War of the Holies

by Artemio Saguinsin

  Commotion occurred as the people scampered anywhere when the horses were disturbed. Kadziel was dragged by his security aid into a safer place and made him at the back of his horse. His security forces scattered and fought back among the other snipers while Siegfried quickly evaded the incident and sneaked away with his horse. He abandoned all his men who were unfortunately killed in the hostility.

  “ You have to be more careful this time. Bajal will not stop until we are toppled.” Moraiza said.

  “ When your father left for Rome at that time he mentioned to me that an Edict had been unanimously written by him and your uncle which they would ratify when he arrived there.

  He disclosed to me what was contained in that Edict that should be enforced as soon as it had ratified. What happened to that Edict and where could that be?” Kadziel mentioned.

  “ Yes, I know that it was also mentioned to me by my Father before the night my uncle went to his room. I believe that it was ratified. I know that it would be the key to bring him before tribunal for retrial.” Moraiza recalled.

  “ Exactly, that’s the last resort we could have without resorting to a bloody war with Rome.” Kadziel said.

  “ The only problem now is how we could get that ratified Edict there. It would mean us death when we get there or we would not make it there at all.”

  “ Who will search it for us and where could that be searched?” Kadziel hissed.

  “ The only person who could have access there is a bishop or a cardinal. We have no bishop nor cardinal here that we can ask to do that.”

  “ Where do you think is Cardinal Bogart now?” Moraiza asked.

  “ I have no idea where he is relocated. Bajal is wise. He knew that Cardinal Bogart could do things for us but then he recalled him and threw somewhere.”

  “ We have to find out where Cardinal Bogart is now.” he sighed.

  “ Why don’t we try checking him in Germany?” she suggested.

  “ No. it will take time. We will get a local priest here and asked him to go to Rome and find out where Cardinal Bogart is.” Kadziel proposed.

  “ That could be a better idea” Moraiza replied.

  They sought a credible priest keenly to avoid being cheated by any aspiring traitors. They saw to it that the priest that they would employ was not a political ally of the Pope.

  However, they found a hard time seeking one because of the prevailing political alliance of Bajal and the influence of his colleagues in the papacy.They almost scoured all the churches, convents and monasteries in towns, cities and even the remote provinces of the country and yet they were not able to find one.

  Along the road, Kadziel’s seekers happened to see a man in his traditional habit with hood covering his head on a donkey.

  The man looked haggard in his gray moustache and sunken-dried face. His deep blue-eyes tended to peep through his long-grown eye lashes to ease the excruciating heat of the blowing wind. The seekers stop and approached him.

  “ Are you okay?” asked one seeker.

  He looked and grinned, “ Yes, I am”

  “ Where are you heading?”the seeker asked gently.

  “ Alsace. With my friends”

  They noticed what looked like an old leather bag at the back of the donkey.

  “ Are you a priest?” the seeker asked.

  “ Yes. I went all the way from a mission in a nearby town”

  They trod along the road with him as they had found confidence in him.

  “ You are the king’s honor guards? He asked.

  “ We are the king’s seekers”

  “ Seeking for what?”

  “ For a trusted and loyal priest-emissary of the king”

  “ What for?”

  “ For a very important mission in Rome”

  “ What is your name, priest?”

  “ I am Flavius Perazzeli, from Italy and an ordained priest.”

  They reached a quiet place overlooking a verdant panorama and long river flowing into towns. They tended their beasts in the grassy corner of the house. His humble house had grown creeping vines of thick leaves and flowers of unknown variety. Flaunted tables and chairs were made from an old oak tree and fixtures were noticeably old and obscured window glasses almost gave its corners from the old frame that were fastened to its primary hold.

  He took three old bronze goblets from a cabinet. He got a labeled bottle of an old whisky, apparently from France and poured some into it.

  “ My colleagues are not yet in. They will come tonight from a mission” he said.

  “ Have you been on a mission from other lands?”

  “ I was assigned in Austria-Hungary and was recalled by Pope Urbanus and relocated here.” He explained.

  “ Have you been in Rome after your relocation?”

  “ Yes, a couple of months now”

  “ I never liked Pope Urbanus’s treatment to us.

  He is more of a politician- militarist than a Pope. Likewise, his credibility is under question because of some suspicious decisions and anomalous transactions. He is attempting to apply the rule of oligarchy as he has plenty of oligarchs.”

  “ How about your colleagues here? Are they with you?”

  “ Yes. We were all against him. They came from other lands and relocations”

  “ May we invite you to the king’s palace?”

  “ But why?”

  “ The kingdom has unfinished business since Cardinal Bogart was recalled. The kingdom is looking for someone who is not an ally of the Pope to solve critical issue.”

  “ What can I do for him?”

  “ Just come and you may be of great help to the king and queen.”

  “ Inasmuch as I would not accept it I will compel myself to do my duty and obligations for the good of the nation. I am going with you.” Flavius agreed.

