Free Pello Island: Cassia by A.L. Jambor Page B

earned enough to rent the spot, and every day he wheeled his cart to the Forum with fresh fish.  His business was growing every day as people learned he was a man to be trusted.  Amatus was fair, and would often give fish to the poor.  Cassia smiled as she approached his cart.
    “Amatus!” she yelled.  Amatus looked up and smiled broadly when he saw her.  Amatus was 18 now, with broad shoulders, a large chest and arms well-muscled from pulling in the heavy nets of fish.  He was tall, and his wavy brown hair reached his shoulders.  The skin beneath his blue eyes was already lined from hours spent working under the sun.  Cassia pulled Novia to the cart and looked for the fish.
    “Amatus, there’s nothing left!” she exclaimed.
    “Isn’t it amazing?  I’m selling out earlier every day.”  He was beaming.
    “But that means we don’t get any of your lovely fish.”  Cassia frowned.  “What’ll we do now?”
    “We’ll go to another stand,” Novia said.
    Cassia glanced over at her and narrowed her eyes.  She then turned back to Amatus.
    “Amatus, how’s your family?”
    Amatus had four brothers and two sisters.  They all lived in a one-room shack on the riverbank.  Amatus was saving money to build his own shack.  He hoped to buy a home one day on the Vicus Raciliani Maioris, where Quintus had built his domus.  Maybe then Quintus would believe he was truly worthy of Cassia’s hand.
    “My brothers are all working the nets now.  My sisters have been married off; it’s just my brothers now.  But it’s still crowded in there,” he laughed.  Cassia smiled and shook her head. She marveled at Amatus’ attitude.  He had nothing, yet he always found something to laugh at.  She didn’t think that she would be so content living in a shack with six other people.
    “I’m glad your sisters are gone.  There must be more room now,” Cassia said.
    “I sleep on the beach anyway.  I always like to look at the stars.”
    Novia took Cassia’s hand.  The conversation was becoming a bit too personal.
    “We have to go, Amatus.  Please stop by the shop.  Flavius would love to see you,” Cassia called as Novia pulled her away.  She waved goodbye to Amatus, who waved in return.  Long after she had walked away, he looked in her direction, hoping to catch a glimpse of her walking through the Forum.
    “We have to visit the Temple today,” Novia said.  “I have to make a sacrifice to Juno.”
    “Why, Juno, Novia?”  Novia fell silent.  She wasn’t sure she was ready to share her news with Cassia yet.  “Novia, did you hear me?”
    “Yes Cassia, I heard you.  I,…well, Flavius and I have decided to marry.”
    Cassia stopped walking.  She turned to Novia and threw her arms around her neck.  
    “Oh, Novia, I’m so happy for you.”
    Novia blushed. “We’ve saved enough money and…we’re moving out of Rome.  Flavius wants to grow grapes and make wine.”
    “But, you’re too old.  How will you survive? Where will you live?”
    “We’re going north, to Florentia.  And there’s still life enough left in us, thank you.”  Novia looked down her nose at Cassia.
    Cassia’s spirits fell.  She’d never been without Novia or Flavius, and she couldn’t imagine her life without them.
    “When are you leaving?” she asked quietly.
    “After the Saturnalia festival; Flavius is approaching your father tonight. That’s why I have to make a sacrifice.”
    After Novia made her offering to Juno, the two women slowly walked home.  Cassia was thinking that the festival would come too soon.
     

     
    As Cassia was mourning the loss of her lifelong companions, her father was waiting for his cousin Cletus at a seedy tavern Cletes frequented.  He was desperate to find a nobleman willing to marry his daughter, and Cletes, as a moneylender’s henchman, would surely know of a poor, desperate aristocrat, hopefully one who wasn’t aware of “the curse.”
     

 Quintus Seeks a Nobleman
    The