Rising Darkness

by D. Brian Shafer

  Kara and Rugio laughed.

  “Considering that it is from these people that the coming King will be born, I would say that we all had better have something to do with them.”

  “Then we are agreed,” said Kezzar-mar, filling the cups of all three men once more. “We shall present the king with this law requiring all of his subjects, over a 30-day period, to pray to no other god or man, save the king himself. Once he signs, it cannot be repealed—according to the custom of the Medes and Persians!”

  “And the penalty?” asked Berza.

  “Death, of course,” said Kezzar-mar. “This is high treason. A simple exile will never do. Besides—all of these Jews are exiles!”

  The room burst out in laughter.

  “How is he to die?” asked Sheshbar. “Lose his head?”

  “You have a merciful streak, Sheshbar,” purred Kezzar-mar.

  “Impaling,” offered Berza. “That makes quite an impression!”

  “How about burning alive?” suggested Farsin.

  “All of those are credible suggestions,” said Kezzar-mar. “But I prefer something more traditionally Persian—and more terrifying to Daniel as he breathes his last.” He held his cup to the other three and said, “We’ll throw him to the lions!”

  Chronicles of the Host

  Murderous Plot

  Darius considered the decree before the great men of his court. Kezzar-mar, who seemed particularly interested in its success, built a marvelous and eloquent case as to why this edict needed to be prepared and implemented. Among other considerations, he told the king that this would help unite the kingdom and drive out any hidden enemies. Darius was not opposed to other people practicing their particular faiths. But could they not practice their faith while showing loyalty to their king? Thus did Darius agree to the decree that for 30 days nobody could pray to their own gods—only to the king—on penalty of being thrown to the lions.

  “Gabriel, have you heard?” came the voice of Serus.

  “Yes, just now,” Gabriel answered, a serious look on his face. He and Serus were in Daniel’s house awaiting his arrival. “Daniel read the published edict earlier. You can be sure Lucifer’s hand was in this.”

  “Nevertheless, what are we to do?” asked Serus. “Daniel will never pray to another god. He will die first.”

  “Perhaps that is the Lord’s will,” said Gabriel grimly. “Until we know the Lord’s heart in this matter we cannot assume anything, except to continue to encourage Daniel’s faith during this test.”

  Daniel’s footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs to the room in which he lived. The old prophet was accustomed to opening the window that faced the direction of Jerusalem and praying three times a day. When he opened his window, Serus protested to Gabriel.

  “Will he still pray so openly?” he asked.

  “Daniel is a man of faith, Serus,” said Gabriel with admiration. “He will not allow a breach of integrity in his life.”

  “Faith kills, sometimes,” came a voice.

  Gabriel and Serus turned to see Kara and Rugio standing outside the window that Daniel had just opened.

  “I’m happy to see that Daniel is so predictable,” Kara continued.

  “When will Kezzar-mar arrive?” asked Gabriel with disgust. “I’m sure he would not want to miss out on true devotion. Perhaps he could learn something.”

  “Kezzar-mar is far too clever to come himself,” sneered Kara. “But he has sent some men who will spy on Daniel. Don’t worry.”

  “And then you will see this Daniel praying that the lions finish him off,” said Rugio grinning. “Ah, here they are now.”

  Gabriel looked down at Daniel, deep in prayer and totally oblivious to the conversation going on around him. Surely the Lord would deliver him from this trap! Berza’s scarred face appeared in the window. Behind him Gabriel could see Kara’s gloating face. Berza pointed Daniel out to Sheshbar and Farsin who also peeked in. The men acted shocked to find Daniel, a man of renown, breaking the law! Then just as quickly the three men left.

  “The trap is set,” said Rugio.

  “Correction, Rugio,” said Kara. “The trap is sprung.”

  The two demons vanished from the window. Even in the midst of such darkness, the room was filled with the light of sweet devotion to the Lord. Daniel stood from his prayers and seemed to drink in the Spirit that had filled the room. He walked to the window and shut it, praising God out loud as he did so.

