The Forgotten War by Howard Sargent Page B

from here. He remembered his father hoisting him on to his shoulders, carrying him to the fields where he could sit, play and be fussed over by the
women as the line of labourers ahead grew ever smaller and more distant as more and more of the crop was felled.
    It felt like a hundred years ago.
    They paused briefly to take on water and chew on the unappetising soldier’s rations they had brought with them. Rozgon got his dice out, eager to lighten the other men’s purses.
Cedric had sat in the wagon all day, presumably poring over scrolls and books. He had been surprisingly quiet. For the most part young Willem had walked with the men, Morgan had him pinned down as
a shy lad and was pleased to see him and Haelward apparently hit it off. Morgan went over and spoke to him.
    ‘Enjoying the journey so far? Haelward is looking after you, I see.’
    ‘Yes, sir. It turns out that Haelward and I are from villages just a few miles from each other.’
    ‘What villages exactly?’
    ‘Oh, you wouldn’t have heard of them. They were both farming villages on the lands of Baron Hartwig in Skonnetha, close to the Erskon.’
    ‘The heart of the country.’
    ‘Yes, sir, pretty much its geographic centre. Master Cedric has shown me many maps.’
    Morgan’s brow creased a little. ‘So if you are not from Tanaren City, how did you meet Cedric?’
    Willem spoke earnestly. ‘I was lucky enough to join the house of Artorus at Skonnetha when I was twelve. At first, I was a lay brother working in the kitchens, plucking chickens or turning
the spits. Well, at service one day one of the senior brothers noticed how well I sang and, thinking it would boost his choir gave me the chance to join the order proper. It turned out I had a
talent for writing and reading and I quickly picked up on my studies, so much so that it was decided that I should spend seven years at St Philig’s studying history and theology before
returning to the monastery as a scribe. It was in a history study group that Master Cedric noticed me giving a short dissertation on the effects of the Black Plague two hundred years ago on the
rights of rural labourers. He invited me to be his assistant and so now I am here.’
    ‘So the monastery funds your education. Would they approve of you being here?’
    ‘I doubt it, but even here Cedric insists on teaching me at least one hour a day.’
    ‘How do you find Tanaren City compared to the country?’ Morgan himself had only ever been there a couple of times as a younger man and remembered finding its sheer size
intimidating.
    ‘It took me a while but I got used to it; it has so many temptations for a brother of Artorus.’
    Morgan grinned. ‘Just stay away from the women on the harbour front and the Rose district and you will be OK.’
    Willem looked a little downcast. ‘It is not the women on the harbour that bother me.’
    ‘Go on.’ said Morgan intrigued. ‘Is it the men?’
    ‘No sir, not like that, sir.’ He hesitated. ‘Master Cedric the other day mentioned Alys, a lady with a talent for drawing.’
    ‘Not just for drawing, I take it.’
    ‘Well no, sir; we have become very ... fond of each other since our trip to the ruins. She is a little older than me but her talent has taken her a long way and she is as clever as she is
fair.’
    ‘And your religious instruction?’
    ‘Exactly, sir.’ He sighed.
    ‘Artoran monks can marry, though.’
    ‘Only at the behest of the Grand Lector and only then once a monk’s studies are completed or he turns thirty, whichever comes sooner.’
    ‘But your studies cannot be too far from completion.’
    ‘At St Philig’s, yes, but then I return to Skonnetha for ten years of religious instruction. I would have to wait many years before the Grand Lector could even be petitioned and I
would not expect Alys to wait that long.’
    ‘A lot of priests I know,’ said Morgan slyly, ‘keep a lady or a man at their side for many years unofficially, and no bolts of fire