*Stable-Hand Wanted*

Antonia had called it a "practical solution" when Cassia mentioned her desire to earn some denarii of her own, separate from the allowance her mothers provided. "You can't rely on Demetria's coin forever," her friend had said between bites of breakfast, her green eyes sparkling with that particular mischief that usually preceded some scandalous suggestion. "Besides, the best positions go quickly. You need to check the board before all the prime work is taken."

So here Cassia stood, scanning the various notices with growing interest. Tutor needed for basic mathematics. Five denarii per session. Seeking assistant for pottery workshop. Must have steady hands. Stable-hand wanted for weekend work. Experience with ponies preferred but not required. Twenty denarii per day. Inquire at Morningwood Ranch.

She read that last notice three times.

Twenty denarii per day was exceptional money for a student, far more than any of the other postings offered. A full weekend of work would net her forty denarii, enough to cover her personal expenses for a month or more. The promise of working with ponies only sweetened the arrangement.

Cassia's childhood bedroom back in Longwood Villa had been decorated with tapestries of galloping horses. She'd begged her mothers for a pony every nameday from age six to fourteen, and Lara had nearly relented twice before Demetria's practical sensibilities intervened.

Now, at eighteen, the thought of finally spending time around the animals she'd adored as a girl stirred something warm in her chest. The work would be honest, physical, and far removed from the political machinations of the Academy's lecture halls. A weekend spent brushing coats and mucking stalls sounded almost like a holiday.

She pulled the notice from the board, folded it carefully, and tucked it into her leather satchel.