said Rorthger, going to do as he had been asked. “How much longer do you think we will need to get to Sant’ Martin?”
“Twenty days, probably, if there are no serious delays, and if all our animals remain sound, and we encounter no more hazards than we did at Sant’ Wigbod,” said Rakoczy, his manner detached. “But that may be asking for too much. The roads are poor, though they’re better than what the Wends have. The bridges are … well, you’ve seen them as well as I have. Some may be in better repair, but we can’t assume they will be. And we have more deep rivers to cross before we reach Sant’ Martin.”
“They’re not Roman-made roads, most of them,” said Rorthger. “Unfortunately.” He pulled the lid off one of the crates and unrolled a thin mattress.
“No, they’re not,” Rakoczy agreed. “If you’ll put that next to the—”
“Crates and chests. I know,” Rorthger said.
Rakoczy shook his head. “Pardon me, old friend. I am well-aware you are able to do all your tasks without a word from me.”
“It doesn’t bother me, my master,” said Rorthger. “I find it comforting.”
“Just as well,” Rakoczy murmured. “Hand me the stiff brush, will you? Mars has mud in his coat.”
“So do they all,” said Rorthger. “Are you planning to stay in tonight?”
“Probably,” said Rakoczy. “I don’t want to have to hunt livestock—these people have none to spare, and perhaps they keep them in pens with guards.”
“You will need sustenance soon,” Rorthger said carefully.
“Yes,” said Rakoczy, continuing to brush the mule. “I know.”
T EXT OF A DISPATCH FROM P ATRE L UPUS OF S ANT’ B ERTIN, C OELONI, P RAXTA, AND S ATTO R IVA TO C OMES H ARTMUT OF S PEYER.
To the most illustrious Comes Hartmut, in my duty to Karl-lo-Magne and my devotion to the Church, I send this report on the current state of affairs in my district, in the sure knowledge that it will serve both the King and the Pope to do this.
I have been assigned to these four villages, as Church records reveal, and I do my utmost to see to the souls of all those who live in these villages. In humility and obedience, I have prepared this account for you:
Coeloni has recently been visited by a pestilence that brings cough and fever. We have petitioned Christ to succor those who have taken ill, and most have recovered. The pestilence has not yet spread to the other villages, and to that end, we offer up thanks for the preservation Our Lord has given to us.
In Sant’ Bertin, the peasant Adalung who has prospered in recent years, has died suddenly and terribly. His widow has taken a man into her house and she has said she must have him there to protect him from Adalung’s kin, who have sworn to claim Adalung’s goods, lands, and chattel in spite of anything she may do. They say that Adalung died by her hand, and that vengeance is required of them. If it is true that she brought about his death, she should suffer for it, and the family gain all they seek, but if she is innocent, they defame her by their claims. I earnestly entreat you to put this matter in the hands of Bishop Fridugis for judgment.
Also there was a sheep born with what appeared to be a second pair of eyes and a part of a nose beside its proper head. The animal was left in the forest for the cats and wolves to fight over, for no one was willing to bring curses on their knives and axes by killing anything so unnatural. The ewe that brought forth this dreadful creature has been butchered and her meat given to the slaves. I have prayed for the end of these horrible occurrences, and I have sworn to rid the village of any such monstrosity should one be found again.
In Praxta an escort of missi dominici and soldiers passed two days along with the Magnatus they were taking to Sant’ Martin at Tours. They were generous with the people, and sponsored a feast in honor of the Apostles, which was a grand occasion, but did not become too
“Twenty days, probably, if there are no serious delays, and if all our animals remain sound, and we encounter no more hazards than we did at Sant’ Wigbod,” said Rakoczy, his manner detached. “But that may be asking for too much. The roads are poor, though they’re better than what the Wends have. The bridges are … well, you’ve seen them as well as I have. Some may be in better repair, but we can’t assume they will be. And we have more deep rivers to cross before we reach Sant’ Martin.”
“They’re not Roman-made roads, most of them,” said Rorthger. “Unfortunately.” He pulled the lid off one of the crates and unrolled a thin mattress.
“No, they’re not,” Rakoczy agreed. “If you’ll put that next to the—”
“Crates and chests. I know,” Rorthger said.
Rakoczy shook his head. “Pardon me, old friend. I am well-aware you are able to do all your tasks without a word from me.”
“It doesn’t bother me, my master,” said Rorthger. “I find it comforting.”
“Just as well,” Rakoczy murmured. “Hand me the stiff brush, will you? Mars has mud in his coat.”
“So do they all,” said Rorthger. “Are you planning to stay in tonight?”
“Probably,” said Rakoczy. “I don’t want to have to hunt livestock—these people have none to spare, and perhaps they keep them in pens with guards.”
“You will need sustenance soon,” Rorthger said carefully.
“Yes,” said Rakoczy, continuing to brush the mule. “I know.”
T EXT OF A DISPATCH FROM P ATRE L UPUS OF S ANT’ B ERTIN, C OELONI, P RAXTA, AND S ATTO R IVA TO C OMES H ARTMUT OF S PEYER.
To the most illustrious Comes Hartmut, in my duty to Karl-lo-Magne and my devotion to the Church, I send this report on the current state of affairs in my district, in the sure knowledge that it will serve both the King and the Pope to do this.
I have been assigned to these four villages, as Church records reveal, and I do my utmost to see to the souls of all those who live in these villages. In humility and obedience, I have prepared this account for you:
Coeloni has recently been visited by a pestilence that brings cough and fever. We have petitioned Christ to succor those who have taken ill, and most have recovered. The pestilence has not yet spread to the other villages, and to that end, we offer up thanks for the preservation Our Lord has given to us.
In Sant’ Bertin, the peasant Adalung who has prospered in recent years, has died suddenly and terribly. His widow has taken a man into her house and she has said she must have him there to protect him from Adalung’s kin, who have sworn to claim Adalung’s goods, lands, and chattel in spite of anything she may do. They say that Adalung died by her hand, and that vengeance is required of them. If it is true that she brought about his death, she should suffer for it, and the family gain all they seek, but if she is innocent, they defame her by their claims. I earnestly entreat you to put this matter in the hands of Bishop Fridugis for judgment.
Also there was a sheep born with what appeared to be a second pair of eyes and a part of a nose beside its proper head. The animal was left in the forest for the cats and wolves to fight over, for no one was willing to bring curses on their knives and axes by killing anything so unnatural. The ewe that brought forth this dreadful creature has been butchered and her meat given to the slaves. I have prayed for the end of these horrible occurrences, and I have sworn to rid the village of any such monstrosity should one be found again.
In Praxta an escort of missi dominici and soldiers passed two days along with the Magnatus they were taking to Sant’ Martin at Tours. They were generous with the people, and sponsored a feast in honor of the Apostles, which was a grand occasion, but did not become too
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