Chronicles of Logos Quest For the Kingdom Parts IV, V, VI, and VII Revised With Index (Quest For the Kingdom Set)

by L. M. Roth

  Felicia lowered her eyes and did not look at either of her parents. But the eyes of Tullia widened and she paled. As she caught the eyes of Marcus she mouthed to him:

  “Iacomus.”

  It had been so long, Marcus thought to himself as he strolled through the garden after breakfast, lost in his memories. He had been only seventeen; now he was forty. It was in this garden that his world had ended when he had been seized and sold into slavery, only to escape and return to find his parents imprisoned and their estate confiscated. It had been more than two years later that his good friend Governor Urbanus had restored the estate to him after ascending the throne upon the death of the Empress Aurora.

  Marcus had regained the family home, but he still grieved over the death of his parents. So often over the years when his own children had delighted him with some amusing behavior or deep insight beyond their years had he wished that he could share it with his beloved father and mother. They had died long before their time, and both of them violently at the hands of an evil woman. And then his dear friend Felix had soon joined them…

  Kyrene. Felicia wished to be mentored under Kyrene. She was not really her aunt, but she was as a sister to Marcus and a good friend to Tullia. She had mentored him in prophecy as well, and he knew how effective her training would be to his own daughter. Were it up to him he would send Felicia to her tomorrow. But Tullia had other ambitions for her daughter that did not include such training, deeming it of more importance to groom her physically before permitting her to develop her spiritual gifts.

  And Marcus had to admit that Felicia truly did have the prophetic gift. How often had she had dreams and visions that came to pass, warning of dangers ahead or telling of blessings to come? Was it not of more importance to develop such a gift for the greater good of the body of believers? Wasn’t that of more value than grooming her physically to be some man’s wife?

  Chapter III

  Trouble in Valerium

  In the days that followed Marcus had many occasions to ponder on the dream of his daughter. And his sense of uneasiness concerning Iacomus grew to a terrible foreboding of disaster to come.

  Iacomus had begun to speak more frequently in the weekly gathering of the Alexandrians, even claiming to have words from Dominio for those present. The words, Marcus noticed, were always encouraging to the point of verging on flattery, telling people what they wanted to hear and not necessarily what they needed to hear.

  Only last week he had singled out a youth named Blandus, a young man possessed of no special skill or intelligence that Marcus could perceive, and informed him that he was destined for greatness and that many would follow him and his name would be famous, and all who knew him would live by the wisdom that would fall from his lips. This word was met with great awe by those present, who then clamored around Iacomus and asked him to prophesy over them as well.

  Marcus was appalled at the effect this word had on his faithful band who followed Dominio, for the prophecy given by Iacomus had more in common with the words of the diviners that sought to tell a favorable fortune, rather than a prophetic word from Dominio that was given for encouragement, guidance, or correction. That the word exalted Blandus rather than Dominio did not escape his attention either. And the end result was to transfer the focus of the group from worship of Dominio and seeking His counsel, to Iacomus and seeking a favorable word from him.

  Then there was the matter of Logos. The fabulous Sword that had been presented to Marcus by his mentor Xenon was his most precious possession. It had guided him through many trials and adventures over the years, and it was still consulted by him and the Alexandrians on occasion. When Iacomus beheld it at one of the meetings, he appeared dazzled by its beauty, and reached out a hand as it to take it. Marcus drew it back, and Iacomus shook his head and smiled an apology. Perhaps he was only awed by the Sword, but the doubts that plagued Marcus about Iacomus only increased…

  Here in Valerium Marcus and Tullia had founded a colony of believers when they returned here after their marriage. Emperor Urbanus was a good friend who permitted the Alexandrians full freedom in their meetings and activities, although he did not concur with their beliefs. For too long had he lived in Gaudereaux, where the people lived for frivolity and gave no heed to the morrow. They did not pay homage to any deity, and the concept of Dominio the all-powerful and His Son Alexandros was too foreign for him to grasp. Yet out of his affection for Marcus and Tullia he gave them free reign to speak to the citizens of Valerium, and to conduct their meetings unhindered by the government.

