births. However, when the usurper discovered the infant boys, he had Rhea Silvia murdered and the brothers cast down the Tiber River. At the same time, the Fates had other plans for the twins as they were found by Rome’s guardian mother, on this very spot.”
“Lupus?” Gaius interrupted.
“Yes. Lupus was a wise wolf, with white fur, blue eyes and touched by the gods. Instead of devouring them as any beast would, she took pity on the infant brothers and suckled them until they were strong. She cared for them for many months until she found a kind farmer by the name of Faustulus. Lupus left the boys with him, but was always nearby to watch out for them. When the time came, and the boys had grown into men, Mars returned and told the brothers of their destiny. They would raise an army and marched to overthrow their cruel uncle who left them for dead, and retake the throne of their grandfather. The war was long and bloody, but the gods themselves favored the brothers, giving them knowledge, strength, courage and patience to win back their kingdom. When the war was finally over, the brothers sought to build a new kingdom, one that would honor their father, Mars, and the She-Wolf that had saved them from a certain death.”
The old man held out his hands and directed them to all corners of the city.
“They picked a place on the spot that they had been discovered by Lupus, where seven hills rose up and overlooked the land. It was here that the brothers laid down the first stones of Rome, and began our history.”
“And the Republic was formed?” Gaius asked.
“Oh, the birth of our Republic would take many bloodier years to come to pass. That is another story entirely, young Roman.”
“And what became of the two brothers, Romulus and Remus?” Antony asked.
“Romulus killed his brother and then proclaimed himself the sole king of Rome,” Varro, who walked up behind the boys, answered before the old man could say anything.
“Is it true?” Gaius asked as he turned and looked up into the eyes of the old man.
“I’m afraid that is true, young master.”
“Father, I want this medallion,” Antony said as he took the clay medallion of Lupus out from Gaius’ hand, holding it up for his father to see.
“There are far better ones than that, my son,” Varro said as he looked down at the clay medallion that his son held up for him to buy, unimpressed by its simple design.
“But it is the only one of Lupus. I want it, father, please,” Antony pleaded.
“Very well,” Varro agreed as he took a few coins from his pocket and tossed them down in front of the old man, not caring if he overpaid.
“Thank you, sir,” the old man replied as he scooped up the coins, biting down on the silver to make sure it was pure. Antony, with the medallion in hand, walked away from the stand with his father as they head towards the arena.
Gaius watched his friend leave, as Antony held the medallion up, admiring it before placing the string around his neck, where the medallion rested on his chest.
“Do not fear, Gaius, Lupus watches over you, even now .”
“What did you say?” Gaius asked as he turned sharply back to the old man, but the man had already sat back down, closing his eyes and continued to smoke his pipe.
Gaius did not ask his question again as he heard Antony call his name, wanting him to hurry and rejoin them.
He glanced at the old man one more time, thinking about his story a second before he finally ran off and rejoined his friends.
CHAPTER FOUR
Gaius watched as Antony tried to get his father’s attention. Varro was standing with the men he had been speaking with outside, plus half a dozen other associates. From what he could tell, the men were placing bets on the upcoming bout, the Primus , which normally would be held midday, but had been moved to the evening to signal the end of the festival.
Antony’s
“Lupus?” Gaius interrupted.
“Yes. Lupus was a wise wolf, with white fur, blue eyes and touched by the gods. Instead of devouring them as any beast would, she took pity on the infant brothers and suckled them until they were strong. She cared for them for many months until she found a kind farmer by the name of Faustulus. Lupus left the boys with him, but was always nearby to watch out for them. When the time came, and the boys had grown into men, Mars returned and told the brothers of their destiny. They would raise an army and marched to overthrow their cruel uncle who left them for dead, and retake the throne of their grandfather. The war was long and bloody, but the gods themselves favored the brothers, giving them knowledge, strength, courage and patience to win back their kingdom. When the war was finally over, the brothers sought to build a new kingdom, one that would honor their father, Mars, and the She-Wolf that had saved them from a certain death.”
The old man held out his hands and directed them to all corners of the city.
“They picked a place on the spot that they had been discovered by Lupus, where seven hills rose up and overlooked the land. It was here that the brothers laid down the first stones of Rome, and began our history.”
“And the Republic was formed?” Gaius asked.
“Oh, the birth of our Republic would take many bloodier years to come to pass. That is another story entirely, young Roman.”
“And what became of the two brothers, Romulus and Remus?” Antony asked.
“Romulus killed his brother and then proclaimed himself the sole king of Rome,” Varro, who walked up behind the boys, answered before the old man could say anything.
“Is it true?” Gaius asked as he turned and looked up into the eyes of the old man.
“I’m afraid that is true, young master.”
“Father, I want this medallion,” Antony said as he took the clay medallion of Lupus out from Gaius’ hand, holding it up for his father to see.
“There are far better ones than that, my son,” Varro said as he looked down at the clay medallion that his son held up for him to buy, unimpressed by its simple design.
“But it is the only one of Lupus. I want it, father, please,” Antony pleaded.
“Very well,” Varro agreed as he took a few coins from his pocket and tossed them down in front of the old man, not caring if he overpaid.
“Thank you, sir,” the old man replied as he scooped up the coins, biting down on the silver to make sure it was pure. Antony, with the medallion in hand, walked away from the stand with his father as they head towards the arena.
Gaius watched his friend leave, as Antony held the medallion up, admiring it before placing the string around his neck, where the medallion rested on his chest.
“Do not fear, Gaius, Lupus watches over you, even now .”
“What did you say?” Gaius asked as he turned sharply back to the old man, but the man had already sat back down, closing his eyes and continued to smoke his pipe.
Gaius did not ask his question again as he heard Antony call his name, wanting him to hurry and rejoin them.
He glanced at the old man one more time, thinking about his story a second before he finally ran off and rejoined his friends.
CHAPTER FOUR
Gaius watched as Antony tried to get his father’s attention. Varro was standing with the men he had been speaking with outside, plus half a dozen other associates. From what he could tell, the men were placing bets on the upcoming bout, the Primus , which normally would be held midday, but had been moved to the evening to signal the end of the festival.
Antony’s
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