Read Chronicles of Logos Quest For the Kingdom Parts IV, V, VI, and VII Revised With Index (Quest For the Kingdom Set) for Free Online Page B

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 the 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.
    Marcus decided
that he would not take offense at their amusement at his expense.
    “Tell me,
Iosephus, how is the pain in your joints these days? I recall that you were
afflicted quite badly over the winter. Have you had any improvement during the
spring months?”
    Iosephus
looked somewhat sheepishly at Marcus. It was true that during the winter he had
limped in pain while escorting Marcus and Tullia into the Emperor’s presence at
a banquet and found himself confiding his problem when prompted by Tullia. She
had immediately offered to pray for him, much to his discomfiture. Marcus
observed that he was walking today without any seeming impediment.
    “Well,”
Iosephus fumbled. “I have had some improvement since you last saw me. Perhaps
it was due to your lady’s