Chapters 1 - 5 Summary

Julian: Rome, AD 106: Julian runs through the streets of Rome toward the Flavian Amphitheatre where his friends and fiancé are scheduled to be eaten by lions in front of a cheering crowd. He flashes his pass to the usher, embarrassing the usher with his elite status, and exploding into the arena. Inside, Julian's mother grabs his arm and attempts to stop him from what he is going to do, and the two get into an argument. Julian wants his father to use his position of authority to stop the execution, but Julian's mother, perhaps numbed by societal expectation, wants Julian to sit down - it is too late, there is nothing they can do to save his friends. Julian feels deeply guilty for his friends' situation, and knows that he should be down there with them, but his societal position saved...