'Now, gentlemen,' said Parmenion, 'for a little amusement. Pair off with the first man you fought.' As the warriors shuffled into place the Spartan lifted two badges from the box. 'You will run five laps of the field, carrying your partner on your back. You may choose when to carry, or be carried. But the first pair to return here will receive a badge each.'
Theo found himself paired with a slender man from Lyncos. There was little chance of the warrior being able to carry him at speed, so Theo offered to do the carrying. The man leapt to his back.
'When you are ready!' yelled the Spartan. 'Go!'
The fifty pairs set off. Theo, his powerful legs pumping hard, took an early lead; but before half a lap he felt himself losing strength. Gritting his teeth he struggled on, being passed by several pairs. On the second lap he had to stop. The slender warrior tried manfully to keep up with the pack, but under Theo's formidable weight he stumbled and fell. Theo had regained his breath. The problem was trying to run while holding his partner's legs in place. Pushing the man in front of him he ducked down, lifting the warrior to his shoulders. The man hooked his legs behind Theo's back and the huge Macedonian set off in pursuit of the pack. There was no question now of changing places and Theo did not try to sprint. Conserving as much of his strength as possible for the final lap he slowly reeled in the leaders. By the final circuit Theo was third. The second pair stumbled and fell, leaving him chasing Achillas and his partner.
Achillas was tiring as Theo came up behind. The man Achillas was carrying glanced back, and shouted to his partner to put in an extra effort. But Achillas was finished; he dropped his partner and ran around to change places. It was all Theo needed. Putting in a last desperate push, he reached the finish two paces ahead of the second pair.
Parmenion stepped forward with the victors' badges, but the young warrior with Theo refused.
'I did not earn it,' he said.
'What is your name, lad?' asked the Spartan.
'Gaelan.'
'What shall I do with the badge, Gaelan?'
'Give them both to my partner. He did all the work.'
'And what do you say?' Parmenion asked Theo.
Theo put his arm around Gaelan's shoulder. 'We were a team.' He took the badge from Parmenion and pressed it into Gaelan's hand. 'We won as a team and will share the prize."
'Good,' said the Spartan. 'A fine way to end a morning's work. Go away and eat. Return in two hours, when the final badges will be won.'
As Parmenion sat alone at the training field, drinking water and eating a simple meal of figs and fruit, the King rode up with two of his officers.
'How goes it, strategos?' Philip asked.
Parmenion rose and bowed. 'There are some with promise,' he said. 'But we shall see.' He strode forward, rubbing his hand down the chest of the King's horse. 'A good animal — fine lungs and strong legs.'
'A Thracian sire and a Macedonian dam,' Philip told him, patting the stallion's neck. 'But he's young yet; he'll learn. Will you sell me your stallion? He would make a magnificent breeder.'
Parmenion laughed. 'I'll not sell him — but you are free to put him in with your mares. I daresay he will enjoy the experience.'
Philip nodded. 'Tell me, are all Persian cavalrymen mounted on such beasts?'
'No, sire. He is special, from the Great King's herd. Only the Royal Guard will have mounts of similar quality.'
'And how many men make up the King's Guard?'
'One thousand, sire.'
Philip looked thoughtful, then he grinned. 'Tune for the hunt,' he said. 'I will leave you to your lunch.' Touching heels to the stallion he cantered away towards the distant forest, his officers trailing behind.
Parmenion finished his meal and thought back to the morning's work. The Macedonians were game enough, sturdy and tough, but still he sensed their suspicion. One year to train 6,000 men, to build an infantry army from cavalrymen.
One day at a time, Savra, he cautioned himself. He glanced up to see the men returning; they formed a great semi-circle around him and waited for his orders.
'I want you to pick three generals from among you,' he told them.
'For what purpose?' asked Achillas.
Parmenion smiled. 'What purpose does a general serve? You will lead your men into battle — here on this training field. Now choose!'
Parmenion sat back and watched as the debates began, listening intently to the names proposed, studying the reaction of the men named. As he guessed Achillas was the first to be nominated, but the arguments raged on. Parmenion did nothing to interfere, even when tempers began to flare.
Theo stood up. 'Stop this!' he shouted. Silence fell. 'We'll be here for days if this keeps up.
Surely it is a simple task? The strategos has asked for three men. All those in favour of Achillas raise a hand.' Two-thirds of the men did so. 'Then Achillas is one,' said Theo. 'Now, many of you were shouting for Petar. How many in favour?' This time the vote was more evenly split, and Theo counted the hands before announcing Petar to be the second general. 'Who will nominate a third?'
asked the black-bearded warrior.
'I will,' said Parmenion. 'I nominate you — and there will be no voting on it. Let the three generals step forward.' He stood with them before the seated men. 'Each of you in turn will select a warrior to make up your army. One at a time, so that no one can say any general had a greater advantage. You will each choose twenty-five men. Achillas, you may begin.'
Parmenion walked back to his seat and watched the process. In the early stages the chosen men stood, raised their hands and walked out to stand behind their leader, while the others cheered.
But as the choosing continued a hush settled over the waiting men. No one wanted to be left unchosen and the tension grew. As the last man was selected, Parmenion turned to the generals.
'Over there, by the trees, you will find shields and weapons. Go, arm yourselves.' As they trooped away, Parmenion turned to the twenty-two men still seated.
'There is no worse feeling in the world than this,' he told them. 'When I was a young man in Sparta many games would begin this way. Always I would be the one chosen last, or chosen not at all. We can tell ourselves that it is unfair; we can tell ourselves the choosers were wrong.' He scanned their faces. 'But ultimately we must accept that we have been judged by our fellows. Some of you will have been left here because you are small, weaker than your friends. Others will be here because they are not popular with any of the three generals. It does not matter why. I am now your general for this. . test. We will compete with the others, and we will see if they were wrong. Now follow me.'
He led the disconsolate group to where the others waited. 'Gentlemen, this will be your first battle as infantry units. The rules are simple. Each force has a general. The object for the enemy will be to kill or capture that general — which will be considered done if any warrior touches an enemy general. Is that understood? Good. Achillas, take your warriors to the southern end of the field, Theo to the west, and Petar to the east. When I give the signal you can move forward
— against any other group. I will command the northern section. One last point: there are two badges to be won here. One will go to the general commanding the victorious army, the second will be awarded by that general to the man he believes was the most valiant of his men. Generals, take up your positions!'