Nicholas stepped forward. “Your honor, I am pleased to bring my case before you, for I seek what you seek: justice, the peace of Rome, and the punishment of wrongdoers. Yesterday before sunset, my father and mother were murdered on the main road outside the city.”
The magistrate blinked and turned his eyes to Nicholas. “Who were your parents?”
“Their names were Epiphanes and Johanna.”
One of the officials rose from the benches to listen in on the discussion. The chief magistrate replied, “I know them by reputation only. They did not frequent the temple of Apollo, did they?”
Nicholas answered, “No, your honor.”
“Were they followers of Athena or one of the other gods?”
Nicholas did not like his line of questioning. He said, “The fame of Apollo’s temple here in Patara remains unquestioned. However, innocent blood has been shed. Can you order a search for their killers?”
The magistrate said, “There are many bandits and rebels drifting about these days. Have you evidence? Any men you suspect of the deed?” He was now staring at Nicholas, studying him with great interest.
“No your honor.”
“Then there is nothing I can do. Perhaps they offended some god. We can only hope you will find the favor of the gods.”
“I knew your father,” interjected the official listening in.
The voice was familiar, but Nicholas could not place it. The man’s robe was very expensive. He was bald on top, so his hair looked like a brown and silver victory laurel circling his head. Nicholas said, “I am sorry, we have not met.”
The man extended his hand. “Silvanus. Your father and I grew up together.”
Nicholas now recognized him as the same man he had seen from above speaking with his father. He shook his hand. “Proconsul. A pleasure to meet you.”
Silvanus said, “I am very sorry. I had only recently offered your father some protection. These are dangerous times.”
“Yes,” agreed Nicholas.
Silvanus continued, “I will assign a few soldiers to look into it. And I would also be pleased to provide you soldiers to watch over your safety.”
Nicholas thought of the words of his father: Gifts of this world come at a price. He said, “Thank you. I appreciate the search, but a bodyguard will not be necessary at this time.”
Silvanus said, “Very well. A search will be made. But without knowing what they look like, I fear there is little hope of finding the bandits.”
Nicholas hesitated. He said, “They were not bandits. Their intention was only to kill.”
There was an awkward pause as Nicholas looked into the eyes of the magistrates. Finally, he turned his gaze back to Silvanus. Silvanus said, “If my men find anything, you will be the first to hear of it.”
The magistrate blinked and turned his eyes to Nicholas. “Who were your parents?”
“Their names were Epiphanes and Johanna.”
One of the officials rose from the benches to listen in on the discussion. The chief magistrate replied, “I know them by reputation only. They did not frequent the temple of Apollo, did they?”
Nicholas answered, “No, your honor.”
“Were they followers of Athena or one of the other gods?”
Nicholas did not like his line of questioning. He said, “The fame of Apollo’s temple here in Patara remains unquestioned. However, innocent blood has been shed. Can you order a search for their killers?”
The magistrate said, “There are many bandits and rebels drifting about these days. Have you evidence? Any men you suspect of the deed?” He was now staring at Nicholas, studying him with great interest.
“No your honor.”
“Then there is nothing I can do. Perhaps they offended some god. We can only hope you will find the favor of the gods.”
“I knew your father,” interjected the official listening in.
The voice was familiar, but Nicholas could not place it. The man’s robe was very expensive. He was bald on top, so his hair looked like a brown and silver victory laurel circling his head. Nicholas said, “I am sorry, we have not met.”
The man extended his hand. “Silvanus. Your father and I grew up together.”
Nicholas now recognized him as the same man he had seen from above speaking with his father. He shook his hand. “Proconsul. A pleasure to meet you.”
Silvanus said, “I am very sorry. I had only recently offered your father some protection. These are dangerous times.”
“Yes,” agreed Nicholas.
Silvanus continued, “I will assign a few soldiers to look into it. And I would also be pleased to provide you soldiers to watch over your safety.”
Nicholas thought of the words of his father: Gifts of this world come at a price. He said, “Thank you. I appreciate the search, but a bodyguard will not be necessary at this time.”
Silvanus said, “Very well. A search will be made. But without knowing what they look like, I fear there is little hope of finding the bandits.”
Nicholas hesitated. He said, “They were not bandits. Their intention was only to kill.”
There was an awkward pause as Nicholas looked into the eyes of the magistrates. Finally, he turned his gaze back to Silvanus. Silvanus said, “If my men find anything, you will be the first to hear of it.”
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