By the Sword

by Christian Kachel

  “We marched south through the Khyber Pass towards the Hydaspes River into India, where we encountered several tribes of strong spirit that marshalled great resistance. Each minor victory against these impoverished savages cost a vast quantity of blood, sweat, and exhaustion from the army…And then the rains came. The rains of this region are as nothing ever witnessed in the Greek or Persian world. An immense torrent of water inundated the army for weeks on end. The individual drops varied from the size of a child’s fist to the smallest spray of wet that formed an unending stinging mist that tormented us unceasingly. This constant deluge, coupled with the persistent harassment from hostile clans along our march, took its toll on the army’s morale. Under these conditions, our clothes rotted, wounds festered and refused to heal, disease was rampant, food spoiled, and marches were agonizing. Despite our suffering, Alexander was in good spirits and rallied us to continue, reminding us that we were walking in the footsteps of Dionysus and Herakles.”

  “As we continued our march, we entered the boundary of the first organized kingdom of India, ruled by King Porus. This man was of an enormous physical stature and intended to meet our army in open battle, thus becoming Alexander’s new primary target. The two armies met on opposite banks of the Hydaspes River in torrential downpour and a great battle was fought along its bank. It was my second, and last, major battle of the far eastern campaign.”

  “Alexander conducted numerous feints up river, which eventually had its intended effect of lulling Porus into complacency, allowing him to surreptitiously lead a contingent several miles north of the standoff, eventually cross the river and attack Porus’ right flank. As Porus received word of the crossing, he immediately dispatched a contingent of infantry, chariots, and elephants to meet the flanking Macedonian detachment. As the two sides skirmished outside of our line of sight, the bulk of Alexander’s force remained in position along the river’s bank, performing numerous crossing ploys to fix Porus’ main body, preventing it from assisting in defence of their right flank. Alexander’s detachment defeated Porus’ right flank and General Craterus now led the main body across the river, where our force prohibited Porus’ escape and the battle was won.”

  “Porus and his army fought with unbelievable perseverance in the face of certain defeat, inflicting heavy casualties on our army despite eventually surrendering. It was here, sensing imminent victory, that I foolishly let my guard down and an Indian pike was stabbed directly into my thigh. The pain was so sudden and acute my senses left me and instinct took over. As my assailant pulled his pike from me to deliver a death blow, I grabbed the shaft and pulled him closer, where I swiftly stabbed him in the face with a blind fury. We fell to the gore-soaked ground as one and I began to lose consciousness. As I lay there, staring into the dead face of my assailant, I used my last seconds of cognizance to tightly tie a piece of leather around my thigh above the wound to mitigate my blood loss. I then stuffed a piece of cloth into the wound and sunk into a dark sleep.”

  “I later found myself in the surgeon’s tent, where hundreds of men lay, some writhing in agony, others in quiet shock. The surgeons did what they could for as many Greeks as possible, which included occasionally delivering a swift death blow to the back of their heads. One next to me had been gored and trampled by an elephant and was in remarkable pain. No one could believe he still drew breath. Finally, Alexander himself held his hand, prayed to the Gods, positioned the nail in back of his head, and brought down the hammer of mercy, bringing instant peace to the sufferer.”

  “I later learned that Alexander was so impressed with Porus’ personal courage that he allowed the king to retain his realm, subservient to Greece, and became his ally. The battle had a severely negative effect on our army, however. Reports began coming in of kingdoms, vastly larger than that of Porus, massing immense sums of men and war elephants to confront our ever-dwindling and battered numbers of Greeks. Several instances of mutiny began occurring within our ranks. Some of the differences were reconciled, others were settled through violence in the dark of night. When Alexander wished to lead us further south into India, the army as a whole finally refused. I am ashamed to say that I too was of the same mind as the rest, despite being unable to walk and lying in an infirmary barge along the Indus River.”

  “He relented to his army’s wishes and began travelling down the Indus River, subduing fierce tribes along the way. The surgeons deemed my injury severe and I was to be brought back to Babylon by ship. I wandered in and out of consciousness for the next two weeks, but I began to return to life once we successfully navigated the Indus River and boarded seafaring vessels to return to Babylon via the outer ocean. My expedition home has been a long and arduous one given my permanent injury, but alas, I am home amongst family and friends in the place of my birth and eventual death.”

  Chapter 6

  The room was silent for a few moments after Leandros ended his heroic tale. Argos then leapt to his feet and proposed we all drink to his son’s role in the Greek conquest of the world, to which we all enthusiastically complied. Argos continued that he would have Leandros’ adventures recorded in the city’s archives in the near future. Nearchus shot me a look telling me that our joyous procrastination had come to an end and now must get serious about our situation. Understanding his concern, I proposed a celebratory feast to be made that evening and Argos agreed. He ordered the women to market to procure supplies, which would give us two hours to talk.

  I was finding myself unable to broach the subject despite being willed by Nearchus to the point where I could feel his gaze long after I broke eye contact with him. Leandros perceived the tension between us and asked, “I am back after seven years and I come home to you two morose eunuchs sharing an awkward silence?”

