by Julian Noyce
The door opened at the end of the room and Lucius came in. He rushed straight up to Caesar.
“Yes what do you want?”
“The boy King and his eunuch are in the corridor. They say you summoned them.”
Julius glanced at Cleopatra who had showed no reaction to this news.
“I did. Show them in.”
Pothinus came storming into the room. His eye make up making him look more effeminate than usual.
“Caesar I must strongly protest at the way King Ptolemy and myself have been treated by yourself and your….”
He stopped dead in his tracks and gawped at Cleopatra open mouthed. Ptolemy came in with Theodotus, Apollodorus right behind. Ptolemy stopped when he saw his sister.
“What is she doing here?” he asked.
“She is your Queen is she not?”
Pothinus fluttered his small fan in front of his face in irritation.
“Lord Caesar. I have patiently answered all your questions. That’s all I’ve done since you arrived here. Now perhaps you would be good enough to answer mine.”
“No.”
The word was spoken icily. Pothinus now guessed that Caesar wasn’t just being rude. He and Ptolemy were on very dangerous ground.
“Cleopatra what are you doing here?” Ptolemy asked.
She hadn’t moved a muscle. Her face gave nothing away.
“I told you he was going to bring her back. I told you,” Ptolemy whined.
“Be quiet,” Theodotus said.
“That is the best advice your advisors have given you yet,” Caesar said sarcastically.
“King Ptolemy is not wise in the world of men Caesar,” Theodotus said.
“Who gave you permission to speak? Speak when you’re spoken to and not before.”
Theodotus swallowed hard and half bowed.
“Yes Caesar.”
“The next time you speak you are a dead man,” Marcellus said.
Pothinus was glaring at Cleopatra. She had sat motionless the whole time. Even so she stared back without fear.
’How far has she managed to worm herself into Caesar’s confidence?’ he asked himself.
“You did not answer my question Lord high chamberlain. Is she your Queen or not?”
“Cleopatra has forfeited all of her rights mighty Caesar,” Pothinus answered, pleased that his voice sounded calm, “She did this when she turned her back on her brother and left the capital.”
“I will be the judge of that.”
“It is the truth.”
“Cleopatra has a different story to tell.”
Pothinus put on a brave smile but inside he was quaking.
“It is her word against ours. Three against one.”
“Sometimes the one is all that is needed.”
“Caesar may I remind you that your role here is one of arbiter only. We are very pleased to see Queen Cleopatra is safe and well and back among us. Perhaps we could discuss concessions for her. King Ptolemy would be only too pleased to….”
“I’m afraid not!” Caesar cut him off.
“Don’t you see,” Ptolemy whined, “He’s taken her side. The Romans have taken her side in this.”
“Is that true Caesar. Have you taken her side?”
“I am only interested in Rome’s affairs and have no interest in your petty squabbles. As you so rightly reminded me a moment ago I am merely the go between of your rulers.”
Pothinus smiled at this, his confidence lifted by these words.
“Thank you Caesar and may I say that we, I, am equally interested in Rome’s affairs. Your problems are ours,” Pothinus extended his hands, palms up, as a friendly gesture.
“Is that so?”
“I give you my word.”
Pothinus bowed low.
“I see. Then kindly explain why you have been inciting the citizens of this city to rise against your Roman visitors.”
These words rocked through Pothinus and he held the bow to try to keep his composure. He was still smiling when he straightened up.
“Who accuses me of this?”
“Do you deny the charge?”
“Rumours and lies spread by her,” he pointed his finger at Cleopatra, “And her followers.”
“Did they make up lies when you murdered my son-in-law Pompey the great?”
“I had no hand in his death.”
“You arranged it. You could have stopped it.”
Caesar beckoned Lucius over. Germanicus brought a long wooden staff bearing an eagle on its top. Lucius opened a new scroll and dipping his pen in ink he was ready to write.
“Pothinus, Lord chamberlain to King Ptolemy XIII of Egypt you are accused and charged with treason against your Queen, for inciting the mob against Rome, plotting to have me killed and murdering a Roman consul, Pompey.”
“Who accuses me?”
“Queen Cleopatra, her servants, a servant of Pompey’s, my officers, the Senate and people of Rome and me.”
