Innocence and Gold Dust by Frances Webb

Author:Frances Webb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Publish on Demand Global LLC

Chapter XVI

Foot reached the palace wall. Noise from the Hippodrome rumbled through him. He tucked his parchment under his arm and sat down. He unrolled the parchment. The scribe had written it in Latin. Luckily.

“I see you got letters?”

Foot recognized Hosius’ voice and looked up. The noise from the Hippodrome made it hard to hear, and he was not sure what Hosius had said, but he guessed at it. He nodded. “I got jewels too, and corn.” Don't tell Hosius everything you got, stupid pit. “See?” He held the parchment for Hosius to read.

“What does it say? I don't read Latin.”

“You had better learn it if you want to follow me. See these walls? I will be on the other side of them very soon. No more washing columns. I will be at the Emperor's side. That is where I'll be. And if you don't want to still be cook, then do what I say. Learn Latin, like I did…am doing.”

“Being cook is pretty good, you little nothing. And you don't have to be like a loose olive branch and come crashing down on me. Right now, I am YOUR superior, so kiss my toga.”

Foot rolled up the parchment. He quieted his rumbling rage. He put the parchment under his arm, as it had been before, and stood up. “Now I shall start for Antioch. And I shall return from there with a bigger letter.”

“And more solidi, right? Don't forget, Eunuch, you need me too.”

“Shall we eat?” He would really have to calm himself. Who knew? He might need Hosius one day.

“Look!” Hosius pointed toward the Hippodrome, which was quieter now, the crowd probably mesmerized by a lake of blood.

Foot looked to where Hosius was pointing.

“A bear.”

“You are right, a bear.”

“By the true one God of the Trinity, a bear!”

Foot turned his head suddenly toward Hosius. “Are you one of those Christians?”

“Of course. And a right-thinking one, too.”

“You never told me.”

“You never asked.”

“Why would I ask? Between column wipes I'm supposed to stop and go to your kitchen and say, ‘Are you a Christian?’”

“You had better become one, Eutropius, if you want to be tending the Emperor.”

Foot shoved the parchment roll further under his arm. He had not thought about that at all. Why had he not thought about that? Why did he have to be told by this person who did not even know Latin? He should have thought of this himself. What a stupid ass he was. “So you gave up your gods so you could be the Emperor's cook?”

“No, I was a Christian before I was a cook. I'll tell you what, Eutropius, first you teach me Latin, and then I'll teach you the Scriptures. After that, I'll take you to the great golden church and ask the bishop to baptize you. I'll sponsor you.”

“Forget all that, Hosius. I have to go to Antioch and get those letters.”

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