The Tale of the Antelope

It was a Sunday morning, I knew this as it t'was the day after Saturday, and I was attending to my morning ministrations when a great clattering of hooves was heard and a messenger galloped into the courtyard. Intrigued I didst lean from my window wearing scarce more than my linen bed-shift and in the excitement of the situation was insensitive to the spectacle i was making of myself. The messenger on seeing me frame in the doorway didst doff his cap and shout upwards "The call to Pie, Brother. Brother Paul wouldst that thou and Brother Benjamin make haste to his cottage on the other side of town.". Sure that I had understood the message did hid wheel his horse and with a flurry of hooves was gone into the morning mist. I stood agog with mouth hanging open, as the call to Pie was almost lost in the whirlwind of events that had occurred in the last year.

Sitting down I reflected on the troubles that had befallen the Brotherhood. In the year of 2004 AD, Brother Paul had decided to strike forth into the world, forsaking the Abbey where both Brother Benjamin and I ministered to the crust and meat filling, and travel onwards to other Abbeys spreading the word of our cause. It was a time of hardship and our Abbey had been hit hard by the winter, crops had failed and livestock died in the cruel winter months. The head Abbot had succumbed to the fluctions and fled with all the Abbey's wealth in bound coffers, leaving the future of the Abbey uncertain. It was with inevitability that the town watch were summoned to reclaim the Abbey in order to pay taxes to the King. Brother Benjamin and I were left with nowhere to go and after our lodgings were reclaimed by the crown made our way onto the wild roads, stout staves in hand in search of a new Abbey.

It was with luck that Brother Paul had heard of our plight and wrote a letter of introduction to his Abbot, introducing us. So it was with happy result that all the Brothers were together again. I smiled at the memory whilst donning stout leather jerkin and lacing my boots. Opening the door to my cell, I crossed the hallway and knocked on the cell door opposite, that which belonged to Brother Benjamin. On hearing of the summons, Benjamin was sensible of the haste that must be made, and with that did we stride forth on to the road through the village. Walking down the side of the canal, we were soon at the house of Brother Paul, on the other side of town. Brother Paul threw his door open wide and welcomed us inside. Brother David, Brother of Brother Paul was also within, and as yet unsure as whether to take the cowl, agreed to accompany us on our journey in search of Pie. We all agreed that in this way he would gain a better understanding as to the duties that we Monks must undertake. Brother Paul enquired as to whether we had broken our fast. Nay, cried we, for we had hurried forth as soon as the messenger had departed. So it was that Brother Paul didst fetch wild foul apon which we did feast and this did set us on a good road to finding our quarry.   
  
The divine Lady of the Pie gave us directions that we should proceed in a southerly direction. We made our way through the town and were quickly challenged at the city gate. Gate Guard BeauLegulos on seeing our party quickly waved us onwards, and it was like honoured nobleman that were escorted out of the cities defenses. We progressed further down the track, and the houses did soon start to thin. I remarked to my fellows on Farmer Sturgess's new racing wagon, complete with handle by which a team on draught horses could pull it out of ditches it case of en-mirement. There was also the question of Goodwife Thatcher's Cart Training school, just off Ginko Road. On the outskirts of town we didst find a tavern. Excitedly and with much thirst in our throats we did hurry over and purvey the premises. An air of unusualness surrounded the place, as although the exterior had the look of a well established house of merry repute, the insides were decked with eastern decor. Enquiring at the serving hatch with the lady serving it was discovered that this tavern did only serve meats served in indian style with sauce of spices, laid apon a bed of pale grains. We were all mightily intrigued and vowed to return to sample these exotic dishes at a later date when the solemnity of our task was not apon us.

Leaving the tavern we didst carry on in a southerly direction. After a while the sights and sounds of the bustle of the city were left behind. We traveled further passing into countryside. Many were the odd sights that we witnessed on our way. After a couple of miles journey did we come across a second tavern, deep in the countryside. This public house was decked out in blues and greens, and had the title "The Leopard" painted on the side. We were pleased to see that an outdoor garden was provided, and sampling the local ale we proceed out into the sunshine and rested our weary feet for a few moments. Gazing around, Brother Paul noticed a rather energetic form of spider, and the spider noticing the attention of Brother Paul decided to end its life by diving head first into Paul's tankard. Although gallant attempts of rescue were made the spider was rather bedraggled. Examining the menu, it was found that once again the tavern served no pie. Onwards we did journey. Along the road merry ladies in a scarlet painted wagon didst call out and wave merrily at us. We took this as a good sign.   

On leaving the Leopard we climbed a small hill and found ourselves at the border of the county. A large tollgate was erected at the top of the hill and chatting with the toll-man and paying our tithe we proceeded on uphill. Brother Benjamin remarked that we had never before journied beyond the edge of the county in search of pie, and it was agreed that this was a sign of success. Strolling down the side of a busy track with many galloping horses and carts thundering past, we spied a field containing two strange animals. We'd never before beheld these strange creatures, yet here they were in front of us. Brother Paul told us of sacred tombs which had sketches of these animals made by Brother Ignatious on his travels abroad. It was along this road that we saw the scarlet painted wagon once again. Recognizing it, we did wave heartily and were rewarded with similar such signaling from the same ladies.

We travelled onwards for a long time, and after several hours of journeying down busy tracks we all didst start to doubt the providence that was guiding us onwards. At the top of a steep hill we had some luck for stooping downwards Brother Paul cried "Fear not Brother, for the Lady of Pie has sent us a sign! Behold!" and motioning downward we saw a he didst point to a group of mushrooms. It 'twas true that these were not made of stone, yet they were an encouragement to our weary feet. A couple of hundred metres down the woodland path we came upon a stout post hammered two or three feet into the parched earth and painted on its weathered face was a message of Tar.

"Goode Foode at ye Antelope, Bear ye East 12 furlongs".

"A Miracle", cried Brother Ben, and it was soon that that village was insight, full of many children playing on miniature ponies and planks of wood. The local ale house was just around the bend, and it was with glad hearts and full smiles that we ordered tankards of ale and noticed the words "Pie" chalked on the black board.

 

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