“You have no jurisdiction here Caesar.”
“I AM THE LAW!” the Roman bellowed.
Pothinus turned his attention to the young Queen who sat and watched impassively.
“Your majesty please,” Pothinus pleaded.
Cleopatra made no movement. She lowered her eyes and stared at the floor.
“You are accused and have been found guilty for which the sentence is death. Execution will be carried out immediately.”
Germanicus thumped the floor twice with the staff.
“Caesar has spoken. Law has been passed,” Lucius said his pen scratching away on the papyrus.
Pothinus suddenly felt very sick but he knew there was nothing to be done. He had tried to please this man with the head of his enemy and it had all gone disastrously wrong. Two legionaries stepped up either side of Pothinus to arrest him.
“Apollodorus would you like to accompany the Lord chamberlain.”
“Thank you Caesar.”
The door closed behind them with a thud.
In the corridor Apollodorus was talking to a centurion.
“You’re a traitor!” Pothinus called to him, taunting him. The centurion nodded and Apollodorus turned and suddenly leapt at Pothinus with a sword. Pothinus had no time to react to the blow which struck his head from his shoulders. A jet of blood splashed the wall and the body fell. Apollodorus watched the body twitch and then go still.
“It is you who is the traitor.”
He offered the sword back to the centurion.
“My Queen is avenged.”
Blood dripped from the sword to the floor.
“Take it to Caesar.”
Inside the main room they waited patiently. Not a sound was heard. Finally the door opened and Apollodorus came in alone. In his hand the blood stained Gladius. Ten paces from Julius he stopped. Custom decreed that by law no one armed could come closer except his Generals and personal bodyguards. Apollodorus went down on one knee and laid the sword on the floor.
“Great Caesar I beg to report to you that I have executed the eunuch, the Lord chamberlain, Pothinus.”
“You did it?”
Caesar had planned that Apollodorus, if invited to join the execution party, would probably strike the blow. He had arranged it with the centurion Vinius. Thus pothinus was killed by an Egyptian and not a Roman.
“Yes Caesar. I hope I did not act against your best interests.”
Caesar glanced at Cleopatra then back at the servant before him.
“What is done is done. Lucius add to the record please that Apollodorus performed the execution. That is all. Apollodorus you may stand,” To Germanicus he said, “See that whoever owns the sword gets it returned to them. You might wish to clean it first.”
“Yes sir.”
Now Julius focused on the boy King who blanched under the gaze.
“Are you going to kill me too Caesar?”
Lucius unrolled a new blank scroll and waited with pen ready.
“King Ptolemy you have been f
ound guilty of allowing the death of the Roman consul Pompey the great….”
“I had no part in it,” the youth whined.
“Do not interrupt me!” Caesar roared, “You could have stopped it! Or prevented it!”
“I tried to. I wanted to. I wanted to be friends with Rome. I wanted to be your ally. Isn’t that so Theodotus,” Ptolemy turned to his schoolteacher, “Tell him the truth.”
“Enough!” Caesar raised his hand to silence them, ” You have been found guilty, as was Pothinus. You will be banished from Alexandria. I am sending you to your army. Achillas can do with you as he pleases. If you choose to fight against my legions then no Roman shall hesitate to slay you. You too,” Caesar spoke to the teacher.
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Ptolemy said to Theodotus.
“Be quiet,” Theodotus said, “If I may speak Caesar. You know that sending
Ptolemy to his army means almost certain death to him. If your Romans don’t kill him Achillas surely will.”
Caesar knew full well that if Achillas were to defeat his legions then removing Ptolemy would give the Egyptian General the kingdom.
“If Achillas defeats me then I am dead and so is Queen Cleopatra. It is a dangerous game we all play as Pothinus so recently found out.”
He spoke now to Ptolemy.
“It is always a risk for one who would be King. Ptolemy XIII, King of upper and lower Egypt you are hereby banished from the kingdom of Cleopatra and of Alexandria for the rest of your natural life.”
Lucius scribbled as the staff struck the floor twice.
“From this day forward Queen Cleopatra is to rule upper and lower Egypt as sole ruler and monarch.”
The staff struck the floor twice more.
