Wrath of the Furies Read Online Free

fingernail down a column with scribbled names and dates, then tapped at the scroll with a flourish of authority. “There it is. Your letter arrived five days ago, on a ship that sailed here from Ephesus.”
    â€œEphesus?”
    â€œThat’s what I said.”
    â€œIs that where the letter originated?”
    â€œSo it says here. The document was taken aboard at Ephesus, for delivery to Gordianus of Rome, residing in or around Alexandria.”
    â€œBut who sent it?”
    â€œIt doesn’t say.”
    â€œBut who do I know in Ephesus?” I said, thinking aloud. In fact, I did know a few people in Ephesus, having stayed briefly in the house of Antipater’s old pupil Eutropius during our journey. But who among them would—
    â€œHow should I know?” snapped the clerk. “Figure it out for yourself. You’ve signed the receipt, paid the fee, and taken possession of the document. So now, if you have no further business with this establishment, I must ask you to move along. I have a great many other customers to wait on, as you can see.”
    I backed away from the counter, clutching the mysterious scrap of parchment. I stepped outside and walked to the donkey cart.
    Bethesda saw the look on my face. “Bad news, Master?”
    â€œNo. I mean … I’m not sure.”
    She glanced at the parchment. Having never learned to read, all documents were mysterious to her. “Is it from your father?”
    â€œI don’t think so. I’m not sure who sent it, or why. I’m not even sure what it is.” I climbed up beside her on the cart and unrolled the parchment.
    â€œThe letters are pretty,” said Bethesda, peering over my shoulder.
    â€œYes, Greek letters are prettier than Roman ones. But wait—I do know this handwriting.” My heart raced. My fingers trembled.
    â€œMaster?” said Bethesda, with concern in her voice. She laid a hand on my arm.
    â€œThis was written by Antipater,” I whispered.
    â€œYour old tutor?” Bethesda had never met Antipater, for I acquired her long after he and I parted ways, but she had heard me speak of him from time to time. I had not told her that he was a spy and an enemy of Rome—that was a secret I kept to myself—but she knew that we had parted under a cloud.
    â€œYes, my old tutor.” I peered at the elegantly made letters and began to move my lips. It was not exactly my intention to read the letter to Bethesda, but in effect that was what I did, for it was easier for me to read Greek if I spoke the words aloud. When I came to the parts about myself, my face turned hot, but I kept reading:
    Â â€¦ I am in great danger. I fear for my life every hour of every day.
    For the time being, at least, I am allowed to reside away from the royal court, in the home of my old pupil and friend, Eutropius. Removed from the constant gaze of the king and his vicious little queen, perhaps I am out of their thoughts as well, and thus in less danger of incurring their wrath. But as a part of my living arrangements, I have been assigned two male servants from the royal household to look after my personal needs, ostensibly so that I should impose no burden on Eutropius. But who knows if I can trust these fellows? They might be assassins, for all I know!
    No man was happier than my host Eutropius to see the Romans driven from power, or more pleased at the king’s arrival in Ephesus. Yet Eutropius is not such a Roman-hater as some. It was Roman abuses Eutropius detested, not every Roman who happened to settle in Ephesus or have business in the city. Apparently Eutropius was even arranging for his daughter Anthea to marry a wealthy Roman, before the man fled for his life, like so many of his countrymen.
    When I was last in Ephesus—then as now posing as Zoticus!—it was in the company of young Gordianus, at the very beginning of the journey that would take us to see the Seven Wonders.