Fire and Ice
The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon and pale, bright light poured over the city of New Rome. The world was just starting to wake up. Shops were opening, people were buzzing around completing their errands and the laughter of children filled the air. The smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls wafted over to Reyna. She uncontrollably ambled over to the baker's shop and opened the beautifully ornate door.
"Good morning Augustus!" Reyna cried as she entered the shop. The sounds of pots and pans clashing could be heard, and then the sound of a pan falling to the floor with a bang followed by cursing and swearing. Reyna stifled a small chuckle. Suddenly, a man emerged from the kitchen and walked towards the counter. He was a fairly tall, stocky and muscular man that looked to be in his early 50s. He had large meaty hands that he was wiping clean on a dish towel. He was bald except for some grey hair that circled the back of his head and sideburns down to his jaws of the same color. He had brilliant blue eyes that were the color of the sky and a round, plump face, but when he saw Reyna his face lit up.
"Ah. Good morning praetor Reyna!" Augustus bellowed "Beautiful morning isn't it?"
"It sure is." Reyna replied with a big smile.
Augustus placed his strong hands on the counter and leaned against it.
"Well Madame Praetor, what can I do for you?"
Reyna glanced at him with a knowing look; he knew how much she hated titles. He chuckled and put his hands up in surrender.
"Sorry, my dear, the usual I suppose."
"Do you expect anything else?"
Augustus chuckled and turned back into the kitchen, "No, I don't."
As Augustus went to prepare Reyna's breakfast, she looked around the small bakery. She walked into this bakery a million times, yet each time felt like a new experience. She loved everything about the small bakery: the wide, spacious windows, the antique chairs, the frosting stained counter, and the constant smell of pastries filling the air. She took in a deep breath.
"Here you are lovely, your usual." Augustus handed her a little white bag and a coffee cup. Hot chocolate and a cinnamon bun: her favorite. Not exactly roman but oh well, she couldn't be completely Roman all of the time.
Reyna took a sip of her drink and headed over to a bench near a patch of grass. She sat down on a bench and opened her bag. The cinnamon bun was piping hot with melted icing running down the side of it. She slowly ate her bun and drank her hot chocolate while she gazed over at everyone preparing themselves for the day ahead. That reminded Reyna that she needed to prepare herself for the day as well. But she didn't want to. All she wanted to do was relax. To be free to walk around or just sit on the bench all day. She sighed. No matter how much she wished, she knew that this was not possible. She had responsibilities as praetor and even though it was stressful, it was her job and she loved it. She had the power to help people and support them. She could get things, positive things, done, who wouldn't want that? Well maybe if you were a crazy, power-hungry psychopath who just wanted to torture people and wreak havoc on the world (hmmmm sounds like Octavian.) But as for her, she was… content with her life. She cast one more glance at the people having fun and just enjoying life… but she still wondered what life would be like if she wasn't praetor. Well for one, she would have never met Jason. "No! Stop that!" She scolded herself. She didn't have time to think like that. Jason was gone, he was happy with Piper. There was no use dwelling on him anymore. She pushed that thought aside as she had done with every other troubling thought. She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her purple toga. She was praetor; she couldn't afford to let her personal insecurities affect her judgments. With that thought, she raised her head up threw her shoulders back and braced herself for the day.