The Trials of Aleksander the Lesser

The Games Begin

   When Apollo's chariot had just begun to cross the azure sky, Hypnos released golden-haired Aleksander from his sleep. The dedicate youth started his day in this manner: Rising early, he dressed quickly in light, athletic garments. To the dew sprinkled fields he went, greeting the watchmen as he passed. There he stretched the sleep from his limbs and prepared to train. Thrice about the whole place he ran, his long strides eating the distance before him. Through his exertion, sweat poured from his straining muscles in such amounts that a mouse could drown in a vase if all collected. Storm clouds passed overhead, but the Thunderer loosed not their torrents but observed the youth as he ran. Once the third circuit was complete and the young man heaved lungfuls of air into his chest like the bellows of a furnace, the youth took his flask of precious water and poured libation before slaking his own greedy thirst. Tarrying not long he went to the bath and rinsed the dirt and seat from his body, then anointed his head with oils and dressed for the day. Taking breakfast alone and before his fellows arose, he hurried about to prepare for the day. As he went forth, a hawk flew before him, an omen of how he would seize the day.

   Little is to be said of this morning and early afternoon, but that he encountered a familiar stranger. Both had mistaken in there place of study that morning, but neither realized for a time that they hailed from the same town and through others knew of each other. Joyfully they embraced and spoke of the place they knew so well and parted as friends, despite warnings to Aleksander from his mutual friends. But as afternoon passed and early evening came, a friend and mentor approached him. He was John Paul, a native of Aleksander's grandfather's land. The cheerful youth asked the young hero to join him and others in a series of games organized by the mentor and friend. Happily did Aleksander accept and brought along his heavy discus to the green space beside the fountain. There with others familiar to him, they tested each other's speed, strength, agility, and marksmanship, by bouncing a small ball on a taut net, casting bolas on ladder rungs, and throwing the discus.

   Though familiar with these games, the youth from Zelie had not participated in such endeavors for many a night or year. But due to his athleticism and cunning, he proved to be a formidable competitor in the group. Only by Jorge, hailing from Athens, was he bested in the discus throw and none others could best him in the other games. Once the games were finished and the crowds disbursed, Aleksander aided the man from his grandfather's city in string the equipment. Before parting, the blue-eyed youth pledged his aide in organizing and preparing for future games and both men parted in friendship.