Читать книгу Theopolda's Quest - Linda Wisely - Страница 18

"Where do we stop tonight, Brother Justus?" Sagan asked.

"We should be able to reach the Abby of Monte Cassino if we keep up a steady pace. It was built by St. Benedict in the year 529. He destroyed the temple of Apollo and built the abbey on its site. It is dedicated to John the Baptist. You may remember that it was the first Benedictine monastery. It was there that he wrote the Benedictine rule which is still followed today."

"Yes, you taught us about that in our lessons a few years ago," Sagan said.

"Do you remember what the Benedictine rule says?" Brother Justus asked, just to see if he had been paying attention during his lessons.

"The strong should have something for which to strive and the weak nothing from which to shrink, is the statement I remember most," Sagan said thoughtfully.

"You are right. St. Benedict was a wise and kind man who knew the scriptures well. He said a monk is a disciple of God ready to see Christ in the stranger, and to serve Christ in the young, the old, the sick, and anyone he may meet. He is to be humble, obedient to God, and pure of heart. These are all things to which we as Franciscan monks still aspire to today with the grace of Jesus Christ."

Will and Theo were riding ahead, deep in their own conversation. "Were you afraid you were going to die when that awful man had you on his table?"

"Yes, especially after I figured out that Abdul was crazy and worked for King Ferdinand I, who was even crazier."

"When the king said we were guilty and were to be executed, I thought my life was all over," Theo admitted.

Will hated to tell her what King Ferdinand had in store for her, not knowing Brother Justus had already clued her in.

"We were told that King Ferdinand had plans to sell you to a foreign nobleman to use as his concubine," Will told her quietly.

"So that is why King Ferdinand visited me while I was in the tower. He had another man with him that didn't say anything but just looked at me like I was lunch. To be sold for that purpose would have been worse than death!" Theo exclaimed as she realized how narrowly she had escaped such a fate.

"I was so worried about you while I was in the dungeons that I could barely think. I can't imagine life without you, Gattino (kitten)," Will admitted.

"I feel the same way about you, Will. When I was the most afraid while in the tower, all I could think of was that I needed to talk to you," Theo told her best friend, which was how she thought of Will.

If I just knew the right words to say so that she would understand how I feel about her. I know she still just sees me as a friend. Will rode along quietly for a while, then decided to try again.

"Even if you decide to get married and live somewhere other than at the monastery, I will go wherever you do as your protector."

"Oh Will, I would love for you to be my protector, but I can't imagine marrying anyone. Right now I just want to find out who my mother was, but I don't know where to start," Theo confided to him.

"Have you talked to Brother Justus about it? Maybe he knows something that will help. You do know your mother's name was Giorgina, and you have your gold compass. That's got to be a good clue."

"Yes, I've thought of that. I plan to start asking people about my mother when we get somewhere other than monasteries, and I feel safe enough to wear my compass outside of my bodice for others to see."

"You know I'll help in any way that I can," Will promised.

"Let's stop and take a break," Brother Justus said as he rode up beside Will and Theo. There was a small copse of trees with a creek running through it beside the road.

"You two seemed to be talking very seriously when I joined you. Is it about anything that I can help you with?" Brother Justus said as he dismounted Snow, rubbing her muzzle and patting her neck. Snow nuzzled him affectionately. He leaned down and pulled some grass, which he fed her.

"I was telling Will how much I want to discover who my mother was. Do you have any ideas how I should go about that?" Theo asked.

"I didn't realize that was on your mind. I can make some inquiries as we go along, though I don't have much to go on. It was eighteen years ago. It depends on whether she came from an important family or not. She did seem to be a gentle born woman by her speech and delicate manners."

"It's really important to me. Not that I'm not happy with you and Fhi and the monastery, but it is a mystery that I would like to solve. I feel like I can't make any important decisions in my life until I know," Theo said softly.

"Capisco (I understand). We will see what we can find out and pray about it," Brother Justus advised.

