Peter Tremayne - The Leper's bell

‘Ah, I have heard of them,’ agreed Eadulf. However, the chieftain was disposed to continue.

‘Brother Basil Nestorios was his name,’ he went on. ‘His companion, whose name was Brother Tanaide, told me that this Basil Nestorios was a healer from lands in the east. He boasted, or rather Brother Tanaide boasted on his behalf, that he could cure leprosy by his potions and herbs. He was a probably a madman, but most foreigners are…’

He suddenly realised what he had said and glanced at Eadulf to see if he had taken offence.

‘Anyone else?’ pressed Eadulf, ignoring the remark. ‘We are particularly interested in anyone who carried a baby with them.’

Fiachrae shook his head. ‘No one has passed here carrying a solitary baby.’

Eadulf sat back, disappointed.

There was a movement at the door. Fidelma entered, having washed and changed into dry clothing.

‘I am sorry to be so long, Fiachrae,’ she said, coming to the fire and taking her seat before Fiachrae could rise from his chair.

‘Do not worry, cousin. I have been entertaining our Saxon friend with stories of our history, and how it is that this small spot ensured the prosperity of the Eóghanacht.’

Fidelma grimaced. ‘The story of our ancestor Fiachrae son of Eóghan? The story of Cnoc Loinge and the siege is one of the sagas of our kingdom. I remember that you are fond of telling it.’ There was a sense of weariness in her voice as if Fiachrae and his storytelling were well known to her and not really appreciated.

The chieftain beamed a little and rose, moving to the side table.

‘Mead to keep out the cold after your immersion in the stream?’ he offered.

‘I do not wish to seem an ungracious guest, Fiachrae, but I had expected Capa and the others to have returned by now. Surely, the fair is not so large?’

‘It gets larger each year as our prosperity grows. But three pairs of eyes should have accomplished the task of finding a leper.’ His grin broadened as he saw her frown. ‘We have had a long talk, Eadulf and I. He has told me of your quest. You have but to instruct me and if it is in my power, I will accomplish the task.’

Fidelma glanced towards Eadulf and then seemed to relax.

‘You are gracious, Fiachrae.’

‘As I was telling Eadulf here, I know of every stranger who has come to the fair. It is my duty. Your brother, our king, charged me with it after the victory at Cnoc Áine. No lepers are in attendance at the fair today. And the dwarfs are only crossan?

The corners of Fidelma’s mouth turned down and she glanced disapprovingly at Eadulf.

‘Doubtless my fer comtha has been asking what strangers have been passing through your settlement and whether any carried babies.’

Fiachrae suppressed a chuckle.

‘Sharp as ever, cousin. He has.’

He had poured a second mug of mead for Eadulf without asking him and thrust it into his hand. Eadulf took it automatically.

‘And what was your answer?’ Fidelma asked coldly.

‘No one has passed through with a single baby that was not theirs.’

She was about to rise when one of Fiachrae’s men entered unannounced into the tent and hurried to up him. He seemed slightly breathless.

‘Fiachrae, there has been a killing,’ he said without preamble.

The chieftain’s brows drew together in surprise.

‘What? Who? Speak up, man.’

‘The Cashel warrior, Capa, sent me to inform you and the lady Fidelma that she should come at once. They have found a body on the far side of the fair ground.’

‘Capa? Is he hurt? Is he or one of his men involved?’ demanded Fidelma, rising immediately with Eadulf and Fiachrae.

The messenger shook his head. ‘No, lady, he and his men were not involved, other than that they found the body and now ask me to take you to them.’

‘Lead on, then.’

The messenger hurried forward with the three of them close behind, moving swiftly between the stalls and across a wooden plank bridge spanning the stream that acted as a border to the fair ground. After a short distance, on the far side, the forest of dark yews, holly and leafless blackthorns began. One of Capa’s men, Caol, stood on the edge of the wood and waved to them immediately.

This way, lady,’ he called.

It was only a short distance along a narrow path before they came across Capa and Gorman, who was looking unnaturally pale.

By the side of the path was a small area where bushes of dogwood, still in its autumnal blood-red shoots and crimson leaves, grew among a number of ashwood stumps. Someone had obviously cut the ash trees in the past, for the stumps were old and covered with black crampballs of inedible fungus.

Capa pointed dramatically downwards.

‘We have found him, lady,’ he said simply.

There was no need to ask whom.

The body of a very short man with a large head, clad in a religious robe, lay flat on its back surrounded by a mass of orange peel fungus which seemed to lend a surreal quality to the image, making a bright frame for the dead little body.

There was no need to ask how the dwarf had met his death. The cord which had fastened his robe at the waist was still knotted in garrotte fashion round his neck. The features were distorted, the skin mottled and almost blackened, and the tongue protruding between the teeth.

Quiet!’ snapped Fidelma, as several voices began to speak at once. She moved forward and knelt by the side of the body. The dwarf had a young face in spite of the distortion of the garrotting. He had dark hair and there was no sign of a religious tonsure. The body was still warm to the touch. Not long dead. She noticed a piece of metal half hidden by the body and reached for it. It came away with a musical chime. It was a small bronze bell with a wooden handle. She looked at it for a few minutes before placing it on the ground beside her and then she carefully examined the hands and face of the body. As she did so a puzzled frown began to crease her brow.

To the surprise of the watchers, she began to pull open the robes, slowly and carefully, to reveal the flesh of the body. In silence they watched her make her examination, and then she replaced the robe over the little body and stood up.

‘Is there a physician here in Cnoc Loinge?’ she asked Fiachrae.

The chieftain had been watching her in bewilderment and now shook his head.

‘There is a herbalist and there is the man who dresses corpses for burial. The nearest physician resides in the abbey of Imleach.’

‘Have the herbalist take the body to a place where he can examine it thoroughly. I want his report within the hour.’

‘What is he to look for?’

‘He is to report whether this man had any afflictions.’

Fiachrae turned to the attendant who had brought them hither and repeated the order. The man went off at a trot.

Fidelma had turned back to the warriors.

‘Now, how was this body discovered?’

Gorman shuffled his feet awkwardly.

‘I discovered it, lady.’

‘How was that?’ asked Fidelma sharply. ‘This spot is well away from the fair ground, where you were asked to search. The body is hidden in this wood.’

‘Indeed. When you left us, Capa told us to separate to complete our search more quickly. I had been wandering through the fair for some time when Capa came to me and told me that a woman had reported that she had seen a dwarf in religious robes with a leper’s bell lurking in the woods in this direction. He sent me to see if there was truth in the report.’

Capa made to intervene but Fidelma raised her hand to silence him.

‘Go on, Gorman.’

‘I came here and began to look round. The body was not exactly hidden and so I came upon it quite easily.’