Apothecary Melchior and the Mystery of St Olaf's Church by Indrek Hargla Page B

it.’
    â€˜You know, Kilian,’ Melchior said decisively, ‘it seems to me that all this singing has weighed heavily on your heart. Come, I will treat you to a cup of elixir – and please also allow Keterlyn to hear your new tune. Come, come, step inside. I entreat you. Otherwise you will squat here alone singing to the birds and the beasts like St Francis.’
    In no time Melchior had poured Kilian a cup of sweet elixir and offered him a cake, and it seemed that Kilian’s mood had begun to lift.
    The boy is educated, Melchior noted when their conversation turned towards the saints, one of the Apothecary’s favoured topics. Kilian informed him that St Andrew was the patron saint of the Nuremburg Guild of Singers.
    â€˜St Andrew, well, well,’ Melchior spoke cheerfully. ‘And you bear the name of a saint yourself. However, Andrew is a worthy saint in everyrespect, and your guild is fortunate to have only a single patron. Last year I wanted to hang a handsome signnext to the pharmacy designating it as “St Cosmas’s Pharmacy”; alas it turned out not a single church in Tallinn has a statue of St Cosmas to whom I wished to light a candle and from whom I would receive a blessing for my business. And you know what, Kilian? When I went to take counsel from Prior Eckell at the Dominican Monastery we ended up having a heated debate. As the Father already knew – and who am I to argue with him? – pharmacists are also guarded by the patron saints Nicholas, Damianus and two Jacobs and, to top it all, the Archangel Rafael and Mary, the Mother of God. And I, fool that I am, thought St Cosmas was alone in his task.’
    â€˜I do not believe I have even heard of him,’ Kilian said uncertainly.
    â€˜Many have not,’ Melchior nodded, ‘although my father, who also ran a pharmacy in the town of Lübeck, taught me that St Cosmas is the protector and guardian of all who concoct medicines. Ah, but here is your elixir, Kilian. Drink it down. It might not help to counter all the troubles of the soul, but it should certainly lighten your mood and help to overcome a sad state of mind. It is called burned spirits, and I have made it all the more fiery by adding ginger and pepper. Drink, drink. It will cheer you up.’
    Kilian drank and began to cough profusely. Tears streamed from his eyes, and his precious lute nearly slipped from his grasp. Melchior gave him a few manly claps on the back while he caught his breath.
    â€˜Oh, hairy devil,’ the boy cursed between coughs. ‘And what then became of your saint? You still do not have that sign of St Cosmas here.’
    â€˜What happened was that I continued to attend St Nicholas’s Church – which I had done previously – to express my gratitude to St Nicholas in my faith and am joyful that he has given his blessing to the success of my business. And I issue medicines for no charge to all in need of them on St Nicholas’s Day, the 6th of December. Naturally, I also donate to St Nicholas’s Church so that they might proclaim the eternal love and care that he bestows,’ Melchior said warmly.
    â€˜Then I have only gladness for you,’ Kilian reasoned.
    â€˜Another small stein?’
    â€˜Praise St Andrew. Bring it forth, Sire Apothecary.’
    â€˜Here you are. And since St Andrew also protects fishermen, without whom life in Tallinn would be exceptionally hungry, I will also pour for myself an honest ginger spirit. To your health, Kilian, and to the blessing of your gift for song.’
    The two clinked their glasses together, drank, coughed, drank some more, and before long the heavy atmosphere that had surrounded Kilian had indeed been lightened. That is, until Melchior informed the boy in confidence that he had just come from the Town Hall. And, if his intuition was not wrong, that the Council’s court attendants were presently searching for a murderer who had escaped from