(Accused of Treason, Rolf has been dragged to the Arena at Aquileia to be 
executed. The Emperor Theodosius will be present for the “games.” SUNSET FOR 
EAGLES.)
"You're our first act!" a cadaverous jailer said cheerfully as he stripped me 
and poured a bucket of cold water over my head and body. Filth rolled off me and 
down a blood encrusted drain in the floor of the preparation room I remembered 
from my last appearance. The twins who had dressed me then were not present, 
perhaps it was to early for them. I did not miss their tiny probing hands. This 
new attendant did not enjoy his job as they did.
Looking out the window onto the arena, I could see nothing but darkness and fog.
"Have the games been canceled?" I asked, sitting on a wooden stool as he 
scrubbed me with a long handled brush. "There is no light out there."
"They're setting up the torches now," he said. "The fog is bad but it'll burn 
off. They'll be ready to watch you die in an hour. By noon the real fights will 
start."
I accepted that there would be no chance for an honorable gladiatorial combat. I 
would be the early morning distraction before the excitement began. At least the 
muscles in my arms and legs had not locked.
When I was clean, he attached my wrist chains to a hook above my head on the 
granite pillar and removed the leg irons. This raised my spirits considerably 
because I would not die fettered arm and leg. Then, to my astonishment, he 
pulled a wolf pelt from the costume chest and tied it with a thong around my 
neck.
"Palius' wife brought it this morning and said you were to wear it in into the 
arena," he said, shoving the wolf head over my hair. "I was much surprised. Sure 
is an ugly woman."
"Sure is," I agreed and he seemed surprised to see me smiling.
"You're pretty chipper for a man who's about to face the wolves," he said.
I remembered their yellow eyes and slobbering jaws as we fought them on the Wall 
and shivered. Yet death is death, no matter how it comes. I only feared the 
pain.
"The wolf skin is warm," I said. "Now all I need is a pair of those Goth pants 
and I will be comfortable."
"Afraid that's all the cover you get."
"I will soon become accustomed to displaying myself before thousands of people."
He laughed and went out to find himself some beer and cheese. I stood chained to 
the cold wall, awaiting his return and my death. I remembered the wolves' 
tearing jaws, but I felt that something in me had surrendered to the Wheel of 
Life. 
After the pounding on the Door of Death began, two soldiers arrived and 
hurriedly removed my wrist chains. They thrust a wooden exercise sword into my 
numb hand, and shoved me out into the hazy arena.
The fog from off the Adriatic was so heavy on the field that the torches glowed 
and cast halos of light against the mist. The upper two tiers of the arena were 
cloud covered and the Imperial Section directly across from the Door of Death, 
had several braziers glowing to prevent chill. 
Theodosius, who was said to be an early riser and stern about keeping a 
schedule, was in his place, making sure that the games would start on time. 
Beside him were his usual companions, 
Standing, Theodosius shouted that the games would begin and then turned to 
address the person behind him. Trumpets blared and the animal gates opened to 
howls and drum beats. A pack of about 20 full grown, wide chested, sturdy 
legged, Caledonian wolves tumbled out onto the arena sand and stood together, 
scenting their prey.