Rising Darkness (39 page)

The silence in the room was chilling. Even Kara was impressed with the tension that hung as the talk shifted from politics to murder.

“Zerubbabel,” commented Kara. “He’s the one who has taken it upon himself to organize these animals as they prepare to return. I hear he has even appointed a high priest!”

“A lot of good that will do them when they get to Jerusalem,” said Rugio. “Once they see the total destruction they will lose heart.”

Pellecus only shook his head in disbelief.

“What you two forget is that this was prophesied by Isaiah,” he said. “And now it is happening.”

“Don’t worry about these Jews,” said Kara smugly. “Berenius is already in Jerusalem organizing some very discouraging enemies. Zerubbabel will find himself with tremendous opposition from the people who live there. They want nothing to do with the Jews. But then, who does?”

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 Once he signs, it cannot be repealed—according to the custom of the Medes and Persians!”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

“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!”