Part 34 (1/2)

The Abbot locked gazes with him, still trembling. Then, slowly, he nodded. ”Nay, I must own there is omission on both sides. Yet how doth it chance now, when-interference is calamitous, that it doth come?”

Now Father Al's face softened into rueful sympathy.

”Milord-thou art a Cathodean; thou dost know of Finagle.”

The Abbot folded. ”Aye,certes, certes! 'When the results will be most frustrating...' Aye, aye.” He sighed, straightening in his saddle. ”Well, we must adapt to these vicissitudes, so that we can turn perversity back upon itself, must we not? Therefore, tell to me, Father, what His Holiness doth, through thee, command.”

”If we might have converse aside, Milord?”

”If we must, we must.” The Abbot climbed down from his mount, his breastplate and helm suddenly incongruous atop a monk's robe. They stepped out into the plain, between the two armies, muttering in low voices.

Tuan frowned. ”Who is this shave-pate thou hast brought to our midst, Lord Warlock?”

”An honest man, and a goodly,” Rod said promptly. ”If it weren't for him, I'd still be... where I was. Or dead.”

Tuan nodded. ” 'Tis warrant enough. Yet goodly or not, in this fell broil, thou canst not be a.s.sured that he will not now turn against thee.”

”No,” Rod said slowly, ”I can't.”

”As I thought.” Tuan squared his shoulders and sat straighter on his mount. ”Well, we'll learn it presently. They do come, to parley.” He touched his spurs to his horse's side, and rode out to meet the Lord Abbot, who was pacing toward him. Fess trotted after him. Tuan swung down to stand beside the Abbot-a good touch, Rod thought. There was no hope of reconciliation if you insisted on looking down at your opponent. Accordingly, he dismounted, too.

”Well, Milord Abbot,” Tuan said, ”Heaven hath interceded, and aborted this battle when all mortals would have thought 'twas far too late. May we not now discover some fas.h.i.+on of preserving this gift of peace, thou and I?”

The Abbot was pale and drawn, but his lips were tight with resolution. ”An thou dost wish it, Majesty, I am not loath to attempt it. Yet we must consider deeply.”

”I will,” Tuan promised. ”Say on.”

The Abbot took a deep breath. ”We must consider that the Church and State must needs be separate in their powers and functions.”

Tuan blinked.

Then, slowly, he inclined his head. ”Even as thou sayest, Milord. Reluctantly I do admit it; but we must agree to the principle. We cannot claim authority in matters spiritual.”

The Abbot blinked, this time; he hadn't been expecting quite so gracious a response to his about-face. ”Ah-I own to great joy to hear Your Majesty speak so. Accordingly, following from this principle, we must own that Holy Mother Church can claim no authority in the distribution of State funds.”

Tuan stood, expressionless, still.

Then he nodded slowly. ”Even as thou sayest, Milord; yet I would hope that we may rely on your good counsel in this matter, especially as regards those areas within our domain whose needs are not adequately met.”

”Why-certes, certes!” the Abbot cried, startled. ”My counsel is thine, whenever thou dost wish it! Yet...” His face darkened. ”In like fas.h.i.+on, Majesty, we must insist on the authority of Holy Mother Church to appoint her priests to her own parishes!”

Tuan nodded. ”Of this, the Queen and I have spoken at some length, Lord Abbot; thou wilt comprehend that, to us, 'tis sore trial to give up such power.”

The Abbot's face hardened-reluctantly, Rod thought.

”Yet,” Tuan went on, ”when we consider our adherence to the principle of separation that thou hast enunciated- why, there can be no question. The appointments of clergy must rest within thy hands; henceforth, we wish nought to do with such.”

The Abbot stared, speechless.

”We would ask that thou be mindful of thy pledge,” Tuan said, somewhat severely, ”to inform us where and when aid to the poor is lacking, and to bring to our notice any devices for the better relief of the indigent that thou dost encompa.s.s!”