[IC] In The Shadow of Giants

[Saix]

Early September 48 BC - Pelusium, Egypt

---

Shani browsed the wares of various bath shops before she decided to stop at one to gather the supplies she needed. Both she and Cleo were low on various oils and minerals, so she had to restock in the local city of Pelusium which they were currently camped outside of. Queen Cleopatra VII Philopator was at war with her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII, for the role of Pharaoh. It is a vicious rivalry that existed long before the death of their father Ptolemy XII and caused them to travel far from her home city of Alexandria, as Ptolemy had managed to drive them out. They were currently trying to retake what they had lost, but the brother's forces, as well as some Gabiniani, were successfully keeping them away from the city.

Personally, Shani supported the Queen. While some would claim it is because she is employed in her service, Shani's devotion to Cleopatra was deeply set in her religious beliefs as a native Egyptian. Cleo had shown a divine right to rule and has done much to uphold Maat long before she was named heir to the throne. Given her position, Shani was able to witness firsthand how devoted Cleo was to her Egyptian heritage, culture, and she even spoke the language, which none of her family or predecessors had ever done. Cleo speaks to the people herself and in doing so, has gained a devout following.

Slender fingers carefully collected what she seeked and placed them into the woven basket she held on her waist. The vendor at the stall watched the young woman as she collected his wares and he kept a mental tab on how much she owed him. He was an older man, a native Egyptian, and kept his black hair cut short. He was dressed comfortably as he had to spend long hours tending to his stall. He wasn't overly concerned about her stealing his stock as Shani looked her part of being a woman of noble upbringing. She wore a very fine white dress that almost appeared sheer against her darker skin and made with high quality linen. The skirt of the dress reached her ankles and the top came up from her waist to loop around her shoulders, creating a deep v in the middle of her chest. Shani wore some jewelry, two golden bands on her wrists, a golden anklet with bells that chimed when she walked, and a simple choker with a matching head chain, both also golden in color. She wore no shoes and her feet were lightly covered in sand. Her green eyes were lined with black khol eyeliner but she kept the rest of her face bare.

Finished with her browsing, Shani brought her basket up to the shop keep so he could see what she had inside. "What do I owe you?" She asked, fully prepared to haggle the merchant. Most vendors, especially in towns with a port, tended to inflate their prices. What she carried in her basket probably cost him ten drachmae, which means he would at least charge her twenty. If he assumed she had the coin, he would charge much more.

"Fifty drachma."

"Fifty! Now we both know these oils and salts are not worth that much. Eight." Shani gave the vendor a hard look, fifty was much more than she was willing to pay and she knew he wouldn't pay less than what he got the ingredients for.

"Eight! Now who is being unreasonable?! You apparently are more than just a pretty face to offer such a price. Twenty Drachma."

"Thirteen."

"Eighteen."

"Fifteen."

After her final offer, the merchant stopped and gave her a thoughtful look. Perhaps he wondered if he could haggle more coin from her but as he paused, more people were entering the bazaar. Shani had come to browse the stalls early in the morning, before the ships carrying passengers would dock at the ports where men like him could make huge profits. This time allowed her to get what she needed at a price she was more willing to pay. Otherwise, she would have had to come towards the end of his day where she may be able to haggle him lower, but there would be no guarantee he would have the items she desired in stock. Now he had a decision to make. He either keep haggling her at prices he's not willing to give to foreigners knowledge of, refuse the sale, or take her offer.

Making his choice, he held out his large caramel colored hand to her. "Agreed, 15 Drachma."

Shani's face illuminated with a smile after the merchant voiced his agreement to her terms. She fished the coin out of a leather satchel she had tied to her waist, paid the man for his goods, and took back the basket to balance on her right hip. "May Amun-Ra smile upon you." she said before she turned to leave the stall.

"And you as well." The merchant called back to her before focusing his attention on two foreign women who had come to his stall. They looked to be travelers from Greece, but Shani took no more interest in them than was necessary. The young woman had gotten what she needed and it was time she returned to her mistress.

[DELETED32084]

September 48 BC - Lefkosia, Cyprus

---

"Hurry up and wait..." Kedrick muttered the phrase for what must have been the tenth time, his voice partially muffled by the shield that he was using to shade himself from the hot midday sun.

There was an accompanying chorus of agreement that always greeted such a statement from the twenty or so other Germans and Gauls who were huddled in what little pools of shade they could find beneath olive trees or at the base of walls. Nearby, faces upturned to the heat were the Iberian and Romans legionnaires who made up the rest of the Century. All in all, some eighty soldiers were scattered about the olive grove in various positions of rest and self contemplation.

"Not you though, eh Seiger?" Kedrick continued. He could just make out the sandals of his friend from beneath the rim of the shield and knew that the huge blonde man was standing in the sun, likely staring around at the scenery.

"I'm bloody sweating, don't you worry." Came Seigers reply and his sandals shifted slightly, the butt of a spear knocking a small rock away with a tock. "But I have to admit, it's lovely not freezing my fruits off."

