Empress Aurora Trilogy Quest For the Kingdom Parts I, II, and III Revised With Index (Quest For the Kingdom Set)

by L. M. Roth

  Chapter XXXII

  The Decision

  Xenon was finished with his tale. No one spoke for a very long time. Dag looked impassively at the floor, a small frown of puzzlement wrinkled the brow of Fanchon, and Cort sat expectantly as if waiting for Xenon to resume speaking.

  Marcus glanced at Felix and was surprised to see tears pouring down his face. Felix looked back at Marcus and swallowed hard.

  “Good Xenon,” Felix stammered in a thick, hard voice. “What must I do to be saved from myself?”

  The tears Felix struggled to hold back overflowed as sobs racked his body. He sagged forward, ashamed, for Valerian men never betray emotion. Xenon went to Felix and put an arm about his shoulder. Felix, now beyond caring what any might think, took the hand that Xenon offered and gripped it tightly. He bowed his head.

  “Felix Lucius,” Xenon solemnly intoned. “Do you confess that you have been led astray from the path of righteousness, and that you are not the man you were intended to be?”

  “Yes, oh yes, I know!” Felix cried out.

  “Do you desire to become who you were created to be, in the image of Dominio, to be a bearer of His glory?”

  “I do,” Felix nodded, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his robe.

  “Then accept the sacrifice of Alexandros to cleanse you of all shame and dishonor. Ask His Spirit to come into your heart, to walk with you in this world. Ask Him to pour the Spirit of Dominio on you and in you to lead a life pleasing to the Lord and restore you to wholeness. And pledge your life to serve Him, and Him alone.”

  Felix bowed his head and prayed earnestly, then pledged himself to the service of Dominio. Marcus could not believe it, for he knew that Felix, like himself believed in no deity. What had brought about this change, and so swiftly?

  Felix lifted his head. His face was transformed, to the surprise of all. A smile of sheer joy illuminated his face, and he beamed benignly on all present.

  “I feel so clean!” he exulted. “And free, as light as the hummingbird who flutters as she sings!”

  Xenon laughed and embraced Felix. Felix returned it warmly.

  “Welcome, my son. Welcome to the Kingdom of Heaven! You are now one of us.”

  “What is he?” Marcus demanded. “What has happened to Felix?”

  “Felix has been born anew, young Marcus. He has surrendered the life he used to live, and henceforth will live for Alexandros and seek the Kingdom of Heaven, and spread its advancement throughout the Earth.”

  “Yes, yes, I will,” Felix agreed.

  Marcus addressed Xenon.

  “Before my friend does anything of the kind, I insist on proof that what you say is true. How do you know whether any of this ever happened?”

  Xenon smiled at Marcus patiently and nodded reassuringly.

  “I know it happened, young man. Because I was there.”

  Marcus gasped and his eyes went once again to Felix, who seemed beyond the need of evidence, as he sat with a peace in his face that clearly originated from his heart.

  “Yes,” said Xenon. “I followed Alexandros for three years, day and night, along with several other men. He taught us personally, and prepared us for the day when He would return to His Father and we must carry on alone. I was there when He was executed. And I was there when He was taken to Heaven after He was raised from the dead.”

  Marcus struggled with this statement. The old man in front of him did not look insane. Indeed, his appearance was clean and neat, although he seemed to possess few things of any value. His tale of the Fall of Man revealed an articulate, intelligent man who did not seem credulous. Yet his statements were incredible.

  “I need proof that what you tell me is true,” Marcus insisted. “I cannot permit my friend to join some sect unless it is valid. What is the name of this movement? What do you call yourselves?”

  “We are Alexandrians,” Xenon answered. “Myself, Kyrene, and her parents are but a few of us. There are many of us in many lands, for it is now more than fifty years since I saw Alexandros taken to Heaven.”

  “What does the pearl symbolize that you show one another?” Marcus asked.

  “The Pearl represents the Kingdom of Heaven,” Xenon answered. “Alexandros said once that the Kingdom of Heaven was like a merchant who bought fine pearls, and one day on finding one of great value, he sold everything he had to buy it.”

