Unheralded Strength, Book I

By Lysis (August, 2014) This is a story about Bagoas, if you're not a fan of his, don't' read. Thank you.

*The Egyptian Setapas from my story The River of Ordeal is in this story. He is an original character.

*Heka, the ancient Egyptian god of medicine. The Nile's yearly inundation is in the Western July.

Late winter 330 BCE, Aria (Eastern Iran)

The foot, resting on a small green pillow was, like rest of the youth who sat simply clothed in a loincloth upon a pinewood clothing stool, slender and well muscled with long toes and a high arch. Thick calluses covered the pads of the toes and heels, which were weeping blood and clear fluid from several large blisters. A similar sight was seen on the other foot that was held in the hand of a young, golden hair warrior who had taken the boy's foot onto his lap. Clad in a simple red chiton, feet bare, he sat easily in an exquisite gold and silver gilded chair that he had brought with him from Khmet. The large, all protecting eye of Horus, and life giving rays of RA were borne out throughout the chair's elaborately painted design and about the oval cartouche bearing the warrior's name; Alexander, Great RA, Lord of the Two Lands. At his direction a young blue tattooed Thracian slave bore forth a large urn of steaming water to pour into a large, shallow pink alabaster bowl that sat on a long, low table of ebony before him.

The air grew fragrant as oil of iris, cinnamon, lemongrass and myrtle wood mingled with the water poured into the basin. Khmet linen, fine and snowy as an egret's feather was dipped into the scented waters. Then, ever so gently it was soothed on the blisters, bruises by a tall, dignified young Egyptian servant. Hoops of pure gold glimmered in the Egyptian's ears, and his fine long, dark eyes lined with kohl studied each man, the young King and the Persian youth, who, by his reckoning, had joined the court scant months after the Nile's yearly inundation. This process of the washing was repeated twelve times. A kiss was placed reverently upon each foot before an infusion of myrrh, arnica and lavender was massaged into the warm ivory skin.

"Now, no further practice until those blisters heal. "'Tis true, I love the dance, but I would not see you limping, it would please me little and I would growl like a bear do you ignore me!" Bagoas, an exquisitely beautiful black eyed eunuch of sixteen, could not help but smile at the tender rebuke, and nodded his agreement. His dark, languorous eyes, however, told another story. One of such strong devotion that nothing would bring him pause in his desire to please the man for whom he had danced. Seeing this look, as he was coming to know the Persian youth, well, Alexander, though secretly delighted, scolded. "I look to you to see that this is so." He narrowed his gaze at the slender, dark eyed Egyptian, Setapas, by his side who bowed his shaven head reverently.

"I will have you watched, if I must. Those blisters are nothing to scoff at. I know, do they become infected, and, aye, they can where we are going, it will become a bitter complaint with me." Alexander scolded as he watched Setapas wrap Bagoas' right foot in the long strip of linen a Thracian slave handed him. Three layers of linen were applied, a small, wafer thin, golden amulet, bearing the sign of the god Heka, was applied with each new layer. The line and direction of the wrappings, and chanted prayers to Heka were precise and careful. This process was repeated exactly on the left foot.

"I will do as you say, Great King.." Bagoas' voice faltered when Alexander frowned and corrected himself. "I'skander, Lord God I'skander." Glossy black hair swung about a near perfect face. Setapas, raise a long black eyebrow, his dark eyes twinkling as the young Persian, gazed in near worship at the handsome, young, golden haired man before him. The boy's gaze was worshipful. Indeed, there was cause to worship for the Great RA was a man unlike any other. Not since Osiris himself, in his most perfect form, had walked the earth had such a man been known.

Setapas could see that Bagoas was aware of the Great RA's divinity. Indeed, Setapas felt that each breath the man took was felt within all nine souls of the youth. He grinned watching them, for each man was perfection of form and breath. It was to Bagoas' honor, and purity of heart, that the Great RA had singled him out, as he, as a man was deeply enamored of the warrior Hephaistion, a most splendid, cunning and wise Macedonian nobleman. Indeed, thought Setapas, this warrior, Hephaistion, was close to the gods himself, his physicality was breathtaking, and as he himself had witnesses at Siwah, their nine souls were shared within their two bodies. Even Ma'at would bow down before Hephaistion and let him pass unscathed unto the Field of Reeds. Setapas had first encountered the Great RA when he had come before the god's oracle there. He had been long awaited, and his coming brought great rejoicing unto the Red and the Black lands.

