Post by Brandwyn on Sept 18, 2009 17:46:02 GMT -5
Ashton Lewis Thornbury, newly ordained priest of the Order of the Benedictine’s, made his way across the leaf strewn courtyard of their monastery toward the owlry. His immaculately white robes rustled around his feet as he pulled up the hood of his white cloak against the chill early morning air. The sun had not yet penetrated the fog that was so thick the monastery walls were just indistinct dark gray shapes.
He ran is long fingers along the smooth leather dispatch satchel he wore slung over one shoulder and patted it affectionately, thinking of the latest letter from his sister’s in Redmont. The satchel carried a response as well as some mail from the Father Superior and two very special letters that Ash was sending on his own, unbeknownst to his Superior.
Also in the satchel was the latest book he was reading, a study of human behavior by Aristotle. He found it fascinating that human behavior has remained the same throughout the centuries and loves to watch people and compare them with Aristotle’s notes on the subject, often recording his own observations in the other item in the satchel, his latest personal journal. This book is one he made himself with sheep skin vellum with a leather cover and it resides in a wooden box that he waxed inside and out to keep out the rain. The box has a metal clasp and a tiny lock. There is just enough room in the box to slide the journal into it. He keeps it locked at all times except when he is writing in his journal.
“Brother Ash!” A shout rang out through the silent courtyard making Ash jump in spite of the fact he knew it would be coming. Brother Padora waddled out of the herbology house, a big grin on his face and a letter in his hand. “Glad I caught you, Brother.” He panted as he hauled his bulk over the cobblestones, scattering the early fall leaves before him. “You are going out with dispatches, aren’t you?”
Ash faked a warm smile and nodded. It was not that he didn’t like Padora, but more that he was focused on his errand and didn’t want another detour. No doubt Padora’s letter was to his mother in Redmont. Maybe Ash could check in with Greenriver and see if he could run the letters over to Redmont. He hadn’t planned on going that way himself. At least not just yet.
“Morning Brother Padora.” Ash said as he took the letter. “Another letter to your mother?” he slid it into the satchel after glancing to confirm his suspicion.
“You know it!” Padora laughed. “You are going to Redmont, right?” He wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve. Since he was grossly overweight, the slightest activity made him sweat profusely. Ash would have worried about the man having a heart attack – if he actually cared. The most Ash would feel is sad that the knowledge Padora carried in his head about herbs and plants would die with him. That was why Ash had befriended the odd priest in the first place. He was logging all the information he could glean from Padora on the subject of herbs and recording it for posterity’s sake. That was just one of his many projects that he used to occupy his time here in the monastery.
“Actually I wasn’t. Heading the other way towards Greenfield Fief this time. Got some messages for the Father Superior of the Benedictines over there.” That wasn’t the only reason for going to Greenfield though; he had some personal business there as well.
Padora’s grin faded, “Oh, well, then maybe I should see if someone else is going to Redmont.” He reached for the letter, even though it was already tucked away in Ash’s satchel.
“No need. I am going to see if the Ranger will take it.” Ash patted the satchel. “Need to get going though, before I miss him on his ‘rounds.’ You know how Greenriver is hardly ever at his cabin.” Ash winked at Padora. If he didn’t extricate himself now, the fat man would have him talking until mid-day prayers.
“Right! Okay, then.” Brother Padora waved him off, “On your way then.” Ash waved back and strode into the owlry to pick up Snow Dart, his pet snowy owl. Snowy swooped down the moment she saw him and landed on his outstretched arm. He fed her some roasted chicken scraps and then perched her on his shoulder in her usual spot and strode back out and through the side gate in the monastery wall. Snowy hooted once and then tucked her head under her wing and went to sleep as Ash walked down the road to the outskirts of Araluen and the ranger cabin where his “friend” Ranger Greenriver lived.
He ran is long fingers along the smooth leather dispatch satchel he wore slung over one shoulder and patted it affectionately, thinking of the latest letter from his sister’s in Redmont. The satchel carried a response as well as some mail from the Father Superior and two very special letters that Ash was sending on his own, unbeknownst to his Superior.
Also in the satchel was the latest book he was reading, a study of human behavior by Aristotle. He found it fascinating that human behavior has remained the same throughout the centuries and loves to watch people and compare them with Aristotle’s notes on the subject, often recording his own observations in the other item in the satchel, his latest personal journal. This book is one he made himself with sheep skin vellum with a leather cover and it resides in a wooden box that he waxed inside and out to keep out the rain. The box has a metal clasp and a tiny lock. There is just enough room in the box to slide the journal into it. He keeps it locked at all times except when he is writing in his journal.
“Brother Ash!” A shout rang out through the silent courtyard making Ash jump in spite of the fact he knew it would be coming. Brother Padora waddled out of the herbology house, a big grin on his face and a letter in his hand. “Glad I caught you, Brother.” He panted as he hauled his bulk over the cobblestones, scattering the early fall leaves before him. “You are going out with dispatches, aren’t you?”
Ash faked a warm smile and nodded. It was not that he didn’t like Padora, but more that he was focused on his errand and didn’t want another detour. No doubt Padora’s letter was to his mother in Redmont. Maybe Ash could check in with Greenriver and see if he could run the letters over to Redmont. He hadn’t planned on going that way himself. At least not just yet.
“Morning Brother Padora.” Ash said as he took the letter. “Another letter to your mother?” he slid it into the satchel after glancing to confirm his suspicion.
“You know it!” Padora laughed. “You are going to Redmont, right?” He wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve. Since he was grossly overweight, the slightest activity made him sweat profusely. Ash would have worried about the man having a heart attack – if he actually cared. The most Ash would feel is sad that the knowledge Padora carried in his head about herbs and plants would die with him. That was why Ash had befriended the odd priest in the first place. He was logging all the information he could glean from Padora on the subject of herbs and recording it for posterity’s sake. That was just one of his many projects that he used to occupy his time here in the monastery.
“Actually I wasn’t. Heading the other way towards Greenfield Fief this time. Got some messages for the Father Superior of the Benedictines over there.” That wasn’t the only reason for going to Greenfield though; he had some personal business there as well.
Padora’s grin faded, “Oh, well, then maybe I should see if someone else is going to Redmont.” He reached for the letter, even though it was already tucked away in Ash’s satchel.
“No need. I am going to see if the Ranger will take it.” Ash patted the satchel. “Need to get going though, before I miss him on his ‘rounds.’ You know how Greenriver is hardly ever at his cabin.” Ash winked at Padora. If he didn’t extricate himself now, the fat man would have him talking until mid-day prayers.
“Right! Okay, then.” Brother Padora waved him off, “On your way then.” Ash waved back and strode into the owlry to pick up Snow Dart, his pet snowy owl. Snowy swooped down the moment she saw him and landed on his outstretched arm. He fed her some roasted chicken scraps and then perched her on his shoulder in her usual spot and strode back out and through the side gate in the monastery wall. Snowy hooted once and then tucked her head under her wing and went to sleep as Ash walked down the road to the outskirts of Araluen and the ranger cabin where his “friend” Ranger Greenriver lived.