4. Hail, Who?

Kim yawned as she made her way to the breakfast table. Good thing today's not a school day, no one came to wake me at the usual time. Father would not be amused to find me out at night with Ronicus.

Father was being senatorial, going on about something again. He had the news scroll in his hands.

"I think they may be making a bit much of this."

"Now, Caius, whoever they were, they did prevent the enemy from crossing the Tiber. The people need new heroes, especially now."

"There is no word more over-valued than 'new', Olivia. Rome already has heroes, real ones of the old style. There's Marcellus, Sword of Rome, and don't forget my old comrade, Publius Scipio. He's carrying the fight on in Iberia. And a real Roman would have taken that bridge, held it like Horatio while his companion cut the ropes. No reliance on fancy tricks, just courage and teamwork."

"It seems to me that there was a lot of that." Olivia remarked, looking knowingly at her daughter as she came in.

"Morning, Father." She gave him his kiss.

"Morning, Kimmicubus. We were just looking at the news. Special report. 'Rome's New Heroes Save City.' People are so easily aroused these days. Just look at the drawing of this 'Masked Warrior of Mystery' why the armor is as Greek as can be."

"It has Etruscan influences, too." Kim was surprised at how defensive she was, though she dared not challenge Father. She managed to sound normal. "That's Italian."

Father seemed mollified for the moment. "Victory for Rome. So, what's in the scrolls for my Kimmicubus today?"

"Some shopping with Monique. Then we'll see Ronicus at…"

"I know, Bene Kebob. If that boy could handle a javelin like he can a skewer."

Kim had to laugh. Ronicus was a fixture there. "I won't be late."

Bene Kebob

Kim and Monique sat at a booth waiting for Ronicus. Bags were piled around them. Club Republic had had a great sale. Being a Senator's daughter, Kim already had a charge card with the Centurion Bank. Monique was able to go one better with a Pharaonic expense account.

"Hey, KP, Monique." Ronicus came over. "Ordered yet?"

"No. Get me a Brutus Salad, Ronicus?"

"Sure thing, KP. I think I'd come up with another name for that dish. 'Brutus Salad' just doesn't roll off the tongue. How about you, Monique?"

"I'll get something in a minute, thanks anyway."

Ronicus walked over to the counter. Nedius was there as always.

"I need a Brutus Salad, a Lamba-lamba-ding-dong, and a Beef Rubicon." Ruffio stuck his head out of a fold in the tunic, pulling frantically.

"Oh, yes. Extra cucumber sauce for the lamb and a side of feta."

"Feta, feta!" Ruffio nodded ecstatically.

Nedius put the order together. "That'll be a sesterius and two as."

Ronicus handed him his money, along with his Bene Kebob card.

"Just spend three more sesterce and you get the aureus discount. Second time this year. Enjoy."

Ronicus brought the food over. Kim seasoned her salad. Ruffio dove into the bowl of cheese. Ronicus took his knife and began to cut his flatbread, not lengthwise, but through its center.

Monique was curious. "What are you doing, Ronicus?"

"Oh, just something I came up with." He began to pile lamb and onions into the opening in his bread. He then poured cucumber sauce into it. "It's a lot easier and almost not as messy as the regular way."

"Almost." Kim smiled as sauce dripped down the front of his tunic. "So what has Nedius told you? Is Bene Kebob going to use your, what did you call it?"

"The Ronicus Pocketus." Roniucs smiled. "Will revolutionize fast food as we know it. It's all a matter of getting through to corporate…"

"But Nedius's father owns the place."

"Nedius's dad is corporate. Come on, Kim, this is Rome. Nothing changes in a day. Why the menu here is still in Etruscan! They've had the same advertising slogan for the past two hundred years. 'It's Romulicious!' I don't even know what it means! It's one thing to honor the past, but do we have to set everything in stone?"

"Ron, boy, settle down." Monique looked closely at Ronicus. "What's wrong?"

I think I know. Kim looked as a crowd came through the door. They surrounded Brickus. Bonillia was at his side.

"Give the hero some room, people. And ladies, don't even try."

Kim glared. "Hello, Bonillia. What's this with the 'hero' drama?"

