#51.9, Thurs., Dec. 21, 2023

Historical Setting, 610 C.E. Luxeuil

         The Father is back and safely in his library study. But Father Eustasius has already prepared the Christ Mass homily when Luxeuil will have many visitors for worship. So, the vespers tonight are led by Father Eustasius.

         Greg and Gaillard left before dark and will be stopping at our cottage to let Ana and the children know the rescue of the abbot was safe and successful. Greg said they will not be returning to Metz.  At first light in the morning, I will take the mule and the wagon home and the farmer who is my cell mate here in the guest quarters will take both of his horses and start back to Besançon. Everyone at Luxeuil, even us who are guests for the night are given instruction that if it would happen that the king’s soldiers come into this place in this sacred season, we should greet them as we would any other pilgrims, exemplifying silence and solemnity. We should assume they are also here for the worship of the Christ birth.

         That instruction was needed. Just as the torches are being lit in the hallways, the silence is intruded with the noise of armor and swords — fast moving soldiers — shouting orders through the halls — demanding that loyalty to the king requires the submission of the abbot. They run rough through the sacred stillness of this night opening every door, searching every cell. The Irish farmer and I are simply pretending they are silent and invisible, as they pilfer through our things here in the guest quarters. Now they find the sword the farmer carried that was taken by Greg from a guard at Besançon.

         We are pushed against the walls and soldiers have blades at our throats. The Irish farmer, who was already straining to meet the monastery rule of silence, is red faced and raging. But before he can shout I answer them in a whisper. “We are guests here, pilgrims, farmers from the outlands. We are peasants, surely not ones to carry swords. Maybe that weapon was one of your own misplaced then hidden here.”

         The soldiers examine the hilt of the sword carefully and discover it was indeed made by the same smith who provides swords for the King’s soldiers.

         Now the farmer from Besançon has gathered his clarity of mind and he also whispers to them his own peaceful explanation. They are requiring an answer from him.

(Continues, Tuesday, December 26)