  When he turned from the window, Daniel stopped in the middle of the room and looked about as if listening for something or someone. Looking in the direction of Gabriel and Serus, he stared for a moment—then smiled to himself and left the room.

  “Did he see us?” asked Serus.

  “No,” said Gabriel. “He didn’t see us. He saw something greater.”

  Darius was beside himself. He could not believe that Daniel would do such a thing. Was there a mistake? Daniel was a man revered and respected by everyone in the kingdom! Could he have been simply meditating or reading or…?

  Kezzar-mar looked quite distraught. He stood with the other men—Sheshbar, Berza, and Farsin—who looked downcast. Berza held in his hand a copy of the decree.

  “Majesty, I could hardly believe it myself,” said Kezzar-mar. “When these devout men went to see Daniel on a matter of business, they were completely shocked to find the man engaged in fervent prayer.”

  “Perhaps Daniel had not yet seen the decree,” offered Darius hopefully. The king wanted desperately to extricate Daniel from this perilous situation. He knew that, having signed the decree, he could not undo it. He clung to hope.

  “Alas, majesty,” said Kezzar-mar. “But I personally read the decree to Daniel so that he would be able to serve you in the matter.”

  Kezzar-mar glanced quickly at Berza, who was holding the decree in his hand.

  “As you know, majesty,” said Berza, “the decree calls for the offender to be thrown into the den of lions.”

  “Yes, yes, I know,” said Darius. He tore at the purple cloak he was wearing, infuriated that he had signed such a thing. He looked pleadingly at Kezzar-mar. “Is there no other way?” he implored.

  “Majesty,” said Kezzar-mar with deep conviction, “if we relent in this matter, we will only encourage more insolence. These are a newly conquered people, and they must see that the king’s justice is both swift and without favoritism.” He stopped for a moment as if to collect himself. “Majesty, Daniel must die.”

  Darius buried his head in his hands for a moment. Kezzar-mar ordered a steward to bring a drink to the king. Berza and Sheshbar assured the king that there really was no other way. Finally the king, looking as if he had aged several years, gave in.

  “See to it, Kezzar-mar,” he said. “Arrest Daniel and bring him to the palace. But he is not to be killed just yet.”

  Lucifer was getting tired of Darius’s continued support of Daniel. He had joined Kara and Rugio to watch the charges being laid out. He looked at Rugio, who seemed a bit nervous at how the trial was going.

  “This king of yours is weak,” said Kara. “I thought you had guided these Persians differently!”

  “Who can know the mind of men?” said Rugio defensively. “I have done everything I could to set these kings upon the Jews. They are not like the Assyrian kings, these Persians.”

  “I suggest that you do something before this idiot creates a new decree and allows Daniel to live,” said Lucifer firmly.

  Rugio nodded in agreement and looked at Kara.

  “Allow me,” Kara said haughtily.

  Kara moved next to the king just as Michael entered the room. All the demons looked at the powerful archangel, whose presence was rare in Babylon. Michael had been supporting the Jews who were returning to Jerusalem. But on the strength of Daniel’s fervent prayer, he had come to Babylon to personally look into the matter.

  “Well,” said Lucifer. “Two archangels in Babylon. Now that must set some sort of precedent.”

>   “I came because of Daniel’s prayer,” said Michael resolutely. His bluish aura was manifesting the righteousness of his cause. “He is at peace with whatever happens to him. You cannot win even if he were to die.”

  “Oh, he’ll die,” said Kara. “I am just about to see to that!”

  Michael watched as Kara moved from accuser to accuser in the room, feeding their minds and stoking the hatred in their hearts until they virtually surrounded the king with their accusations:

  “The decree stands and cannot be repealed!”

  “Daniel pays no attention to you—this Jewish exile!”

  “He is still praying three times a day!”

  “Enough!” cried Darius, holding his ears to shut out the noise. They had been talking to the king throughout most of the day—and now the sun was setting. Darius had had enough. “Arrest him! See to it personally, Kezzar-mar. I only hope that his God will rescue him!”

