Peter Tremayne - The Council of the Cursed

‘Faced with a small problem,’ she ended quickly for him ‘But you, Brother Chilperic, are the very person who can help us with it.’

‘I am?’

She inclined her head towards the high wall that separated the abbey from what was called the Domus Femini .

‘We would like to have a word with the abbatissa .’

‘Abbess Audofleda?’ queried the steward in astonishment.

‘That is her name, I believe,’ agreed Fidelma. ‘Can you arrange it?’

‘Abbess Audofleda sees no one from the abbey without the bishop’s express permission,’ muttered Brother Chilperic. ‘Anyway, I do not see why your investigation should take you to the Domus Femini .’

‘Knowledge of the relevance is surely mine and not to be shared with anyone during an investigation.’

The steward looked worried. ‘In such a matter I must first consult Bishop Leodegar.’

Fidelma was about to protest when she realised that the young man was clearly incapable of making the decision without the approval of Leodegar. She knew she must not underestimate the power of the bishop. Instead she said: ‘Consult him then. We would not wish to upset the bishop. But if you can seek his permission straight away…?’

Brother Chilperic hesitated. ‘The bishop is visiting in the city. He will not return to the abbey until the evening meal.’

Fidelma glanced at the sky. The afternoon was well progressed but there would have been plenty of time to visit the Domus Femini . Presumably it would not be until the morning that they would now receive permission to meet Abbess Audofleda. That would be a waste of many hours. Fidelma felt a compulsion to finish this task as soon as possible and set out for home again, for she had felt uncomfortable ever since their arrival at the abbey.

‘I cannot see why you need to visit the Domus Femini ,’ the steward repeated. ‘The murder was done here, we have the people involved, so why do you need to speak with Abbess Audofleda?’

Eadulf noticed that Fidelma’s eyes had become bright and her jaw muscles were tightening.

‘My friend,’ he said, taking Brother Chilperic by the arm, ‘you must understand that it is our task to conduct our investigation in our own way. Bishop Leodegar gave us full permission to do so. So what we do is our own concern, with due respect to your position as steward of this abbey.’

‘I will still have to seek the permission of Bishop Leodegar,’ the man said mulishly.

Fidelma had recovered her good humour.

‘In that case, we can do no more for this day.’ She turned to Eadulf. ‘While we are here we may as well see something of this city.’

As Eadulf voiced his assent Brother Chiperic looked shocked.

‘Are you intending to leave the abbey?’ he asked in surprise.

Fidelma frowned. ‘Is there an objection to that too?’

The steward gestured helplessly. ‘The bishop left no instructions.’

‘Why would he?’

‘Because the general rule is that no one leaves the abbey without permission of the bishop. If they are strangers, like you, they need someone to guide them. It is a matter of protecting our delegates.’

‘I scarcely think that such rules apply to us. Are not all the delegates free to come and go? After all, there was no concern for our security before we came to the abbey.’

‘I can only abide by the bishop’s Rule.’

Fidelma was astonished and said so.

‘I have no other instructions,’ muttered Brother Chilperic.

‘Are we allowed to return to our own chamber without being accompanied?’ snapped Fidelma.

The young man looked unhappy, torn between his duty to the bishop and Fidelma’s displeasure. However, Fidelma had already turned and walked away, her lips compressed tightly. Eadulf paused only a moment before following her. He fell in step as she stormed across the stone-paved courtyard; the smack of her shoes on the stones created an angry timbre.

‘I hate being restricted,’ she said at last, slowing to a more reasonable pace.

‘I don’t think it is the young man’s fault,’ Eadulf said, referring to Brother Chilperic. ‘He’s scared of making a decision which would displease the bishop.’

‘Of course it is not his fault. It is the bishop who is trying to control what people do and where they go. I wonder what Leodegar is scared of?’

‘Perhaps it is just that he is so used to dictating rules and having them obeyed that everyone is now in a position where they cannot think for themselves,’ offered Eadulf.

Fidelma suddenly halted. ‘Go and find Abbot Ségdae, Eadulf. I am sure he is not a man to be bound by the constraints of this abbey. Ask him for permission for us to leave and for his support if we are forbidden.’

Eadulf hesitated and then shrugged, and as he moved away, Fidelma called: ‘I’ll wait in the hospitia !’

Eadulf raised a hand without breaking stride to acknowledge her.

Deep in thought, Fidelma returned to the hospitia . She hoped that Bishop Leodegar was not going to press her as to why she needed to visit the Domus Femini . She wanted to see if Brother Sigeric’s tale connected in any deeper way with the events of Abbot Dabhóc’s death. But she felt frustrated that she was being so hampered by the segregation that Bishop Leodegar imposed on his brethren. She longed for the logic and attitudes of her own land.

Fidelma entered the chamber, and as she closed the door she heard a slight movement behind her. Heart beating fast, she wheeled round and saw the figure of a man in the shadows.

‘Who are you?’ she demanded, trying to suppress the fear in her voice.

‘I did not mean to frighten you, Sister.’ The voice spoke in her own language. It was that of a nervous young man.

She recognised the young religieux as the one whom she had observed watching her from the end of the table in the refectory.

‘You are Brother Gillucán, aren’t you?’

‘I am-I was-Abbot Dabhóc’s steward and companion on this pilgrimage.’

Fidelma moved across the room and sat on the edge of the bed, gesturing to the chair.

‘You have a strange way of introducing yourself, Brother Gillucán.’

The young man seated himself, saying in a low voice, ‘Everywhere in this abbey, there is a feeling of being watched. One needs to be cautious.’

‘Why would you be watched?’ Fidelma asked.

The young man shuddered. ‘I do not know. I long for my own country.’

‘You are from Ulaidh?’

‘I am of the Uí Nadsluaig although I served at Tulach Óc.’

‘You do not like this place?’

The young man gave a curious gesture with his hands that Fidelma was not sure how to interpret.

‘It is cursed. Souls are in torment-I have heard them.’ He sighed. ‘There is something in this abbey that is evil, Sister. In truth, I am scared.’

She raised an eyebrow. ‘You speak with emotion, Brother Gillucán. You had best explain yourself.’

‘I am not sure where to start.’

‘The beginning is the best place to start,’ she encouraged him. ‘You are, or were, steward to the abbot of Tulach Óc?’

He nodded. ‘Yes. I served Abbot Dabhóc for five years as his chief scribe and steward.’

‘So that is why he chose you to accompany him to this council?’

‘It was. It is a great honour to be chosen to travel abroad and come to an important council such as this. We came, of course, in the name of Ségéne, the Bishop of Ard Macha.’

‘Of course. And how long have you been here?’

‘We arrived at this abbey ten days ago. After a few days, when all the major delegates had arrived, the Bishop of Autun opened the council. Only the main delegates were invited to attend that session. All the scribes and advisers were excluded so I did not witness the conflict which I heard about afterwards.’