Lucullus perked up. “What do you mean I’ve ‘received so much already’?”

“How many times have you fallen into the hands of your enemies or suffered great trials away from them? And yet, were you not delivered and preserved from it every time?”

Lucullus held his peace, but his face confirmed the apparition’s assertions.

“But I come not simply to remind you of the many gifts you have been given. I come with a warning. You must heed my warning, and follow the path that He has ordained for you. Any other path will be unto your own destruction. Do not put off what He asks you to do, as you have done in favor of your own designs, which are not of the path or righteousness. You have been scourged twice, but one scourging still remains. The heat you feel now will be like unto the desert you must cross on your path to holiness. That will be your final trial before you may truly know freedom.”

“Is that the warning?”

The spirit lifted its hands. “I give you this warning: Set aside vengeance, and fight with the sword of charity and forgiveness. For this shall be a final test of loyalty. He has called you to do great things, but you must first prove worthy of the little things.”

He sighed. “Why with the riddles? I can not solve these riddles.”

“That is because you have yet to look within yourself. Look inward, and you will find every answer.” The spirit moved closer to Lucullus, and stretched out its hands over him. “They who have put you in chains shall release you tomorrow. You will be shown mercy, and a chance at redemption. When the olive tree extends its branch to you, do not cut it off, nor burn it.”

“What olive tree? Am I simply cursed to forever be stuck in and out of prison?”

“Your pride and stubbornness are the cause of your downfall, not anything else. If you had prayed more, you would not have fallen. Now, take courage, and go forth to serve He who is wisdom, and mercy, and justice, and all things good.” The spirit lifted its hands, and a warm glow appeared over Lucullus’s head, which quickly disappeared. “I must go.”

Lucullus jumped, and followed it toward the bars. “Wait!” He was too late. The apparition was already gone, and so were the fog, the heat, the light, and the wind. He went back to his sparse straw bedding, and laid down. What olive tree?

The cell door creaked open, and before Lucullus could figure out what was happening, two guards were picking him up from the floor. He barely got his footing before they led him out of the cell. His eyes struggled to stay open, partly due to his restless sleep, and another part because of his previous battles. He walked, but he was unsure of where to. The guards nearly outpaced him as they hurried him along.

As Lucullus became more awake, he looked around in the hopes of figuring out where he was. “Where are you taking me? And where am I?”

The guards never once looked at him. “You’re in the dungeon beneath the royal palace. Today is the day of your trial before King Titus. You’ll stand before him, and he will judge you. You’re being taken to the royal court.”

“Will there be a jury?”

The captain shook his head. “Only the king. Your trial will be private, out of the public eye entirely.”

Lucullus suddenly felt a foreboding feeling in him. “This doesn’t seem to be a fair trial.”

The captain chuckled. “On the contrary, your trial is as fair as one can be. Public opinion will have no sway, and you can direct all of your defense to the king.”

Lucullus marveled at the imposing archways as he neared the royal court. The thought of facing the king in a trial, at first, filled him with dread and contempt. But recalling of his plan from so long ago, he realized that he was close to achieving what he hoped to do before Tullius’s betrayal. This was his chance to expose the conspiracy to the king himself. Lucullus briefly reflected on the irony of Tullius indirectly causing him to be in that position, despite opposing his plans.

The king sat on his throne, gripping the ends of both armrests. “So this is the man who has defied all odds.”

Lucullus was left to stand alone before the king, with the guards standing by either side of the king. A man in robes stood at the king’s left, and kept a book in his hand, presumably to keep record of the trial for the royal archives. Lucullus remained silent as he took in his surroundings.

“Captain Amadeus has done you a great favor. Had you fallen into the hands of the Archduchess, you would’ve faced a punishment far greater than I could ever conceive. She does not take escaped prisoners lightly, certainly not ones from the Avarus Wall.” He leaned forward. “While I am very curious how you escaped such a place, in the middle of winter no less, I must put aside my own curiosities, and deal with your trial.”

Lucullus held an intense eye contact with Titus. “I’ll answer any question you have. I just ask that I be given a chance to fully explain and defend what I’ve done.”

Titus nodded. “Good. Then I must first ask why you were sent to the Avarus Wall. It is rare that anyone so far south of House Avarus would be sentenced to the Avarus Wall.”

