Tomb of the Lost (12 page)

He spoke now to Ptolemy.

“
It is always a risk for one who would be King. Ptolemy XIII, King of upper and lower Egypt you are hereby banished from the kingdom of Cleopatra and of Alexandria for the rest of your natural life.
”

Lucius scribbled as the staff struck the floor twice.

“
From this day forward Queen Cleopatra is to rule upper and lower Egypt as sole ruler and monarch.
”

The staff struck the floor twice more.

Ptolemy was frantic. Tears were running down his face. He looked at Caesar, his lips were quivering. Then he looked at his sister and sank to his knees. Cleopatra stared back. He tried to plead with her using his eyes. Finally she could stand it no longer and she stared down at the floor again. Ptolemy shook his head slowly in disbelief. The tears were flowing freely. Then he looked at Caesar once more who just stood and glared at him. Finally he could take no more and he stumbled to his feet and fled. At the door he pawed feebly at the two legionaries guarding the door.

“
Let him go,
”
Julius ordered.

They moved out of the way and Ptolemy fled the room, crying uncontrollably.

Julius sat down wearily in a chair. Lucius approached him with the scrolls. Caesar ran his eyes over them briefly then he pressed his personal seal into the ink and pressed it once each on both scrolls. Lucius half bowed and left. Caesar closed his eyes and began rubbing his brow.

“
Is there any other business tonight sir?
”
Dolabella asked quietly.

Caesar continued rubbing his brow. Then he glanced up.

“
I
’
m sorry Dolabella I wasn
’
t listening.
”

“
If there
’
s nothing else sir. It
’
s been a long day. You should get some rest.
”

“
I will. Thank you. Thank you gentlemen. If you don
’
t mind I would like to be alone.
”

“
Everyone out,
”
Dolabella ordered.

Cleopatra began to rise.

“
On second thoughts Queen Cleopatra would you mind staying behind.
”

She promptly sat back down. Cleopatra
’
s maid wanted to stay but the Queen shook her head.

“
Majesty I should stay.
”
the maid whispered.

Cleopatra glanced nervously over at Caesar who was still rubbing his head.

“
Go. Iras. Go. I
’
ll be fine,
”
the young Queen reassured her loyal servant.

Iras took her time leaving. Cleopatra understood her concerns.

‘
If Caesar chooses to kill me here, tonight, Egypt will be his and his alone.
’

The door closed behind Dolabella. The two of them were alone. Cleopatra stood and slowly approached Caesar
’
s chair. She walked round him and placed her hands on his neck and shoulders and began gently massaging them. He briefly opened his eyes at her touch but her magic soon seduced him and he closed them again.

“
Does this help Caesar?
”

“
Mmm! That
’
s very good. I
’
m tired and I do ache. It
’
s been a very difficult three days since I arrived here.
”

“
The loss of Pompey has hit you hard hasn
’
t it.
”

Caesar reached down for Pompey
’
s ring that he now wore on a long gold chain. It was hanging around his chest. He ran his thumb over the lion and sword detail.

“
His fourth wife was my daughter Julia. I was remembering today how much she loved him. She died giving birth to their son.
”

“
That
’
s a sad story Caesar.
”

He shrugged, not wishing to dwell on it.

“
Life and death are the same. Even so I mourn him as a man would a son.
”
“
Pompey was older than you.
”

“
Yes.
”

“
He was like a King in Rome?
”

“
He was like a God.
”

Cleopatra chuckled and clapped her hands. Caesar looked over his shoulder and up at her.

“
Why do you laugh?
”

“
It amuses me that you Roman Generals become divine so easily. Was it Venus you claim to descend from?
”

“
Yes. Alexander was considered a God. But what about you Cleopatra. Do you not desire to be a God?
”

“
I am the daughter of Isis. No mortal hand can harm me.
”

He grabbed her arm and pulled her round to face him. He pulled her in close

and she suddenly found herself straddling his legs. She turned and sat on his knee.

“
Now why would I want to hurt you?
”

“
Surely Caesar you are not mortal.
”

He pulled her head towards his and kissed her hard on the mouth.

“
You be the judge of that,
”
he said.

They kissed again.

“
By ridding me of Pothinus and exiling my brother you have made me one step closer to divinity. In the last fifteen minutes you have made me undisputed ruler of the lands of upper and lower Egypt. You yourself have taken a step towards divinity.
”

She got up and pulled him with her.

“
Where are we going?
”

“
To be at one with the Gods.
”

She led him across the palace, turning to look at him occasionally. His guards were protecting most of the doors they passed. At the end of a long corridor both his and her guards protected a final door. They moved obediently out of the way all except one who saluted Julius, turned and opened the double doors. Cleopatra was still holding the dictator
’
s hand as she led him in to her bedroom.

