Vinnie and Mandy quickly followed Varius through the city.
The children were looking at everything around them.
"You are not familiar with our city," Varius said.
The children looked at each other.
"We are new here," Mandy said.
Varius nodded. "I understand.
You will get to know the city very soon."
They passed a few buildings as they walked down a narrow street.
"This is where all the doctors live," Varius explained.
"All the doctors live together?" asked Vinnie.
"No, they have their own homes," Varius laughed.
"But the city is divided up.
The doctors all live in one area.
The butchers live in another.
It's easier to find people."
A few minutes later, they arrived in the butchers' area.
People lived in apartments on top of their shops.
Children were outside playing some kind of game.
They had drawn squares in the dirt.
Each square had a rock or a shell.
"It looks like tic-tac-toe!" said Vinnie.
"Sorry to interrupt your game,"
said Varius, leaning over the children.
"Do you know where Melus the stable boy lives?"
"He is over there.
His mother is sick," a girl said.
She pointed to a house.
Varius and the children walked over and knocked on the door.
Melus answered.
"We know about your mother, but your master Aquila is in danger," Varius said.
He explained about Brutus.
"My mother is feeling better, praise the gods," Melus said.
"My father is with her now, so I can return to the stables.
What should I do about Brutus?"
"Don't let anyone near Aquila's horses," said Mandy, "or they will be poisoned."
"I will guard my master's horses with my life!" Melus cried.
He ran out the door.
Varius and the children left Melus' house.
"Do you trust Melus?" Mandy asked.
"Yes, I do. Melus was chosen to look after Aquila's horses.
That is a very special job," explained Varius.
"Melus knows this.
So he will not betray his master."
"What should we do now?" asked Vinnie.
"We must speak with Master Antonius," said Varius.
"He is responsible for our festivals and public buildings.
As Septimus said, he is in charge of today's race."
"When does the race begin?" asked Mandy.
Varius looked up at the sun.
"It will begin soon.
We must hurry," he said.
Varius stopped in front of a large house with a stone fountain.
"Master Antonius lives here," said Varius.
A man with a hammer was bent close to the ground.