Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges
“Papa, Momma,” Greg presses Ana against his iron breast. “I heard about Simon.”
His sobs are contagious. Even this young stranger Greg has brought, steps away to obscure his own tears.
“It’s a terrible loss.” I say, “It was good you came. We need you with us in this time, and you and Gabe meant so much to Simon.”
Greg tells us they stopped off on their way here at Luxeuil and they told Gabe what had happened. He couldn’t be excused for this, but he was allowed to send a letter. Greg hands Ana Gabe’s small vellem scroll. She just takes it close to her, not even untying it just now.
Greg says, “This fellow with me is Gaillard.”
Greetings are passed around.
Greg mentions, “Gaillard’s uncle, Eustasius,[Footnote] is Gabe’s teacher at Luxeuil.”
Gaillard adds, “And Greg has been assigned to be my teacher in reading and in the inks. He’s a very good teacher because he never even beats me with a stick.”
Laughter is obnoxious and exaggerated by grief, but we all laughed together at this image of a willowy young soldier being driven to his studies by this child here in oversized armor. Greg is not even thirteen-years-old, yet he’s already a teacher.
I walk with them to the stable with the horses as Ana prepares the table for our guests.
“So,” I ask, “how is it Greg, you go off to get your training with the sword, and immediately you are a teacher of letters?”
“Papa, I know you are hoping to hear my soldier training was failing and I will always just be an ambassador for peace. It’s true the bishop remembered your request to make me a pacifist too, but really, I’m still learning the weapons of war.”
Gaillard adds, “Greg was already an excellent archer and horsemen, so the only things new for him were the swords and the spears. He only needs to practice those things part of the time with the others, and that allows us these times together for learning. So, with Greg’s help I can advance my reading, and practice with the inks.”
I look at this young teen, elder to my son, with his slight fuzz of a beard. This explanation only leaves me more wonder about this arrangement. Why is a young aristocrat speaking of “times together” with a commoner’s child? As Greg’s father I fear my son may be the victim of abusive power and not in a relationship of partnered “learning.”
[Footnote] Exploring the line between history and fiction, the fictional character Gaillard is woven into the nobility through the historically prominent House of Waldelenus
(Continues Tuesday, August 15)
Lazarus Ink 