“It was the thieving of young lambs of the choicest breed that set the shepherds to thinking there must be more than wolves abroad,” the wolf-leader went on.  “But for your Simon, with his long tongue, they might have driven us away, for Abbot Cuthbert is no coward, nor has he patience with cowards.  But Simon came upon us one night, when we had broken into the sheep-fold and were making off, and he was not too frightened to choose for himself out of what was left.  Then when we came again he gave us the meat we came for, taking certain fine fleeces and lambskins for himself.  We stole as the wild creatures do, for food; we have no use for parchments or carded wool.  We killed as they kill, to fend off our enemies.  The Danish sea-wolves and the armored wild beasts of Strongbow and de Lacy hunted us as if we were wolves indeed.  What could we do but hunt as the wolves hunt, snatch our meat where we could, hide like foxes in the holes of the mountain, make ourselves dreaded that we might live, and not die?  The Normans brought to Dermot MacMurragh two hundred heads of the men of Ossory for his delight.  All my mother’s children were killed by them save only myself.  Well for you that you are no Norman, young clerk with the red head, or not the word of a hundred priests had saved you.”

“And sooner or later the Norman cross-bows would find you, even as they search out hart or heron,” interposed Brother Basil sternly.  “I have warned you, Ruric, that this harrying and plundering must cease.  Turn from your wickedness and bear yourselves hereafter as Christian men, and your souls shall live.  And because ye were sorely tried, with God’s help a way may he opened for you to escape your enemies.

“Padraig, you see here a remnant of the men of Ossory, whom the Normans drove into the inhospitable haunts of the forest.  The quarry of that evil hunting ran wild like the dogs who followed their masters.  As the country grew more settled, these half-bred wolf-hounds found out the sheepfolds, and led their masters to the spoil.”

“Even a Norman gives the road to the werewolf,” said the Ossorian with a harsh laugh.  “The mercy they deny to man or wolf, they granted us when they thought us neither man nor wolf.  Aye, we chased them roaring to the very gates of their castles.  Had our own people known the truth some of them might have betrayed us, being very poor.  Therefore, we made it easiest for them to keep within doors after nightfall, and in this the priests and monks were of great help.  Until you, Father, came to seek us out, believing that God had thought even for a man who had lost his human birthright, none hunted or hindered us.  We were the masters, being without hope and without fear of God or man.”

“Peace, my son,” said Brother Basil gently.  “Padraig, you will go to the Abbot and tell him what you have seen, and ask him of his charity to reveal nothing until I return.  I would send him a letter, had I not lost my scrip with my tablets in my encounter with the dogs.  Things being as they were, it would not have been safe to send any of Ruric’s folk with a message.”