On the Via Lata, near the Temple of Hadrian, Quintus Cinna stood among many in the crowd as they watched from the distance the soldiers parade the late Emperor Maximinus' head on a pike. Speeches were made by senators but because of the high winds and drizzle, QC could not hear any of it. Some people in the front made cheers others were more frightened. QC could see a few people at the edges of the encircling crowd fight between coming closer and sneaking away. Nobody knew what was to occur. Right now Pupienus and Babinus were again proclaimed the new Augusti (Emperors) and a reminder that the boy, Gordianus (the third with that name) was their Caesar (secondary role).

In a few litters by the Aqua Virgo, wealthy litters were being carried by giant men. One of the litters had the recognizable brown and green embroidery that QC knew as belonging to a mob leader. The mob was waiting to see what happens. When a man peaking out of the leader saw QC was staring at them, the man stared back with hard eyes. QC had to turn his face. He wasn't the man he used to be. He was broken. Losing his home a few years ago in a fire, his position as mayor for the city, and the loss of his family and wealth, he was basically a street vagrant now. Before any of the wealthy could sick their body guards on him, he slipped into the shadows of the neighboring street and jogged off to find a place to sleep without being rained on.