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It was only a day or two later when word arrived that Achillas was now bringing the Egyptian army from Pelusium. Even with leaving a garrison force behind, Achillas was marching with 20,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry, which we could meet with not even two full Legion’s worth of troops, and only two Cohorts of those hardened veterans. The men of the 28th, while not tirones, were certainly not what I considered seasoned veterans, so I honestly was not sure exactly how they would react. One of the difficulties facing us, besides overwhelming numbers, was the fact that our command was essentially split, with the 28th securing the docks and the 6th securing the palace. Cartufenus, and sometimes his other Centurions, came in for staff briefings, yet for the most part, we ran our commands separately, having little contact with the other. Now we were about to see what we were all made of, but as usual, Caesar was not content to wait. Caesar summoned me to headquarters to brief me on what he had planned and I had to suppress a smile when I walked out, not wanting the Egyptians always hanging around to get a whiff that something might be up. Later that night, I marched out with the Century that was relieving the one on guard. Fortunately, I had done this often enough that it was not cause for any suspicion on the part of the Egyptian guards in the towers and on the walls, although when I did it before it was more to keep my own men on their toes than any attempt to lull the Egyptians. Approaching the guard Century, I was challenged by Considius, giving him the watchword, then went about the process of changing the guard, with only one slight variation. Instead of the relieved Century now marching back to their quarters, they stayed put and we immediately began to move, knowing that we only had a matter of moments before the Egyptians noticed that a Century of Romans was not marching back down the street. They did start off like they were doing so, but very quickly they veered across the Canopic Way to Ptolemy’s wing, where I dispatched a section to rush the two guards standing at the entrance we had chosen, catching them completely by surprise. We did not kill them; Caesar had been very explicit that we were not to shed blood unless absolutely necessary, but speed was essential and when the men went through the door, I had every other section go to the left, the rest in the opposite direction. Taking a section with me, we headed down a long hallway towards where we were told Ptolemy’s private bedroom was located, running almost full-out, trying to beat anyone sounding the alarm. There were a few sharp cries, but there was not enough of a commotion to fully alert people who were, for the most part, sound asleep. Finally taking a left down another long hallway, at the end of it we could see two Nubians, armed with axes.
Immediately ordering the men to stop running, I slowed to a walk myself and as I approached, I said in my most commanding voice, “Caesar needs to see Ptolemy immediately!”
Of course, neither of them spoke my tongue, and I did not speak theirs, but I knew they would recognize Caesar and Ptolemy’s names, and I hoped that would be enough to allow me to get close. Turning to the men with me, I told them to stand there as I approached more closely, then repeated myself. They were both looking at each other and grasping their axes, clearly unsure of what to do, and then I smiled and shrugged.
“Upper classes, neh? Never know what they’re up to, right boys?”
While it did not put them completely at ease, I could see them relax somewhat, but they were both still too alert for me to try anything on both of them without running the risk of getting myself hurt or killed. Shaking my head again, I paused like I was catching my breath, unstrapping my helmet, and making a show of pulling up my neckerchief to mop my brow.
“I had to run all the way here,” I explained, knowing that they had no idea what I was saying but I just kept chattering like this were nothing but routine.
Finally, I saw them relax, and that is when I struck. Using the helmet as a weapon, I lashed out with it, catching one of the guards flush in the face, dropping him like a stone. Before the other man could react, I swung my left fist, catching him in the face as well, except he did not go down, instead staggering back a step before he swung his axe at me, barely missing me as I leaned back, feeling the blade whistle past my ear. In the instant that it took him to recover, I leaped on him but he was by far one of the strongest men I had ever fought, so that in a moment we were rolling on the floor, grabbing at each other’s throats.
For a moment I thought he had me, his hands closing around my windpipe until I started seeing stars, as I barely managed to croak out, “What are you bastards waiting for?”
Suddenly, the weight lifted off me, his hands finally jerked from my throat as the men pulled him off me, knocking him cold.
Staggering to my feet, I glared at the others, all of them looking ashamed, and one of them said, “Sorry, Primus Pilus, we thought you had him.”
“I’ll sort you out later,” I growled, then kicked the door open, stepping quickly inside.
There was a startled squeal that I thought was from a woman, but it turned out to be one of those creatures like Pothinus who slept at the foot of Ptolemy’s bed. Ptolemy was just sitting up, and without any of that ludicrous makeup he looked exactly what he was, a teenage boy. I could see the resemblance between him and his sister, once more striking me with revulsion at the thought that Cleopatra was more than his sibling. He was blinking the sleep away as I strode to his bed, saying exactly what I had been instructed to say.
“Your Highness, there are matters of utmost urgency that Caesar has deemed requires your presence for consultations with him. I am to escort you to headquarters immediately.”
He looked up at me, clearly confused. “Can’t this wait until morning?”
“No, Your Highness,” I said firmly. “In fact, we are already running late. Please rouse yourself and come with me.”
“Without getting dressed?”
Now he was getting indignant as his mind started working. I had been warned by Caesar not to be swayed by his youth.
“Ptolemy has been raised on court politics and intrigue. You’ve seen yourself how treacherous these people are, so don't let him have time to start thinking,” Caesar told me, and I had this in mind as I watched Ptolemy frowning.
Before he could say anything, I spoke in a commanding tone. “We don't have time for that Your Highness. I'll make sure that men bring proper attire but we need to leave. . now.”
I do not think he had ever been talked to like that. His jaw dropped as he looked at me in astonishment, but then I saw his face color and I could see he was getting angry. I took a step towards the bed, causing him to call for the guards.
“They’re not coming, Highness,” I told him calmly. “They’ve been. . detained.”
“How dare you,” he hissed, and now he was getting really angry, though he did rouse himself from the bed.
I remember thinking that even his nightclothes probably cost more than every stitch of clothing I owned, yet they did nothing to enhance his royal dignity. That did not stop him from drawing himself up to his full height, such as it was, as he looked up at me.
“I am Pharaoh! I am lord of the Two Kingdoms and I will not be spoken to as if I were a vassal!”
“I mean no disrespect, Highness,” I replied, “but I have my orders, and they are specific. You're to accompany me right now. Now,” I turned and indicated my men, “we can do this one of two ways, and I think we would both prefer that you come with us under your own power.”
That took all the wind out of his sails, his shoulders suddenly slumping, and he came with us, giving no further trouble except when we first stepped through the door and he saw the inert bodies of his guards.