And every muscle in his body hurt.
The same was true of every trooper. Kineas was not of a mind to turn west.
Rosy-fingered dawn brushed every gold trapping and made them kindle. Silver and steel were stained the delicate pink of new flowers and the grass itself wavered like new-forged bronze. The wagons of the Sakje were already rolling, their dust stained the same smoked pink as the sky and the farther clouds. Above and to the right, an eagle of good omen circled, searching for prey in the first light.
At the edge of the last watercourse before the Polytimeros, Kineas stood by Thalassa, surrounded by his friends — Srayanka and Philokles on either side of him, supporting him: Diodorus with Sappho mounted at his side; Coenus and soft-handed Artemesia with Eumenes and Urvara resplendent in her gold gorytos and a necklace of gold and lapis; Antigonus and Andronicus standing silently, their gold torcs like bands of lava at their necks; Sitalkes in his Getae cloak, Ataelus and Samahe supporting him; and Parshtaevalt, resplendent in a captured Macedonian breastplate of muscled bronze; Leon quiet and still in an Olbian cloak; Nicanor weeping openly. Nihmu watched them with a stillness that belied her youth, as if her young eyes could record every moment like a scribe’s wax tablet. Temerix stood a little apart, braiding leather with his fingers even as he accepted the farewells of Sappho. The Sindi smith had been her ally in helping Philokles.
Only Darius was missing of all of Kineas’s closest companions, still out somewhere on the sea of grass, looking for Spitamenes.
One by one those who were going west kissed those who were riding east. Coenus would command. Eumenes would lead the Olbians and Urvara the Sakje, with a tithe of the best warriors. With them would go Nicanor and Sappho, and Artemesia and Andronicus would go as Eumenes’ hyperetes.
Coenus embraced Srayanka. Then he came face to face with Kineas. ‘My heart tells me that I will not see you again,’ he said.
Kineas wiped hurriedly at his tears. ‘No, my friend. If what I have seen in the gates of horn is true, we will not hunt together this side of the Elysian Fields.’
Coenus was an aristocrat and a Megaran. He stood straight, his face unmarked by tears. He even managed a grin. He took both of Kineas’s hands.
‘I honour the gods, Kineas, but after them I honour you. May Moira see fit to leave the thread of your life uncut that we may hunt the valleys of the Tanais together. I will dedicate a temple to Artemis, and I will never cease to think of you. And if the thread of your life must be cut, let it be a worthy end.’
Diodorus spoke as though he was choking. ‘At times like this, I miss Agis the most,’ he said. To the others, who had not known the gentle Theban, he said, ‘Agis was our priest. He died at the River God’s Ford.’ He took one of Coenus’s hands. ‘We’ve ridden together for years,’ he said. ‘I find it hard to imagine a life without all of you.’
Philokles cleared his throat. ‘I lack the god-given touch of gentle Agis,’ he said, ‘but I will attempt his part.’ At length as the Morning Star was beginning to herald The light which saffron-mantled Dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea, The flames fell and the fire began to die. The winds then went home beyond the Thracian Sea Which roared and boiled as they swept over it. The son of Peleus now turned away from the pyre and lay down, Overcome with toil, till he fell into a sweet slumber. Presently they who were about the son of Atreus drew near in a body, And roused him with the noise and tramp of their coming. He sat upright and said, ‘Son of Atreus, and all other princes of the Achaeans, First pour red wine everywhere upon the fire and quench it; Let us then gather the bones of Patroclus son of Menoitios, Singling them out with care; they are easily found, For they lie in the middle of the pyre, while all else, both men and horses, Has been thrown in a heap and burned at the outer edge. We will lay the bones in a golden urn, in two layers of fat, Against the time when I shall myself go down into the house of Hades. As for the barrow, labour not to raise a great one now, But such as is reasonable. Afterwards, let those Achaeans who may be left at the ships When I am gone, build it both broad and high. When he was done, they were silent for the space a few heartbeats. Then Sappho embraced Diodorus once more, and Eumenes clasped Kineas’s hand. ‘We will build your kingdom,’ he said. ‘Your city,’ Kineas said. ‘Never my kingdom.’ And then Coenus mounted his horse, gathered his companions and rode into the sunrise.
