Peter Tremayne - The Leper's bell

‘Why?’

‘We have never played in Cashel and so I decided to visit it before the company went there. I wanted to know whether it was a suitable place. Unfortunately, I was late reaching there. It was late afternoon and already dark. I knew that I could only spare a short time the following morning to look at the township. There was some disturbance going on and I felt it better to leave with a band of pilgrims who were heading west. I merely glanced round the main area of the township and then joined them at the inn.’

‘And you travelled to Cashel in your guise of Brother Forindain the Leper?’

Forindain grimaced. ‘I often find it a useful method of travelling. It keeps people at a distance, as there are many in the land who think they can take advantage of one of my size. We do not dwell in a perfect world.’

‘True enough,’ agreed Eadulf, seeing the logic of the explanation.

‘Why was your brother clad in your costume?’ Fidelma asked the question with sudden sharpness.

Forindain blinked.

‘We were preparing for the performance later this afternoon,’ he replied after a moment’s hesitation. ‘We always perform stories of the Faylinn, the little people, as it suits the whimsy of our presentation. I always play Brother Forindain the Leper. Iubdán often likes to try his hand at other parts and, in this manner, we can insure if one or other of our company is ill. There is always someone who can step into his or her part. So, this morning, Iubdán took my robe and bell and went off into the woods to rehearse.’

‘And he paid with his life,’ Fidelma said quietly. ‘He was mistaken for you.’

Eadulf looked shocked. He had not reached that conclusion at all.

‘You have a quick mind, Sister … I mean, lady,’ the dwarf said slowly. It was obvious that the thought had occurred to him. ‘But I do not understand why he was killed — or, rather, why anyone would want to kill me.’

‘It was for something you did at Cashel,’ replied Fidelma.

The dwarf looked puzzled. ‘Nothing happened at Cashel.’

‘Think back. Something happened to you,’ pressed Fidelma.

‘Little of consequence, except that I earned myself a screpall and then slept in a barn before joining the pilgrims who were going to Imleach. I prefer to travel on my own but, as I said, with the fuss going on, I could become anonymous among the pilgrims. I utilised their company on the road to Imleach. Company, I should say, in the broadest sense for I walked a distance behind them with my bell to serve as warning should they come too close. It is amazing how quickly one can travel as a leper.’

‘Very well,’ Fidelma said. ‘Let us return to Cashel. How did you earn the screpall?’

The dwarf shrugged. ‘I was simply asked to take a message to the palace — that would be the palace of your brother, lady. I was to find a woman called Sárait and convey the message that her sister needed to see her urgently. That was all.’

‘How was it that you were chosen to take this message?’

‘I was walking through the square of the township, it was dusk, and I had barely arrived in the place. There was little to see, so I went straight to the inn. I was approaching it when a hound bounded out at me.’ The dwarf sounded bitter. ‘It frequently happens. Often it is no accident. People can be cruel. They will release their hounds on purpose. Anyway, a woman called it off. She was standing in the shadows by the inn. Then she spoke to me. She offered me a screpall if I would take a message to the palace. I was to ask for a nursemaid called Sárait and tell her that Gobnat wanted to see her at once and urgently. I think it was her way of compensating me for the action of her hound. Well, it was too early for sleep, and I did not want to draw comment on myself by going into the inn at that time. Above all a screpall was a screpall’

‘Did the woman see you were dressed as a leper?’

‘I’d given up that part for the moment as I wanted to eat in comfort in the inn.’

‘You say this woman was in the shadows of the inn?’

‘By the inn. Just outside.’

‘Did she tell you why she was unable go herself to the palace with the message?’

‘I did not ask when money was offered.’

‘How did you deliver this message?’

‘She told me that the guards at the palace would ask too many questions. I should pretend that I was a mute. Well, I have acted mutes before. But I asked her how I could tell the guards who I wanted to see if I was to be a mute. It seems that she was already prepared. She pulled a piece of bark from her marsupium and handed it to me. It had writing on it.’

‘What did it say exactly?’

‘It said, “I am sent to see Sárait.” Something like that. I can’t swear to the exact words.’

‘And the guard passed you through the gate when you showed it to him?’

‘He did.’

‘How did you convey the idea that you were mute?’

The dwarf laughed. ‘How does any player convey concepts but with mime?’

‘How did you find Sárait?’

‘I had been instructed by the guard how to find her chamber. No one bothered me and I found it. She was alone so I was able to tell her the message.’

‘Which was?’

‘As I have said, that she should not delay but go at once to her sister for she needed to see her urgently.’

‘That was all?’

‘That was the message.’

‘How would you have delivered the message had you found that Sárait was not alone?’ Eadulf interrupted. ‘And you pretending that you were mute?’

Forindain grimaced wearily. ‘Then I had to use my own judgement. But she was alone and so I told her. I can also read and write, you know.’ His voice was slightly patronising. ‘We players are quite literate.’

‘Did you wait to accompany the woman, Sárait, back to the village?’ Fidelma asked.

Forindain shook his head immediately. ‘I had earned my screpall and went back to the inn. I was tempted to use it for a good room there but I didn’t.’

Fidelma sighed deeply. ‘So you went back to the inn after delivering the message?’

‘I had corma and a bowl of soup. I saw some pilgrims, and heard them talking about walking to Imleach. Then I left and went to one of the barns. It was less expensive than the inn. I found a warm place among the straw. I did not wake until I heard the noise of people in the yard. I saw some warriors speaking with the pilgrims. They left. I spoke to the leader of the pilgrims and he accepted me as a travelling companion. I had a short time to look round the township and then I joined them as they set off on the highway. At that stage, I decided to play the leper’s part again as it is fine for travelling on the road but no so good in getting accommodation and food.’

‘But you heard nothing? There was no outcry?’

‘Outcry?’ The dwarf rubbed his chin. ‘There was, as I say, some fuss and some warriors seem to be searching for someone. I did not enquire too closely what it was about. I was into my leper’s role at the time so did not really speak to anyone. What am I supposed to have done?’

There was a pause and then Fidelma nodded to Eadulf who answered: ‘When Sárait left the palace, she walked to meet her murderer.’

Forindain blinked rapidly.

‘I did not kill her. I did not know her. What I said is true,’ he said.

‘There is more,’ interrupted Fidelma. ‘She was nurse to my baby and, finding no one to look after it, she carried the child with her. Since then, my baby has vanished.’

The little dwarf moaned a little.

‘I … I was not involved in this. I simply carried a message, lady. I was not part of it…’