Page 54 of Vesuvius

Felix shrugged with sudden discomfort. It shouldn’t bother him that he couldn’t remember where he’d learned a game, but it was another stolen piece of his childhood. Trapped behind the gate in his mind whose lock he couldn’t pick. It seemed everything in Pompeii wanted to taunt him with what he couldn’t recall. He pushed the frustration aside for later.

‘Cheat,’ the little boy huffed, face turned in a pout.

‘Mamma says those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, Celsi,’ Aurelia said.

His scowl deepened. ‘What?’

‘It means you can’t call me a cheat when your whole family comes from cheats.’

‘We’renot—’

Felix didn’t have time for this. ‘Aurelia, game’s over. Help me with something.’

She dropped her marbles one by one into a leather pouch with a satisfying click-clack. ‘Why should I?’

‘Because I helped you win. And I risked life and limb bringing back your sword.’

‘Hardly.’

‘And if you help,’ Felix said, digging in his pocket, ‘I’ll give you this.’

He presented the treasure, a yellow blown-glass bead he’d siphoned from a stall last night. He’d figured he’d pawn it for a coin ortwo later, but Aurelia’s game struck inspiration. Her eyes glinted, and she snatched it with greedy fingers.

‘I want to see,’ Celsi whined. Aurelia relented, holding it out, but he grabbed, and she yanked it back. ‘Hey!’

‘It’s mine. Besides, your pappa doesn’t allow toys.’

Chin lifted at a haughty angle, Celsi stood and smoothed his toga. ‘Whatever. I have more important things to do, anyway. The procession is due to start any minute.’

‘Then shoo,’ Aurelia said.

With a final envious glare at the bead, Celsi spun and marched stiffly to the Forum.

‘Procession?’ Felix asked.

Aurelia’s mouth soured. ‘That wasCouncilmanNumerius Popidius Celsinus.’

‘He’s a child.’

‘He’s nearly my age.’

‘So, a child,’ Felix said. ‘What do you mean by “councilman”?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Not a real one. Not a proper ordo. Celsi’s father can’t hold office himself since he’s a former slave, so he bought his freeborn son’s way onto the council. You know the earthquake? The big one, not these little ones we keep having.’

Elias had mentioned it when they played dice, Felix remembered. ‘Fifteen years ago?’

‘Seventeen. It destroyed the Temple of Isis, and no one had money to fix it for a decade. Celsi’s entire family was devoted to Isis, and his pappa raised money to fund the repairs – in Celsi’s name. So the city rewarded him with a council position and moved him to Jupiter’s temple. He was six at the time. Now he’s ten. He was more fun back then. Lately he’s just . . .’

Instead of finishing, Aurelia grabbed a lump of chalk and began doodling on the cobblestones. The outline ofa face appeared, a sharp jaw, frowning mouth. When it was clear she’d say no more, Felix sighed and withdrew the folded parchment.

‘Can you read?’ When she shrugged, Felix continued, ‘I need you to tell me what this says. It’s important.’

‘About Loren?’ She drew loops of hair, an ear.

‘Not exactly. Well, he’s involved.’

‘Show me.’ At last she looked up, dark brown eyes startlingly sharp. Felix passed the sheet over. Chalk powder puffed as she took it.

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