“What about Roxane?” Alexander asked.

“Your prisoner bride?”

“Such disrespect is worthy of death!”

“There is no possible way that you could love her or that she could truly love you.”

“What gives you the insight to speak so assertively about matters you know nothing about?”

“Daughter of Oxyarthes, the man who surrendered the Iron Gates to you, makes for a very political marriage.”

“Continue,” said Alexander.

“At a feast celebrating your latest victory a number of young women were brought in for entertainment. You spotted one of them whose beauty far surpassed the others and you decided on the spot to marry her once you learned she was the daughter of Oxyarthes. You needed to cement a strong relationship with the local leaders. What better way to do this than through marriage? You didn’t share a common language and never even spoke to each other beforehand. She never was given a choice. So she is your prisoner bride.”

“You have a vague outline of the past. I suppose it is remarkable that you have as much detail as you do about one feast from so long ago. But you do not have the full story.”

“Enlighten me.”

“No.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Why, no?”

“Because,” said Alexander, “you have insulted my wife and are not worthy of receiving the true account.”

“Don’t think of it as rewarding me, but rather think of it as honoring her.”

“Cunning, and almost persuasive but all I will give you is this. Darius offered his daughter and he was a great king. The most noble households of the Macedonians and Greeks were offering their daughters in marriage and you think I decided that the most politically advantageous marriage would be to the household of Oxyarthes?”

“Yes, but only because you knew you would be pushing further to the east and needed to fortify your grasp on power before you could do so. I also think that lust can be a powerful influence.”

“Lust? Do you not know who you are talking to? Lust is not a motivating factor for marriage. If this was just some carnal desire she could have become a mistress or a concubine. But no, there was more to this than lust or political allegiance. I will tell you one more thing. I did speak to her prior to wedding her. But you will hear no more from me about that.”

“Why not?”

“Because you are not my friend.”

“In that case have you made your decision?”

“You have not answered my question.”

“What question?”

“Will Roxane be able to join me?”

“No.”

“Very well I think we are finished at this dining establishment. I will give you my answer shortly.”

Alexander stood up and started to walk out of the building.

“Wait. I have to pay for this meal still.” Adell called after him.

At the exit Alexander looked at him and said “A king waits for no man.” He then walked out.

Adell immediately called for the check and waited impatiently as the server took his card. A couple of minutes later after hastily writing out the tip Adell rushed to the door and looked in all directions, but Alexander was gone.

Panic gripped Adell. Where could Alexander have gone? What would he do? How was Adell going to find him? But this was his city and Alexander was from thousands of years in the past. He would surely go somewhere familiar to him and that could only be somewhere in Central Park. Or even worse he would do something to get himself arrested. How could this have happened. Adell rushed into Central Park and began a frantic search for Alexander.

Alexander walked out of the Tavern on the Green and took a deep breath of fresh air. It was time to see what this city was truly like without being hampered by a coward. He watched casually from a block away as Adell exited the building and looked around bewildered trying to guess where Alexander might have gone. Once Adell disappeared into the park Alexander was free to go wherever he wanted to.

He first decided to retrace his steps to ensure that he knew exactly how to return to the building he had left with Adell earlier in the day. Once that was completed he began to wonder what he should do next.