Ptolemy was frantic. Tears were running down his face. He looked at Caesar, his lips were quivering. Then he looked at his sister and sank to his knees. Cleopatra stared back. He tried to plead with her using his eyes. Finally she could stand it no longer and she stared down at the floor again. Ptolemy shook his head slowly in disbelief. The tears were flowing freely. Then he looked at Caesar once more who just stood and glared at him. Finally he could take no more and he stumbled to his feet and fled. At the door he pawed feebly at the two legionaries guarding the door.
“Let him go,” Julius ordered.
They moved out of the way and Ptolemy fled the room, crying uncontrollably.
Julius sat down wearily in a chair. Lucius approached him with the scrolls. Caesar ran his eyes over them briefly then he pressed his personal seal into the ink and pressed it once each on both scrolls. Lucius half bowed and left. Caesar closed his eyes and began rubbing his brow.
“Is there any other business tonight sir?” Dolabella asked quietly.
Caesar continued rubbing his brow. Then he glanced up.
“I’m sorry Dolabella I wasn’t listening.”
“If there’s nothing else sir. It’s been a long day. You should get some rest.”
“I will. Thank you. Thank you gentlemen. If you don’t mind I would like to be alone.”
“Everyone out,” Dolabella ordered.
Cleopatra began to rise.
“On second thoughts Queen Cleopatra would you mind staying behind.”
She promptly sat back down. Cleopatra’s maid wanted to stay but the Queen shook her head.
“Majesty I should stay.” the maid whispered.
Cleopatra glanced nervously over at Caesar who was still rubbing his head.
“Go. Iras. Go. I’ll be fine,” the young Queen reassured her loyal servant.
Iras took her time leaving. Cleopatra understood her concerns.
‘If Caesar chooses to kill me here, tonight, Egypt will be his and his alone.’
The door closed behind Dolabella. The two of them were alone. Cleopatra stood and slowly approached Caesar’s chair. She walked round him and placed her hands on his neck and shoulders and began gently massaging them. He briefly opened his eyes at her touch but her magic soon seduced him and he closed them again.
“Does this help Caesar?”
“Mmm! That’s very good. I’m tired and I do ache. It’s been a very difficult three days since I arrived here.”
“The loss of Pompey has hit you hard hasn’t it.”
Caesar reached down for Pompey’s ring that he now wore on a long gold chain. It was hanging around his chest. He ran his thumb over the lion and sword detail.
“His fourth wife was my daughter Julia. I was remembering today how much she loved him. She died giving birth to their son.”
“That’s a sad story Caesar.”
He shrugged, not wishing to dwell on it.
“Life and death are the same. Even so I mourn him as a man would a son.” “Pompey was older than you.”
“Yes.”
“He was like a King in Rome?”
“He was like a God.”
Cleopatra chuckled and clapped her hands. Caesar looked over his shoulder and up at her.
“Why do you laugh?”
“It amuses me that you Roman Generals become divine so easily. Was it Venus you claim to descend from?”
“Yes. Alexander was considered a God. But what about you Cleopatra. Do you not desire to be a God?”
“I am the daughter of Isis. No mortal hand can harm me.”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her round to face him. He pulled her in close
and she suddenly found herself straddling his legs. She turned and sat on his knee.
“Now why would I want to hurt you?”
“Surely Caesar you are not mortal.”
He pulled her head towards his and kissed her hard on the mouth.
“You be the judge of that,” he said.
They kissed again.
“By ridding me of Pothinus and exiling my brother you have made me one step closer to divinity. In the last fifteen minutes you have made me undisputed ruler of the lands of upper and lower Egypt. You yourself have taken a step towards divinity.”
She got up and pulled him with her.
“Where are we going?”
“To be at one with the Gods.”
She led him across the palace, turning to look at him occasionally. His guards were protecting most of the doors they passed. At the end of a long corridor both his and her guards protected a final door. They moved obediently out of the way all except one who saluted Julius, turned and opened the double doors. Cleopatra was still holding the dictator’s hand as she led him in to her bedroom.
