Synopsis

It is 372 AD, and the Roman Empire roils on the cusp of its great decline. The fierce Roman General Marcus Augustus Valerias seeks an escape from his brutal military life. The General leaves his legions for frontier Britannia, but his search for a simpler new life is not to be. His destiny becomes entangled with the conflicts of a desperate widowed queen, a troubled Christian priest, a cruel Roman army deserter, and two ruthlessly ambitious Hun brothers, as they struggle with love, power, religion, greed, and the demons of their pasts. The climatic epic battle between mighty armies will decide the fate of these individuals and their peoples. Yet their actions serve as only a temporary ripple in the relentless passage of time.

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Excerpt

CHAPTER III

JOSEPH

A disheveled figure in chains was being brought up the pathway east of the main tent by two soldiers. The man walked sluggishly and offered no resistance to the soldiers before being placed before the General. He was midsized and appeared to be about thirty years old. The man’s clothes were loose-fitting and torn; dirt and grime masked their color. His hair and beard were scraggly and cut in an asymmetrical manner, and his brown eyes were tired. The General examined the man from head to toe.

“You are a Christian priest, are you not?” inquired the General, his assumption based on past experience with such men.

“I am a servant of the Lord,” the man answered calmly.

“Good,” said the General in such a tone that the unkempt man could not tell if it meant a good or bad thing.

The General looked to Cratus. “Take Gul and his band of peasants to the stockade. I will announce their fate shortly.” To Bukarma he said, “Bring the priest inside my command quarters. I would like to question him further.” His words were ominous.

The General’s men knew that the shroud of death hovered over the priest as much as over Gul’s men. Several of them who had been in the preceding council meeting had already returned to the tent. As it grew darker, a cool breeze prompted the rest of the men who had lingered to also make their way inside.

“Revious, glad you could make at least one of our council meetings,” the General spoke in almost a light-hearted manner to a newcomer.

The man called Revious acknowledged the General. “I am more glad to be alive and in one piece than to have made all of your meetings.”

Revious was clearly not a Roman, but that made no difference to Valerias. The General’s chief scout in these parts was valuable for his intelligence and knowledge of several of the Goth dialects. He was an Alan from east of the Danube and his remit was mostly to report on enemies of Rome. He also, on occasion, kept an eye on Valerias’ enemies closer to home.

Revious had a slight build and clean-shaven face. His laugh came easily and on occasion, he would lightly tease the General. Fifteen years of loyal service had earned Revious the General’s complete trust—although he knew his limits and never exceeded them. When needed, though, Revious could be as cold-blooded as any of the Romans. Revious had a staff of a couple dozen scouts, many of whom were known only to him.

After the brief and welcome exchange with the scout, the General turned once more to the priest.

“Tell me, priest, what is your name?” His voice was flat and emotionless.

“I am Father Joseph, faithful servant of Christ,” said the priest, his tone direct.

“Good. I know you are a follower of the supposed son of God,” the General said, and then added mockingly, “do you know who I am?”

“Yes, you are the Roman, General Valerias.”

“That is correct. And how did you know that?” the General inquired again with a seemingly vague interest in the answer.

“Because your reputation is well known in the land,” Joseph replied without giving much thought to his response.

“What reputation, and what land are you referring to, priest?” The intensity of the General’s interest increased.

Again, Joseph responded ambivalently. “You are the commander of legions in this area, and the land I referred to is this area.”

“Has Joseph always been your name?”

“Since I was born again in Christ’s name.”

“Where are you from?” the General asked, changing the subject. He already had obtained part of the information he needed from Joseph.

“I am from Rome.”

Before Joseph could continue, the General asked, “How far have you traveled outside of Rome?”

“Generally not far. I was a grain merchant who stayed in the family shop in Rome. But I traveled a little with my father. I also trained as a physician.”

“Well, you are neither of those now, are you? And you are not in your shop in Rome.” The General’s tone was becoming serious. “When did you become a priest?”

“About three years ago.”

“And what caused you to leave your reputable positions as a merchant and physician to become a Christian priest?” The General was becoming agitated. Still, Joseph did not seem to pick up on these signals. The council members, though, became quiet. The room waited for Joseph’s reply.

“God came to me in a dream and told me to become a Christian and spread the Good Word and bring comfort to the oppressed.”

“And how did you end up with the Goths?” the General sternly asked. The question was a loaded one, but Joseph gave little thought to his reply.

“My bishop sent me to save the souls of barbarian Goths,” Joseph answered matter-of-factly.

“Didn’t you fear for your life, traveling from Rome to outer areas of the empire? Didn’t you feel threatened?”

“Oh no, not at all. I was treated as a messenger of God and Christ and the church. I was wholly accepted by the Goths.” Joseph acted almost like he was reading a report to his bishop.

The General did not like his condescending tone and asked, “Then, to be a good Christian priest, you must believe in peace among the people.”

“I do believe in peace—”

Before Joseph could utter another word, the General pointedly asked, “Then why are you traveling with a band of Goths to wage war on Rome?”

“I—” Joseph began to answer.

But he was immediately cut off by Valerias, who followed up angrily, “Did you not know this was a Goth war party committing itself to battle with my army? Did you not know that blood would be spilled here today when you left with the Goths? I want to know, priest, was Mostar Gulivus involved in this conspiracy against Rome, or was it the fool Gul’s own plot?”

Joseph finally realized he was in trouble. The extent of the trouble was still unclear to him, but he was now worried. Joseph had heard about General Valerias and his infamous treatment of his enemies, both outside and inside the empire. Still, he did not believe he was in mortal danger. After all, he did not think the General would actually harm a member of the church, regardless of what he had heard. Joseph assumed he would probably get a verbal reprimand and be sent packing back to Rome. So he decided to call the General’s bluff.

“General, I am a simple follower of Christ on a mission to convert lost souls. I see no harm in helping show the unconverted the way of God.” Outwardly, he hoped he appeared persuasive and calm. However, the turbulence in his stomach was another story.

Joseph’s hand twitched nervously, and the General observed this. Joseph stopped talking and waited.

“So you decided not to answer my question, priest.” The words slithered off the General’s tongue. “Refusing to answer indicates to me that you are an enemy of Rome and Constantinople. Now, I will give you one more chance—is Mostar Gulivus or his son, Gul, responsible for this pathetic attempt today?”

Joseph, as a servant of God in a newly Christian empire, again assumed nothing traumatic would happen to him. He knew, though, that as the General’s questioning continued, the dialogue had become an interrogation.

Joseph decided to be coy and nervously said, “What does it matter?”

“Because it will determine whether I attack the Goth clan of Mostar Gulivus. You will assist me in my assessment, or I will have no choice but to execute you as a traitor to the empire and then destroy the Goth clan. The choice is yours, priest.” The General spoke sharply as he issued those words.

Joseph noted that the General’s council room was eerily silent. All eyes were fixed on him and the General. Joseph concluded his only way out of this bad situation was to again bluff and see if the General would let him go.

Joseph summoned all his courage and forcefully said, “I am a Christian priest, a citizen of Rome, and a man of God. I have to answer only to my superiors in Rome and to God. You will now excuse me, as I need to tend to the wounded Goths.”

With those words, Joseph turned and moved toward the entrance of the tent.

About the Author

Scott resides in Bayside, Wisconsin, with his wife, Marcie. He is a retired environmental consultant with a strong interest in natural resources. Scott enjoys spending time with his three adult children and writing. Into the Realm of Time is Scott’s debut novel. From the Realm of Time is the sequel to Into the Realm of Time.

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