Part 7 (1/2)
We all screahter
”Love as a weapon,” said Arsinoe I knehat she was thinking: With my boks, it is a weapon open to me With my boks, it is a weapon open to me
”That is one we Ptolee, e've exploited all the others”
”Perhaps none of us were very lovable,” I suggested ”Nonsense!” said Father
Time passed; Father stayed on his throne; the Rost themselves, which diverted their attention There were many ceremonial occasions to keep us busy, in addition to the real, behind-the-scenes work
The Alexandrians wished to dedicate a newly laid-out precinct to us--a park that included plantings, statuary, and pools on the outskirts of the city We attended in full royal regalia, presented by Father for the occasion, human statues in theused to such ceres were different The inscription--dictated by Father--carved on the stone called us all ”Our Lords and Greatest Gods” So ere all Gods now, not just the ruler? He stood proudly as the stone was exhibited and the startling words recited
”O living Gods, and Goddesses, we throw ourselves at your blessed feet--” theOne by one citizens came and bent their heads before us, then knelt I looked down and saw people shaking, as if they were afraid of inhaling so went into it, or how much they were overtaken by the , ”Today my children, the Gods, assu May they be locked together in the love that binds those who share the sas, I knew it could never be But it was touching that Father wished it so
Aftere gathered in Father's private dining chamber to seal the cereold robe: pronouncing it too heavy to drag around, she let it fall in a cruhtly on a Goddess's shoulders?” I teased her Underneath it she earing a thin blue gown that duplicated the blue of her eyes
She ed Either she felt no different, or she had always assumed Godhood for herself
Father took his place at the head of our family He looked tired, as if he should be the one to find the heavy robes oppressive It was only then that I saw the weariness in hiate cup and stared at it moodily as he motioned for wine ”This cup came from our ancestral homeland,” he said ”Macedonia I wish you to re froold” He took a sip Then another
”Did the ceremony please you?” he asked
We all nodded dutifully
”Surprise you?”
”Yes Why did you bestow the t titles?” I finally asked, since no one else see to talk
”Because I wish you all to be treated as sacrosanct, by each other as well as by outsiders, after I ahted and tidy, or was he aware of a reason to hurry?
”Gone where?” asked the smallest Ptolee on his elbows
”After he's dead,” said his brother, coldly, the nine-year-old realist
Arsinoe kept chewing languidly on an onion stalk, such was the warmth of our little family ”Oh,” she finally said
”It is kind of you to think so far ahead,” I said ”But surely that is not of immediate concern” I meant it as a question But he chose not to answer it
”A good ruler must take precautions Noish to inform you about my will I have dispatched a copy to Rome, since they have such aninterest in our affairs, proclaiive offense if I did not And there is already a precedent for it” He took several sips of the wine, each one closer to a gulp
”One copy remains here,” he continued ”That, too, is a precaution Wills can be altered, lostand to offset that, you must hear my provisions from my ownand was sitting up straighter
”Surely it will come as no surprise to you that Cleopatra will succeed me,” he said He turned toward me with a smile ”She is the oldest, and has been trained for the station” But his eyes said more; they said, And she is the child of my heart, the one I choose above all others And she is the child of my heart, the one I choose above all others
I did not look at Arsinoe, but I knew that she was sullen
”With her as co-regent will be her first brother, Ptolemy In due tiled, as if they found it all silly and odious Well, it was odious, but too serious to be silly
”Father,” I said, ”perhaps that custom should be allowed to lapse”
He shook his head, sadly ”Ending it would bringit Every fortune hunter of a prince would converge on our shores It would be like one of the oldtested by the father or the Gods, having to perfors to do than to preside over contests for your hand”
”I alondered why the suitors came and risked themselves in the stories,” said Arsinoe ”The rejected ones always got killed”
Father laughed ”Princesses exert a deadly lure”
After the meal was over, Father askedArsinoe picked up her robe and dragged it scornfully behind her as she left, as if to show that she disdained Father's gifts, since he did not offer her the highest one
”Now, my child,” he said, as he took his seat on a cushi+oned bench besideelse”
I had sensed that there must be ”Yes?”
”I think it would be wise to associate you in ruling with me now,” he said
”In ceremonies? But we already--”
”No, to elevate you forency To proclaim you Queen”
Queennow? It see to s the sorrow of Father's loss at the same time ”I am touched by the honor you offer me,” I finally said
”There will be another cereh, then another, and I knew then that these arrangements were not premature
”Father, please don'tlittle tattletale! And he will grow up to be so was not to be dissuaded, even by me He shook his head ”You are fortunate I don't just skip over you and name him as heir It is unprecedented for the Queen to be first ruler”