  Marcus had enjoyed not only the favor of the Emperor but also of the leading citizens of Valerium. His father Valerius was still spoken of with reverence for the service he had given to the Empire in leading its army into battles, bringing back victories that added yet more luster to the gloss of the Imperial crown. Like his father before him, Marcus’ opinion was sought by the men of the city, and Tullia associated with the finest ladies in the capital city of Potentus. If any wondered about their strange beliefs, they chose to ignore them, and focus on the exalted social position of the Maximus family instead, and to seek alliance with the family through marriages with Lucius and Felicia in the years to come.

  Now, however, Marcus gradually became aware of undercurrents. Only this morning when he arrived at a meeting of the leading townsmen which was held in the marketplace, he noticed that some of them stopped talking abruptly when he arrived, and averted their gaze from him. His sense of peace and well-being was suddenly disturbed, and he found it difficult to concentrate on the meeting at hand, as he wondered what precipitated the change in the behavior of his friends and neighbors toward him.

  Iacomus had begun attending the meetings, and for the first time Marcus noted how eagerly he was courted by the other men, and how his opinion was sought. Was the change toward him somehow connected with the behavior toward Iacomus? Was there a connection of some sort?

  After the meeting was over, Marcus caught the eye of Justus Lucius, the father of his friend Felix. The Lucius family had always treated him as a second son, and that feeling was increased following the death of Felix. Indeed, his own son had been named for the family, and his daughter had been named in honor of Felix himself. Marcus trusted Justus as he trusted few others in this world, and he inclined his head away from the circle of men. Justus nodded and casually sauntered away from the cluster of men still gathered around Iacomus.

  Marcus tossed out a few desultory remarks of farewell and ambled over in the direction of Justus, who seemed to be wandering aimlessly with no other purpose in mind than to enjoy the June morning. Neither Justus nor his wife Silvia had embraced the faith of the Alexandrians, having been too firmly engrained in the culture of Valerium; but they remained loyal friends and surrogate parents to Marcus, ready to come to his aid if the need arose. And when his children were born they had joined in the celebrations as fervently as if they had been their own grandchildren.

  In some ways, Marcus thought, I have been a substitute for Felix, and my children have the places in their hearts that his children would have had. The thought moved him deeply.

  When they were out of earshot, Marcus turned to his friend.

  “What is going on with the men? Why did they stop talking so abruptly when I arrived? And how did Iacomus so quickly endear himself to them?”

  Justus puckered his lips and furrowed his brow as if searching for words. He looked slowly around him as though to assure himself that no one could hear them. Only then did he answer Marcus.

  “I do not like this stranger, Marcus. Have you seen how quickly he has risen in favor with these men? It usually takes some time for a stranger to be adopted, yet here he is in our midst only six weeks and he is hailed as a leader among them. And your own wife has told Silvia that there is some mystery about him even in Lycenium. I do not like it: I do not like it at all!”

  And Justus shook his head from side to side in a gesture so violent that it surprised Marcus. Known for his cool
head and calm demeanor, his sudden intensity revealed the depths of his agitation.

  “You feel that way also, my old friend? For the more time I spend with Iacomus the more uncomfortable I feel, and wonder what he is doing in Valerium. He says he has business here, yet he does not divulge exactly what the nature of that business is. And he is increasingly taking a lead in our meetings, and some who are gullible are beginning to say that he is a godsend from Dominio Himself. He does nothing wrong, yet he doesn’t feel right!”

  Now it was Marcus who shook his head in perplexity.

  “Nothing wrong you say?” Justus queried. “Yet it has been my experience for those who rise quickly in the estimation of others to fall just as quickly, and they usually take others with them in their downfall. Trust me, Marcus: no good will come of this stranger’s appearing in our midst.”

  And a chill clutched at the heart of Marcus as he glanced apprehensively back at the square, and the men who still clustered around Iacomus.

