath in surprise of Eumenes’ overt challenge and in anticipation of Antigenes’ reaction. The old soldier stood from his seat and confidently addressed the assembly. “Brothers-in-arms, it has been a long and convoluted road we have traveled since crossing the Granicus River to the perilous position we now find ourselves in twelve years later. Those who I have kept close counsel with know that I share many of the same sentiments expressed by General Eumenes. I know and respect General Antigonus from our time serving under King Philip II in the wars against the northern Illyrian tribes as well as the Lamian Wars to unite Greece. I called this meeting tonight to give my old compatriot the opportunity to make his claim for the good of the Silver Shields and of the empire. What I did not expect to hear tonight was blatant threats to be read aloud to the most accomplished and decorated infantry unit in history by a fellow Macedonian. And I certainly did not expect a non-Macedonian to show such remarkable audacity and leadership as did General Eumenes this evening. His performance this night has reinforced the respected opinion I held of his military prowess and I proudly call out in favor of General Eumenes this night and until our enemies are defeated.”
This was the permission and guidance required to bring the room to their feet and cry out for General Eumenes. The delegation from Antigonus left the room dejected and Vettias ordered our bodyguard contingent to seize their leaders for interrogation while allowing the rest to depart and inform Antigonus of the strong bond he helped to reinforce this night.
Eumenes had once more snatched victory, or at least a prolonged existence, out of the jaws of defeat. The unbelievable truth of this night was that it was all made possible by a Scythian teenage girl who had survived unbelievable torment and now greatly influenced the fate of the Argead dynasty. From exposing the infiltrators, to identifying the time and location of the offense, to providing General Eumenes the information he needed to influence the mind of General Antigenes, this night’s victory was as much hers as it was his and I intended to ensure our general knew of her involvement when the right moment presented itself. This woman, the mother of my new-born son, could not have held a higher place in my personal pantheon as she did that evening.
CHAPTER 14
As the weeks wore on awaiting the construction of our navy, the ties that now bound our army to the Silver Shields remained sturdy – reinforced by General Eumenes’ decisive actions in the Silver Shields’ command tent and our joint staff meetings in Alexander’s tent. No news of further insurrection was reported by Mara, who had developed a network of slave informants through her personal servant, Protus. The focus now for our army was the acquisition of men to fill the ranks of our triremes. Phoenicia had no shortage of able sailors and recruits came pouring in much the same way soldiers did at Cyinda – drawn to the promise of General Eumenes’ access to the royal treasuries. During this time, our phalanx continued to drill and train and was fast becoming a potent force of its own.
Despite growing up in a maritime city, my knowledge of ships and sea navigation was little more than an average citizen from a land-locked farm. Like all children, I would run to the docks with my mates when a trireme sailed past our shores to gaze at its magnificence, but I never saw one up close. The presence of fifty such vessels being built at the massive docks of Sidon truly sparked my interest, however. During our many weeks in the port city, I would frequently travel down to the shore with Stephanos and observe the progress of these marvels while sharing a jug of wine. Stephanos, having been raised by a fisherman, had accompanied his father on many expeditions and was well versed in the maritime trade and explained the various aspects of their construction.
A variety of wood could be used depending on the location of the shipwright and materials available. Phoenician ships were normally built from cedar trees since such species are plentiful in the surrounding region. The shipwrights began their work by constructing the outer hull first, followed by the ribs, then girding the structure together with cables. The bows were fitted with a bronze-sheathed ram intended to puncture holes in enemy hulls and snap enemy oars. A completed trireme’s crew was approximately two hundred men, the majority of which powered the vessel’s three rows of one hundred and seventy oars, eighty-five on either side. Each ship boasted a large main mast and a smaller foremast, both supporting square sails with the Argead royal colors sewn into the fabric.
My frequent walks to the docks of Sidon did not purely stem from my new-found interest in shipbuilding however. I had scouted out several venues that would serve as discreet meeting places for Mara. I had complied with Vettias’ command of chastity thus far but now would ask my superior for his permission to meet. After begrudgingly giving his consent, I drafted a note to Mara to be delivered by Philotheos at their next meeting. I suggested she request from Hyllos an opportunity to visit Sidon’s markets and instructed her where to meet me once free of the Silver Shields’ encampment. She was to write back to me the specific day and hour of her departure and I would arrange to meet her at the predetermined inn. Upon receiving a positive response several days later, I departed our encampment at the pre-arranged hour.
I arrived at the inn early out of eager anticipation and to ensure the purveyor’s discretion through a generous tip added to the initial price of the room. As per my instructions, I would wait for her in our room while she was to enter the establishment, order her servant to remain in the foyer, and receive directions to the specific room from the owner. My heart raced with excitement as I impatiently sat in the scantily furnished suite. I paced back and forth and on two separate occasions, I heard footsteps walking down the second-floor hall, which unfortunately belonged to others. Finally, I heard the procession of light-footed steps and a quiet rap at my door. I rushed to open it and laid eyes once more on my love, holding Talos swaddled in cloth. I hurriedly pulled her inside, closed the door and hugged my new family for a long while. Mara rested her head in my shoulder as I did so, while I closed my eyes and experienced the greatest feeling of my life.
