Katts and Dawgs
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Table of Contents Part 1 appears in this issue. |
| part 2 of 2 |
“You know very well, farmer, how expensive it is for my Lord the Abbot to keep this land free of marauders and strays. How expensive it is, in short, to keep your family and the others safe in these Man-forsaken lands.”
Bones stuttered. “I can explain it, Brother Dokus. I am sure my Lord Abbot would understand.”
“Then go ahead and explain it to him yourself. He is right behind you.”
Bones turned around in terror. He hadn’t heard the Abbot coming in, and there he was. A rather short and severe figure clad in black.
The farmer fell on his knees and put his head between his arms, his tail hidden between his legs.
“What is it you wish to explain, farmer?”
But the farmer only whined.
The Abbot, not without gentleness, took him by the hand. “Get up, good Dawg, speak your piece.”
Bones’ eyes rolled wildly, like an animal in a cage, but he finally seemed to calm down. “It’s my son, my Lord.”
“What about him, farmer?”
Bones shook his head and despair spread across his face.
“He is a bright lad, my Lord, not like the other farm boys. He wonders about the origin of things and about the ways of nature. Scholar Rover thinks he might make a fine scholar...”
“Scholar Rover Quicknose?”
“The same one, my Lord. Do you know him?”
“You could say we were friends once upon a time. And he shows interest in your son’s wits?”
“Yes, my Lord. He says my Phydo is the brightest lad he’s seen in years and he would be well received in Kannis University... but to send him there I need money...”
“So you’re keeping part of my taxes for him.”
The farmer didn’t answer. He only started whining softly again.
The Abbot walked slowly around the farmer. Dokus smiled in cold anticipation.
“What you have done, farmer, is heavily punished, as I’m sure you know well. But today I feel merciful.”
Dokus looked up, eyes open in surprise. The farmer still looked down.
“I would like to speak to this Phydo of yours. Send him to me today. And farmer, beware! You may go now.”
Farmer Bones looked at the Abbot, not daring to hope.
“Go, I said, Dawg. Go!”
The farmer left in a hurry.
Fourfangs laughed at Dokus’ expression. “You find my behavior unusual, Dokus? Well, it is. But good minds are harder to come by than taxes. Let’s see about this wonder child who has called Quicknose’s attention. We can always squeeze the farmer later. And... Dokus, as soon as Mongreel Strongarms shows up, send him to my cell. I summoned him.”
The Abbot turned his back on his right-hand Dawg and didn’t see the light that shone in Dokus’ dark eyes.
Dokus didn’t like Mongreel Strongarms. For Man’s sake, not one bit.
* * *
Back at the farm, farmer Bones’ wife had grave doubts. “I don’t like this one bit, Parffin. What does the Abbot want with our Phydo?”
“I know not, wife, but we have no choice. Dokus, Man-damn his name, found out about my keeping part of the tax money, and they hold my life in their hands.”
Momma Bones wiggled nervously her apron and tears appeared in her eyes. “I don’t like this, Parffin, I don’t!”
Farmer Bones only sighed some more.
* * *
Abbot Fourfangs sat by a rustic table and faced Mongreel Strongarms. “Ah, Brother Mongreel, thanks for attending my summons on such short notice.”
Mongreel only nodded.
“Time is pressing, Brother. I have moved my pieces, paid my dues and made the necessary alliances. All is set.”
Mongreel still remained silent.
“I have allies, Brother, and I have enemies. How many of the twelve Abbots do you reckon will back me when Man calls the High Priest to Him?”
Now Mongreel smiled his cold smile for the first time. “You are a sensible Dawg, my Lord Abbot. You want to test the tool you’ve bought. You want to fathom how much I know and how many secrets I can penetrate.”
“It is good to understand each other, Brother. You put it rather bluntly, but yes, I would like to know how much information you have.”
Mongreel moved closed and faced the Abbot squarely. “You own the aye of five of the twelve Abbots, the nay of four and three of them are undecided. Those are the ones you and your biggest rival, Abbot Maximatis Thickfur, will struggle to convince. I can be very persuasive, my Lord.”
The abbot laughed out loud. “We understand each other indeed. I count on you then to convince the unconvinced.”
Mongreel bowed.
The Abbot rose from his wooden chair and approached Mongreel. “There is still one more matter I would like to discuss with you.”
“At your orders, my Lord.”
Fourfangs stood in front of Mongreel, barely reaching the latter’s shoulder height, but the aura of power was all around him. “The High Priest, Man bless his soul, is suffering from a disease which has no cure. It would be but mercy to speed up his meeting with our maker.”
The Abbot turned around and started for the door. He opened it and showed Mongreel out. He spoke a final time and his voice was as cold as the eternal snows over the mountains that can be seen from Kannis Castle. “See to it, Brother.”
* * *
Farmer Parffin Bones and his son Phydo waited at the Abbey to be received by the Abbot.
Phydo was more curious than afraid but the farmer was clearly frightened.
The Abbot called finally for Phydo, and the child entered the audience room.
“Approach, lad,” the Abbot commanded.