  Marcus flinched, and Xenon flashed a look at him.

  “Yes, young Marcus. This is the meaning of the Pearl you seek, although it is not what you are looking for. It is this Pearl that is of great value, and the cost is everything that you possess, everything you hold dear. That jewel which the Empress desires does not exist.”

  The air in his lungs left with a suddenness that found Marcus gasping for breath. He fought to regain his composure as everyone stared at him.

  “How, I mean, what,” he fumbled.

  “How did I know what your quest is? The Spirit of Dominio revealed it to me. That is how I know, and that is proof enough that what I tell you is true.

  “The question that remains to be answered is this: what will you do with the truth now that you know it? Will you embrace it as your friend has and begin a new life, the one you were intended to have? Or will you pretend you never heard it and continue the life you led?”

  Marcus looked at Xenon with unseeing eyes. He did not know which was the greater shock; the fact that there was no actual Pearl, or the meaning behind the symbol. But if there was no Pearl that meant there was nothing to take back to Aurora, which meant…

  “What will it be, Marcus Maximus? Will you take your rightful place as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, and pledge to serve Dominio, and to spread the Kingdom on Earth? Or will you live as you always have, walking blindly in your ignorance, the slave of a cruel Empress who rules a bloodthirsty Empire without mercy or kindness?”

  At the mention of Aurora, Marcus’ eyes flashed fire. No, he would not be her slave for one moment longer! And if there was no actual Pearl then he would find another way to save his parents.

  “I will not be Aurora’s slave!” he cried. “I will serve Dominio and pledge myself for His Kingdom and the cause of Alexandros.”

  Then Marcus, as Felix had done, bowed his head and prayed with Xenon. To their surprise, small Cort scrambled over and sat next to Marcus. He grinned up at Xenon and waited his turn.

  Marcus was scarcely aware of the interruption, so fiercely was his heart pounding. He was astonished at the emotion that took possession of him, as though a fountain had burst within him, bringing both tears and a sense of relief. He felt as though the burden he had carried for so long had been lifted from his shoulders and onto another’s, one who was stronger and able to bear it.

  Silently he wept, for his parents and the sense of helplessness at their plight. Yet, a curious sense of lightness filled his heart, as he found himself turning in child-like trust to Dominio. As he had once ran to the arms of his own father as a small boy when things troubled him, so now he felt that he could entrust all cares to Dominio, who would work them out on his behalf.

  Cort displayed little emotion after his prayer, but perhaps there was nothing left to feel in the heart of a small boy whose parents had so thoroughly abandoned him to save themselves. Or perhaps it was just the way of the Trekur Lenders: stoic, brave, taking whatever life hurled at them.

  After they had prayed Dag questioned Cort.

  “Why do you do this, Cort?” he inquired. “Do you not serve Bjorrne? You swore by his name!”

  Cort looked apologetically at Dag.

  “I did not know any better. I simply believed as did all of my family. But on the night that I ran away, I prayed and asked Bjorrne to save me from being sold into slavery. But I heard my mother and father speak to one another, and they planned to take me to the Hoffingi the next morning. Then I knew that Bjorrne did not answer me. Perhaps he could not hear. So I ran away.

  “When we met Kyrene she told me that though my father and
mother forsake me, that there is one who sticks closer than a brother. She knew nothing about me, but she knew that. I believe that the Spirit of Dominio showed her that, and that is the kind of God I want to serve. A God who hears.”

  After this unusually long speech, Cort fell silent. Dag looked at him for a long moment. Then he turned to Xenon.

  “Now it is my turn,” he bowed to Xenon. “I too want to serve Dominio.”

  “Oh, wait for me!” Fanchon cried. “We must pledge together for we are betrothed!”

  Xenon stopped her by putting a hand gently on her shoulders.

  “Daughter, do you truly believe? You cannot receive simply because Dag wants to serve. Each must walk with Dominio on their own. Each must believe and turn from their waywardness, and dedicate their lives to His service.”

