Adam held his breath.
Before the prior could begin, the expectant hush was broken by a growing disturbance from the back of the chapter house.
As the unrest increased, the prior demanded, “What is it?What’s goin’ on?”
The guards were holding Adam so tightly, he couldn’t crane his head around to see what was happening.But any delay was good.Perhaps it was a fire.One could always pray for fire.
“Who is it?”the prior said.“Come forward.”
There was no answer except for grunting as the assembly shifted to make way for someone.
“Who are ye?”the prior asked.
A youthful voice piped up from the assembly to address the prior.“Beggin’ your pardon, Father?”
“Aye, Edward?”
“He said he’s a pilgrim, goin’ to Saint Andrews.He’s under a vow o’ silence.”
“Is that so?”the prior asked.“Then how did he tell ye that?”
“He’s got a wax tablet,” Edward replied.
The prior cleared his voice, disgruntled.“Write on your tablet then.What do ye want?”After a brief silence, the prior read the pilgrim’s message aloud.“MY…BROTHER.”He paused.“Who?This man?He’s your brother?”
Adam scowled.His brother?How could that be?Both of his brothers were at Rivenloch.
The prior continued, chastising the pilgrim.“Ye should have kept a closer watch on him then.Did the Lord not admonish Cain when he claimed he was not his brother’s guardian?”
Guardian?Adam’s brothers were younger than him.Alexander wouldn’t be knighted for another year.And Gavand wasn’t old enough to grow a beard.
The prior read the next message.“HE…RAN…AWAY.So ye lost him?”
Who the Devil was pretending to be his brother?Was it one of his cousins?He tried to turn his head, but the guards still held him fast.
“Ah,” the prior said with a sigh.“I see.MAD.So your brother is feeble o’ mind?”
Adam felt the gears in his brain shift.He didn’t know who this savior posing as his brother was, but that was a brilliant ploy.If Adam feigned to be mad, he naturally couldn’t be held responsible for his actions.
All he had to do was act mad.
He let out a wordless bark, pleased when his captors jerked in surprise.Then he began humming to himself.
“Is that why ye’re makin’ a pilgrimage to Saint Andrews?To pray for healin’?”the prior asked.After a pause, he said, “I see.”Then he cleared his throat and announced, “Very well.In light o’ these new circumstances, I shall forego the man’s penance.’Tis clear he’s sufferin’ enough.Instead, let this be an example o’ God’s mercy.And we shall pray for his lost soul.”
The guards released him then and draped the cassock back over his shoulders.
Careful to keep his eyes slightly unfocused as if he were dimwitted, he scanned the crowd until he saw the monk with the tablet.His alleged “brother.”
His eyes went wide with recognition.But he said nothing.He didn’t want to endanger them both.
Whatever he did next, he had to do it quickly.The “pilgrim” was obviously a beautiful woman under that filthy beard.She’d be discovered any moment.
Quickly he cried, “Bruh!”careening toward the pilgrim.“Bruh!”
He wrapped her in a smothering embrace, hoping to keep her face hidden as they staggered toward the door.
She couldn’t reprimand him verbally.She was supposed to be under a vow of silence.But she fought against his grip as they exited the chapter house and started across the cloister.
