The Passion of Cleopatra (Ramses the Damned 2)

"Yes. Free to make your final decision."

In the doorway behind Saqnos, Enamon and Aktamu appeared, daggers drawn. But they allowed enough space between them for Saqnos to leave the great hall if he so chose.

As if he could not believe this sudden turn of events, Saqnos rose slowly to his feet and looked to each of them in turn. He seemed stricken by the confusion on Ramses' face, on Julie's face, as if any suggestion the two of them were not in on this plan meant it could not possibly be a trap.

His final decision.

What could Bektaten mean by this?

"You set me free now that you have taken everything from me," he said. "My children, my hounds."

"Your house stands. Your hounds are still there. Although they won't be as submissive to your evil deeds as they once were. A decision awaits you on the other side of the bridge that brought you here. I give this decision entirely to you. Cross the bridge before I change my mind."

For a while no one spoke. The only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the roaring surf, and then those sounds were joined by a third: the low rumble of laughter coming from Saqnos, a sound so full of derision and contempt, Ramses tightened his grip on his dagger in response. Eventually this rumble turned into a frenzied cackling, and it was then that Ramses thought the man had gone mad.

There was fury in Bektaten's expression, but she did not order Saqnos to leave.

"You're a coward, Bektaten," Saqnos finally said, left breathless by his own laughter. "You're a coward who kills only at a safe remove. You cannot even bear to see me brought down by your own men. You are a coward, Bektaten, and you always were. A coward who could not face the evil in her kingdom."

"There was only one evil in my kingdom. And it was you. And I have faced you for thousands of years. And I watched your children die only a few feet from where I stood. Every last one. There was no remove. You were the one who sent them unaccompanied to do your bidding while you remained at your estate." She took a deep breath. "Leave this place. And know that from this day forward, my back will be turned to you."

Julie squeezed Ramses' hand, distressed by Bektaten's order almost to the point of crying out in protest. She had not seen what Ramses had just glimpsed when Saqnos turned his back to the fire and stepped into the more even light cast by the chandelier overhead.

"Fare thee well, my queen," Saqnos whispered.

Bektaten said nothing.

Saqnos turned, passed between her guards, who turned and followed him. Bektaten followed as well. Ramses did the same. Julie tightened her grip and held him in place. "Ramses," she whispered fiercely, "she cannot let him go. She must not."

"His eyes, Julie," he whispered back. "Did you see his eyes?"

40

Outside, the winds were fierce, the sky over the sea still dark and pierced by stars. But in the east, dawn's first light brightened the sky. There was a pale glow all around them, which allowed their group to see without need for a flashlight or a torch.

Steps from the garden that had brought him so much ruin, Saqnos slowed and gazed into the rustling blossoms.

Behind him, they all came to a stop. Enamon and Aktamu, who had remained on the man's heels ever since they left the great room; Bektaten a few paces behind them; and then Ramses and Julie in the rear, their hands still clutching daggers that had been dipped in the strangle lily upon their return.

Ramses looked back at the castle.

Above, Sibyl opened her window. The wind whipped through her golden hair and she was forced to hold the collar of her nightgown closed against it with one hand. Had she overheard their conversation in the great room? If so, had she been able to make any sense of it? Regardless, she was silent. She seemed to understand she was bearing witness to a departure of great significance.

As Saqnos lingered, Ramses expected words of farewell. But there were none.

Silently, he started once again for the courtyard gate, which had been left open.

When he came to the bridge, he gripped both of its rope rails to steady himself and then proceeded to cross it. Slowly. Carefully. The boards underfoot were knotted tightly together, forming an almost solid floor. But the entire construction swayed steadily in the wind. And the spray from the crashing waves far below created a constant mist that turned the boards slick.

"Ramses," Julie whispered. "Ramses, she can't--"

"Patience, Julie," he whispered back. "Patience, my love."

Light glinted off some sort of shiny object that appeared to be resting against one of the rocks on the other side. Some sort of gift waiting for Saqnos just beyond the bridge. But Saqnos had not yet seen it.

Once he had crossed, he looked back to find Enamon and Aktamu standing on either side of the bridge's headland side. Each man had taken one of the rope rails in hand and stretched it taut across the upturned blade of his dagger. Their meaning was clear: should Saqnos suddenly try to return they would quite literally cut the bridge out from under him.

At first, Saqnos sneered, then a sort of realization seemed to dawn.