Ptolemy himself stayed out of range of spears, though Julius sent Ciro up to the roof to try for a long shot. The sudden change in manner was beyond comprehension to the Romans. Cleopatra at least had seemed to understand when Julius described the gold headdress being placed on the boy. He remembered Ptolemy’s warning that outside, he would be the king.

The first attack came to nothing and those who battered at the doors were driven back at last by a storm of heavy tiles from the roof. Though they had retreated, Julius was sure they would return with more to hold shields over their heads. It was what he would have done.

Over the noise outside, Julius called to his generals: “Brutus! Go to Cleopatra and tell her I need a way out of here. We cannot stay in this place and let them smash it. If they burn us out, we’ll have to rush them.”

Cleopatra had come to the entrance hall as he spoke. “They would not dare to set fires while I am here,” she said.

Julius wanted to believe it, but he couldn’t take the risk. “They have us surrounded. Are there no tunnels, no secret routes?” he demanded, wincing as the battering ram struck again. No doubt the men were better protected this time.

Cleopatra shook her head. “I would have used one by now if there were,” she snapped.

Julius swore under his breath, turning away to peer through the cracks of daylight at the warriors beyond. The palace felt claustrophobic and he hated to play such a passive role. Apart from the men on the roof, he had no way of attacking his enemies unless he sent the legions out in a direct assault that could very well have been suicide.

“Do they have heavy weapons, catapults and the like?” he shouted over the noise. The palace could be reduced to rubble by such things and he had a sudden terror of them.

“Not close,” Cleopatra replied. She ran her tongue over her lips, tasting the dust in the air and frowning. “Follow me to the roof and I’ll show you.”

Julius hesitated, unwilling to leave his men. Brutus stepped forward a fraction before Domitius and Octavian.

“Go, sir,” he said. “We’ll hold them here for a while.”

Julius nodded in relief and raced after the queen, taking flights of stairs to the highest floors without slowing down. He was panting by the time he reached the top and climbed a ladder into the sunlight.