Uliaris started to tear up again and he paused to regain his composure. He also quickly assured everyone that he was all right. Aelia and Agathias were both looking at each other with what seemed like surprise and sadness meshed together. Though it was very early morning now, no one seemed to mind or was ready to turn in. However, everyone else was a little concerned about Uliaris' state of mind.
"Do not worry! I am going to be all right. I assure you all." Everyone, though concerned, felt a little more at ease after Uliaris spoke. Uliaris continued a little more calm, "When the girl was becoming more alert and aware, I began to talk to her gently but trying to get to know her. I hoped to calm her and put her mind at ease. However, she would not speak a word. I did not force her or expect her to talk other let her know I would not abandon her. I did not help clean up after the riots, because Belisarius was kind enough to let me stay with court physician to help care for her until I could take her to my family. He told me that one man would not be missed, especially to help save an innocent life from the riots. Unfortunately, such stories would be molded into propaganda for the emperor on how gracious and concerned he was to his subjects. Politics holds nothing sacred, nor has no bounds!
After the second day the girl had gotten a lot stronger and sat up on her bed, but would sit up with her knees bent and her head between them. She also placed her hands on her face hiding it and would not look up. The doctor said that at her traumatized state she may never fully recover. He told me I should take her to a priest before my family, and I agreed. Though my faith was weak then, I never doubted God's holy power. As a soldier, I questioned his hand and why good men died horribly and bad ones seemed to evade death as if they danced between the raindrops. The truth is that they died the same. Death shows no favor to any man. God does not control us like a machine. His promise is not that we do not endure and suffer pain or injustice, and that he saves us from evil of this world. His promise is that despite all that we must endure in this world, and if we put our faith in Jesus who endured the agonies of crucifixion and evils of men for mankind, we will be saved for eternity in heaven."
Andreas added, "We have seen many things as soldiers for Rome brother, and I must say that as soldiers, the truth of everyone is revealed during war. One's true character is not able to remain hidden. The brave and honorable are not limited to nobility just as evil and cowardice. This may seem crazy, but I always felt closer to God during war than peace. It's not because I long for the fighting, but because in the thick of fighting the men around me and God is all that I have."
Aelia interjected, "Agathias and I commend you both but please can we stay on course with the conclusion of the Nika Riots?"
Elsewhere in Constantinople at the same time:
The streets of any large city can be dangerous at night, and Constantinople was no different. Evil does not like the light. The shadows is where the fear of evil dwells. Our kin tell us stories and nightmares that lurk in those shadows. Like a curious cat, some will venture into those shadows to never be heard or seen again. These are the are real monsters or demons posing as men by day, and at night they shed their manly features to reveal their true horrific nature. They seek to devour or destroy as if they are controlled by the agents of hell.
A woman in her late thirties was talking with another woman approximately the same age. "Well, I must be off! It is late so..." The other woman reached out for her arm and spoke, "Please go the lighted way and not through the alleys. It is not safe!" "You are not my mother! I will be fine. How many times have I gone that way?" Reluctantly her friend relented. "I will see you tomorrow with the rest of your family!"
She waved goodbye to her longtime friend, as she was singing s tune under her breath. She was worried that her husband would be furious when she got back home. However, planning a wedding dinner was no small effort. Besides her husband knew she would be gone a long time. He was a good man just very protective.
She made good time getting back home, and had one more alley to cut through. When she did she froze in sheer fright. A young woman had been just butchered moments before. The sight was ghastly, and she saw a hooded figure with blade as he was wiping it with a cloth. He turned and met her eyes with his. His eyes had this maddened dark look that would scare off a beast. A sadistic smile soon filled his face. He winked at her and disappeared into the shadows. She turned around and ran for her life. She ran onto a main street and saw some city prefect guards, then ran to them and told them about what she saw in the alley. The guards followed her back to the grizzly scene, and they were soon overcome with horror from what they saw.
One of the guards went back to the prefecture for more men to organize a cleanup crew, while two of them escorted the woman back to her house and for a statement of what she witnessed. They got her back safely to her house, and with a relieved husband, sat down and went through the events of this terrible experience.