“Are you a monk?” Beth asked the man.
“I am Telemachus,” he said. “I saw you when the soldier picked you up. Will you deliver a message to the emperor?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Ask him if he is a Christian,” said the monk.
“Okay,” she said. “And then what?”
Telemachus told her what to say.
Beth frowned. “He won’t like it,” she said.
“Perhaps not,” said Telemachus. “If he wishes to talk to me, I’m here.”
Beth took a deep breath. She walked over to the throne.
Honorius was still watching the games. He was safe in his high seat. Nets protected him from wild animals. He was smiling and drinking.
She glanced at the arena. Slaves fought the wild creatures. The men screamed and ran when the animals attacked.
Honorius held the silver cup in his hand.
“Your Highness?” Beth began.
“What is it?” he asked.
Beth asked him the monk’s question.
Honorius gave her a puzzled look. “Am I a Christian?” he said. “Yes. Of course I am. By law the emperor must be a Christian.”
“There is a monk who asked me to say this,” Beth said. “How can a Christian emperor laugh when men die? How can he then drink from a holy cup? That silver chalice has been used for the Lord’s Supper.”
The emperor looked at the silver chalice in his hand. His eyes widened with alarm. He stood up. “Where is this monk?” he said. “I want to speak with him!”
Beth went back to the wall. She shouted, “The emperor wants you. And I think he’s mad.”
In a cell under the arena…
Patrick wondered what to do next.
From somewhere above the prisoners, trumpets sounded.
The guard gave the men a mean smile. He shouted at them: “It is time. March two by two up to the doors. A soldier will give you swords and shields.”
The prisoners stood silent.
“Enter the arena when the doors open,” the guard said. “Then salute Emperor Honorius. Next, fight. The last man standing will be today’s hero.”
“This boy does not belong here,” Aldric said to the guard. “We men deserve to fight and die. But he is only a child.”
The guard drew out a sword. “He is nothing to me,” he said. “Now, shut your mouth and march!”
In the emperor’s box…
Honorius’s bodyguards brought Telemachus to the emperor’s box.
The monk bowed to the emperor.
“What does your message mean, little monk?” Honorius asked. He held up the silver goblet.
“Your Highness is drinking from a holy chalice,” Telemachus said. “I, myself, brought it to Rome. You now use it to salute death.”
Honorius’s face turned a deep red. “The people asked for these games,” he said. “Rome’s army pushed back the barbarians. Now we celebrate a war victory.” He frowned. “Why would I stop the games?”
“Because you say you follow Christ, the Bread of life,” Telemachus said.
Suddenly the crowd roared. Beth, Telemachus, and Honorius turned. The prisoners marched to the center of the arena.
Beth saw her cousin and cried out, “Patrick!”