Several days passed and things at Invictus Shakes were relatively calm, thankfully. Of course, there was always the infuriating customer who made me bite my tongue and scream silently over how ridiculous some of the complaints were. But nothing a fake smile couldn't help hide.

  I also couldn't avoid going to the bank any longer.

  Saturnia's family had offered to put a word in for me with their banking guild. I had absolutely no complaints since I really didn't want to waste time hunting for one with a good reputation—if it was good enough for them, it was good enough for me. Besides, Felix didn't trust banks, so I couldn't answer him.

  After I closed up early for the day, I headed over to the double temple for Juno and Vesta where they stationed a guild member. A head of scruffy, sand-colored curls bent over a long table with one of the temple guards stationed nearby. The man looked up from scratching something in his records. His skin looked tawny like Saturnia's. He eyed me as I approached, taking in my simple tunic that only then did I realize had a bright stain. I had learned from one too many spills and accidents to not wear something nicer than dark cotton. I could tell how he wanted to say something.

  "Salve," the argentarius said politely. "Can I help you?"

  "Yes. I'm here to join so I can store my money.”

  He blinked and pulled out a scroll to unroll it. "And who referred you? We unfortunately only have business with people invited by our current clients.”

  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "The Ameneis family."

  "Oh! You must be Maximilia then." His face brightened and he reached out his hand to shake mine. "I'm Domitius. Good to meet you. They mentioned you when they dropped off some honey cakes yesterday. No better bakers in Romachia than them. So is this account for personal interests or business? What's full name?"

  "I-I..." He had turned into a babbling bird in an instant, and it took me a moment to catch up. "Maximilia Vita. It's for my business, Invictus Shakes."

  Domitius looked up sharply from where he had begun to record my information. "Invictus...as in Ludus Invictus? Are you the same Vita as Felix Vita?"

  "He's my father, true, but our businesses are not connected apart from being located across from each other."

  His gaze turned appraising now and I set down the two coin bags that I had stored in my basket. I didn't like carrying things, but it'd make shopping around the markets after with Saturnia easier.

  "I'll start with these. I have a lot more but I'm not about to lug them all through the streets.”

  "Of course," he said. He opened the bags and began sorting through the coin while inspecting them for authenticity. As he worked, he rattled off his informative welcome; I was sure he could've recited the script in his sleep.

  "Economy is what holds Romachia and all of Aeterna steady, and businesses like yours make it possible. As such, we store your money in the temple of the goddesses who protect the realm. Be it man or fire, no one and nothing would dare disturb this sacred place. We appreciate you choosing to place your money in our care."

  There was an awkward silence before I realized he had finished his speech.

  I cleared my throat. "Oh, that's great!"

  "And to help make sure our members can trust us, we have made arrangements with the temple to keep a separate tracking," Domitius added. He handed me a wax tablet. "Look over these amounts to make sure they match what you know. And, if you wish, take it to the table up there to the left."

  I glanced over the markings. The coin breakdowns and totals were the same as my own count. I shrugged. "Looks good.”

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  Turning, I walked up the shallow flight of stairs to the stone base that elevated the entire temple. Rows of columns marched along the front and about halfway down the sides before hitting the enclosed portion of the temple. Several clusters of people were scattered in this open space and I turned to my left to see another, smaller table tucked behind one of the columns.

  The priestess sitting there held out her hand and took the tablet. "Name?"

  "Maximilia Vita."

  There was a slight pause as she noted that down in a scroll. "You may go."

  I sighed in relief. "Thanks." The process had gone easier than I'd thought it would. For some reason, I was sure it'd be a tedious headache that involved running around trying to get different forms.

  Before leaving, however, I took a moment to honor the goddesses. I walked to the main part of the stone temple and stepped inside the dim interior. Garlands of lilies and lotus flowers decorated the space for Juno, along with a colorfully painted relief of peacocks. Several frescoes depicted the queen of the gods presiding over both women in childbirth and ranks of the Legion. Other imagery depicted Vesta, the goddess of home and family, surrounded by milled grain. There was also a hearth burning in the rear of the room, where her flame was maintained to never extinguish.

  But what commanded the space were their towering statues in the center. From the small windows far above, beams of golden sun illuminated the figures—but never enough to see them clearly in their entirety. As if they were too great to behold or comprehend all at once. Patches of richly colored paint caught in the light seemed to glow, and the heady scent of frankincense filled the air. I approached the foot of the statues to place several denarii as an offering, silently whispering my thanks.

  The incense shifted around me.

  I suddenly became aware of the temple's ambient noise. It was less a sound than a feeling, the very air itself humming against my skin. I shivered, half wondering if I was no longer among mortals but in the realm of the gods.

  After one final, hurried prayer, I went back outside and took a deep breath of fresh air. The strange sensation dissipated. I walked down the steps, squinting briefly at the sundial in front of the temple. It was still a little too early to meet Saturnia, so I took my time meandering through the forum.

  It was the heart of Romachia, just like the other provinces. Most of the markets were located in the forum, including eateries and open spaces for people to socialize, mixing a little politics with pleasure. But, outside of festivals, public intoxication wasn't really allowed; the patrolling legionaries were quick to fine or whip the worst offenders. And it would take a lot for a person to get drunk, honestly. Most establishments served their wine diluted. That or the person drank without adding any water at all.

  I found one to wait at, chewing on bread I dipped into my wine, letting conversations flow around me.

  "I heard the plebeian assembly had a huge hand in stopping the Senate from passing a new law to raise taxes."

  That caught my attention. It wasn't often I heard about major stuff from Capitoline Hill. Or maybe I just never thought to pay attention before owning my own business.

  "And what was it supposed to be this time?"

  "A provincial tax. So either on individuals or property. Knowing Tacitus, that bastard, he'd make it both for us."

  I frowned. Now that I ran Invictus Shakes—well, once I paid off the loan for its construction—these matters affected me. I slapped my palm against my forehead. For a while, I had been clueless about a lot of this stuff. My excuse was that it was mostly because Felix just quietly took care of these matters.

  A grunt sounded. "What exactly prompted that to be proposed, though?"

  "The excuse they gave was for the incorporation of Solis into Aeterna. But really, they want to recoup the losses the Legion suffered subjugating that place. I heard it was really bad, but they'll never admit that.”

  "That's bullshit!" the other voice exclaimed in annoyance. "No one's benefitted enough from Solis to justify that. None of us voted for it either. They've only just started letting some of those merchants into the forum. And most of us don't even know what to do with their stuff yet."

  I looked around surreptitiously, trying to figure out who was talking.

  The first voice jumped back in. "That's exactly what the assembly reasoned. Also, did you know Solis has gold? A lot of it? But here's what gets me."

  "What?"

  "They don't even see it as highly valuable." Incredulous laughter punctuated the conversation. "They use food called a cacao bean. A bean!"

  Their conversation drifted away and I was left musing over it.

  "Max!' Saturnia shouted gleefully, all but skipping over. “Ready for competitive eating? I'm going to win again.”

  As I stood to greet her, the conversation reminded me of what Felix liked to grumble over. Something about death and taxes being the only certain things in life.