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"The situation has changed," Master Jojonah explained "Ah, Brauht of the Father Abbot&039;s unfortunate prisoners, I could not keep away"
"You went to thehly so," Jojonah explained "I underestimated the Father Abbot&039;s reaction In ood sense, and have pushed Markwart too, too far"
"Never could compassion be called foolhardy," Brother Braumin was quick to put in
"But still, my actions have forced Markwart to act," Jojonah replied "The Father Abbot is too strong and too entrenched I have not lost ainst Markwart openly when I deeht, but you must promise me here and now that you will take no part in that battle"
"How could I ever make such a promise?" Brother Braumin firmly replied
"If you ever loved me, you will find the way," Master Jojonah replied "If you believe in what Avelyn says to us frorave, you will find a way Because if you cannot make that promise, then know that my road has reached its end, know that I will not follow the course of opposing Markwart I must be alone in this; I must know that no one else will suffer forpause, and finally Brother Brauh I feel that your request is ridiculous"
"Not ridiculous, o against Markwart, but I cannot win I know that, and so do you, if you can put your bravado aside and be honest with yourself"
"If you cannot win, then why raise the fight?"
Jojonah gave a chuckle "Because it eaken Markwart," he explained, "and publicly raise issues which may find a root of truth in the hearts ofseeds in the hope that, in days when I am no more, they will live on and bear fruit for those who follow inal crafts enough to see their vision of the abbey fulfilled, but ent to their dedicated labors anyway, so on the intricate carvings of a single door, or cutting the stone for the original foun-dation of this nificent structure"
The poetic words struck Braumin deeply but could not push hie battle, but to win "If we truly be-lieve in Brother Avelyn&039;s e, then we cannot stand alone," he said "We ht - "
"We do believe and ill, in the end, win out," Master Jo-jonah interrupted, seeing where this was going and knowing it to be a fool&039;s ending "I ainst Markwart noould set our cause far, far back, perhaps beyond retrieval I a older by the day, I assure you I will begin the war against Markwart, and against the current way of the Church itself, and that will perhaps entice so at our routines, our supposed tradi-tions, in a new light"
"And what isto keep the sarcas man, and will almost certainly outlive Dale-bert Markwart," Master Jojonah cal any unfortunate accidents!" He didn&039;t have to speak the naes into Brother Brau more composed
"You will quietly spread the word," Master Jojonah replied "To Viscenti Marlboro, to Brother Dell on the little I will accoreat care toto a corner of the rug beside his desk, then pulling it back to reveal a secret compartment in the floor, "you will protect this" He took the ancient text out of the compartment and handed it to a wide-eyed Brausoreat importance, that this old book was part of the reason for Master Jojonah&039;s surprising decisions
"It is the answer," Jojonah replied cryptically "Read it quietly, secretly, and then hide it safely away and put it out of your thoughts But not out of your heart," he added, patting Brau with Father Abbot Markwart&039;s games if you must, even to the extent of ambitious Brother Francis"
Brau on you to become a master of St-Mere-Abelle," Jojonah firmly answered that look "And soon - perhaps even as my replacement It is not out of the question, because Markants to give open signs that he is waging no private battle against me, and our friendship is widely known You must find your way to that spot and spend your years in ways that will place you in line for a position as abbot of one of the other abbeys, or perhaps even in line for the position of Father Abbot itself Aiically high Your reputation re-mains impeccable and impressive beyond Markwart&039;s inner circle When you have attained the pinnacle of your power, however high that ht be, then secure your friends and decide how to continue the holy war that Brother Avelyn began That er, trusted ally, and fol-lowing a course siht call for you and your allies to openly wage the battle within the Church Only you will know"
"You ask much"
"No more than I have asked ofchuckle "And I believe that you are a finer man than ever was Jojonah!"
Brother Braumin scoffed at that remark, but Jojonah shook his head and would not back down "It took me six decades to learn what you already have placed firmly in your heart," the old master explained
"But I had a better teacher," Brother Brauuered Jojonah&039;s sagging face
Brauher be-tween himself and the master "Tell me more," he insisted "What is in here?"
"Brother Avelyn&039;s heart," Jojonah replied "And the truth of what once was"
Braumin eased the book back down in front of him and tucked it under his voluminous robes, close to his heart
"Remember all that I told you of the fate of theWindrunner, and hold that in comparison to the fored the book even tighter, giving a solemn nod "Fare well,he would never see the ain
"Fear not for me," Master Jojonah replied "For if I were to die today, I would die contented I have found my heart and the truth, and have passed that truth on to able hands We in out, in the end"
Brother Braureat hug, holding it for a long, long ti Master Jojonah to see the athered in his eyes, and rushed out of the room
Jojonah wiped his own eyes and quietly closed the door behind the man Later that day, he, De&039;Unnero, and a score and five young escorts set out froate of St-Mere-Abelle It was a for the would-be abbot, Jojo-nah noted, twenty-five nized - wearing heavy leather protection and well-arhed at the sight; he knew that this group was more to ensure De&039;Unnero&039;s immediate and absolute dominance at St Precious than to protect the would-be abbot on the road
But what did it ht in hih
He hesitated as the gates of the abbey swung closed behind hio back in and confront Markwart openly, should make his last stand here and now and be done with it, be-cause he felt veryout of time
But he felt weak and sick, as well, and did not turn about to go and find Markwart
He lowered his head, in sharadually tuned in to the speech that sharp-tongued De&039;Unnero was giving to all the group, himself included Theorder, pro-tocol for the road, and he insisted froht up to stand before the man, that from this moment forward he be addressed as Abbot De&039;Unnero
The title assaulted Master Jojonah&039;s every sensibility "You are not an abbot yet," he reminded theround as the man crowded forward
"This comes fro a parchment with a snap of his ar that henceforth, Brother Marcalo De&039;Unnero would be known as Abbot De&039;Un-nero "Have you anything else to argue, Master Jojonah?" the ly
"No"
"Just no?"
Master Jojonah didn&039;t back down, and didn&039;t blink, his gaze boring holes into the accursed document
"Master Jojonah?" De&039;Unnero pro for
Jojonah looked up to see that wicked s hierevery word, but realizing that this was not the fight he wanted
With Jojonah put in his place, De&039;Unnero in, and so they marched, in precise order, to the west
It seeer