“You are being paid well to not ask questions and it’s in your interest to abide by that stipulation,” Davos answered sternly. “We are just travelers on the way to Byzantium – that is all. I thank you for your performance with the marines and you will now be paid two hundred and eighty-five drachmas on our safe arrival into port in the coming days.”
“Aye,” Gull responded in a distrustful tone. “We are three days out. When we arrive our business is complete.”
“Agreed,” Davos replied and the four of us returned to our berths for the remainder of daylight. True to his word, we arrived at the bustling docks of Byzantium on the third day. We settled with Gull and stepped foot in the relative safety of territory owned by our army. Our royal insignia would ensure any manner of items could be secured and no one would ask us questions. There was still the issue of being seen with a mother and son that could be described as the royal family, however, since our master ordered them to be killed. With this in mind, I stayed behind with the Argeads while Davos entered the Byzantine government complex to procure three horses for our journey south to Ilandra.
I rode out of the city with Rhoxane and Alexander separate from Davos to mitigate him being seen with them alive. We met him ten miles south of Byzantium along the Ionian Road. We passed through Sardis and Ephesus before arriving in Ilandra after several days of riding. We entered my home town inconspicuously and made our way to my home’s street. I knocked on the door and was greeted by Chariton who appeared more surprised to see me than during our first encounter.
“Andrikos! You have returned so soon? Come in, come in.”
“Thank you, Chariton. Is my family home?”
“Only Master Argos is home presently. I shall alert him at once.”
“I have guests with me.”
“Very good, sir. I will inform him.”
Chariton disappeared and I motioned for the rest of my party to enter. I watched as Rhoxane carefully studied the dwelling, taking stock of her new accommodations. She had lived in the most hallowed halls on earth and now the widow and son of Alexander the Great were relegated to the modesty of my improved childhood home. Argos and Chariton entered the sitting room with an expression of surprised happiness.
“Andrikos, Davos, you have returned so soon? Is everything all right?” Argos asked.
“Yes, uncle, our mission has taken an unexpected turn that necessitates us making a stop here before continuing back to the armies of Antigonus and Demetrius. Where is my family?”
“They are at market with your mother and sister. Those three women have become very close since your departure and you can be at ease in the fact they have adjusted well to their new life.”
“Very good news, uncle. I am going to ask a meeting of our family, to include Helena, this evening here at our home. I have something of the utmost importance to discuss at the earliest opportunity. Would it be too much to ask Chariton to fetch them from the market presently?”
Argos nodded to Chariton who immediately departed.
“And Leandros at the City Council,” I added as he turned and acknowledged my additional demand before exiting our residence.
“How well do you trust him?” I asked.
“Chariton has become a loyal member of this family and has my absolute confidence.”
“Good. It will be best if he hears what I have to say as well since he will play an important part of the new reality I am to divulge to everyone when they return.”
Argos furrowed his brow and stared at me with concerned eyes to implore me to tell him the news ahead of their arrival.
“Uncle, I assure you I have done nothing to endanger this family but what I am to reveal will change our lives forever. Uncle, allow me to present to you Queen Rhoxane, widow of Alexander III, and their son, Alexander IV.”
The two stepped forward and bowed respectfully while Argos’ eyes widened and he took a step back before the gravity of what I had told him set in and he immediately dropped to one knee.
“Forgive me, my lady, I had no idea—”
“Rise, Argos,” Rhoxane interrupted. “You have done nothing that requires my forgiveness. I thank you for your hospitality.”
“Anything, anything, my Lady,” Argos stammered.
“My son requires some refreshment from the long ride from Byzantium.”
“Indebted to you, indebted to you,” Argos answered while running to the galley to fetch his royal guests something to drink.
“He’s understandably a little flustered by this unexpected visit,” I interjected. “He is devoted to the Argeads and will do everything in his power to ensure your safety and comfort.”
Rhoxane smiled and nodded as Argos ran back into the sitting room with a silver tray carrying cheese, fruit, juice and wine. He clumsily arrayed his platter on a small table and invited everyone to sit. Alexander immediately began consuming the fruit and juice while Rhoxane poured a small cup of wine.
“Please forgive this meager offering, had I known—”
“It’s all right, uncle. Nothing is expected of you. I promise all will be explained when everyone arrives.”
The five of us sat in an awkward silence for several moments before Rhoxane broke the tension.
“You have a lovely home, Argos. How long have you lived here.”
“Since early adulthood, my lady. This structure used to be a tenement made up of three apartments and a storefront where I had a wine shop. Good fortune has since come to our family, with my son’s return home from the eastern campaigns and Andrikos providing a large sum of money to us.”
“Yes, Andrikos has been a loyal and valuable asset to me and my son,” Rhoxane added while looking warmly at me. “You have much to be proud of in your nephew.”
The thought of Queen Rhoxane and Alexander IV sitting in my childhood home and informing my uncle of my worth to them would have been unthinkable during my time living here under Argos’ condescending authority. After several more minutes of polite small talk, Mara, Talos, Helena and mother entered through the front door in excited anticipation.
