Peter Tremayne - Master of Souls

Fidelma pursed her lips cynically.

‘I have come across many such cases where a dispute of ideas leads to a clash of personalities and the growth of hate. Who disputed with him? Let us start somewhere in unravelling this mystery.’

Abbot Erc was shaking his head.

‘Surely you know his scholastic reputation, Sister? No one would… I refuse to believe in such a possibility.’

Fidelma spoke with suppressed irritation.

‘I am not asking questions to while away the time,’ she said pointedly. ‘I know very well the reputation of the Venerable Cinaed. I have read his discourse on the Computus Cummianus and De Trinatate Interpretatio Perversa. While the old saying goes that fame is more lasting than life, nevertheless, he is dead. He has been murdered and the culprit must be found to make amends according to our law, of which I am a representative.’

There was a silence. A young Sister of the Faith had not spoken to the old abbot in such a tone before. He flushed in anger.

Brother Cu Mara, the steward, moved forward nervously.

‘The Venerable Cinaed encouraged lively debate and questioning, lady.’ The steward stressed the title in recognition of her secular authority with a glance at the abbot. ‘He liked to be questioned sharply and was just as sharp in his replies.’

Abbot Erc, reminded of Fidelma’s authority, recovered his equilibrium. ‘My rechtaire is correct. Some of our most renowned debates have seen many scholars gather here; scholars from many colleges in the land — even from the great college of Mungret.’

Fidelma had always wanted to visit Mungret, which lay in the heart of Ui Fidgente territory. It had been founded by Nessan, a disciple of Patrick

The challengers came upon the ‘washerwomen’ at work by the stream. When the challengers found out that the ‘washerwomen’ could speak excellent Latin and Greek and could debate easily with them, they decided they should withdraw. If the washerwomen of Mungret were so learned, what hope had they of debating with the scholars of Mungret?

‘Something amuses you, Sister?’ snapped Abbot Erc.

Fidelma drew herself back to the present.

‘Just a story I had heard,’ she replied.

‘These debates provoked no animosity?’ queried Eadulf.

‘None at all,’ said the abbot. ‘The Venerable Mac Faosma attended many. You may ask him.’

Fidelma raised her head sharply.

‘The Venerable Mac Faosma of Magh Bhile? What do you mean? Does he dwell in this abbey?’

‘Indeed he does. Do you know him?’ replied the abbot in surprise.

‘I know of him. He was spoken of with the same reverence as the Venerable Cinaed. It is astonishing that you have… had,’ she corrected herself, ‘two great philosophers at your abbey.’

The old abbot gestured as if dismissing the point.

‘Ard Fhearta is the home of many good scholars,’ he said shortly.

‘Of course,’ Fidelma replied with a smile. ‘But what is a man of Ulaidh doing here in the country of the Ui Fidgente?’

Once more, to cover the old abbot’s ill composure, it was Brother Cu Mara who answered her.

‘The Venerable Mac Faosma came here three years ago. This was the country in which he had been born. He trained here and then the peregrinatio pro Christo took him to study at Finnian’s great school at Magh

‘So he is not teaching here?’

‘Indeed, he does so now and then. As the abbot says, he took part and even presided in many of our scholastic debates.’

‘How was his relationship with the Venerable Cinaed?’

Brother Cu Mara suddenly looked uncomfortable and glanced at Abbot Erc.

‘He did not agree with everything that the Venerable Cinaed taught.’

Fidelma actually smiled mischievously at the formula of the words.

‘As, indeed, your abbot confesses was his attitude. Well, I do not doubt it. I cannot see room for agreement here with the Venerable Cinaed’s argument for monotheism and his dismissal of the triune godship. That would have been anathema to the Venerable Mac Faosma.’

Abbot Erc seemed surprised by her knowledge but allowed his steward to reply.

‘There were some lively arguments…’ the young steward acknowledged. He caught sight of the abbot’s frown and added: ‘I mean, lively discussions between the two of them.’

Eadulf hid a smile. ‘So not everyone saw this Venerable Cinaed in terms of sweetness and light?’

Abbot Erc cast an irritable look at him. ‘What are you implying, Brother? That the Venerable Mac Faosma killed him because of a disagreement on the subject of the Holy Trinity?’

‘The choice of the term Holy Trinity implies that you, too, did not favour the Venerable Cinaed’s argument for monotheism?’ Fidelma could not resist the mischievous impulse to tease the stern-faced abbot.

Abbot Erc looked startled. ‘What are you saying? The Venerable Cinaed was my friend. Surely we can all hold different opinions without resorting to physical anger?’

‘That, indeed, is the objective we should strive for,’ agreed Fidelma calmly. ‘Alas, mankind often finds it easier to settle disagreements by showing who is physically stronger. Do we not have a saying that might will prevail over right?’

Abbot Erc sniffed. ‘So you think that the Venerable Cinaed was murdered because someone disagreed with his teachings?’

‘I did not say that,’ Fidelma replied. ‘On the other hand, such a theory cannot yet be discounted. Not until we have all the facts gathered in can

The young rechtaire said quickly: ‘Everyone was friendly with the Venerable Cinaed.’

‘He was a very popular man and the sort of man who, in spite of his scholastic status, was humble and approachable by everyone, from the cowherd to his fellow scholars,’ affirmed the abbot.

Fidelma sighed with impatience.

‘I am, of course, talking about particular friends,’ she said pointedly.

The abbot shrugged. ‘I was his friend, of course. We two have been longest in this abbey.’

‘Anyone else? Particular friends, that is?’

‘I knew him well in my capacity as rechtaire,’ offered Brother Cu Mara, ‘but I cannot say I was a close friend. And, of course, Sister Buan. She attended his wants for he was slightly frail. She cleaned and ran messages for him.’

Fidelma nodded. ‘Anyone else?’

‘I take it the Venerable Mac Faosma was not considered a friend?’ observed Eadulf.

Abbot Erc sighed impatiently. ‘Let it be said that Cinaed and Mac Faosma were like chalk and cheese. Cinaed was grounded in his philosophy while Mac Faosma preferred law and history. They both had views on each other’s subjects and argued them. They did not mix much within the abbey except at times of discussion and debate.’

‘Anyone else?’ repeated Fidelma.

‘Brother Eolas, naturally.’

‘Who is Brother Eolas? And why “naturally”?’ Fidelma pressed.

‘He is our librarian, the keeper of all the books we hold here.’

‘You mentioned a Sister Buan who attended to his wants. Who is she?’

A looked of disapproval formed on the face of the abbot and it was the rechtaire who replied.

‘One of our community.’ He seemed to hesitate, unwilling to expand further under the annoyed gaze of his abbot. ‘She… she is… was… a companion of the Venerable Cinaed,’ he ended lamely. ‘As well as helping him, she often travels the surrounding countryside to trade the goods made at the abbey.’

‘Isn’t that your business as steward?’

‘My business is to attend to the smooth running of the abbey. We

Abbot Erc continued to look uncomfortable and suddenly rose from his seat.

‘Since we have raised the subject, I am reminded that Sister Buan found something in the grate of the Venerable Cinaed on the day after the murder. It was a piece of burnt paper and she thought it might be a clue.’ He bent to a chest and took something from it. ‘I kept it just in case,’ he said.