Enemy of the Gods 65

311 AD

Nicholas woke in the morning and began with the same prayer he had prayed the last seven years; for enough strength to make it through another day. This morning the slave came as usual, but instead of bringing breakfast, he opened the door of the cell and said, “Come with me.”

Nicholas rose weakly from his brick bed and stumbled to the door. The slave took his arm and supported him, leading him back through the house. All was quiet. There was no sign of Silvanus. Nicholas wondered if his day of execution had finally arrived, but there were no guards. The slave brought him through the atrium to the front door. Swinging it wide open, he led Nicholas out, leaned him against the wall and then returned inside and closed the door behind him.

Nicholas blinked in the bright light. For the first time in years, he could feel the warmth of the sun touching his face. A short man approached him from across the street. He had raven hair, starting to gray at the sides, and a pronounced Latin nose. The man said, “Blessed be Nicholas, confessor.” It was the title the Christiani gave to those who endured a painful trial for confessing the name of Christus.

Nicholas could not understand how this man could speak so openly as an enemy of the gods right in front of the proconsul’s house. He squinted in the bright sun. The man was older, probably in his fifties. He did not seem in much better health than he was. His face was pale and his body thin. Behind him a younger man sat on a cart with a horse. The older man took his arm.

“Who are you?” asked Nicholas.

“Gordian, your brother in Christ... Many years ago, you gave gifts of gold to pay the dowries for my three daughters. I’ve been praying for you all these years.”

“Thank you,” said Nicholas, recognizing him. Gordian helped him up into the cart and as they pulled away, Nicholas said, “I don’t understand. Why did the proconsul let me go?”

“He had to. The law has changed. Emperor Galerius issued an edict of toleration. Christians are now free to worship once again.”

Nicholas made a puzzled frown. He recognized Galerius as the son-in-law of emperor Diocletian, not as the emperor himself. He stammered, “Emperor... Galerius?”

“Much has happened during your imprisonment. Diocletian retired as Caesar and split the empire east and west. Galerius reigns over the east from Nicomedia, and he has been warring on Christus with a vengeance... Until now, that is.”

“What convinced Galerius to relent?”?

“From what I hear, a horribly painful disease. His edict asks us to pray to our God for him. I think he fears he is storing up judgment for himself.”

Nicholas recalled the words of his uncle: If the emperor disobeys his king, what would happen to him? He could see the truth in it. Nicholas nodded and said, “He is right.”

Click here to go to beginning of the book