By the Sword

by Christian Kachel

  “I think the life is returning to my limbs” I replied confidently.

  “Good. Our work is only just beginning and your newly recited oath demands attention. You and I are to depart this fortress when your wounds allow it. Antigonus’ army is approaching and will have Nora under siege in short order.”

  “What will happen to the people who remain?” I asked, concerned for Stephanos’ safety.

  “Nora will withstand the siege, although the horses may begin having some issues. Regardless, we can better help those left behind on the outside.”

  “Where are we to go?”

  “Macedonia,” Vettias responded with a smirk, knowing his answer would have a heavy effect on me. “The Hand has someone deeply imbedded within Antigonus’ court. Now that Cassander has returned to Pella, presumably with Orontes, we are to travel there and assist our operative in whatever way we can to alleviate pressure on our army here. So get some rest hero. I will call on you when it is time.”

  Vettias exited the room and I continued to lie on my cot within the infirmary. I looked over to Stephanos, who was still asleep. The thought of leaving him again so soon did not sit well, especially since every step Vettias and I took in the direction of Macedon brought me farther from Mara and any chance of ever saving her.

  I felt I barely had time to reflect on all that had occurred since leaving Ilandra before Vettias was already ushering in the next chapter of my increasingly interesting existence. I was to walk in the city of Alexander. I was to set foot in Greece- the ancestral home of my family and all peoples of Ionia. I assumed whatever was to occur there could not compare to the harrowing events I had already experienced thus far. However, I knew never to assume anything when Vettias was involved. In two days’ time Vettias appeared at my bedside dressed for the long journey.

  “So, you ready hero?”

  I nodded my head, bid farewell to Stephanos, and followed my mentor out of Nora for the next phase of my education.

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  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Adea- Queen of Macedon, Wife of King Philip III, daughter of Cynane, granddaughter of Philip II.

  Agathon- Lead trainer of new army recruits, to include Andrikos.

  Agelaus- Fellow merchant with Argos from Smyrna.

  Alcetas- Philangiarch of the Macedonian Phalanx. Brother of Perdiccas. Killer of Cynane.

  Alexander III- Alexander the Great. The God-King. Son of Philip II and Olympias.

  Alexander IV- Son of Alexander the Great and Rhoxane. Grandson of Olympias and Philip II.

  Alexandros- Childhood friend of Andrikos from Ilandra.

  Androkles- Strategos of Andrikos’ Taxis within the Macedonian Phalanx.

  Antagoras- Friend of Argos in Ilandra.

  Antigenes- Co-Commander of the Silver Shields with Tuetamis.

  Antigonus- General under Philip II and Alexander III. Commander of Asia Minor. Known as The One-Eyed.

  Antipater- Regent to Alexander IV and Philip III. Commander of Europe.

  Apama- Daughter of Spitamenes. Wife of Seleucus.

  Apollonides- Cavalry Commander under General Eumenes.

  Argeaus- Younger brother of Nearchus in Ilandra.

  Argos- Uncle and caretaker of Andrikos and his family in Ilandra.

  Arrhidaeus- Deputy Commander of the Silver Shields and brief Protector of the Kings.

  Asander- Satrap of Caria, where Ilandra is located.

  Attalus- Admiral serving under Alexander III and Perdiccas.

  Audata- Illyrian wife of Philip II. Grandmother to Queen Adea.

  Bacchylides- Fellow recruit with Andrikos. Serves in the Macedonian Phalanx.

  Bessus- Family member of Darius III, who later killed him and proclaimed himself King of Persia. Was delivered to Alexander by Spitamenes and killed.

  Callisthenes- Trainer of new army recruits, to include Andrikos.

  Cassander- Son of Antipater and ally of Orontes.

  Craterus- General under Alexander III. Most respected surviving general after Alexander III’s death.

  Croesus- Lochagos of Andrikos’ Lochos within the Macedonian Phalanx.

  Cynane- Daughter of Philip II and Audata. Half-sister of Alexander III. Mother of Queen Adea.

  Damastor- Fellow merchant with Argos from Sardis.

  Darius III- Former King of Persia. Murdered by Bessus.

  Davos- Fellow operative of Andrikos and Vettias in the dark arts.

