C2 Demon Wars 02 - The Demon Spirit by R.A. Salvatore

Author:R.A. Salvatore [Salvatore, R.A.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-08-31T17:41:04+00:00

CHAPTER 16

To the Father Abbot's Amusement

"Abbot Dobrinion grows increasingly uneasy," Brother Francis of-fered to Father Abbot Markwart. The younger monk was obvi-ously agitated; every

word that came from him was strained, for in speaking them, Brother

Francis was caught somewhere between fear and horror. Of course Abbot

Dobrinion was uneasy, he real-ized, for they were torturing the abbot's

subjects in the very dun-geons of this holy place!

"It is not my place to say, perhaps," Francis went on, pausing often, trying to gauge impassive Markwart's reaction, "but I fear—"

"That St. Precious is not friendly to our cause," the Father Abbot finished for him.

"Forgive me," Brother Francis humbly said.

"Forgive?" Markwart echoed incredulously. "Forgive your per-ceptiveness?

Your wariness? We are at war, my young fool. Have you not yet realized

that?"

"Of course, Father Abbot," Francis said, bowing his head. "The powries and goblins—"

"Forget them!" Markwart interrupted. "And forget the giants, and the dactyl demon, as well. This war has become much more dangerous than any

matter concerning mere monsters."

Brother Francis lifted his head and stared long and hard at Markwart.

"This is a war for the heart of the Abellican Church," Markwart went on.

"I have explained this over and over to you, and yet you still do not

understand. This is a war between traditions which have stood for

millennia, and usurpous ideas, petty contemporary be-liefs concerning the

nature of good and the nature of evil."

"Are those not timeless concepts?" a very confused Brother Francis dared to ask.

"Of course," Markwart replied with a disarming chuckle. "But some, Master Jojonah among them, seem to believe they can rede-fine the terms

to fit their own perceptions."

"And what of Abbot Dobrinion?"

"You tell me of Abbot Dobrinion," Markwart instructed.

Brother Francis paused, contemplating the implications. He wasn't quite

sure how the Father Abbot viewed Dobrinion, or anyone else, for that

matter. Back at St.-Mere-Abelle, Markwart had argued often with Master

De'Unnero, and often violently, and yet, despite their differences, it

was no secret that De'Unnero was the Father Abbot's closest adviser, next

to Francis himself.

"Brother Avelyn the heretic used to analyze every question," Father Abbot Markwart remarked. "He could not simply speak what was in his

heart, and that, I fear, was his undoing."

"Abbot Dobrinion will fight us," Brother Francis blurted. "I do not trust him, and think him more akin to Master Jojonah's defini-tions of

good and evil than to yours... ours."

"Strong words," Markwart said slyly.

Brother Francis paled.

"But not wholly untrue," Markwart went on, and Francis breathed easier.

"Abbot Dobrinion has ever been an idealist, even when those ideals fly in the face of pragmatism. I thought that his craving for the sainthood of

Brother Allabarnet would allow me to keep him in line, but apparently he

is possessed of greater weak-ness than I believed."

"He will fight us," Brother Francis said more firmly.

"Even as we speak, Abbot Dobrinion petitions for the release of the

Chilichunks," Markwart explained. "He will go to the Baron of Palmaris, likely to the King himself, and of course, to the other abbots."

"Have we a right to hold them?" Brother Francis dared to ask.

"Is the Abellican Order more important than the fate of three people?"

came the curt response.

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