04 Kedrigern and the Charming Couple by John Morressy

Author:John Morressy
Language: dan
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

a revoked resolution

The two wizards broke camp at dawn and set out for the abbey, joining the main road by the spring where Kedrigern had replenished his water supply on his earlier visit. They stopped to rest and water the horses, and Kedrigern spoke for the first time of the peculiar circumstances of his departure, describing in some detail the odd behavior of the abbot and the curious incident of the wolf in the nighttime. Traffeo listened with interest, making no comment, uttering only a monosyllable every now and then to demonstrate his continued attention and his occasional surprise.

"I haven't thought about the abbey for months, but do you know, I shouldn't be surprised to learn that something is afoot up there," Kedrigern concluded somberly.

"You've been there and I haven't, so my opinion in the matter may not be worth much, but I think you ought to remember that people living such isolated lives are apt to fall into peculiar ways," Traffeo observed.

"They're not totally isolated. Travelers come from time to time, and there are servants who have contact with the outside world. I'm sure the monks have their idiosyncrasies, but I can't get over the feeling that the cellarer wanted very much to let me in on a secret, and the abbot was afraid that I'd stumble upon something. It bothers me." Kedrigern was silent, frowning and fussing with his blanket roll, and then he looked at Traffeo and shook his head. "I suppose you're right, though. I mustn't imagine problems. The real ones are quite enough. We have to concentrate on finding The Book of Five Blue Snails, and finding it soon."

"Absolutely. That's the important thing."

"Still, let's keep our eyes open."

"Of course. You may be right, you know. We should be circumspect, in any case." At a sudden thought, he added, "Tell me, what order do these monks belong to?"

"I can't say. That's another odd thing about them: They don't wear a distinctive habit, and the abbey doesn't seem to have a name."

"Perhaps they're not a regular order at all. You do come upon groups of men or women banded together for some pious purpose or another. These monks might be survivors of institutions that have been destroyed or broken up. It's hard times for holy men."

"It's hard times for everyone," Kedrigern said gloomily. "That's true," Traffeo said, "but holy men and women have it tougher than most. It seems as though someone's always attacking a monastery or an abbey or a convent, or burning down a church. If they're not doing it to eradicate heresy, they're doing it for loot, or just a chance to get some exercise."

Kedrigern thought that over, and finally nodded in reluctant agreement and said, "Whatever their order, it's unlikely that the people at the abbey take a friendly view of wizards. Last time I was there I identified myself as Siger of Trondhjem. I said I was a student."

Traffeo regarded him dubiously. "A bit long in the tooth to pass yourself off as a student, aren't you?" he said.

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