Historical Article: The Watchman
Father Pietro ran as best he could from his small chamber down the candlelit hall of the monastery toward the stables. He could hear a cacophony of noise coming from the street that ran past the religious compound. Pushing through the heavy wooden front doors, the shouting and yelling of dozens of men became disorienting.
His robes flying behind him, Pietro ran through the high archway of the stables, bumping into several younger stable boys. He finally made his way to his stall, just as his own livery staff had finished preparing his mount.
“What’s this?” asked Pietro, annoyed.
“Father, I apologize, but a troop of soldiers came through a few hours before midnight and seized all our proper horses. Donkeys are all we have left on the grounds.”
“I’ll have to make due, then,” he responded. He then straddled the small donkey almost effortlessly, and could not help feeling awkward and embarrassed. His tall, lanky frame surrounded the small animal, his gangly legs almost scraping the dirt floor. One of the grooms let out a snicker and Pietro shot a quick look of contempt at him, shutting him up.
“You won’t be laughing if Justinian finally breaks through Ravenna’s walls, son. You mind your manners and watch yourself.”
“Yes sir,” answered the boy, sheepishly.
“Do you all know where you are supposed to report after I leave? Do you all have positions and responsibilities?”
“Yes sir!” shouted the stable boys collectively. After five years of war with the Eastern Empire, most of the men and boys who worked within the monastery grounds knew their responsibilities by heart. Some mounted the walls and towers for defense, the younger ones were to seek shelter underground in the ancient dungeons and cisterns of the complex.
Pietro’s brothers had responsibilities to the ancient city of Ravenna itself, beyond the walls of their sanctified ground. The younger and more capable joined the ranks of the city’s armed guard, either on the city walls with bow and arrow or in the city streets with poleaxes. A few even joined the city’s armored cavalry corps as Pietro had when he was much younger. Not now, however.
Close to 80 years old, he was way past his fighting prime. He could still ride, thankfully, and took it upon himself for the last five years to check the condition and defense of all of Ravenna’s important buildings, religious and otherwise. A student of architecture and engineering for his entire life, Pietro had helped in constructing many of Ravenna’s marvelous structures. With a lifetime of detailed, practical experience, Pietro also had a deep sense of responsibility and cared for the city of Ravenna as a patriarch would for his family. In fact, he loved his grand buildings more: they never talked back or caused trouble, and always did their jobs. In exchange for such dedicated service, Pietro took it upon himself to make certain they all had proper protection during wartime.
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