When I met Innocent, he was dressed in the dean's burqa, with red silk covering his shoulders and chest, and a red hat with silver threads on his head, and a loose linen robe under the burqa. The dean leaned back in a high-backed chair and clutched a piece of Salander paper full of words.

He turned his head when he saw me walk into the hall, and his face was full of anger and disgust. But the expression was not directed at me, but at the monks and nuns sitting in front of him. @%

The nuns and friars were divided into two factions, accusing each other of going astray. The grandmothers of the monastery sat quietly and silently, but they seemed to be the middle point of the argument.

At first I thought they were arguing about how to resist the enemy outside the city, but then I realized that they were arguing about the ownership of a worship room.

In the midst of the plague, a large number of widows were born, and among these people, there were many women who were willing to serve God. When these men came to the monastery with their possessions to beg for asylum, they were welcomed by Abbot Innocent. But many of these women were of aristocratic origin, and they knew that the abbot should be respected in the monastery, but they would not let themselves be manipulated by an abbot of unknown origin, they were all women who knew how to protect themselves. There was a grandmother who wrote to a relative of the Count of Ryazan Castle, who had raised the question of Abbot Innocent at a meeting of Ivangorod. The nobles had no ill feelings towards Innocent, but since Innocent was the abbot of Kalinin, they decided to raise the order of nuns attached to the monastery to a convent on an equal footing with the monastery. Although this decision was ultimately overruled. But one of the nuns in the convent was still called the abbot. While a few of them may have the idea of replacing Innocent, most of them just want to have a power to protect themselves in the monastery. Therefore, in the usual activities in the hospital, Innocent is actually in charge of the situation.

People are naturally distrustful of male clergy. And he has a great affection for the weak nuns. Many people donate their property to the nuns. Even Innocent has no right to ask about this amount of money. Three months earlier, the abbot had scraped together enough money to hire the city's stonemasons and asked them to build a stone prayer room that would separate the men and women who came to worship, and that would have a living quarters for the nuns, with two rows of huts. So that the nuns could move away from the side of the friars. Innocent did not bother with this matter, but when the prayer chamber was finished, the friars were very dissatisfied with their quarters after visiting the quarters. They believed that since the monastery's funds were used for the construction of the worship room, they should be shared by all the clergy, not by the nuns. They demanded half of the stone building, and at the same time they felt that men should use the worship room alone, because women didn't have to use the worship room alone. They simply went to the nuns to confess alone. A woman is a man's ribs, and after all, ribs are not equal to the body'. Such a saying is popular among the friars. As the nuns prepared to move, the friars recruited soldiers and cordoned off the worship room. The nuns were asked to move back and agree on how to divide the living quarters before allocating the rooms.

Inside the soldiers and townspeople. There were also many diametrically opposed attitudes, and everyone trusted the dean. But there was no ill will towards the female dean. Moreover, the members of the stonemason's guild said that the money was indeed paid by the female dean. Although it was in the name of the convent, it was actually a donation accumulated by the nuns alone.

"You're talking about this here?" I couldn't help but laugh, "The soldiers outside the city are ready to rush in and tie up your pilgrims as serfs, while you are here to discuss the ownership of the stone house?" ”

"Who are you?" A young nun asked, "If this place is full of injustice, then it should be regulated by the nobility, there is nothing to talk about." ”

The soldiers around them were at a loss, they didn't know why the people who belonged to the leaders of the monastery had such a disagreement.

"Sister Medel," said one of the friars, "it was Abbot Innocent who opened the abbey, and you are just a group of protected people, why can you be so brazen in pointing fingers at us?" If we hadn't taken you in, you would still have been beaten and abused in your husband's house, and you would have been widowed and bullied by your neighbors. ”

"Can you stop arguing?" Lothar said angrily, "We need orders: open the arsenal and arm all the men." Otherwise, the nobles will take away everything we are arguing about. ”

The monk who spoke immediately retorted to Lothar, "Brother Lothar, you must not let us get into trouble in the future because of a momentary situation. The nobles oppressed us, and the Kalinin princes would always come out to arbitrate, even if Kalinin favored them, then Ivangelo would definitely give us justice. If they continue to be obsessed, we will expel them, and the nobles will always be afraid. ”

An old lady said, "I think Sister Maydell is right just now, if we let the present situation go unchecked, even if we drive out the nobles, we will still not get justice." ”

