The king of Epirus himself, Alexander also, met the procession at the gates of the palace.
Hello sister, he said, opening fraternal embrace, kissing her and receiving a sisters kiss in return. I am glad to you, but not happy about the circumstances that brought you to me, but live here as you like. Olympiad, you received maintenance from three villages before the wedding, and youll get it now, while the face of Alexanders mother turned pink, the feeding was very impressive.
But if they attack us, I want Alexander to lead the army of Epirus, the Epirus king said.
I agree with gratitude the young mans message with joy.
Well, you will live in my palace, Alexander Epirsky finished his speech.
The retinue and squires settled near the royal palace, in several houses that the prince bought. It was interesting in the new city, and they began to explore unfamiliar places.
In the city house of Archon Demarat, where the news of discord in the Argead dynasty came, passions raged, because the members of the Council of Corinth gathered here, and they came here so that other peoples ears would not hear too much.
In the garden of the house, a modest treat stood by the archons chairs, and the head of the archons listened to the complaints of other Council members.
Listen, Demarat, Archaea said, Phillip promised us peace without war in Hellas, roads without robbers, seas without pirates, flourishing trade, and he sowed discord in the family, and now a feud broke out, and the Hellenic Union would collapse. Zeus, the witness, we did a lot for him, agreed with the meal, we found money for him, so that he would pull out this whole rabble from the Peloponess in the Persian campaign, and without him the plan of the campaign would collapse like the Trojan walls.
DeMarat made a mournful face, and pretended to listen attentively. I already thought about the situation myself, but he had to squeeze out a letter to Philip from the cautious archons asking for a joining in order to kill a whole herd of hares flatter the king of Macedonia, because de facto he was recognized as the ruler of the Peloponnese, Alexander is recognized as his successor Hellas is the same, and the fact that they share the need for war with Persia, and you need to get money from them, in order to influence Perdiccas, Parmenion and Antipater.
Demarat, we are ready to donate money to set up this case, said Nicostrat, one of the richest archontes of Corinth,
With these words, an indifference mask fell from the face of Prokpen Philip.
Forgive me, my friends, he finally spoke, as if in despair holding his head with his left hand, But this will require at least ten talents of gold. We must convince worthy commanders of the importance of our business, and then our thoughts are pure and worthy.
We agree, its cheaper than a chain of hellish wars that will plunge Corinth into the depths of Tartar. Replied poor Nicostrat, the true patriot of Corinth.
And we will write a letter on behalf of the Council of Corinth, as we all worry about the Argead family, Archaea inserted with a smile.And by the way, the Argead dynasty is from Argos, they are Danish, and they remember it. Remember, Aminta received poor Mykene people expelled by the Argoses, added DeMarat, and many people from noble families of Macedonia are descendants of Mycenaean refugees. But Philip was not cruel, and did not demand the restoration of Miken, as Platea and Orchomen restored, he did not take the land from the Argosts. It was decided that the Pythian prophecy was fulfilled, a thousand years had passed, and the order of Apollo had happened, and Argos could return the lands of the Mykene to us. Agreed with him Archaea,
And we remember that the Macedonians are not strangers to us, but now Philip does a lot for peace in Hellas, said Nicotrat, And the Athenians interfere in the affairs of others all by right of kinship. Everyone knows that the evpatrids of Athens are the descendants of the Messenians, all the Codds of the Messenians, including the famous Plato, therefore the Athenians always support the Messenans in all wars.
Demarat went for the parchment, and seized the writing accessories.
He opened the bureau, secured the sheet, and looked expectantly at Archean.
Lets discuss the text, I suppose, he raised his hand with a reed for writing,
Maybe we start with the appeal to King Philip,
The merchants and trapezes of Corinth, wise with life, who are the most worthy of the archon, finally wrote a letter to the king of Macedonia, and sealed it with their own seals.
To the king of Macedonia, the brave and just Philip,
From the worthy members of the city council of Corinth, hello.
We are concerned about the discord in your family, and remembering
that now you are Hegemon of Hellas, and the leader of the troops in
the war against Persia, we offer our mediation
between you and your son, heir to the Macedonian Kingdom
Alexander in the application, and although, of course, wrong more
young and impatient Argead, but we strongly ask that you
reconciled with him, for otherwise will bury all our common intentions.
Signed by Nikostrata the Archon, Archean the Archon and Demrat
archon with seals attached.
Get together, my friend, said Nikostrat and Archeus in chorus, from which
DeMarat almost jumped.
Maybe we will find someone else? Asked DeMarat hopefully,
Its better not to find you, said Archea with a wicked grimace. In an hour, you will have money, get ready, and we will send guards, as well as a wagon.
Demarat quickly assembled, called his two servants, and ordered them to gather on a long journey to Macedonia. Exactly an hour later, the Councils envoys arrived with the amount agreed earlier, and Demarat set off. A month later, DeMarat arrived at Pella, and came to the palace and asked for a meeting with the king. Soon, he was invited as kings proxen to a small hall. Demarata was led by the kings bodyguards to the hall, where Philip thoughtfully studied a map of Greece.
Hello, Phillip, I came to visit you, began the Corinthian from afar,
The king looked thoughtfully at a friend, saw that he was holding something in his hands, but did not show it, and began to smile, anticipating an interesting conversation,
I am glad to see you Demarat, Philip said, and called the servant, Guilt to the guest, he ordered, and with a gesture he gestured for Demarath to sit in the chair next to him.
I heard that some stupid people have comprehended you, and in order not to beat friends with a friend, I give you a letter from the Council of Corinth, DeMarat continued the conversation, holding out a tube with a letter.
Philips face changed from irritated to delighted for a few seconds when he read the letter from top to bottom, and then hid it, gently turning it into a tube.
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 Peloponesss 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 Philips request I am his messenger and brought a letter from him, and rising from his chair gave the message to the Tsars 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 days 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 sons 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 TSARS 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, its just necessary to listen to him he turned around again, the horse underneath him went through his hoofs, And its good that you love friends and feasts, dont be greedy for your comrades, but dont 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 its better to wait, we will defeat Darius, and your marriage will be by the way, and he patted his sons shoulder. Lets 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:
The princess of Hell will be a good wife to Arideas, Philip said,
Pixar will have enough of this to be sure that he will not lose his kingdom, only now he is satrap Darius, and he will bring you an oath like the Thracians, answered Thessal.