Phydo looked curiously around at the sparse furniture and thick stone walls. They seemed strange to a boy used to wooden houses.
The Abbot sat in his high audience chair and Dokus stood by his side. “So, lad, what is it Scholar Rover has taught you?”
And Phydo spoke to the Abbot. About Man, about the Sentient People and about everything that came to his mind.
The Abbot, clearly delighted, smiled in approval. After a while he interrupted. “Your father says you desire to become a scholar, lad.”
“Phydo, my Lord.”
“What?”
“My name is Phydo, my Lord Abbot.”
Anger crossed the Abbot’s face but he laughed out loud. “Phydo, then. Well, do you?”
“Yes, my Lord. I would love to be in a place where I can find answers to the many mysteries of Earth.”
“Then the University is not the best place for you. Would you not prefer to join the Order of Man’s True Legacy instead?”
“The... Order, my Lord?”
“Yes, you are the right age to become an apprentice.”
“But... I sort of promised scholar Rover...”
“Not all promises are necessarily bounding, Phydo. Come, I think your father will agree the best place for a promising lad, such as yourself, is within the ranks of the Order.”
The Abbot got up and started for the door. Phydo just stood there, dumbfounded.
“Farmer,” said the Abbot, “You are lucky enough to have a son who has been accepted as an apprentice to the Order of Man’s True Legacy. I expect to be riding to Kannis any time now. He shall be summoned to come with me. Await my call.”
Parffin Bones just stood there, mouth open in awe. He managed to mutter, “Yes, my Lord, at your service.”
A while later Dokus spoke to the Abbot. “Do you really think that farmer boy can be of use to the Order, my Lord?”
Fourfangs laughed out loud. “He is a bright lad, Dokus, but most of all I want to make clear to Rover Quicknose who rules in this land. This a good way for him to learn.”
Dokus laughed as well. “That is more like you, my Lord.”
* * *
It was around midnight in Kannis. The city slept. All merchants, scholars, and bankers had closed up shop shortly after sundown, and only some late passers-by could be seen here and there on the narrow cobblestone streets.
Kannis Castle dominated the city landscape over the three hills. It was also silent and no hurried steps could be heard in its corridors.
Fairfan Keensight, High Priest, lay on his bed in his cell in the castle’s main tower. He was ill and knew his power was waning, but he refused to give his enemies the joy of his death.
Alone in his cell he was suddenly aware of an unnatural silence surrounding him.
Normally, no matter how late, there is always some noise in Kannis Castle. Guards passing down the hallways, some Brother staying up late to say the night prayers.
He felt something very wrong in the air tonight. If only his faithful Mongreel were here!
Gathering his waning strength, he tried to sit up on his bed.
He tried to scream as he felt the pillow coming down on his face, but all he managed was a muffled cry that died sooner than he did.
A shadowed figure stood by the bed, pillow in his hands. He contemplated the now still old Dawg. He dropped the pillow on the bed and walked to the door. A moonbeam fell on his face as he passed by a window and the harsh, merciless features of Mongreel Strongarms could be seen for a fleeting moment.
Soon everything was quiet again.
* * *
Scholar Rover Quicknose puffed as he got to the Bones farm. He felt every day a bit more tired with these walks from Kannis.
Something was different today, though. Usually Phydo greeted him at the entrance to the farm, but today nobody was there.
He continued to the farm house door and knocked.
Momma Bones opened the door and she was crying,
“What is it, Mrs. Bones? Is something the matter with Phydo?”
“Yes, Scholar. Papa Bones just took him to the Abbey.”
“To the Abbey! What for?”
“The Abbot called for him. He’s going to Kannis in a hurry and he’s taking Phydo to make an apprentice out of him!”
“An apprentice? You mean he’s going into the Order?”
“Yes Scholar, and my Parffin couldn’t refuse!”
Moma Bones wept even more and Rover felt the bolt in all its force. Fluff Fourfangs had won once more. He turned around and started walking back to Kannis. He felt very tired.
He had barely left the farm when he heard the tromping of many hoofers coming from behind. He walked out of the road and looked at the big retinue coming from the Abbey grounds.
Abbot Fourfangs was riding in his cart and the whole Riverfork garrison was going to Kannis with him.
A sudden premonition hit Rover. “Old Fairfan Keensight is dead! Fluff is going for the High Priesthood!”
The cart went by, and this time Fluff did not deign to look at Rover.
Riding in the cart, shy among those important people, was Phydo. He did look at Rover and his expression reflected total helplessness and shame.
Rover waved at him and he tried to convey his understanding in that gesture. He tried to tell Phydo that sometimes you are not master of your own destiny, but the cart went by all too quickly.
The retinue was soon gone, and Rover was left alone on the road again. A red robe against the green of the surrounding trees. Rover straightened his back and swallowed the deep pain of his soul. He put his red hat back on and continued on the road to Kannis.
He didn’t see Phydo again until many years later when Rover was Head Professor at Kannis University and Phydo was the pebble in the path that caused the fall of High Priest Fluff Fourfangs.
But that story, dear reader, is told elsewhere.
Good night.
Copyright © 2006 by Roberto Sanhueza
