Peter Tremayne - The Leper's bell

‘Someone has gone to tell her. Much has happened since you left, Brother Eadulf.’

Eadulf frowned when he saw no lightening of the serious expression on the other’s face.

‘This should be a moment of joy, Caol. Yet you seem unhappy.’

‘Everyone has been wondering why you left Cashel so quickly.’

‘Haven’t an itinerant herbalist and his wife arrived in Cashel?’

Caol stared at him a moment as if he did not understand. Then he shrugged.

‘I am told that travelling players and a herbalist are encamped outside the town, ready for the forthcoming fair day.’

‘And they have not spoken to anyone yet?’

Caol shook his head.

‘Well, I’ll explain when we get to the palace,’ said Eadulf. ‘Meanwhile, we can rejoice at the safe return of Alchú.’

‘There are many questions to be answered first.’ Caol turned to Gormán. ‘And I suppose that you have a good excuse for deserting Cashel at this time?’

Gormán flushed. ‘I felt my duty was to go in support of Brother Eadulf.’ There was a slight note of defiance in his voice at the censure implied by his comrade’s words.

‘And were it not for Gormán,’ added Eadulf, ‘I and my good friend Basil Nestorios,’ he nodded to his companion, who was looking bewildered, ‘would not be here at all.’

‘And who are these others?’ asked Caol.

‘They are a shepherd and his wife, who have come to look after Alchú on our journey back to Cashel.’ There was anger in Eadulf’s voice now. ‘What is wrong? Why this strange greeting when you should be filled with joy for Fidelma and myself?’

Caol looked at him apologetically.

‘Eadulf of Seaxmund’s Ham, I am acting on the orders of the Brehon Dathal, Chief Brehon of the kingdom. I have no other choice but to make you my prisoner. You have been charged with murder.’

Eadulf gasped in astonishment.

‘Murder? Of whom?’ he demanded.

‘Of Bishop Petrán.’

Eadulf sat on the single cot in his cell-like chamber in the section of the palace given over to prisoners and hostages. The final leg of the journey to Cashel had been a curious experience. Fidelma had arrived soon after Caol. After fussing over the baby, she, too, appeared shocked when Caol told her that Eadulf was formally a prisoner. She demanded on whose authority Caol was acting and, when told that it was on the specific order of Brehon Dathal, had told Eadulf not to worry and gone riding off like a mad thing towards the palace.

Caol had been correct in his behaviour and during the time he rode as escort with Eadulf he sought to bring him up to date on all that had happened during his absence. When they arrived at Cashel, Eadulf was led immediately to the area where prisoners were kept and told he must wait for Brehon Dathal to question him. Caol promised to take Muirgen and Nessán directly to Fidelma and also to look after Basil Nestorios. Capa, he was told, would probably reprimand Gormán, as he was commander of the guard. With little more ado, Eadulf had been left to his own devices in the small stone chamber. He felt a black despair. He had endured so much, and now to be falsely accused of killing the old bishop … His mind went back to his false imprisonment in the abbey of Fearna. Fidelma had come to his rescue then, but now he was imprisoned in the palace of Fidelma’s own brother and charged by his chief judge. Despair and anger fought within him but despair had the upper hand.

Several hours seemed to pass before the door opened abruptly and Fidelma appeared.

He sprang towards her and for a few moments they held each other tight.

‘How is the boy?’ he asked.

Fidelma smiled. There were tears in her eyes.

‘He is fine. Muirgen and her husband Nessán are still looking after him. They have Sárait’s old chamber next to ours. They have told me their part in the story. I have also been talking to Basil Nestorios. I can’t wait to hear the full tale from you. But first we must deal with this matter. This is all Brehon Dathal’s doing.’

‘You must know that I would not harm old Bishop Petrán.’

‘I know that. The trouble is that Dathal is Chief Brehon. He has authority, even over my brother to some extent. I am waiting to see Colgú. He does not know what has happened yet as he is in council with Conrí, the Uí Fidgente warlord.’

‘I heard that Conrí was here. I must hear all about that from you.’

‘It is a long story. But let me ask you first what it was that took you to the abbey of Coimán? In other words, why did you leave Cashel? Brehon Dathal is claiming it was because you killed the old man.’

‘That is sheer nonsense. I went to find Conchoille, the woodsman-’

‘Who says you never saw him.’

Eadulf nodded quickly. ‘That is true. I went to the inn where Conchoille said he had supper on the night he found Sárait-’

‘Ferloga’s inn at Rath na Drínne?’

‘The same. Ferloga told me of itinerants who were encamped in the wood. But they only had one baby with them …’

Fidelma’s eyes brightened with excitement.

‘And when we went to Ara’s Well we were told these itinerants had two babies?’ she said.

‘Exactly! I knew that they were heading towards the abbey of Coimán, so I left the note for you and hurried after them. It was a desperate lead, but our only one. It turned out that I was correct. They were innocent in their intent and they are now here at the camping ground with the crossan to explain matters. Their names are Corb and Corbnait.’

‘I will go to see them.’

‘One other thing. Gormán will give you the details … but Fiachrae of Cnoc Loinge is a traitor to your brother.’

Fidelma looked shocked, and then she said quickly: ‘I want to hear it all in detail. But first we must secure your release.’

‘How am I supposed to have killed Petrán?’

‘By poison. I am told that Brehon Dathal is coming to question you. Do not worry. We shall have you free soon.’

Eadulf sighed deeply. ‘In the short time that I have been here in this cell, Fidelma, I have thought much. On the ride back from the bridge Caol told me roughly what had happened with you and Conrí. Is it true?’

‘That Conrí rescued me? It is true.’

‘And if Sárait was not murdered during the kidnapping of our child and Alchú was simply left to perish in the woods, as the travellers claimed, why was Sárait lured out of the palace to her death in the first place? Who killed her?’ Eadulf leant forward and laid a hand on her arm. ‘Think about this, Fidelma. We employed Sárait to be a wet nurse to young Alchú, didn’t we?’

Fidelma made an impatient gesture. ‘You know we did.’

‘But when?’

‘From the time he was born. Six months ago. What is there to think about on that matter?’

Eadulf regarded her with an intent look for a moment.

‘I had overlooked the point until it was proposed to me that I needed a wet nurse to look after the baby on the journey to Cashel,’ he said quietly. ‘When we employed Sárait her own child was very recently dead. It was stillborn, according to her account. Alchú was born six months ago and she was able to feed him.’

Fidelma was trying to follow his thoughts. ‘And?’

‘Who was the father of Sárait’s baby?’

‘Why, Callada, of course, who was…’ She paused and stared back.

Eadulf gave a small smile of triumph. ‘Who was killed at Cnoc Aine,’ he said softly. ‘Exactly so.’

Fidelma exhaled slowly. ‘Gormán? You think he was the father?’

‘I have not asked him yet.’

‘I see,’ she said softly. Then she shook herself, almost like a dog shaking itself after being immersed in water. ‘But the first task I must set myself is to find out why Brehon Dathal has had you incarcerated. Don’t worry, I shall get you released soon.’