In the excerpt below, we find Guiamo traveling with Gabinius, the blacksmith who has taken him in and is training him. As they enter the temple, Gabinius reminds Guiamo of the mysterious oracle given concerning Guiamo's relationship to the god Mars.
Six days they traveled to Lugdunum, arriving on the fourteenth day of Quintilis
to the sweltering
markets teeming with jostling crowds, rolling carts, vendor
stalls manned by shouting merchants and hucksters. The streets were
filled with poor farmers, arrogant priests, destitute beggars in rags, proud
nobles, thieves, squawking chickens and busy servants going about their daily
work. Amateur oracles conned the unwary with ecstatic visions mixed with
the exotic aromas of smoldering incense.
Guided by Gabinius, Guiamo and the two servants threaded their way to the
center of the crowded market where statues of the gods had been placed around a
circular pool of water. In the center of the pool stood a marble statue
of Jupiter Olympus. All the sculptures were painted in vibrant colors,
giving them a most realistic appearance, though the pigeons had left them in
need of a cleansing wash.
Gabinius led them to the east to the entrance of a great temple where they
paused to look at the impressive painted carvings on the pedimental triangle
above the six-columned portico.
“We must see this temple to Mars. Surely you remember the words of the
oracle,” stated Gabinius.
“Of course, I remember,” replied Guiamo. “You think I am the ‘son of
Mars.’ ”
“Perhaps Mars may speak to you here today,” cautioned Gabinius.
Gabinius led Guiamo, Sertorius and Ulleria through the bustling crowd and up
the twelve steps which spread across the entire front of the temple.
Guiamo guessed the temple to be ten passuum wide. He walked to the
left side of the porch to see more fully the building’s design. It looked
to be a building of marble walls, outside of which was an encirclement of
crafted stone colonnades identical to those of the portico at the front, and
about fifteen passuum long.
Gabinius turned to look around the portico and was nearly knocked off balance
by a number of priests who ran out shouting excitedly and calling for the augur.
Sertorius saw first what they were agitated about as they pointed toward the
sky. An eagle was soaring serenely overhead. Guiamo walked back to
Gabinius, Ulleria and Sertorius and together they gazed for a while as the
great bird floated effortlessly across the city.
“They get so excited about the calls of birds, which way they are going and if
they are accompanied by other birds,” said Sertorius. “I do not know what
to make of it all.”
“Who are you speaking of?” asked Guiamo, not understanding.
“The Flamines Martialis, those priests of Mars you saw running past as
geese when the fox is about,” Sertorius replied.
Ulleria became upset with Sertorius’ flippant comments. “Be respectful,
Sertori. They are men chosen of the gods.”
“Men chosen by men to serve the gods, you should say. By the looks of
their fat bellies, I should think they wanted this honor simply as a sure means
to fill their gullet. It is a much easier path to riches and good food
than honest work,” Sertorius snorted.
“Sertori!” Ulleria hissed in dismay. “For such disrespect, the god
will surely strike you down with a bolt of lightning!”
Sertorius said, “Among so many fat men, I should hope he has good aim,” and he
roared in laughter.
Gabinius laughed quietly behind a hand raised to hide his enjoyment of their
spat, but finally choked down his mirth enough to say soothingly, “That’s
enough, you two.”
Guiamo watched the priests pointing out the direction of the eagle’s flight and
their frustrated efforts to determine its meaning. They were clearly
disputing among themselves.
Gabinius said, “The gods speak in many ways. Our priests seem to know how
to interpret them, though I have seen that some of them may disagree to the
point of blows.”
An older priest, senior to the others, came out to see the bird aloft.
Gabinius pointed him out to Guiamo and said, “This one is the augur.
He will ‘take the auspiciis’ and decide the meaning of this event.
This could take some time and I have not the patience to wait. In the
meantime, we should visit the temple.”
Gabinius led the three into the building through two massive doors. The
silence within the walls was profound, but Guiamo found it wonderfully serene
rather than stifling or oppressive. Guiamo saw a solitary structure in
the center, a small building, and before it stood a stone table. On the
table he saw a sword, quite a few coins, and two small statues.
Gabinius said, “The room you see before you is called the cella.
This is where you will find the image of Mars, the god of war. The plinth
table in front of the cella is where the people are to place their
offerings. People will give money, votive statues, and weapons.”
Gabinius strode forward to the plinth table and placed a dozen silver denarii
upon it, and then motioned for Guiamo to do likewise. “Place a few coins
here,” he said.
Fumbling for his purse, Guiamo grasped the first three coins he found and
placed them upon the table. To his dismay, he saw they were gold aurei.
He was too self-conscious to exchange them for silver, so left them as they
lay.