“Andrikos, my love,” mother blurted out while running over to hug and kiss me, “I knew you would come back but did not expect this day to come so soon.”
She prematurely ended her loving barrage to allow Mara and I to reunite properly. She was holding Talos and I hugged them both for several moments.
“Please tell me you have been happy here,” I whispered. “I’ve missed you both terribly already.”
“Yes, we are at peace, thanks to the loving embrace of your family,” Mara assured while turning to Helena and hugging her. “They are my blood now and nothing could ever separate us.”
Helena then hugged me: “Mara is my sister and I am thankful to you for bringing her into my life. Why are you home so soon? Will you remain with us now?”
“This unexpected visit is not permanent, unfortunately,” I responded, speaking to all assembled. “Davos and I encountered an unanticipated situation while in Macedon which necessitated our brief detour back through Ilandra. All will be explained once Chariton arrives with Leandros, but for now, I want to introduce to you Queen Rhoxane and Alexander IV, from the House of Argead.”
All three women collectively gasped and kneeled before their royal guests.
“Ladies, please rise,” Rhoxane instructed warmly. “It is I who am in debt to the family of Andrikos. All will be explained to you in short order.”
My family members rose and I took Talos by the hand to introduce him to Alexander.
“This is Talos, my son. Can you shake Alexander’s hand,” I asked, speaking to Talos. He shyly presented his tiny appendage and Alexander shook it amiably.
“Hello, Talos. Do you like to play with soldiers?” Alexander asked.
Talos timidly nodded.
“I have some in my bag. Come with me and we will play with them.” Alexander led Talos out of the room and the remaining adults sat in nervous anticipation for Chariton to bring Leandros home.
One half-hour later, Leandros entered the foyer with Chariton hurriedly in tow.
“Back so soon? I wasn’t expecting you for some time,” Leandros announced as he burst into the sitting room. “And we have guests?” he asked while looking quizzically at the Argeads. I stood and moved to the front of the room while motioning for Leandros to sit in my seat.
“Now that we are all assembled,” I began while gesturing for Chariton to remain as well, “I have serious news to tell all of you that will affect this family for years to come. Before I begin, Leandros and Chariton, I want to introduce our guests to you, Queen Rhoxane and King Alexander IV of the Argead House.”
Leandros jumped out of his seat: “The royal family are guests in our home and you all are just sitting here as if they are a neighbor from down the street? My lady, please, I—”
“I understand your reaction, Leandros, but I ask that you remain seated and listen to what your cousin has to say before speaking,” Rhoxane interrupted gently.
“It’s all right son,” Argos added, and Leandros sat back down in a total state of confusion.
“I shall start at the beginning,” I continued once Leandros calmed down. “When I visited here the first time after enlisting in the army, I gave you all an update on where I had been and what battles I had fought. All of that was true. However, I omitted an important piece of my experience that I will now share which will explain the presence of the Argeads in our sitting room. Please realize that what I am about to divulge to you is information of the highest order. You must all swear on everything you hold dear, never to repeat it to anyone outside of this room.”
All assembled nodded their consent and looked at each other with confusion. “During my time serving under General Eumenes, I was approached by a member of his battle staff. This individual’s name is Vettias, of Amphipolis, and I have been his apprentice ever since. He was a member of a secret faction originally created by Alexander himself to serve as his secret bodyguard. Later, Alexander changed the mission of this clandestine organization to not only focus on his protection, but the protection of the Argead House and his eventual heirs. Vettias recruited both Davos and me into this organization and we have been working in the shadows to protect Alexander’s Dynasty ever since.”
“We have not always been successful and many of Alexander’s relatives are dead as a result. Rhoxane and Alexander IV are the only remaining immediate heirs to Alexander’s throne and we have sworn a blood oath to protect them. Despite all that is said by Alexander’s current crop of Successors, none who remain share in this goal. Cassander has had Rhoxane and Alexander imprisoned in Amphipolis since his defeat of Lord Regent Polyperchon in Macedon. He has been holding them hostage to add legitimacy to his rule and intended on eliminating them once Alexander grew to maturity and asserted his royal claim. They have lived a life of cruel captivity since the death of Olympias. Our mission was to rescue them so Cassander would think they were in Antigonus’ custody – and then kill them before we reached Antigonus’ camp.”
The room was silent as my family was told of the unbelievable world of intrigue I had been involved over the past several years.
“Of course our sworn oath prohibited us from carrying out this regicide and the Argead’s safety can no longer be guaranteed by any of the remaining Successors of Alexander. It is under these circumstance that you find the royal family sitting before you in our home. Davos and I decided the only way to honor our vows to protect the life of Alexander’s remaining family is to convince their enemies they are already dead. Davos and I will leave Ilandra in the coming days and return to Lord Antigonus to inform him we were successful in our task. Rhoxane and Alexander will assume a new identity and live here with us in the near term before a more permanent solution can be found.”
“But what will people in Ilandra think?” my mother asked. “Surely we cannot hide them forever.”