  Argos now joined in, looking directly at me, “What’s the matter with you?”

  Nearchus expelled a sudden burst of twaddle as if it was shot from a bow within his throat, “We are in trouble Argos and we need your help.”

  Argos saw in his demeanour that whatever vexed us was more than a simple boyhood matter. His face became grave and he tensed up in his chair. “You see son, these two, your cousin in particular, have tried their best to become involved in the basest elements within this city and frequently find themselves in sordid situations.”

  “Uncle, now is not the time for your tedious lectures. Keep quiet and listen to what we have to say, for it affects all of us!” I blurted out. My outburst took everyone in the room aback, myself included, for I have never dared speak to my caretaker in that tone before. My desperate behaviour curbed Argos’ anger and he now became very concerned.

  “Alright, alright, tell us what happened,” he urged with a caring disposition.

  I recounted the previous night’s events, beginning with my summons by Hipolytus, followed by the revelation of Ganymedes’ plot, the fight with Theon, the murders, and the escape. After a brief pause, Leandros stood and spoke first.

  “This is the state of affairs I return to? Ganymedes was a dreck, a criminal, and a pimp even before I left and now Andrikos is close enough to this villain that he summons him freely by name?”

  “I’ve never spoken to him before last night,” I pleaded.

  Suddenly Argos stood up and smacked me across the face and shouted, “Shut up you pathetic little shit! You’ve been begging his favour for years now, like a dog! Now you have it!”

  “You are right uncle, and you’ve always counselled me against it. I didn’t listen before but now I see you were right all along,” I admitted.

  “Don’t try and sell me an act of contrition now boy; we’re too far gone for that. You speak words of repentance only because of the situation you now find yourself. Had last night’s events turned different, you might still be on the path of robbing a fellow merchant like some brigand scum. Maybe even rob me!” These words cut the deepest, for it was clear to me Argos was casting me out of his trust and purging me from his familial responsibilities.

  “Uncle
please! I made a vow last that night that I would alert you of the plot and cease all relations with men of that strain!”

  “It is true,” added Nearchus sombrely. “Such a vow was made in my presence.” In fact these words were not uttered to Nearchus before the altercation, but he knew that supporting evidence coming from him would add needed weight to my case in my uncle’s eyes. He was correct and my uncle sat down and moved back from the dark road his emotions were steering him.

  “Alright then, we will decide our course of action, for Ganymedes must be either appeased or dispatched tonight. Andrikos is right; this affects all of us, including Leandros, whose name is now ringing the market as we speak- courtesy of our women to be sure. The fact that no one has seen him in years may still be of use, however.”

  The four of us debated our options, ranging the spectrum from killing Ganymedes to prostrating ourselves to beg forgiveness. Leandros wanted to kill his entire network that instant. Argos was concerned about how to navigate the situation in a manner consistent with keeping our family in the favour of the Ilandran ruling factions. Ganymedes was certainly known as a villain but his nefarious dealings inevitably intertwined with powerful economic interests, which more than suggested surreptitious alliances with influential Ilandrans.

  Argos posited, “Eliminating Ganymedes is the only way forward. Anyone he was working with will publicly renounce him and no one will admit to each other their involvement with his business dealings. Any resolution that leaves him alive will render us vulnerable to furtive manoeuvring by his criminal network, with secretive top cover from anonymous influential politicians.”

  I informed Argos of Ganymedes’ two eastern dogs that now habitually heeled at his side and suggested that Pasicrates also would need to be dealt with. “That’s now four career murderers we will need to purge. We are only four ourselves, with only one of us being trained in combat,” Argos concluded.

  Leandros now added strategy to the discussion while glaring in my direction. “Andrikos makes a good point, surprisingly; however, we have several advantages over our opponents. From what my father says, these two little shits are intimately familiar with their daily routines. We know the size and capability of our enemies, and they will be unaware of all the assets we can bring to bear.”

  “I can muster support from the Ilandran merchants, maybe three to five men,” Argos speculated, seemingly agreeing with Leandros’ assessment of the situation. “Several of them already blame Ganymedes’ band for stolen wares over the years, some owe me favours. If we can get five to join us in eliminating this blight from our city, we may have a chance.”

  “His infirmed brother Theon should not escape this scheme,” I added. “Allowing him to live will breed a mortal enemy of this family for years to come. I will dispatch him myself after our plan has been executed before word of our deeds reaches his bed chamber.”

  “That is a secondary consideration at this point. I think we are in agreement as to what has to be done concerning the primary matter at hand. Even if I can convince others to help us, we must decide how best to employ them. From what the boys say, it appears we must take Ganymedes’ two foreigners out first before attempting open confrontation. I believe a horse and a good archer can assist in that. Once they are removed, dispatching Ganymedes and Pasicrates should not be difficult with superior numbers. We must also account for the three bodyguards stationed inside the building. Surprise will be vital in eliminating them.”

