The Demon Spirit by Salvatore R. A

Author:Salvatore, R. A. [Salvatore, R. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780345391520
Amazon: 0345391527
Goodreads: 566752
Publisher: Random House Inc
Published: 1999-01-30T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16 TO THE FATHER ABBOT’S AMUSEMENT

ABBOT DOBRINION GROWS INCREASINGLY UNEASY,” Brother Francis offered to Father Abbot Markwart. The younger monk was obviously 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 realized, for they were torturing the abbot’s subjects in the very dungeons 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 perceptiveness? 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 beliefs 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 redefine 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 definitions 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 weakness 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.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.