Tomb of the Lost by Julian Noyce Page A

It was a standoff. Suddenly the door opened and Caesar was there.
    “ Sire thank goodness. I ’ ve come to warn you of a disturbance at the palace steps. ”
    “ Yes I heard everything through the door. ”
    Apollodorus was struggling against the hands that held him.
    “ Your men have stopped me from doing my duty. ”
    “ I ’ ve said so before Apollodorus. You ’ re a good man. Let him go. The Queen has not been disturbed. You have not failed in your duty to her. Put away your swords gentlemen. ”
    Apollodorus nodded to the Egyptian guards who brought their spears back into the upright position.
    “ Sire the mob was pushing for access to the palace but at least fifty or sixty guards were keeping them back. ”
    “ Palace guards? ”
    “ Probably, ” Apollodorus replied.
    “ Well seeing as there are no rioters in the palace thus far we must assume that not everyone is loyal to Ptolemy. Are the guards Cleopatra ’ s? ”
    “ No Caesar. They are palace guards. Their unit was set up by Pothinus. They are loyal to the protection of the palace only and not to either monarch. ”
    “ That ’ s good. Pothinus was useful for some things it seems. ”
    More Romans arrived, Lucius at their head. Servants were carrying Caesar ’ s finest armour. He raised his arms for the breastplate to be fitted then put his arms down.
    “ Wait. ”
    He reached for the laurel leaf crown on a single purple cushion. Lucius picked up the crown and handed it to his master.
    “ I think today calls for diplomacy gentlemen. How does my toga look? ”
    “ Fine sir. ”
    “ Good. ”
    He waved his hand in dismissal at his armourers. To the Generals he said.
    “ You will accompany me to the palace steps. Guards will keep a respectful distance. ”
    “ Yes Sir. ”
    They all saluted and fell in behind him. Apollodorus watched until they ’ d disappeared around the corner and out of sight.
    “ He has got majesty, ” he said out loud, “ The Gods I really like him. ”
    He looked at the four Egyptian guards who only stared ahead as before, impassively.
     
    The crowd had settled some and Ptolemy had been allowed to move through the Egyptian guards. He and Theodotus now stood three steps up from where they could see the size of the crowd and the crowd could see and hear him.
    A great cheer went up as he finished promising them a return to their chosen lives. A life without Rome.
    Then as one the mob surged forward again, angry and shouting. The Egyptian guards had to rush forward once again to contain them. Ptolemy and Theodotus had instinctively moved back a step in surprise at the sudden hostile movement.
    ‘ It had been going so well, ’ Ptolemy said to himself as he watched the shaking fists. Then he realised this new aggression wasn ’ t directed at him or Theodotus.
    They looked at each other, the boy King and his teacher, and then slowly turned their heads and looked over their shoulders.
    Julius Caesar was standing at the top of the steps glaring down at the two of them. Theodotus, remembering the fate of Pothinus, suddenly wished he was anywhere but there. He felt Caesar ’ s eyes boring directly into him. Ptolemy, knowing his fate had already been sealed glanced back at the crowd, a strange smirk on his face. Theodotus was becoming increasingly uneasy at Caesar ’ s stare. Then Caesar took his eyes off the King ’ s schoolteacher and glared at the crowd. Theodotus let out a sigh of relief. He felt the sweat trickle down his spine. As Caesar came slowly down the steps Theodotus tried to make himself as small as he could as he moved out of the way. Caesar glanced at him only once in passing. Theodotus retreated up the steps like an animal hoping not to be detected. He stopped at the top when he saw Caesar ’ s Generals were also glaring at him.
    The Egyptian guards were battling hard against the jeering, shouting mob again. Caesar took in the debris on the steps, which were littered. He guessed the Alexandrians couldn ’ t