The Letters of Father Canis

by Michele deBes

To Cardinal St Alban

As you requested, I travelled to the town of Bograv to render aid to your old friend Mayor Drago.

By the time I arrived on the outskirts of town, the sun was sinking low behind the jagged hills, washing the crumbling outer walls in a bloody hue. Hunched peasants, tired and beaten by the mean hard earth of the dry plateau shambled as if chased by the creeping shadows. They disappeared into hovels leaning against the wall. I hailed a man to ask directions but the rickety door was slammed shut before I had finished speaking. The last rays of sun lit an ornate arch in the wall, highlighting the intricate stone symbols whose workmanship spoke of a greater past. The craftsmanship was no longer evident in the crude log doors that groaned and creaked as four burly men pushed them slowly closed. I urged my mount forward.

The gates ground shut behind me with a boom and we trotted forward into the narrow cobbled streets. The peasants inside the walls, with their shabby but clean clothes, could afford to be more forthcoming with information and I was soon clopping my way up the winding streets deeper into the town.

I found my destination, a tall narrow building hedged in by other buildings, leaning against each other for support. I dismounted and knocked on the door and a young woman tightly laced in grey quickly answered without delay.

“Good evening. I am Father Canis. Mayor Dregno is expecting me.” I said.

“Yes Father.” She said demurely, lowing her large dark eyes. “The master is at dinner. I’ll show you to your room and you can join him at your leisure.”

As eager as I was to meet the mayor, I was glad of the chance to change out of my travel clothes, heavy with grime from my long journey. She led me into a small courtyard and indicated a lowly stable where a drudge took my reins. Travel packs over my shoulder I followed her through a narrow door in the crumbling brick walls of the house proper. We trudged up narrow stairs that twisted and turned till we reached a narrow hall. She said ushering me into a candle lit room.

“I trust you’ll be comfortable.” She said.

I eyed the faded furnishings and the stained peeling wallpaper with distain but the bed looked clean and plump.

“Yes this will suit me admirably.” I said truthfully. It was luxury after sleeping so many nights on the road.

“What is your name child?” I asked, with a tired but what I hoped was a winning smile. From experience I knew there was better information to be gained from the servants than many a noble.

She lowered her eyes. “Rachel Sir.”

“A lovely name.” I said, thinking that a smile would beautify her sombre features, but she lowered her gaze further, turned and left the room.

Clean water in a cracked bowl and a fresh pat of soap had been laid out and I made good use of them before changing into a fresh cassock.

Rachel was waiting for me and she led me through meandering halls and down dark staircases. I tried to engage her in conversation as best I could while watching my step.

She evaded my questions so I decided to make my intensions clear.

“Rachel” I said kindly, “I am an honest man of god and answer only to him. If there is anything you can share with me about this household, any mysterious goings on I would be most grateful. I am here with the power of god to help the mayor and all in his household.”

She turned and raised her eyes to mine. The poor light didn’t reach past her thick dark lashes and her eyes were as dark as a crypt.

“I fear the mayor has lost his senses.” She said slowly. “The only mysteries in this house are the imaginings of his demented mind. I fear you have made a long journey for nothing.” With that she turned and continued down the stairs.

“Ah I see.” I said. Many a strange goings on had been explained by the frailties of the human mind.

“How long has he been this way?” I asked.

“Many a year.” she answered “We look after him like a child as best we can.”

“How bad is his state at present.?” I asked wanting to be forewarned.

“You may judge for yourself.” She said, as we reached a door. She opened it wide to let me pass, and pointed to a door across the brightly lit hall and withdrew.

I rapped at the door and heard a querulous ‘Come’ from within.

On entering the room I was hit with a blast of heat. A large fire roared in the fireplace casting flickering light over the mass of antiquities and collectables that crowded every mantle piece and side table as if the wealth of the whole town was in this room. A glittering chandelier hung over a table, laid with a banquet fit for two score of diners.

“Father Canis.” came a cry from the end of the table and only then did I notice the rotund brocade swathed figure of an elderly man almost hidden by a huge haunch of venison. “Thank god you’ve arrived.” He rose reaching out two plump jewel encrusted hands greasy with food.

I offered my ring and he kissed it again and again while bobbing up and down.
“Please sit by me and share my supper. I trust my servants looked after you.”
“Yes, thankyou.” I said eyeing the opulence in comparison to my mean lodgings above. Cardinal Alban sends his regards. He spoke very highly of you and entrusted me with the privilege of helping you with your current troubles.”
With that his round shiny face collapsed into frown, his small blue eyes disappearing into his cheeks.

Thank God for his eminence. Thankyou, thankyou for coming.: With that he launched into his sorry tale. I helped myself to fruit and cheese and ate as I listened. His incoherent ramblings did nothing to contradict Rachel’s summation of his state of mind. He was haunted by horrific dreams of death and mayhem, pursued by vague demons in his waking hours. His body was pricked by an agony of sensations, terrible headaches and lancing gut pains. I noted that these did not affect his prodigious appetite as he continued stuffing food between his greasy lips as he talked. Long after my hunger had been satiated he ate and raved. I took the opportunity to interject as he paused to burp and wipe tears from his cheeks with his napkin.

“I am here to help you dear mayor. I’ll prepare a mass tomorrow morning and with gods help we will banish these evil spirits that trouble you so.” I said and he burst into tears afresh, blubbing his thanks. A good show of rituals and chanting works well in these hysterical cases for I had decided that he was completely mad.

