Scroll II
"Master," Caudex said, "this young man is looking for work. He says he is Greek and would make a good secretary."
Flavia realized her mouth was hanging open and quickly shut it, but she could not tear her gaze from the boy. He was the most beautiful boy she had ever seen. Silky golden hair brushed slender shoulders in waves, smooth white skin made up his features, and dazzling blue eyes covered her with goosebumps. He noticed her staring and did a double take, a hesitant smile showing straight white teeth.
Captain Geminus beckoned the boy to him. Flavia watched his every move. He was muscular but lean, with the grace of a feline. She felt Nubia stir beside her, but she did not turn.
"What is your name, son?" the Captain asked.
"Theron, sir."
"Is that Greek?"
"Yes, sir."
"I see. How old are you?"
"I am fifteen years old, sir."
Flavia's breath caught in her throat. He was only three years older than her!
"Does that not seem a little young to be a secretary?"
"Well sir, I've been told I'm mature for my age. I am also fluent in Latin, Greek, and even some Aramaic."
Captain Geminus looked thoughtful. He turned to Lupus. "May I borrow your tablet, please?"
Lupus, who had been drawing something on his tablet, looked up sharply and nodded. He wiped off whatever he was working on and handed it and the stylus to the Captain. The man nodded his thanks then handed the instruments to Theron. The boy took them and poised to write. Geminus nodded approvingly.
"That's right; I'd like to dictate to you. In Latin and then I would like to see you translate it into Greek."
The Captain launched into a complicated description of Lupus's ship, the Delphina, of which he was the Captain. When he was done, the boy went on to translate it. Flavia watched as the boy hunched over the tablet, the stylus moving furiously. His hair swung forward and shielded his face from her. She frowned slightly but resisted the urge to push it away. That would not be seemly at all. After a few more breathless moments, Theron handed the tablet back to Captain Geminus, a triumphant smile on his beautiful face.
The children crowded around the Captain as he studied Theron's work. Jonathan whistled admiringly.
"That's very good," he commented.
Flavia's father nodded his head, his eyebrows raised. "Very well done," he said to the boy. "Your handwriting and spelling are excellent. The translation is also perfect." He squinted at Theron. "Where did you learn to do such fine work?"
"Well sir, I have always been a perfectionist. When my parents sent me to school, I was determined to do my best."
"This is my daughter Flavia and her friends, Jonathan, Lupus, and Nubia. Do you think you can tutor them?"
Theron's brilliant blue eyes scanned them over and Flavia fancied his gaze stayed a bit longer on her than the others. He nodded slowly.
"I will do my best, sir."
Captain Geminus nodded then turned to Caudex, who was still standing patiently off to the side.
"Caudex, give young Theron Aristo's old room." He turned to his new employee. "You will tutor the children in the morning and perform your duties as my secretary in the afternoon unless I have no need for you. Saturdays you have off. Once you are settled, meet me in my office and I will give you a more thorough overview of your new life here. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
Theron bowed respectfully, and, with one last glance at Flavia, left the room.
0000000
"I'm sorry, Flavia," Theron said for the third time, "but that is incorrect. Here, let me show you." He leaned over her shoulder and started the translation over again on her tablet. "You see this here? It's supposed to be 'he sent,' you have written 'he sends'. . ."
He went on, but Flavia was no longer listening. His face was so close to hers, she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. Her face grew red but she tried to keep her expression impassive. Her head was spinning and there was a roaring in her ears. As he moved on to Nubia, she found she had been holding her breath and she let it out slowly, her face returning to its normal color. She noticed Jonathan narrowing his eyes at her. She returned his gaze with wide-eyed innocence. He frowned but turned away. Flavia turned back to her tablet, smiling at Theron's neat handwriting.
She felt something poke her back and turned to find herself staring at Lupus's wax tablet held right in front of her nose.
WHAT IS WRONG
WITH YOU?
Flavia gave him a look that said, What? Lupus squinted at her and brought the tablet back to himself to wipe away his message and write another one:
YOU KNEW
THOSE TRANSLATIONS
Flavia frowned and shook her head, indicating she did not know what he was talking about. Lupus's bright eyes gleamed with suspicion, but he backed off. As Theron moved on to Jonathan, Flavia traced the marks on her tablet with her fingertips. She knew she had messed up the translation on purpose, but she had only did it because she wanted Theron close to her. What was wrong with that?
Caudex entered the room.
"I am sorry to interrupt," he said, "but Magistrate Bato is here to see the children. Apparently he has a mystery to be solved."
The children exchanged excited glances.
"A mystery?" Theron looked slightly puzzled.
Flavia seized her chance to show off and impress Theron. "Oh yes! I solved a mystery here in Ostia about missing dog heads and even saved the Emperor's life!"
Theron smiled. "That is remarkable! Very well, let's go see what this mystery is."
As the children followed Caudex to the atrium, Flavia could feel the stares of her friends on the back of her head. She turned to them.
"What?"
Lupus pointed to himself emphatically. Jonathan nodded.
"Flavia, Lupus was the one who discovered the assassin, not you."
"So? I was the one who knocked him over with my tambourine."
Jonathan frowned. "You just want to impress Theron, don't you?"
Flavia flushed. "Maybe," she said evasively, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"You are loving him?" Nubia asked.
Flavia ducked her head and kept walking. Jonathan started feeling sick. Nubia caught his gaze and smiled sympathetically. She must know, Jonathan thought. Lupus had not noticed the exchange. His face was dark with anger for not having been given the credit for saving Emperor Titus's life. He kept his eyes on the ground and did not notice when the others had stopped. He ran into a soft wall only to find it was not a wall at all but Magistrate Bato.
"Be sure to watch where you're going, young Lupus," Bato said good-naturedly. "I might have been a canal or a pile of manure."
Lupus's ears turned pink as he back away to his place beside the others.
"I here you have a mystery for us?" Flavia said, ignoring the exchange with Lupus.
Bato smiled slightly. "Indeed I have, but who is this?" He gestured towards Theron.
"This is our new tutor Theron," Flavia explained. "Theron, this is Magistrate Bato."
Theron bowed respectfully. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Bato nodded briefly to the boy before turning back to the children.
"It appears that Magnus has struck again."
The group gasped in unison. Theron looked confused. "Who is Magnus?" He asked.
The children exchanged a look. They realized Theron had no idea what they were talking about. Flavia stepped forward again.
"Magnus is a dwarf who kidnaps children and makes them work in a factory weaving rugs. Most of the children go blind from the fibers floating around. And it's not just orphans and runaways whom he takes, he takes freeborn children too."
Theron looked horrified. "That's terrible!"
Bato nodded gravely. "Unfortunately we couldn't catch him last time and now he has a secret weapon. We've gotten word he's hired someone from Athens, a hunter who searches for children and snatches them from their homes and families."
Nubia's eyes were wide. "The children he has been kidnapping?"
"Yes Nubia, several children have disappeared already. I must talk to your parents, Flavia and Jonathan, to be sure of your help."
Flavia's infectious grin caused Jonathan's reluctant lips to upturn into a smile.
"Then let's find Captain Geminus and my father."