"Never have happened back home anyway, always some nice Gaulish girl willing to keep them warm with her...." Whatever else Kedrick was about to say was drowned out in a chorus of good natured hoots from the Gauls among them. Even the Iberians joined in, they tended to have more in common with their Celtic brethren than they did with the Germans and the rivalry never got old. It never failed to impress Seiger how the savage tribal rivalries that would have made bitter enemies back home now served a type of comic relief.

"Where do you suppose Old Julius is then?" One of the Romans growled when the shouts had quieted down. The olive grove that the Century occupied belonged to one of the islands more influential Roman families and it was rumoured they had given shelter to Pompeii in his flight. A dozen men had gone inside with Caesar while the rest remained outside to bake in the hot sun. Several thousand others bobbed at anchor among the ships whose masts could just be seen in the harbour below.

"Having a nice cool drink and shagging a slave while we die of thirst." Seiger replied. He was hot. His feet hurt, there was sand under his sandal straps, and even after months in these southern lands he was barely a darker shade of white then when he had arrived. More red than tan, if he was honest with himself. His scars did stand out something fierce however and he marvelled at how white and stark they suddenly seemed against his sun kissed flesh. In truth, they were far from thirsty. Julius Caesar took good care of his men, but it was in a soldiers nature to gripe.

"Heads up lads." Another German, almost as large as Seiger, was quickly climbing to his feet even as he jerked his head toward the villa. Two armoured Gauls had appeared on the step and one gave them a quick wave. The rest of the Century quickly scrambled to their feet and stood ready, weapons at hand. They had none of their usual travel gear, only armour and weapons, this was supposed to be a social visit. Several moments passed and then Caesar himself stepped out into the sun and his gaze swept across the waiting soldiers.

"Caesar!" As one the soldiers spoke his name and clashed their weapons against the front of their shields. He rewarded them with a smile and a nod of his head even as he gestured for a man to step out after him. The man could not have been more different than Caesars ramrod straightness and handsome features. He was older and his shoulders slumped like the branches of a tree beneath a heavy snow. The two spoke for a moment and every word seemed to cause the other to slump even further.

"Might get to burn something after all," Kedrick had moved up next to Seiger. The two were friends, equally tall and well muscled but where Seiger was blonde, Kedrick was a redhead. For the last six years they had served Caesar with a fanatic loyalty that been rewarded by four pounds of silver and and an appointment as part of his personal guard following the Battle of Pharsalus. "Been a while since we burned anything."

"No, I reckon not." Seiger said as Caesar turned away from his "host" and strode quickly to a waiting horse, swinging into the saddle with ease. He waved a hand toward the house, not bothering to see if the wilting man on the front step waved back or not. His horse moved into a walk as it headed toward the harbour.

"Move out!" Centurion Felix Cassia roared and the waiting soldiers quickly scrambled onto the roadway, forming a column of twos as they jogged after Caesar, their armour jingling with the movement. A small forest of spearpoints gleamed above their heads and despite the heat, they were all grinning. The hunt, it seemed, was not over.

[Saix]

28 September 48 BC - Pelusium, Egypt

---

"If only you were able to get me enough milk to fill this pool!" exclaimed Cleo as Shani carefully shaved the Queen's forearm with a small blade. It was late in the evening and the two young women were taking their last bath of the day. Cleopatra lounged in the pool, her light colored skin barely visible under the blanket of jasmine petals that floated on the surface of the warm bath and filled the room with their light scent. Wanting a more substantial bath, the Queen demanded they travel to into the city to use one of the noble bath houses.

"Unfortunately, I would need to have a rather large herd of lactating asses in order to meet that requirement. Once we are back home in Alexandria, I'll see what I can do." While some would think the Queen was joking, Shani knew that Cleopatra was serious about wanting to bathe in milk. Having been in Cleo's service for as long as she has been, she could attest to the effectiveness to the Queen's concoctions of oils, minerals, and salts as her own skin was always in excellent condition.

"You're the best…" The young queen sighed, melting into the warm waters of the bath now that Shani finished shaving the remaining stubbing hairs from the Queen's body. With her tasks complete, Shani walked over to the other edge of the pool to lower herself into it's warm waters. She always worked nude when attending to the queen during her baths and for as long as she could remember, was welcomed to share the bath with her once her duties were done.

They had been sharing a communal soak for not even five minutes before a male voice cut through the air in the room.

"Your majesty, I'm sorry to disturb you, but I have urgent news!"

It was the captain of the guard, who's name Shani couldn't remember as he was a new addition since the campaign to retake Alexandria began and she had been appointed tasks that were outside a typical handmaiden's scope since Cleo had to downsize her staff. The Queen of course knew all her charges.

"You may enter Skylar." She called out and in a more quieter tone joked to Shani "I hope it is as urgent as he says or he is about to get a free view of his Queen's and her handmaiden's bodies." Shani hid a smile behind her hand as the captain came into view. As they had matured, the Queen had turned out to be a very flirtatious woman. Skylar was a young native Egyptian man, probably an inch taller than Shani, and sported a lean muscular build. Once he reached the edge of the pool, he dropped to his right knee and focused his gaze on the stone floor.

"I'm sorry my Queen but this news could not wait."

"And what is this news that could not wait Skylar?"

"Pompey was assassinated earlier today."