A priest had been watching the four to be sure that none of the gifts given by
others earlier in the day were being stolen. As Guiamo’s hand revealed the
three gold coins, the priest walked briskly over. He smiled greedily and
said, “You are most generous to the great god. Mars shall surely smile on
you today.”
Gabinius took Guiamo alone with him into the cella where the image of
Mars was placed. It was carved of wood and painted in vibrant
colors. He stood naked with one foot upon a fallen enemy, holding a spear
triumphantly in his outstretched arm. He carried a shield and wore a
bronze helmet in the style of Corinth.
Gabinius stood respectfully and bowed with his right hand on his heart and the
left lifted up in supplication. He quietly offered up a prayer of
protection for them all during their trip. Guiamo felt out of place and
hesitated from offering up his own prayer. Gabinius saw his
embarrassment, and without comment, led him back out of the cella.
Gabinius took the three around the perimeter wall of the temple, showing them
the beautiful stone carvings of the heroes of old battling the classical
enemies of Rome.
He explained each of the battles to Guiamo who was completely captivated, and
listened with rapt attention. Sertorius knew the stories well, so
lingered behind with Ulleria who clearly had no interest in history whatsoever.
When they came to the back of the temple, a very old man with a wooden staff
exited the adytum, a small chamber behind the cella.
Gabinius recognized his garments and hat. “That old man is the pontifices.
He is the chief priest in this temple to Mars,” he said to Guiamo.
The pontifices glanced at the four visitors and then paused as he looked
intently at Guiamo. Gabinius found it a little unsettling and kept them
walking to the far wall where he continued his history lessons. He noticed
that as they slowly made their way to the entrance, the pontifices kept
staring curiously at the boy.
As they exited the building, Guiamo lingered behind to look again at the cella.
Gabinius, Sertorius and Ulleria had nearly crossed the portico to the steps
when Guiamo finally stepped out of the temple into the sunlight.
Just at that moment, the eagle swooped down out of the southeastern sky and
lighted upon the uppermost branch of an ancient tree just to the side of the
forum. The brilliant sunlight shining on the eagle cast a shadow directly
onto the temple doorway just as Guiamo stepped forward through it. As
Guiamo emerged, the eagle spread its wings and screamed into the morning air.
While the flamines yelled eagerly about the eagle landing so closely,
the augur alone knew what to look for. He turned quickly to see
where the shadow was cast, and saw Guiamo in the doorway. The augur
shouted loudly to the flamines and pointed at Guiamo. The priests
ran to surround the boy.
Gabinius saw the rush and hurried back to the temple doorway to secure Guiamo
from the crowding rush of the younger priests who were overly eager to please
the augur.
The boy was confused by the sudden crush of shouting priestly bodies, but
Guiamo calmly stood his ground. He realized that he was not being
attacked, and was being treated more as a great prize.
Gabinius elbowed his way into the tight circle of triumphant flamines
and boldly pushed them back into a larger circle. “Hold, I say!” he
roared, and the flamines fell silent. “Why detain you this boy
unjustly?”
The augur gently pressed his way through the excited young priests and
motioned for all to remain silent. Ignoring Gabinius’ commanding stance,
he looked first at Guiamo. Then he spoke gently to all. “Today I
have seen a most auspicious sight, of such import that few have been so
urgently counseled by the gods. We must take this boy inside to see the pontifices.”
Once Gabinius saw that Guiamo was not in danger, he conceded to the wishes of
the augur.
The boisterous crowd moved into the temple hall where the pontifices was
already hurrying to the disturbance at the doorway.
The augur hurried forward to greet the pontifices.
Breathless with excitement, he said, “A great sign has been given this day
about this boy!”
“Tell me what you saw and divine its meaning,” commanded the pontifices.
“I saw a great eagle circling the city. It descended and landed in a
tree. At that moment, it cast its shadow upon the temple doorway just as
this boy emerged. The eagle screamed and spread its wings,” said the augur
excitedly.
“A great sign it is, indeed,” said the pontifices. “What is its
full meaning?”
The augur took a breath to calm himself and said, “The meaning is
manyfold. The sign being an eagle shows the boy to become a great
warrior. Its flight from the southeast tells that the boy will travel to
the northwest. The eagle settling into a tree tells me that the boy will
settle in that land. The shadow cast on the doorway to the temple shows
me that he has the guidance of Mars. With spreading wings, the war god will
enlarge his lands, and the screaming voice tells me of triumphant
victory. This is the meaning of the portent.”
The pontifices looked down at Guiamo and said, “He does not look like
much, does he?”
Several of the flamines laughed a little too loudly.
