of a typical boyhoodfascination with the glamour of the Time Wars. Childhood play had led him tothe library, to look up certain historical details so that he could settlearguments among his playmates about what sort of armor was worn by medievalknights and how ancient Romans fought. He was able to point out historicalflaws in the design of the toy weapons that their parents purchased for themand was soon making his own from wood in his father’s workshop. He sold them tohis friends, who found that they held up to rough use far better than theflimsy plastic swords they bought in stores and made a far more satisfyingsound when they were stuck together.
He became the local “Armorer,” constructing wooden swordsand shields and daggers for his friends, and with practice, he became moreskillful at it.
Determined to be authentic at all costs, he did his researchcarefully and the more he read about ancient times, the more fascinated he becameand the more he wanted to know. His interest in research helped him to acquirebetter study habits and his grades in school improved dramatically. His father,pleased with this development, as well as with his growing skill incraftsmanship, encouraged him and bought him better tools and books. Whilestill in his early teens, Travers had graduated to working in metal. He startedsmall, with handmade knives, but soon moved on to larger blades. By the time hewas ready to enter college, he had made quite a bit of money selling replicasof Spanish swords, medieval maces. Viking blades and battle axes.Sinclair-hilted sabers, French rapiers and Scottish basket-billed claymores tocollectors and would-be Time Commandos who were happy to pay hundreds ofdollars for authentic, exquisitely crafted “souvenirs of campaigns in Minustime.”
Travers entered Harvard on a scholarship and it was therethat his area of interest narrowed to a specialization in classical times. Hestudied Greek and Latin and took graduate degrees in history, now certain ofhow he planned to spend his life. He intended to apply to the Observer Corpsand be commissioned as an L.T.O., with hopes of a long-term posting in ancientRome. His timing could not have been more perfect. He completed his Observertraining at the head of his class, just as the Temporal Crisis struck and thefocus of the Time Wars shifted from the settling of international disputes todealing with the new and greater threat from the parallel universe. Themajority of the world’s temporal forces were being converted to TemporalObserver status, to function under the senior officers of the Observer Corps,and there was a drastic need for personnel with the sort of qualificationsTravers had, especially as L.T.O.’s. They were as anxious to get Travers asTravers was to join them and he was able to write his own ticket. Without hesitation,he requested to be assigned to Gaius Julius Caesar. ‘Now, the future that hecame from seemed less real to him than the time in which he lived. He hadbecome a Roman in almost all respects. except for that certain distance that healways had to keep, to remind himself of who and what he really was and whathis task entailed. For over a decade, he had lived the dream. Caesar had becomehis friend and it was difficult for him to think that in a couple of years, hewould be murdered in the Senate, beneath the statue of the very man whom he haddriven out of Rome and to his death in Egypt.
He thought of Casca. striking the first blow, and Brutus,delivering the last. Travers felt the blade of the
He had come to have a great deal of respect and affectionfor Caesar. not only as a scholar studying his subject. but as a man and as afriend. It was hard to think that he would have to stand by and watch him die,and in such an awful manner, without being able to do anything to prevent it.But that was precisely what he had to do. If necessary, he would even have toget involved himself to make sure that history wasn’t changed. As much as thatthought disturbed hint, the thought that forces from the parallel universecould be at work to change that disturbed him even more.
Over the next few days, Caesar grew more tense andirritable. He avoided Pothinus and the king as much as possible, which seemedto suit the two of them just fine. He took long walks in the gardens, alwaysarmed and always with Travers at his side and several soldiers close by. It wasin the gardens that several of Ptolemy’s ministers contrived to meet with him,or to send informers, to keep him advised of what Pothinus was doing. Thelonger they remained in Egypt, in the midst of palace intrigues, the more dangerthey were in. If Pothinus found out about Caesar’s plan to reinstate Cleopatra.he would waste no time in having them removed. Travers would have felt muchbetter staying with the army, but Caesar insisted upon staying in the palace,both to claim the treatment due Rome’s emissary and to keep an eye on things.
They were dining in their chambers one evening when one ofthe ministers arrived, along with a servant carrying a rolled-up carpet overhis shoulder.
“I have brought the additional bedclothing you requested. Caesar.”said the minister, shutting the door behind him as the servant carried it in.
“Bedclothing?” said Caesar with a frown. “I did not ask forbedclothing.”
“Perhaps Caesar does not recall.” said the minister with asmile. “Lay it down upon the floor, Apollodorus.”
Caesar got up from his chair. “What is this? I am quitecertain that I asked for no-”
Apollodorus unrolled the carpet and stood back. A youngwoman had been rolled up inside it. She was lying on her stomach. She pushedherself up slightly from the floor and bent one lovely leg, tossed her head,getting the hair back out of her eyes, and looked up at Caesar with a smile.
“You did ask that I come to you discreetly,” she said.
Caesar stood back with surprise.
“I am Cleopatra.”
She stood and faced them. Travers stared at her, stunned.She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her hair was jet-black, longand straight. Her striking features were sharp and graceful. There was a proudnobility to her bearing. Her eyes were a deep brown, with a smoldering.penetrating gaze; her complexion dark: her mouth full and sensuous. Her figurewas voluptuous, with large. Firm breasts that were clearly outlined in thesimple, thin, white linen shift she wore, her narrow waist and flaring hipsaccentuated by the gold girdle encircling it. Her legs were long and shapely,her small feet gracefully shod in thin. delicate sandals. She wore no jewelryexcept for an amulet around her neck. She was breathtakingly lovely.. Traversrecalled that at the time of meeting Caesar, this very meeting, she wastwenty-one years old.
“That which was concealed shall stand revealed.” Caesar murmured.Travers glanced at him sharply.
Cleopatra cocked her head, gazing at Caesar with puzzlement.
Caesar shook his head. “I was merely recalling somethingsomeone told me once,” he said. He glanced at the minister and servant. “Leaveus.”
They went out and shut the door behind them. Caesar gesturedtoward his chair. “Please. Be seated.” She chose the couch rather than thechair and reclined upon it gracefully.
Caesar watched her appreciatively. “Allow me to present myfriend, Praetor Lucius Septimus.”
She inclined her head slightly toward Travers. Travers stoodand gave her a slight bow. “I am honored, Queen Cleopatra.”
“I am not a queen now, Praetor Septimus, merely an exiledprincess. My brother is still king, she said.
‘“For the moment,” Caesar said. He smiled. “I must admitthat I had not expected your arrival in so bold a manner. It was very clever ofyou.”
“Our nights are cool,” she said. “A Roman could be expectedto feel the chill. No one would remark upon his asking for another coverlet.”
“Had I known they made such coverlets in Egypt. I would havesent for one much sooner,” Caesar replied with a smile. “I merely regret that Ihad to ask you to resort to stealth in order to arrive in your own palace.”
“I understood the need.” she said. “Pothinus would hardly welcomemy arrival. Since I was sent to live in exile. he has made a breach between myyounger brother and myself.”
“A breach can be repaired.” said Caesar. “It wants only acraftsman who knows what he’s about.”
Cleopatra smiled. “You do not have the look of a craftsman.”she said.
“Neither have I the look of a general,” Caesar replied, orat least so I am told. And yet I lead Rome’s finest