  Immediately, before the sunset Flavius went with the seekers and headed to Strasbourg. He just left a note to his colleagues.

  After a few days they met Kadziel and Lady Moraiza at the palace.

  “ The absence of any spiritual adviser in the palace is due to my distrust and doubt with Pope Urbanus. We had been accusing him of treachery for the massacre of his men in Traitor Road by the Vikings and now the sudden death of our father, King Louis I. We also thought that he was the one who framed Pope Stephanus for his death that eventually led to his execution.” Kadziel explained.

  “ Your majesty, I heard about that issue together with my colleagues who were opposed to his doctrines and administration. When he sensed that we’re antagonistic of his decrees he decided to relocate us to a remote kingdom.” Flavius insinuated.

  “ In other words, Basilica is under the reign of a dark Pope. We all believe that he has something to do with what happened in the Basilica. “ Moraiza said.

  “ Our appeal to re-open the case against him was denied because of his great and tough influence in the tribunal, conclave and Senate. Accordingly, our testimony is unmeritorious and without sufficient evidence.

  It will not stand in the tribunal. However, if we will be able to hold the manuscript of Edict signed by the King and the Pope we will be able to condemn him before the court of justice, likewise the Senate and conclave cannot deny it.”

  “ We would like you to seek that manuscript of the Edict inside the rooms or library of Cardinals and take it back here. That is the ultimate weapon we could present to bring him back to prosecution.” Kadziel said.

  “ We have never heard of Cardinal Bogart who could possibly do it for us.

  And you being our ally will make it possible to bring out the truth and condemn the perpetrator.” Moraiza added.

  With determination and courage Flavius took his promise before the king and queen. “ I will do it my king and queen. In service to God and the nation who loves truth and freedom, I do solemnly swear that I will do my best to fulfill this job”

  Flavius walked away for a long journey from the weeds and grassy roads of the woods of France to the rough a
nd paved brick roads of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome .

  “ Any business coming into this house?” asked the sentry guard.

  “ I am an Ordained Priest from Alsace, France. I have come to seek advice from a Bishop or Cardinal “ Flavius insinuated.

  He pulled from his leather bag his proofs.

  “ Here are my identity documents”

  He was led to the house of the priests and was entertained by the head priest and accommodated. He rested for a couple of days as he observed the situation and the routine movements of everybody. He made it quick to establish camaraderie when some known colleagues joined him and started pleasantries.

  “ Where are you relocated?” asked his colleague.

  “ I was sent to Alsace from Austria-Hungary” he replied.

  “ Why are you here for?”

  “ To seek some advice and learn something from the doctrines.”

  “ Doctrinal books and Codals are in the Library of Cardinals ” he said.

  “ Come on, I will introduce you to Cardinal Vincent.”

  They walked to the hall way then went up the stairs passing through a number of closed quiet rooms then a few steps away they turned right to two gigantic pillars dividing the main building to an annex building and finally stepped into the library where topsy-turvy piles of books were compiled. There were long tables and bench for reading and shelves of books and manuals. A number of priest and bishops were there. Flavius did not know which was bishops and Cardinals for they all in white garments.

  They approached a bearded man in white . “ This is Flavius from Alsace. He wants to meet you. Flavius Cardinal Lavoisier”

  His colleague left them.

  “ Good day, Cardinal.” He greeted.

  “ What can I do for you?”

  “ I have come to see you and help me find a

  manual .”

  “ What kind of manual?”

  “ A Review on the doctrines of the church” he replied.

  “ What is that manual? I have never seen that kind of manual ever since. But let me check it in the shelves.”

  “ If your wish I will help you find it in other shelves.” He asked.

  “ Go ahead. To make our search fast”

  Flavius made sure that his eyes were clear to read the title of the manuscript. He made it one at a time. He even stepped up the ladder to check if the manuscript happened to be placed on top shelves.

  “ Nothing. It’s not here.” He sighed.

  After a few minutes. The Cardinal asked him.” Have you found it?”

  “Not yet. It may not be here. It could be somewhere.”

  The Cardinal paused for a while and looked tired.

  “ I cannot find it also. Are you sure there is that kind of manual?”

  “ I am very sure Cardinal. I read it here a couple of years ago.”

  “ Why is it not anywhere here?”

  They did not find it. His night was bothered by his anxiety of losing a chance to find it or his days expired to leave without anything with him.

  “ When the murder happened the two brothers were inside the king’s room. There is the possibility that the manuscript was in the king’s room during the night it happened. The fact that they conferred and drunk on that occasion possibly for that reason.”

  “ During the investigation it was mentioned that there were books and manuals on the table of the king. So it is possible that one of those manuals is the manuscript.” He sighed.

  The following day he trod the hall way towards the room of the murdered king. He read the signage on the door.

  “ Oh, there it is, “ room 11 King Louise of France” it is padlocked. How could I get inside? The problem now is the key.”

  While the hall way and rooms were busy. Flavius quickly traced the room keeper’s place. He would even asked hesitantly others about its location.