“You are correct mother. Nor do I intend you to. They will hide in plain sight and become part of the Ilandran community. The only people in this entire world who know their secret are sitting in this room. And, with the addition of Vettias and another of our organization, Hieronymous, no one else will ever know. You will tell everyone they are the Persian widow and half-Greek son of my best mate in the phalanx. Before he was killed, we swore to take care of each other’s families if anything should happen to us. We all in this room have sworn allegiance to Alexander and the Argead House. For most, these are just words that will never require action. But I come here and implore you, at the behest of Queen Rhoxane, King Alexander IV and the late Alexander the Great, to accept this solemn task and protect the surviving Argeads.”
Leandros now stood to address the room, “Andrikos, you have done an amazing thing in rescuing Alexander’s family from a life of torment and eventual death. The details of their treatment stirs me to take vengeance myself on all who call themselves a Successor to Alexander. Housing them here under a new identity is the least we can do and we accept this solemn task enthusiastically.”
Argos stood next, shook my hand and faced Rhoxane. “My lady, you and your son are welcome here for as long as needed. I welcome you to my home and am happy to call you privileged guest.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Argos,” Rhoxane responded while bowing her head slightly.
“Let us make arrangements then,” mother added. “My lady, please follow me and I will show you to your quarters and make up your room.” Mara, Helena, Rhoxane and mother departed the sitting room, leaving myself, Davos, Argos, Leandros and Chariton.
“All right,” Argos began. “First, Chariton, I’m sure you realize the gravity of what you have been told. I chose to involve you in this conversation because I trust you. Our lives have just become inexorably intertwined. Do you swear to the gods that you will continue to honor the oath you made to this family upon your initial employment in this house?”
“Without hesitation, Master Argos,” Chariton responded convincingly. “My dedication to this house has only grown with time and I will keep its secrets with me until the day of my demise.”
“Good,” Argos replied. “Andrikos, you and Davos must continue on your journey to inform Antigonus the regicide has been carried out. Be content in the knowledge we are prepared to keep this secret and shelter the Argeads.”
“And the boy,” I added. “He has gone without a strong male figure to give him guidance and teach him how to be a man. Leandros, can I count on you to be this figure for Alexander until my eventual return?”
“You can indeed. We will all do our part to raise him and Talos.”
“And when I reintegrate into the army I will work to secure you a satrapal appointment. If Antigonus believes us to be successful, he will be eager to return the favor.”
“And here are some additional funds to look after them with,” Davos interjected, handing Argos a heavy purse of coin. “We will depart in the morning.”
“Then we shall feast tonight,” Argos stated as he poured everyone a cup of wine. That evening we celebrated my presence and swore our allegiance to the Argead House. I spent the night with Mara, and Davos appeared to be become even closer with Rhoxane. Alexander kept true to his word and dutifully played with Talos before it was time for them to go sleep. The next morning, I cut a lock from both Rhoxane and Alexander as proof of our success to present to Antigonus. Davos and I said our goodbyes and I noticed his warm embrace of Rhoxane before we mounted our horses and continued our journey east.
CHAPTER 41
Davos and I made swift time riding along the coast of Asia Minor and reached Cilicia in sixteen days. After departing Tarsus, we headed south into Syria to learn that Antigonus had wrapped up his siege of Tyre in Phoenicia and was preparing to march his army north into Asia Minor. Having successfully invaded Phoenicia, Demetrius’ army was now tasked to march further south to secure Judea and protect his father’s southern flank from an invasion by Ptolemy from Egypt. It took another week of riding before we arrived at Anti
gonus’ siege camp along the coast opposite the island city. Whereas Alexander’s impatient date with destiny compelled him to build a causeway spanning the gap between the coast and the city walls, Antigonus was content to use what remained of the causeway, along with his growing navy, to starve the city out. The city had finally capitulated and his army was readying to break camp in the coming days.
We entered the siege camp to find it devoid of any activity. Phalangites lounged in their field tents while prostitutes walked between bivouacs. Davos and I tied off our horses and made our way to the headquarters tent to request audience with General Antigonus from the two sentries guarding the entrance. We were ushered in by an attendant and found our commander entertaining a delegation from Arabia.
“Gentlemen, I am going to beg your leave for a brief moment while I attend to a pressing matter,” Antigonus informed his guests after seeing us enter. All rose as he stood up, walked past us and motioned for us to follow him outside. “We’re going to speak in my private quarters.”
We made the short walk to his personal tent while Antigonus ordered a runner to summon General Aretes who joined us as well. Once inside the palatial accommodation, Antigonus motioned for us to sit. “All right, Davos, I see the both of you have returned from your mission. What do you have to report?”
“My lord, you will be happy to know that Andrikos and I successfully rescued the Argeads from Amphipolis but, sadly, they did not survive the journey to Tyre.”
“Dead?” Antigonus asked Davos.
“Both have perished, my lord,” Davos stated while presenting Antigonus with a lock of hair from each.
“Does anyone else know they are dead?”
“No, my lord. Cassander only knows they have escaped and must assume they are in your custody presently. We traveled with the Argeads by ship out of Amphipolis and were boarded by marines from General Lysimachus’ navy. The captain hid us in a stowaway compartment and we arrived at Byzantium safely.”
World on Fire Page 33