  “Of course, I believe!” Fanchon rolled her eyes. “Who has not done wrong in their lives? Why, after every banquet in Gaudereaux there is someone who imbibed too much and spent the night face down on the floor! Or said too much and spent the next day apologizing! No? Why, I remember one occasion…”

  “Enough, Fanchon!” Marcus begged.

  “All I want is to pray, and I wanted to say why I believe,” she pouted.

  “It is alright, Fanchon,” Felix assured her. “We just do not want to hear about all of the transgressions committed in Gaudereaux!”

  Fanchon sighed and turned to Xenon. Together, she and Dag prayed and pledged themselves to the service of Dominio. Then they smiled into one another’s eyes. Satisfied, Xenon clapped his hands once in delight.

  “Well done, my new friends! There is more we will need to talk of and do, but you need some rest and refreshing. Perhaps we could meet again this evening?” he asked.

  They all agreed, but Kyrene held up a hand.

  “Please,” she said. “I would very much like for you to be my guests this evening at the home of my parents. We will dine, then spend some time together and Xenon can speak with you further.”

  And so it was agreed.

  Chapter XXXIII

  In the Garden of Agreement

  The evening was fine, with soft breezes and a mild warmth typical of a spring day in May. They were cordially welcomed by Kyrene’s father Philokrates and her mother Eunike, both of whom Marcus liked on sight. Philokrates still had the military bearing of a warrior, and possessed a direct gaze that seemed to assess, rather than challenge, any new acquaintance. Eunike exuded the same warmth as her daughter, and had an air of unruffled serenity that appealed to Marcus. It became clear when conversing over dinner that Kyrene had inherited her mother’s love of beauty and the arts, and a touch of her father’s feistiness and adventurous spirit. After they had dined with her parents the little band adjourned with Kyrene to the garden to enjoy the cool of the day.

  As far as the garden was concerned, Marcus found it to be far less formal than his father’s yet with a quiet charm that he found refreshing. One descended to it from the bricked path that bordered the wall surrounding the house. Steps of red brick with a ledge to support one’s hands led downward to another path. Trailing vines cascaded down on each side of the path, stone borders lining the way.

  Ferns rippled here and there along the path which wound in a series of steps that led to another bricked wall. In the wall was a door. As Kyrene opened the door, they passed beneath yet more trailing vines and stepped into a small courtyard.

  The path was lined with tall spiky grasses and exotic plants the like of which Marcus had never seen. They towered over their heads with large leaves of a fan shape. He heard the sound of water, and discovered a stream flowing over rocks in a trough made of brick. It flowed into a small pond surrounded by large rocks. In the pond were lily pads, the only flower to be seen in the garden. All else was green: plants, ferns, grasses, and trailing vines. The effect was cool and tranquil.

  A few trees grew in the garden, and from one hung a curious stringed instrument that Kyrene called a wind harp. When the breeze struck it just right, she explained, the strings moved and made an unearthly music. At such times, she said, she felt as if she had been treated to a foretaste of heavenly music to come.

  She invited them to sit on the many stone benches that were strewn about. They then noticed that Xenon was already there and seated. He rose with the slowness of his advanced age to greet them and moved to speak.

  “My young friends,” he said, “this day you have all begun new lives. However, there is more for you to taste of the joys of the Kingdom to come.”

  He motioned for them to follow, and he led them still further down the bricked path onto steps that descended into a small pool of water, fed by the stream that flowed into and out of the rock pond. One by one they followed Xenon. He walked down the steps into the pool.

  “Alexandros laid down His life that we who believe might enjoy it forever. Just as Tychon and Chloe fell from grace and tasted death by bathing in the Waterfall of Wisdom, so we must be born anew and have our old life and its wrongs washed away. As we descend into the waters, we leave our old self and our old ways behind. As we rise from the waters, we are risen with Alexandros and begin a new life as did He when He rose from the tomb.”

  He beckoned, and one by one they descended into the pool, Xenon raised them in newness of life. Marcus felt a tingling over his entire body. He actually felt cleaner, and lighter of heart.

