Free Athena's Son by Jeryl Schoenbeck Page A

his family dead and I intend to find out who.”
    She finished rolling up the scroll and touched its ragged edge. “I need to find the rest of this scroll. Someone tore it off to protect the murderer.” She jabbed her silver-ringed finger into his chest. “Will you help me or do you think I’m crazy too? Be honest with me.”
    “ I would always give you an honest answer. Yes, of course I’ll help you, Berenike.” Sure she seemed a little crazy, but this Muse was captivating too.
    She took a step closer and gave him a deep gaze. “Promise?”
    “ I promise,” Archimedes said, “but…” he was about to say she would be contradicting more than 50 years of accepted knowledge about Alexander’s death, when he happened to glance beyond her wavy hair and notice a man staring intently at them.
    He appeared to be a rich Roman dressed in the traditional toga embroidered with purple silk that only Roman citizens were allowed to wear. He had an odd habit of tapping the back of his fist against his mouth while concentrating on them. The man was glancing from the scrolls to Berenike when he caught Archimedes’ glare and hastily walked away.
    “ I don’t like the look of this,” Archimedes cautioned as he took a step toward the spying Roman.
    Berenike, animated with her conspiracy theory, grabbed Archimedes by the hand. “Great, I knew you would think so! I want to take you to the palace talk with my father!”
    Archimedes had just enough time to grab the glass off the table.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 14
     
    Startled scholars watched two reckless children sprint through the library. Berenike led Archimedes out the history section, through the lecture hall and into the entrance hall.
    Ajax, who was patrolling the entrance hall, turned to the slapping of their sandals. Instead of going out the front and down the steps, Berenike made a quick turn to the right and out a concealed side door. “Father put this door in for the nobles to use.” Outside, a royal chariot was waiting with a driver.
    Archimedes had read about chariots, but he never really expected to ride in one. The driver bowed low and set out a stool for Berenike. She bounded up two steps and turned around to see Archimedes inspecting the construction.
    “ Hurry, will you? It’s completely safe.” She turned to the driver. “Agrippas, you’ll be careful, won’t you?” Her driver was a wiry, lean-faced Greek who smiled easily.
    “ As cautious as we always are, Princess.” The man bowed, but not before Archimedes saw him wink at Berenike.
    A matching pair of magnificent, grey Arabian horses was hitched to the front of the wooden chariot. The frame, Archimedes noted, was made of imported elm, which was needed for the rough ride chariots endured. The construction was heavy for royal use in parades and official functions, unlike the typical war chariot that was lighter. A bronze railing curved around the openings and followed the frame to the back. The outside was covered in some type of animal hide Archimedes did not recognize. It was golden brown with dark brown spots speckled over it. He hesitantly took the two steps up.
    “ He’ll take it easy, won’t he?” Archimedes asked as he looked at the two Arabians paw impatiently on the ground.
    “ Hang on,” Berenike whispered.
    The musky smell of the horses overwhelmed the delicate fragrance of Berenike, but nothing could contend with her energetic grin as Agrippas whipped the horses from a trot, to a cantor, and into a gallop. People scattered as the chariot bumped and churned through the dusty streets. Archimedes turned to see the library slowly shrink behind and he saw the Roman again, fist tapping against his mouth, watching the chariot speed away.
    “ Father wants me to travel in a covered chair that the servants carry,” Berenike said. “I think it looks pretentious. Besides, isn’t this more fun?”
    The grey mares’ eyes were wide and wild as they tossed their heads against the tight