Amadeus looked at Titus with confusion. “My liege, what does it matter? Why does him being sent to the Wall have any relevance over what he’s been arrested for?”

“He escaped from there, and you say Sabina caught him again, but she was well beyond her jurisdiction.” He turned back to Lucullus. “I want to know why. Not even Sabina goes so far beyond her jurisdiction to catch a few criminals, not unless they held some special significance.”

Lucullus took a deep breath. “It was a sham trial that sent me there. My own closest friend betrayed me. He ordered my arrest, and I was accused of a murder which was impossible for me to have done. I was condemned for resisting arrest, even though it was truly unlawful.”

“And why would anyone do that to the local farmer?”

“Because I was a threat to the conspiracy. My friend, Decimus, was much closer to exposing them than I, and he was murdered for it. I forced my way onto the investigation, and discovered his work, the things he learned of these mysterious sorcerers. I had hoped to bring the things I found to you, but I was robbed and imprisoned by traitors to Lucium before I could do it. I was sent to the Wall because my captors thought I was trapped there. Their foolish assertion couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Titus reflected for a moment on Lucullus’s story. “So this conspiracy has to do with the Dasos immigrants?”

He shook his head. “Not quite, but it was a clever ruse to throw me off, to have me fighting the wrong enemy. But they knew I was close to a breakthrough, and that I would eventually find the ones responsible, regardless of what group they truly belonged to. But more than that, they feared who I would tell. They knew I would go straight to you.”

“But how does this end with you aiding the Insidiators of all people in a raid against your own village?”

Lucullus briefly closed his eyes as he relived flashes of the battle in his mind. “When I escaped, I traveled with a former member. They were the only ones who offered me any recourse. I did what I had to do to earn their trust, and for it, they helped me to repay the betrayal Tullius committed. At least, it would have worked were it not for Sabina’s army, or her tyrant of a son.”

Titus stood up. “She, and her son, may have been out of their jurisdiction, but you raided a village! How can you justify yourself when, at every opportunity, you were on the offensive?”

“Sabina is no innocent party. Remember, I was imprisoned on false charges, and escaped the horrible prison they put me in. I should’ve been a free man, but they hunted me. It is not I who broke the law, but the very guards sworn to uphold it. In my time working for the Insidiators, I learned that Sabina has used a spy network across the whole north province to coerce and threaten the noble houses, and even to use the Furum Forum.”

“Such strong accusations against the most prestigious noblewoman of the north. And what is this about her using the Furum Forum?”

Lucullus smirked. “Her spy within their ranks sought to keep control within it, to use their resources to spy on the various noble houses, and keep them from even questioning a single decision of hers. The Duri Family was one such victim of her intimidation. She could have destroyed the Forum at any time; she knew where they were. Yet, she let the Forum continue to terrorize the people at night, all so she could twist arms when she needed to. I tell you, she is part of this conspiracy.”

After whispering to Amadeus, Titus returned to his throne. “What you have told me is difficult for even the most gullible to believe. And yet, I find myself intrigued by your journey to get here. Unfortunately, you don’t have enough proof of what you say for me to trust your story.”

Lucullus suddenly felt a surge of inspiration. “Wait! There is something you should know. It’s about my time spent in prison.”

“What could you tell me that would change my opinion?”

“I must tell you of some supernatural things that happened.”

Titus said nothing, but Lucullus could plainly see that he had some desire to hear it. The robed man leaned over to Titus, and whispered something, though Lucullus couldn’t make out what he was saying.

“I have been visited by a spirit three times since Tullius had me arrested. The first time was in my village’s jail; the second was in the Avarus Wall; and the third was last night in my cell.”

The king’s eyes went wide. “Last night?”

Lucullus nodded. “Each visit, I would receive riddles, instructions, and warnings which were often part of the riddles. I haven’t yet figured out the riddles, though I’ve discerned some meaning from them.” Lucullus took a deep breath. “The things that I was told last night give me hope. I know that you will not harm me, but I dare not say anything else.”

“Why can’t you say anything else?”

“It isn’t time yet for me to tell you what I’ve been told.”