“But then, Mars himself was once just a boy,” said the pontifices,
annoyed with the fawning priests.
The laughing abruptly stopped.
He looked back to the augur and said, “During my meditation and prayers
early this morning in the cella, the image of Mars seemed to come to
life, and the face of Mars turned to speak to me as man to man. He told
me that a great one was coming to carry his strength to a new land.
“He said to me, ‘Place my sacred spear into the hands of the great one.’
“I asked of him, ‘Surely it must be kept here safely for all ages!’
“ ‘Nay,’ said he. ‘Only for a season have I placed it into thy
keeping.’
The flamines murmured unhappily at the words of the elderly pontifices,
and it was clear that they believed his mind had fallen into dotage. The augur
became frustrated that the flamines were so clearly motivated by greed,
and most did not have not a truly devout mind. Without the sacred spear
to draw gifts to the temple, the flamines knew the supply of money would
dwindle precipitously.
“ ‘How shall I know the great one?’ I asked.
“ ‘The augur shall name him even yet today,’ he replied, ‘but say
nothing to anyone until he is revealed. By this sign you will know
him. He shall be the least to come into my holy temple, yet his offering
shall be the greatest.’
“I see now that this boy is the one spoken of by Mars.”
Turning to Guiamo, he spoke with command, “Come with me.”
The pontifices put his arm upon Guiamo’s shoulder to direct him, and
they walked directly to the cella. After signaling that the other
priests were to remain outside the cella, the two walked up to the image
of Mars. Without fanfare, the pontifices reached up and grasped
the spear. It came easily out of the painted wooden hands, and the pontifices
said to Guiamo, “I do not understand the reasoning of my god Mars, but I certainly
obey him.” He put the sacred spear into Guiamo’s hands and released it
with only the faintest hesitation, but still with trembling fingers.
“This sacred spear is the very spear that Mars invented when living among us as
a mortal in ages long past. This is the spear for which he was honored
with godhood. What most people do not know is that Mars crafted his
powers into the bronze spear point. If he shouted “
ibur” it would
hit whatever he threw it at, and if he cried “
athibar” it would always
return to his grasp.
“I know not your destiny, but Mars sees much. I see you shall have need
of his spear to survive your ordeals to come. The spear’s name is
Lúin. He has a twin named Assal with the same powers, but he is lost in
the mist of time."
Guiamo asked, “How did this temple in so remote a location come to have such a
great treasure?”
The pontifices replied, “Some generations ago, it was stolen from a
greater temple in Rome
by the command of a corrupt pontifices. Even today, they do not
know they have a replacement. The flamines and augur here
know its worth, but not its powers. Only the pontifices is allowed
to know its full story. Since you are taking the spear of Mars with you,
I shall have to quickly put a replacement in the image’s hands so that the
masses will not know.”
Concerned he was hearing only bits of a critically important discussion,
Gabinius stepped forward silently into the cella to stand beside
Guiamo. “Your gift confirms, and yet deepens, the mystery of the oracle
sent to me from Nicaea.”
“Speak to me of the oracle,” asked the pontifices.
Gabinius quoted the oracle to the elderly pontifices who listened intently.
The pontifices replied, “Great destiny awaits this
boy. He is covered by the guiding hand of Mars. Remember this,” he
advised, “someone will surely try to steal Lúin. If they should succeed,
remember to call “athibar” and he will return to you.”
The three walked quietly out of the cella to the anxious flamines.
The pontifices commanded all the priests to stay within the temple hall
so Guiamo could leave without attracting too much attention. The pontifices
announced, “The will of Mars is that this spear be given to the boy. We
are all bound by a vow of eternal silence on this matter. Whosoever
objects must say so now.”
His challenge was met with silence, for all knew an objection would result in
expulsion from the order of priests.
Turning to Guiamo he asked, “Before you go, tell me, then, your name.”
Guiamo answered, “Guiamo Durmius Stolo.”
“Then go with peace, Durmi, for surely the strife of battle awaits you in years
to come,” the pontifices said in parting.
Gabinius put his arm around Guiamo and led him out of the temple hall.
Guiamo felt very self-conscious and small carrying such a valued treasure, but
walked with confident steps knowing it truly was meant for him.
As they exited the temple, Sertorius and Ulleria quickly found them.
“What happened in there?” Sertorius asked curiously.
Gabinius replied, “Nothing of consequence. It seems Guiamo gave such a
large offering that they generously gave him this old spear in return.”
Gabinius winked at Guiamo, while Sertorius looked at Guiamo suspiciously.
Marshall Best is an avid reader, father of six and business owner. In the past several years he has found his love of writing as well. What began as a desire to write a story for his children has evolved into a nine book series.
