Peter Tremayne - The Council of the Cursed

‘Does he not care who the guilty person is?’

‘He cares more that this council meets and makes the decisions required by Rome. Only the fact that you are known to the Nuntius Peregrinus keeps the bishop patient…for the present. But he believes that we cannot wait for ever.’

Eadulf was irritated. ‘It will not be for ever. It will be when the truth is known.’ He turned and left the scriptorium abruptly.

Outside he met Brother Sigeric about to enter.

‘Brother Chilperic is working in there,’ Eadulf warned Brother Sigeric when the scribe looked surprised as Eadulf closed the door firmly.

‘Then by all means let us move to a place where we may talk freely,’ Brother Sigeric replied. They entered the main courtyard of the abbey and went to stand by the fountain. ‘I understand that you saw Abbess Audofleda again. Did she show you the letter from Valretrade?’

‘The letters were not formed just as you told us,’ Eadulf said, taking the birch bark from his marsupium and showing it to Brother Sigeric. ‘In fact, the same hand wrote all the notes from those married women who quit the community.’

‘I was right. Valretrade did not write it,’ the young man said after one glance. ‘I will swear to it.’ His face was anguished. ‘What could they have done with her? You are sure that she is not a prisoner of Audofleda?’

‘She is not in the Domus Femini ,’ confirmed Eadulf. ‘Nor are the other women and the children who have disappeared.’

‘But you believe all the disappearances are connected?’

I believe so.’ Then a thought occurred to Eadulf. ‘Tell me, do you know Brother Andica?’

‘The stonemason? Why do you ask?’

‘Does he have reason to be in the Domus Femini ?’

‘As a master stonemason he has to ensure the good repair of both sections of the abbey.’

‘Of course. I did not think.’ Eadulf felt a little disappointed at the easy explanation.

‘As a matter of fact, before the Rule of segregation was put in place by the bishop, there was a long gallery that linked the two sections of the building. It was Andica’s task to seal it, but to do so he had to work on both sides of the wall that he had built. So that would be the reason why he has free access.’

‘Do you mean that he is still working on this gallery?’

‘I am sure he is.’

‘And one can still pass between the two sections of the abbey? Then there is another way into the Domus Femini , apart from the underground method that you showed us?’

Immediately Brother Sigeric shook his head.

‘I am not sure about that. It is now called the forbidden gallery. We are not allowed into it. It should be sealed.’

‘Describe this gallery to me,’ prompted Eadulf.

‘It was a long passage that was said to be part of the original Roman building that stood on the site of the abbey. There are tall arches and an upper gallery on which some ancient statues stand. At the far end, the arched door leads into the Domus Femini but, as I say, I am sure that Brother Andica is supposed to have blocked it up. No one is allowed there any more, as it provides no useful function.’

Eadulf was contemplative.

Finally Brother Sigeric prompted: ‘What are you going to do about finding Valretrade?’

‘Once Fidelma has recovered…’ Eadulf began vaguely. He laid a hand on Brother Sigeric’s arm. ‘Don’t worry, we will find her,’ he said, trying to sound reassuring. ‘Leave it to us and say nothing further to anyone about this. We will keep you informed.’

Eadulf was still pondering gloomily on the subject the following morning when Fidelma rose, feeling her old self. The leg was tender but the swelling had receded and she was able to move freely. A good sign was that her appetite had returned and she made an excellent attempt at breaking her fast. Brother Gebicca came by soon afterwards, checked the wound and pronounced himself satisfied.

‘The poison is dispersed and there are no signs of any residual matters. The tenderness should be entirely gone by tomorrow.’

After Brother Gebicca had left, Fidelma made Eadulf sit down and go through his encounter with Abbess Audofleda and its consequences again. He had done so the previous evening but her mind had still been hazy. Now she listened for the most part in silence, questioning only to amplify on a point here and there. Eadulf also told her of Brother Andica, of Sister Inginde, of Sister Radegund’s relationship to Beretrude and, finally, of the warning that Brother Chilperic had given that Bishop Leodegar was ready to cancel their investigation.

‘That must not happen,’ Fidelma said forcefully. ‘We know that there is more to this matter than Cadfan and Ordgar. Verbas of Peqini is lurking around the villa of Beretrude. Why? Sister Radegund is related to Beretrude and we now learn that all the married women and their children have left the community. Some have been seen entering Beretrude’s villa. I think something very sinister is happening.’

She was silent in thought a moment before she said: ‘I am intrigued with this gallery that Sigeric mentioned. When Brother Chilperic took us around the abbey to acquaint us with it, he neglected to show us this.’

‘As it is sealed up and no one can pass between the abbey and the women’s community, perhaps it was not considered important enough. I am told it is called the forbidden gallery.’

‘Nevertheless, we must ensure that this is the truth of the matter rather than rely on hearsay. Do you know where it is?’

‘I know roughly from Sigeric’s description.’

‘Then let us make that our first priority of the day.’

One thing that Fidelma knew Eadulf was good at was spatial concepts. He could look at a building and know its geography without having to spend time exploring it. He had correctly guessed where the abbey buildings were joined together, having observed the forbidding outside walls and then translated this into the internal geography. He was able to conduct Fidelma through the large and now empty refectory hall, beyond the kitchens and through the storerooms. Everywhere seemed deserted. He paused, examining some passages, and then moved into a hall that was filled with stone dust and some blocks of limestone and even marble. There were masonry tools piled here and there but the place seemed unoccupied.

‘The gallery must lead from the end of this hall, beyond those doors,’ pointed Eadulf in satisfaction.

The doors were unlocked and, as Eadulf opened them, both Fidelma and he drew a quick breath as they surveyed the long passage that spread before them. It was broad but seemed narrow because of the vaulted roof rising some fifteen metres from the floor level, supported by ten tall pillars on either side, fluted like great Roman columns, pushing upwards. An arch connected each pillar. Behind the arches, some ten metres from the floor, a gallery seemed to run, its floor level with the base of the arch. In the centre of each arch stood a statue of some sort, five of them along each side. They seemed to be of men in the military attire of Ancient Rome. The floor of this passageway was of small coloured pieces of stone, an intricate mosaic as they had seen in Rome. At the far end was a large arch that looked as though doors had once stood beneath it but now it was blocked by stones that had obviously been placed there recently.

‘It looks as if Brother Sigeric was right,’ Eadulf observed, as they walked along the forty metres of the passage. ‘This way has been blocked off.’

They paused before the stone-filled doorway.

‘Leodegar is certainly a fanatic about segregating the sexes,’ mused Fidelma. ‘I wonder why he fears women so much?’