Page 18 of Cleopatra

“What if she has? No Ptolemy has been presented their gifts so late in life.” I was aware that I sounded wounded, but I knew not how to staunch the bleeding. Isis’s neglect was a lesion on my soul.

“What of Arsinoe II, whose god Heh granted her the lifetime of two men? She did not know of her power until long past your age.”

I listened, but Charmion’s words did nothing to alleviate the pain I felt.

“Besides,” she continued, “the temple is large enough to draw the gaze of every god. Perhaps there is even space for me within its walls.”

Oh, my dear Charmion, you knew your future even then.

“Pharaoh,” Pothinus interjected. It seemed we had stretched his patience too thin. “I received your suggested reforms regarding the country’s coinage, and I am concerned about the monetary value of bronze.”

“Pothinus, my treatises are not suggestions. They are law.”

“But if you devalue the bronze in circulation, it lessens the value of the Roman coin in which we do our trade. The nobles will revolt—”

“The nobles are just a droplet among the sea of people in Egypt. I am here to guide the tides of all citizens. By standardising the value of bronze, we may discomfit the nobles in the short term, but our economy will prosper. Is that all you wished to discuss? Because I am not willing to debate it.”

Pothinus looked like he had swallowed sour grapes, but he did not argue. As I turned away, he said, “There is another matter we must consider. We have received word from Rome.”

I dragged my gaze back to the regent’s face. “Tell me, what do our allies want now? More gold? My father gave them enough.”

“Julius Caesar has quelled Pompey’s rebellion at Pharsalus, and the traitor has fled. Caesar believes that he may come to Egypt. We must be vigilant.”

The politics of Rome were abstract things to me then, inconsequential, bordering on dull.

Pothinus read my expression well.

“My queen, we do not want to bring down Caesar’s wrath on Egypt. It is clear his legions are sufficiently well trained to collect victories as easily as grains of sand. If Pompey comes to our shores—which he may, given his former friendship with your father—we must kill him or risk making an enemy of the greatest empire in the world.”

“Egypt is the greatest empire in the world,” I said sharply.

Pothinus recoiled from the edge in my tone. I had spent two years distilling the poison in my voice and knew when to administer a strong dose. I was a proficient alchemist, as you well know.

“I will not become involved in the petty politics of the men of Rome. Their squabbles are many. Who is to say Julius Caesar will remain in favour with the Roman senate? No blood will be spilled in his name.”

Only mine.

Pothinus’s nostrils flared white. “We must be prepared for Pompey’s arrival—”

“Enough.” My voice startled a bird from an acacia tree. It flew away in a blur of black and white that was suspiciously familiar.

“I have made up my mind on this matter, Pothinus. Egypt requires my full attention.” I strode away from him at a brisk pace, a clear dismissal. Charmion followed a few steps behind me.

One of my braids swung free from its weave, the weight of its gold beads pulling it taut at my chest. I tucked it back behind my crown, brushing my fingers on the ibis feathers threaded into the gold—a gift from Arsinoe.

My sister appeared ahead of me as if summoned by my thoughts.

“Where are you going?” she asked. Qar sat preening himself on her shoulder.

“Did you send Qar to overhear my meetings again, Arsinoe?”

Her grin was confirmation enough.

“Was your schooling today that dull?” I asked dryly.

“It was. I am not sure why I am still expected to attend lessons. Sixteen years is quite enough, I think.”

I tended to agree, but keeping Arsinoe busy meant keeping her out of trouble. She had a fascination with all things political and I did not wish for another of my siblings to become entangled with the dangers of the court.