As the waves crashed against their hulls and the ships banked and rolled in the sea's onslaught, Justinian and his retinue despaired. All they had been through, the perils endured and the hardships undertaken had now come to this, to be within but a step of destruction. Had God so abandoned him? Would he not know justice? Justice, against those who had profaned the word of God in their emnity, those who had denied him the rights of his birth, handed down to his grandfather by divine covenant. A covenant that by the rights of heaven and earth belonged to him. That they now found themselves screaming into the eyes of death, that every man might now perish and the will of God be undone, but for the hearts of evil men. Evil men he had sworn to kill.
Lightning crashed. The ship tipped forward, and the sea let its anger known. Waterlogged, now, the ships sunk lower and lower. The men tried but in vain to cast the flow back into the sea, but it would not have it. The waves crashed too high and the ships fell too low, and now death seemed upon them. Last prayers were said and cries for mercy were screamed into the roaring night. The winds howled and the sea spray let no man keep dry. The sea itself seemed to reach into the sky, casting down its roth from the very clouds down to the deepest well, that we might by our deaths for a time sate its appetite and quench it's thirsts. Perhaps it too sought to revenge itself upon those who had wronged it.
Justinian struggled and maneuvered trying to keep his balance. To slip or stumble here would be to end his story; no mistake could be tolerated. His only hope, he thought, his only chance, was to stay true, and meet any peril as but a test of God, that in the end he might be found worthy of the cup he had taken. Yes, a test. Surely this was a test. Justinian steeled himself, and called to the waves, screaming so that God might hear and know;
"I AM JUSTINIAN AUGUSTUS, SET AS EMPEROR BY DIVINE RIGHT OVER THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH. I AM THE HAND OF GOD AND STEWARD TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE. I SEEK SAFE PASSAGE ON THIS NIGHT, THAT I MIGHT COMPLETE THE QUEST MADE MINE BY HE WHO IS ETERNAL AND BY WHO'S WILL ALL THINGS ARE DONE. IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST I SHALL NOT BE TURNED FROM THIS HOLY PATH. AMEN."
Lightning cracked, and thunder shook his ship. He could see his sails rip and his oars break against the might of the ocean. He yelled again.
"BY THE WILL OF GOD, HEAR ME AND TAKE HEED. LORD, ANSWER MY PRAYERS IF I AM TRULY YOUR SON. OH LORD, I BEG THEE"
But if he thought some kind of response, none could be found. And still the sea beckoned.
"My lord" spoke Milius, "my lord you have been called to account. His will has been made evident by the trials at hand. What, then, shall you do?"
"Speak sense, the lord sends us a test. Have we not met it? If I shall die, I shall have died true to my cause. Ne'er shall I stray from my plot." replied Justinian, who now again yelled into the expanse around them.
"I SHALL NOT RELENT! I SHALL SEEK MY QUARRY AND BURY THE STEEL OF A THOUSAND SWORDS IN HIM! I SHALL CARVE FROM HIS BREAST THE FRUITS OF MY REVENGE! I SHALL TAKE WHAT IS OWED AND TURN TO ASH ANY WHO STANDS BEFORE ME. SHALL I NOT? SHALL I NOT?!"
And now another ship gave way to the violence around them and every man struggled in vain to find a footing. Some gripped at planks of wood and overturned barrels, others kicked and fought to keep above the biting froth; but soon none could be found amidst the chaos that swallowed ships whole.
Milius looked away to keep from sorrow, saying a prayer for the souls of men now drifting to eternal rest. Placing his hand on his lord's shoulder, he asked
"Is it, then, God's will that we all be smited upon the rocks and the waves? Are we to pursue divinity through the frigid depths? My lord, if you wish His mercy then you must be worthy of it! You must show to all and to above all the Lord himself that his covenant with you is made in earnest. Would you not renounce violence and hold back wrath, that we might live and sew for ourselves the bounty of Christ? I beg you, lord, make now this promise and let your sins be washed away. I am sure of it, the sea would sleep and hold its peace this very moment if you would but promise in His name that you will cause no harm to those who have wronged you. If you, in immitation of His Grace, forgive such an evil then surely the kingdom of god would again be yours."
But to this Justinian turned cold. As if the maelstrom that surrounded them affected him no longer, he replied
"By every conscience within me, by every measure of strength I might yet give, and with all the effect of my will laid bare, I shall not stray. If so, that I should not kill but every last mongrel that ever dare draw breath in opposition to my or mine, whosoever might have raised a hand in defiance, thenso God should make his will be known and strike me now. If any man who brought me to this road still lives, if my vengeance might go unfinished, then may I die a thousand deaths myself."
And with that, the skies brightened. The waves settled and rolled into calmn. The winds that had only moments ago threatened to extinguish a dynasty now subsided. And now Justinian knew he had been ordained. By the hand of the almighty he had been spared, that he might incise himself upon the rot that now dwelt in the capital, and extract the disease that sat upon his throne.