The ox drawn cart had just pulled into the city in front of the 8th Street produce market.
Immediately the slaves rushed to haul the crates of fruits and wheat from the cart's bed to deposit the contents into the market's bins. The merchant stood barking at passers by that fresh fruit and produce was available at reasonable prices. His bin filled to overflow, he dismissed the slaves.
Roman citizens massed on the street in front of this shop and others like it. The produce markets and pottery shops were open from sunrise until dark.
I came to just such a shop while the sun was still low in the sky casting long shadows. Walking past the bins, I carefully examined the fruits, picking those which suited me. I moved on through the crowd to another shop. Taking what I needed for the household, I directed the slaves with me to lift the crates into my cart. I paid the merchant most of what was in my purse.
By order of the late emperor Agustus soldiers routinely patrolled the streets to protect the city. Like Rome's other citizens I had grown accustomed to the sight of police on the beat. Every street had it's own patrol.
"Drusila," a voice called out loud and clear.
I turned toward the direction from where the sound came.
Four soldiers in a line across the street came walking toward me from my left. They were combat ready with Javelins in hand and short swords in scabbard.
"Centurion," I answered.
"Would my lady require a proper escort? It is not safe for the wife of an emperor to walk without escort."
As the wife of emperor Gaius I traveled with five household slaves. They were large, very muscular men captured from some foreign land. The location of their former homeland was not my concern. They were there at my command for my protection, to carry my luggage and my fruit and produce and even drive my cart.
"I'm sure there are more important security concerns Centurion," I answered.
"Yes Empress," he answered. He turned smartly back to his men. They resumed their patrol for thieves, would be killers, and potential trouble makers.
At the royal household not far from the senate chamber a company of Pretorian guard stood on the grounds. Some paced from one end of the property to the other. These were Rome's elite soldiers trained to protect the city from an invading army. They were the best disciplined, the best physically fit and combat trained in all the army.
Gaius Caesar was called Caligula, a name given him by the army when he traveled as a child with father Germanicus on campaigns in Germania. The young man stood five foot seven with curly blond hair and blue eyes. He had a small 140 pound physique. I thought of him as the most handsome man in all Rome.