  It was during the royal banquet that the suspicions that flooded the mind of Marcus were confirmed. It had been many years since he had first seen the interior of the Palace, but the alternating tiles of rose-red marble and black granite streaked with rose that so reminded him of a chessboard still had the power to unnerve him, making him feel a pawn at the mercy of the good will of the monarch. Although the atmosphere was far warmer than when Empress Aurora ruled here, the overall effect was still intimidating.

  Empress Renata had seated her guests in the customary style of Valerium, with four to six people reclining on cushions around low tables, rather than the long table that accommodated many people that was prevalent in Gaudereaux that Marcus remembered from his travels there. Due to the informality of this arrangement, the talk became confidential in many groups, and none more so than that in which Marcus found himself a part. He and Tullia were seated with Justus and Silvia, and joined by their good friends Vibianus and Livia Pomponius.

  Marcus and Vibianus had grown up together, and Marcus considered no one as wise in the ways of the world as Vibianus. His wife Livia was a part of every committee of ladies of prominence to be found in Potentus, and was said to have heard all of the latest gossip even before it had left the lips of the one divulging it to others. Marcus decided that if anyone knew what was going on with the men of Potentus, it would be these two.

  Not wishing to be obvious he gave a sidelong glance at Tullia. She nodded ever so subtly, then casually introduced the topic of conversation that Marcus wanted her to steer it to.

  “Look how many are with us tonight! Why, I would venture that anyone of any importance has been invited by the Emperor. I see that General Celsus is here, and the Flavius family with their daughter Verena; now there is a young lady I should like to get acquainted with our Lucius! What a match that would be! When he returns from Lycenium I shall see to arranging a meeting!”

  Tullia punctuated this last statement with a laugh of seeming innocence, but Marcus noticed the looks exchanged between Vibianus and Livia. He raised an eyebrow as if in query and she shrugged her shoulder as if for answer. Neither of them smiled in response to Tullia’s laugh. A queasy sensation took over Marcus’ stomach, and he suddenly lost his appetite. He sensed that his friends were aware of something as yet unknown to him and Tullia.

  Marcus had followed the eyes of Tullia in her survey of the room, and he had noticed what his wife had not appeared to see: an averting of the eyes whenever a pair chanced to encounter those of Marcus.

  What, what is happening that I am not aware of, he thought, a sense of alarm now overpowering him and threatening to suffocate him. The room seemed to spin around him and he fought the urge to panic at the terror that rose up within him, threatening to engulf him. I sense danger but I do not know from where.

  Tullia continued her observation of the guests until she nonchalantly brought their attention to Iacomus, whom Marcus was shocked to discover, was seated at the table with Emperor Urbanus, and Renata, his gracious wife. How quickly indeed had Iacomus risen in favor with the local townsmen if he was seated in intimacy with the Emperor himself!

  “Why, there is Iacomus Cornelius, seated at the Emperor’s table! Who would have thought that he is acquainted with the Royal family? Do you know whether they have met before? Or is he just a special guest, due to being a stranger in Potentus?”

  Tullia did not need to pretend to be surprised; she was as astonished as Marcus to see Iacomus seated at Urbanus’ table. The Emperor was an old friend of her husband’s, and it seemed inconceivable to her that Iacomus should be seated at his table and Marcus was not.

  Vibianus looked into the eyes of his wife and gave her an imperceptible nod of his head. She gazed at him for a moment, and proceeded to speak and share what she knew.

  “Well,” she began in a furtive whisper, “Iacomus has managed to worm his way into the good graces of the Emperor and his Lady faster than anyone I have ever seen. They say that this is due to the respectable stock of his family back in Lycenium, but that is a good joke, as I have heard that they have not seen him in many years. Apart from that, he appears to have incredible powers of persuasion, and has convinced Urbanus that he has the solutions to all of life’s problems, and is willing to give him excellent counsel at a moment’s notice.”

