Cry for the Wolf, Chapter 9. by Richard Walker

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He didn't know the loud young man, but didn't mind not recognizing people nowadays. Any more he recognized fewer and fewer, and with his rank and the prestige of his abbey it was incumbent on others to know him rather than the other way around. He was already generally well-acquainted with all those in positions above him with whom he needed to be acquainted.
"Thank you, your Grace!"
Sagacious looked the young man over, grinning as he ",!as like some foolish swain, eyes bright, cheeks flushed, robes disheveled, hair a wreath of unkempt curls round his smooth tonsured pate, and frowned. His attitude was too like someone else he was going to have to ride close herd on. It was damned inconvenient but not altogether avoidable in Fossen, he was damned if he was going to tolerate it from the clergymen in the household around him!
"En primus, young man, it liketh me not, much less pleaseth me. Not one bit. A man my age needeth his rest, and I am accustomed to a short repose before I sup of an eve. En secundus, thou art a disgrace to behold and completely lacking in the composure and comportment that best suits men of holy orders. An thou dost so aspire, I suggest that thou findest some remedy thereof. What could have been in thy head but the bare breezes that blow to shout so the length of the hall at a man of mine age and rank? En tertius, who art thou to 'you' and 'your' me in such a manner? I know thee not and I'll not be so familiarly addressed by thee, especially not in light of thine tender years!" The novice stood before him as if spiked to the floor, mouth agape, the blood rising swiftly from the collar of his mantle across his face until it colored even his shaven pate. "Now close thy maw or thou wilt have a bug in't ere long. Well?! Now that thou hast mine attention, novice, what wilt thou of it? Hast thou new~?" The young man dropped his eyes hurriedly and tugged his robes into some semblance of order, pulling his cowl up and tucking his hands into the sleeves in proper humble attitude.
"I do beg thine humble pardon, holy Abbot for mine sore and inexcusable lack of manners. I may only say that we are not used to such exalted company as thine own in this poor house of Red Friars ... "
"Rubbish," Abbot Sagacious muttered irritably.
" ... and promise thee that I shall without fail present myself for punishment to the Master of Novices . before the waterhorn sounds." Sagacious accepted the apology with a single nod of approval. He waited for the young man to continue. "As to the matter that prompted me to such loud and ill-considered rudeness, the chaplain of the household of the Count de Monet arrived some time before and rests in the Friar General's solar now awaiting thy return."
"Fairly spoke. Very well. See that it doesn't happen again. While a man should take joy in living in the Light in this splendid place so provided, to disregard the civilities of polite society and the niceties of courtesy and importance of rank is to disregard the Golden Chain of Being, of the Chain of Light itself in its most basic expression in this poor mortal world.