Both Cleopatra and Shani shot out of the bath, splashing water as they stood with jasmine petals clinging to their wet skin. The queen moved forward to gently grab the young captains face, forcing his hazel gaze to meet hers. He fought not to stare at either of their bare bodies.

"How did this happen?!"

"Ptolemy must have invited him onto shore as he was anchored off of the city's coast. Your brother's men were seen boarding Pompey's boat where they stabbed him to death, removed his head, and chucked the rest of his body into the sea."

The color drained from both women's faces, the political repercussions from the assassination of one of the most infamous figures of the Roman Republic could be disastrous. "What is he thinking…" the Queen voiced the question to herself, so no one answered her. "You said "the city", which city are you talking about? Alexandria?"

"No my queen. He was assassinated here, in the waters off of Pelusium."

The queen's eye widened and she released the young captain's face as she stepped out of the bath. If he felt any discomfort from the strain she had placed on him, he did not show it. Droplets of water and petals fell across the stones as she moved to retrieve a linen robe, her smaller perky breasts bouncing as her heels pounded into the floor. "We're leaving." Cleo, with no intention of looking back, tied the robe around her body and left the room to where the rest of the guard were stationed outside.

Shani stepped out of the pool with slightly less purpose than the Queen, slowing to speak to the captain who appeared to be frozen in place. "You should get moving, the Queen doesn't like to wait." she spoke in a more sultry tone, teasing the young man. Her words brought his gaze back to her but his eyes moved slowly, following the curves of her body. He couldn't seem to bring his gaze past her breasts, which were larger than the queens. Shani laughed, pulling a white jasmine petal off the top of her left breast and gently placed it on his long nose. "Focus." she said and walked away, adding a slight sway to her steps as she knew he was watching. Shani was no better than the Cleo when it came to flirting.

[DELETED32084]

September 48 BC - Lefkosia, Cyprus

---

Seiger balanced carefully on the gangway that had been set between trireme and stone quay. A heavy oaken barrel, filled with what smelt like ale, was balanced on one shoulder, the other arm straight out like a ships spare to provide some balance. The gangway was a replacement, little more than a plank, that had been fetched from the town after the main one had been accidentally dropped into harbour. It was still bobbing below next to the bodies of several dead rats and would remain there until the warship got underway.

He stepped quickly until he was in the middle of the plank, aware that his companions were watching him, more than a few hoping he might drop the wine. He paused and performed a small jig, hoots and shouts of encouragement coming as much from the auxiliaries and legionnaires on the as from the sailors above him on the high deck.

"Get a move on, you git." The Centurions growl finally cut short his foolery and he bounded up the plank to safely deposit his cargo on the deck where a sailor swept it up and vanished below decks. Seiger took a moment to look around at the harbour. The small white buildings with their tile patterned rooves still looked alien to him even after the better part of a year spent fighting in Iberia and Greece. He had to admit the whitewashed walls did wonders to keep the heat down. Even here, next to the water, it was impossible to completely escape the heat. It wouldn't be until the sun had dipped below the horizon that the cool wind would finally blow.

Beyond the harbour the hills rolled away into the islands interior. Life seemed so simply here. Till the earth, plant some vegetables, live your life in the sun, drink in the evenings and make love to your woman. It was a far cry from the blood and anger that had defined his life for so many years. Perhaps when his time was up, when he had served long enough to earn his slice of Roman dirt, he might come back here.

"Catch!" Seiger barely had time to brace himself before another barrel of ale slammed into him, sending him staggering back a pace, only just managing to manhandle the heavy container onto the deck. Kedrick grinned at him from where he had thrown the barrel, balancing on the centre of the plank. He now did his own impromptu version of a jig to the beat of several soldiers who banged wooden mallets on the side of the trireme.

"Bloody lucky you caught that." A sailor remarked as he took the second barrel from where it sat at Seigers feet. The German grunted an agreement, his arms tingled from where the heavy wood had hit him but he was impressed, it was no mean feat to throw such a barrel, let alone hit what you were aiming at.

Despite the antics of the Germans, the quay below as swarming with hundreds of soldiers and sailors as the fleet hurried to take on supplies. Caesar knew that his rival was only a few days ahead of him and bound for Egypt. The rumours in town were that Pompeii had sailed with only a few hundred men on a single ship. The harbour of Lefkosia, my comparison, was crammed with some two dozen big Roman warships whose crews owed their allegiance to Caesar. They carried just over a thousand auxiliaries and legionnaires with them. By Roman standards it was a small fleet, but to chase a defeated enemy, it was ideal.

"Make way! Make way!" The shout echoed down the quay in Latin, then in Gallic, and finally in German. The hive of activity opened to allow Caesar and his senior Centurions to move quickly down the stone, heads close together, hands gesturing as they walked. All saluted as they passed but none of the commanders noticed. The space they had created was swallowed up almost as quickly as it appeared. The shouting began again and a purpose seemed to reignite itself as Kedrick skipped onto the high deck.

"Looks like we might be on our way at last!" He grinned. Seiger returned the grin.

