Historical setting: 602 C.E. The Vosges Mountains
We met Father Felix in Châlons some years ago, while Ana and I were delivering messages from Father Columbanus.
“So, you are a true bishop now, and with guards?”
“Guards are necessary in these times, unfortunately.” He says.
We are walking up the hill to our cottage — an elegant bishop in fine, flowing robes, a swarthy woodcutter, a mule and a wagon full of hewn logs.
I encourage him to stop in. “We can send a bird to Luxeuil with a message for your guards to come and join us.”
“No, no.”
“Surely you’ll eat with us! We may be commoners but our farm provides for feasting.”
“And you have that impenetrable link to the doves of Luxeuil, and your house is undoubtedly a better place to talk about the bishops of Gaul than a monastery with many ears. I’ve come all this way to speak to the Father about my recent visit to Rome. And now, to my surprise I’m face-to-face with the Father’s most trusted messenger.”
“No, no messenger. Not me! I’m not doing that anymore!”
“Woe, a bit defensive aren’t you, Brother Lazarus.”
“I had a bad experience with that recently in Châlons.”
“It couldn’t have been as bad as the experience the Father’s most recent messenger had. That poor fellow is dead and buried now.”
I add, “Except for the rescue by his sons, and a long summer for healing.”
After a pause for unwinding his thoughts he answers, “So you are that Lazarus, after all.”
“At Luxeuil they call me Ezra.”
“Send a bird to Luxeuil, but let’s not invite the guards.”
“I don’t want to be inhospitable, afterall, our house was made to be a guest house for such visitors.”
“Really, I can’t trust these guards. My entourage to Luxeuil is loyal to another bishop, so I have to assume they can’t be trusted keeping private a meeting with the Father. I’ve come to Luxeuil unannounced hoping to meet with him in private.”
“So, we will definitely offer no feasting for your guards then.”
Ana welcomes our guest. And Hannah is in her bliss, serving a visitor. Brandell is bedazzled by the fine fabric of the bishop’s robes, and Haberd tries not to stare at this man’s completely bald head. Layla assumes he is just another monk taking a reprieve from all the rules.
The bird we loosed to Luxeuil receives an immediate response from Brother Servant.
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 