Peter Tremayne - The Council of the Cursed

Fidelma actually chuckled. ‘I can imagine what Abbot Cadfan’s choice of words must be in any language. It is difficult to be confined all this time and under suspicion. If I could work this matter any other way, I would. However, what would happen if both of these prelates were able to freely wander about? They would soon encounter one another and, after what has passed between them, that would not be politic, would it?’

Brother Chilperic thought for a moment and then nodded.

‘They would probably attack one another and there would be another death on our hands! Bishop Ordgar, however, is outraged that he has been refused permission to attend Lady Beretrude’s reception.’

‘Until the investigation is finished, it would not be wise to invite them into the same room. And to invite one without the other would be to imply guilt of the one who was not invited,’ Fidelma pointed out. ‘However, is this reception of such importance?’

Eadulf knew she was seeking information.

‘Lady Beretrude, as the mother of the lord of this province, feels that a civic welcome is due those gathering in this territory to debate matters affecting the Faith.’

‘And will Lord Guntram be at this welcoming ceremony?’

For a moment the steward looked embarrassed.

‘The Lord Guntram is a young man who, I am afraid, does not see his civic duties as a matter of priority yet. You must make allowances for his absence. In years he is mature, but he prefers hunting, wine and…’ He said in a low voice, ‘I am afraid he is not a good representative of the Burgunds.’

‘How long has Burgundia been under the rule of the Franks?’ Eadulf asked. ‘We seem to find resentment continuing between the Burgunds and Franks.’

‘It is only a few generations ago since we lost our independence.’

‘Ah, so you call yourself a Burgund then?’ asked Fidelma.

Brother Chilperic straightened himself. ‘I am proud to be of the blood of Gundahar who founded our nation,’ he replied with dignity.

‘But now you are ruled by the Franks.’

‘The Frankish army overcame our last king, Gudomar, and our armies. Yet we have retained our name and our identity. We are Burgunds.’

Fidelma was thoughtful. ‘Are you saying that you-the Burgunds-would wish to be independent of the Frankish rulers?’

‘ Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est !’ declared Brother Chilperic firmly. Life is not only to live, but to be strong, to be vigorous.

‘And you feel that the Burgunds cannot live or be vigorous under the rule of the Franks?’

‘It is not only my feeling but that of most of my people,’ he assured her. ‘Our problem is that Burgundia has been so long under the yoke of the Frankish kings, we have almost forgotten to be Burgunds. The people need some symbol to stir them to manhood again.’

‘And will that happen?’ asked Eadulf.

Brother Chilperic shrugged. ‘Who knows? There is a rumour…’ He glanced round surreptitiously. ‘You will forget I spoke thus, for Bishop Leodegar is a Frank and close to the royal family of the Franks.’

‘We wish only to learn,’ Fidelma replied. ‘Leodegar will hear nothing of what you say. So what is this rumour?’

Brother Chilperic dropped his voice to a whisper.

‘You may have heard stories that it was a holy man called Benignus who brought the Faith here and died a martyr. I began to hear some months ago that it was being said among the peasants that the true king of the Burgunds would one day re-emerge with the symbol of Benignus to raise the people into regaining their freedom.’

‘Was this a recent rumour?’ Fidelma tried not to show her sudden interest.

‘One of many. Peasants are always dreaming.’ Brother Chilperic gave a harsh laugh. ‘It is left to us to deal with the reality.’

‘Which is?’

‘The reality is that we are a small people. The Franks are many-Austrasia and Neustria spread around us like an engulfing sea. We have to accept the heavy hand of history.’

‘I think you told us that you have served in this abbey before Bishop Leodegar came here?’

‘I was born in this city and entered the abbey when I was fifteen years old. I met my…’ He paused and a faint flush came to his cheeks.

‘No need to be reticent, Brother Chilperic,’ Fidelma said gently. ‘It is no crime to have married. Only Bishop Leodegar’s new Rule makes it so in his eyes. So, you were about to say that you met your wife in this abbey?’

The steward nodded slowly.

‘And you were content as man and wife, serving the Faith in this community until Bishop Leodegar arrived?’

‘We were content because we had not seen the error of our ways.’

‘And who told you the error of your ways?’ asked Fidelma.

The young man looked startled for a moment. ‘Why, Bishop Leodegar instructed us on the Rule, of course.’

‘The Rule is one thing, but who told you it was the only path of the Faith?’

Brother Chilperic hesitated again. ‘You must know that it was the bishop who called us together and instructed us on the true path and segregated us, and we were told to divorce our wives so that they could go into the Domus Femini .’

Eadulf muttered, ‘And God said: “Who told you that you were naked?”’

Brother Chilperic frowned. ‘What?’

‘I was just thinking of a line from the Scriptures,’ Eadulf said. ‘It is no matter.’

‘So when this was done,’ continued Fidelma, ‘you and your wife decided to divorce?’

‘It was the logical decision.’

‘And your wife went to the Domus Femini ?’

‘She did.’

‘And has remained there?’

‘Oh yes.’

‘But you have never seen her since, even though she is but a short distance from you.’

‘Oh yes, I have seen her now and then for our positions make it necessary for us to meet occasionally.’

Fidelma was surprised. ‘I thought no one had intercourse with the opposite community?’

‘I am steward here.’

‘And your wife is…?’

‘Stewardess of the Domus Femini .’

‘You mean your wife is Sister Radegund?’ Fidelma could not keep the surprise from her reply.

Brother Chilperic bowed his head. ‘Radegund is her name but I must point out that she is no longer my wife and that I have, as instructed by the bishop, put her from me.’

Fidelma let out a long sighing breath.

‘Tell me, Brother Chilperic, you mentioned that Bishop Leodegar is a Frank. Do you not resent him?’

Brother Chilperic looked startled.

‘He is a Frank and, as I say, closely connected with the royal family. He spent a long time at court before he was given Autun as his bishopric. He is a powerful man.’

‘And you are happy to serve him?’

‘I am his steward.’

‘That is not what I asked. Surely, as a Burgund and feeling as you do about the Franks, you must resent Leodegar being placed in charge and of the way he has so drastically changed the abbey from what you knew?’

Brother Chilperic looked uncomfortable.

‘I am in service to this abbey, Sister. There is a Rule here and I have sworn to obey it. And now, you must excuse me.’ He turned on his heel and walked off.

Eadulf shook his head at Fidelma. ‘What are you trying to do? Stir up alarms and enmity?’

‘Sometimes a little prompting can bring surprising results.’

‘Oh come, you don’t think that the problems here are to do with enmity between Burgunds and Franks?’

Fidelma stared at him for a moment and then sighed.

‘There are many problems here, as you say, Eadulf. To be honest, I think this entire community is festering underneath this exterior of obedience. Why this abbey should be chosen by Rome as the place to hold a council on the future of the Faith, I do not know. I begin to think that the death of poor Dabhóc was just a superficial event on the surface of something that goes very much deeper.’