[Saix]

28 September 48 BC - Pelusium, Egypt

---

The guard Captain kept trying to catch Shani's gaze during the meeting as the handmaiden entertained him along with the Queen's council. Shortly after their return from the bathhouse in Pelusium, Cleopatra called for all her advisors to speak on the death of Pompey and in order to keep the meeting as private as possible, the Queen asked for Shani to serve food and drink. None questioned the handmaiden's presence or loyalty as she has been with the Queen longer than the men at the table and will be there long after their service to the Queen is done. The group consisted of Skylar and the two Generals of her army, Jabari and Karim.

"So tell me, who killed Pompey?" The Queen demanded.

Karim spoke first, his voice rumbling deep from his chest. "The locals described the men to us and we believe them to be Achillas, Lucius, and Savius."

"And for what? To gain Caesar's favor?" Cleo asked.

"That, or to eliminate a potential threat. Probably both are true." Jabari spoke this time, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded across his chest.

Shani walked around the tent, refilling water cups and food plates as the group spoke. She knew there was a large Roman presence in Egypt, especially in the armies. A lot of the men in the ranks of Ptolemy were remnants from when the Romans helped Cleopatra's father retake rule over Egypt. As their conversation continued, Shani lost interest in keeping up with what was said and focused instead on her own thoughts. Her only contribution, if it would even be asked of her, would be to confirm the native resentment against foreign occupation.

The young handmaiden took a seat towards the back of the war tent, arranging her skirts around her and suddenly found herself to be tired. It wasn't fatigue from their long day, but rather she was getting tired of running. This political game Cleo played was more than what Shani would have wanted for herself if she were in that position. She wanted stability and a home. A place safe from scheming and assassinations. What was the point in all this power if you had to constantly watch your back from those who would take it?

Closing her eyes she fantasized about far away lands that she had once seen. Lands that were not dry, unforgiving deserts, but lush and green. She thought back to when they had been exiled when she was a child and afraid of traveling across the open sea, leaving everything she knew behind. Shani remembered how gentle Cleo's hands were as she guided her onto the large wooden vessel despite her father's angry and impatient words. How she stayed with Shani the entirety of the voyage, making sure that she was not alone while the ship rocked along the sea and when they finally docked, helped Shani to explore a whole new world. It was during this time her devotion to Cleo really blossomed. It was Shani's job to tend to the future queen, but her charge instead spent all her time making sure her handmaiden was comfortable and felt safe.

When she opened her eyes again, she found the young queen looking at her, her expression soft. Cleo beckoned her over, the men still engaged in their political strategy talk. Shani made her way quickly over to the queen's side.

"Are you feeling alright?" She asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Yes, I am fine my Queen." Shani replied.

"You can go, we will be discussing options for a while and these men can serve themselves. I can release Skylar as well if you'd like. He's been eyeing you since the bathhouse."

Shani quickly glanced at the Captain who currently was in deep talk with the two generals. "Tempting, but I think he will be more trouble than fun. You sure you don't need me here?"

"I'll be fine. Go enjoy some time to yourself, I'll see you in the morning." The queen reached out and placed her light skinned hand over Shani's darker one, giving it a light squeeze.

"Yes my queen. Don't stay up too late. You can always continue these talks in the morning."

Cleo nodded, giving the handmaiden's hand a final tap before releasing her. "Goodnight Shani."

"Goodnight and may Ra watch over you."

"And you" replied the Queen before retaking her place in the conversation without skipping a beat. Their private conversation hadn't kept her from listening in on what they had said in her absence.

[DELETED32084]

September 48 BC - Mediterranean Sea

---

"No... Surely you are joking..." Seiger had sucked in his breath, staring at the ships Captain with wide blue eyes. The man shook his head and tapped the side of his head, then his heart.

"With Jupiter as my witness, I swear it. A sea with no edge. A sea so massive that you cannot cross it on ships!" The Captain, Marcos, was a big man, as broad in the belly as he was in the shoulders. His nose was red and shot through with veins, a sign he might enjoy a little to much win with his supper. He stood on the steering platform, casually leaning on one massively muscled arm, talking to a half dozen of the auxiliary who had gathered to hear his stories of time spent along the coast of Gaul and Iberia.

"By the gods..." Kedrick, crouching next to Seiger, muttered it loudly enough for everyone else to hear. To the men of the auxiliary, the Mediterranean was the largest body of water they had ever seen and the slight motions of the waves had made them sea sick on the journey from Italy to Greece. Marcos, ever glad of a willing audience, puffed out his chest with importance and nodded gravelly at the battle hardened men who leaned eagerly forward like children, hanging on his every word.

"That ain't the half of it," He gestured to the mast that towered above them, the huge beige sail bulging as it caught the northern wind. "The sea can get as tall as a mast, huge columns of water that can drown a ship in an instant."

"Come off it... You take us for fools?" Scoffed one of the Gauls.

"You've been there then? Seen it, have you?" Marcos challenged the man who quickly shook his head.

"No, it just sounds impossible!" The Gaul protested and was rewarded with more nods from his fellow soldiers, some of whom were looking at the captain as though he had suddenly sprouted second and third heads.

"True as I am standing here before you." The captain glanced around caught the eye of the steersman. "Ain't I right, Phillipe?" The steersman only nodded, shuddering as if the memory was to much for him to bear. The soldiers shook their heads in wonder. None of them had seen waves much more than a few feet, and even then, every one of them had been violently ill.

