Tadhgán

Tadhgán was a wise man who had developed a profound understanding of the world through long years devoted to the study of ancient texts and to reflection on spiritual questions. He wore the Scottish tonsure, the distinctive sign of Celtic monks, which left the forehead bare. Tadhgán was one of those men whom age had not weakened, but refined. His back, bent by years spent copying manuscripts, gave him the appearance of a weary man; yet the moment he raised his head, it became clear that his mind remained sharp and alert.

His face was carved with deep lines, shaped as much by thought as by time. His pale eyes shone with keen intelligence, forever in search of knowledge. His long, unkempt white beard betrayed his indifference to appearances. What mattered to him was found in books, not in the reflection of a mirror.

When he was with Azénor, he asked more questions than he gave answers, preferring to lead her toward reflection rather than dictate a revealed truth. Tadhgán disliked closed minds. He had little tolerance for rigid certainties and imposed dogmas. For him, belief was not enough: one had to understand.

He knew the Scriptures by heart and had undoubtedly become a great scholar of sacred texts, yet he was also familiar with far more archaic writings—Gaelic poems and Celtic legends.