"Who the heck gave Alexander the idea of conquering Egypt? Damn man, it's hot as Hades," Julian got down from his horse, waving his hand dismissively at the people following him, "Stop the procession, we'll take some rest," he breathed out hastily.

"Good place to stop. Apparently, we've reached the banks of the Nile. I bet everyone's thirsty," Jakov stated, ushering with his sword to stop the beeline of slaves and warriors.

"Stop! Everyone must be guided by the warriors to the bank. Drink as much as you can cause after this, there won't be any stopping!" he announced.

Julian lowered his horse to a sitting position and rested against it. Sweat dripped past his temples, beading his torso. The air was cooler due to the nearness of the great river Nile.

"Here... the water," Jakov huffed, shifting the vessel full of water near the horse, and sat down, tired out of his wits.

"Thanks man," Julian slapped his shoulder in acknowledgement. Taking out the pitcher he kept with himself, he dipped it in the vessel.

Filling it to the brim, he poured it over his head. Getting rid of the stickiness and sand particles that were stuck due to the hot weather of Egypt, he took another pitcher full of water and poured it behind his shoulders.

Shaking out the water from his hair, he glanced beside to see Jakov. A gloomy expression settled on his face.

"Hm?" he clapped in front of his face, startling him.

"Helaine's troubling again?" he asked, amused.

"Am I that easy to read?" he sighed, picking the sand dust in his fingers only to let go. His eyes fixed at a faraway distance.

"I heard she'll be giving one of her beloved cubs to someone. Is that cracking you up? And oh, she hasn't come with you, I see," Julian came to sit beside him, now drinking from the pitcher to quench his parched throat.

"What? I know nothing about that. But she seems to be... oh man, how do I say this?" he rubbed his hands over his face.

"She's ignoring me for some old friends. Also, she made some new ones in the concubine's association, so she'll be staying there for the time being," he sighed.

Julian snickered, then burst out in a full-blown laughter.

"Gosh Jakov, such a lover that you are! I know I can never understand what goes through the mind of a man who's in a relationship but," he paused to fetch another pitcher of water.

"You've got to start ignoring a bit, like chasing her every time will not work. What I mean is listen to her and fulfil every damn wish she wants, but be subtle about it. You going crazy about every little thing she does is a total turnoff. Give her some space to breathe. Sounds good?" he mused.

A small smile broke on Jakov's face, "Says the man who's never experienced all this," he chuckled.

Julian dipped a linen piece in the vessel and draped it around his shoulders to cool off.

"I've never studied with Aristotle as Alexander did, but one saying by him has really impressed me," he smiled.

"Never let your heart be broken by love, especially if you are a warrior. If a woman conquers your heart, it becomes a- you know, bit difficult to conquer the lands. Distractions and all," he concluded.

"But your advice sounds good. I hope you also get your better-half someday. After all, a man is incomplete without a woman in his life, right?"

But Julian wasn't listening anymore. Jakov traced his line of sight to see his attention strained on a group of warriors hassling with some female slaves.

"She was the finest one I got. Hope you like it," he shoved me, causing me to stagger forward.

A group of warriors sat on their haunches, chatting together. They stopped when they looked up at me.

The procession had halted after the lashing soldier had dragged me near the front lines where most of the warriors marched.

"Nice choice, man," one of them got up, but his gaze diverted to the next slave.

"Damascus, I bought you someone as well. Look, isn't she gorgeous?" I peeked at the woman, who was struggling to get out of his hold.

"Leave me, you bastard! If my husband was alive, he would've broken your arm in two!" she screeched. Something was very familiar with the way she looked.

"Fuck!" the warrior cursed, who had gotten up to seize me. "She's spewing her dried out saliva. Man, give her some water." He shook his hands, and a warrior came forward, drinking from a goblet.

"Huh, have this." he extended his goblet, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"SHUT UP MORON! You think I'll drink from a source dripping with your fucking saliva!" she screamed, trying to elbow the warrior gripping her from behind.

"Drink from this slave!" the warrior Damascus sneered, rage filling his eyes at the woman who was daring to talk around.

"We aren't your Greek women that you'll have your way with us. We are Egyptian women alright?! Shove it up your ass if you can't keep in your head!"

Wow

Simply wow.

The one year I had spent in Queen Cleopatra's court, I understood one thing.

Egyptian women were ahead of their time. They could not only rule the country but also had many of the same basic human rights as men.

I was lucky enough to witness the exceptional display of humanity and equality in the fourth century BCE Egypt that was not present in other ancient societies.

What I'd also learned was to mix with the crowd. And this woman had given the perfect opportunity to become outspoken.

"Hey!" I yelled, "She is right. You Greeks don't know a thing about us. We will not listen to whatever crap you talk about!"

The grip of the half-burnt warrior's hand tightened around me,

"The nerve of you, woman!" he attempted to shove me down, but I won't let him now. Done being obedient to these leeches.

Meek women my foot.

I bent down with the force he had on my shoulders. Just when my knees made contact with the ground, I elbowed him right on his knees.

He howled in pain, half-burnt face contouring in agony. I swiftly rose from the ground and before anyone could figure out what was going on, I crisscrossed the chain connecting my hands around his ankle.

I pulled it with all my strength as his leg raised in the air, finally making him crash on the ground head on.

"Broken skull challenge should've been created for dipshits like you," I grinned.

"Althea!" the woman shrieked in disbelief. "That's my woman!"

Oh, my Lord. She was Nofrehet?!

My actions inspired her as she propelled her elbow into the warrior holding her. It made direct contact with his jaw, spattering it with blood. He wiped the blood out of his mouth and palmed his face angrily, ready to march towards her.

She had the I'm-ready-to-fight-look, seriously, but was in great danger given the weight of chains around her neck and feet, including the hands. I looked down at my hands, the only chained part of my body.

Thanks Julian, I thought sarcastically.

In no time, I threw the chain before his neck from behind and twisted it around his throat. He gagged at the impact, clawing at the chain. Sensing his move, I tangled my foot around his and pushed backwards, letting him fall face down.

The look on the rest of the warrior's face was worth it. It seemed a woman in action temporarily hypnotised them.

We have self-defense classes back in the twenty-first century buddies; I thought with a pleased expression.

Nofrehet gave me a triumphant smirk. Sensing something behind me, she walked as fast as she could in the chains and threw a handful of sand on the warrior who was trying to advance again. The one I had tackled before.

"Aargh! You fucking whores!'' Damascus shouted in all his fury, ready to stride in our direction, but something halted me altogether.

"I said STOP," a demanding voice came in.

My eyes boggled out at the person standing with his arms crossed over his chest.

Shit.

Julian shouldn't have seen my taekwondo moves.