ch. 2 The Fall

  Setna: "ALEXANDER! STOP TEASING YOUR SISTER!"

 Alexander: "Sorry, teacher!"-said, as he turned to his twin sister, and stuck out his tongue at her, while she did the same as well.

 The twin children of Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile, were now beginning their second year of studies, with High Priest Setna, as their teacher. He had also been, their big brother, Caesarion's teacher, before that. And though, Caesarion had already become a young man, he still regarded Setna's teachings, with the highest respect.

 Just then, a maid barged in their study hall.

 Maid: "Run! Run! The Romans are coming! The Romans are coming! The Queen is dead!"

 Setna: "Sister. Calm down! What's going on? Explain yourself! What happened to the Queen?"

 The maid took a deep breath, as Setna placed his arms on her shoulders, calming her down a little. She looked straight at him, as tears began to swell up, in her eyes. She began anew:

  Maid: "The Queen is dead! She killed herself with poison, before the Romans could grab a hold of her. They barged in, beyond the city gate. Her majesty's last words were: "Setna! Protect my children, as I have protected your secret!". Then she drank the poison, as the gates to her tomb, closed right in front of me!"

 Setna: "I see! Now! First thing's first! Where are Ptolemy and Caesarion?"

 Maid: "His highness Caesarion, already took young highness Ptolemy. They are waiting for their highnesses Alexander and Selene, at the stables!"

 Setna took a single glance at his young students, then turned to the maid, speaking in a language, not spoken by people of Egypt:

 Setna: "Is my nephew near?"

 Maid: "Yes. Eve is next to him, as always."

 Setna: "Lily, what is to become of my students? Are they...?"

 Maid/Lily: "Balaur says, they are to escape, but in order for them to live, Setna has to seize to be! Otherwise, the Romans won't stop chasing them!"

 Setna: "I see. So shall it be!"

 Selene watched, as her teacher and his maid, talked, in what she assumed, what was the secret language, of those serving in the temple of Thoth. She watched, as her tutor's expression, slowly changed. He glanced at her and her brother, with worry, before he relaxed. Then, without saying anything else, Setna took out from his bag, three almost identical rings. One had the image of a Sun, with a snake coming out of one end, encircling the finger, and ending at the other end of the Sun. The second ring, was almost the same, but with the image of the moon instead. The third, had an Ankh, with a snake intertwined. All 3 rings, were clearly made for a grown up. Setna kneeled in front of Selene, as he took her hand, and placed the ring with the crescent moon, on her ring finger, and said:

 Setna: "These rings, your majesties, were made with Thoth's magic, especially for each of her Majesty Cleopatra's children. They were meant to be your graduation gift."

 The rings in Setna's hands, were clearly made for adults, as soon as her ring encyrcled her finger, it suddenly was a perfect fit. While she was still marveling at her gift, Setna quickly placed Alexander's ring on his ring finger, and gave him the one meant for Ptolemy.

 Setna: "Little princess, Survive! Forget what was, and focus on what is! You have your brothers with you. Keep each other safe!"

 Selene, staring at Setna's eyes, gave him a big, tight hug, around his neck, before taking a deep breath, stopping her tears.

 Selene: "Yes teacher! You too. Stay safe. Let's meet again in the future!"

 Setna: "Um! Time will tell. Now go!"

 Maid/Lily: " The decoys are already in place! Now hurry young ones. There isn't much time. Are you ready master?"

 Setna: "Yes! Let the play begin!"

 While the maid was dragging the two children out of the study chamber, a "swoosh" sound came from behind Setna. When Selene turned around, she saw the red blood of her favorite teacher, flying everywhere, and him, lying on the floor. Behind him, the tall figure of "Blue Beard", stood with a blade in his hand, his face expressionless. Behind him, a young woman, clad in black leather, was handing him a cloth for his sword. Selene wanted to scream, but doing so, would only make their position known to the two assassins, which would break her promise. Instead, she kept quiet, as tears rolled down her young eyes.

 The maid's hand, felt oddly reassuring at that moment.

 Not long after, the twins reunited with their brothers. Heading to the boats, on the Nile river, Caesarion noticed they were being chased by the black cladded woman. The maid barely managed to push the boat into the river, when the black cladded assassin caught up with them.

 The last thing Selene saw, before her big brother covered her eyes, was the gentle figure of the maid, falling from the pier, into the waters of the Nile.

 Finally giving in to the stress, Selene bellowed, while being held, in Caesarion's arms.

 That was the first day, of their new life.

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