The Abbot

A month and a half passed, but Liam wrote nothing. All this time, Cal had been thoroughly researching the castle archives, and he had learned some things. For example, the Glinier and Abatua families (Liam's mother's maiden name) were members of some secret organization of a nonreligious nature.

Cal discovered their seal and discovered that they called each other Elders with a number instead of a name. At the same time that he was taking care of the factory's business, Cal searched everywhere for information about the Elders, and gradually his search began to yield results.

Antique scrolls, eyewitness accounts, pictures with hidden meanings «everything fed him new food for thought.

One day he happened to meet a man who opened his eyes and he advanced his investigation. The man was waiting for him in a pub, but Cal was not embarrassed.

Over the long months of searching, he'd talked to just about anyone to find clues. After providing the man with a drink, Cal waited for him to loosen his tongue, and it happened almost immediately.

«Those elders are some devil's spawn,» the man began. «One once came to our mother and said that her children had rich spiritual energy and could be of great benefit to the world. Allegedly he travels the world, and is looking for such special people.»

He took another sip from the bottle, almost simultaneously letting out a burp.

«But of course, our mother didn't believe this charlatan and kicked him out of the house. But my sister followed him and soon disappeared!» The man drank half a bottle of wine at once. «We have searched for her for so long and there is no sign of her. The damned elders, or whatever they are!»

Cal heard that and was on his way out when the man grabbed him by the sleeve.

«Wait, my sister's been found, didn't I tell you?»

Cal's heart gave a little twinge. Was it possible to find someone taken by the elders? He sat down across from the narrator again, and the latter deliberately stretched out his story, stalling for time. Cal understood. A few coins made the drunkard's eyes flash, and he spoke:

«My sister has changed a lot. She lives east in *** now, everyone calls her the Fifth Elder, what a stupid name!» The man drained the bottle and tossed it to the floor. A lot of people looked back at their table and Cal nodded. «I saw her once - a real Mistress. But I hate her, she made us spend all our resources searching for her, and our poor mother died in sickness...»

Cal was eager to go in search of the Fifth Elder immediately. The town *** was only a couple hundred miles away, and it would take him five days to get there. He hastily packed up and left the city before sunset. Thanks to the moonlit night he was able to ride without stopping until dawn, then he changed horses and continued on his way.

By the end of the third day, he was falling off his horse and could not focus on the road. Stopping at a nice hotel, he fell asleep taking a bath. Waking from the cold, he climbed out of the icy water and lay in bed, wrapped in two blankets. By morning he was running a fever, and further travel had to be postponed.

Seeing that the guest was very unwell, the innkeeper asked the guests if there was a physician among them. Fortunately, a young lady came forward. She and two of the maids went up to Cal's room and found the man in considerable distress.

He was pacing over the bed in a fever, his eyes puffed up and his hair tangled.

The innkeeper was embarrassed that such a young mistress had to see such an unattractive sight, but she calmly dismissed him from the room and went about her business. Her assistants prepared a healing potion and gave it to Cal all day.

Then she took round pills from a small red box and gave him one every hour. Gradually the man's condition stabilized. He stopped thrashing around and slept peacefully. Mistress crouched on the edge of the bed and felt his pulse. She raised her eyebrows in surprise and withdrew her hand.

«Did Mistress find anything unusual?» the maid asked.

«Yes,» she nodded and looked intently at the man. Then she got up and walked over to the desk where his papers were laid in disarray.

She glanced at the papers and then turned to look at him again.

«Is something wrong?» The maids became alarmed.

«The man is looking for the Fourth Elder,» she answered simply. «But I don't know why, so I won't be here long. His life is out of danger, we are leaving.»

The mistress and her maids left the inn. Cal came to his senses in the evening. With a beastly hunger, he ordered a large dinner, much to the manager's delight, and even invited him to share it with him.

The host, in his groggy state, told him how the young mistress had saved the lord's life and left before she could introduce herself to him.

Cal was much amused by the story. The next day he was able to go down to the dining room, and another day later, despite his host's entreaties, Cal left. It was no more than seventy miles to the town of ***.

Making reasonable stops to rest, he arrived in *** by the evening of the next day. After settling in at a local inn, the man went in search of the Fifth Elder's house.

It turned out to be a small church. Cal asked around and learned that about ten years ago the Abbot had adopted a little girl as his daughter and she had been living with him ever since, helping with the parish.

«Could it be that the Abbot is the same Elder who kidnapped her?» Cal thought. But the story didn't stick. Everyone he asked spoke very warmly of the rector's family, and it was evident that he was a kind and considerate man to others.