“And now I must retire as it has been a long journey.” I added quickly as I saw him draw breath to continue.

“Of course father.” He said. “Excuse me if I stay on here and finish my supper. It’s my only source of pleasure since my daughter died. I feel so empty… so empty…” He stuffed a chicken leg in his mouth and sucked the flesh off in one go.

“Ah… I am sorry for your loss.” I said. The sorrow must have driven him mad.
He pointed to a painting on the wall with the chicken bone. “There she is, my darling daughter. Is she not beautiful?”

“Yes very fetching.” I said politely as I approached the painting and looking up into the pale face and dark eyes. I stepped back in shock as if a cold hand had touched my spine.

“I’ll call a servant to light your way to your room.” He said, half rising from his chair.

“That won’t be necessary.” I said quickly. “You sit and enjoy. You’ve hardly touched the pressed quail.”

He flopped back into his chair, greasy hands reaching.

The cool air of the hall was a relief after the heat of the fire. The door across from me stood ajar and I could see the hem of grey skirt within. She was waiting for me, as I knew she would. I drew a deep breath, felt the outline of my cross beneath my cassock at my chest and entered the dark stairwell.
She was climbing the stairs before me, her grey skirt seeping from side to side. I knew I must follow her wherever she led. The small glimmer of light ahead, the plunging into darkness around corners, her light step on the stairs that creaked noisily under by boots, all served to increase my anxiety and my resolve. This was more like it. My legs were shaking when we finally reached the door to my room. She stood aside, eyes down.

“Your master has indeed taken leave of his senses.” I said, “It is sad to see so great a man come to this.”

She nodded gravely. “Then you’ll be leaving on the morrow. I’ll make sure your horse is ready at first light. She said as she turned to go.

Yes, I thought, it would be all too easy to sleep and quit this house in the morning light.

Thankyou dear I said but there are a few questions I need to ask you.

“Yes sir I will answer as best I can.” She turned back to me, thin white hands clasped at her waist in supplication.

“Why do you linger here to torment your father? A better place awaits you, free from your misery.”

She froze, the only movement was the flicker of candlelight playing over her pale cheeks as I watched her closely. Her eyes rose slowly to meet mine, and it was all I could do to hold the black horror smouldering in their depths.

“I don’t understand your question.” she said, a small trouble frown creasing her smooth brow. “Perhaps tomorrow when you are rested…”

All strength left me and I swayed in doubt before her. She was the picture of a perfect servant, dutiful and serene, but those eyes continued to bore into mine, draining my will with every passing moment.

I raised my hand, my ring glinting in the candlelight. No ghost would dare touch the sacred icon. Her eyes dropped to the ring and widened but she moved forward and bent over my hand. I felt her cold lips pressed on either side of the metal band and I was filled with such a hunger as deep and wrenching as any I have ever felt, a hollowness that opened inside me greater than my bones could ever contain. She moved aside pushing the door to my room open.

“I have prepared a supper in case you wake hungry in the night.” She said.
The little table was piled hight with fruits and meats glistening under a candelabra. It was all I could do to stop myself from rushing in and filling my mouth. I dragged my eyes back to her noting the sharp line of her collarbone beneath the stretched pale skin, and her tiny wrist still held high as she pointed a long bony finger.

“I like company when I eat, please join me.” I said. She shook her head faintly but her eyes didn’t leave the food on the table.

“I insist.” I said, stepping around her to usher her in. She walked to the table and sat stiffly on the chair, her hands in her lap. I set a plate in front of her, pouring wine into a crystal glass and offering it to her.

“I can’t.” she whispered.

“Come now, all this glorious food, what was you favourite? Figs? Fruit pie?

These little cakes? Ah yes, here have one.”

Her eyes were wide as they followed the pastry I danced in front of her.

“Be at peace child, eat of God’s bounty, fill your body with his goodness.” I intoned.

Her lips trembled; tears welled in her eyes and glittered on her sunken cheeks.

“Your father will starve forever unless you eat.” I said.

Her lips sprang apart in a little cry and I popped the cake between her teeth. Her eyes closed as she bit down and look of pleasure mixed with pain softened her features. I raised the wine to her lips and she sipped, then took the glass with a trembling hand and drank it dry. I filled my own glass, feeling in great need of fortification, and we toasted her father again and again as we ate. She grew more animated as the delicacies disappeared and the excellent wine began its joyful work. Her cheeks became rosy as she talked with childish abandon of all the things a young girl would enjoy. I must admit I spent a delightful evening in her innocent company. At last I could hold no more and I left her to finish her repast and I stumbled into bed and oblivion. When I awoke the table was clear as if all had been a dream, though I do admit the mass I conducted over the mayor was hampered by a lingering hangover. The mayor didn’t notice and was soon restored to high spirits declaring that the mass had banished the darkness around him. I questioned him delicately about the death of his daughter and as I suspected she had died of a terrible wasting disease that had literally starved her of life.

As I made my way back across the plateau I felt satisfied that the mayor and his town were on the mend. I’m sure he had taken to heart the stern advice I gave him about distributing the wealth more fairly among his peoples.

I will always remember the splendid evening in that little room dining with a ghost who, I may say, made better company than many a dignitary I have had the misfortune to sup with on my travels.

Your faithful servant
Father Canis.