Peter Tremayne - The Devil's seal

‘I believe she was going to meet someone,’ Fidelma agreed. ‘Someone she knew and with whom she was-’

‘Going to negotiate a payment with the sack of coins?’ Eadulf interrupted.

‘Well, she did not carry them with her,’ Fidelma pointed out, ‘but I think I am beginning to see some light in this dark matter.’ And before Eadulf could say anything further, she added brightly: ‘Well, do you prefer to walk round to the main gate and surprise our guards, or would you like to climb back up?’

Eadulf screwed up his face as if in agony. ‘I would willingly walk three times around The Rock than climb back up those ladders,’ he replied in a tone of fervour.

They turned and began to walk along in the shadow of the citadel towards the main gate.

‘Having discovered how Sister Dianaimh could leave the palace without being seen,’ Eadulf speculated, ‘there is another thought that occurs to me.’

‘Which is?’ Fidelma asked in high good humour.

‘If it was easy for her to leave, it was just as easy for someone else to gain entrance.’

It was a thought that had already occurred to Fidelma but she gave a quick nod. ‘I will tell my brother that he should have a guard permanently mounted there,’ she said quietly.

Brother Conchobhar was working in his apothecary and looked up with a welcoming smile as Fidelma and Eadulf entered.

‘I received your message,’ he greeted them. ‘I’ve checked my missing medications and it seems that Deogaire took the correct ones for the conditions you described. I plan to check on her condition as soon as I can.’

‘Then Eadulf and I will join you,’ Fidelma told himself, ‘as it will be interesting to see this woman.’

‘Meanwhile, I have some news for you — so I am glad you came by,’ went on the old man. They detected a suppressed excitement in his tone. ‘It is about that band of lambswool. The Keeper of Books finally found a reference to it which confirmed what we had thought: a generation or more ago, it was worn by all the bishops when they performed the rites of the Mass. It then dropped out of use in the churches of the Five Kingdoms as we set more store by our abbots.’

Fidelma’s face fell. ‘Nothing more?’

Brother Conchobhar’s smile broadened. ‘He also told me that it was called a pallium but that its symbolism has changed in the last hundred years or so. The Bishop of Rome, the one they called Gregory, ordered that it could only be worn by bishops of special rank. He wrote to Bishop John of Ravenna nearly a century ago about pastoral rules and mentioned what it symbolised. It is now a symbol given by the Bishop of Rome only to those appointed as Chief Bishops or Archbishops. Its use is limited. No one else is allowed to wear it without the approval of the Bishop of Rome.’

‘You mean that it was used only by an Archbishop such as Theodore of Canterbury?’ asked Eadulf in astonishment.

‘It is apparently the symbol of the new Roman power, to be worn as a liturgical vestment only in the church and during the Divine Mass unless otherwise authorised by the Bishop of Rome,’ confirmed the old apothecary. ‘Our Keeper of Books remembered that he had seen some such reference to its change of use. Apparently we have a copy of that book of pastoral rules in our tech screpta .’

‘So this pallium is a symbol of an Archbishop. .’ Fidelma considered the implications.

‘If Rudgal had stolen it in the attack on the river, what does it mean?’ Brother Conchobhar asked. ‘Was it being brought to a bishop here? The churches of the Five Kingdoms recognise no Chief Bishop over them. Bishops are subordinate to abbots among our churches.’

‘This is what the Venerable Verax’s deputation is discussing,’ Eadulf explained. ‘Apparently, Abbot Ségéne of Ard Macha has petitioned Rome, making the claim for Ard Macha to be the primacy of all the churches in the Five Kingdoms because the abbey was founded by Patricius. This deputation must have come to ask the views of the abbots and bishops before Ségéne was presented with this pallium .’

‘Hardly likely,’ Fidelma declared.

‘Patricius preferred to work at the Abbey of Dún Phádraig, the Fortress of Patricius, where he died and is buried,’ pointed out Brother Conchobhar. ‘Even by citing Patricius, their claim falls.’

‘If Rome has sent the pallium into the Five Kingdoms as the answer to the claim of Ard Macha, why would an emissary from the Bishop of Rome come to Cashel bearing this symbol of authority? Why not travel directly to Ard Macha?’ Fidelma asked.

‘Could this pallium be meant for Abbot Ségdae? That Imleach and not Ard Macha was to be recognised?’ Brother Conchobhar wondered.

Fidelma regarded both men with an expression akin to sadness. ‘I am afraid that you are overlooking several important facts. Firstly, how did we come by this pallium ?’

‘It was hidden on the body of Rudgal, a robber, who knew its value because he was going to use it to bargain for his freedom,’ Eadulf replied promptly.

‘And how did Rudgal acquire it?’

‘Why, from the Venerable Victricius when Rudgal and his robbers attacked their boat and-’

‘And who was Victricius? Brother Bosa claims he was a thief without any right to be called a priest of any sort.’

Eadulf thought about it. ‘If so, was Egric his accomplice — or was he duped? My brother said he met Victricius in Canterbury and was employed by him as a translator and companion. He says he was informed that Victricius was on a mission from Theodore, but was never told what it was. Who should I believe?’

‘If we do not believe what Brother Bosa says, then we must assume that he — indeed, this entire Saxon deputation — are not who they say they are.’

Eadulf was silent as he considered the alternatives.

‘Another point,’ went on Fidelma. ‘Why would Rudgal know the symbolism of this item when we did not? To most people, it is merely a piece of lambswool, a band or even a scarf. Only certain people would recognise the importance of the pallium . To those few, this piece of lambswool might well seem valuable enough to make a man rich — if he knew how to trade for it. Do you really think that Rudgal would have such knowledge?’

Just at that moment, the door of the apothecary opened abruptly and Enda came in. The warrior’s face was tense.

‘Forgive me,’ he said to them. ‘I was told Eadulf was here.’

‘I am here. What is it, Enda?’ Eadulf said, turning towards him.

‘Brother Berrihert from Eatharlach is at the gates and demands to see you immediately.’

Eadulf was surprised. Three years ago, he had helped Berrihert and his two brothers, Pecanum and Naovan — all brothers in blood as well as in religion — settle in the great Valley of Eatharlach among the Uí Cuileann clan. He had known Berrihert at Streonshalh. After Oswy’s fateful decision to follow Roman rites, Bishop Colmán, rather than change his religious allegiance, had gathered all those who continued to adhere to the teachings of Colmcille, and taken them, first to the kingdom of the Britons called Rheged, then on to his own land of Connachta. Berrihert, with his two brothers, eventually sought out the peace and tranquillity of Eatharlach where Miach, chieftain of the Uí Cuileann, had accepted them into the valley after Eadulf had vouched for them.

‘What does he want?’ Eadulf asked in surprise. ‘He and his brothers hardly ever leave the valley.’

Enda’s voice was troubled. ‘Whatever it is, I think it bodes ill. He came on horseback.’

‘Is it so unusual to see a religieux on horseback?’ Fidelma wondered at the comment.