Peter Tremayne - The Haunted Abbot

Eadulf felt a chill run through him and quickly crossed himself.

Wiglaf caught sight of his action and guffawed.

‘No need to seek the protection of the Almighty, gerefa,’ he said. ‘That is only-’

‘I know what it is,’ snapped Eadulf in annoyance. ‘ Ignis fatuus …’

‘Aye, fool’s fire. We call it firedrake.’

‘I said, I know what it is. But can you explain why it is?’

‘The marsh dwellers have many tales to tell about firedrake.’ Wiglaf smiled. ‘I believe none of them. If I did, I would neverventure into the marshlands at all, far less ride them in dead of night. Look, it has already vanished.’

Eadulf shivered and nearly crossed himself again but he did not want to give his companion the opportunity to mock him. In his youth the ignis fatuus was called corpse fire for it was said that the spirit of the troubled dead rose in the form of a blue flame to appear to those from whom it wished to seek justice. Indeed, at this very time, the beginning of the feast of Yule, the gods and goddesses allowed wronged spirits to visit their vengeance on the living.

‘Anyway,’ Wiglaf was saying, ‘from those trees ahead you will see the lantern outside the gate of the abbey. A short ride, that is all. Have courage, gerefa!’

Eadulf opened his mouth to chide the insolence of the thief, but Wiglaf turned his horse and went trotting back along the track into the darkness.

Eadulf glanced again across the marshes but saw no sign of the blue fluorescent light. He felt another shiver course down his back as he urged the mule forward. It seemed to sense that it was nearing home for it trotted at a speed with amazed him, coming up to the trees from which he caught sight of the river before spotting, a little way ahead, the dark walls of the abbey. There was the lantern flickering by the gates. He felt a wave of relief come over him. It was still only very early evening. If he estimated the hours correctly, it was not even time for the evening Angelus bell to sound, and yet he felt it was so cold and dark that it could be midnight.

It was the dominus, Brother Willibrod, who swung open the abbey gates for Eadulf to enter after he had tugged at the bellrope. Thankfully, Eadulf slid from his mule and stretched his aching limbs.

‘God be praised that you have returned safely, Brother Eadulf,’ the dominus began immediately, his single dark eye blinking rapidly. ‘It was early morning when you left and now the hour grows late. We had presumed that you had met with an accident or something worse …’

‘Something worse?’ mused Eadulf.

‘Aldhere’s outlaws wander the marshlands, as well you know. The abbot returned after the noon Angelus having given up hisattempt to track them down. He said that you had not overtaken him and was angry with me for letting you go after him.’

Eadulf tried to keep his features impassive.

‘As you see, Brother Willibrod, I have returned safely.’

Brother Willibrod gestured to a passing member of the brethren to take Eadulf’s mule and instructed him to unsaddle and feed and water the animal. Eadulf started to walk across the main quadrangle. To his surprise, the dominus hurried after him. Eadulf began to get the impression that he was concerned about something other than Eadulf’s late arrival. He felt that the dominus was trying to find the right words to approach the subject. Eadulf was initially determined that he would not help the man. However, he could not help feeling some sympathy for him as he saw the anxious expression on his features. Finally, as they reached the far side of the quadrangle, Eadulf asked: ‘Is there something on your mind, Brother?’

‘Something strange has happened, Brother Eadulf.’

‘Strange?’

The concern in the voice of the dominus was apparent. Then a sudden thought hit Eadulf.

‘Sister Fidelma … her illness has not worsened?’

To his relief, Brother Willibrod shook his head immediately.

‘No, her illness has not worsened. It is young Brother Redwald who …’

Eadulf was frowning. ‘Who is Brother Redwald?’

‘The young man who attends to the chores of the guests’ hostel.’

‘Yes, I remember the boy. What is the matter with him?’

‘He has had to be locked in his cell and given strong liquor to calm him.’

Eadulf waited a moment and then gave an exasperated sigh.

‘For goodness’ sake! Am I to extract this story sentence by sentence? You are clearly upset at something which concerns Brother Redwald, though how it concerns me I do not know, nor probably care unless you can explain to me why I should.’

‘Be seated a moment, Brother,’ said the dominus , pointing to a nearby stone bench, ‘and I will tell you.’

Compressing his lips to hide his irritation, Eadulf allowed himself to be guided to a bench and be seated. Brother Willibrodsat down beside him. His features were lit by a flickering storm lantern above them. It produced an eerie effect.

‘It happened just after dusk had fallen,’ began the dominus. When Eadulf groaned, Brother Willibrod reached out a hand. ‘Patience, Brother. Redwald is ill and now confined for his own protection. His mind is quite frantic.’

Eadulf controlled himself. The dominus continued.

‘Redwald went into the chamber of Sister Fidelma to see if she needed anything. By the bed of your companion Brother Redwald saw a woman standing. Brother Redwald recognised her.’

Brother Willibrod paused dramatically.

‘And who was the person whom Brother Redwald recognised?’ Eadulf asked wearily.

‘Redwald came to our community when Abbot Cild’s wife, Gélgeis, was still alive. Redwald recognised this woman … it was Gélgeis or the shade of Gélgeis. He went out of his mind with fear because he knew that she was dead. But there she stood, pale but almost as if she were in life. She stretched out a hand to him and he went screaming from the chamber. We have barely made sense from his story …’

Eadulf felt a coldness creeping up his back. He remembered the figure of the woman he had seen the previous night near the chapel and everyone’s reaction to it.

‘This … this apparition was in Fidelma’s room?’

‘It was.’

‘But you said that she was all right?’ Eadulf began to rise hastily.

‘She was in a feverish sleep; we could not rouse her when we went to investigate. There was no sign of the woman.’

Eadulf was keen to be gone. ‘I am sure you are eager to attend to Brother Redwald, but now I am equally anxious to ensure that Sister Fidelma has come to no harm through this incident … whatever the reason for the incident may be.’

‘Wait, Brother,’ cried the dominus, rising to restrain him. ‘Wait, I have not told you all.’

Eadulf whirled round, his eyes narrowed in sudden apprehension.

‘What have you not told me?’

‘Abbot Cild came to investigate. He told me that you had alsoseen what you claimed to be a woman near the chapel and that you had described Gélgeis to him. You told me that you had seen such a woman by the chapel. Now Brother Redwald has seen her. And the abbot is almost beside himself with fear, though I should not tell you that. Cild claimed several times that this wraith had been seen by him. Now it is appearing to others. It is clearly black witchcraft.’

Eadulf snorted sardonically. Inwardly, he felt a fear born of the age-old beliefs of his people.

‘That is Abbot Cild’s problem,’ he said in irritation, turning again.

‘Abbot Cild believes that it is the ghost of his dead wife,’ cried the dominus. ‘Further, he believes that this witchcraft came into the abbey when you and your companion arrived in this kingdom. There can only be one explanation.’