"Oh, hello. Everyone has been trying to figure out who the new Savior of Rome is. We only have a few things to work on. We know from the reports he's young, blond, good looking, and can really handle a javelin. I think four out of four is not that bad."

"So he'd admitted, then?"

Bonillia looked offended. "That would be beneath his dignitas. Real Romans don't shout their achievements, they let others do it. Now, I believe our order's ready. How about that? It's on the house. Later, nobodies."

Kim looked at Ronicus, who was really stewing now. I sometimes forget. I need us to stay anonymous, while as long as I get that, he's no closer to his goals. He's never complained, never sulked. The gods could not have sent the Masked Warrior a better comrade, or me a better friend.

"The reports must have left out one thing, then."

"What's that, KP?" Ronicus mumbled.

"He must be a mutton head. That would be five out of five."

Everyone at the table laughed. Ron opened the wrapping to the Beef Rubicon. Inside was a rather bloated and immobile mouse.

"Ruffio!"

"Veni, vidi, voravi."

Lucius Quinctius Cincinatus High School (Hey, General! Your Libyans are all washed up)

Barcus paced in front of the cadet class. It was even more crowded now that Brickus had a virtual phalanx of admiring girls around him. Bonillia sat beside him, giving them warning looks like Barcus had not seen since basic training many years ago.

"It's obvious that any attempt to teach you anything not somehow connected to the mystery of the moment will be a waste of time. I will therefore use it to discuss the issue of courage. Don't jump to conclusions. I am as eager for Gloria and Fama as the next man. You can see the decorations, and a few of the scars."

"True courage doesn't come from seeking medals or accolades. It's in the moments when there is no one to see, no one to cheer, that the mettle of a man is truly tested. It's in your heart the night before battle, when there's only you and your thoughts. It's in your mind, when there seem to be no right answers. It's in your spirit, when everything cries out for you to despair. It's at this time that true heroes carry on, even if only the gods will remember. And even if the gods were blind, a hero knows that there is only one person in the end to whom he must finally answer; himself."

Kim looked up from her paper. Ronicus sat up a little straighter, a little taller. For an odd moment, she could have sworn that Barcus had been talking directly to him. For an even stranger moment, she could have sworn she was the object of his lecture.

The General's Camp

"Ronicus!" the General shouted. "Ronicus! Ronicus! I am sick of hearing the name of Ronicus!"

Senioris stood at the table. He had been with the General for many years, had been through many crises. He could never remember the General being this angry.

"Sir, surely this is only a temporary setback."

"Do we need to review the strategic situation?" The General motioned to the map on the table. "Almost all of Southern Italy is ours. Instead of this ending the war, as I had planned, it only made Rome more determined. Now my army is scattered, defending our new allies from their old masters. What was supposed to be an asset is more of a liability. It is clear now that only a direct assault on Rome will end this."

"But since I can't use my full army to attack, it must be a sudden strike. Plans have been formulated, put into motion, but what happens?"

"Ronicus." Senioris answered.

"Yes, Ronicus." The General glared. "Operation Midnight Special. Five thousand gastraphetes to fire grapping hooks over the walls of Rome in a night attack. Who sank the ships carrying them to us?"

"Ronicus."

"And Operation Low Down. Who collapsed the tunnel that Mago was digging beneath the Etruscan Tombs?"

"Ronicus."

"Right! Ronicus!" Then the General grinned. "Still, the way Mago looked when we pulled him out—like a drowned rat! I'll have to tease him about that the next time I see him." Then the hardness settled over his face again.

"The present situation is intolerable."

Senioris stood at attention. "Sir, if I no longer have the General's confidence…"

"No, Senioris, that is not the issue. You are an excellent soldier. It has simply come to me that our present situation calls for another set of skills."

"My spies inform me she is in Etruria. It is time we talked."

"Junuris and I will set off at once."

The General shook his head. "No, good Senioris. Her temper is as legendary as her powers. I want someone more…expendable. I think you know who I want. Send him in when you leave."

"Of course, General."

Notes

Aureus, sesterce, as…coins of the time. The aureus was gold, the sesterius bronze, the as copper. Yes, Ronicus is a fixture there.

Veni, vidi, voravi…I came, I saw, I ate it all.

gastraphetes...a powerful ancestor of the crossbow.