Empress Aurora Trilogy Quest For the Kingdom Parts I, II, and III Revised With Index (Quest For the Kingdom Set) (20 page)

“‘You will not
reign now, but you will slave to bring forth crops from the ground. For this
day you are expelled from the place of perfection which I provided for you,
where everything was freely given to you. Henceforth, you must provide for
yourselves, because you have rejected Me.’

“Tychon and
Chloe hung their heads in grief and shame. What a heavy penalty for one dip in
a Waterfall, they thought. Yet, they
had
disobeyed. But there was worse
to come.

“‘And because
you have rejected Me and My rule, there is no longer to be found a place for
you in My Kingdom. For I would have given you life everlasting in Paradise, but
you would have none of it. So, from dust you came, and to dust you shall
return.’

“Dominio
turned to Leon, who openly gloated at the pronouncement of doom upon Tychon and
Chloe.

“‘As for you,
Leon, the day when you can deceive is drawing to an end. For though My children
have been deceived and disobeyed Me, yet I will never despair of winning the
hearts of their children and their children’s children back to Me. And now, be
gone from My sight!’

“With that,
Leon vanished from view. And Tychon and Chloe began the long, slow journey from
their perfect utopia, into a hostile world.

“For they were
hunted by the Astra, that horde of fallen spirits who had sided with Leon in
The Great Rebellion. They could appear in any form they chose, and they gloated
over the Fall of Man.

“For the
creature that had been destined to be the glory bearers of Dominio’s image had
fallen indeed. The minds whose thoughts had once been good and pure now devised
plots of evil as jealousy and envy of one another invaded their hearts. They
who were intended to live in peace and rule the Earth now wrought war and
sought to enslave one another.

“Where once
they roamed freely in a garden, they now erected walls in fear of their
neighbor. The worship that had once been for Dominio alone was now given to
whatever deity of their own invention could be devised to serve their basest
desires.

“All of this
did Dominio observe from His Heavenly throne.

“His creation,
once the joy of His heart, the reflection of His image, had become an object of
ridicule by their enemy the Astra, and had sunk into ignobility.

“Dominio
grieved over His children, as tenderly as any mother who has lost a child. His
creation had rejected Him, yet He could not let her go.

“As a lover who
still yearns for one who has spurned Him, He sought to woo His creation back to
Himself. Over the course of many long years He found a man here or a woman
there who truly sought Him and loved Him. But most treated Him as a suitor they
toyed with, coming to Him with a need, then running after other lovers once
that prayer was answered.

“And yet,
Dominio longed for reconciliation with His creation. He pined for the days when
He had fellowship with Tychon and Chloe before their fall. If only He could
find a way to change their hearts and make them His again. To this end He set
out to find a way.”

Here Xenon
paused in his narrative and searched the faces of his audience. They looked
back at him enthralled, waiting with eagerness for his next words.

“Go on,” Felix
urged. “What happens next?”

“Tell us, tell
us!” Fanchon breathed, her eyes glowing with excitement.

Xenon glanced
at Marcus, whose earlier skepticism was replaced by a thoughtful look, as if he
pondered on the words Xenon had spoken. Dag and Cort said nothing, yet looked
at him expectantly. Kyrene’s eyes glistened as she smiled encouragingly at
Xenon.

“It is here, I
think, where Alexandros enters the picture,” she commented, with a nod at
Xenon.

“Yes, yes, it
is here,” Xenon pronounced and bowed his head in reverence. For a moment he
seemed lost in thought, or as if he needed to pause to reflect before telling
the rest of the tale.

“Go on,” Felix
begged.

Xenon
collected himself and smiled with a fatherly affection at the little group.

“Dominio, as I
said, grieved over what His creation had become. Their very hearts had fallen
when they disobeyed, and in giving their allegiance to Leon by following his
enticement, they opened themselves up to every evil influence.

“As the years
went by there were some who openly sought out the Astra in order to gain power
over others, to control them to do their bidding. They exchanged their
God-given authority and power to rule for a lie. For they gained no true power
from the Astra, but instead became their puppets, the figureheads they used to
gain control of the earth and further corrupt Dominio’s creation.

“Because they
fell from grace, they could not enter Heaven after death. For Dominio is holy
and evil is forbidden to enter His court. And His children had rejected His
rule, so how could they enter His Kingdom, the place of His abode, and share it
with Him? Yet He earnestly longed to have His children about Him, as any parent
would.

“But to do so,
He needed to find a way. How to blot out their crime of rebellion so they could
dwell in His Kingdom forever? How to reconcile them to Himself, so they could
receive the inheritance destined for them since the foundation of the world?

