Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Marmoutier on the Loire
Alcuin, one of the king’s chosen intellectuals, receives the letter I am delivering from Lindisfarne, now shadowed in tragedy. He seems hesitant to open the seal of his friend the bishop. He holds it in his hand and studies the seal and folds of the envelope. Then he asks me.
“So, you, yourself know the contents of the message?”
“I am aware of the news it brings.”
“Are you literate?”
“I am indeed, Sir. But I assure you, I didn’t break the seal on the envelope to read the letter. I was already aware of this terrible news of which the bishop is informing you. If you care to be alone, I will wait outside for your return message.”
“No no, wait here. I don’t want to read bad news alone. Will you stay and read it to me?”
“Of course.”
The teacher opens the bishop’s letter and hands it to me to read.
He sets his gaze beyond the walls here, on the river running by.
“On the day of June 6, in the year of our Lord, 793, heathen Vikings came ashore at Lindisfarne near the shrine of St. Cuthbert…”
As I read to the teacher of the foreshadowing of the raid, the drought and the hardships, the wonders and portends seen in the heavens, remembering a recent tragedy, the teacher stares through the window slit, with his jaw tight, clenching and releasing his fist. There is a long pause after the letter ends, and I fold it back to its closed form. Then he turns to me.
“Were you there?”
“I was, Sir. The monk who rings the hours, Brother Ealdwin, was witness to the raid. I was a slave with the boats of the marauders on the beach. Then I was sent back, set free from possession as a slave, freed for the reason to return the Gospel of Landisfarne to its proper stand in the priory.”
“So, the Gospel wasn’t taken?”
“They didn’t understand its value, Sir. Brother Ealdwin and I buried the dead, and, on the third day we welcomed back Bishop Higbald and the brothers who were spared. The actual Shrine of Cuthbert was spared desecration, though other treasures were taken, probably it was spared because the shrine itself was not encased in gold. When the bishop returned, I was sent on with this letter.”
“I’ll prepare an answer to the bishop. Thank you.”
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 