Chapter 1
“The river”
Ahuizotl sat silently on his large boat, holding a fishing rod in his hands. He had been floating on the nile for hours and had seen more crocodiles than fish. He bitterly cursed under his breath and pulled his rod out. He noticed something was nibbling his bait which indicated that there was fish. For the fifth time, he changed the bait and threw his rod outward. He sat and watched as a ripple effect was made, touching the side of his boat and skewing his image in the water. He saw his beloved city of Rome and its people in those waters. It was so simple when he was in power. The ponies obeyed his every command without question, he had full control of the army and had a private reserve of money and jewels to purchase private land for his own needs. Until it was taken away by the brat, Cabelleron. The rod snapped in between his hands making him furiously toss them aside. Luckily, he had three more in his possession.
When he cast his line, he saw another boat floating down the river towards him. It was a large boat, twice as large as his own. It was painted with gold and blue along it sides with egyptian writing. There were four egyptian servants with large sticks rowing the boat with ease and on the main deck was a veiled room, held up by golden pillars. It was an extravagant boat made for a pharaoh. Ahuizotl peered into the room and saw the shape of a pony, laying down on a curved couch. He must have been staring for too long as he saw the pony lift up its head and put up a hoof. The boat stopped immediately in front of him.
“Are you of rome, stranger?” asked the pony behind the veil. Ahuizotl realized it was a female.
“Yes.” Ahuizotl responded, bowing slightly. “Rome is my home and I came to Egypt to fish in your waters.”
“And how is it? The fishing?”
“Very poor.” Ahuizotl chuckled. “It seems they do not like my bait.”
“Really?” the pony clapped her hooves and a servant rushed to her, handing her a fishing rod. Ahuizotl saw her push aside the veil, just enough to cast her rod out. A few moments after hitting the water, the string was tugged causing the pony to swiftly pull it out. Ahuizotl eyes widened when he saw a fish attached to it. The pony let out a chuckle when she handed the fish to one of the servants.
“It seems the fish do not like you, Roman.” the pony laughed. Ahuizotl frowned, annoyed by how easily she acquired the fish.
“I would say it was beginner’s luck, my lady.” Ahuizotl sneered. She heard the pony huff in surprise.
“No such thing. Come along onto my boat and I will show you.” She clapped her hooves and immediately her servants dropped a makeshift wooden bridge, connecting their boats. Ahuizotl obliged. He did not want to offend an Egyptian royal.
“What bait are you using, Roman?” The pony asked. Ahuizotl lifted up a small leather bag. “Stale bread, my lady.”
“Ah.” She sounded. “The dry bread becomes soggy when it’s in water. Use these.” She clapped her hooves and one of her servants swiftly grabbed a bowl of dates. Ahuizotl arched a brow, picking up the small fruit and examining it.
“Fruit as fish bait? How absurd.”
He saw the figure turn around to face him. Even if the veil obstructed his view on what she looked like, he heard her chuckle from pride.
“Please and attach the date to your hook, oh mighty Roman. If you do not catch a fish, I will personally bow humbly at your feet.”
Ahuizotl hummed at the proposition. He attached the date to his hook and cast his line out. He expected to not catch a single fish, considering his luck but in a matter of minutes, he felt a tug at his line. He quickly reeled the rod back onto the boat and flopping at the deck, was a baby crocodile. The sudden surprise was enough to make the pony burst out in loud laughter, even her servants laughed at his misfortune. He bit the inside of his cheek, casting the crocodile aside and into the river. He was ready to bid farewell and return to his boat when the pony lifted herself up, parting her veil.
She had eyes that were the color of the finest rubies. She wore a straight, white dress with two shoulder straps. Around her neck was a gold necklace and her legs were covered with gold bracelets. Her hair was a mix of charcoal, parted down that it covered the side of her face. She took a few steps towards him and with a smirk, bowed her head fully at his feet.
“I humbly bow at your misfortune, Roman.”
Ahuizotl snorted and let out a deep chortle. “It appears that I have been curse, my lady.”
The pony lifted her head and eyed him. “What is your name?”
“Marc-Ahuizotl. Companion of Julius Ceaser.”
“Julius!” The pony exclaimed. “A friend of Julius is a friend of mine.”
“You know of Julius?”
“Oh yes!” The pony grabbed a date and popped it into her mouth. “We were lovers.”
Ahuizotl refrained from choking in disbelief. He knew that Julius Caesar travelled constantly to Egypt but he thought it was because he liked the culture.
“But it seems Roman law and Egyptian law proved to be problematic and we were not officially wed. Our courtship ended.But I do enjoy his visits. You must insist to him on returning soon.”
Ahuizotl frowned. “I am afraid that he cannot, my lady.”
She scowled. “Why?”
“He had been murdered by ponies he thought were his friends.”
Her eyes immediately went wide. They glossed over as she took a sharp breath. She lifted her hoof up to her chin, turning her head. Ahuizotl bowed his head apologetically.
“I am sorry to give you the terrible news, my lady.”
One of her servants brought her a handkerchief but she cast it away, refusing it. “No. I will not weep for dear Julius. But I will mourn for his soul. I shall mourn for him for fourteen days. In fact-“ she turned to one of her other servants. “Inform the people that we are all in mourning for fourteen days, this is a tragedy, all of my people must know.”
She turned to Ahuizotl, who held a hard expression. “You were close to Julius.” She stated. He nodded at her. “You must have sought justice for Julius.”
“I have. They had been hanged and burned.”
She nodded at him, satisfied with his answer. “How long do you plan on staying in Egypt?”
“A month.”
“Then I insist you visit my palace. I will have a banquet for you tonight and every night you plan on staying.”
“It is an honor, my lady.”
“Anything for a friend of Julius.” She turned away and began to walk to her lounge until Ahuizotl spoke up.
“Forgive me, my lady but I do not know of your name and Julius failed to even mention you in his trips.
The mare sniffed and smiled. “Yes, he wouldn’t mention me.” Ahuizotl bit his tongue. He shouldn’t have spoken up about it. “You haven’t offended me, Roman. I am sure Julius had his reasons.” She turned back at Ahuizotl. “My name is Cleopatra.”