  As the water streamed over him, he found himself breathing a prayer of thanksgiving to Dominio. It astonished him that he, Marcus Maximus, who this morning had believed in nothing, in no one, should so quickly have his life transformed.

  He noticed that the others had similar expressions on their faces, as though a burden had been removed that had weighted them down. Even the impassive Dag came up from the waters with a smile that rivaled the setting sun in its brilliance. Fanchon laughed and shook her wet curls, while Cort gasped at the cold water, then wrung out his sopping robe. Felix, however, emerged with a look of unearthly peace that transformed his face with an almost divine beauty.

  After the last one had been immersed and raised, a gentle breeze sprang up. The scent of lilies floated from the rock pond as the light flow of the air current rippled the water. They burst into laughter, lifting their hearts as well.

  Then the harp began to sing, softly at first, then picking up intensity as the breeze grew stronger. Each heard in the harp a different song, one known only to themselves, and no other.

  For Marcus, it was a song of yearning, of a longing buried deep in his heart. Felix heard a voice calling to him, one he had never heard fully by day, but had, on occasion, in the depths of night, whispered in his ear, when rousing from a deep sleep.

  Cort felt the same enchantment that gripped him in a spell when the Lights of Rainbow Hue dazzled his homeland on a winter night. Dag heard the voice of birdsong in spring woods that followed on the heels of the ice-covered tree limbs clacking their frozen boughs in the harshness of a winter morn. Kyrene heard the promise of hope fulfilled after treading in the valley of despair.

  But for Fanchon it was a song of joy, a cause for celebration.

  She jumped to her feet and started to twirl, to skip and to leap. She grabbed the hands of a mildly protesting Dag and whirled him into the dance with her. Reluctant at first, he soon cast off his habitual reserve and was swept up into the freedom of the dance.

  Kyrene laughed and pulled Felix to her side. Whirl, twist, bend, leap. They yanked first Marcus and then Cort along with them, and they spun in a circle, then joined hands with Dag and Fanchon.

  They danced around the garden, united as one in the song of the harp. Elation filled their hearts and spontaneous words of praise to Dominio erupted from their lips as they sang in exaltation. Then as the revelation struck them, they were overjoyed. For they had indeed received the Spirit of Dominio.

  They danced, laughed and sang in sheer happiness until they could stand no longer. So they sank onto the benches and beamed at one another, exhilarated by the experience the
y had just shared.

  Marcus glanced around at those about him and realized that each was suddenly very precious to him. Felix, of course, was his best friend. But Marcus reflected on how more than once over the last few months, Felix had saved them from peril by his quick wit and keen intelligence.

  Dag, now there was a man who was a man. Not an elegant gentleman, nor a brutal bully, but a man strong yet gentle, as sturdy as an oak tree, as tender as a hen with her chicks. In his case, one chick, young Cort, and a truly affectionate and loyal lad he had proved over the journey, and one who lifted the hearts of those around him with his demonstrative, loving nature.

  And even Fanchon seemed merely full of life and high spirits, and not the annoying prattler who had so irritated him on occasion. Kyrene was as yet unknown to him, yet already he felt a bond with her, as the affinity of one kindred spirit with another.

  And it was this sudden sense of charity toward his fellow man, and affection for those who had been but fellow travelers on a grueling journey, that proved, even more than the new joy in his heart, that Marcus Maximus had indeed received the promise of power from on high through the Spirit of Dominio.

  Chapter XXXIV

  Logos

  As they climbed the hill leading to Xenon’s house, Marcus and his friends fell into conversation regarding the occurrences of the past few weeks, and all they had learned from Xenon concerning the teachings of Alexandros. Daily he taught them from scrolls of parchment that contained the wealth of wisdom His Master had imparted to him and his fellow believers.

  Written on these scrolls, Xenon said, was everything a believer needed to learn in order to lead a life pleasing to Dominio. More precious than jewels they were, said Xenon. If the Kingdom of Heaven contained any rules a citizen had to live by it was these: never return evil for evil, but turn the other cheek; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; do unto others as you would have them do unto you; if you have two cloaks give to him who has none.