Peter Tremayne - A Prayer for the Damned

‘I do not think that Ard Macha will be strong enough to insist on that moral authority during our lifetimes,’ replied Fidelma with gravity.

‘Speaking of Sister Sétach, you never explained to me exactly what she was doing in Dúnchad Muirisci’s chamber when you and Eadulf went to see him?’

‘Exactly what they told us she was doing.’ Fidelma smiled. ‘She had gone to see him on Drón’s behalf, Drón believing he had succeeded as the new abbot of Cill Ria, to reach some sort of truce in the disagreement between Connacht and the abbey. Sometimes, even the most suspicious circumstances turn out to have a simple explanation, and those involved tell the truth.’

There was a silence between brother and sister for a few moments, and then Fidelma asked: ‘I presume that Brother Berrihert and his brothers still have permission to stay in the glen of Eatharlaí?’

‘Miach has given assurances that can do so. They can remain there for the rest of their lives in peace if they so wish. But speaking of life — ’ Colgu suddenly grinned, ‘your life, Fidelma — before everyone disperses, we still have several distinguished guests awaiting a celebration.’

Fidelma coloured faintly. ‘I had not forgotten. I think that you may safely go ahead with the delayed arrangements for tomorrow morning. I’d better find Eadulf so that we can prepare.’

Eadulf was not in their chambers when Fidelma returned. Only, Muirgen was there, with little Alchú. Fidelma spent a short time playing with the baby before Muirgen took him away to allow her some time to rest. Moodily, she crossed to the window and gazed down into the courtyard. At that moment, the door burst open and an excited-looking Eadulf hurried in.

‘Have you heard the news? Apparently Abbot Augaire has fled the fortress. I’ve just been talking to Caol. He was last seen heading south. No one seems bothered to go after him.’

Fidelma turned from the window. ‘I don’t think anyone is unduly worried about Augaire.’

Eadulf stared at her calm features in disbelief.

‘You don’t believe that he should be punished? he demanded in surprise.

‘Our system is not about punishment but about recompense for victims and rehabilitation for the culprit,’ she reminded him. ‘You should know that by now, Eadulf.’

‘I understand that, but. .’

‘Ultán and Muirchertach should have faced the consequences of their evil deeds before now. Their Nemesis was Augaire. No one is mourning their passing and no one is going to lament the fact that Augaire has escaped to continue the life that was interrupted when he saw that poor girl, Searc, kill herself. He has probably suffered enough.’

Eadulf shook his head in bewilderment.

‘Can a man really feel such strong emotion for someone he does not even know? You said yourself that he saw her once, passing by, and then he saw her again after her death. Can he really have felt such strength of emotion for her that he waited all these years planning vengeance in her name?’

‘Love and hate are strong emotions, Eadulf. They strike in different ways. An idea is born in our minds and the idea then persists; it sometimes becomes uncontrollable. We cannot rid ourselves of it. It cannot be suppressed until we find that we are so obsessed that we are compelled to follow that idea wherever it leads us. Augaire fell in love with a shadow. Perhaps to us it was an insubstantial one, but to him it was very real. He became obsessed by it and was driven by his compulsion. To you and me, it was probably illusory. But then a lot of actions that are precipitated in our lives are but the children of dreams — our dreams or other people’s. Maybe that is what is meant when the fathers of the Faith talked about damnation? Well, I think we should all find a moment in our hearts to utter a prayer for the damned.’

Eadulf was not entirely persuaded by her argument.

‘Talking of love and hate, I suppose Marga and Fergus Fanat will get together now?’ he asked. ‘Even after the hearing, Fergus Fanat still pronounces his love for her.’

Fidelma turned back to the window where she had been looking down on the courtyard of the fortress below.

‘He thinks that he loves her,’ she replied. ‘I am not sure that it is good enough for Marga, because at the very moment she needed the great essential quality of love — belief in the beloved’s integrity and support for her against all adversity — he failed her. How can you love someone you think is a liar and a killer? For Marga, to find that the man who claimed he loved her also disbelieved her, even going so far as to denounce her while claiming it was for her own good. . well, how can Marga ever trust that man again?’

‘Do you mean that love must be blind?’

‘I mean that love is not a superficial emotion. Love is knowing someone, their faults as well as the good, and, above all, understanding them. Fergus Fanat did not know Marga. And Marga, if you recall, finally recognised that fact. No relationship can be built on mistrust.’

‘So there is no forgiveness for him?’

‘I would say not,’ confirmed Fidelma, glancing down through the window. ‘In fact, Fergus Fanat has missed his opportunity.’

Eadulf frowned. ‘You sound very positive about that fact.’

‘Come here and look down into the courtyard.’

Eadulf moved across the room to join her.

Below he could see Sister Marga standing, her head thrown back and apparently laughing at something a tall, broad-shouldered warrior with dark hair was saying. Eadulf raised his brows and glanced at Fidelma.

‘Gormán?’

‘Why not?’ She smiled. ‘I understand that the girl is going to stay with Delia for a while before considering where her future lies. I do not doubt that Gorman might convince her that she could have a worthy place at Cashel. Our library stands in need of another good scribe, for the girl writes a fair hand and translates in several languages.’

Eadulf watched the warrior and the young girl turn and, walking close together, move towards the stables. They could hear the girl’s warm laughter answering Gorman’s masculine tones.

It suddenly reminded him of something and he turned back to Fidelma. Before he could say anything there was a sharp knock at the door. Eadulf groaned. In answer to Fidelma’s call, the door opened, and old Brother Conchobhar put his head round it. He smiled brightly as he saw them standing together by the window.

‘The aspects were contrary,’ he said in an apologetic tone. ‘That was why you had the trouble during these last few days. But planets move on. Like time itself. Now all is well. The aspects are very favourable. It is the right time now. I thought that you might like to know.’

Eadulf grinned, glancing towards Fidelma.

‘It was always the right time, Brother Conchobhar,’ he said.