"You obey the Great RA, or I myself will beat you." Setapas muttered under his breath. His black eyes, flecked with gold near the irises met the Great RA's mystical gaze. A message of perfect understanding passed between them, although a slight grin played upon the Great RA's mouth.

"Bagoas, this is no small thing I ask. I wish a boon from you, and…"

"Anything, my Lor - Iskander, I am ever your faithful servant." Came the quick response which Alexander silenced with the wave of his hand. His eyes were merry though he tried to keep his voice firm. It had taken until recent weeks to get the boy to keep from prostrating before him each time he came into his presence. He was trying, but asking a polished courtier, which the Persian so clearly was, from the tip of his shining black head to his perfect toes, to address him as commonly as the lowest ranker would was still a hard fought battle. However, Alexander grinned and reflected he liked challenges, especially one so…enticing. So…he would pretend to scold...at least for now.

"It will not work…he will ignore me and work himself into a frenzy." Alexander pretended to sigh wearily, as he turned from Bagoas muttering softly to himself as he took up a small ivory colored alabaster box, from the table before him, and unwrapped the scarab set therein. It was the purest gold, and shone like Helios' brightest rays at the beginning of the day. It bore his private cartouche as Lord of the Two Land upon the obverse side and the most perfect decoration of Horus' all protective eye in lapis, onyx, carnelian, and faience on the front. It would be set into a band of pure gold to form a ring. "Well, perhaps…" He looked back up, keeping his face straight while meeting the wide, sparkling eyes of Bagoas. "Think you can calm yourself enough to hear me out?" The fall of silky long black hair enticed him to catch it up and wrap it about his hand, but he steeled himself against such thoughts as Bagoas bowing in perfect submission committed to his wishes.

"Aye, Iskander, anything."

"'Tis Hephaistion's feast day soon and I wish a special celebration to honor him. As you know he has been apart from me lately on duty, but he will return in time. It must be kept a secret. You know he loves the music of the flute. I wish you to create a special dance to honor him, in the Egyptian style. He is lately entranced with all things Egyptian and I wish to please him." He looked up at Setapas who nodded; they had already discussed this through. "Setapas has created such music as they sing in the temples when offering to the god Amon, of flute and harp. It must honor the deeds of Horus, who while we were at Siwah, did come to him in a vision. Will you do this for me?"

A great smile lit Bagoas' face. "Oh, aye, my Lord! I will dance as I have never danced before!"

"It will be on the first Ares day in our month of Artimisos. That is, by my reckoning near two full moons away." He turned toward Setapas, the question in his shining eyes. "Think you the blisters will heal by then?"

Setapas bowed low, his smooth, dark skin glowing in the warming rays of the sun. "Aye, Great RA. I will perform the magic of Heka each day upon his feet. Does he do as I direct; these sores will heal within a fortnight."

Bagoas inclined his head gracefully and looked up at Alexander. "Aye, Great King, I will do as you desire.

"Very well, it is settled then." He stood up; tossing down an olive he plucked from a bowl nearby, and gave both men a waggish wink. "I wish I could stay longer, but I must meet with my General's soon else they will come seeking me and steal all my pleasure with their long looks and grave concerns." He grinned, and grabbed up a handful of dates and figs and strode toward the door, only to return and fling himself casually into the gilded chair to chat a bit more. At length he moaned softly, yawning and pulled himself back up. 'Tis done, no more of my sluggish ways. Now, I am away to the hospital tents, for I would know how my wounded do, so I will go now. Non!" He turned at the sound of Bagoas' smooth toned alto, but could not contain the pleasure in his eyes when their gazes met. "Do not get up. However, you may if you wish…kiss my hand." His large blue eyes were full of teasing as Bagoas stood up, he was a bit taller than the king, and, taking great care with the sacred person of his king, he leaned forward and kissed the royal lips devoutly. Alexander's eyes were twinkling as their gazes met once more. An unspoken message was passed between them. Setapas chuckled softly, but kept solemn watchful eyes on the young king as he left the room.

To be continued….