  But he had to stop asking for he might be questioned and cast doubts about him. He had to keep his sharp eyes on the sign ages and indicators of each door and locator within the premises of the building. He would approach one who looked like a utility man or building helper and maintenance crew. He found it difficult to locate since the building complex constituted plenty of divisions of rooms and quarters. He was like an intruder hiding and seeking from concerned authorities. He would like at the suits of every personnel of the building just to identify randomly the person holding the keys. It looked like the man in uniform was the one handling the keys of the building.

  “ Exactly he is the man of keys. He’s got plenty of keys.”

  He hid and followed the man until he found his quarters where plenty of numbered keys were flaunted just beside the doors with an open counter.

  He kept an eye on a uniformed man. He checked his routine and the presence of anybody inside his counter. When he found a chance he came nearer and quickly traced the number on the cluster of keys. He finally got it and left the place right away.

  “ Now, I have to find a good time to open the door.”

  At night the roving guard would walk back and forth along the hall way to conduct routine check. The light of the moon illuminated all corners of the premises that any movement of the night birds would be flaunted from its place.

  Flavius was hesitant to do it and from the column of every corner he would be vigilant of anyone who would come and discover his espionage activity. In his black suits his head was covered with a hood.

  When he was sure that there was no obstacle he courageously approached the door. He thought that he would quickly make it as the padlock was big enough to insert the key. And swiftly but precisely, he got it opened. He slowly returned the padlock as it was and sneaked into the dark room. He lighted on the lamp and started his profound but somehow nervous search of the manuscript.

  “ It could be this one” he put it nearer to the lamp and read the title on the cover of the manuscript. “ This is it” he sighed.

  He quickly put inside the leather bag the said manuscript and kept a peeping eye between the slit portion of the door. Ascertaining no one was around he then padlocked again the door and unnoticeably but fast he made it to the stairs toward his room. But unknown to him on the opposite building in the balcony two-storey higher from where he was, sharp eyes of Bajal, who happened to be awoke that night rituals were able to glimpse at his shadow when he descended from the stairs.

  The following morning Bajal called on the protocol and the roving security.

  “ I want you to check on what happened last night at room 11 of king Louise.”

  “ What was there ? asked the protocol.

  “ An intruder. I saw him walked down the stairs and I believed he had gone to room 11.” He insinuated.

  “Chase the intruder in all corners of the premises. He could not go any further” Bajal commanded the security.

  “ What could be there that I do not know? Was there something important left by King Louise and Stephanus?” he asked himself.

  That morning routine activity went on. Flavius walked away from the throng of priests and bishops doing their routine activity and headed to the gates to queue for the check out.

  After clearing at the sentry, he went to take his horse from the stable. However, it was too late when the security suspected on Flavius to be the night intruder. The sentry security was alerted. “ Chase him ! Chase him!” shouted the security.

  As fast as he could he fled the city towards the wilderness and vanished in the woods along the way to the border. Meantime, Bajal was infuriated when he discovered that some documents in the room were missing. He tried to find out what were those documents for.

  “ Precisely, a manuscript and document were missing in the room. What is that document to do with that intruder?” Bajal asked a Cardinal of the library.

  “ Your holiness, I will try to find out by consulting the conclave and tribunal that investigated the room the night king Louise I was murdered” said the Cardinal. After conferring with the investigating committee
they discovered that some of the documents listed included a manuscript containing a decree between King Louis and the Pope whose contents were not browsed by them.

  “ A decree ratified by them? What could that be?” Bajal asked.

  “ Your highness, nobody knows the contents of the decree. They were not even browsed during the investigation” replied the protocol.

  Bajal began to be anxious and restless. He believed that it had something to do with the laws of the nations. He became so curious and even wanted to get into France to take it back.

  “ I know it’s Kadziel and Moraiza who planned it. Something is vital that may affect my credibility. I might be in danger now” he sighed.

  Bajal congregated the security and conclave and pronounced the perpetration of the crime of robbery. He announced the evil plans of Kadziel and Moraiza for robbing the documents.

  “ Do you think it may gravely affect the Papacy and Rome as a whole? asked the Chief of the Senate Tribunal.

  “ Definitely. The act was tantamount to espionage and robbery. We have to take that document back to us. It may be vital to the Papacy and the government. It is our property and we have the right to take it back by force whoever the intruders are.”

  “ What made you suspected the kingdom of France perpetrated the crime?

  asked the conclave head.

  “ The records show that Flavius, an ordained priest relocated in Alsace, France was hired to rob that manuscript. He went here in disguise that he was searching for a manual of the church doctrine when in fact he was here to search for that manuscript” he explained.

  “ Are you at war with King Louise and the Queen?” he continued.

  “ We are not that intimate because of political reasons” he replied.

  “ Is Flavius your ally?”

  “ No. “

  “ We understand you relocated him from Austria to Alsace.”

  “ Yes, that’s my discretion. It has something to do with administration affairs.” He answered.