My heartbeat still felt faster than normal, even after waving goodbye to Saturnia. The fact that I had doubted my own ability to run away was not a good sign. I needed to start practicing again soon, even if it was only a few times a week. And it was one thing to train on dummies and against my father whose fighting style I'd learned over time. But it was another altogether against several opponents whom I'd never fought before. I didn't know their strengths or tendencies.

  I sighed, tilting my head back as I walked down the stone streets. The uncomfortably full feeling had mostly faded from my stomach, although my gut still felt tense. When I had seen the three of them spread out before me, I had no idea what to expect. But I'd anticipated the worst, and Saturnia had almost been caught in my mess.

  When Saturnia had made her little quip, I nearly bit my tongue in panic. The only reason it didn't get worse was because of Scipio's selective sense of decorum.

  I couldn't help but imagine everything that could have gone wrong, especially with the threats they made. A shudder made its way down my spine, leaving me feeling prickly and uneasy in my own clothes. I wanted to soak in a nice warm, scented bath.

  My footsteps quickened eagerly.

  When I finally returned home, the sound of laughter greeted me. I followed the sound as it floated down the corridors, realizing it came from the atrium. Wooden dice rattled against a table. I turned the corner just in time to see Meridius throw his hands up in disgust.

  He was Felix's long-time friend and mentor, the one who had been there the day I showed up among the gladiators ten years ago. He was also one of the several regular visitors. Sometimes they simply sat and talked. Other times they passed the time in comfortable silence. Or listened and watched one of the entertainers Felix occasionally hired to accompany their meal. Tonight seemed to be a game night.

  "The gods must really favor you," he grumbled in exasperation.

  My father chuckled, taking a sip of wine and turning his head at the sound of my footsteps. "Ah. The source of my luck has returned home."

  “You give me way too much credit. You've had it in the arena even before I showed up,” I replied, stopping beside the table with a smirk. "How are you, Meridius."

  He stroked his chin, wearing a long-suffering expression. "Good to see you as always, Max.”

  "Your son's earning his adult toga this upcoming Liberalia, right?" When he nodded, I grinned and congratulated him. "You and your wife must be proud! "Then I glanced down at the table with a smirk. "Oh, no. Losing again?"

  "I don't know how he does it." Meridius gave a heavy sigh, resting his face against his hands.

  "I already told you," Felix said before shifting to turn his attention to me. "Tell me. Did the two of you end up having another eating contest?"

  I opened and closed my mouth like a fish. Were we that predictable? "What? Us? No, of course not," I said to my father, feigning confusion. "We'd never compete over something ridiculous like that."

  He chuckled, not buying it for a moment.

  “And if we did, I won, of course.”

  "My girl,” he said fondly. “Want to join us?"

  "No, it's fine. I'd rather let the two of you continue to have your fun. It would be a real shame if I brought even more bad luck for Meridius." I winked. "Besides, I'm actually feeling really tired and just...I'd like to rest tonight."

  Apparently, Felix could read me too well because his brow furrowed. He put down his drink, the glass clinking against the table. "Is everything alright?"

  "Yeah." I shrugged. "Yeah."

  "Maximilia." His tone was stern.

  Silently, I cursed to myself. I should've just let them be tonight. I hadn't wanted to burden my father in front of his friend, or interrupt him having a good time. I shifted on my feet. "Well, I might have had a...bit of a confrontation with someone at the forum."

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  His eyes hardened and he shifted forward. "Are you okay?"

  I waved off his concern. "Oh, I am. His wrist isn't, though. It was better that I didn't leave any, uh, visible damage."

  At that, he relaxed and picked up his wine. "That's my girl,” he said again. “Now, who was the problem for you to choose that approach?"

  "Tatius, the magistrate's son."

  Felix sighed as soon as I said the name, running a hand slowly through his hair. My gut twisted in guilt and I clenched my hands together anxiously.

  "I'm really sorry, Father. It's just that..." I paused, remembering the cruel, barbed words they had thrown at me. I lifted my chin, defiant. "I don't care about me. But there were some insults I just couldn't let go without any kind of response."

