Now, as he sat by the stream, he considered again the problems facing him. He had no idea where Alexander was being held - nor why - and his hopes were resting on the promise of a magus he had met in the flesh only once. And what if the Persians had smuggled Alexander out of Macedonia? Suppose he was being held hostage in Susa? How could one man hope to rescue him? And if he did would not Philip, hungry for revenge, take his armies east into the heart of the Persian kingdom?
These sombre thoughts fluttered around Parmenion’s mind like irritating moths and angrily he brushed them aside, remembering Xenophon’s advice:
‘When asked to move a mountain, do not look upon its size. Merely move the first rock.’
The first rock was to find Aristotle.
Allowing the gelding to rest, Parmenion walked to the crest of the hill and stared out over his back-trail, seeking the rider who was following him. But a heat-haze shimmered over the land and he could see no sign of movement.
Riding until dusk, Parmenion made camp in a hollow in the mountains, setting a small fire against a boulder and enjoying the reflected heat. Tomorrow he would reach the pass where first he had met the magus. Praying that Aristotle would be there, he slept fitfully.
Two hours before dawn he reached the foothills of the Kerkine Mountains. The breeze was colder here as he urged the gelding up the scree-covered slope towards the pass, and he pulled his black cloak more tightly about him. As he crested the slope he saw four mounted men blocking the narrow pass. Beyond them were two more horses. Parmenion flicked his gaze to the rocks on the left, where two archers waited with arrows notched.
‘A fine day to be riding,’ said a swarthy warrior on a sturdy black stallion. The man touched heels to his mount and rode forward. He was hatchet-faced, a thick black beard failing to disguise the pockmarks on his cheeks. His eyes were dark and deep-set. His comrades hung back, waiting silently, hands on their swords.
‘Indeed it is,’ agreed Parmenion. ‘What do you require of me?’
‘You have entered Thracian lands, Macedonian, and we require a toll. Be so kind as to hand over the contents of that pouch by your side.’
‘Firstly,’ said Parmenion, ‘I am no Macedonian, and secondly it should take no great mind to reason that a mercenary has no coin when he is riding towards Persia. Only when he returns.’
‘Ah, well,’ answered the man, smiling, ‘you do have a fine horse. That will have to do.’
The warrior suddenly tensed. Instantly Parmenion kicked the gelding into a run. Two arrows slashed through the air where the Spartan had been. The gelding’s shoulder cannoned into the stallion, who bucked violently, throwing his rider. Drawing his sword the Spartan charged at the remaining men, but they scattered before him and then re-formed to give chase.
The pass curved to the right. Out of sight of his pursuers Parmenion hauled on the reins, turning the gelding back the way he had come. It was the last move the robbers had considered. As they rounded the bend, expecting to see their quarry running away from them, they found themselves instead facing a charge.
The gelding hurtled fearlessly into their midst. Parmenion hacked his blade into one rider’s neck, spilling him to the ground with blood spurting from his open jugular. The gelding reared, kicking out at a second man whose horse stumbled and fell.
The swarthy leader screamed a battle-cry and lunged at the Spartan. But Parmenion blocked the wild cut, sending a riposte that sliced the skin of the man’s face, tearing out his right eye.
The other robbers galloped clear. Parmenion dismounted and approached the fallen leader. The man was struggling to rise, his hand pressed against his ruined eye, trying in vain to stop the flow of blood.
‘You whoreson!’ he shouted, lifting his sword and running at Parmenion. The Spartan side-stepped, his own blade cleaving into the man’s groin, and with a cry of anguish the Thracian toppled to the ground. Parmenion slashed his sword through the man’s neck, then stepped over the body to gather the reins of the gelding.
‘Neatly done,’ came a familiar voice and Parmenion cursed softly.
‘What do you want here, Attalus?’
The King’s Champion leapt lightly down from the dappled grey and walked across to where Parmenion waited. ‘Not overjoyed to see me? Ah, well, that is I suppose understandable. But you intrigued me with your tale of sorcerers and rocks; I thought it might amuse me to meet the man.’
Parmenion shook his head. ‘I would as soon sleep with a poisonous snake as entertain your company on the road. Go back to Pella.’