  Livia looked around her and lowered her voice still further. Marcus found himself hanging on her words, his heart beating rapidly as a sudden fear clutched at him.

  “You know that the Emperor is childless, a tragedy that is the only thing spoiling their otherwise perfect happiness. I have heard it said just yesterday, that were anything to happen to Urbanus tonight, that Iacomus would be his heir tomorrow!”

  Chapter IV

  A Royal Decree

  When the summons came from the Palace, Marcus found that he was unprepared. True, he had not had an opportunity for conversation with the Emperor at the banquet, a fact which astonished him in view of their old friendship. Yet some part of him felt that he could always rely on Urbanus to remember their history together, and that he would be perpetually in his favor.

  He showed the summons to Tullia, who shared in all of his trials and triumphs. Ah, what a blessing she was to him, just as he had foreseen so many years ago! Truly she was the best gift he had ever received, with the exception of the fabulous Sword Logos which had been entrusted to his care.

  Tullia frowned slightly and studied the summons intently; then turned to Marcus with a sigh.

  “Whatever may come of this, I shall endure it with you,” she assured him as she took his hand and held it tenderly to her cheek. “Whether it be blessing or…” she did not finish. “I shall be prepared, Marcus,” she finished in a whisper.

  “Come; let us pray that it will be good news. After all, the Emperor is an old friend of mine,” he stated with a confidence he did not truly feel. “We shall pray and ask for the protection of Dominio.”

  They clasped hands and bowed their heads, taking this moment to entrust to Dominio whatever lay before Marcus in his interview with the Emperor. When they had finished, Marcus kissed Tullia gently on the lips and clutched her hands. She nodded her head and smiled reassuringly at him, the biting of her bottom lip the only betrayal of her lack of inner peace.

  “I shall return shortly,” Marcus said. “Please pray while I am gone, that I may find favor with my old friend, and that any trouble be averted.”

  Thus he strode from the atrium and out the door of the villa, and headed for his interview with Emperor Urbanus.

  How long had it been since he had entered these walls with trepidation, with a beating heart and in fear of his life? Surely not since the Empress Aurora had died, she who had tormented him so ruthlessly and destroyed his parents. Not since then…

  It was an entirely different thing to enter the Palace for an audience with Emperor Urbanus! Although he found the Emperor’s tendency to gossip somewhat tedious, he deeply admired his goodness and respected his ability to rule. He had changed th
e atmosphere of the Imperial Palace from one of cold intimidation to one of warm hospitality. The citizens of Valerium took to Urbanus and his lady Renata like flowers to sunshine in the spring, following the harsh cold of winter. What a relief after the ruthless reign of Aurora to have so kind and benevolent a man to rule over them!

  Yet…what reception lay in wait for Marcus this day?

  He did not have to wait long to find out.

  It was the guards who alerted him that all was not well. Odelius and Iosephus, who had long ago led him into the presence of the Empress Aurora with admonitions on how to address her, escorted him once again. Although they were now middle aged and growing stout, age had not softened the biting comments of the one or the sour observations of the other.

  “Well, Lord Maximus,” the odious Odelius smirked. “How you do seem to attract the attention of rulers! What is your secret, I wonder?”

  Iosephus, as usual, attempted to restrain him, but Marcus himself pondered the same question, and thought it more enlightening to allow Odelius to speak his mind, insolent though he was. He was no longer the proud young man who had challenged the Empress Aurora, and had learned that it was sometimes wiser to humble oneself even if in the right.

  Iosephus permitted himself an appreciative chuckle that rumbled out of the vast expanse of his robe with all the salutary effect of lava rising to the surface of a volcano to give warning of an impending explosion.

  “Yes, what is your secret for attracting trouble?” Iosephus murmured. “Perhaps you should share it so others may take heed from your tribulations.”

  Odelius guffawed aloud, and then noted the look on the face of Marcus. He blinked his eyes and abruptly stopped laughing. Iosephus found his gaze drawn to Marcus as well, and cleared his throat.