Titus was about to speak, but the robed man whispered something else to him. After a time of silent deliberation, he nodded. “This concludes the hearing. Lucullus, you shall return to your cell until I have decided on your fate.” He motioned toward his guards. “Amadeus, take him back to his cell. I need to speak with Cicero privately.”

Amadeus bowed, and began ordering the guards to round up Lucullus, and march him back to the dungeon.

Lucullus spent much of the evening in meditation within his cell. The prayer given to him by that spirit came to mind first, then the words of Draco. He reflected deeply on what Draco told him about the Mage-King. And as he began to ponder it, he started to realize a similarity between the robed man in the royal court, and some of the people depicted in Draco’s paintings. He soon started to theorize that the Dracones may know this robed man. But all of these thoughts were interrupted.

Several footsteps, followed by a firm knock, came from beyond his cell. He looked up to see several shadowy figures standing by his cell door. Is this a supernatural visit? He got up from his bedding, and walked over to the bars.

Amadeus held up his torch. “Lucullus, my liege wishes to speak with you.”

From behind Amadeus, Titus emerged. “Hello again, Lucullus.”

Lucullus stepped closer to the bars. “I assume you’re here to deliver more than just a verdict.”

Titus looked down, paused for a moment, and sighed as he composed himself. “I’ve come to offer you a deal, one which I would not do if the situation were any less dire.”

“A deal for my freedom?”

He nodded. “One of my advisors informed me that your spirit visitor may have told you of this talk in advance.”

“Your advisor is right, but I only know that you will offer me a deal for my freedom. I know not what details you will reveal, only that you will not condemn me.”

“Then I suppose you ought to be filled in on the details.” He took a moment to compose himself once more. “A great tragedy has struck my family…” He held back tears. “My daughter, my dear Olivia, has gone missing. And I fear that she may have been stolen from me.”

“Chaodites…”

Titus briefly snapped out of his melancholic speech. “What?”

“Chaodites. They killed my friend, and took another away from me, as well as my home. If anyone would kidnap a princess, it would be them.”

“How do you know this?”

The flickering light of the torch gave an eerie feeling behind Lucullus’s cold expression and foreboding words. “I learned from a man about the history of the Mage-King of Lucium. He also told me who my real enemy was: the Chaodites. They twist Mystiko for their dark purposes, and ensnare unsuspecting victims into the abyss of their wicked designs. They have more control over you than you think.”

Titus nearly gasped. Mystiko? “What do you mean? How do they have control over me?”

“Their agents operate in almost every court in Lucium; from my village to the provincial courts, they spread their influence, and keep eyes and ears on any potential threats to their power. If they captured your daughter, then either she got involved in their business too much, or they simply want to keep power over you.”

“You sound like my advisor. He talks of this Mystiko in many of our conversations.” He leaned in closer to the bars. “I ask only one thing of you: bring my daughter back home safely. If you do, I will give you a full pardon for all that you have been accused of, or will be accused of. Your record would be wiped.”

Lucullus briefly closed his eyes and imagined his old life of farming. “I would also like a pardon for my allies. I will give you the names of all who are pardoned.”

Amadeus gripped his torch. “Don’t push your luck, kid. The deal you’re being offered is more than you deserve.”

Titus put his hand out to calm Amadeus. “It’s alright, captain.” He returned his focus to Lucullus. “If you want all of your friends to earn a pardon, then I will require some proof of a conspiracy. Prove to me that what you say about the Chaodites is true. If you bring that back, as well as my daughter alive and well, then you will get all that you have asked of me.”

“What would you consider to be proof?”

“If you bring me anything that validates a claim you’ve made. You say the sorcerers aren’t the Dasos mages, but are these Chaodites. Show me evidence that these Chaodites exist, and aren’t just Dasos mages. It can be a letter, amulet, or anything like that. My advisor, Cicero, will verify it. He is an expert in that sort of thing.”

Lucullus looked back at his bedding, then to Titus. He put out his hand through the bars. “I accept.”

Titus reached out, and shook Lucullus’s hand. “Good. Then I shall see you again tomorrow before I send you off. At dawn, Captain Amadeus will come to get you, and take you to see Cicero. He is the only man I have who can help you. He will know where to look. But for now, you must spend one more night in this cell.”

Lucullus nodded. “Thank you, Titus.”

He smiled. “I hope to be the one thanking you when this is over.”