"I reckon I'll stick to soldiering then." Seiger said with confidence as he absorbed this story of the distant ocean. "What do you know about Egypt then?"

Marcos shrugged. "Only been there once or twice, and only to Alexandria, that's their capital. Looked like any other city I've ever seen, dirty, crowded, smells like shit. Sand everywhere once you get away from the coast a bit. There's a whacking great river to the East a bit and some say the tombs of giants are further inland but I've never seen them."

His tone suggested that if he hadn't seen them, they didn't exist. In truth, Marcos had never actually set foot in Egypt. He hated the darkies and their empire of sand. He'd met enough of them during his time in Tunisia and Carthage to know that no good came of mixing with their kind. "I hear they have hair all over their bodies and don't even wash if they can avoid it. Their women as ugly as camels." He finished dismissively.

"I don't bloody care what they look like, long as they know their way around my cock." Said one of the Germans, Adne, with a laugh. That brought chuckles from every man within ear shot. "Once Caesar has caught up to Pompeii I reckon we'll get a proper bit of rest and recreation."

More laughs that turned to silence as a lookout on the mast cried out that land was in sight. The soldiers nodded their thanks to Marcos and hurried to the ships side, staring toward the distant haze that they had mistaken for clouds, but was now revealing itself to be a solid land mass.

"Egypt. What did I tell you? Sand!" Marcos called from the stern as the small Roman fleet drew close enough that they could make out the endless dunes that marched down to the sea. Seiger had never seen so much sand in all his life. There were a few beaches in Iberia, Italy, and even in Germania along the shores of lakes, but nothing could have prepared him for what he was seeing. It was as though there was an entirely new ocean beyond the one they sailed upon.

"Have you ever see anything like it..." He breathed the words, still stunned by the dunes that stretched away to the west.

"At home, looking down on the forest from the mountains." Kedrick replied quietly and in an instant Seiger was back atop the high peak near their home, the endless green carpet of trees blanketing the mountain slopes and valleys until it vanished into the distance. This was just another great sea he had never imagined.

"Alexandria!" Marcos called out, pointing to the East where the rolling dunes suddenly gave way the squared shape of buildings and, amazingly, a massive tower that stood out from the coastline, soaring above the rest of the city. "The Pharos! One of the great wonders of the world!"

A wonder indeed, thought Seiger as he stared at it. He had not known that men could build such a structure, having never been to Rome. He felt like a child again, seeing the world for the first time, the sea of sand forgotten as he gaped open mouthed at the white washed stone and the smoke that billowed from the top.

"Is it on fire?" He asked no one in particular.

"No, my friend, they haul wood up to burn. It serves to guide ships in at night. To show them a safe harbour." Marcos had taken a liking to the young German, watching Seiger even as he stared the city. The man was heavily built with a neatly plaited beard and combed hair. He was less wild looking than his fellows and washed fastidiously, even if that meant diving into the sea. Like the rest of the soldiers he had been terrified of the ship and the deep water but his curiosity overcame that fear and, in time, he had come to impress the aging captain. Seiger had even run along the bank of oars, held steady by strong hands, racing a sailor on the other side. He had lost the race, but he hadn't fallen into the ocean either. Even the sailors had cheered when he made it. It was impossible not to like the man.

"Fascinating." Seiger turned back to watch the tower grow larger in the distance. Only when they came close enough to see people on the shoreline did he finally tear his gaze from the structure. Hundreds swarmed about the waters edge, some swimming, some sitting in the sand. They all seemed so strange and it took him a moment to realize what was out of place. There was not a white face among them!

"Soldiers!" A cry came from the mast and everyone on the ship instantly pulled on helmets, strapped swords to their waist, and picked up shield and spear. The twinkle of steel above the heads of man pacing at the base of the Pharos, and then along the ramparts that were beginning to appear, was a cold reminder of why they had come. Seiger gripped the wood of his spear tightly and sent a silent prayer to Thor for he had come to a foreign land and only the Gods knew what lay in store for him.

[Saix]

3 October 38 BC - Encampment Outside of Pelusium, Egypt

---

Their camp had been bustling with activity since the night of the assassination of Pompey. Not only had Cleopatra called an emergency meeting when she learned of the death of the Roman political and military leader, but they also received word that Caesar himself was coming to Egypt and was going to take residence in the palace back in Alexandria. The queen had spent so much time in meetings and discussions that she almost entirely relieved Shani of her duties. The young Egyptian woman had spent the last three days catching up on chores that had been starting to pile up since the Civil War had started and she was starting to run out of things to do.

Shani walked around the Queen's tent making sure everything was in order and there was nothing left that she had to address. She was unsure whether or not to be happy with that fact and stopped in the middle of the ornate rug that adorned the floor of the living space, wondering what to do with the rest of her day. Her own tent, which was connected to the Queen's, also didnt require any attention. She had made sure of that after she assisted Cleo with her morning routine. A heavy sigh escaped her lips before she finally decided to leave the tent, it's heavy flaps swaying behind her until they fall back into place.

