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“’Tis strange, and fearsome, to be sure,” Brother Seamas said, crossing himself as he rose to his feet, the ravaged ram’s corpse mute testimony to his words. The chief shepherd of the monastery cared for his sheep diligently. Any death under his watch was disturbing to him. This death in particular, even more so.
Thomas was helping Seamas for a few days at Aidan’s request, while the shepherd’s usual assistant recovered from a badly sprained ankle. Thomas was only too happy to get away from the monastery school, especially since Brother Frithlac was due to spend a few days teaching there. After their encounter on the beach two days past, Thomas had been trying to avoid the unpleasant monk.
Seamas gratefully accepted his help. The care of the sheep was one of the most important jobs in