The huge bed dominated the centre of the room. Four maids waited at each corner. The sheets were turned back ready for the Queen. Another maid was waiting with a sleeping gown. Other servants were attending other things. Cleopatra clapped her hands and all her maids bowed as one and left the room as quickly as they could. Cleopatra waited until she heard the inner door close then she faced Caesar who glanced around the room nodding, appreciatively. She undid her shoulder straps and let her dress fall to the floor, then stepped out of it. She now stood in front of Caesar naked. He began to unbuckle his leather breastplate. She reached up and kissed him on the lips then turned and got into the bed and propped herself up on one elbow to watch him. Once naked he got into bed with her.

“
Is this my reward for helping you?
”

“
No it
’
s my way of saying thank you. Your reward will come another day.
”

CHAPTER SIX

Ptolemy was suddenly awake. He had been dreaming, strange dreams, chaotic dreams. He was soaked in sweat. He looked around the room he was in. It was his bedroom. He stared at a lamp stand that was buckled. The oil from it was in a puddle on the floor. Then he remembered.

He had returned to his bedroom with Theodotus and Pothinus. No! Wait! Pothinus was executed. He now remembered how he had recoiled in horror when he
’
d fled Caesar and seen the headless corpse of Pothinus being dragged away by palace slaves. The body had left a large smear of blood on the floor. A trail of red against the polished marble.

It was just Theodotus.

He, Ptolemy, had been weeping in despair and had completely against character grabbed a pitcher of wine. Theodotus had tried to discourage him from drinking. But Ptolemy had downed a third of the jug in seconds. Never having drunk before it burned his throat and made him throw up.

Undeterred, he
’
d continued.

“
My Lord this is not the answer.
”

Theodotus had tried to take the jug from him but Ptolemy had collapsed to the floor clutching it to his chest.

“
It
’
s the only way. What do I have left?
”
The boy King blurted out,
“
Pothinus is dead. Cleopatra is back. Caesar has sided with her against me. They have stolen my throne.
”

“
Usurped it for the moment my King. Have you forgotten your army? Twenty thousand men under Achillas
’
command surrounding this city. Men joining every day.
”

“
What good will it do?
”

“
Sire Achillas outnumbers Caesar
’
s forces five to one.
”

“
Doomed! We are all doomed!
”
Ptolemy had shouted.

Theodotus had tried to re-assure him but he was soon downing the wine at a very fast rate. Finally Ptolemy had ordered them all out of his presence and shouted at everyone to leave him alone. Later there came the sound of the lamp crashing over, other things being broken, more vomiting and finally his snoring filled the palace. At Theodotus
’
orders a servant peered cautiously into the room to see what was happening. Theodotus came in with a handful of slaves. Ptolemy was slumped on the floor against the large wooden bed. Slaves quickly undressed and cleaned him and helped him into his bed. Theodotus went over to where his crown lay on the floor where it had rolled and picked it up and put it on a table. A slave ran past him with Ptolemy
’
s royal robes which stank of sour wine and vomit. The lamp stand was picked up and the spilt oil mopped up. Some broken furniture was carried outside. After watching the slaves position the boy so if he did vomit again he wouldn
’
t choke on it Theodotus ordered them out. They left him snoring. Theodotus noticed when they left that the Roman guards were no longer there, just the two Egyptian ones with spears.

Ptolemy now sat up in bed. His mouth was dry and tasted disgusting. He tried to swallow but couldn
’
t produce enough saliva. His head was thumping in a way he
’
d never known before. He belched. The taste of the wine was back in his throat. It tasted strong and burned. He leaned over and was sick all over the floor. When he did lift his head again the room was spinning. He groaned and lay back again and slept for a while. When he woke up the room was brighter which told him it was around mid-morning. Looking at the sun
’
s pattern on the floor he guessed it was between eight and nine o
’
clock. Someone had been in and cleaned the floor again. He got up out of the bed feeling a bit better and walked shakily over to a basin by which there was a jug of fresh water. He tried to pour himself a cup full of water but was shaking too much. He put the cup down and raised the jug to his lips with both hands and slurped from it. He paused, wiped his hand across his mouth and drank again. Next he poured himself some water into the basin and cupping his hands into the water he splashed it over his face. He repeated it twice more and when no one was there to wipe his face with a towel for him as there had been someone all of his life he found a towel and wiped it himself. Not knowing what to do with the towel he threw it on the floor. Then a thought struck him, an awful thought. Once he was with Achillas and the army he would have to do everything himself. He remembered the events of last night again and soon panic started to set in. he dashed across the bedroom to the double doors.

“
Theodotus! Theodotus!
”
he wailed.

He opened the double doors and stopped, shocked to find no guards. The corridor was empty except for a female servant arranging flowers on a side table. She saw him approach and instantly dropped to her knees and spread her hands on the floor, her head low.

“
Where are my guards?
”
he asked her.

She kept her face down.

“
I don
‘
t know my King.
“

“
Theodotus! Where
’
s Theodotus?
”

He stopped and looked ahead. Theodotus had rounded the corner and seeing Ptolemy he walked quickly towards him.

“
Theodotus where have you been? I was worried. I had nightmares.
”