The sun stood a-mouldering in the West when they stole through the woods to meet it. Nicolas de Laval and his servant, who knew the ways of the forest like a deer knows its own tracks. And, being armed, they came to a part of the wood where a stream flowed down to the ocean. A bridge of trees spanned the stream. Nicolas de Laval stopped there and squatted down.

"What is the purpose?" he asked rhetorically.

"To serve ye, my lord." the servant answered.

Nicolas de Laval shook his head and said, "No, no. I mean what is the purpose of life?"

"To serve God and to love Him with all our heart. And also to help others do the same."

"Ah," said Nicolas de Laval. "Thou art a good Christian."

"Indeed, I am, my lord."

Nicolas de Laval nodded approvingly. He had seen men come and go who claimed to seek his friendship with the avowed purpose of gaining entry to his household. Yet this servant, Pierre, seemed genuine.

"Do you believe that God will accept your prayers for me?" he asked.

Pierre bowed deeply and answered, "I can only hope, Comte de Laval."

Nicolas lowered his head slightly, looking down at the leaves and grass and dirt below.

"It is tough, it is difficult, when God takes people away from us for no reason. Dost thou not think so?" Nicolas asked.

"I have never thought it otherwise, my lord," Pierre said.

Then Nicolas de Laval rose to his feet and faced him directly.

"Well, the Lord took my wife away from me a few moons ago, as you may have heard. I thought of myself as a good Christian, a humble servant of Jesus Christ. Why then, would God take her away from me? Did I sin so? Or must I have done something great to deserve such punishment? Is that it?"

The old servant stared silently back, as though he felt he could not answer these questions.

"Tell me, Pierre, what did thou doest before all this?"

"Well, my lord, I served my former master as a man might serve God. It was good work, I enjoyed it so. When I began to learn to read, I found that even the humblest of texts could instruct me better than the sermons of the priests."

And the servant smiled at his own wit.

"Well, I have read books of philosophy and theology, of law and chronicles of history," Nicolas stated. "I have learned more from the authors of the classics and histories than I ever did from learning from the priests and monks.."

Pierre grinned before tapping his walking stick to the ground, crunching a leaf.

"But I have always believed that it is the common man, the laborer, who best understands the workings of the world," Pierre said.

Nicolas smiled, chuckling slightly.

"So why did thou seek employment with me, Pierre?"

The old servant looked about the forest as though he were trying to remember some forgotten event.

"I sought employment with ye because I wanted to serve the great Comte de Laval. For I believe that ye will make an important mark on this new century."

Nicolas looked pleased at this statement, for he had never considered his position as very important or significant.

"Thou overestimatest me, Pierre. But I thank thee for thy compliment." Then he leaned forward and kissed the old man upon the forehead and said, "I shall not forget what thou hast told me."

The old servant smiled again. He was about to speak, but Nicolas raised his hand to forestall him.

"There is one thing more thou must tell me, Pierre. It is this. Is the world a good place for thee?" Nicolas gestured across the landscape.

Pierre looked into the sea of trees, then at his master and nodded his head slowly.

"Yes, indeed, my lord. I am happy and healthy."

Nicolas de Laval's expression darkened for a moment, then he continued, "If I have the power to help give the world peace and order, I will do so. If that is simply what God was willed for me, then I will abide my His command."

He turned and went away, leaving the old servant following behind shortly after, whistling a tune and waving his cane in time with the rhythm.