Timaeus would stay behind to supervise the efforts of the experimental ship-design effort.
“Automata, your majesty,” he said, shaking his head. “A child’s toy…”
“Can become a weapon. Aren’t the deadliest daggers the ones that look like little bijoux?”
He looked at her and smiled. Yes, she might be queen, but in his eyes she would always be the apt pupil of eleven, who was blooming into something formidable.
And that, in a way, was flattery in excess of anything the kings of the earth could provide in the way of ivory or gold or marriage-offers.
***
Cleopatra is setting sail to Rome by invitation of Julius Caesar; Timaeus is her (fictional) tutor whom she has appointed to oversee the steam-technology initiative.
Weekend Writing Warriors offers eight-sentence excerpts from a variety of writers; see the other excerpts here.
E. P. Beaumont 
Oh, I love Cleopatra inspired fiction. I can’t wait to read more!
Yes a pupil learning is the greatest form of flattery
I love the reference to daggers disguised as jewelry.
Ah, yes, these ancients knew a thing or two about technology.
Interesting twist on a tale we think we all know – I like it! Terrific snippet!
Cleopatra was something else! I love reading about her.
What a great 8. Really nice. I’ll tweet when I get out of twitter time out.
Love the ‘blooming into something formidable’ Nicely worded.
~Summer
My 8 sentences
“Blooming into something formidable”, yes she was becoming really something! What a trophy for a teacher.