We sat on the small bed and continued holding each other with Talos nestled comfortably between us. Not much was said during this encounter. After Talos fell asleep I made love to her and held her face to mine for the following half-hour. When the time came for my family to depart, Mara exited first with her servant to shield my identity from him should he be interrogated in the future. I watched through our room’s small window as they walked out of sight and made my way back to my quarters. Mara and I met several more times in this manner during our long stay in Sidon.
****
A separate encampment near the coast began growing with mercenary sailors as more and more men found their way to Sidon. Sosigenes, An old ally of Eumenes and Perdiccas, was named admiral of the nearly complete navy and took control of the naval encampment. Phoenician sailors were known for their fickle loyalties and frequently surrendered their ships to enemy admirals they believed to be more powerful. To combat the possibility of any portion of the navy defecting to our adversaries, Vettias and I established a network of spies within the naval encampment to assist Sosigenes in his task of unifying and training the unruly assembly of sailors. Such a new and disordered force was ripe for saboteurs to infiltrate and influence their actions.
As the day neared for our navy to be loaded with money and supplies bound for Europe, Vettias and I woke to find four of our new operatives murdered in their sleep, as well as several ship captains known as triarchs. We informed General Eumenes of the news and apologized for our negligence. Eumenes believed our navy needed to set sail immediately and ordered Sosigenes to load the cargo bound for Europe and begin sea trials and maneuver exercises the following morning to make ready for the voyage. Our admiral stood atop the largest hill in Sidon to observe his triarchs and their ability to command their ships. Much of the army sat by the shore and observed the impressive maneuverings of fifty new triremes going through their paces. After two hours, a large flotilla of foreign ships a
ppeared from the south along the horizon. Sosigenes sprinted from his observation post and raced to the docks to find a vessel to bring him to his armada so he may command their actions.
As the foreign ships neared, their colors became visible to the men along the shore – they belonged to General Antigonus. They were fresh from several naval victories in Europe as their numerous flowing battle streamers implied, and they set a course that skirted the shore, putting themselves between the docks and our navy. It looked as though a large naval battle for control of the Middle Sea would occur directly in front of us along the coast of Sidon. Antigonus’ navy sailed brashly so close to the shore I could discern individual faces above the decks taunting us and screaming oaths at full volume. The menacing display had its intended effect of cowering our bravado as they tacked away from the coast toward our newly underway ships that were still in considerable disorder from what they had seen and their lack of sailing together in formation.
Our deflated army could do nothing but watch as Antigonus’ fleet neared our navy in perfect battle formation while our ships remained in a state of confusion, unable to competently form a proper defensive posture. When the enemy came upon our navy, our ships surrendered rather than fight such a formidable and well-trained fleet. The reputation of fickle Phoenician sailors held true and we watched from the shore in horror as our adversaries carried off our newly constructed ships, laden with treasure, from the royal coffers in Cilicia. All hope was lost in assisting General Polyperchon and our plans to influence the war in Europe were dashed before our very eyes – we would be cut off from Europe and on our own from now on.
A chaos of movement now took place along the docks. The remaining sailors not aboard the ships were arrested and an emergency staff meeting was called in Alexander’s tent. General Eumenes would need all the powers our tent could summon to keep our alliance together after the severe blow we had just been dealt. He was apoplectic during the emergency staff meeting and it was decided the inhabitants of Sidon would pay for their countrymen’s act of cowardice. The next morning soldiers would requisition as much money from the city’s treasury and citizenry as possible before our army was to depart. Remaining sailors were to be harshly interrogated and all deemed guilty of conspiracy would be hanged.
Vettias and I assisted in this task and it was discovered that our naval encampment had been infiltrated by members of Antigonus’ Prodromoi – a Macedonian cavalry-based reconnaissance unit tasked with collecting intelligence far forward of their main army. Since Antigonus was still in control of the former Royal Macedonian Army, he retained possession of this skilled battalion. They were made up of resourceful men and Antigonus had utilized them to sow discord among our naval ranks through subterfuge and assassination ahead of his surprise naval attack.
It was decided we would march east to the satrapies beyond Babylon to muster more men and resources before the final battle with Antigonus. General Eumenes would become the next in a procession of desperate commanders heading to the exotic satrapies of the Far East to accomplish their grand schemes of conquest. First it was Darius, whose body was eventually delivered to us by Bessus, who in turn was surrendered by Spitamenes, who was handed over by the northern Scythian tribes. History had not been kind to those who sought refuge in these foreign Satrapies,thus it was with great pessimism that our army began our ominous march east.
CHAPTER 15
Our army departed four days after the naval catastrophe. Despite having the legitimacy of The Kings behind us, we felt as if we were condemned men marching to our graves at the eastern edge of the world. We traveled through the desolate Syrian Desert, passing through Damascus and Palmyra before reaching the prominent Coprates River at Nicephorion in northern Mesopotamia. It was the same route Alexander traveled after leaving Egypt to face Darius marching toward the final Battle of Gaugamela. Some within our ranks were with Alexander those thirteen years ago and certainly could not have foreseen they would be making the same journey under our present circumstances. We followed the Coprates southeast to Babylon where Seleucus was firmly ensconced, expanding his power base since Triparadeisus.