The huge bed dominated the centre of the room. Four maids waited at each corner. The sheets were turned back ready for the Queen. Another maid was waiting with a sleeping gown. Other servants were attending other things. Cleopatra clapped her hands and all her maids bowed as one and left the room as quickly as they could. Cleopatra waited until she heard the inner door close then she faced Caesar who glanced around the room nodding, appreciatively. She undid her shoulder straps and let her dress fall to the floor, then stepped out of it. She now stood in front of Caesar naked. He began to unbuckle his leather breastplate. She reached up and kissed him on the lips then turned and got into the bed and propped herself up on one elbow to watch him. Once naked he got into bed with her.
“Is this my reward for helping you?”
“No it’s my way of saying thank you. Your reward will come another day.”
CHAPTER SIX
Ptolemy was suddenly awake. He had been dreaming, strange dreams, chaotic dreams. He was soaked in sweat. He looked around the room he was in. It was his bedroom. He stared at a lamp stand that was buckled. The oil from it was in a puddle on the floor. Then he remembered.
He had returned to his bedroom with Theodotus and Pothinus. No! Wait! Pothinus was executed. He now remembered how he had recoiled in horror when he’d fled Caesar and seen the headless corpse of Pothinus being dragged away by palace slaves. The body had left a large smear of blood on the floor. A trail of red against the polished marble.
It was just Theo
dotus.
He, Ptolemy, had been weeping in despair and had completely against character grabbed a pitcher of wine. Theodotus had tried to discourage him from drinking. But Ptolemy had downed a third of the jug in seconds. Never having drunk before it burned his throat and made him throw up.
Undeterred, he’d continued.
“My Lord this is not the answer.”
Theodotus had tried to take the jug from him but Ptolemy had collapsed to the floor clutching it to his chest.
“It’s the only way. What do I have left?” The boy King blurted out, “Pothinus is dead. Cleopatra is back. Caesar has sided with her against me. They have stolen my throne.”
“Usurped it for the moment my King. Have you forgotten your army? Twenty thousand men under Achillas’ command surrounding this city. Men joining every day.”
“What good will it do?”
“Sire Achillas outnumbers Caesar’s forces five to one.”
“Doomed! We are all doomed!” Ptolemy had shouted.
Theodotus had tried to re-assure him but he was soon downing the wine at a very fast rate. Finally Ptolemy had ordered them all out of his presence and shouted at everyone to leave him alone. Later there came the sound of the lamp crashing over, other things being broken, more vomiting and finally his snoring filled the palace. At Theodotus’ orders a servant peered cautiously into the room to see what was happening. Theodotus came in with a handful of slaves. Ptolemy was slumped on the floor against the large wooden bed. Slaves quickly undressed and cleaned him and helped him into his bed. Theodotus went over to where his crown lay on the floor where it had rolled and picked it up and put it on a table. A slave ran past him with Ptolemy’s royal robes which stank of sour wine and vomit. The lamp stand was picked up and the spilt oil mopped up. Some broken furniture was carried outside. After watching the slaves position the boy so if he did vomit again he wouldn’t choke on it Theodotus ordered them out. They left him snoring. Theodotus noticed when they left that the Roman guards were no longer there, just the two Egyptian ones with spears.
Ptolemy now sat up in bed. His mouth was dry and tasted disgusting. He tried to swallow but couldn’t produce enough saliva. His head was thumping in a way he’d never known before. He belched. The taste of the wine was back in his throat. It tasted strong and burned. He leaned over and was sick all over the floor. When he did lift his head again the room was spinning. He groaned and lay back again and slept for a while. When he woke up the room was brighter which told him it was around mid-morning. Looking at the sun’s pattern on the floor he guessed it was between eight and nine o’clock. Someone had been in and cleaned the floor again. He got up out of the bed feeling a bit better and walked shakily over to a basin by which there was a jug of fresh water. He tried to pour himself a cup full of water but was shaking too much. He put the cup down and raised the jug to his lips with both hands and slurped from it. He paused, wiped his hand across his mouth and drank again. Next he poured himself some water into the basin and cupping his hands into the water he splashed it over his face. He repeated it twice more and when no one was there to wipe his face with a towel for him as there had been someone all of his life he found a towel and wiped it himself. Not knowing what to do with the towel he threw it on the floor. Then a thought struck him, an awful thought. Once he was with Achillas and the army he would have to do everything himself. He remembered the events of last night again and soon panic started to set in. he dashed across the bedroom to the double doors.