For a moment, he thought Ptolemy might attack him, before the boy turned his back in impotent fury. Julius left him alone in the little room, walking out to the day with a light step.

Panek arrived with a delegation of courtiers at the first light of dawn. They approached the guards Julius had placed in the gardens and suffered a rough inspection for weapons before the three most senior were allowed inside.

Julius stood as they were brought into his presence, feeling again the wave of dislike from Panek’s cold eyes. It did not matter, now that he had the king.

Julius gestured to a stone block and sat down on a padded couch facing them, enjoying their discomfort. Five soldiers of the Tenth stood nearby and Octavian took position directly behind the courtiers, making them nervous. Panek’s face and neck shone with oil or sweat, Julius could not tell. His eyes were unpainted and he looked a little more human in the morning light without that decoration. The omission spoke volumes.

“You cannot hope to survive this crime,” Panek said, wrenching out the words as if the barest trace of civility was painful. “If the citizens learn that you are holding the king, I will not be able to restrain them. Do you understand me? You have only hours before the rumors spread and then they will come to burn you out of this nest.”

“I do not fear untrained men,” Julius said, casually. He signaled to a guard to bring him wine and sipped at it.

Panek raised his eyes in exasperation. “What do you want then, for the boy’s return? I’m sure you have a price.”

Julius reflected that Panek was not the best man to have sent. His anger was too obvious, and if it had merely been a matter of gold, he would have asked for more after such a sneering tone.

“We will start with the free run of the city, obviously,” Julius said. “No more of this seven days you mentioned. I want to see the library and Alexander’s tomb. Perhaps you can arrange guides for my officers.”

Panek blinked in confusion. “You would be torn apart by the mob, Consul, the first moment you set foot outside these walls.”

“That is unfortunate,” Julius said, frowning. “My second demand is for the court to leave Egypt. I have ships to take you to Cyprus or Sardinia, far away from the difficulties of your lives here. I imagine it will be a peaceful retirement and I’m sure I can arrange for a little gold to make it comfortable for you.”

The three Egyptians went very still and Panek’s eyes glittered dangerously.