Peter Tremayne - Hemlock at Vespers

“I did not say so,” replied Ninnedo defensively.

“You did not have to. Why didn’t you like him? According to Father Allan, this Brother Moenach was little short of a saint.”

Ninnedo laughed bitterly.

“I did not like him because he was an evil person and not fit to serve the Living God. He could fool Father Allan. He could fool many people who were so complacent in office that they did not recognize a fawning sycophant who purposely flattered their vanity. But I and Brother Fogartach had to share a cubiculum with him and knew his evil ways.”

Fidelma stood with her head slightly to one side, slightly surprised at the young man’s articulate vehemence.

“How long did you know him?”

“We were fostered together, Sister. A long time.”

“And did you hate him all that time?”

“Mostly.”

“So, tell me, in what way did he manifest evil? You accuse him of being a fawning sycophant. Well, we are all, in some ways, flattering to those in power over us. That hardly constitutes evil.”

Ninnedo pressed his upper teeth against his lower Up, frowning a little, before he spoke.

“Father Allan would have Moenach as a saint. It would do me little good to speak plainly.”

“You are not speaking to Father Allan but a dálaigh of the courts. Speak only the truth and by truth you shall be rewarded.”

Ninnedo shifted uneasily at her sharp tone.

“Very well, Sister. Moenach was a liar, a thief and a lecher.”

Fidelma raised her eyebrows.

“If so, how could he disguise such vices from Father Allan?”

“He had the look of a cherub and could speak sweetly when the need arose. Often people cannot see beyond appearances. And he had an ability to make sweet music. He could fool people. But now and then that mask of innocence would slip. He was evil.”

“Can you cite proof, for hearsay evidence is inadmissible under the law.”

“Proof? He would steal anything he coveted. He stole from me and he stole from Brother Nath. Why, there used to be a Brother Follamon in our community until a few months ago. Moenach coveted a bejewelled cup belonging to Father Allan. He could not control his desires and he stole it. Father Allan launched a search for it. Moenach realized that he could not get away with the theft so he planted it in the cot of Brother Follamon so that it would be found and blame placed on him.”

“What happened?”

“Father Allan simply had Follamon expelled from the community.”

“Why wasn’t Moenach reported to the Father? If you knew and Brother Nath knew, why didn’t Father Allan accept your evidence?”

Ninnedo laughed again. There was no humor in his voice.

“You do not realize just how entrenched is the good Father’s belief in Moenach. Nath told him, for Nath knew what had happened. Father Allan simply accused Nath of jealousy and threatened his expulsion as well.”

“But Moenach’s position could not be maintained simply by Father Allan’s prejudice alone? There must be others who agreed with Father Allan’s views?”

Ninnedo sniffed bitterly.

“Oh yes. Moenach fooled some of the Brothers. That fool Aedo, for example.”

“Aedo who discovered the body with the old woman Muirenn kneeling by it?”

“The same. He was so shocked and prostrate by grief that, when he arrived back here with the news of what he had seen, he took to his bed for several days.”

“So? Aedo did not accompany Father Allan and the Brothers in search for Muirenn?”

“He did not.”

“And apart from some of these Brothers, Moenach fooled other people as well?”

“He had the same influence with many local chieftains and even abbots.”

“But you and Nath recognized him as evil?”

“We were fostered with him. We knew his ways, Sister. In fact, he seemed to delight in our knowing how he was fooling people like the Father Superior. He would challenge us to report him, knowing full well that we would not be believed.”

“Did you not support Nath against Father Allan?”

“Little use that was,” sniffed Ninnedo.

There came the sound of a distant bell.

“I must go,” Ninnedo said and moved off rapidly.

Fidelma stood for a moment watching him stride away and then she turned in search of Father Allan.

“You did not tell me that Moenach was not well liked by everyone.”

The Father Superior stared angrily.

“Who did not like him?” he demanded. “Ninnedo, I suppose?”

“I also speak of Brother Nath.”

“Nath!” Father Allán’s mouth drooped. “So Ninnedo told you of that matter?”

Fidelma did not reply.

“Sister Fidelma, you know as well as I, that in spite of our vows and dedication to the service of the Living God, we do not suddenly become more than human, nor do we become incorrupt.”

“What are you saying?”

“That I am aware of the accusations of Nath and Ninnedo. I have known them for many years, ever since they came here to be fostered with Moenach. They all grew up together but as men sometimes take a dislike for each other, so too with boys. I knew of their jealousies and dislike of Moenach.”

“Yes? And to what reason did you attribute it?”

“Who knows? When a boy is as talented and pure as Moenach, he will have many enemies.”

“And are you so sure that their accusations were unfounded?”

“I knew Moenach since he was seven years old. He was beyond reproach.”

“Although you do admit that none of us are incorruptible?” Fi-delma could not help the sarcastic thrust.

Father Allan did not rise to the bait.

“Moenach was someone special. It was a great pain for me to see Nath’s jealousy.”

“I want to talk to Brother Nath.”

Father Allan gestured awkwardly.

“But he … he has absconded. Did Ninnedo not mention this to you?”

Fidelma gazed blankly at him for a moment.

“Nath has disappeared?”

“Yes. No one has seen him for the last week.”

Fidelma caught her breath to suppress a surge of anger.

“Are you telling me that Brother Nath disappeared a week ago? And it was a week ago that Brother Moenach was murdered. Why was I not informed of this before?”

Father Allan’s face whitened.

“But Muirenn slew Moenach. Why would you be interested in a headstrong young man who has slunk away from the community?”

“Why was I not informed about this?” repeated Fidelma. “Has any investigation been made into what has happened to Nath?”

Father Allan shrugged helplessly.

“He broke his vows and absconded. That is all.”

“Tell Brother Ninnedo to join me at once.”

Father Allan blinked, hesitated and moved off.

Ninnedo arrived with surly face. Father Allan stood behind him, watching anxiously.

“I want the full truth, Ninnedo,” Fidelma told him. “And I want it now.”

“I have spoken the truth.”

“Yet you did not tell me that your friend Nath has been missing since the day of the killing of Moenach.”

Ninnedo blanched but contrived a stubborn expression.

“Are you accusing him of killing Moenach and running off?” he muttered. “Everyone says Muirenn slew Moenach.”

“It is my role to find out the truth. Do you know where Nath is?”

Ninnedo stared at her. It was the young Brother who dropped his eyes first. He shook his head.

“Speak to Ainder, the daughter of Illand,” he muttered.

“Who is Ainder?” Fidelma asked.

Father Allan moved uneasily from one foot to another.

“Ainder is a young girl of the village who washes the clothes of the community. She lives with her father, Illand, who oversees our gardens.”

Fidelma turned her gaze back to Brother Ninnedo.