Attalus smiled at the insult, but there was malice in his cold eyes. ‘You are known as a man who thinks well, Spartan. I respect you for that. But you are not thinking now. Suppose this... wizard... can lead you to the child - do you think you will be able to rescue him alone? You may not like me, Parmenion, but you cannot argue against the fact that I am the finest swordsman in Macedonia.’
‘That is not at issue,’ Parmenion snapped.
‘Then what is?’
‘I cannot trust you,’ answered the Spartan.
‘Is that all? Gods, man, what do you expect me to do - cut your throat while you sleep?’
‘Perhaps. But you will not have the opportunity for I will travel alone.’
‘I do not think that wise,’ came a third voice and both men swung to see a grey-haired man sitting cross-legged on a flat-topped boulder.
‘You move silently,’ whispered Attalus, easing his sword from its scabbard.
‘Indeed I do, young Attalus. Now put your sword away - it would be bad manners to attack a man who is arguing on your behalf.’ Aristotle looked to Parmenion. ‘I think you may find that the King’s Champion will be an aid to you on this quest. And believe me, you will need help to recover the prince.’
‘Where is he held?’ asked Parmenion.
‘In a kingdom of the damned,’ answered the magus. Jumping down from the boulder, he walked back towards a towering rock-face and disappeared. Ignoring Attalus, Parmenion tugged the gelding’s reins and followed Aristotle. As before, the seemingly solid wall of rock proved no more substantial than mist, and man and horse found themselves in a cold cavern where great stalactites hung like dragons’ teeth from the domed roof. The gelding did not like this dank, cold place and began to tremble. Parmenion patted the beast’s neck, whispering soothing words. Attalus came through the wall behind him.
‘Not seen enough to amuse you?’ asked Parmenion.
‘Almost,’ the swordsman answered. ‘Where did he go?’
Parmenion pointed to a distant shaft of golden sunlight and the two men headed towards it, emerging at last from a wide cave-mouth which overlooked a verdant valley. At the bottom of the slope was a white-walled house, built alongside a mountain stream. Mounting their horses, the two warriors rode down to the house where Aristotle was waiting beside a table laden with food and wine.
‘Now to the point of your visit,’ said Aristotle as the meal was concluded. ‘The child, Alexander, is no longer in this world.’
‘You mean he is dead?’ hissed Attalus. ‘I do not believe it!’
‘Not dead,’ said Aristotle patiently. ‘He was drawn through a portal into a parallel world - that is why his guards reported seeing stars in the corridor. In order to rescue him, you must travel into that world. I can show you the way.’
‘This is nonsense,’ stormed Attalus, rising from the table. ‘Are you going to sit and listen to this horse-dung?’ he asked the Spartan.
‘Before making judgements,’ Parmenion told him, ‘look about you. Where are the mountains we rode through? Where is the River Nestos? Can you not see that we are already in another world?’
‘It’s a trick of some kind,’ muttered Attalus, swinging round to stare at the unfamiliar horizon.
Ignoring him, Parmenion turned back to Aristotle. ‘Why did they take the boy?’
Aristotle leaned forward, resting his elbows on the broad table-top. ‘There is a King there, a man possessed. He desires immortalit
y. To win such a prize he must devour the heart of a special sacrifice. His priests told him of a golden child... a special child.’
‘This world - is it like our own? Can we find our way through it?’ asked the Spartan.
‘I cannot fully answer that,’ the magus told him. ‘There are great similarities and yet enormous differences. There are centaurs there, and all the creatures you would hear of only in myth - werebeasts and Harpies, gorgons and beasts of darkness. It is a world of magic, my friend. And yet it is Greece.’
‘The King you spoke of - he has a name?’
‘Philippos, King of the Makedones. And, before you ask, yes, he is Philip, the image of the man you serve.’
‘This is insane,’ sneered Attalus. ‘Why do you sit and listen to such gibberish?’
‘As I told you before,’ said Parmenion coldly, ‘you are more than welcome to return to Pella. As for myself, I will travel into this other Greece. And I will find the prince. Will you come with me, Aristotle?’
The magus shook his head and looked away. ‘I cannot... not yet. Much as I would wish it.’
