[right][h3]October 48 BC - Alexandria, Egypt[/h3][/right]
[hr]

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.

[b]"Shani, I have a task for you."[/b] 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. 

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

[b]"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."[/b]

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. [b]"Of course my queen. Who shall I be accompanying? How long should I pack for?"[/b]

[b]"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."[/b]

[b]"As you wish."[/b] 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.

[b]"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."[/b]

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

[b]"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."[/b]

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.

[b]"Now go and pack, I want you two on that chariot in two hours."[/b] 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. 

[hr]

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.