a brief introduction to the heretic community

Rainaut walks over and takes the friar’s arm.  Brother Peire walks with him down the road and away from Montagui and the Gray Friars because what other choice does he have?  His whole life has just been taken away from him, and for better or ill, Rainaut is the only friend he has.

The sun is low in the sky although it's not yet dusk, and back in the friary the friars are no doubt finishing up their work from the afternoon and preparing for dinner. Brother Peire guesses they might be talking about him, but he can't guess what they might be saying. He hopes at least some of them don't believe that he could genuinely entertain heretical thoughts, that the abbot was misguided in suggesting he would seriously consider apostasy. Brother Gueri knows him, does he not? They've been visiting Sers Aelinor and praying with her for weeks now, and how could Brother Peire do that if he was going to deny everything that the friars had taught him? How could he visit with an old lady and lead the afternoon service for her, if he didn't believe in it?

( It will be good to sleep in a bed again, Rainaut says as they walk. )

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brother peire gets some sleep and attends another service

They walk around the building and into a large cloister with a well in the center. There are people walking around the covered colonnade. Brother Peire tries to ignore them, but he can hear their murmuring as he and Rainaut pass.

"They're very curious about you," Rainaut explains under his breath.  "We haven't had a friar come to us voluntarily, and I think everyone knows you don't really want to be here."

It would be rude and ungrateful for Brother Peire to agree - he's about to accept fairly personal hospitality from Rainaut, more so than if he was about to be shown a guest room, and these people have fed him and are no doubt expecting to find him something to do tomorrow, and it isn't really their fault that he's not here by choice and given any other option, he would take it - but he nods anyway.  Less rude, perhaps, if he doesn't say anything.

( It's ok, Rainaut says reassuringly. )

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