Because of this, the man was confused. The bell on the church made a low sound and several idle people came in for the evening service, Cal went after them.

From his seat, he watched the gray-haired man carefully and could not see him as a child-kidnapping villain. While he watched the Abbot, a young girl and her two maids followed him.

After the service, Cal intercepted the Abbot and politely asked for a conversation. To his surprise, the Abbot smiled broadly and invited the stranger to dinner.

As he followed him into the living area of the church, Cal was surprised at how cozy and clean it was, a woman's hand was evident. As they sat down at the humble table they began their meal, and after they had eaten, the rector wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked intently at Cal. Before he spoke, the man addressed someone in the room:

«Fifth come in, stop standing outside the door.»

Cal couldn't believe his eyes or his luck. Now he would see the one he had come all this way for.

Pulling back the curtain, a pretty girl entered the room. She walked around the table and sat down next to the Abbot. Cal stared at them, unable to speak.

«Child,» the man spoke, «my adopted daughter tells me you are looking for the Fourth Elder. Few humans know him, so I've invited you to get to know him.»

Cal would have been both glad he didn't have to explain at length, but also upset that he'd somehow been unmasked. Focusing on the latter, he looked at the girl with surprise and disbelief. She only shrugged her shoulders and said:

«Does the fever bother you anymore?»

Is that what this is all about?! Cal couldn't believe his luck. The one who had saved him was the Fifth Elder. What an unexpected twist. He was looking for her, and she found him!

Fate indeed. The man hurriedly got up from the table and bowed to the girl with the sincerest of hearts, expressing his gratitude for his rescue. The girl softened.

«Lord Abbot and you are the Fifth Elder, I sincerely ask for your help in finding my dear friend,» Cal spoke after he had been seated back at the table.

«How can we help you?» The Abbot asked good-naturedly.

«My friend's name is Liam Glinier, and his father was the Second Elder and Head of Town.»

The Abbot was surprised, and Cal continued.

«My friend's parents were murdered before my eyes by a terrible monster everyone calls an ancient spirit.»

The Abbot's hand that held the cup trembled, and he hurried to return it to the table.

«I haven't seen my friend in years since the tragedy. When he returned, despite his grievous injury, he seemed to be in perfect health. He had rebuilt the ruined city in a few years and brought it to prosperity. By combining our efforts, we helped people find a life worth living. Not so long ago, Liam built a great bridge over the river, and I built a weaving factory...» He didn't realize it as he began to reminisce.

Abbot and Fifth glanced at each other but kept silent.

«One evening Liam's uncle, the Fourth Elder, came to town. They left town the next morning, and I've been looking for them for months. In my search, I learned something about the Elders, but it was a small crumb, and one day I happened to come across a drunkard telling me how his sister had left home after the Elder, and I followed her footsteps to find you.»

At this mention, the girl grimaced. Now it was Cal's turn to get an explanation. The girl wrinkled her nose a little and said:

«My so-called brother isn't my brother at all. My mother wanted to get rid of me and found a man who agreed to marry me. She brought him to the house, and after she got drunk, they... they...» the girl blushed to the roots of her hair, «had their fun... and I locked myself in my room.»

The Abbot continued in her place.

«I came to *** town, looking for students, and I happened to meet this child. She was frightened, but I saw great strength in her. After tracing where she lived, I spoke respectfully to her mother. But the woman was not herself and beat me with a broom. I had to flee, but suddenly I found a tail following me,» the Abbot stroked the girl's head affectionately.

Frankness for frankness - Cal appreciated Abbot's sincere attitude toward him and took to him with all his heart.

«It turns out that that drunkard is no brother, ew, an abomination...» the man shuddered.

«I can't tell you where your friend is now,» the Abbot spoke, «I can only assume that if both his parents were Elders, he must have inherited the gift. You see, they take such people as apprentices and prepare them for enlightenment.»

Cal listened avidly to every word. He turned all aloud. The Abbot continued.

«There are different kinds of energy, but before we continue, let me know your power. The Fifth said she sensed signs of power in you, but I'm not sure.»

The Abbot stood up from the table and walked toward the man, holding out his hands. Cal rose to meet him.

«Give me your hands and don't be afraid,» the Abbot said, and Cal obeyed.

The Abbot took his wrists and closed his eyes. He seemed immersed in himself. He frowned and listened to unseen inner sensations. It didn't last more than ten seconds. But enough to make Cal tense and worried.

The Abbot let go of his hands and returned to the table. Before continuing the conversation and announcing his verdict, the man poured fresh tea for everyone.

Cal cautiously took a sip and waited patiently.

«Father, what did you see?» It turned out that it was the Fifth who had the least patience.