"Why are you so noisy," said an angry nun, "Abbot Innocent must be fair, and we should now be on his side, and he should arm the inhabitants of the settlement." ”

"Madame Fourier, you hate your husband and love Dean Innocent, we all know." The old lady said sarcastically, "This makes your speech full of childishness." If he upholds justice, why does his friars not see it when they harass us? Why don't men see justice when they criticize us? Why don't we see justice when our property is usurped? ”

The man known as Madame Fourier turned red, "I have broken off my husband's engagement, and if you call me that word again, I will never forgive you." ”

"Then I don't forgive you," said the old lady's voice like a leaky bellows, "and you may not even live with us, with your esteemed Dean Innocent." ”

There were also divisions among the nuns. The monks were encouraged by Madame Fourier's courage. They praised her.

"Lord Innocent," said Sister Maydell. "You have to make a decision."

The friars also shouted, "Your Excellency. They want justice, so they tell them what justice is. ”

Innocent faced a dilemma: if he curried favor with the monk, he would offend the nun; If justice is given to the nuns, it will make the monks dissatisfied.

It is estimated that in his heart, the stone house has been demolished hundreds of times.

Dean Innocent stood up, and an old man struck the ground several times with a wooden staff, and the crowd fell silent.

There was silence for a while, and when there was no sound, everyone's eyes fell on Dean Innocent. He spoke.

"Well," said Abbot Innocent, "there are many people here today who support the nuns, and there are many people who support the monks. Is there anyone who can be counted as an unbiased person who is only impartial? If anyone feels they can do it, they can stand up. ”

The soldiers and the monks looked at each other, and several old monks and grandmothers stood up proudly, but they drew boos from the people opposite.

"There is no one. Before he decides, you respect him personally; After he made his decision, you respect his decision. And after this decision is made, you will not say another word? ”

Then. The few people who had faith in themselves stopped talking. It is obvious that these people who consider themselves 'fair' know that they cannot gain the trust of the people on the other side.

The old grandmother found this trap. So he teased Innocent and said, "You want to say that you can be fair." ”

The dean's brow furrowed. "Mama, please don't interrupt the dean at this time."

The old woman snorted.

Dean Innocent said. "Okay. Suppose I nominate myself, and you barely think I can be fair. So what happens after I've made my decision? If I say that this stone house belongs to the nuns, then some people will surely say that I am doing this expedient, and that I am only in exchange for your support in order to repel the enemies outside the city; If I say that this stone house belongs to the monks, then someone will say, 'See, so it is,' and if I say, let us leave aside this time for a moment, and consider the nobles who are already at hand, then neither of you will be very happy. Right? ”

Silent.

"Therefore, I propose that there be a man who can represent the monastery, but is not subordinate to either side."

"Who is wiser than the angels? Who is more just than the one she chooses? Who does not belong to the monastery, but is closely related to it, sharing the glory and disgrace? Innocent asked, "I think only the Tywi Knight can handle such a responsibility." ”

Innocent's proposal caused another stir among everyone, but in the end no one stood up to refute it, only the dissatisfied muttering 'an outsider'.

"'Outsiders'?" Innocent keenly captured the word, "I heard the word 'outsider'. Before I got here, I was an outsider. Before the monks came from elsewhere to join us, they were outsiders. How many of you sat here three years ago? How many were sitting here five years ago? The monastery, which connects the earth and the heavens, is there a difference between the people of God? ”

"I agree with Dean Innocent's suggestion. ”

The nuns either remained silent or echoed the abbot.

The knight of Tavi was embarrassed, and at first, he had been invited to the meeting, only to ask for an end to the dispute, so that the nuns and monks could join him in encouraging the inhabitants to participate in the defense. At this time, let him decide the dispute between the nun and the monk, which made him a little puzzled, and he was pale for a moment, not knowing what to do.

'Tywi didn't understand what Innocent meant'. I thought to myself. Innocent did not expect a fair verdict from Tyvi with great skill, but from him to put an end to this ridiculous dispute as soon as possible, so that all the people could unite and begin to mobilize the panicked inhabitants. In the most critical moments, not a single monk or nun could be seen in the settlement, and the fear and helplessness would make the inhabitants despair. ’

'Tavi Knight, you're a knight, think about what Innocent wants you to do!' I shouted anxiously.

Innocent waited for a long time, but the Tavi Knight was still speechless.

The dean glanced at the female dean. The dean blinked.