Shani's bare feet carried her through their encampment, pounding into the sandy ground. While she had a small collection of leather sandals, she seldomely wore shoes. She liked to feel the earth under her feet because it helped her to be connected to the world on a spiritual level. She kept wandering through the city of tents until she heard a few shouts and the sounds of a fight. Turning the corner of one of the tents, she found a fight between some of the roman and egyptian foot soldiers. Anger flared up inside her and before she knew it she was storming up to the scuffle. Shani spotted a wooden bucket filled with water on a nearby bench and threw it over the tumble of men. A cry rose from them as they scrambled away from each other, turning to look for the source of their new discomfort only to find Shani standing there with a bucket in hand and poised to hit someone with it if needed.

A few long moments passed where all faces racked through the sight before them. Confusion, recognition, shame, and finally despiration passed through all their faces before an explosion of voices erupted from the group in a mixture of latin and egyptian. Each group pointing and putting blame on the other.

"Enough!" she shouted and the men immediately stopped speaking. To the two roman men she spoke in Latin. Her accent was light, but she spoke fluently. Cleo worked hard to teach Shani how to speak the language that would carry her the farthest in her service to her. "I will address you two after I am done speaking with them." Their lighter skinned faces nodded to her in understanding before she turned to her egyptian brethren.

"Shame. On. You. Bringing such shame and dishonor upon our queen! Fighting with these roman men who are your brothers in arms. Have you no sense?!"

"But they-" started on of the men, but she cut them off.

"I do not care what they did or said! What we are doing here should be more important than any disagreements you have with them. We are trying to restore maat by putting the queen back in her rightful place! How do you think Anubis would weigh your heart when your time comes to have judgement passed on you if your squabbles cost us good arms in this war and we fail to restore balance?!"

Fear passed across the two men's faces. Every action performed in life is added up and weighed at death by the great jackal headed god. If your heart is light, your soul moved on through the afterlife and were granted eternal existance. If your heart was heavy, your soul would be devoured by Ammit. The two men bowed deeply to Shani before speaking.

"We're terribly sorry Shanisiti. It won't happen again." The same man who spoke earlier appeared to be the more talkative of the two. His friend only nodded vigorously in agreement.

"See that it doesn't. Make sure your fellows understand this as well should they ever feel so inclined to fight our Roman brothers." Shani dismissed these men before turning to the two Roman men and switching her speech over to latin.

"I am not sure how much of that conversation you understood, however those men were scolded for their actions and you will be as well. We are doing important things here that will impact all of egypt not just on a political level, but a spiritual one."

"We understood some of what was said, our Egyptian is still not complete..." One of the men admitted to his own ignorance of the language and in turn probably the culture.

"I would suggest you see that your education be more complete if you plan on spending your life here in Egypt. I told these men that they are costing us the restoration of balance, which is what you are costing us as well. The consequences of your actions in life will effect your eternal soul. People who perform evil deeds will not pass into the afterlife. See to it that you treat each other with respect as we are all under service to the Queen. She is our beacon and bridge to the gods. Your are dishonoring her with your useless squabbles."

"We are sorry as well..." The other man spoke first, probably realising how much the first man had stumbled.

"In this army, the Romans and the Egyptians are brothers in arms. You all need to start acting like it."

The two men nodded in acknowledgement and Shani left it at that, turning to go back to her tent. She needed a long soak to calm her nerves. Her body shook after the adrenaline from the confrontation wore away.

[DELETED32084]

October 48 BC - Alexandria, Egypt

---

"More standing around." Kedrick couldn't resist. The entire Century was standing in solid ranks, shields resting on the ground and leaning against their stomachs, pilums against their shoulders, permitted to move but not to break ranks. Sweat was already running in rivers down their spines from the sun that beat down on the white marbled courtyard.

"You don't enjoy this?" Seiger replied with a laugh. He had been busy eyeing the towering palace, the kaleidoscope of brightly coloured tiles and the extensive gardens were not lost on him. Another amazing place to visit while so far from home. He was probably the only one not bored out of his skull.

Caesar and his personal guard had entered the palace a short time before, greeted by Theodotus, tutor to the young King. Ptolemy was currently in the East preparing to do battle with his sister, Cleopatra, and unable to attend personally. Seiger was still not entirely clear on why the King was at war with his sister, but he supposed was none of his concern.

The sudden sound of raised voices came from the palace above and the legionnaires stirred. The Egyptian Guards who stood on the long stairway and in front of the big doors also shifted uneasily. The number of troops were about equal but more of Caesars soldiers were pouring ashore from the fleet every minute. The Egyptians had been awed by the Germanic Auxiliary, the latter being the first of their kind to be seen in Egypt. Seiger flattered himself that they were an imposing sight, each one tall, broad shouldered, and strongly muscled, and at least a third bigger than any Egyptian they had seen so far.

The doors burst open and a legionnaire hurried down the steps, a worried looking Egyptian soldier in tow. He went directly to Centurion Cassia and began to whisper in his ear, gesturing first at the palace and then at the Egyptian. Cassia nodded, glanced toward the palace, spat and then turned toward his men.

"Some bastards chopped Pompeys head off and presented it to Caesar. He's furious. We're going to hunt down the pair of Romans who killed him." A murmur of surprise went through the ranks. Pompey had been an enemy, but he was also Caesars father-in-law and respected by the majority of all Romans, enemy or otherwise. "This here local is going to lead us to them."