‘Too dangerous for you, wizard?’ Attalus mocked.
‘Indeed it is,’ agreed Aristotle with no trace of rancour. ‘But I will come to you when I can, to lead you home. If you survive.’
Book Two, 352 BC
The Forests of Olympus
The pursuing Makedones were not far behind as Camiron climbed the slopes of the mountains. Alexander looked up at the snow-crested peaks and shivered.
‘How high will we go?’ he called out.
‘To Chiron’s caves,’ replied the centaur, ‘on the roof of the world.’
Alexander glanced back. The Makedones were close enough now for him to see the bright sunburst emblems on their black breastplates, and their lance-points glittering in the sunlight. Camiron galloped on, seemingly tireless, while the boy held fast to the chestnut mane. ‘How much further?’ shouted Alexander.
Camiron paused in his climb and pointed to a forest that clung to the mountain-sides like green mist. There! The Makedones will not follow. If they do, they will die.‘ Bunching the muscles of his hind legs the centaur leapt forward, almost dislodging the boy as he galloped at great speed towards the trees.
As they neared the forest four centaurs rode out to meet them. All were smaller than Camiron, and only two were bearded. Armed with bows, they formed a line and waited. Camiron halted before them.
‘What do you want here, outcast?’ asked the leading centaur, his beard white, his flanks golden.
‘I am riding to Chiron’s cave,’ Camiron answered diffidently. ‘We are pursued by Makedones.’
‘You are not welcome here,’ said another. ‘You will bring us trouble.’
‘It is the order of Chiron,’ protested Camiron. ‘I must obey.’
‘Lickspittle!’ snorted a third centaur. ‘What is the Human to you? Are you a slave to his bidding?’
‘I am no man’s slave,’ said Camiron, his voice deepening. Alexander could feel the centaur’s muscles tensing. Leaning back, the boy lifted his hand, catching the attention of the newcomers.
‘Would you surrender one of your own to his enemies?’ he asked.
‘Speak when you are spoken to, Human!’ snapped the white-bearded leader.
‘No,’ replied Alexander. ‘Answer my question - or does your cowardice shame you to silence?’
‘Let me kill him, Father!’ shouted a youngster, notching an arrow to his bow.
‘No!’ thundered White-beard. ‘Let them pass!’
‘But, Father
‘Let them pass, I say.’ The centaurs moved aside and Camiron galloped into the trees. There were more horse people here, all armed with bows. Alexander swung to see the Makedones toiling up the slope, and he heard their screams as the first volley of arrows tore into them.
But the sounds of battle faded as they rode deeper into the forest.
Camiron was silent as they moved on, but Alexander could feel the deep well of his anguish. The boy could think of nothing to say and settled down once more against the .broad back. At last they came to a clearing and an open cave-mouth. Camiron trotted inside and lifted Alexander to the ground.
‘There is no sign of Chiron,’ said the centaur, his eyes brooding and angry.
‘May I thank you?’ asked Alexander, moving close to the beast. ‘You saved my life, and you were very courageous.’
‘I am the bravest of them all,’ said Camiron. ‘And the strongest,’ he added, lifting his arms and tensing the huge muscles of his biceps.
‘You are indeed,’ the boy agreed. ‘I have never seen anyone stronger.’
The centaur swung his head. ‘Where is Chiron, boy? You said he would be here.’
‘No,’ said Alexander slowly. ‘I said he asked you to come here - to bring me to safety. He told me you could be trusted; he talked of your courage.’
‘I hurt,’ said Camiron suddenly, touching his hand to the shallow gash in his flanks. The blood had already begun to congeal around the wound, but it had flowed down the right foreleg, matting the hair.
‘If there is water, I will clean it for you,’ offered the boy.
‘Why is Chiron not here? Why is he never here? I need him.’ The tone was suddenly plaintive, with an edge of panic. ‘Chiron!’ he bellowed, the sound echoing in the cave. ‘Chiron!’
‘He will come,’ promised Alexander. ‘But you must rest. Even one as strong as you must be tired after such a ride.’
‘I am not tired. But I am hungry,’ he said, his dark eyes fixing on the child.
