(no subject)
A Bird in Hand
Leonnatus looked out his window from his at his office at the palace in Pella. He leaned back on his stool and rubbed his eyes. He had already spent the morning looking over reports and he had wasted half the day thus far. No information to brief Alexander on and no security issue that warranted attention. He wondered why Lysimanchus or Peiton weren’t regulated to reviewing these dossiers like he was. Ptolemy was always most interested in them but he would not tell Leonnatus what he was looking for. “ I don’t even think Hephaistion looks at the briefs when I give them to him”, said Leonnatus to himself. The ones with the most interest in the reports are Alexander and Cassander, of which the latter’s interest he found most unsettling. Maybe he underestimated Cassander. Of course he was smaller, frailer, and of a lighter constitution than the rest of the men. But Leonnatus could not rid his mind of the look he had seen in Cassander’s eye that made him think of a wolf watching a great beast to see when it weakened. He shuddered momentarily and then shook his head. He was giving Cassander too much credit. But he could not escape that sense of menace below the surface, even when Cassander was at his most becoming.
Leonnatus dropped the parchment he was holding and walked out to the balcony to take in some sun. He saw two birds sharing a courtship is a tree across the garden and he watched with amusement. He must think of his friends and loves more than work. The other advisors on Alexander’s staff had their own agendas. “But yes Pecuestus, Nearchus and Perdiccus were with Alexander on campaign so I understand, he thought” Leonnatus longed for someone to talk to , perhaps Nearchus with news of the events of Chareona. Or even to share the internal news of the family plots with Olympias. He would like to see the beautiful Roxanne again but he knew that wasn’t proper to meet with her except on official business. She seemed genuinely interested in the wonders of Greece. And the boy Bagoas was a wonderful lad. He would make a worthy advisor as quick of wit and mind as he is. And there was no doubt as to his loveliness. Leonnatus leaned back against a load-bearing column supporting the balcony, as he was lost in thought. “ And what of my dear friend, Cleitus?” he thought. “Even when I am with him all I can think about is my work. I am committed to Alexander but I know something is missing from my existence.”
Leonnatus saw Cleitus with Nearchus and he had seen him with Paxinnes. Leonnatus scratched his head. He thought that was the boy’s name. He thought of the people he had shown attention to but all he could think about was visualizing himself sitting on the outside of relationships and conversations, ever vigilant on how they affected the royal family. Leonnatus decided that he would pursue some of his own agenda like everyone else did. He looked at the door and longed to hear a knock there. He no longer cared who it was, what their agenda was. He hoped against hope that Cleitus would come to brighten his day. He better move everything breakable out of the way, he mused. Leonnatus looks back to the garden to watch the birds again. Concentrating on the door too much will drive him crazy. He took a deep breath, sighed and went on thinking about his future.
Leonnatus looked out his window from his at his office at the palace in Pella. He leaned back on his stool and rubbed his eyes. He had already spent the morning looking over reports and he had wasted half the day thus far. No information to brief Alexander on and no security issue that warranted attention. He wondered why Lysimanchus or Peiton weren’t regulated to reviewing these dossiers like he was. Ptolemy was always most interested in them but he would not tell Leonnatus what he was looking for. “ I don’t even think Hephaistion looks at the briefs when I give them to him”, said Leonnatus to himself. The ones with the most interest in the reports are Alexander and Cassander, of which the latter’s interest he found most unsettling. Maybe he underestimated Cassander. Of course he was smaller, frailer, and of a lighter constitution than the rest of the men. But Leonnatus could not rid his mind of the look he had seen in Cassander’s eye that made him think of a wolf watching a great beast to see when it weakened. He shuddered momentarily and then shook his head. He was giving Cassander too much credit. But he could not escape that sense of menace below the surface, even when Cassander was at his most becoming.
Leonnatus dropped the parchment he was holding and walked out to the balcony to take in some sun. He saw two birds sharing a courtship is a tree across the garden and he watched with amusement. He must think of his friends and loves more than work. The other advisors on Alexander’s staff had their own agendas. “But yes Pecuestus, Nearchus and Perdiccus were with Alexander on campaign so I understand, he thought” Leonnatus longed for someone to talk to , perhaps Nearchus with news of the events of Chareona. Or even to share the internal news of the family plots with Olympias. He would like to see the beautiful Roxanne again but he knew that wasn’t proper to meet with her except on official business. She seemed genuinely interested in the wonders of Greece. And the boy Bagoas was a wonderful lad. He would make a worthy advisor as quick of wit and mind as he is. And there was no doubt as to his loveliness. Leonnatus leaned back against a load-bearing column supporting the balcony, as he was lost in thought. “ And what of my dear friend, Cleitus?” he thought. “Even when I am with him all I can think about is my work. I am committed to Alexander but I know something is missing from my existence.”
Leonnatus saw Cleitus with Nearchus and he had seen him with Paxinnes. Leonnatus scratched his head. He thought that was the boy’s name. He thought of the people he had shown attention to but all he could think about was visualizing himself sitting on the outside of relationships and conversations, ever vigilant on how they affected the royal family. Leonnatus decided that he would pursue some of his own agenda like everyone else did. He looked at the door and longed to hear a knock there. He no longer cared who it was, what their agenda was. He hoped against hope that Cleitus would come to brighten his day. He better move everything breakable out of the way, he mused. Leonnatus looks back to the garden to watch the birds again. Concentrating on the door too much will drive him crazy. He took a deep breath, sighed and went on thinking about his future.