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could visualize the expression on his face without even having to see it.
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r r
"Imre's butchers were thorough, especially since Cheltham was the first of our houses on
their list. I see no hope of ever restoring Cheltham to its former prominence, had we twice
our numbers and five times our present financial resources, which we do not."
There was silence as Camber raised his head to face them all again. Every eye was on him
now, waiting for him to tell them that it was not true, for him to make things right. That he
could not do though he could give them hope. But once he had done that, he must turn
discussion to his real reason for calling this meeting, and hope that he could read them all
correctly.
"You have heard the reports by our esteemed brethren, my friends," he said, in a voice
which penetrated to every corner of the chamber. "I wished you to know the whole of it,
that you may harbor no illusions as to where we stand.
"On the other hand," he continued more confidently, "we are not totally bereft of
resources. We still command more than one hundred knights some of the finest in
Christendom." He glanced at Jebediah, who lowered his own gaze in bitter
acknowledgment. "We have nearly three hundred professed brothers and priests, albeit
most are presently scattered to places of safety and refuge across this wide land.
"Also, I have in my possession certain new grants of land, made to us by King Cinhil
before ever we gathered for battle a few weeks ago." He held up a hand for silence as
reaction threatened to interrupt his speech.
"We have two superb choices for the site of our new Commanderie: Cuilteine and
Argoed, both of which will be handed over to the Order by royal charter upon the
succession of your new vicar general. Which brings us to the most important reason for
this meeting."
chapter thirteen
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding
your order.
 Colossians 2:5
The sun had set, and the cathedral bells were ringing Compline, when Camber finally
adjourned the Grand Chapter. All afternoon he had listened to their discussion, with
various candidates and their adherents advancing and refuting numerous opinions and
concerns. By the time Camber thanked them for their attendance and dismissed them, he
had a fair comprehension of the consensus of the Order, and a clear picture of the task
facing him in the next few days. Already, in his own mind, he had narrowed the field of
possible successors to three. He would rely upon private interviews in making his final
selection. A few of them lingered when most of the rest had gone, making it clear that they
would have liked to stay and talk further, but Camber did not encourage them, and they
soon departed. Not even Jebediah tried to force further communication after the long day;
besides, he had duties in the hospice where some of his men lay a-mending, and that was
foremost in his mind just then. Joram had been among the very first to leave to join
Evaine and Rhys and bolster himself for the trip to Caerrorie tomorrow, Camber
suspected.
And so, when he had sent away even his own attendants, Camber was able to slip into the
solitude of the cloister garth for some much-needed quiet. Leaning his back against the
rough bark of one of the trees, so that he blended with the lines of the sparse grove there,
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r r
he gazed sightlessly at the night sky and let the afternoon sift into place. Only when the
last of the Michaeline voices had faded from hearing did he stand away from the
concealing tree and reenter the cloister walk. He headed purposefully toward a postern
door in the south transept, for his quarters lay on the other side of the cathedral.
The murmur of chanting voices met him softly as he slipped inside. He melted back
against a column to survey. Aside from the monks in the choir and a few people kneeling
in the nave, the cathedral was deserted. Far across the transept, he could see brighter [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]