Peter Tremayne - Hemlock at Vespers

“And you knew the monk named Docco?”

“We came from the same village.”

“Ah. And you are betrothed to the girl, Egeria?”

The young man started with a frown.

“What makes you ask this?”

“The way you behave to her is that of a concerned lover, not a stranger nor that of a mere friend.”

“You have a perceptive eye, Sister.”

“Is it so?”

“I want to marry her.”

“Then who prevents you?”

Again Enodoc frowned.

“Why do you presume that anyone prevents me?”

“Because of the way you defensively construct your sentence.”

“Ah, I see. It is true that I have wanted to marry Egeria. It is true that Docco, who is the head of his family, did not want her to marry me. We grew up in the same village but there is enmity between us.”

“And yet here you are in Rome standing together with Docco and his sister before the same altar,” observed Fidelma.

“I did not know Docco and Egeria were in Rome. I met them by chance a few days ago and so I made up my mind to argue my case further with Docco before I rejoined my ship to sail back to Gaul.”

“And was that what you were doing here?”

Enodoc shrugged.

“In a way. I was staying nearby.”

“Forgive me, but the port of Ostia, the nearest port of Rome, is a long way from here. Are you telling me that you, the captain of your ship, came to Ostia and then, hearing by chance that Docco and Egeria were in Rome, made this long journey here to find them?”

“No. I had business to transact in Rome and left my ship at Ostia. I needed to negotiate with a merchant for a cargo. Yet it is true that I found Egeria and Docco simply by chance.”

“I am told that you have been to this ecclesia before.”

“Yes; but only once. That was yesterday when I first encountered Egeria and Docco in the street and followed them to this place.”

“It was a strange coincidence.”

“Coincidences happen more often than we give them credit. I attended the service with them yesterday.”

“And was your plaint successful?”

Enodoc hesitated.

“No, Docco was as firmly against my marriage to Egeria as ever he had been.”

“Yet you joined them again today?”

“I was leaving for Ostia today. I wanted one more chance to plead my case with Docco. I love Egeria.”

“And does she love you?”

Enodoc thrust out his chin.

“You will have to ask her that yourself.”

“I intend to do so. Where did you meet them this morning? Did you come to the ecclesia together, or separately?”

“I had some business first and then went to their lodgings. They had already left for the church and so I followed.”

“At what time did you get here?”

“A moment or so before the service started.”

“And you came straight in and joined them?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. Ask Egeria to come and sit with me.”

Clearly despondent, Enodoc rose to his feet and went back to the girl. He spoke to her but seemed to get no response. Fidelma noticed that he put his hand under her arm, drew her to her feet and guided her to where Fidelma was sitting. She came unpro-testingly but was apparently still in a stupefied state.

“Thank you,” Fidelma said, and reached forward to take the girl’s hand. “This is a great shock for you, I know. But I need to ask some questions. Be seated now.” She turned and gazed up at Enodoc. “You may leave us.”

Reluctantly the Gaulish seaman departed.

The girl had slumped on the stool before Fidelma, head bowed.

“Your name is Egeria, I believe?”

The girl simply nodded.

“I am Fidelma. I need to ask some questions,” she repeated again. “We need to discover who is responsible for this terrible deed.”

The girl raised her tear-stained eyes to Fidelma. A moment or two passed before she seemed to focus clearly.

“It cannot bring back Docco. But I will answer, if I can.”

“You were very fond of your brother, I take it?”

“He was all I had. We were orphans together.”

“He was protective of you?”

“I am… was younger than he and he raised me when our parents were killed during a Frankish raid. He became the head of my family.”

“What made you come to Rome?”

“It was a pilgrimage that we had long talked about.”

“Did you expect Enodoc to be here?”

The girl shook her head.

“Do you love Enodoc?”

Egeria look at her without answering for a moment or two and then shook her head slowly.

“Enodoc came from our village. He used to be our friend when we were children. I liked him as a friend but no more than that. Then he went to sea. He is captain of a merchant ship. I hardly see him. But whenever we meet, he seems to think he has a claim on me.”

“Indeed; he thinks that he is in love with you.”

“Yes. He has said so on several occasions.”

“But you are not in love with him?”

“No.”

“Have you told him so? Have you told him clearly?”

“Several times. He is a stubborn man and convinced himself that it was Docco who stood against him. That Docco had the ability to make up my mind for me.”

“I see. Are you telling me that he thought that it was only Docco that was an obstacle to marriage with you?”

The girl nodded and then her eyes widened a fraction.

“Are you saying…?”

“I am merely asking questions, Egeria. When did you meet En-odoc today?”

“When he arrived for the service.”

“You and your brother were already in the ecclesia, I take it?”

She nodded.

“You had taken up your position at the front?”

“Yes.”

“Did your brother normally take that position?”

Egeria sniffed a little and wiped a tear from her eye.

“Docco always liked to be the first to take the ritual of the Eucharist and so he liked to place himself near the priest. It was a habit of his, even at home.”

“I see. At what stage did Enodoc join you?”

“A few moments before the service began. I thought that he had finally accepted the situation but then he appeared, breathless and flustered as if he were in a hurry. I thought that the priest, Father Cornelius, was going to admonish him because he had halted the opening of the service while Enodoc took his place.”

Fidelma frowned.

“Why so? I came very late into the service yet Father Cornelius did not halt the service for me.”

“It was because Enodoc entered at the back of the altar and crossed in front of the priest to take his position with us.”

Fidelma could not speak with surprise for a moment.

“Are you saying that Enodoc entered the ecclesia through the sacristy?”

Egeria shrugged.

“I do not know. He entered through that door.” She turned and pointed to the door of the sacristy.

Fidelma was silent for a while.

“Return to your place, Egeria. I will not be long now. Please ask Enodoc to come back to me.”

Enodoc was as pleasant as before.

“You have been selective with your truths, Enodoc,” Fidelma opened.

The young man frowned.

“How so?”

“Docco was not the only person to stand in your way to marriage with Egeria.”

“Who else did so?” demanded the Gaul.

“Egeria herself.”

“She told you that?” The young man flushed.

“Yes.”

“She does not really mean it. She may say so but it was merely Docco speaking. Things will be different now.”

“You think so?”

“She is distraught. When her mind clears, she will know the truth.” He was confident.

“Perhaps. You did not mention that you entered this ecclesia through the sacristy.”