Peter Tremayne - Master of Souls

‘The lord Conri and two of his warriors accompanied us here. They will be wanting beds,’ Fidelma pointed out.

‘The warriors will doubtless make do with beds in the dormitory.’ Sister Sinnchene’s voice was brisk and business-like. ‘If you will choose your chamber, Sister, I shall return and tell you when the water is heated.’

She moved off in a brisk fashion.

Fidelma went into the corridor. There were three or four cell-like rooms leading off it, each only big enough for a cot-like bed and little else. She entered the first room and threw her bag down on the bed with a sigh. Eadulf took the next room and followed Fidelma back to the main chamber, where she sank into the nearest chair.

‘While we have this moment alone,’ she said abruptly, ‘you’d best tell me what troubles you.’

Eadulf raised his eyebrows.

‘Should anything trouble me?’ he asked in feigned innocence.

Fidelma grimaced with annoyance.

‘All through the journey here you have been as querulous as an old woman. It would be better to say what is on your mind now rather than leave it until later.’

Eadulf hesitated, shrugged and sat down opposite her.

‘What troubles me is the same matter that has troubled me since Conri came to Cashel,’ he said heavily.

‘Which is?’ prompted Fidelma sharply.

‘It is barely a few weeks since our son, Alchu, was abducted. Thanks be to God that we recovered him safely. We had scarcely reunited as a family, scarcely made it back to safety in Cashel. It was clearly time to settle down for a while. Then along comes Conri and you decide to go charging off into dangerous territory. This area may still be within your brother’s kingdom but it is an area that has been in constant rebellion against him. And all because this Conri pleads with you to do so.’

Fidelma returned his gaze with an expression of sadness. For a moment, Eadulf recognised the hurt in her eyes.

‘Eadulf,’ her voice was heavy with emphasis, ‘I am Alchu’s mother. Do you think I care nothing about my son? My pain in leaving him in Cashel dalaigh. That is my training, that is my skill in life. You know the problems that my brother has had with the Ui Fidgente. Now I am presented with an ideal means to build on the fragile peace between Cashel and this wild people. Conri, the warlord of the Ui Fidgente, came to Cashel seeking my help as a dalaigh. By extending that help to him, I will strengthen the move to reunite my brother’s kingdom.’

Eadulf saw her argument but his personal feelings did not allow him to be convinced by it.

‘I could understand that if all else had been equal for us but it is not so,’ he protested. ‘It is only a matter of weeks since we settled down at Cashel, united as a family again, and started to plan the ceremony by which we will be permanently bound together, which was supposed to be on the feast of Imbolc, when the ewes come into milk. On that day you were supposed to become my cetmuintir.’

For nearly a year now Fidelma and Eadulf had been joined as ban charrthach and fer comtha, partners for a year and a day, a legal marriage under the law, but a temporary one. After a year and a day, if incompatible, they could go their separate ways without blame and without payment of compensation to one another.

Fidelma examined Eadulf with a sad expression.

‘Do you have cause to doubt that it will happen?’ she asked softly.

Eadulf raised an arm in a brief gesture almost of helplessness and let it fall.

‘Sometimes I am not so sure. We seem to be constantly drifting from one drama to another.’

‘Then let me tell you this,’ Fidelma said earnestly. ‘It was my brother’s wish that I should come here, not my response to Conri, which would have not been enthusiastic in the circumstances. My brother is king. My decision was made in response to the wishes of the king. I tried to explain that to you before we set out.’ As Eadulf opened his mouth to reply, she held up her hand, as if to silence him, and went on. ‘A resolution of this particular drama, as I said, is important to my brother’s kingdom, Eadulf. And since we have arrived here at Ard Fhearta we find the drama has intensified because the Venerable Cinaed has been murdered. The Venerable Cinaed is known and respected throughout all five kingdoms and is admired by the High King himself. His death will create a greater

Fidelma’s brother, Colgu, had certainly made the political importance of helping Conri clear enough when they had spoken together. If Cashel could respond to an Ui Fidgente call for help in solving the mystery at the abbey of Ard Fhearta, it would be important in helping to heal the rift that had for so long set the rulers of the Ui Fidgente and the kings of Muman against one another.

‘I know what Colgu has argued,’ acknowledged Eadulf with asperity. ‘He is not the one who has had to enter Ui Fidgente country without escort and chance the dangers…’

Fidelma suddenly smiled mischievously.

‘Why, Eadulf! Are you saying that you are solely concerned for my safety?’

Eadulf grimaced in irritation at her levity. Then he said: ‘I am concerned for the safety of both of us. The warriors of your brother’s guard should have escorted us. Men we could trust. Now we have to rely on Conri and the goodwill of the Ui Fidgente.’

Fidelma shook her head in disagreement. ‘I put my trust in Conri.’

‘I remember very clearly my time as a prisoner of the Ui Fidgente. You cannot expect me to trust them.’

‘Yet you went alone through Ui Fidgente territory in search of Alchu,’ Fidelma reminded him. ‘You were not concerned with safety then.’

‘I had only myself to worry about. You were safe in Cashel.’ Fidelma shook her head, smiling.

‘As it turned out, I was not,’ she reminded him. ‘I was a prisoner of the rebel Ui Fidgente myself. And it was Conri who helped me escape.’

‘Fidelma, I will never win an argument with you.’ Eadulf raised his hands as if fending off some imaginary attacker. ‘I should know better than to try. Since we are here, let me be at peace with my concerns.’

‘That I will find hard,’ Fidelma replied solemnly. ‘Anyway, we shall soon be meeting Abbot Erc. I hope you will overcome any antagonism you feel. There appears enough antagonism here as it is. I need your mind and support to help me in this matter. Remember Muirgen and Nessan are nursing little Alchu in the safety of my brother’s fortress. The plans that we have set for the feast day of Imbolc remain in place and they will happen. And here we are, together, with a problem to face and to solve. What better situation can there be?’

Eadulf reluctantly smiled at her infectious enthusiasm.

‘Very well, Fidelma. I will put a curb on my fears. But I shall look forward to the day when we can return to Cashel.’

There was a movement at the door as Sister Sinnchene returned.

‘The water will be ready when you are, Sister.’

‘Excellent.’ Fidelma rose immediately, picking up her ciorbholg, her comb-bag in which all Irish women carried their toilet articles. ‘Show me to this bathhouse, Sister, for I am ready now.’

Sister Sinnchene led Fidelma along the corridor to a room in which stood a large wooden tub called the dabach. It was already steaming. A cauldron of water was simmering on a fire in the far corner. There were shelves on which were displayed bars of sleic and linen cloths. Nearby were little jars of oil and extracts of sweet-smelling herbs boiled into a liquid to anoint the body. The place was well equipped with a scaterc — a mirror of fine polished metal — and a selection of clean combs.

‘I shall attend you, if it is your wish,’ said the young sister.

Fidelma nodded absently. It was usual to have an attendant to pour the heated water and pass soap and drying cloths.