A Visitor From the Roman Tribunal

1205, Spring

A few strenuous hours later, they stepped out of the woods to see the open area beneath the last steep ascent. The village had changed since Frederic had been there last, losing some of the rushed and haphazard character and gaining a look that suggested a little more permanence. The peasants working the fields looked at him curiously, but without the instant hostility he was accustomed to.

Near a hut that seemed to be better constructed than most, two men were talking and broke off when they saw the newcomers. One was grossly fat and dressed as a priest. He appeared to be in his forties. His companion was in his thirties and had the look of a craftsman.

The pair waited as Frederic and his two escorts approached, then stepped forward to greet them. "Peace be on you, my sons," said the priest. "I am Brother Antoine, what brings you to Lauvitel?"

Frederic drew deep, rapid breaths, brought forth from the demanding ascent. Beads of sweat could be seen on his forehead, which would confirm his recent climb, to which he is obviously not accustomed. Appreciative of the pleasant greeting received, Frederic attempted to greet Antione with a smile as best he could, albeit an eerie smile. "Brother Antoine," Frederic stated, "peace to you as well. It is good to meet a hospitable stranger on such a fine day. My name is Frederic. I am a messanger and I seek a man called Osprey. Do you perhaps know of him?" Frederic inquired.

Antoine looked at the other man, then nodded, "Yes, I can find Osprey. This is Phillipe, perhaps he can offer you a drink and place to rest."

Phillipe nodded in turn. "Aye, you can rest here in my shop. Jean!" he called to to one of the boys, "Fetch some water and a pot of beer."

Antoine had, meantime, trundled off toward the west.

Frederic was suprised at the generosity he was receiving that day. He found a decent spot to sit and rest his travelled bones, and he signalled for his escorts to do so as well if they wished. His second motion was to lean his head back and close his eyes. For a brief moment, only but a few seconds, Frederic enjoyed his new found rest. But then remembering his need to be as considerate as possible to the mundanes, for they often reacted to him harshly, he opened his eyes and addressed the shop keeper, "What a fine place this is. But I find it rather difficult to draw breath." Frederic waited for the man to continue the conversation.

"Then you come from the lowlands, somewhere," said the man, Phillipe. "The air is thin here, but you get used to it. The miasmas do not gather here as they do in low-lying places." Water and thin beer arrived for the visitors to refresh themselves, Frederic's two guards, Rico and Tonio, drinking deeply and looking around them with professional watchfulness.

After a relatively short time, Frederic saw two men coming from the west. One was Antoine. The other he was pleased to see was Osprey, wearing his usual long cloak and limping along next to the priest. As they joined the Italian party recognition flashed on Osprey's face. "I know you, Katerina's apprentice, Friedrich, I think."

Frederic nodded his head agreeably to Phillipes explanation of the local climate. He eyed Antoine and Osprey as they approached, and stood up respectfully when the time was right. He was flattered that someone of the Order recognized him, and returned a bow. Remembering that a man, possibly of the church, stood neary, Frederic answered carefully, "Yes. I am Frederic. Friend and messanger to Katerina. She wishes further trade with you. The grapes grow lush this year. Is there somewhere I can drawn a bath? I have travelled much and wish to be a bit more, " he paused and searched for the right words, "presentable when we speak of business."

"Friend and messenger?" Osprey raised an eyebrow, "Not apprentice? But I forget myself, by all means come along. Antoine, perhaps you would like to spend a few days in the covenant, while our guests use the lodge?"

"By all means," said the Priest.

"We haven't much in the way of the comforts you might find in the Roman Tribunal, I'm afraid," said Osprey. "No Roman baths here." He laughed. "There's an entire lake up there, though," he pointed. "Or you could soak in the stream. There are a couple of buckets in the lodge you could also use. Refresh yourself a while and someone will fetch you in an hour or so for the evening meal."

Frederic was embarrassed, for he misunderstood Antoine's role. The priest apparently knew more about the covenant than Frederic realized. The young magi waited patiently for Osprey to finish, then interjected, "Forgive me Osprey. I meant not to mislead you. I am Frederic of Virditius filius Katerina. I thank you, and will bathe in the river, until sent for." Frederic gave a customary and respectful bow.

"Then you have completed your apprenticeship, congratulations," said Osprey. "The guest lodge is there," he indicated a small but sturdy looking structure. "It is not grand, but it should suffice. Until dinner, then."