After a moment of silence, the deans suddenly asked Tavi Knight. "Lord Tavi Knight. If the soldiers of the monastery were to call on the inhabitants to join the guard, how many would be involved? ”

The Tavi Knight was prepared for this question. "There will probably be more than two hundred men in attendance. These people have been living here for a long time, and they are willing to stand up and defend this place first. ”

"So," continued the abbot, "what if the nuns and the monks came together to help the inhabitants to persuade and mobilize?" ”

"The number of people who will attend will be doubled," said the knight Tavi, "and many refugees will join in, grateful to the nuns and friars for taking care of them, and who will turn to them at this time." They will agree to participate in the defense. ”

People were buzzing and wondering why the dean was asking such a question. But I found that this woman was very clever, and she was reminding the Tywi knights that only if the nuns and monks united could they mobilize enough soldiers to defend the settlement.

Then, the dean asked a question I didn't expect, "Angel sword, if it's you, use the sword in your hand." To inspire all the people, to encourage all the people who have ever sinned, to inspire every person in the settlement who can stand up and fight. In the name of the sword in the stone, in the name of the sword of the angels. Go and call on everyone to join the Oak Knights and let them rise up to defend the settlement, how many do you estimate will join you? ”

Knight Tavi said suspiciously. "Abbot, the miracle of the sword in the stone has not been approved by any of the bishops. There was even a lot of talk within the monastery about such miracles, and there was speculation that it was an evil gift from the devil. If it is not officially recognized. Perhaps the sword in the stone will make the inhabitants feel magical, and it will also make them religious for a while, but they must be willing to fight for this sword, even to the death. I don't think it's possible. ”

The abbot asked suggestively, "Who will the inhabitants of the monastery believe?" ”

"Nuns and monks."

"If we stand together and declare to the inhabitants that this is a miracle beyond doubt, this is the miracle of the angels, a sword in stone made of divine power, and you, the angelic knight. So how many people will you mobilize? ”

Knight Tevi thought for a moment and said what he said: "Well, all men and women: from beggars to merchants, from veterans to thieves, from old men to children, from milkmen to prostitutes, anyone with a shred of strength and a shred of courage will stand up. Anyone who yearns for heaven, as long as he has a trace of repentance in his heart, as long as he wants to atone for his sins, then he will stand up. All the inhabitants would compete to join the Order, and almost every refugee, would tear down their shacks and join our guards with sharpened sticks or even stones. If that were to happen, the abbotess, everyone in the monastery, whoever it was, would become fanatical soldiers.''"

As he spoke, Knight Tevi was stunned for a moment, and looked at the face of the abbot in a trance, the old knight was not a stupid person, and the successive hints made him finally understand the intention of the abbot: the most important thing is to unite the nuns and monks, since the obstacle to achieving this is only a small dispute, then end it as soon as possible! With the support of the two deans, no matter what decision the Tywi Knight makes, some people will temporarily suppress their emotions even if they are dissatisfied. And only then will all the nuns and friars stand together, announce to the inhabitants that this is a real miracle, and finally, let all the people be armed to surround the home.

"I see." "I know how to settle this dispute," said the knight in a sleepwalking voice, "and it will not be given to the monks," the monks were in an uproar, and the knight continued, "and none of the nuns will stay in it." "It will be converted into a hospital temporarily, it will be used to house homeless refugees, it will be used to treat poor people suffering from the plague, and in the battle that will soon follow, any wounded inhabitants will be sent here to be treated by the nuns and cared for by the monks." At the end of the battle, all the inhabitants who benefited from it will, under my supervision, build the same stone huts to thank the monastery for taking care of them. ”

The monks and nuns were speechless for a moment.

After a few breaths from the crowd.

The old woman stood up, "Knight Tavi is right. Sister Medell immediately supported Mama, then the Lothar brothers, then the most stubborn friar, and finally, all the nuns and friars expressed their consent. A few people frowned, feeling that no one would benefit from this method, but at this time, due to the discussion of everyone, they had to stand up and agree.

After everyone had shown their approval, Dean Innocent walked up to the Tavi Knight, and behind him, stood the female dean who had amazed me.

"Tavi Knight," Dean Innocent asked him, "what do you need us to do now?" ”

"I need all of you, including every nun and monk, to accompany me outside." Knight Tevi drew his sword, "Tell every resident that this is a miracle beyond doubt. ”

"I also ask you to tell them," said the knight in a powerful voice, "in the name of this sword, call them to arms!" Drive all the invaders back! Defend your homeland! ”