26
Kineas’s ribs hurt too much for him to ride, so he travelled in a litter between two horses for three days as they raced north and east along the Polytimeros. Srayanka commanded. He never lost consciousness and there was no fever, but he passed the days in a haze of pain. By the fourth day he could ride, although the pain when his mount mis-stepped was remarkable — if brief.
‘Cracked ribs,’ Philokles said for the fourth time, pulling the bandages tight.
‘A bronze corslet would have turned that point without a bruise,’ Kineas said. ‘But the Sakje scale is easier to wear all day and covers better. Each people has its own ways.’
‘Thank you, Socrates.’ Philokles smiled.
As soon as Kineas was mounted, Srayanka called a ‘moving council’. All the leaders, Greek and tribal, rode to the head of the column.
Leon handed Kineas the Egyptian sword. ‘I thought you’d want this,’ he said. ‘We held the field.’
Diodorus slapped the Numidian on the back. ‘Leon sent one of Temerix’s men for me. I brought the rest of the Olbians and Parshtaevalt here.’ His smug smile shattered into a brilliant grin. ‘Your wife crossed into their flank. Eumenes rode in on the other side. We wrecked ’em.’
‘They didn’t even stand to fight Lot,’ Philokles said. ‘A very poor showing for Macedon.’
Kineas shook his head. ‘That wasn’t Macedon,’ he said. ‘That was a handful of Macedonian officers with a lot of local auxiliaries. Alexander must be stretched thin.’ He coughed and his ribs hurt.
Antigonus gave a very Niceas-like grunt. ‘And we took some spoil. Gold. Horses. And prisoners.’
Kineas looked around, unsure whether he was delighted at the victory or a little peevish that they’d won it without him. ‘How many prisoners?’ he asked.
‘A dozen,’ Philokles said. ‘Just troopers, except one officer. He’s not talkative.’ Philokles gave a wry grin. ‘I like him.’
Diodorus pushed his horse in close. ‘Macedonian bastard.’
All the officers were smiling at some private joke. Kineas ignored them and dismissed the issue of a prisoner until later. ‘I take it there were quite a few more of them than we thought,’ Kineas said.
‘No,’ Diodorus said. ‘Two squadrons — twice your numbers, if you toss in Ataelus’s scouts. You rode rings around them.’ He looked around at all the other officers. Parshtaevalt met his eye and both men gave crooked smiles, as if some new understanding had been reached while Kineas was wounded. ‘We just showed up and pounded the survivors flat.’
‘And now?’ Kineas asked.
Ataelus spoke up. ‘Iskander holds all the south bank of Polytimeros. Patrols all day, but cautious.’ He gave a nod. ‘For pissing themselves yellow after fight, I think.’
Kineas nodded. He could see mountains in the distance — closer now. Achievable instead of impossible. ‘Polytimeros flows out of those?’
‘Yes,’ Ataelus and Temerix said together. ‘And Macedonian forts — close as teeth in your mouth. Six forts and a camp.’ Temerix nodded. ‘I scouted them. Myself.’
Kineas looked at his wife and at Diodorus. ‘Well?’
Srayanka said, ‘We decided yesterday — today we camp early, water up and leave the Polytimeros. Out on to the sea of grass. North and east around the Sogdian mountains and into the desert. We must.’
Diodorus agreed. ‘He’s got to have another cut at us, Kineas. And we’re putting our heads in a noose — the farther upstream we go, the closer we are to his army. His main army.’ He shook his head. ‘Look, we barely hurt him and we see his scouts every day. This isn’t going to work. We have to cut across the desert.’
Kineas rubbed his jaw. He felt terrible — every bone hurt, his muscles were sore and breathing caused a steady pulse of pain in his chest. His head was surprisingly clear. ‘Craterus is still on the Polytimeros,’ Kineas said. ‘But Alexander is moving east. That’s what I’d do. He’s trying to fight the queen of the Massagetae before she joins with Spitamenes.’
Diodorus narrowed his eyes. ‘Heh?’
