My head pounded the next morning, as if a gladiator's fist was punching my skull. I got up with a groan, splashing water on my face and rinsing my mouth. It still tasted like wine. Gross. My bed called for me longingly, and I was so tempted. But I couldn't miss opening the shop on my second day.

  At the door, Felix just patted my shoulder sympathetically before leading the way through Romachia to the main road. It ran between the ludus—and now the smoothie bar—and the amphitheater. If we continued the opposite direction, it would have led us to the monumental archway that connected us to Capitoline Hill, the central region of Aeterna. The same place where all the other province roads converged, where the Senate convened, and where the Colosseum was.

  Several people were still passed out on the ground from last night's festivities as we approached. For some reason, several stone masons were already up and making repairs. The hammering sound was like a giant nail jabbing into my mind. And somewhere, a dog started barking.

  "Okay. This sucks," I muttered hoarsely.

  Last night was a complete blur. It had started off dignified with a sacrifice to Janus, the two-faced god of new beginnings. But then what started as just a game of dice turned into me and Saturnia chasing some poor juggler down the street before joining the crowds in drunken singing. Lots of people usually came to Romachia to experience the festivals. Unlike the rest of Aeterna, our province stayed as true as possible to what could be remembered of the old ways. Thankfully, it seemed like everyone else was still adjusting to the waking world like me.

  Everyone except for Praxedes, apparently. "Salve!" she sang out brightly.

  Two other women followed her in and she gestured. I recognized them instantly but didn't interrupt her introduction. Mostly because I didn't feel like talking. Or being awake. Or alive.

  "This is Corinna Sulla and Flavia Gracchus."

  Flavia only glared at her with dark circles under her green eyes and short eyebrows set in golden brown skin. I'd almost mistaken her for a patrician woman with her elegant neck. But what caught my eye was the blonde hair cut quick to the skull. Haphazardly so. She was a gladiatrix—a murmillo to be precise. In a fight, they were equipped with the large rectangular shield, a leather manica on the striking arm, and a massive bronze helmet with a crest and a grill for the face. Bets were always interesting on the days she fought.

  "Futue ti ipsum. Get fucked, Prax," the other, older woman ground out harshly. Reddish hair and amber eyes accompanied a narrow chin and jaw. "If you don't shut up, I'll make you clean up the latrines."

  Corinna was around Felix's age. He'd told me that she used to be a sagittarius in the arena until she hung up her bow years ago before becoming a lead trainer at the ludus. Being an archer had been the perfect fit for her sinewy frame.

  Praxedes rolled her eyes before leaning on the counter and looking me over. She twirled her long black plait with her fingers. "You look rough too, Maximilia. But still just as pretty."

  I choked in surprise, raising my head. But before I could ask anything, her brother staggered in. It was the farthest thing from the fluid movement he had yesterday. Corvus paused to bend over with his hands on his knees. "Oh, for the love of the gods, don't start that or you'll make me actually sick."

  Her blue eyes flashed in anger. "Hey! You say that in front of every single person I flirt with."

  "Then don't flirt," Flavia muttered in a scratchy voice, covering her ears.

  The older woman snorted as Praxedes rounded on the murmillo. "What was that? Say it again, you selective mute!"

  But Flavia only shook her head, wearing a small smile. Corvus straightened, took a deep breath, and continued to make his way over. I was by no means short, but I still had to tilt my head up slightly to meet his eyes. Which were closed.

  "Please. Tell me you have something to help with this," he begged.

  "You'd need the blessing of a god at this point," his sister quipped with her arms crossed. “I can't wait to watch Felix make you do push ups over your vomit later when you throw up. Because you will."

  He waved her off half-heartedly. I retrieved an amphora and four cups, setting them down carefully without a sound. Mostly for my own sake.

  "This was meant to help recover from sweating, but it might actually be perfect for right now. On..." I paused as a particularly intense wave made my head feel like it was about to split open. Corvus opened one eye to squint at me. "On the house," I finished weakly.

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  It was something I called Fortis Aqua, a tincture of mineral water, watermelon juice, citron, and salt.

  Flavia downed it in one gulp. She licked her lips and then handed the cup back with a sigh. Instead of taking it, I just poured another serving. She hesitated before nodding in thanks.

  "Gods, girl. I will give you five damn denarii just to drink this all day," Corinna croaked.

  Despite the light being too bright, my eyes widened. That was around twenty-fold what I sold a smoothie for. "Just say the word and I'll make more."

  Meanwhile, Corvus lay down carefully on the ground after drinking. "Just for a moment," he grumbled. And it really took only a moment for him to fall deep asleep.

  Praxedes stared down at him. "The idiot stayed up the entire night. He has a fight in a few days."

