Alchemy of Secrets

by Stephanie Garber

“In the Middle Ages, books were extraordinarily valuable, and it was common practice to chain them up to protect them from theft. About five hundred years ago, a large number of these chained-up books and manuscripts began to mysteriously arrive at the Hereford Cathedral. No one knew why, but so many of them appeared that someone decided to form a library. “Most people consider it a curiosity, a place to take pictures that can be posted with pithy captions. However, my dear students, there’s a reason all those chained manuscripts showed up at that particular cathedral. The Hereford Cathedral is dedicated to two saints, one of whom is Saint Æthelberht the King. I’d ask if any of you know who he is, but I don’t want to be disappointed again, so I will just tell you. Æthelberht was a ruler during the Middle Ages who was betrayed and murdered by the parents of his betrothed.” The Professor mimes a knife slashing across her throat. And you feel slightly disturbed by how animated she becomes whenever she speaks of someone’s demise. “Recordkeeping was abysmal in the Middle Ages, so Æthelberht’s life would have been forgotten by history, except that the events after his death are quite remarkable. As Æthelberht’s body was on its way to be buried, the stories say his severed head rolled out of a cart and restored the sight of a blind man. Even more miracles were reported at the location of his grave. “Rumors spread that the grave was magic. A church was built there, which turned in...