Page 14 of Cleopatra

“How many others had arrangements with my father?” I asked Pothinus coolly when he returned.

Pothinus’s expression did not change as he listed five more instances of undocumented dealings with my father. I listened, identifying each of the governors dining at the table below me. All were indulging themselves heartily in food and drink.

Food and drink they had bartered with to tighten their fists around their coin. My coin. But if the corruption had been sanctioned by my father, who was I to question it?

Pothinus saw me looking. “Shall I bring them up to the dais?”

“No. I think I will excuse myself for some fresh air.”

I had hoped to leave unnoticed, but when I stood from my chair, the whole room stood with me. I had had little enough freedom as a pharaoh’s daughter, but now as Pharaoh I was shackled to the land and people in a way I was unaccustomed to.

A cadre of guards followed me as I walked through the dining hall. Governors fell prostrate at my feet as I passed.

I fixed my eyes on the strip of night sky I could see through the doorway. I did not stop walking until the sea breeze tousled the gold beads on my dress, making them chime.

“Leave me a moment,” I said to the guards at my back.

Ahmose, the leader of my personal guard, stepped forward. “But Pharaoh—”

“I will be fine,” I reassured him. “I know you cannot leave me entirely, but please watch me from the palace doors. Let me pretend that I am alone.”

Ahmose’s eyes softened. He had been by my side since we were both young. My father had personally selected him from the gymnasium after he’d seen him win a wrestling tournament.

“As you wish, Pharaoh.” He thrust a fist in the air and the rest of the guards stepped back in unison. He nodded once in my direction before turning on his heel and leading them away.

I removed my woven sandals and sank my toes deep into the sand, looking across the ocean where the reflection of Alexandria shimmered on the waves.

“I do not know how to rule,” I admitted.

The ocean offered no judgement.

I knew some aspects of how to rule; my schooling had barely digressed from trade, taxes and agriculture. But I had very little skill in diplomacy.

I was wretched. “How am I to reign in your shadow, Father? Without a gift from Isis to aid me?”

A sound startled me and I turned, expecting it to be one of the palace cats. But the mewl had come from a woman. She clutched a hand to her mouth before sinking into the sand at my feet.

“Pharaoh, my apologies, I was just taking some air before my next performance. I did not realise you were here.”

It was the lyre player.

“Rise, musician.” I was irritated that my meditations had been interrupted, and worried about how much she had heard.

“Allow me to retreat and leave you to your solitude.”

I was about to agree when a thought occurred to me. “You are from Thebes, correct?”

“Yes, Pharaoh.” She had got to her feet as commanded but would not meet my eye, her dark hair covering most of her face.

“The governor, does he manage the city well?”

She hesitated, then said in a rush, “Very well, Pharaoh. Very well indeed.”

“Speak plain. My reports only tell me so much.”

She parted her hair and finally looked at me. I expected her gaze to be as timid as her demeanour, but her eyes were dark with fury. And I was about to learn the cause.

“He has increased taxes every akhet season for the last five years. Famine spreads across the land. Your people are dying, Pharaoh.”