Firebird

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination, emotional abuse, and physical abuse.

The aureus, an ancient Roman gold coin, is a powerful symbol that connects to the themes of The Relationship Between Fate and Free Will and Resisting Conquest Through Quiet Rebellion. Introduced at two pivotal moments in the novel, the aureus bookends Malina and Julian’s journey from strangers bound by fate to partners who actively defy imperial control. In both instances, the coin is not merely currency; it is a message, a choice, and a challenge to the world around them.

The first aureus appears early in the novel, when Malina impresses Roman soldier Julian, then a Roman centurion, during a street performance. He gives her an aureus bearing the image of the goddess Fortuna. Julian explains that the coin once belonged to his parents and had been passed to him as a wedding gift. This moment sets up a complex interplay between fate and free will. Fortuna, the goddess of luck and fate, is a reminder of destiny’s role in human lives. When Julian gives Malina the aureus, he states, “Fortuna speaks to me sometimes […] She spoke to me tonight.