  His eyes found mine. They softened, touched.

  Across from him, peals of laughter escaped Meridius—deep, booming laughs. "She takes after you a little too well, Felix, don't you think? Are you sure she's not your actual daughter?"

  I lifted my brow. "Oh?"

  He leaned towards me. "Did you know that your old man has had his own conflicts with Secundus Tacitus? And now it seems like you're continuing the tradition with his son. Fitting and entirely hilarious."

  “Oh, matris fututor,” I groaned at myself, rubbing my forehead. Motherfucker. "I didn't mean to."

  "Come. Tell us what happened."

  "Does this have to do with the challenge Praxedes told me about?" my father added.

  I nodded, flopping down to recount both incidents—the one in the smoothie shop and the one just earlier. They listened quietly, moving only to take the occasional drink of wine. The dice game sat forgotten as the spectre of a real risk danced before them. I left out some of the details, like what they said about Felix. Those were things he never needed to hear, even if he'd heard them all before.

  "Smart," Meridius commented when I finished. "Gave him a good reason not to involve his own father. Quick thinking like that is always the weapon people should use first."

  "And his son is a coward just like he is." Felix growled angrily.

  I was so curious to know more about his personal problems with the magistrate, but it wasn't the time or place.

  He patted my hand. "I knew you had nothing to worry about," he reassured me, referring to my earlier fear of messing up in front of the gladiators he was training. "It seems you managed to adapt to what you saw quite nicely. Another reason why my favorite student is you."

  I rolled my eyes at Meridius, trying not to let my mouth break into a smile, before turning my hand over to squeeze my father's. "I'm still sorry, though."

  "Why?" he said gruffly. "Nothing to be sorry about. If anything, you could be more aggressive if you want to. The one who does the protecting should be me."

  “Sat knew you'd say that.”

  "Pay him a visit yourself, Felix " Meridius suggested.

  “No.” I said emphatically, shaking my head. "Don't encourage him.” I stood back up. "Oh. Shit. I nearly forgot. I sort of…tortured information from him in return for not breaking his wrist in front of his friends."

  Meridius choked on his wine and Felix threw his head back, roaring with laughter.

  "I learned two things from what he told me, ‘ I continued. “First is that the Senate has some control over new territories appearing. Second is that they might be thinking of bringing in a new one to conquer."

  Silence ruled the air as they absorbed the information. Felix leaned back, looking up through the roof opening while Meridius crossed his arms with a whistle.

  "I wonder what they're thinking."

  "Or if it will be better or worse than Solis."

  His friend tossed his hands up again. "Vaha! I guess we'll just have to wait and find out. But, Felix, my friend. I want to know just what exactly you've been teaching your daughter all this time? Extracting information out of people using pain?"

  My father eyed me, a smile flickering in the corner of his mouth. "Not that. But it seemed more than deserved."

  Meridius tilted his head. “She could kill a man and you wouldn't question it.”

  He made no answer, only sipped his wine.

  "I will not be doing that. But maybe one day the smoothie shop will just be a front for a ring of informants," I joked. Then I leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Enjoy your night, both of you."

  I retreated to relax in the bath. Luckily, we had water piped from the nearby hot spring and didn’t need to heat our water. Although it meant the water didn't stay warm forever. I added some myrrh and worked the oil over my skin. Slipping in, the heat wrapped around my limbs and sank into my bones. I closed my eyes until sweat trickled down my brow. With the sweat and dirt loosened, I reached for the curved strigil to scrape it all off. Then I stepped out to pour a bucket of cool water over myself, bumps rising on my skin.

  Once I dried off, I rubbed jasmine-scented ointment over my body. It was a delicate scent, and my favorite combination with the bittersweet warmth of the myrrh.

  The faint murmur of their voices punctuated by bursts of laughter carried over when I lay down to sleep. I tried to focus on it instead of the revelation from Tatius…and if there was something bigger we were missing.