Сергей Соловьев - Son of the Star, born of the Mountain Alexander the Great

“Great, my friend, gently, as far as Philip could be tender, spoke, the king almost sang to Demarat, – I could entrust the supply of troops to you, your help is priceless. Show that the Corinthians recognize me and the son of the rulers of the Hellenic Union, do not want wars in Hellas? You could not give me the best gift. I already try to reconcile with my son through Filota and Cassandra, but now maybe you can help me? You will go as my ambassador, and you will convey, but in words, all Peloponess’s interest in the war with Persia, and the importance of a first-aid. And I, of course, will write a letter for Alexander, ask for an apology, I am ready for that. He will surely show you a letter to his mother, do not hinder him.

Demarat only nodded in reply, anticipating also the road to Epirus, but the appointment of the main supplier of the army eased his flour a little.

Philip pulled out writing instruments from the bureau, quickly wrote an epistle, sealed it, handed it to the proxen, and he was about to leave immediately, however, the king did not detain the peace envoy.The road to Epirus was not at all comfortable, shone a lot of time, Demarat crumpled, and was not at all glad that he had started this game, but it was also impossible to retreat. And so, the small detachment arrived at the refuge of the young man and his mother, and the peace envoy, reeling on unsteady legs, moved to the palace of the descendants of Neoptolem, reporting on himself and was quickly missed by the guard, and the warrior led him into the small rooms of the herald. Demarat tried to give himself a clever and solid look, and crossed the threshold of the room, where Olimpiada and Alexander sat in the chairs opposite him, and there was a third, empty seat, where the young man was familiar to him.

– Be healthy, Alexander and Olympiad, my name is Demarat, I am Archon of Corinth and at Philip’s request I am his messenger and brought a letter from him, – and rising from his chair gave the message to the Tsar’s son, he quickly ran his eyes, and nodding his head, gave the letter to the queen. She read for a long time and thoughtfully, looking for a hidden meaning and there, he was not there.

“What do you think yourself, Corinthian, do not be afraid, not a single word will get out of here,” the young man said harshly, and his mother nodded in the affirmative.

“We in Corinth are afraid of the war between you,” the archon answered honestly and harshly, and people were tired of the war in Hellas, so I decided to help, he answered honestly.

Alexander thought, and nodded his head and the mother, who was also pleased.

– We agree to return, and thanks, the archon told the truth, I will not forget this. Now we will write a letter and send it to the messenger, and you will go with us to Pella, the prince decided everything.

The Olympics quickly wrote a letter, Alexander having read it, sealed his seal. and summoning the soldiers from the guard of Demarat, sent them with a message to Philip, while they themselves began to gather home, to Pella. The preparation of the journey did not take much time, and Alexander Epirsky was glad to see that everything worked out so well that he even singled out a squad of horsemen, then he would conduct his beloved sister and her son. Finally everything was ready, the warriors lined up, the retinue gathered, and the mother and son came out of the gates of the palace, accompanied by the king of Epirus, who were happy to watch the Olympiad get into the carriage, and Alexander jumps up on Boukephalus.

The return journey was a little faster, but it took some time. At a distance of a day’s journey, the Olympics sent a messenger to King Philip, who was coming with his son, and in the morning, they were waited by a whole procession led by the king. Guards silt with Phillip galloped towards them, not reaching a few cubits, the cavalcade stopped at once, and the king personally, on the best stallion, rode up to the cart where the Olympiad rode.

– Hello, wife, his cunning one-eyed face shone with joy, I am also glad to see you, as you are me. Did you spend a relative? I hope all is well with him? – He poured in words, not waiting for an answer to his questions.

“Hello, Alexander,” he said firmly, looking into his son’s eyes, trying to see his own, if not forgiveness, then understanding, “looked at the mountains of Epirus? Admit that hole is still. Understand, we are not strangers in Hellas, as envious Athenians want to expose us, you know yourself that our kind comes from Mycenae, and many Macedonian families come from there origin, and Linkestides, and Oreastids, and your friend Erygius, his family from there. I I would like to talk with you today, and do not be mad at me for my mother. Barbarous leaders around us have such customs – each has many wives, or rather, concubines, this is Herodotus was wrong, the Persian king has only one wife, and this… Well, girls, in general. So is my wife, Olympiada, and these are just girls, taken for peace, because the genus Attala is completely rebellious, so why should I kill them all? You noticed how the people of the world really want, but in our family there is contention, but the Corinthians have made peace with us. I will not hide, I was just happy, – he looked, if there was no Demarat near him, and continued. – They recognized our family as TSAR’S FOR ALL THE PELOPONESS! As in origin and in affairs, we are TsAR for them, but Ellinsky, remember, not Persian, that is, not autocratic, son. We can not create that head up. But, in general, the seeds have been sown, and you will collect them, because the Peloponessians YOU have been recognized as my heir, and behave accordingly, and do not be afraid of your brothers. Alexander listened to his father and nodded, and only now he began to understand the politician of the state that was born, and how people, other people tried to keep this new state, and this new community was important not for the kings, but for ordinary people, as a step to calm and peace. And now began to understand many of the actions of Philipe.

– And I liked how you behaved in Athens, made friends with Linkey and Lysippos, if you want, invite them here, this is good for our prestige, I will gladly pay for their orders, and Onesekrit, your new acquaintance, would also be interested in the court After all, Aristotle had left, and people should see that you are consulting with wise men, it means that you are also wise. Although, I will say in secret – their advice does not always have to be followed. But of course, it’s just necessary to listen to him – he turned around again, the horse underneath him went through his hoofs, – And it’s good that you love friends and feasts, don’t be greedy for your comrades, but don’t indulge them. And the story of Thais is only for your benefit, all aristocrats languish with envy, – again his face smiled conspiratorially at these words, and his father was clearly happy for his son. “Mother will try to marry you therefore, but I do not advise you as a prize in the Olympic Games, everyone wants to see you as a son-in-law, but it’s better to wait, we will defeat Darius, and your marriage will be by the way,” and he patted his son’s shoulder. – Let’s go home, we are waiting for a great meal!

Further, all the way to the house, they rode alongside, father and son, king and prince, commander and basileus, as the Macedonians called them. Out of the corner of his eye, Alexander saw the best commanders Perdikku, Parmenion and Antipater, who were watching the family idyll of father and son with pleasure, gazing with pleasure, and Hephaestion kept nearby, and his friends rode near the Olympics. Pella did not change at all during the months of their absence. Alexander, like his mother, occupied their old rooms, and tried not to notice Cleopatra, however, the prince did not dislike her. Philip had already knocked off the vanguard of the army, and Parmenion and Attal were to head it, and began to search for allies in Asia Minor, and began negotiations with Pixodar. The actor Thessalus became the messenger, and once, passing by the apartments of Philip, Erigy heard a fragment of the conversation: