Superius Frater's Notes

My new Prior, who likes to be called The Good Doctor:

Arrogant, officious, bossy — just the type the Chief Examiner would send to keep an eye on me and my lambs. My only hope is that I can penetrate that prickly armor to the man beneath. If I cannot, there will be trouble...

Phylax Gig:

Huge, choleric, ugly, a drunkard who chases the younger brothers with his axe when he is off duty — he used to be merely disgusting, but lately he seems to be losing control. He has stopped speaking, so say the stratioti, and only grunts and roars. I think he has seen something, or has seen the same thing too many times...

Brother Egderus:

My sweet son, now nearly a man. I wish I really could be his father, but I cannot protect him. I cannot protect myself. But perhaps his affliction can be a shield as well as a handicap. I have noticed that the fools who taunt him, including the so-called Good Doctor, seem to think he is stupid as well as lame. He himself seems wise enough not to contradict them...

The new Phylax Robenc:

Fierce, proud, strong of mind — also young and impetuous enough to have tripped up somewhere, or he would not have been posted here. I would guess either he got into a fight with the wrong comrade, or else became 'impudent' with the wrong officer or bureaucrat, and this is his probationary posting...