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Knowing me as well as he did, I didn’t fool Hasani even a little bitHe watched my nervous ly rubbed small circles on h he was unaware of the source of the problemAs an acrobat twisted and turned in front of us, Hasani bent his head to huskilydoe Are you alright?"

As he spoke, he wrapped both of his strong ar me to his chest froainst his rock-solid body

"Yes, I’h my teeth

"Then relax and enjoy the dancers,"he instructed cal full well that I had lied

I nodded, not co to himI tried to relax my body so that I folded liquidly into his chest, a feat that was increasingly difficult as h my veins

Finally, as soon as she possibly could without drawing undue attention, Cleopatra stood from Antony’s side and excused herself earlyEveryone around us looked up in surprise, since she and Antony typically stayed all evening, outlasting all of the guests

"I’ht headache and wish to retire earlyThe pounding fro it"

She waved away her personal physician’s offer to bring a herbal dressing to alleviate it

"I think I will just retire early,"she reiterated firmly"But please, everyone stay and enjoy yourselvesCharot up to accompany herI felt Hasani’s reluctance as he let … the queen herself had summoned me in front of the entire table

As we lanced at Hasani He atching me with a troubled look on his handso I hadn’t fooled him at allI sed hard and walked frolance

Once inside the privacy of Cleopatra’s chaht-colored clothes and exchanging them for a brown linen sheath froold chains from my hair and replaced them into her jewelry box and she handed me a dark brown scarf to wrap aroundoff my leather sandals, I exareen eyes, I kneouldn’t stand out in the darkened streets of AlexandriaI would need to keep hMy eyes were fairly unique I didn’t want to be recognized

"Alright,"Cleopatra breathed as she stood in front of ood- you won’t draw attentionNohat are you going to do when you get to the lighthouse?"

"I’ hard not to attract the attention of a harbor "And there should only be one in the lighthouse at night, just so that he can tend to the fireIt should be fairly easy to evade hireement"After I’m in, I will try to stay in the shadows as I locate PothinusAnd after that… I’ll play it by ear"

She sighed long and loud

"I wish I could go with youI don’t feel right sending you alone"She stared wistfully at the door, probably picturing the guards stationed on either side of itThey would certainly notice Queen Cleopatra sneaking out in peasant’s clothing

"It’s alright, CleopatraI’ll be fine Iras didn’t knoe were sending her intoBut I do- and I’ll be careful"

A twinge of guilt stirred within ht, I should have given her soerBut I would do edus

"Come back to me safely, Charmian,"she commanded queenly, but her warm eyes were those of a friend, not a pharaoh

"I will,out of her room quietlyI definitely fully intended to, that was for sure

I ignored the curious stares of the guards as I arbI could feel their intense gazes burning into my back as I walked quickly down the hallThey were probably pondering what to make of it and I wondered if Cleopatra would offer them some sort of explanationI doubted it- the queen was above questioningShe didn’t answer to anyone