They hurried through the cobbled streets and followed Katrina to the eastern quarter of Remus—Corvus leading the sheep quite easily even in the rain. On the way Katrina told them the abbey was a remodeled Roman estate which had been donated by a rich Roman convert much to the chagrin of his own family. She said it consisted of a small temple, a dormitory, a garden, atrium, and a bath house. There was also a pen for sheep and other livestock which Katrina help tend to as well.
"If you are only staying a day or two you won't be expected to work but please give as much as you can. I'll be tending to some sheep that need shearing but later I can take you both to see the gremlin quarter," Katrina said.
"That will be great, thanks so much Katrina," Erkin said.
"Yeah, thanks," Obran said.
Is there a glint in Erkin's eyes? Obran hoped his brother wasn't developing some hopeless crush as well. At the abbey after she penned her sheep, Katrina led them to the atrium where a handful of humans sat under cover as the rain fell.
"There's usually more people but with the celebrations there are a lot of free games, and worse, lots of free wine and bread so you can guess where they all are?" Katrina said.
"Yeah, the parties in Roma were getting out of hand too," Obran said.
He remembered the things he'd seen during the King's ball before passing out, not sure what was a dream and what was real. But even here in Remus, in the rain, the streets had been crowded with plenty of rowdy revelers.
"With elections this month the politicians want everyone drunk, fed, and entertained," Katrina said. "So if you two do overindulge, it would be better if you sleep in the park."
"We'll take it easy," Obran said.
"Uhu, we hardly ever drink back home," muttered Erkin.
"Okay, I'll see you two later," Katrina said.
"Thank you very much Katrina," Obran said.
"Yes, thank you," said Erkin. "Hope to see you soon."
"It's almost lunch time so you two can get food in the kitchen," Katrina said.
"I'm sure it will be great," Erkin said.
"One last thing, if either of you are interested in our beliefs and the way just ask me or any of the monks. They will be more than happy to share. You can also visit the temple; it is open to everyone."
"Oh sure, okay,," Obran said; whatever she said, he knew most Roman priests disliked gremlins in their temples.
"Thanks again," Erkin said.
But really Obran wasn't interested in any human superstition; he'd seen so many cults appear in the north as Roman and eastern culture and influence spread throughout Italia, even before the war, yet it was something that held little interest to most gremlins. So after Katrina left they went to the kitchen where a monk was handing out bowls of soup along with bread and water. At least he guessed they were monks. They didn't look like the priests he'd seen in Roma who all wore elaborate togas with fancy headdresses and shiny jewelry. These monks wore simple brown tunics, no jewelry, and wore their hair in a short cropped style. A monk handed them two bowls of soup which were quite tasty.
"So how long do you want to stay here?" Erkin said.
"What? You don't like that soup?" Obran said.
"It's fine but I mean aren't we going to check on the others," Erkin said.
"I will go check on the others," Obran said. "I want you to wait here."
"But I want to know that they are okay too," Erkin said.
"Erkin, I'm just going to see that they weren't followed and see if the centurions finally showed up. Better I go alone," Obran said. "I'll come back when I see they are fine, then we can head to the gremlin quarter with Katrina."
"Alright," Erkin said, sulking a bit.
Obran figured this abbey would be a good place for Erkin to lay low while he checked on the others, and if the centurions had not returned he decided to sleep in the streets or on a roof as close to the inn as possible in order to keep watch.
After they finished lunch Obran and Erkin walked around the abbey. The remodeled villa was large and well maintained and by the look of the other nearby villas they were in an affluent neighborhood; whoever had donated this villa to the martyr cult must have been rich. They said hello to the monks but there were only about a half dozen and most looked busy and just nodded: some cleaned the kitchen, or tended the garden, or were transcribing letters and books. Obran liked the kitchen; it was well furnished with two large clay ovens and plenty of large iron pots and pans. Their garden was also full of herbs and vegetables and well maintained. Besides the garden was a large bath house which had one side for men and another for women, same as the dorm. Finally, they went to see the temple. It was a long room with several rows of wooden benches; the walls were all covered with mosaics: scenes of whales, boats, and lions, but mostly of men and women he didn't recognize. He saw a scene of a man being flayed alive, a punishment in the east, and another where the same man was surrounded by a glowing aura. Behind an altar, in the front of the temple was a large wooden 'X' about the size of man. Obran wondered if it was the letter 'X' or the archaic number ten? A man knelt in front of the altar praying but Obran only saw a chalice of wine along with some bread—no milk, or cakes, not even flowers or incense. Some offerings those are, he thought. He'd seen Roman sacrifice sheep, oxen, and goats but here he didn't smell any blood and none remained on the ground. They keep the temple very clean, he thought and was glad he didn't catch the scent of blood.
"Welcome my friends," the man said. He turned and stood up. He was a slim, middle aged man, with sparse white hair and a happy demeanor.
"Thank you. We were told by Katrina the shepherd that we could find shelter here," Obran said.
"Yes, you are welcome. If you have any questions or need help don't be afraid to ask," the man said. "My name is Clement."
"Thank you," Obran said.
"May I ask if you are followers of the way or the word as I prefer to call it?" the man said.
"We have never belonged to any human cult, sorry. I hope that is not a problem," Obran said.
"Of course not, you are always welcome; we have our communal meeting on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings, but we have readings most evenings if you want to join us."
"Thanks again, but we have a previous engagement this evening," Obran said.
"Yes but thank you very much for your hospitality," Erkin added.
They said farewell and went back to Atrium; best to rest and wait for the to let up a little, Obran figured.
"You know my previous owners had a daughter who was a follower of the way or the word or whatever they call it; she tried hard to keep it secret from our family; before the war that sect was still persecuted sometimes," Erkin said.
"They weren't your family, Erkin," Obran said.
Obran filled his water skin in the well located in the atrium. The other people there were also all sleeping after eating their fill. Up close he noticed some looked sickly, even disfigured, and Obran was glad gremlins were hardly ever infected by human diseases and plagues.
"Yeah, of course bro. I know they weren't my real family, you are," Erkin said. "Bro we could go out in the rain if you want to check on the others now. In the old days my masters would send me out on errands in weather much worse than this," Erkin said.
"Slavers, call them that, not masters, okay. And I'll go alone," Obran said.
"Hmm..." Erkin said.
"I do hope the others stay put. Humans are fragile and the last thing we need is for Tori to get sick in this rain."
"Yeah, I hope they are all okay," Erkin said.
"Erkin, did you ever attend meetings with these followers?" Obran said.
"I usually accompanied my mistress...my slaver...to her meetings. But I waited outside the home they met in. She invited me inside, said I was welcome like everyone else, but I asked to wait outside. I didn't want to get in trouble with my mast...her father, but I don't know, I was also kind of scared. I thought they might sacrifice me or drink my blood since that was rumor about them then and I know some humans think gremlin blood is magical or medicinal," Erkin said. "Thankfully no one in the fami...the household ever believed that."
"You never told me anything about that?"
"I didn't think you'd want to hear about human cults and superstitions," Erkin said.
"Maybe, I might," Obran said.
He thought maybe he should learn all he could about humans if he truly wanted to understand Tori or his own brother for that matter.
"Tell me more..." Obran said.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZDaqVrGpi
