Page 35 of Cleopatra

I read the message quickly.

Arsinoe let out an impatient sigh. “What does it say?”

“It is from one of my courtiers in the north. Caesar’s ship has been spotted by the coast. He descends on Alexandria. I must get a message to Pothinus and Theos, but I’m not sure it will arrive before Caesar does.”

Arsinoe worried at the corner of her dress. “Which courtier?”

I frowned, not thinking it mattered. “Elena of Syracuse.”

My sister’s expression grew dark before brightening once more. “We can send Qar with a message to Pothinus. He will fly fast and true.”

It was an adequate solution. Even if we turned around now, we would not arrive back at the palace before the full moon.

“Yes, let me prepare a message.” I called on my scribe to pen a warning to Pothinus.

“He needs to ensure the kitchens are well stocked with the latest produce from Rome,” I instructed. “I recollect Caesar and my father spending many evenings around the dining table and I wish for him to be comfortable.”

“Yes, Pharaoh,” the scribe replied. I looked over her neat penmanship, confirming the message was correctly rendered.

“Add in that we are beginning the return journey tomorrow—”

“We’re returning?” Arsinoe said. She crossed the room to stand over the scribe as if seeing my words in ink would change what I had said.

“Yes. Caesar is an important ally, and Pompey died on our soil. It is important I am there to greet him.”

“But what of the Buchis bull?”

I knew Arsinoe had been looking forward to the adventure of Hermonthis, and I was sad to disappoint her. “There will be another Buchis bull in your lifetime. We will journey back to the temple then. Right now, the best thing for Egypt is for me to return.”

“Do you not think that this will be a slight against the priesthood? Abandoning them for a Roman?”

“They will come to understand once I am able to explain. The royal tour has been a success, whether we reach Hermonthis or not.”

Qar trilled from the corner of the room, and Arsinoe nodded. “Qar believes we will be slighting the gods if we do not continue to the temple.”

That made me pause. Qar was a gift of the god Thoth, a vessel like the Buchis bull. His words held weight, much to my chagrin.

“Truly?” I felt my resolve wavering.

“Truly,” Arsinoe confirmed. “It will only delay us a few days. Perhaps less time than that.”

We were very close to Hermonthis.

The scribe looked up at me and I nodded. She discarded the papyrus she was working on and began again.

“Two days,” I said. “We must ensure the Buchis enthronement is conducted on the morrow.”

Arsinoe’s lips twitched ever so slightly.

I should have known. I should have seen it.

But I have always been blinded by love. That was one thing your histories got right.

—

“We welcome Queen of the Two Lands, Cleopatra Thea Philopator VII, to the god Montu’s place of sanctuary.” High Priestess Neferu stood at the head of the procession. The eight servants of the gods lined the hallway of the temple, their brown cowls hiding their faces so all I could see was shadows.

I strode past them and Neferu fell into step just behind me. “Is the bull ready for selection?” I was impatient for the ceremony to commence. With each passing day Caesar grew ever nearer.