No more orders were needed as the auxiliaries picked up their shields, shouldered their pilums and followed after the Centurion as he headed for the nearby roadway. Several Egyptian soldiers stood watch over the gate but they made hasty retreats as the small column of Roman soldiers headed their way. Two even hurried to pull open one leaf of the huge iron gate; the Romans crashed past them in a clatter of steel and jangle of armour.

The guide was clearly in a hurry as he made a sharp right turn and made his way down a long boulevard. The street was neatly cobbled with a large raised divider that was filled with bright flowers. Each intersection they passed was shaded with tall palm trees and more than once Seiger almost tripped as he stared in amazement at a camel. It seemed Alexandria was not the shit pit Marcos had said it was.

"Here." The Egyptian said in broken Latin, gesturing at a tall, four story house. "Both men here."

"Kedrick, Seiger, around back. The rest of you, with me." Cassia, always the man of action, rapped out quick orders. "No one leaves the house. Kill them if they try to escape."

The Germans nodded and hurried around the side of the house. A tall wall with barred gate blocked their path. Seiger dropped his shield and spear then set his back against the stone, cupping both hands in front of of himself. Kedrick dropped his own spear and shield, took two steps and then used Seiger as a ladder to scale the wall. He glanced quickly down, nodded to Seiger, and caught both of their equipment before dropping it into the yard and helping Seiger up the wall.

The courtyard was empty, a large rectangle of a space covered in loungers, comfy looking padded chairs, all set around a small dunking pool, all sheltered beneath a network of overhanging wooden beams that supported vines covered in pretty yellow flowers.

The two dropped in the courtyard, snatched up their weapons and made for the rear door just as shouting began at the front of the building. There was shouts of protest and then screams as wood shattered. Cassia must have kicked the door in. More shouts and then the clash of steel announced that someone in the house was fighting back.

Racing feet and screams told the two that someone was coming for the backdoor and they quickly took up positions a short ways from the door. It flew open and several Egyptian servants piled into the courtyard. They did not see the two legionaries at first but one of the women took no time in screaming when she caught sight of them.

"On the ground!" Kedrick roared, stomping one foot forward and slamming his shield into a male servant who cannoned off him and onto the ground, his face bouncing off a tile to start blood flowing. The other servants quickly dropped to their knees and then, aided by a few kicks, their bellies. More shouts and then a man came tumbling out of an upper window, his head smashing into the tile with a sickening crack. Blood spattered across the servants and all of them began to weep only, two even pissing themselves with fear.

"Alright, we got em, come on in lads. You can let that lot go." Cassias voice came from an upper window, his broad face wreathed in a grin. He only grinned when he got to hurt someone.

Seiger knelt and raised the face of a servant, a young woman who he found to be startlingly pretty despite her distress. She flinched away from him but he took her chin again and jerked his head toward the gateway. "Get out."

She looked surprised, then motioned to herself, and then to the gateway. He nodded. She looked at her companions and then back at him, he nodded again. She wasted no time in quickly sending them all running for the gate. She said something in Egyptian, he assumed it was thank you, and then she was gone.

Kedrick led the way into the house. A partially armoured body lay near the door. A sword had slashed him through the side and then his throat had been cut. No one else in the house had been killed save the man who had been chucked out the upper window and the entire place was crawling with Cassias men.

"Lookit at this two sorry sacks of shit." Cassia crowed as he led two men down the stairs. Both were injured, their hands tied tightly in front of them with a stick shoved through their elbows and behind their backs. Each was guarded by a pair of burly auxiliaries. "Lets get them back to Caesar."

Several minutes later the two prisoners and their escort were marching back toward the palace. Seiger couldn't help but notice the glances being shot their way by the locals. They were not friendly.

[Saix]

October 48 BC - Alexandria, Egypt

---

Shani was sitting in a chair hemming one of her night shifts when the Queen entered their shared tent and strode to where she sat.

"Shani, I have a task for you." Cleopatra stated while her slender pale hands took the cloth, needle, and thread from Shani's mocha colored hands and gently placing the items on the small table nearby.

"What would you have of me?" The young handmaiden replied back, standing from the chair she once occupied, the soft waves of her dark hair tumbling around her.

"I need you to go with an emissary to Alexandria to be there when Caesar arrives. Be my eyes and ears among the people while he represents me to the Roman general. It would be too dangerous for me to go myself unless there was something that could give me an advantage over Ptolemy."

While Shani didn't want to leave the queen's side, she hardly had any standing to argue against the queen's request. Shani would know best what the queen would be looking for among the people and would see the events of his arrival as an Egyptian would. "Of course my queen. Who shall I be accompanying? How long should I pack for?"

"You will travel with Marcellus by chariot to the city as there is enough water long the way to keep the horses from dying of thirst. Pack enough belongings with you to stay for two weeks as that should be plenty enough time for you both to gather me relevant information. I will also have Marcellus bring a messenger falcon with him so that you can send messages to me quickly."

"As you wish." Shani started to bow but Cleo's hand's gently caught her face. She brought Shani's emerald gaze up to her own serious one.

