Medina Maiden of Ephesus
A Historical Novel
by
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“You, my overseer, how dare you interfere! Those beasts cost me much gold!”
Somebody shouted, “Watch out, Ferenzio! Turn about!”
The second lion approached, not fast, but lingering, sensing perhaps the death of his companion. Quick as lightning, Ferenzio drew the lance from the dead lion and thrust it at the oncoming beast. His aim was perfect. The lion roared, made a few feeble steps, then crashed to the ground. Again, the audience rose and yelled in disbelief of what they were seeing.
The Emperor, livid with rage, screamed.
“Guard, Guard! Arrest this man!!”
The cordon of guards at the end, where the prisoners were standing, did not move. I saw in a flash that they loved Ferenzio and they would not obey anybody’s orders but his.
Ferenzio gently picked up the body of the lifeless girl. In a loud, clear voice he said:
“This girl is innocent, as are the others over there. I have gotten to know them. They have committed no crime against
The crowd took up a roaring chant.
“Kill the traitor. Kill the traitor.”
The Emperor, still standing and shaking with rage, shouted,
“Guard, kill this man!”
Still, the guards stood steadfast at their posts.
Ferenzio turned, still carrying the girl tenderly in his arms then yelled at the centurions guarding the closed entrance to the arena.
“Open the doors, release the prisoners. I am still in authority. Obey me, open the doors, let the prisoners go.”
I saw the gates swing open and the huddled group of Christians shout with relief as they rushed outside, stumbling, falling over each other. The guards did nothing to prevent their escape.
“Kill this man,” the Emperor roared.
Suddenly, from the other side of the arena, two centurions ran forward with bared lances. I saw the metal gleam as they drove their lances into his body. He fell, releasing the girl that was still cradled in his arms, and came to rest, bleeding, onto the sand next to the Christian girl who had caused his death.
Horrified, beside myself with grief, I screamed and called his name over and over again, “Ferenzio, Ferenzio.”
The crowd went wild, shouting, getting to their feet, scrambling across their seats to get out of the arena as quickly as possible. This spectacle, even to the most hardened of hearts, must have been even too much for them. People were being trampled, yelling, cursing. Fights started, bodies were rolling on the sand, covered with blood and lion feces.
Petros was slumped beside me, his face ashen. I don’t remember exactly what I said. I believe it was “You are with God now, dear friend.”
The Emperor had heard. Turning to Petros, his face distorted in anger, he said,
“Was Ferenzio her lover? What did she mean, ‘You are with God now.’ Jupiter? Zeus?”
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About the Book
The events and lifestyloes of important cities as Ephesus Rome Jerusalem and Samaria as they were 2000 years ago come alive thru the eyes of a young girl named Medina daughter of a wealthy vineyard owner living a carefree life in Ephesus a bustling seaport until her sixteenth year when a devastating earthquake destroyed most of the city Her family except for her grandmother survived Tiberius Emperor of Rome comes to assess the damage His wife slightly related to Medinas imother is the reason for his visit offering to take Medina with him to Rome With parents consent Medina goes to Rome Once there she is subjected to violence and assaults She faked a suicide and with help from a friend escapes to Jerusalem Looking for her friend who has eloped with a jewish flutemaker she finds her in Samaria at a time when Jesus is preaching there From that moment on her life is changed Love comes along together with her newfound religion Thu her sweet personality she quickly finds people s able to follow her newfound path Tiberius goes into Exile A new emperor rules Rome Again Medina finds herself in Rome living with hdr husband at the palace as he is the veterinarian of the Emperors animals Being able to get information about the roundups of the Christians for Arena events and while searching for Jesus roibe Medina is able to help many of them escape for which she must pay a bitter price This is a love story A heartwarming account of a courageous girl named Medina Once you have met her you will never forget her
About the Author
Elinor de Torri Hudson was born in Dresden Germany by American parents She has successfully combined two careers. one as an international operasinger and one as an accomplished author and poet While her career took her to leading opera houses around the World she also had a column in important newspapers and magazines She composes music and wrote three operettas performed in California Her books include “ The Rotating Circle of Eternal Life “ Mystic Experiences of a Primadonna “ and War Time Letters from an American Mother “ “ Medina Maiden of Ephesus “ her most ambitious book took her three years to write inspired by a trip to Ephesus a sad remnant of past Glory The sight of Marys house sparked her immediate interest Now age 96 Elinor is writing more poetry and another book