Brother Simeon and at some distance from Brother Rupert.”
“I understand.”
“We all did, Brother.”
Thomas felt the sharp twinge of sadness in his heart, then felt something softer brush his leg. He looked down and met the round yellow eyes of the large tabby cat that kept the hospital free of vermin.
“Now we must choose another prior,” Anne said.
He bent to scratch the purring bundle of fur between its pointed ears. “And who are the strongest contenders amongst the monks?”
“Would you refuse consideration?” she asked, raising one eyebrow.
“Aye, without hesitation, but the community would not consider one who has come so recently to the religious life. Were the circumstances different, I would still refuse. I am not suited to administration.” In fact, he had no ambition to rise beyond his current status, which was wise as well as true. Thomas knew his dour spymaster would find some way to make sure he never became prior at Tyndal even if he were selected.
Anne smiled. “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”
“God knows full well that I am not humble, but do tell me which amongst our brothers are sufficiently meek that one might inherit the position of Tyndal’s prior?”
“Many, in the beginning, but Brother Andrew and Brother Matthew are the only remaining candidates.”
“That Brother Andrew is striving for the position surprises me. I never thought he was an ambitious man.”
“Nor is he, but others are on his behalf. When he realized that many here wished him to be our next prior, he said that the final decision was up to God and he would honor His choice.”
“Then may God grace us with Brother Andrew. Were He to choose Brother Matthew, I might wonder what sins we had committed to be so cursed. How could anyone even consider a self-righteous and shallow man like Brother Matthew for the position of prior? Have we not learned…”
“Hush! He is sincere in his beliefs and has far more ability than our last prior. Nor is he without thoughtful followers. There are many that would prefer Tyndal become a pilgrimage site, thus diminishing or even stopping our charitable work with the hospital. He has become the leader of that group.”
Thomas looked around. “Cease this work? Diminish it? Do we not serve God when we ease mortal pain and help the dying into Man’s inevitable fate? What quarrel could he or anyone have with that?”
“A relic cures men by faith and the good will of the saint alone. When we treat the suffering with remedies made by frail mortals, some do believe that we are going against the will of God.”
“God would either stop us from finding the remedies or would at least wreak vengeance upon us for doing so if He found these things sinful.” Thomas raised one eyebrow. “I confess that I suspect Brother Matthew had more reason than a theological disagreement when he joined this contest.”
“I do agree, Brother, and suspect the underlying issue with him is authority. Two sisters lead the hospital. A shrine would require the oversight of the prior and an increase in the number of lay brothers who would be needed to guard the relics. His power in our woman-ruled priory would be enhanced.”
“Surely those who agree with him are few.”
Anne did not reply but instead gestured for him to come to one patient’s bedside. The child’s eyes glowed when he saw the monk, and Thomas greeted the boy with joy. After a horrible fall, he had suffered an amputation in the days before Thomas had left for York. All had feared for his life. Now he saw the lad healing and almost ready to return to the family, who had spent days holding his hand, their eyes dark with fear that they would lose their beloved child.
“A happy sight, that,” he said as they continued through the maze of patients. “How could anyone doubt that God blesses our work here if they saw the smile on that child’s face and the joy of the family who thought they would lose him
“I understand.”
“We all did, Brother.”
Thomas felt the sharp twinge of sadness in his heart, then felt something softer brush his leg. He looked down and met the round yellow eyes of the large tabby cat that kept the hospital free of vermin.
“Now we must choose another prior,” Anne said.
He bent to scratch the purring bundle of fur between its pointed ears. “And who are the strongest contenders amongst the monks?”
“Would you refuse consideration?” she asked, raising one eyebrow.
“Aye, without hesitation, but the community would not consider one who has come so recently to the religious life. Were the circumstances different, I would still refuse. I am not suited to administration.” In fact, he had no ambition to rise beyond his current status, which was wise as well as true. Thomas knew his dour spymaster would find some way to make sure he never became prior at Tyndal even if he were selected.
Anne smiled. “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”
“God knows full well that I am not humble, but do tell me which amongst our brothers are sufficiently meek that one might inherit the position of Tyndal’s prior?”
“Many, in the beginning, but Brother Andrew and Brother Matthew are the only remaining candidates.”
“That Brother Andrew is striving for the position surprises me. I never thought he was an ambitious man.”
“Nor is he, but others are on his behalf. When he realized that many here wished him to be our next prior, he said that the final decision was up to God and he would honor His choice.”
“Then may God grace us with Brother Andrew. Were He to choose Brother Matthew, I might wonder what sins we had committed to be so cursed. How could anyone even consider a self-righteous and shallow man like Brother Matthew for the position of prior? Have we not learned…”
“Hush! He is sincere in his beliefs and has far more ability than our last prior. Nor is he without thoughtful followers. There are many that would prefer Tyndal become a pilgrimage site, thus diminishing or even stopping our charitable work with the hospital. He has become the leader of that group.”
Thomas looked around. “Cease this work? Diminish it? Do we not serve God when we ease mortal pain and help the dying into Man’s inevitable fate? What quarrel could he or anyone have with that?”
“A relic cures men by faith and the good will of the saint alone. When we treat the suffering with remedies made by frail mortals, some do believe that we are going against the will of God.”
“God would either stop us from finding the remedies or would at least wreak vengeance upon us for doing so if He found these things sinful.” Thomas raised one eyebrow. “I confess that I suspect Brother Matthew had more reason than a theological disagreement when he joined this contest.”
“I do agree, Brother, and suspect the underlying issue with him is authority. Two sisters lead the hospital. A shrine would require the oversight of the prior and an increase in the number of lay brothers who would be needed to guard the relics. His power in our woman-ruled priory would be enhanced.”
“Surely those who agree with him are few.”
Anne did not reply but instead gestured for him to come to one patient’s bedside. The child’s eyes glowed when he saw the monk, and Thomas greeted the boy with joy. After a horrible fall, he had suffered an amputation in the days before Thomas had left for York. All had feared for his life. Now he saw the lad healing and almost ready to return to the family, who had spent days holding his hand, their eyes dark with fear that they would lose their beloved child.
“A happy sight, that,” he said as they continued through the maze of patients. “How could anyone doubt that God blesses our work here if they saw the smile on that child’s face and the joy of the family who thought they would lose him
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