  Kezzar-mar and the others bowed low before the distressed king as he left the room. They smiled at each other in secret congratulations. After the king had left, Kezzar-mar produced the warrant for Daniel’s arrest, already made up.

  “Take some guards and arrest him,” said Kezzar-mar, handing the warrant to Berza. “One day the king shall thank us for this. One day all of Persia will thank us!”

  “I certainly thank him,” said Lucifer. “How about you, Kara?”

  “Indeed,” said Kara. “From the bottom of my darkened heart!”

  The demons burst out laughing and looked at Michael. The archangel ignored their mockery. Rugio locked eyes with Michael, as if he might spring upon him at any moment. Kara watched the two angels whose rivalry had begun in Heaven so long ago.

  “Prayer brought me here for Daniel’s sake, Lucifer,” said Michael. “I believe that his prayers will also deliver him.”

  “It’s easy to pray when one is outside the lions’ den,” said Kara.

  Daniel accompanied the guards into the massive vaults beneath the palace where the lions were kept. The big cats had access to the outside through a tunnel that led up to a yard where they were a featured part of the king’s personal collection of animals. As Daniel passed by his accusers, he looked at each one of them.

  All of them averted their eyes except Kezzar-mar, who held in his hand the warrant for Daniel’s execution. He looked squarely into Daniel’s eyes. In the gallery above, Darius awaited Daniel’s arrival with apprehension. He motioned for Daniel to come to where he sat. Daniel smiled at the king.

  “I can only hope that the God to whom you pray will see fit to deliver you, Daniel,” said the king. “But if He does not, know that I am bound by the law not to rescue you.”

  Daniel gave a comforting look to the king that somehow reassured him that, come what may, all was right.

  “Daniel, called Belteshazzar,” said Kezzar-mar solemnly, “you have been discovered to be guilty of high treason by way of praying to your foreign God. You did this deliberately and in full knowledge that this action was criminal and that it carried with it the sentence now about to be imposed.”

  He gave a quick nod of his head and some guards rolled a large stone that covered the den’s opening. Kezzar-mar smirked at Daniel.

  “May your God have mercy upon you!”

  Daniel entered the den, climbing into the pit. The lions were on the outside of the gate leading up to the zoo park. They could be heard growling in the background. Daniel reached the bottom of the pit and looked up at the faces peering at him.

  “Once you are dealt with, the other Jews will give way in short order,” whispered Kezzar-mar so that the king could not hear him. “Then we will deal with that rabble that is trying to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem!”

  Then a large stone was rolled in over the opening. A seal was placed on the door and Darius himself, along with the other nobles present, used their signet rings on the seal so nobody would disturb it. Darius then left, unwilling to stay and see what might happen. Kezzar-mar and the other men who had brought charges against Daniel ordered the gate opened so that the lions might find their way to Daniel. Then they left to celebrate the success of their conspiracy.

  “Pray, Daniel,” Kezzar-mar called out as he left. “Prayer got you into this trouble. Perhaps it will get you out!”

  The men laughed and disappeared into the palace.

  Daniel could hear the gate on the far end of the tunnel opening. The lions would be coming shortly, but he was prepared to meet his Lord. What an honor to die for the Most High God! He prayed that, whatever happened, the Lord would receive glory for it all. Then he waited to die.

  Inside the pit Lucifer, Kara, Rugio, Pellecus and a number of other demons awaited the final bloody moments of Daniel’s life. They couldn’t care less if he died in honor of the Lord—so long as he died.

  “I think I hear dinner approaching,” said Kara lightly.

  “You mean something is approaching its dinner,” responded Pellecus.

  Daniel watched calmly as first one and then another and another lion emerged from the tunnel—six lions in all. They looked at the man in their den. One of the lions, a young male, began pacing back and forth nervously. Another licked its lips. The devils watching the spectacle urged the lions on, ready to see Daniel torn apart.