"I have, and I will continue to do so," Theo said, as she dismounted and led Safron to the creek. Safron drank thirstily, along with the other horses.

"We will eat lunch here and take a short rest. We have some of Theo's meat pies and a wine skin of Phidolphulis's meade for lunch."

They sat for a while resting their backs against a tree after they finished eating. In the distance they began to hear a pounding, like the sound made by many horse's hooves, getting louder and closer.

Will jumped up and roused Brother Justus, who was dozing. "Someone is coming. Do you think King Ferdinand's soldiers figured out which way we went?"

"I think it has been too many days to be them. Go look, but be sure to stay where you can't be seen."

Theo was up and had her rapier ready for a fight. "Theo, stay here with me until we know if there is any danger." Brother Justus motioned for her to come stand by him behind a big tree.

"But Brother Justus, you know I can fight just as good as Will and Sagan. Why are you making me stay here?" Theo was disappointed that he didn't have faith in her abilities.

"It's not that I think you aren't good enough. You need to know that soldiers are a rough lot and if they see a young woman with only one man guarding her, they might try to take advantage of the situation. I want you back with me to keep you safe, which is my job, you know," Brother Justus said quietly.

"I guess I have a lot to learn about the ways of the world outside our monastery. I trust you, and will try to be more careful," Theo said as she went to stand close by Brother Justus.

"I'm not as young as I used to be, I have had to admit to myself since we started on this journey. If I seem a little too protective, it's just that I care so much about you and couldn't stand it if anything happened to you," He did look tired. Theo hadn't noticed before. She felt a twinge of fear. What would they do if anything happened to Brother Justus? She gave him a small hug and then turned to watch for Will and Sagan's return.

Will and Sagan crept close to the road, careful to stay hidden in the bushes. Finally they saw about seven soldiers galloping along. They weren't looking around, they were just talking and laughing, like they didn't have a care in the world. They also had different uniforms than Naples soldiers. Will and Sagan waited until they had passed to go back to where Brother Justus and Theo waited anxiously.

"It wasn't Ferdinand's soldiers. These had blue and gold uniforms and didn't seem to be looking for anyone," Will announced.

"I believe those are Rome's colors. It's still a little close for comfort. I think we had better be on our way. Fortunately for us, Monte Cassino is in the opposite direction."

"Why aren't we going to Rome to see the Vatican since we're so close?" Theo asked.

"Normally I would have taken you to meet the Pope, but there is a lot of unrest there right now. After the unexpected death of Pope Paul II, who was my friend, Cardinal della Rovere was elected Pope Sixtus IV. He is following the terrible agenda of the Spanish Inquisition. I have heard that many true and faithful Christians, because of the testimony of enemies, rivals, and other low people, without tests of any kind, have been locked up in secular prisons. They are being tortured, condemned like heretics, deprived of their goods and properties, and executed.

"Why is he doing that?" Will asked.

"The Pope is allowing these atrocities so that he can add their money to his papal wealth. He has also appointed many of his friends and relatives to be cardinals to increase his control over the people. He is becoming known for lining the coffers of the state by unscrupulously selling high offices and privileges. In addition, he is in league with the Portuguese to make slaves of the people who live on the African coast. That said, he is not the kind of Pope that I wish to align myself with, nor to introduce you to," Brother Justus said sternly.

"Yes, he doesn't sound like anyone we would like to meet. Where will we be going after seeing St. Benedict's relics at Monte Cassino?" Sagan asked, to give Brother Justus time to calm down.

"There are more than relics at the Abbey of Monte Cassino to see. It is a huge monastery full of beautiful architecture, statues, and frescoes. It has been destroyed three times. The last time it was destroyed by a volcano in the early 1300's. When it was rebuilt, the vatican paid for the beautiful renovations. A large part of the interior is of white marble. It sits at the top of a mountain, so the climb up will be a challenge for us and the horses. I am told the view is spectacular. I plan for us to spend a few days there. You know how much I like to visit with monks of other monasteries."