In a kingdom that never existed, behind walls that looked as though they had been built to keep out both armies and salespeople, a young ambassador arrived carrying a sealed letter. He had traveled for six days. Two horses had gone lame. One wheel had broken. Rain had turned the northern road into mud. And now, finally, the towers of the king's palace stood above him. The ambassador smiled. He had made it. Or so he thought. The first guard barely looked at him. "State your bu

By Sunrise, Rome was already moving. Carts complained against stone. Dockworkers rolled barrels from ships. Shopkeepers opened shutters. Messengers slipped through crowds with scrolls tucked underneath their arms. Somewhere above all of it, a merchant stood on a balcony and admired what he believed was growth. He had recently received the most important cargo of his season. Olive oil. Dyed fabrics. Glass. Spices.