  Suddenly a bright light entered the den, causing the lions to back up toward the tunnel. It was the figure of a man with a sword, which he pointed at the lions. Six separate pulses shot out and became chains of light, wrapping themselves around the mouths of the lions so that they could not even make a sound, much less bite something. Daniel watched in amazement as the light began to diminish and he saw standing before him an angel of God! It was the same angel who had visited him before with the terrifying words about what must happen to Israel in the future.

  “Gabriel!” cried Lucifer. “You cannot interfere with this!”

  “This man’s prayers have overwhelmed your darkness, Lucifer,” said Gabriel. “Now get out of here!”

  Upon his words, the place shook violently and the demons were tossed back. The archangel’s words carried with them the weight and authority of the Lord—for God Himself had sent Gabriel to deliver Daniel from the lions.

  “The Most High is not yet finished with this man,” Gabriel said. “He is to become even mightier as a prophet, and the Lord will deliver even greater words into his heart before he is taken up to Heaven!”

  “I am not finished with this man either,” said Lucifer bitterly. “But I sense the power and presence of the Most High here in this place. So I shall relinquish the day. Have your prophets and your lions. I shall still have this war!”

  Lucifer vanished, and the other demons with him disappeared as well. Daniel could only stare at the angel who had rescued him. He didn’t attempt to speak to Gabriel. Instead, he simply fell asleep and slept a very peaceful night’s rest. As for Gabriel, he was relieved that the Lord had further plans for Daniel, who had become a favorite among the Host.

  CHAPTER 17

  “My king, may you live forever!”

  The king did not sleep well that night. Darius was visited by fitful thoughts of the death of one of the truly noble men in his kingdom. Still, he was king, wasn’t he? The law had to be upheld, didn’t it? These foreigners, while tolerated, also had to be shown that kingly authority would be respected.

  At the first light of day, the king could wait no longer. He rose from his bed and hurried down to the den of lions. At first he listened for any sounds that might come up from the pit—some sign that perhaps Daniel had survived the ordeal. Finally, he brought a torch down low toward the pit and called out:

  “Daniel! Daniel! Has your God delivered you?”

  Daniel was fast asleep, near one of the lions. The king called out again, but Daniel remained asleep. Gabriel thought he had better awaken the sleeping man of God, and called out his name:

  “Daniel! Wake up!”

  Daniel opened his eyes just as the king cried out in desperation one more
time. Hearing the king, Daniel stood up and called back:

  “My king, may you live forever!”

  Darius was overjoyed beyond belief. He immediately ordered the stone moved and Daniel pulled from the pit. Darius peeked into the hole, looking at the rousing lions, which were still bound by Gabriel’s authority and could not open their mouths.

  Daniel looked down at Gabriel and waved. The king looked at Daniel, and then down at the lions in the pit. Perhaps the evening had been a bit stressful after all. He would give Daniel an extended rest. Gabriel smiled and waved back, then disappeared. At that very moment, the bonds loosened, and the lions began working their mouths, yawning and making low growls.

  Darius inspected Daniel and saw that not even a thread of his clothing had been torn—the lions had not touched him! The sound of footsteps descending the stairs echoed through the chamber. Darius looked up to see the astonished expressions of Kezzar-mar and Berza, who could not believe their eyes. Was this a ghost speaking to the king—or had Daniel actually survived the ordeal?

  “Look, Kezzar-mar,” said Darius. “I told you that Daniel’s God would deliver him and so He did. Isn’t it marvelous?”

  Kezzar-mar was dumbstruck as Daniel explained to the king that God had sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths; and that he had been wrongfully and maliciously accused by Kezzar-mar. The king was incredulous at hearing these words.

  “Great king,” continued Daniel. “The God I serve saw fit to deliver me because I respected His law rather than the law of men. In His eyes I have done no wrong. But these men wickedly conspired to kill me because they were jealous of your promotion of me in the matter of the satraps.”

  Darius looked in the direction of Kezzar-mar. The men who had brought charges against Daniel now stood accused by him. Before they could even begin to defend themselves, the king ordered them thrown into the lions’ pit. Kezzar-mar pleaded for his life, but before he even hit the ground, the lions were on him and Berza, tearing them to pieces.