Tell me about yourself,‘ urged Alexander. ’I have never met a centaur, though I have heard tales of them.‘
‘I don’t want to speak. I want to eat,’ snapped Camiron, turning and trotting from the cave. Alexander sat down on a rock. He too was hungry and tired, but he dared not sleep while the unpredictable Camiron was close by. After a while he decided to explore the cave. It was not deep, but there were small alcoves that appeared man-made. Entering the first, Alexander noticed that the right-hand wall was a slightly different shade of grey from the stone around it. Reaching out he tried to touch the rock - only to see his hand pass through it. Edging forward he passed through the wall to find himself inside a beautifully furnished room, hung with silks, the walls painted with delicate scenes from Homer, the wooden horse at the gates of Troy, the ship of Odysseus by the island of Sirens, the seeress Circe turning men into swine.
Walking to a window, Alexander gazed out over a sparkling ocean. From here he could see that the building was of white marble, supported by many columns. It was larger than his father’s palace at Pella, and infinitely more beautiful. Slowly the boy wandered from room to room. There were many libraries, hundreds of scrolls on scores of shelves, and rooms full of paintings or statues. In yet another room he found sketches of animals, birds, lions and creatures of impossible shapes, some with necks twice as long as their bodies, others with noses that hung to the ground. At last he found the kitchens. Here honey-roasted hams hung from hooks and there were barrels of apples, sacks of dried apricots, pear and peach and other fruits Alexander had never seen. Sitting down at a wide table he tried them all, then remembered the centaur. Finding a silver tray, he loaded it with fruit and meats of all kinds, carrying it back to the first room and through the insubstantial wall into the cave.
‘Where were you?’ shouted Camiron. ‘I looked for you everywhere.’
‘I was fetching you some food,’ answered Alexander, approaching the centaur and offering the tray. Without a word Camiron took it and began stuffing the food into his cavernous mouth, meats and fruits together. Finally he belched and threw the tray aside.
‘Better,’ he said. ‘Now I want Chiron.’
‘Why do the other centaurs not like you?’ asked Alexander, changing the subject swiftly.
Camiron folded his legs and settled down on the cave-floor, his dark eyes fixed on the golden-haired boy. ‘Who says that they don’t? Who to
ld you that?’
‘No one told me. I saw it when they rode from the forest.’
‘I am stronger than they are,’ the centaur said. ‘I don’t need them. I need no one.’
‘I am your friend,’ Alexander told him.
‘I need no friends,’ thundered Camiron. ‘None!’
‘But are you not lonely?’
‘No... Yes. Sometimes,’ admitted the centaur. ‘But I would not be if only I could remember things. Why was I in the wood where I found you? I don’t remember going there. I am so confused sometimes. It used not to be like this, I know it didn’t. Well, I think it didn’t. I am so tired.’
‘Sleep for a while,’ said Alexander. ‘You will feel better for some rest.’
‘Yes. Sleep,’ whispered the centaur. Suddenly he looked up. ‘If Chiron is not here in the morning, I will kill you.’
‘We will talk about that in the morning,’ said Alexander.
Camiron nodded, his head sinking to his chest. Within moments his breathing deepened. Alexander sat quietly watching the creature, feeling his loneliness slowly subside. Once more the haze began around the beast, shimmering, changing, until the human form of Chiron could be seen asleep on the floor beside the horse, Caymal.
Alexander moved to the magus, lightly touching his shoulder. Chiron awoke and yawned.
‘You did well, boy,’ he said. ‘I knew it was a risk leaving you with... him, but you handled the situation with skill.’
‘Who is he?’ asked the prince.
‘Like all centaurs, he is a blend of horse and man: partly me, partly Caymal. It used to be that I could control him. Now he grows stronger and I rarely allow him life. But I had to take the risk, for Caymal alone could not have carried us both free of the Makedones.’
‘The other centaurs called him an outcast. They hate him.’
‘Ah, well, that is a longer story. When first I tried the spell of Merging, I lost control of Camiron and he rode in to their village.’ Chiron smiled and shook his head. ‘I had not considered the timing of the Change. Caymal was in season, and hot for the company of a young mare. Camiron, full of almost childish enthusiasm, tried to force his attention on several of the village females. The males did not take kindly to such advances and chased him from the forest.’