"Be careful Shani. These are dangerous times and I do not wish to see any harm come to you. I will go to the priest now to ask Horus to watch over you."

"You don't have to-"The young woman started to protest but the queen interrupted her.

"Yes I do and I will. Not just as your queen, but as your friend. I did not abandon you when my father dragged us across the sea when we were children and I will not do that now."

Shani turned her eyes away as she had nothing to say in response. What could she say? She knew Cleo was as good as her word and would perform the ceremony to appease Horus just for her. Shani managed to whisper her thanks before Cleopatra finally released her grip on the handmaiden's face.

"Now go and pack, I want you two on that chariot in two hours." The young queen left Shani to her own devices. The young woman had two lines on the shadow clock to pack her belongings and meet with Marcellus.

---

It took two days for Shani and Marcellus to reach the gates of Alexandria. The familiar sight excited the young Egyptian woman as she hadn't been home in so long and it nearly made her forget the warning Cleopatra had given her two days prior. She had to be on her guard while back in the city as the Queen had little influence remaining and it was not something she was used to. They seemed to have managed to arrive before Caesar and were able to acquire separate lodging in the upper district of the city, despite the confused look from their host. While she could have visited her family, Shani couldn't risk going to her parent's home and insisted on separate rooms.

The next day Marcellus traveled to the palace while Shani went to the main bazaar of the upper district. Dressed as a typical noblewoman, Shani blended in with the crowd that had gathered to buy and sale various expensive items. Many whispers of conversation reached her ears, the more excited ones were in Latin or Greek, foreigners mostly from the men left behind after Cleopatra's father passed, and the ones filled with concern, or even fear, were those of the Egyptian people. They didn't want any more foreign occupants on the throne or any more wars, they wanted stability and prosperity.

Many people were afraid, the yield from this year's crops was poor and the people worried over the future of Egypt and her people. Even more were angry for the same reasons. Shani was too deep in a conversation with a shop keep to notice the small group of armed men who stormed a nearby four story home, at least not until the screaming started. A group of Roman Legionnaires had kicked down the front door and stormed the building. The crowd that filled the market was shocked into silence at the sight of foreign men raiding a seemingly respectable home. They all quietly watched as more shouting and the clash of steel erupted from the clay walls. The noise went on for what seemed like an eternity until finally... there was silence. Several servants ran into the market from a side door that had led to the private courtyard of the home, the women were in tears and one of the men had a bloody nose. The young handmaiden took to another woman who appeared to be the same age as her, consoling her as she watched the Romans take their prisoners back towards the palace along with a different group of men that she had not seen before. They were oddly dressed and much lighter skinned than the Legionnaires were, their shields oval in shape. The faces of the Egyptian people around her were not friendly ones towards any of the soldiers.

Despite the fear that gripped her, Shani made the decision to follow them, softly sending a prayer to Horus as she left the crying woman to be consoled by another. She carefully weaved through her fellow egyptians until her bare feet reached touched open paved road where she picked up the pace. The men were still in view, but they had made their way a reasonable distance up the road and she didn't want to lose them.

[DELETED32084]

October 48 BC - Alexandria, Egypt

---

The tramp of Roman boots echoed loudly on the streets of Alexandria as Cassia led his squad and their bound prisoners back toward the palace. Egyptians shrank from their firm step and even the soldiers of Ptolemy hurried to give them space. Several Egyptian officers looked as they wanted to protest their men being forced aside but the sheer size of the Germanic Auxiliary seemed to stun them into silence. Cassia's face brokered no negotiation either; the scars he carried were enough to frighten Pluto himself.

Seiger marched along with the rest. He and Kedrick had taken the rear of the formation and kept a constant watch over their shoulders for anyone trying to ambush the column. It provided them an excellent opportunity to look around and Seiger, as he tended to do when in a new land, was sight seeing. The gravity of the situation was not lost on him but he could not help himself. He had never seen such a place.

The buildings were smaller than Romes, with lighter coloured stone, but the carvings upon many of the stone faces were impressive. He wondered what all of it meant as he tried to decipher the images. His gaze couldn't miss the looks from the locals, ranging from naked fear, barely disguised hatred, and in many cases amazement. He supposed he was a strange to these people as they were to him. He and Kedrick stood at least a head taller than anyone he had seen and their blonde hair was even more unique. He realized with a start that none of the men had facial hair either.

"Someone is following us." Kedricks words broke into Seigers thoughts and he glanced sharply as his comrade. "A couple of someones."

Seiger cast another wary glance over his shoulder and realized he had no idea who he was looking for. He had been so lost in his enjoyment of the city and its people that he had lost track of what he was supposed to be doing. He was angry at himself for a moment but Kedrick continued as if he was unaware Seiger had been daydreaming.

"Two men, a street back, both in white tunics. And a woman. Beyond them." Kedrick spoke without looking back and that allowed Seiger to scan the street. He noted the two men at once. They were trying to flit from one group of pedestrians to another but that only made the various groups shy away from them and make them easier to spot. The woman was more difficult. She was following at a distance and made no effort to hide, but simply walked along the street. It helped her blend in far better though Seiger did not think it was intentional.

From what little he could see, she looked like someone he would like to get to know.