“If only he
could find some way for their hearts to be restored from the loss of innocence,
to turn back from corruption, and to be transformed back to the divine nature
it was intended to have.

“And here,
Alexandros stepped forth. Alexandros was the Son of Dominio, holy, sinless, and
divine. Long had He watched His Father grieve over His creation, and for the
love He bore Him, yearned to see His heart at rest.

“‘I will go,
Father. Send Me, and I will bear their punishment for them and take their place
in death. Then you can know the joy of reunion with many children, and not just
fellowship with one Son,’ Alexandros implored.

“Dominio was
delighted by the selfless love in Alexandros that prompted this suggestion.
Yet, He knew that a separation from this beloved Son would be necessitated by
the very solution the problem required. The plan was discussed and resolved,
and at the appropriate time, Dominio sent forth his Son, Alexandros.

“For a
champion Alexandros was. For He lived on this Earth, and dwelled among us, lived
as one of us, tried and tested, yet committed no sin. He went about us, sharing
the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven, and did many miracles. He made known to
us our Heavenly Father, and revealed the laws of His Kingdom, which is not of
this world.

“But in the
end, He was betrayed by one close to Him, and turned over to His enemies. For
Alexandros had many enemies, as do all who desire to do what is right. How He
stepped on the toes of those who did not like His words!

“For there
were some who flattered themselves that they were righteous men because they
outwardly did no wrong. But they failed to see that it was their heart and mind
that was their true enemy. For out of the heart proceeds lies, hatred, malice,
lust and all uncleanness. And if the heart is wrong, the actions mean nothing.

“The day came
when Alexandros was turned over to His enemies. They beat Him, mocked Him, and
in the end put Him to death. What a dark day that was indeed! The very skies
seemed in mourning, as a mighty storm loosed upon the earth a torrent of rain,
and the clouds were lit up with bolts of lightning as thunder shook the ground.

“With many
tears and tender hearts was Alexandros laid to rest, in a tomb cut from the
rock. His followers went into hiding, lest they be likewise persecuted and put
to death. Like lost sheep without a shepherd they huddled among themselves, and
took comfort from each other.

“But on the
third day after the execution, a woman named Metis went to the tomb to mourn.
Two soldiers had been set to keep sentinel at the grave, for the enemies of
Alexandros feared Him in death even more than they had in life, and all were
stunned at the events which followed. A flash of light was seen around the rock
at the mouth of the tomb. It became clear that the light originated from
inside
the tomb. Then, with a noise like thunder the boulder was rolled away to reveal
the interior of the tomb.

“It was empty.

“The only
object to be seen was a set of grave clothes. The body was gone!

“Suddenly they
became aware that they were not alone. Alexandros stood before them, His hands
stretched out to them, a tender smile lit His face.

“‘Master!’
Metis cried in joy as she bowed before Him.

“‘All is well,
Metis,’ Alexandros assured her. ‘For Dominio has raised Me from the dead, and I
will soon be reunited with Him. For I gave my life for those who wish to be
reconciled with Dominio; I bore their punishment for their treason against Him,
and as I have been raised never to die again, so also will they be resurrected
after death to share eternity with Dominio. But there is more.’

“Alexandros
then related to Metis that while His body lay in the tomb, His Spirit had
descended to Hades, and there He fought it out with Leon and took back the Keys
of Death and Hell, and as the true Champion of the Lord, He placed His foot
upon the neck of His foe. He had won for Man the inheritance to rule their own
hearts, and take back what their enemy had stolen from them. This could be
realized by receiving the very Spirit of Dominio, who would transform their
hearts and teach them God’s ways.

“Then
Alexandros gathered His followers together one last time and gave them His
parting words.

“‘Go into all
the world,’ He told them, ‘and spread the Kingdom of Heaven, and share the love
of Dominio and His reconciliation to all mankind. And when I am ascended you
will receive power from on high through the Spirit of Dominio to transform your
hearts, and to aid you in your task.’

“Then a cloud
descended from Heaven and covered Alexandros, and rose higher and higher until
it could be seen no more. And when it had risen, so had Alexandros. Those who
witnessed it sat for some time; not a word was spoken among them, as each
marveled at the holiness of the moment.

“And, then, as
they stood rooted to that spot, a mighty wind fell on them from Heaven. They
felt a great awe and a holy fear grip them, as the wind forced the air from
their lungs, and breathing became difficult. Suddenly, a great joy seized them
all, and with it a surge of power, and they rushed into the streets of the
city.

“To their
astonishment, all was still: there was no sign of a great wind, and the
citizens went about their usual business. But the Alexandrians were about to
change the city and it would never be the same again.”

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.