Alexander (Vol. 2) by Valerio Massimo Manfredi Read Free Book Online

helmet of bronze, laminated with silver and in the shape of a lion’s head, its jaws wide open and adorned with two long heron feathers, an Athenian breastplate in crushed flax with a bronze heart-plate in the shape of a gorgon, a pair of bronze greaves so shiny they seemed to be gold, a sword-belt of red leather with the face of the goddess Athena at its centre.
    ‘You will be easy to spot from a great distance,’ said Leptine, her voice trembling.
    ‘My men must see me and must know that I risk my own life before risking theirs. And go to sleep now, Leptine, I no longer need you.’
    The girl left, her steps rapid and light. Alexander arranged his weapons on the stand near his bed and extinguished his lamp. His armour, his panoply could be made out in the darkness nonetheless – it was like the ghost of a warrior, waiting motionless for the first light of dawn to bring him back to life.

 
6
     
    A LEXANDER WOKE UP WITH Peritas licking his face and he jumped to his feet to find two servants standing there before him, ready to help him put on his armour. Leptine brought his breakfast on a silver tray – Nestor’s Cup, raw egg beaten with cheese, flour, honey and wine.
    The King ate standing up while they laced up his breastplate and greaves, hung his sword belt across his shoulder and attached his scabbard, complete with sword.
    ‘I don’t want Bucephalas,’ he said as he left. ‘The river banks are too slippery and he would risk his legs. Bring me the Sarmatian bay.’
    His attendants went to prepare the chosen horse and Alexander joined them in the centre of the camp, carrying his helmet under his left arm. Almost all the men were already lined up and there was constant movement from those running to take up position alongside their companions. Alexander mounted the steed and rode to inspect first the Thessalian and Macedonian cavalry squadrons, then the Greek infantry and the phalanx.
    The horsemen of the Vanguard waited for him at the far end of the camp, near the eastern gate, perfectly lined up in five rows. In silence they lifted their javelins as the King passed by.
    The Black took up position alongside Alexander when the King lifted his arm to give the order to move off. There came the rumble of thousands of horses setting off, together with the muted clanking of weapons as the foot-soldiers began their march in the darkness.
    At just a few stadia from the Granicus they heard the noise of horses galloping, and a patrol of four scouts suddenly came out of the darkness and stopped in front of Alexander.
    ‘King,’ said their leader, ‘the barbarians have not yet moved and are encamped at some three stadia from the river, on a slight rise. On the banks there are only patrols of Median and Scythian scouts who have our side under observation. We cannot take them by surprise.’
    ‘No, of course not,’ said Alexander, ‘but before their army covers the three stadia between them and the eastern bank, we will have crossed the ford and we will be on the other side. At that point most of our work is done.’ He nodded to his bodyguard to move nearer. ‘Tell all the divisional commanders to be ready to cross over to the other bank as soon as a suitable landing site is identified. At the sound of the trumpets we will rush towards the river and ford it as quickly as possible. The cavalry will go first.’
    The guards moved off. Shortly afterwards the infantry stopped to let the two columns of horsemen on their flanks move forwards and line up before the Granicus. A pale light was just beginning to fill the sky to the east.
    ‘They thought that we would have the sun in our eyes, but instead not even the moon will be bothering us,’ said Alexander, indicating the bright crescent that was just setting to the south behind the hills of Phrygia.
    He lifted his hand and guided his horse into the river, followed closely by the Black and by the entire Vanguard squadron. At the same time they heard a shout from the