Peter Tremayne - The Council of the Cursed

They were shown into the study of Abbess Audofleda. Although the abbatissa and her sisters had attended the morning and evening services, they had been invisible to Fidelma and Eadulf because they entered the chapel by a separate route and were shielded from the brethren by wooden screens. Abbess Audofleda was seated behind her table and wore a head-dress which was drawn back so that her face was fully visible, but covering her hair. A woman of middle age, she could never have been described as attractive, thanks to the bony forehead, jutting jawline and large nose with a prominent bump that could almost be described as hooked. The eyes were pale and without compassion. The lips were thin, and the skin ashen where it was not blotched upon the cheeks.

‘This is Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf, abbatissa ,’ intoned Sister Radegund, who stood deferentially before them with hands still folded and eyes downcast.

Abbess Audofleda sat back, her own hands placed firmly on the table in front of her. She stared in disapproval, firstly at Eadulf and then at Fidelma.

‘I am asked by Bishop Leodegar to see you. He says that you have requested to speak with me. For what purpose?’ Her voice was harsh and she spoke Latin badly.

‘We are…’ began Fidelma. She was waved to silence by an imperious gesture of a pale thin hand.

‘I know who you are, Sister. That much was explained when Bishop Leodegar addressed the community in the chapel the other night. You have been allowed to investigate the death of one of the delegates to the council. I disapprove. That is not a woman’s place, especially one who purports to be a religious. However, the bishop has made this curious decision. I was not consulted. My question is, why do you come here?’

Fidelma exchanged a quick glance with Eadulf. Abbess Audofleda was as unfriendly as her looks portended.

‘We have come to address a few questions to you,’ she replied coolly.

‘I see no reason why,’ replied Abbess Audofleda. ‘Our sisterhood is separate from the brothers of the abbey and there is no connection between us and the deaths that have occurred. We know nothing of them nor do we wish to know anything of them.’

Eadulf saw the warning sign as Fidelma’s eyes narrowed.

‘You’ll forgive our impertinence, abbatissa ,’ he said hastily, in a conciliatory voice. ‘We have not come here without a good reason, for we believe there is a connection between your sisterhood and the events that took place surrounding the death of Abbot Dabhóc.’

The thin eyebrows of Abbess Audofleda arched.

‘Do you call me a liar?’ she snapped. ‘I said that there are none.’

Eadulf was dismayed by the overt antagonism of the woman.

This time Fidelma had recovered herself sufficiently to attempt to follow Eadulf’s displomatic path.

‘We would not suggest that you have spoken anything but the truth, as you know it. We would only point out that perhaps we have some information that you might not know about.’

‘Which is?’ There was a sneer in Abbess Audofleda’s tone.

‘Sister Valretrade.’

They heard the audible gasp from Sister Radegund. Fidelma saw the warning glance that Abbess Audofleda gave her.

‘What do you know of Sister Valretrade?’ The abbatissa ’s eyes were glinting suspiciously.

‘We know that on the night of the killing, she had sent a signal to one of the brethren to meet her, and it was that action which set off the events leading to the discovery of the scene in Bishop Ordgar’s chambers. We need to question her about this as being pertinent to our investigation.’

For a moment Abbess Audofleda looked uncertain.

‘Contact between the sisterhood and the brethren is forbidden,’ she said woodenly.

‘Nevertheless, it happened,’ Fidelma assured her. ‘By the way, when did this Rule of segregation of the sexes and the ideas of celibacy come into force in this abbey?’

The abbatissa looked surprised at the sudden change of subject. She answered defensively.

‘One year ago, not long after Leodegar became bishop and brought his teachings here.’

‘And you were already abbess here?’

‘I was invited to take charge here by the bishop after the decision had been made. He could not find a suitable superior among the sisterhood, so he asked me to come from Divio to take over. It is the duty of the community to obey their bishop and the Rule was made clear. Our people should not question the Rule. But these questions are irrelevant to…’

‘To the matter of Sister Valretrade,’ Fidelma said brightly. ‘I am sorry. I have let natural curiosity overcome me. Now, I would like to speak with her.’

Abbess Audofleda’s thin lips twitched. ‘That is impossible.’

‘I have been assured by Bishop Leodegar that the entire community will co-operate with my enquiry,’ Fidelma cautioned.

‘It is neither a matter of co-operation nor lack of it. Sister Valretrade is no longer part of this community. She is not here.’

‘Not here?’

‘Not here,’ affirmed the abbess.

‘Then perhaps you can inform us where she is?’

‘I cannot be specific.’

‘Try,’ Fidelma pressed a little sarcastically.

‘Then she might well be anywhere. A week ago she left here, saying that she could no longer accept the Rule.’

Fidelma tried to hide her disappointment. ‘When did you say she left?’

‘A week ago.’

‘Was she sent away in punishment for contacting Brother Sigeric?’

‘Punishment? I do not know this Brother Sigeric.’

Fidelma raised an eyebrow slightly. ‘You did not know that she was in love with a young man in the abbey?’

‘I only knew that she was distracted from her duties here. Had I known, I would have reported the matter to the bishop so that he could discipline the young man for enticing Valretrade from her bond to the Faith.’

‘You say you do not know Brother Sigeric. Are you denying that he came to the Domus Femini a few days ago to find out where Sister Valretrade was?’

A crimson hue spread over Abbess Audofleda’s features.

‘Excuse me, abbatissa .’ It was Sister Radegund who spoke nervously from the door before she could say anything. ‘I did not wish to bring the matter to your attention, as you have been so busy, but a young man did come to our door-a young religieux. He demanded to know where Sister Valretrade was. When I told him to go away, he grew insistent, and I informed him that she had left the Domus Femini and was no longer in our charge. He was very insistent and I had to close the door on him. I was reluctant to bother you at the time, and until the matter was mentioned just now I had forgotten all about it.’

‘Did the young man mention his name to you?’ demanded the abbess of her steward.

‘I do not think so, abbatissa .’

The woman turned back to Fidelma with a triumphant expression. ‘So, you see, we have not heard of this Brother Sigeric.’

‘Why do you think Valretrade left the Domus Femini ?’ Fidelma asked coldly. ‘And given that she was so “distracted”, in your words, by this young man, did she not tell him that she was leaving?’

‘I am not here to speculate about the workings of a young girl’s mind. Perhaps she is with this young man of whom you speak. Find him and you may find her.’

‘If he was with her, he would hardly have come to the abbey seeking her,’ Fidelma pointed out.

‘So maybe she had come to her senses and realised she should leave him,’ the other woman retorted.

‘So you offer no reason why she left?’

‘Reason? I am afraid that you do not understand the Rule by which I govern this community. She left because she could not abide that Rule.’