  Argos had clearly determined our course of action and the four of us spent the next hour discussing its elements. We concluded our deliberations as the women returned from market. Argos announced he was departing for a short business errand. In reality he travelled to assemble the merchants and give word to Pasicrates that he and I would meet Ganymedes tonight to resolve the situation. We spent the next hour trying to forget about the violence we would commit and made an effort to enjoy each other’s company and help the women with our celebratory meal. Argos returned and informed us all was in place and to follow his lead for the rest of the evening.

  Dinner was a quiet and content affair with everyone telling stories of the old times and looking forward to new memories together. I couldn’t help but think about the strong possibility our family dynamic would be drastically different tomorrow and my mother knew nothing of it. My fellow conspirators all maintained an outward affability that belied similar misgivings about our imminent endeavour. At dinner’s end, Argos announced the men would celebrate Leandros’ return at a nearby tavern and the four of us stood and solemnly departed my apartment. As we exited, I took one last look back through the threshold at my mother and sister, feeling as though it would be the last time they would hold a loving, hopeful disposition towards me.

  Chapter 7

  Argos led us to an old tavern that he frequented where we met four colleagues from the merchant trade. Antagoras was of solid frame and would prove useful in a fight. Kleomenes’ physique would be far less helpful but his slightness would allow him close proximity to unsuspecting enemies. Selagus carried a bow and small quiver that he cleverly concealed under a shoal draped over his tunic. Diokles provided the horse. Argos chose his soldiers well. I knew them all and was familiar with each of their histories with Ganymedes or their loyalty to my uncle. I figured they could care less about my predicament but held a sense of allegiance to my uncle and were motivated to defend one of their own against a known criminal such as Ganymedes. We all had a couple of drinks to calm our nerves and summon our courage. As per our plan, my uncle and I remained at the tavern awaiting our appointed time to meet Ganymedes while the rest of our party went on ahead to their arranged positions. Nearchus and I exchanged an anxious glance as he passed through the exit and departed.

  When Argos and I found ourselves alone in the dimly lit establishment, I emphatically apologized for putting the family in this situation and avidly thanked him for taking action on my behalf.

  “I’m taking these actions because this affects me, my son, your mother and sister. I believe you never intended to assist Ganymedes in his scheme, which was partly why you fought his brother and told me of the plot. But your part in this matter cannot be overlooked or easily forgiven. It pains me to wrest you from your mother, but you and Nearchus will need to leave this city for a time after our deeds tonight. I will be viewed as rallying merchants against a plot on one of our own, whereas you will be seen as a murderer and co-conspirator due to your prior dealings with these scum. I warned you this day would someday come and I won’t be in a position to help you after tonight.”

  “The army then?” I sullenly asked.

  “I think one tour with the Greek armies would pass sufficient time for you and Nearchus to return to Ilandra with respect once more,” responded Argos. “I of course will continue looking after the family. And now with Leandros home, you needn’t worry about them.”

  “And Nearchus’ family?” I reminded him. “He’s more of a father figure than Priskos ever will be. They need protection as well.”

  “And they shall have it,” Argos assured. “Come, the hour approaches.”

  We began our journey to Pasicrates’ in silence. Argos purposely chose to meet Ganymedes at a time when most were still dining and therefore the establishment’s occupancy was low. I entered the tavern to see Leandros on my right gambling in the corner, standing close to the Syrian brute in charge of holding the house money. To my left I noticed Kleomenes talking with a house girl near the Pontus creature guarding the stairs leading to the brothel rooms. Argos and I walked straight to the back where the imp and the colossus stood in front of Ganymedes’ chamber. As we approached, the expecting colossus Argos informed him, “The boy is staying here. The men will sort this out.” The colossus patted Argos down and allowed him to pass into the inner sanctum while I ordered a drink and sat alone near the door to Ganymedes’ lair.

  Outside of the tavern, Nearchus, Antagoras, and Diokles were around back quietly fastening rope from Diokles’ ho
rse to the two support columns holding the outer wall of Ganymedes’ back chamber together. Segalus perched himself on the roof adjacent the tavern, giving him ample visibility of the battlefield. He had already dispatched a Ganymedes minion guarding the rear alleyway with his bow and now stood ready for his role in the scheme.

  My breath hastened, my heart raced as I sat waiting for the calamitous signal of our plan to begin. I finished my cup in one gulp and stutteringly ordered another. My hands were not steady; I felt the concealed iron repeatedly rubbing my outer thigh, constantly reminding me of the coming events. I watched Leandros make several small wagers at dice. He was dressed as a beggar and played the part well. I noticed no recognition of him in the faces of those around him. Kleomenes was now bargaining with the girl, inching closer to the stairs where the Pontus creature dwelled. I began envisioning my mother’s reaction to my departure for the army and my insecurities about joining again rose to the surface. Nearchus and I could forge another path in this world but our lack of useful skills would ensure poverty, criminality, or both; and I was not built for those endeavours as Patrochlus and Theon are. My thoughts now settled on Patrochlus, Alexandros and our merry band. How would they fare after tonight? It was possible Patrochlus would replace Ganymedes one day. Eventually leaving them had always felt inevitable and as that hour approached I felt a sense of loss.