Page 36 of Cleopatra

“We captured nine wild bulls eight days ago, Pharaoh. We await your guidance on which beast will become the vessel of our lord Montu.” Neferu’s tone was sharp, charged with obvious irritation.

I looked back at her with an eyebrow raised. Her face was hidden behind the shadows of her cowl. Unlike the other priests, Neferu wore a full-length white robe to denote her status. It pooled around the tiles at her feet, the quality of linen as fine as anything I wore.

“I see our donation reached your coffers,” I said. Arsinoe chuckled somewhere behind me.

Neferu dipped her head. “We are grateful for your continued patronage, Pharaoh.”

“Indeed,” I replied coolly.

We reached the temple courtyard where the heat of the sun left a mirage wavering like a lake upon the ground.

In the centre of the landscaped gardens was an empty pen, its metal bars gilded. An ornate granite trough filled with crystal-clear water stood in the corner. Opposite it lay an assortment of plush cushions.

“What happened to the last bull?” I asked as we passed the enclosure.

“It simply died, Pharaoh,” Neferu replied. There was a catch to her voice that told me there was more to know.

“There is nothing simple in death, High Priestess.”

“You bless me with your wisdom.” Her words didn’t sound mocking, but from what I could see of her lips, they were quirked with a half-smile.

I cleared my throat. “I find my mouth quite dry in this heat.”

“Refreshments are just this way, Pharaoh. If you’d like to follow me.”

I nodded, giving her permission to take the lead, but indicating with a flick of my wrist for the royal guard to hang back. Arsinoe grumbled behind me as the guards closed ranks to prevent her from following.

Even Charmion stayed her feet, letting me go on alone with Neferu.

The high priestess led me towards a small room off the courtyard. Servants cleared the space as we entered. As soon as the door was shut behind me, I turned to Neferu.

She lowered her hood and the face that emerged was lined with every year that she had lived. The creases were soft embellishments on severely cut features. As I looked into her kohl-lined eyes, so much like mine, I felt a tug of grief.

I crossed the space between us and embraced her in a crushing hug.

“It has been too long, my niece,” Neferu said against my shoulder.

My eyes burned as I inhaled the familiar incense that reminded me so much of my mother. “It is good to see you, Aunt.”

She pushed me to arm’s length. “How fares your journey?”

I tried not to scowl. “Caesar descends on Alexandria; I must make haste and return as soon as possible.”

Her eyes narrowed. “When a Roman crosses the ocean, trouble comes on the tide.”

“Pothinus and Theos will welcome him.”

“Pah.” Neferu scrunched her lips to spit. “A fool and a child.”

“Not a fool; my father trusted him enough to name him regent.”

“Your father was a fool too, my dear.”

Neferu had never forgiven my father for taking my mother away from the Montu temple. When he had selected her among the priestesses, she had stopped dedicating her life to Montu and instead become a servant of a different god—a pharaoh.

“Tell me of the bull,” I said. I did not enjoy tainting my father’s legacy. My mother had died giving birth to young Ptolemy, so my memories of her were blunted, but my father’s still cut sharp.

Neferu looked troubled. “I suspect murder.”