"Why speak of this now? Why not days hence, when the King is in his right mind? He is not well. He speaks of an expedition and lost books wielding power. All we need is more soldiers and we may fight off these enemies appearing from the wood," said Neryas to the Bishop.
“Toghormah desired that King Tigran would know one day that he was of his own blood, his own grandchild. The future of this kingdom depends on the aid we receive from Vahanagir, the castle of five kings. Ghevont speaks of a fiery young heir, King Armen, the Lion Bearer of the Artashesian lineage. He can help King Tigran and they may fight as one.”
“Two branches, one tree. It is possible. The greatest evils could not tame a force so great. King Leo, his father, would be proud,” said Neryas with love and holy remembrance of his childhood and luminous birth.
“Ghevont is near,” said the Bishop, “and King Armen has already begun what King Tigran is seeking to do.
“It is new and old, simple and wise, it involves a secret order, of men and women willing to do what is right, to die, in such a way as to become a symbol to humanity. Though there are elements of wielding power from above, they are not devoid of the symbols given by the saints who preceded us. It is a form of martyrdom only the King of Heaven and few saints have attained. St. Ignatius of Antioch being one of them. The symbol repels demonic powers in civilization, not for years but for millennia. If King Tigran is seeking to make civilization, this is the way, it is the truth, and it is the life, it is the Lord Jesus Christ. It is above the common saint.”
Neryas, fully aware, keeping secret what ought to remain so, and among those of whom he speaks, beyond the ranks of the common saints, looked above, and saw the fury of the saints and the angels, he then held his sword, and uttered, “Տէր, ողորմեա.” And beheaded the seeming Bishop, disguised as Chryso, the former head of the order.
“He knew too much,” and he is not among the saints themselves, “we must continue and find the Lion Bearer, for he is the only one seeking to attain the symbolism Christ seeks from him. Let us pray for our Lord to bless the seraphim who are with Armen, for their strength is dwindling,” said a man seated behind the curtain in peace of prayer and silence. “Old friend, we must begin traversing the countryside by twilight. And let the book he continued to quote never be seen again. His words are found in the Epistles of Thaddeus and Bartholemew.”
“Charbo, it is good to see you, but don’t frighten me like this.”
“It was for your own good, old friend, Chryso never speaks of the depths of wisdom like this. He becomes the symbol. He becomes in speech what his hearers need and seek to find from the Lord. Let us go. Armen needs our support.”
“It is not about the symbol, but the sword and the cross we bear to become imitators of the Lord in secret. What comes after is merely an effect.”
“You may be correct. However, Chryso is still within the cave unknown to us. It has been over a year now. He will tell us what is occurring, for this disguised man’s form of satanism is unprecedented in the halls of kings. Within a weak he would have claimed your position of the sword as you uttered his words from today, taking your power, your faith, and approval before King Tigran. He would have made a spectacle of you to the people.”
“I am aware, and that is why I spoke to the King as I did. The sword is not the way, but it is how I chose at this time to defend the princess in time of assault.”