Read Online Pandora Gets Greedy by Carolyn Hennesy - Free Book Online Page B

only a few days from now,” Caesar continued. “As a gift to the people of Rome, I shall give each citizen of the Empire a single aureus. And to my loyal senators, you shall each receive a bag of ten coins at the feast held at the home of Lucius Valerius! Now, let us have music and dancing! Let the celebration continue!”
    At once, music filled the air and many people began to dance right in the middle of the square. Others filed off to smaller celebrations around the city, but the space in front of the Theatre of Pompey remained quite crowded as senators grouped together to discuss the day’s events and the future of Rome with this new and unpredictable leader.
    â€œPandora!” Lucius yelled.
    Immediately, Pandora and Alcie scrambled off the fountain.
    â€œMaster?” Pandy said, approaching quickly.
    â€œWater,” he said roughly.
    Pandy put her hand on the pitcher hanging from her waist.
    â€œAt once,” she said, then turned to Varinia. “May I take Alcie with me? She can part a crowd better than I can and I’m carrying the pitcher.”
    â€œVery well,” said Varinia.
    Weaving their way through the crush of people, Alcie nearly bumped into a fountain of drinking water as she tried to keep up with Pandy, who was doing a wonderful job of parting the crowd.
    â€œHey, Pandy!” Alcie called. “What’s wrong with
this
water?”
    â€œCome on!” Pandy yelled over her shoulder.
    Alcie grabbed on to the back of Pandy’s toga to keep from losing her and didn’t let go until they were behind the dais and standing in front of the main entrance to the Theatre of Pompey.
    â€œAre we gonna find Homer?” Alcie asked, excitedly.
    â€œNo,” answered Pandy, walking up to a large guard. “Besides, you know we’d never get to him and he’s probably already been taken back to Caesar’s residence.”
    â€œThen why are we here?”
    â€œI just want to check something out,” Pandy replied, then she looked at the guard. “Senate business.”
    â€œYou’re no senator,” snapped the guard with a laugh. “I am the page to Lucius Valerius,” Pandy said,flashing the seal of the house of Valerius painted on the pitcher. “I enter on his business.”
    The guard knew better than to argue and stepped aside.
    Pandy and Alcie walked through the main arch and portico. After wending their way through a series of tunnels built into the foundation, they emerged into the open air and Alcie turned to see the enormous, empty amphitheater surrounding her.
    â€œGods!”
    â€œWild, isn’t it?” Pandy said, on the move. “I don’t think there’s anything this big back in Athens. Lucius sits over here. Y’know, I’m actually kinda surprised there’s no one else around. I am so used to senators whispering in little groups or hurrying to their places as Caesar sits on the stage, surrounded by guards and fawning yes-men. Reminds me of how all the girls who wanted to be popular used to stand around Helen and Hippia back in middle school.”
    â€œYou mean, before they got turned into big black lizards?”
    â€œYeah, before that,” Pandy said, remembering what had happened when the two prettiest and meanest girls in her entire school had asked to see the box of evil just as Pandy was about to take it home. And that’s how this whole mess started.
    â€œWhat are you looking for?” Alcie asked, as Pandy stopped at a specific seat on a long row.
    â€œI don’t know, Alce. I just know that the senator is super interested in the new coin. It’s pure gold, and if gold isn’t a reason to get greedy, then I don’t know what is.”
    Pandy started poking around Lucius’s Senate seat.
    â€œBut it would affect everyone, wouldn’t it?” Alcie asked. “I mean if it’s the gold, and we’ve seen it, wouldn’t
we
be hurtin’ on