Read Alexander: Child of a Dream for Free Online Page B

chiton left partly visible, was beautifully embellished with a large drop of amber, as big as a pigeon’s egg, set in a capsule of gold in the shape of an acorn a
wedding present from Philip.
She took Alexander by the hand and went to sit on the throne alongside her husband who was ready to receive his young brother-in-law.
The boy entered at the bottom of the hall and bowed first to the King, as protocol required, and then to the Queen, his sister.
Philip was full of pride as a result of his military successes, and rich because of the gold mines he had occupied on Mount Pangaeos. Indeed, he was fully aware of being the most powerful lord of all the Hellenic peninsula or perhaps even the most powerful in the world after the Persian emperor. For these reasons he increasingly behaved in such a way as to inspire awe in his visitors, both in the finery of his clothes and the splendour of the ornaments he wore.
Following the ritual greetings, the young King of Epirus was led to his apartments so that he could make himself ready for the banquet.
Alexander, too, would have liked to take part, but his mother told him he was still too young and that he and Hephaestion could play with the ceramic soldiers that she had had made for him by a potter in Aloros.
That evening, after the banquet, Philip invited his brother-in-law to a private room to talk about politics and Olympias was
     
doubly offended firstly
because she was the Queen of Macedon and secondly because the King of Epirus was her brother.
In truth, Alexander was only King in name, not in fact. Epirus I was actually in the hands of his uncle, Aribbas, who had no I intention of stepping down, and only Philip, with his strength, his army and his gold, would ever have the power to install, Alexander firmly on the throne. I
To do so was certainly in Philip’s interests because he would thus keep the young King tied to him and at the same time dampen Olympias’ ambitions. She often felt that her husband neglected her and in the exercise of power she had found some . satisfaction in a life that was otherwise colourless and monotonous.
‘You must be patient for a few more years,’ explained Philip to the young King. ‘Just for the time it will take me to drum some sense into all the cities on the coast that are still independent and to make sure the Athenians understand who is strongest in this area. I have nothing against them as such, it’s just that I do not want them in the way here in Macedon. And I want control of the straits between Thrace and Asia.’
‘Whatever you say, my dear brother-in-law,’ replied Alexander, who felt flattered at being treated, at his age, like a real man and a real king. ‘I realize that there are more important things for you than the mountains of Epirus, but if one day you are able to help me, I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life.’
Although only just adolescent, the youngster had a fine head on his shoulders and Philip was most favourably impressed.
‘Why not stay here with us?’ he asked. ‘The situation in Epirus will be increasingly dangerous for you and I would rather be sure that you are safe. Your sister, the Queen, is here, and she has your best interests at heart. You will have your apartments, your royal income and all the prestige befitting your rank. When the time comes I will personally accompany you to take possession of your father’s throne.’
The young King accepted willingly and so he remained in the palace at Pella until Philip completed the political and military programme through which Macedon was to become the richest, the strongest and the most feared state in Europe.
In her resentment Queen Olympias had gone to her rooms where she waited for her brother to come and say goodnight and pay his respects before retiring. From, a room nearby came the voices of Hephaesnon and Alexander playing with their toy soldiers and shouting:
‘You’re dead!’
‘No I’m not! You’re dead!’
Then their voices