The Silver Eagle by Ben Kane

one of Fabiola’s men moved forward, reaching for his sword. Tersely, she waved him off. There was no danger in passing the time of day. ‘Obviously,’ she sighed. It had been a vain hope to think that someone whom Gemellus had briefly encountered several years before would still be here. ‘Probably no such thing.’
    ‘Best to rely on no one, lady,’ advised the cripple with a wink. ‘Even the gods are fickle. They’ve certainly deserted the Republic in recent days.’
    ‘You speak the truth, friend,’ moaned a fat man in a grubby tunic, sweating as he climbed the steps. ‘We honest citizens are being robbed on a daily basis. Something has to be done!’
    Hearing his words, other passers-by muttered in angry agreement. Well-dressed or in rags, they all seemed of the same mind. Fabiola took note. The situation in Rome was as serious as it seemed. These people looked genuinely worried. Troubled, she turned back to the veteran.
    ‘As for me, I didn’t miss one of Mars’ feast days for ten years. Still lost this!’ He waggled his stump at her.
    Fabiola clicked her tongue. ‘How did it happen?’
    ‘Fighting Mithridates in Armenia,’ came the proud reply. Abruptly his face turned sad. ‘And now I beg for enough to eat each day.’
    Immediately she reached for her purse.
    ‘Save your money, lady,’ the man muttered. ‘It must be hard enough earned.’
    Fabiola frowned. The comment had been made as if he knew her history. ‘Explain yourself,’ she snapped.
    His face went puce with embarrassment and there was silence for a moment as Fabiola glared at him.
    ‘Not many customers tip, do they?’ he ventured eventually.
    Fabiola went cold. It was inevitable that she would be recognised by some in Rome, but she had not expected it this soon. And low-ranking veterans were uncommon clients in the brothel. They could not usually afford the high prices. So how did he know her? ‘What do you mean?’ she demanded harshly.
    The cripple looked down. ‘I used to sit opposite the Lupanar, before the area got too dangerous. Watched you come out many times with that huge doorman. Benignus, is that his name?’
    ‘I see.’ She could not deny it.
    ‘It was impossible to miss your beauty, lady.’
    ‘I’m a free woman now,’ Fabiola said in a low voice. ‘A citizen.’
    ‘The gods favour you then,’ he said approvingly. ‘Few escape Jovina’s claws.’
    ‘You know her?’
    He grinned. ‘Of course. She got to recognise me, too. Yet the old bitch never dropped a single as into my lap.’
    It was Fabiola’s turn to colour. ‘Neither did I.’
    ‘That’s all right, lady. People don’t notice me nowadays.’ The corners of his mouth turned down. ‘Lost my sword arm for nothing.’
    Sympathy filled her at his plight. The legions stood for everything that she despised, protecting a state which was founded on slavery and warfare. Although this man had served many years in their ranks, he had also paid a heavy price. Fabiola found it impossible to hate him. She felt the opposite. With luck, Romulus might have had similar comrades. ‘It wasn’t for nothing,’ she said firmly. ‘Take this.’
    Gold glittered in her outstretched hand and his eyes opened wide with shock. The offered aureus was worth more than a legionary earned in a month. ‘Lady, I . . .’ he muttered.
    Fabiola placed the coin in the veteran’s palm and closed his fingers over it. There was no resistance. She found it sad how extreme poverty could even grind down the pride of a brave soldier.
    ‘Thank you,’ he whispered, no longer able to meet her gaze.
    Satisfied, Fabiola had turned to go when intuition made her pause. ‘What’s your name?’ she asked softly.
    ‘Secundus, lady,’ he replied. ‘Gaius Secundus.’
    ‘You probably know my name,’ she said, probing.
    Secundus grinned in response. ‘Fabiola.’
    She inclined her head graciously, and another man came into her thrall. ‘May we meet again.’
    Secundus watched