  "Ah, he'll be fine. It's just for exhibition," Corinna replied. “Mercy fight only.”

  Just then, a trainee popped in to announce that training was beginning for the day. They left, leaving Corvus passed out on the floor. I shook him tentatively and then again harder, but he was gone to the waking world. I bit my lip, cursing in my head. Of course the man had to sprawl in the middle of my floor. I ended up dragging him behind the bar, gritting my teeth against the throbbing in my head, and shoved him against the wall under the washing basin.

  Several bleary customers trickled in and I clenched my fists. May the gods help me, because it was going to be a long day.

  ***

  The sun was high overhead, streaming through the vines over the courtyard when Corvus woke up. He looked around in confusion.

  "Hey, you. You're finally awake." I smirked, holding out one of the greasy stall snacks Sat had brought me earlier.

  He took it and devoured it nearly one bite before frowning. "Maximilia...Max. Wait, if you're here, then Felix....oh shit, Felix!" Corvus's eyes widened. He scrambled to his feet, tripping as he sprinted towards the training grounds.

  Several patrons watched him run by in confusion before returning to their hushed conversation. "So, did you hear that someone from Solis is going to be in the next game?"

  My head whipped over at the news. Solis had appeared suddenly, the first outside culture to become part of Aeterna—or at least a fragment of the culture. It was where some of my specialized ingredients came from, like cacao and a sweet nectar. Goods were one of the few things to come out of the province, which was still largely a mystery to us. No one was sure if they were actually taken from someplace or if they were only an echo of it.

  In fact, the same question applied to Aeterna. Some, especially those who still believed in the gods, theorized that removing us from the world and creating our own realm was the gods’ final act before becoming nothing more than constellations in the sky. And the power to capture new people filled some unknown will of Aeterna itself. We could only guess Solis came from the same world we'd left behind.

  "I find that hard to believe.” The conversation continued. “Those people are so obsessed with death, it's disturbing.”

  “Sounds like the arena is the perfect place to unleash them then. Remember when they first came half a year ago?"

  I glanced furtively at them. Two patrician men and one had the purple stripe of a politician on his tunic.

  "By Juno, do I. Nearly all of the Legion's regiments had to be deployed in full force to contain them." The second man leaned forward, glancing around, but they were alone. Except for me. But we all know workers don't count when it comes to this sort of thing. "But where did you hear this?"

  They lowered their voices, but I could still hear them talk. Once the mouth started running, it usually had a hard time stopping. I stayed as still and quiet as possible.

  "My wife's related to the magistrate. Apparently it's supposed to be a surprise in honor of the new year. The fighters are supposed to be some of their elite warriors, and these ones seem to really hate us. They've taken the defeat hard." The two men stood up, leaving the courtyard. "Don't tell anyone, but I also heard..."

  Their voices drifted away and I put down my chopping knife as thoughts buzzed through my head. Did Felix already know? Should I tell him?

  A gladiator-in-training walked in. He stared at me for a moment before speaking. "Might be a weird request, but can I get just the protein mixed with w—"

  I bolted, cursing myself for even hesitating. There was nothing to lose by being cautious. "Sorry!" I shouted over my shoulder at the novicius. "I'll be back soon!"

  "Hey," he shouted after me but I didn't stop. “Hey!”

  I ran through the compound, searching for my father. At one point I ran past Corvus who was indeed doing push ups over a mess under Corinna's amused supervision. I nearly cackled, but my feet had already carried me on through the area with the stone and metal weights. Praxedes whistled and all eyes turned towards me. My cheeks burned and I ran faster. Finally, I found him talking with Ursus and Tiberius in front of the chariot track.

  The big gladiator saw me first. "Well, if it isn't Maximilia. Come to see me?" he teased, spreading his arms wide.

  Tiberius slung his arm around his neck. "Now why would she go after a decrepit old bear like you?"

  “You know that not-yet-thirty years is hardly decrepit, you walking corpse.”

  Holding out his hand, Felix silenced them and his brow furrowed. "Everything alright?"

  "Who is…” I paused as my stomach flipped from still feeling hungover. “Who is fighting in the next game?" I'd been so busy preparing for the opening of Invictus Shakes that I hadn't paid attention to the announcements in the market.

  "The twins. Why?"

  "Do you know about Solis?" I asked, still panting.

  Tiberius narrowed his eyes, all humor vanishing from his face. "What's this about?"

  My words tumbled out as I recounted the conversation I overheard before voicing the fearful thought that had occurred to me. "I didn't want to overreact, but based on what I heard, I'm afraid they won't follow the rules of a mercy fight. Those warriors might try to kill them."