Page 44 of Cleopatra

“I knew it wasn’t the fever, I would know your face anywhere.” The volume of his voice attracted the gaze of onlookers and I was about to dash for the shadows of the many alleyways when I heard the distinctive footfall of soldiers walking in formation.

Dum-ba, dum-ba, dum-ba.

The sound would normally have put my mind at ease, like the hum of a lullaby. But these were not my soldiers any more.

I had never noticed how terrifying their attire could seem. Their torsos were adorned with polished hardened leather, their heads covered in padded skull caps. In their right hands they each held a spear and by their waists hung bronze axes.

The regiment moved through the square as if searching for something. No, someone.

Me.

I dipped my chin to my chest and averted my gaze. If I ran now, I’d draw attention to myself.

“They are looking for you, aren’t they?” Apollodorus said softly.

I nodded before I realised what I was doing. I had just handed the weaver my life. All he had to do was call on the guards to end my time in this realm.

I stole a glance his way. His expression grew determined and he said, “I can hide you—my home is not far from here.”

I had no choice. “Take me.”

We did not walk too quickly, nor too slowly. Apollodorus also made an effort to call out to his neighbours as he passed, feigning normalcy.

But I was not proficient at improvising. I kept looking back to see if the guards followed, risking the recognition of one of the soldiers each time.

We arrived at Apollodorus’s home. It was much comelier in the daytime, without the lingering smell of illness. The hearth simmered with a sweet-smelling drink, and the materials and threads that had been strewn across the furniture had now been tidied away.

Nilah, Apollodorus’s wife, scowled as we entered.

“Where is the water?” she said.

I moved out of Apollodorus’s shadow. “I apologise—it is my fault he has returned without it. I’m afraid I required rescuing.”

Her mouth went slack and she blanched. “Ph-Pharaoh,” she said. “Forgive me, I mean…Selene.”

“The guise is over.” I pointed to a chair. “May I?”

Nilah nodded, clearly aghast that she hadn’t already offered, and I lowered myself into the seat.

The significance of what had happened struck me hard. If the guards were already looking for me, then Charmion had been discovered sooner than I had hoped.

“Can I offer you some refreshments?” Nilah asked, though apprehensively, as if fearing anything she had would not be worthy. I shook my head, to her visible relief.

“Thank you, Apollodorus, for granting me succour,” I said.

When the weaver smiled, his greying eyebrows lifted as if each grin were a surprise. “Of course, Pharaoh. You healed me. I will forever be in your debt.”

“Pharaoh I may not be for much longer. My brother makes moves to reign alone.”

“And your intention here in the city is…?” Nilah asked carefully. Apollodorus shot her a warning glance.

They already had the power to destroy me; no further harm could come from telling them the truth of it.

“I wish to seek counsel from Caesar in the palace,” I said. “I believe he will stand by my father’s will and support my rightful place on the throne.”

There was a silence as husband and wife regarded me doubtfully. “How do you intend to enter the palace?”

Their lack of faith smarted. “I can be cunning; I am often able to leave the palace undetected at night with only my handmaiden Charmion by my side.”