Stealing Fire Read Online Free PDF

do for me. The Hipparch Lydias won't let you fall.”
    “The Hipparch Lydias hopes not,” I said, wondering how in Chaos I was supposed to hold on to her if I had to use my sword. Still, it should not come to swords at the gate.
    “Good fortune,” Ptolemy said, and I touched my heels to my horse.
    The streets of Babylon were broad and empty. We rode in loose order, Thais behind me and in the center. The baby was not visible at all beneath her cloak, bound to her in the cloth sling. She seemed at least to be able to ride at a walk. Sati had never ridden. She was afraid of horses…
    I pulled myself away from that thought. “When we get to the gates, boys, I'll do the talking. But if they try to stop us, don't engage. Just push straight through. They're not mounted, and they won't catch us.”
    I saw the nods, Glaukos passing the word back.
    Before me, the child sat very straight, her body swaying a little with the gait, relaxing into my chest. It went without saying her father was desperate. He must see nothing but death for her in Babylon.
    “If we have to run, I need you to hang on tight,” I said, and she nodded. I could not see her face.
    “I'll hold on,” she said, and there was no tremor in her voice.
    The guards challenged us.
    “Hephaistion's Ile of Companion Cavalry,” I replied, “on the orders of the Regents.”
    “We've had no orders,” the officer of the watch said. The gates were open, but there were ten or twelve men on duty.
    “Well, I have!” I said arrogantly. “We're Companions, man. People actually tell us things.”
    The officer bristled, but he didn't draw as we approached. “General Perdiccas said no couriers were to leave without his permission.”
    “Do I look like a fornicating courier?” I sneered at him. “I don't need General Perdiccas’ permission. I told you, the Regents sent us.” I raised my left hand, the reins in my right about the child. “Forward!” I touched my heels to her flanks.
    We surged forward through the gates, Thais and all, several of the guards dodging to get out of our way with oaths and curses.
    The Royal Road was empty ahead of us at this time of night. “Forward!” I shouted. “Put some distance between us!”
    Archers could fire from the gatehouse, of course, or the towers, but if we were fast we'd be out of range before they were ready. I did not hear the song of a single bow as we cantered, the wind rushing past us, falling into the familiar wedge out of habit with me at the point. The child's hood fell back and her dark hair tangled in the wind, my arm tight around her, leaving Babylon behind.
    Above, the stars shone down and the Royal Road was a ribbon of light before us, leading us west. Somewhere, days and weeks ahead, was the sea, was the desert that guarded Egypt. Under Ishtar's stars we flew.
    W E FOLLOWED THE Royal Road westward through plains and hills, a company moving quickly from one waystation to another. A courier could have overtaken us, changing mounts frequently, but none did. Perdiccas did not care so very much about sixty men. Either that, or he did not see the value of challenging Ptolemy openly for such a little thing.
    Or perhaps, I thought on the twelfth day as we crested a rise and looked ahead at the descent, it would suit him well for Ptolemy himself to leave for Egypt. The fewer generals who remained in Babylon, the fewer there would be to challenge him.
    Never before had such a great prize been so lightly held. Alexander's empire stretched across half the world, from the Adriatic Sea to the cities of India, uncounted millions of people, uncountable wealth. No one had thought the King would die. After all, he had survived battle after battle, and he was only thirty-two years old. Who would have supposed that he would die of a simple fever?
    Or perhaps it was not so simple. Poison, murder… Whispers became rumors in the last days in Babylon. Too many people had too much to gain. His only child lay still in the womb,