Frederic responded, "Forgive me. I need but only to finish my gauntlet, sir."

"The Verditius gauntlet is ... constructing something? Something like that I think," said Osprey. "Well, congratulations still seem to be appropriate."

Frederic pondered briefly, wondering how Osprey would know this. The young apprentice soon realized, though, that his was not the only little Virditius world out there. And that a man of the Order would certainly know of these things, or at least, have heard of them. With this in mind, Frederic suddenly found himself desiring the knowledge that Osprey had. One day, he promised himself, he would know just as much. Maybe more.

Frederic smiled and responded, "Yes, actually, I hope to obtain my gauntlet by creating an item. But it is my hopes that this item will far surpass that purpose. On occasion, Katerina and myself have been attacked by demons. What purpose these beasts have in taunting us, I know not. But I hope the item I create, not only gains my afore mentioned title, but also helps my mistress rid ourselves of these beasts. Pray time will tell. I thank you for your interest and congratulations."

Osprey nodded and departed.

An hour or so later, as promised, a servant appeared at the door to the lodge. "Master Frederic, if you will come, I will guide you to dinner. Food will be brought to your companions."

The man led Frederic out to the west and into a small cave, there Osprey waited. "I don't believe we brought you in through the Hermes Portal on the last trip, Frederic." He indicated a doorway roughly drawn on the wall of the cavern. Stepping close he muttered a few words softly and the servant stepped up to the wall and vanished. "And you ..." The process was repeated and Frederic found himself in a different cave, lit by a pair of torches held by servants. A moment later Osprey appeared, stepping out of the wall.

Frederic did not attempt to hide his suprise. "Waaooh!" he explaimed, "impressive."

"Let us go in," he said. The servants led the way through a maze of twisting passaged which eventually opened up into a chamber which was lit by a torch which seemed permanently mounted in a wall sconce. The room was clearly a kitchen, although there was a table large enough for several people to eat at. Osprey took a seat and indicated that Frederic should do likewise.

"Terrus and the Twins will not be joining us, I'm afraid. They are quite busy with their own projects. Leporideas and Lilia - I don't think you met Lilia - are away, and that means ... ah, here he is now. Lemain of Flambeau, this is Frederic of Verditius."

Frederic stood to greet Lemain.

Lemain moved slowly into the room. He was simply dressed, which only accentuated the fact that his right arm was missing and in its place was strapped an arm that seemed to be sculpted out of silver. He spoke slowly, but civilly enough in greeting and seated himself.

Several servants departed with a loaded basket, which Frederic assumed was for his grogs, while others began to load the table. The food was simple but adequate - baked fish, rough bread, fresh butter. Over dinner, Osprey asked for the news of the Roman Tribunal of Italy, on which subjects Frederic was poorly informed, but he did provide some information. As they finished, Osprey finally asked, "So, tell us of your business here."

Frederic responded, "My mistress, Katerina, thanks you for your previous business, and wishes to continue our mutually beneficial trade. I have come with 3 pawns of intellego vis, and 5 pawns of corpus vis. Katerina wishes to trade these for 12 pawns of aquam vis from your stores."

Osprey nodded. "I'll have to check with Terrus, of course, but that sounds reasonable. "Our Aquam stores are adequate at the moment." Lemain contented himself with nodding. "I'll bring you word tomorrow."

Frederic responded, "Very well, master Osprey. I'm sure my mistress will be pleased."

The night passed quietly and the next morning some servants arrived to bring breakfast to the lodge. Shortly thereafter, Osprey arrived. "I spoke to Terrus, and he is amenable to the trade." Osprey placed a jug of water on the table. "Here is our Vis, twelve pawns as agreed." He accepted the vis from Frederic in turn. "Will you stay another day or two? Or must you be off?"

Frederic thought for a moment, then responded, "Mistress Katerina never suggested any urgency, for she to travels somewhere. We would appreciate a few days of rest, for we travel by foot and have grown very fatigued. But only if it is not too much of an inconvenience, master Osprey."

"Not at all," said Osprey. "Though I fear we will be poor hosts for all that."

Frederic and his companions rested a few days, walking up to the lake to see the fishing village and the rock spire which was the other entrance into the covenant, sleeping and otherwise simply making ready for their return. Frederic was taken to dine with the magi each night, but in fact, only Osprey showed up for dinner every night. Lemain attended one other meal, but of Terrus and the Twins there was no sign.

Then, rested and with his mission accomplished, Frederic set off on his return trip.