“Brother!” hailed Remus.

“Welcome to the Aventine, brother. What may I do for you?”

“Let us settle this dispute that has come between us. Our people are at odds with one another.”

“How can we do what the gods cannot?” Romulus directed him along the unfinished wall, away from the crowd of workers.

“I think that we have misread the divine signals.”

“Go on.”

“You have heard, no doubt, about the six vultures that, by the will of the gods, hovered at my window and then circled the Palatine?”

“Yes, I have heard.”

“And I have heard about the twelve you saw the next morning circling the Aventine. The priests say that it cannot be determined which of our claims is the one to kingship.”

“I agree with them. The gods are quite ambiguous.”

“Let us consider another approach to the matter. The six birds outside my window were clearly meant for me—do you agree?”

“Yes, that is clear.”

“But the dozen you saw above the Aventine were while you were down here, by this wall. They were not a sign meant for you—”

“How do you mean?”

“They were meant to show the glory of our future city, which will reside on both the Palatine and the Aventine.”

The brothers walked in silence for a moment. Romulus then replied, “This is a doubtful proposal that you make. I am the only one to have seen those birds: they were a signal meant for me.”

“I have consulted with several patriarchs, who are in agreement with me.”

“No, we cannot decide this now. I am certain that the gods were speaking to me. We must wait for another sign.”

“We have waited nearly a year, brother. Now it is here, and I am to be king—will you betray your own blood?”

“The gods are ambiguous. Let us at least wait for a week—I am certain the gods will speak again.”

Remus jumped atop the low wall. “Now is the time, not a week hence! Come, give your consent—we cannot have a city divided.”

“I will wait.”

“Do you betray the same gods who protected us when we were but infants?”

“They betray me by not speaking clearly!”

“But they have indeed spoken. Romulus, this will be a great city—our disagreement only slows its ascent.”

“Let the gods themselves speak thus, and I will consent. Let us part, still as friends, and wait for the gods to speak again.”

“I will not have it so.” He stopped atop the wall, and his eyes flashed.

“Brother, leave. There is much to fill our lives beside these trifles.”

“I will not leave.”

“Go!” Romulus shoved him, and he fell from the wall. His head crashed against a stone. Flocks of birds ascended the silence.

Romulus watched the thick swarm cover the land again. “Never will my city be made weak by the uncertainty of the gods.” He turned from that place and approached his people.