Unfortunately, any efforts to plan for my idea flew right out of the window for the time being. Things continued to be busy at Invictus Shakes for a while. Because of its association with the ludus, it began to attract people from the gladiator profession. I recognized some faces, fighters who began to retire shortly after Saturnia and I started attending the games. But most I didn't know. Either they'd retired long before or they'd never fought in Romachia—their time in the arena had been in some of the other provinces.

  Ursus and Tiberius were chatting with a group when a thin, lanky man around sixty years of age walked in. Well, walking might not have been the most accurate way to describe it. Swung and stepped in. His right leg was missing at the knee, a polished wooden crutch tucked under his arm to act as a replacement.

  "Gallus!" Tiberius approached him and the man pivoted to greet him. The motion was fluid, as if the crutch were part of his own body, like the very leg he'd lost.

  "Nice to see you here, my friend. I was not expecting it!" the man said warmly. "Not expecting it at all."

  They exchanged their greetings as they made their way over. Ursus also broke away from the conversation to come up to us.

  "Max, why don't you allow me to be charming and introduce you to Gallus the—"

  "The Vesuvian Scourge," I said, finishing the sentence for him. Gallus had been one of the popular gladiators twenty years ago. "I know who he is. Gallus, it's been awhile!" I directed the last part to the man in question, moving out from behind the bar.

  "Hello, Maximilia. Look at you! Just look at you! It's been far too long since I've come by."

  He shifted his weight to extend his hand and I took it briefly before releasing it to embrace him. Gallus grunted in surprise before squeezing back with his wiry arms. I nearly wheezed. Even in his senior age he had plenty of strength.

  "He used to come join Father and his other friends in the evenings,” I explained. “Although it's been what...four years now?"

  "Ah, dear gods, has it? Dear gods. It seems the busier I get, the more things escape me. Felix and I still exchange the occasional letter, but it feels like yesterday since I last saw him." He rubbed his head sheepishly, pivoting on his leg to face the other two again. "I have you all to blame. And to thank again."

  Ursus roared with laughter.

  "Then I take it you and Tullia are doing well out there?" Tiberius asked, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

  He nodded, a smile forming on his sunbeaten skin. "Couldn't be better. It just simply could not be better. With your help, the gods have been good to us. We've got a well-kept home out in the countryside.” Gallus sighed contentedly. “It's nice to cultivate and grow things for a change, and be nourished by the efforts of your own labor."

  I hummed beneath my breath. It was an interesting sentiment he shared with my father.

  Some of the veteran gladiators, both active and retired, had come together a few years ago to create a fund. Pollices Premere it was dubbed. A sign of mercy in the arena and the opposite of the hostile thumb, where it was turned down and hidden in the fist. The fund was meant to help gladiators who were having a hard time adjusting to normal life, or for their families if they'd been killed. Felix had actually given an incredible amount to start it off—far more helpful to anyone than that pretentious Portius guy in my opinion. A lot of people, including successfully retired gladiators and regular Aeternians alike, contributed regularly. Even politicians made donations when they wanted to make a show of good faith.

  And Gallus had been one of the first recipients. He was from the mountainous province of Vesuvia—the other being Reme next to the sea—and they'd set him up with enough to build a small farm and live off of.

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  "I wasn't sure how Tullia would take to it, given that she's only ever lived in Capitoline as a patrician. But she was surprisingly, surpisingly enthusiastic to try it with me." Gallus shook his head. "I nearly hadn't welcomed her, given that she's over two decades younger than me. But that would've been a mistake. The last five years of my life have been the happiest I could've ever prayed for.

  Ursus grinned. "How happy exactly, man?"

  The older man blushed and I bit my lips to hide my own smirk. I had a feeling what Ursus was asking and what Gallus was going to say.

  "Well, we're expecting our first child in a few months."

  Before he could continue, we simultaneously broke out into cheers.

  "Alright, you're definitely getting a drink on me! I was already going to give you one before, but...actually, I think I have some wine stashed away here too." I went back to search for it.

  "Oh, you don't—alright, alright." His tune changed when I popped up to glare at him over the bartop. Then he continued. "I think I'll need to hire an extra hand or two to help for the time being, but we make more than enough from what e sell at the market."

  I ushered them to some open seating, clearing the table and setting out the wine for them to drink. "Let me go get Felix. He'll be happy to see you," I added, setting down his smoothie.

  After taking care of the last waiting customer, I took off to the ludus to find my father. A chorus of greetings followed me as I made my way through, and I waved in response. I found him sitting by the chariot track, polishing a small blade as a large group ran in endless circles, several already falling behind. Occasionally, he'd look up and bark at one of the gladiators. His head turned when he heard my footsteps. Which weren't loud at all.

  "Maximilia? Something wrong?"

  "Is this a good time to step away? Because an old friend is here. Care to guess?"

  Felix looked at me with curiosity. "By old friend, do you mean they are old now or we have been friends for some time?"

  "Um, maybe a little of both?"

  He stood from his makeshift seat of an old tree stump. "Then there are only a few who fit that description."

  I could see the gladiators eye us with hope. But it was short lived. "Keep running until I return," he shouted out to them.

  Groans filled the air. "Gods, how long will that be?" someone cried out in despair.

  "Longer, if you say another word. If you can talk you should be going faster. And if anyone gets lapped, I expect a report."

  I winced in pity. "Punishment?" I asked him as we walked back.

  Felix chuckled. "Not this time. This is simply training. They have to learn to dig in when they think there is nothing left in them to draw on." He paused. "It will be the difference between life and death for all of them."

  I glanced back at the suffering gladiators, silently willing them strength. "Well, I'm thankful that you never punished me like that growing up. Although I guess it would've been familiar at least."

  I heard the slight shift in his step and felt the sharpness of his gaze. But I didn't look, cursing myself silently for voicing something I hadn't meant to, for a memory I barely recognized myself. The words had come out of nowhere.

  He stopped to put a rough hand to my cheek. “One day, I hope you will trust me enough to tell me, Maximilia. I love you and it kills me to be unable…” My father trailed off, struggling to find the words.

  “You know it's not about trust,” I said, looking away but reaching for his hand. “Otherwise you'd have known from the start. But maybe one day. If I ever remember more.”

  Thankfully, he didn't press and changed the subject back. "Regardless, why would I have done that? Were you training to be a gladiator? No."

  It had taken him a while to figure out how to raise and discipline me in the beginning. From running off at the market, trying to play with his blades, or other things like screaming in the night without either of us knowing why. The first time it happened, he'd crashed into my room with wild eyes, looking around. But there was no one there and I didn't stop until he awkwardly scooped me up. Felix had fallen asleep sitting beside me on my small bed. Saturnia's parents ended up being a blessing from Juno on what to do, because he'd been just as lost and desperate as I was, learning how to navigate our newfound family status.

  We arrived back in the courtyard and Gallus shifted in his seat with a bright smile. "Well if it isn't Felix. Felix Vita."

  I returned behind the bar while my father strode over, clasping his hand in greeting. "Sometimes, it still surprises me that you see me as a friend. Since I was the one to cut off your leg."