  Demetrius- Son of Antigonus.

  Diokles- Friend of Argos from Ilandra.

  Dracham- Fellow recruit with Andrikos. Serves in the Macedonian Phalanx.

  Dion- Fellow recruit with Andrikos. Serves in the Macedonian Phalanx.

  Drakon- Ouragos of Andrikos’ syntagma.

  Druz- Eastern villain working within Ilandran criminal underground.

  Elpenor- Fellow merchant with Argos from Ephesus.

  Eumenes- General within the Royal Army from Cardia. Former bodyguard and general of Alexander III. Former secretary of Philip II.

  Euneas- Fellow merchant with Argos. Formerly of Miletus.

  Eurydike- Madame of an Ilandran brothel.

  Ganymedes- Leader of Ilandra’s criminal underground.

  Gelon- Second Officer within Andrikos’ Lochos.

  Helena- Sister of Andrikos.

  Hipolytus- Friend of Theon and member of the Ilandran criminal underground.

  Hiro- Fellow Cardian countryman of General Eumenes and serves as his chief advisor on his battle staff.

  Hyllos- Captain within the Silver Shields and lover of Mara.

  Iatrokles- Deceased father of Andrikos.

  Kleomenes- Friend of Argos from Ilandra

  Labdacus- Fellow recruit with Andrikos.

  Lasthenes- Trainer of new army recruits, to include Andrikos.

  Leandros- Cousin of Andrikos. Son of Argos. Veteran of Alexander III’s eastern campaigns.

  Lykos- Commander of the Pydna Syntagma where Andrikos serves within the Macedonian Phalanx.

  Mara- Scythian prostitute and ally of Andrikos and Vettias.

  Meric- Eastern villain working within Ilandran criminal underground.

  Nearchus- Best friend of Andrikos from Ilandra.

  Neokles- First Officer within Andrikos’ Lochos.

  Neoptolemus- Satrap of Armenia.

  Nikandros- Chief Deputy within Orontes’ network.

  Olympias- Mother of Alexander III. Wife of Philip II. Grandmother of Alexander IV.

  Orontes- Leader of a secret organization to combat the Argead Dynasty.

  Ox- Friend of Vettias, serves in the Macedonian Army.

  Pasicrates- Member of Ilandran criminal underground.

  Patrochlus- Childhood friend of Andrikos from Ilandra.

  Peithon- Former general and bodyguard to Alexander III. Satrap of Media.

  Perdiccas- Regent of the Kings and titular commander of all Macedonian forces in Asia.

  Philip II- Deceased King of Macedon. Father of Alexander III, Cynane and Philip III. Husband of Olympias. Grandfather of Queen Adea.

  Phillip III- Mentally-challenged son of Philip II. Half-brother of Alexander III and Cynane. Husband of Queen Adea. King of Macedon.

  Philotheos- Surgeon within the Macedonian Phalanx.

  Pirus- Mid-level operative within Orontes’ network.

  Polyperchon- General serving under Philip II and Alexander III. Ally of General Eumenes.

  Priskos- Alcoholic father of Nearchus from Ilandra.

  Rhexenor- Fellow recruit with Andrikos. Serves in the Macedonian Quartermaster Corps.

  Rhoxane- Bactrian widow of Alexander III. Mother of Alexander IV.

  Selagus- Friend of Argos from Ilandra.

  Seleucus- General under Alexander III. Ally of Ptolemy, Antigonus and Antipater.

&nbs
p; Shifty- Low-level operative of Orontes’ network.

  Spear- Fellow recruit with Andrikos. Serves in the Macedonian Phalanx.

  Spitamenes- Deceased Sogdian warlord and leader of a failed rebellion against Alexander III in Bactria and Sogdiana. Killer of Bessus. Father of Apama.

  Spithridates- Former Persian Satrap of Caria. Killed at the Battle of the Granicus River.

  Stephanos- Fellow recruit and best friend of Andrikos. Serves in the Macedonian Phalanx.

  Telemachus- Trainer of new army recruits, to include Andrikos.

  Theon- Younger brother of Ganymedes and member of the Ilandran criminal underground.

  Tuetamis- Co-Commander of the Silver Shields with Antigenes.

  Vettias- Spymaster serving General Eumenes.