The 14 Roman Generals

Egypt

August 9, 48 BCE

Lucius' Pov

"Lucius!" Sidona calls. Sticking herself into my tent. In her hand is a scroll with a dark seal. "It's from Ramla."

"Have you been intercepting my mail?"

"No...I was out front when this was handed to me." She scowls.

"Sorry." I wonder what Ramla wants? "No need to get defensive."

Sidonia rolls her eyes. She hands me the scroll. I break the seal and unravel it. Written in neat hieratic, Ramla warns of a civil war between Cleopatra and Ptolemy. The king and queen of Egypt.

Sidonia leans over my shoulder to read. Last I checked she can't read hieratic. "What does it say?"

There is it.

"The King and Queen of Egypt have gone to war against the other. The Queen has gone to Syria to gather an army." Not good news. Pompey has fled to Egypt. With his hand in the east Pompey has some sway from conquering there. If he plans to gain the king's favour he may end up dead. Only if he offers to help Ptolemy after asking for aid against Caesar. "Find Maximus. He should be the one to tell Caesar."

"What? Chicken?"

"Nope, sensible." I walk out of the tent and begin scanning the battlefield for Sidonia's younger twin. It's best he tells Caesar. The young General has become fond of Maximus. Not so much his sister. "I rather like my head on my shoulders."

"Well," Sidonia raises an eyebrow. "No one can fault you."
_____

August 14, 48 BCE

"Hey, you!" An Egyptian man yells at Caesar. Many guards from Ptolemy's army around the harbour. "Lower the torch!"

"Sure!" Caesar drops the torch onto the deck of his ship. Maximus and several centurions drop their torches. The ropes and various tied-down barrels are the first to catch. It doesn't take long for the rest of the boats to catch on fire.

"Abandon ship!" Centurions yell. Splashes echo as people hurl themselves overboard. Screams break the water. I take a second and look around. It's not just our ships burning. It's the harbour and—the library.

Crap.

I brace myself for an earful. 'Lucius if this is your doing I will kick your ass. Meet at the library. Now.'

That wasn't too bad. Hopefully, she doesn't go off when I get there. Hope is a less than appropriate word. It's more of I pray she doesn't. This library is her baby so to speak. It's what she calls her life's work. If anything is to happen to it I pity the fool in her path.

Like everyone else, I hurl myself off the boat and into the harbour. The water is a shock. It's cold for this time of year. I am glad it's not the Nile. I fancy having all my limbs. With Maximus' help, I make it to shore without the Egyptians noticing.

I slip out of the water and head for the burning library. I have to rush around back and grab a headdress. I don't want people thinking I took a dip in the sea. Although I don't think they will care. As long as I help with the books.

The second I walk in the door chaos explodes in my face. Heat blasts my face. It's hard to breathe. I can't believe people are rushing in and out of here. Smoke trails out behind me. The roar of the fire screams in my ears. It's hard to hear what people are saying.

Ramla finds me in a matter of seconds. If it was up to me I'd be lost trying to find her. I don't know how she did it. "Lucius you fucking roman! Don't just stand there! Get the books out of here!"