We were entering lands a world away from Macedon, each with their own rivalries and struggles for power far removed from the dynastic struggles in Pella. Their leaders, installed by Antigonus and Antipater at Triparadeisus, were in no rush to support our fragile coalition, even if it was sanctioned by The Kings who they held little regard and felt safe from their reach. They also did not want to see the coming battle fought within their satrapies and were anxious for our hungry army to pass through. Their hostilities and intrigue toward one another would have to be leveraged to enlist their support.
Seleucus was the first of these eastern powerbrokers we would encounter and was no ally to our cause. He had betrayed Lord Regent Perdiccas in Egypt, along with General Antigenes and Peithon, and had worked with Orontes in Triparadeisus. Peithon had become satrap of the bountiful and wealthy region of Media, but had been defeated in a battle the previous year by his surrounding satraps after attempting to usurp additional territory. He retreated to his old friend and fellow assassin in Babylon where he was serving as a member of Seleucus’ staff. The presence of Seleucus, a former commander of the Silver Shields, Peithon, and Antigenes all in the same vicinity worried Vettias who fretted that the three may decide to kill our commander as well.
During the month it took to reach Babylon I was unable to see Mara and Talos other than on two occasions where I accompanied Philotheos to the Silver Shields’ surgeon tent – and then only briefly. I yearned for them and wanted nothing more than to lay with them again as we had secretly done in Sidon. As we approached Babylon, Vettias instructed Mara to utilize her now impressive network of slaves to uncover any agents or plots hatched by Perdiccas’ assassins within the Silver Shields’ camp. She reported secret envoys were sent by the two Babylonian conspirators to speak with General Antigenes in much the same way Antigonus had done, but were unsuccessful in turning the old commander. To his credit, Antigenes informed General Eumenes of this latest treachery, as it was clear the Babylonian conspirators were unwilling to assist our efforts and declare against Antigonus. Undeterred, we moved on, having only camped outside the city’s large walls briefly.
General Eumenes entreated satraps further east to join our army as we crossed the Tigris River – entering the heartland of the old Achaemenid Empire. The first satrapy in this region was Susiana, the wealthy province given to General Antigenes as reward for his role in murdering Lord Regent Perdiccas. The Silver Shields veteran was most recently in his satrapy during the previous year when his unit was sent east from Triparadeisus to empty the royal coffers at Susa and Persepolis to bring them west to Cilicia. General Antigenes was a soldier first and statesman a distant second. He would rather lead his Silver Shields to secure a leadership role within the Argead Dynasty than sit in his comfortable eastern satrapy, helplessly watching events unfold around him.
Despite having ready access to thousands of fresh recruits and silver, Vettias was nervous about our army lingering too long in Susiana due to the increased prestige Antigenes enjoyed while in the boundaries of his realm. General Eumenes disagreed, however, and decided we would remain in the satrapy and make overtures to Peucestas, satrap of neighboring Persis, to meet with us in Susa. General Eumenes believed this would give us more leverage over Peucestas than traveling to Persepolis where he was firmly in control and beloved by his subjects.
Several lavish parties were held while in Susa to raise our lowered morale and it was during this time unbelievable news was received from Macedon. General Eumenes informed his battle staff that King Philip III, controlled by Queen Adea, had publicly come out for Cassander and had denounced Lord Regent Polyperchon. The meeting attendees sat in contemplative silence for several moments as each considered the ramifications of this unforeseen turn of events. As the meeting concluded, General Eumenes motioned for Vettias, Hiro and me to remain in Alexander’s tent.
“What are your thoughts, Vettias?” he asked.
“This was bound to happen. Not even General Polyperchon could manage the Queen once she decided we had used her to flush out Orontes. There’s also her rivalry with Olympias. In the end, there’s no way their competing motivations could be reconciled. Queen Adea is an attractive target for Orontes and her youthful impatience will play into the empty promises he has no doubt made to her and King Philip III. It was always the view of The King’s Hand that Alexander IV was the favored of the two kings to rule – the future of the Argeads. The child and Olympias are now squarely on our side as the Dowager Queen will have little choice but to cast her lot with Polyperchon to counter Adea’s move. Orontes chose Philip III because he is the weaker of the two Kings and will be easily manipulated and later cast aside if Cassander were to defeat Lord Regent Polyperchon. From there it would be a simple matter to eliminate Adea and use the imbecile as a prop to advance their agenda. Nothing changes our legitimacy and we still retain authority to draw from the royal treasuries as necessary.”
“Agreed. Our royal legitimacy is still intact and we will use whatever authority such powers yield this far east to make alliances and swell our ranks. Satrap Peucestas’ allegiance to Alexander’s legacy is strong and all credit him with saving his life in India while besieging the Mallian capital. His loyalty bordered on obsequiousness, however, and we will now see whether it was genuine or narcissistic. I served with him as Alexander’s royal bodyguard and think I can convince him to join us in combating Antigonus’ army which marches east as we speak to threaten his beloved satrapy.”
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