Peter Tremayne - Hemlock at Vespers

“You did not ask me. Is it important?”

“Why did you choose that unorthodox way of entering?”

“No mystery to that. I told you that I had to see a merchant this morning. I finished my business and came hurrying to the church. I found myself on the far side of the building and heard the bell toll for the opening of the service. It would have taken me some time to walk around the building, for there is a wall which is a barrier along the road. To come from the back of the church to the main doors takes a while, and I saw the door to the sacristy so I entered it.”

“Yet you had only been in this ecclesia once before. You must have a good memory.”

“It does not take much memory to recall something from the previous day, which was when I was here?”

“Who was in the sacristy when you entered?”

“No one.”

“And what did you do?”

“I came straight through into the ecclesia.”

“Did you see the chalice there?”

Enodoc shook his head. Then his eyes widened as he saw the meaning to her questions. For a moment, he was silent, his mouth set in a tight line. His tanned features reddened but he overcame his obvious indignation.

“I am sure that the chalice was already on the altar because as I entered the priest was starting the service.”

Fidelma met his gaze and held it for a moment.

“You may return to your place.”

Fidelma sat thinking for some moments and then she rose and walked toward the doors where the young custos stood. The young man watched her with narrow-eyed suspicion.

“What is your name?” she asked as she came to face him.

“Terentius.”

“Do you usually attend the services in this ecclesia?”

“My house is but a short walk away and my position as a member of the custodes is to ensure that law and order prevail in this area.”

“How long have you performed that duty?”

“Two years now.”

“So you have known Father Cornelius since you have been here?”

“Of course.”

“What is your opinion of Father Cornelius?”

The guard shrugged.

“As a priest, he has his faults. Why do you ask?”

“And your opinion of Tullius? Do you know him?”

She saw the young man flush.

“I know him well. He was born here in this district. He is conscientious in his duties. He is about to be ordained.”

She detected a slight tone of pride.

“I am told Tullius is from a poor family. To be honest, I am given to believe that his is a family known to the custodies. .”

“Tullius has long sought to dissociate himself from them. Abbot Miseno knows that.”

“Had the service started when you arrived here?”

“It had just begun. I was the last to arrive… apart from yourself.”

“The Gaulish seaman… had he already entered the church?” Fidelma asked.

The guard frowned.

“No. As a matter of fact, he came in just after I did but through the sacristy.”

“You came in through the main doors, then?”

“Of course.”

“How soon after everyone else did you enter the church?”

“Not very long. As I was approaching along the street, I saw Abbot Miseno outside the building. I saw him arguing with Father Cornelius. They were standing near the sacristy door as I passed. The Abbot turned in, then, after he had stood a moment or two, Father Cornelius followed.”

“Do you know what they were arguing about?”

The young soldier shook his head.

“Then you came into the ecclesia? What of the Gaul?”

“A moment or so later. Father Cornelius was about to start the service, when he came in. We were halfway through the service when you yourself entered.”

“That will be all for the moment.”

Fidelma turned in deep thought and made her way to Abbot Miseno.

The Abbot watched her approach with impatience.

“We cannot afford to take long on this matter, Sister Fidelma. I had heard that you advocates of the Brehon Courts were quick at getting to the truth of the matter. If you cannot demonstrate who killed this foreign religieux, then it will reflect badly on that reputation.”

Fidelma smiled thinly.

“Perhaps it was in hope of that event that you so quickly suggested my involvement in this matter?”

Abbot Miseno flushed in annoyance.

“Do you suggest…?”

Fidelma made a dismissive gesture with her hand.

“Let us not waste time in rhetoric. Why were you arguing with Father Cornelius outside the sacristy?”

Miseno’s jaw clamped tightly.

“I had demanded his resignation from this office.”

“He refused to resign?”

“Yes.”

“And you came into the church through the sacristy? Did Father Cornelius follow you?”

“Yes. He had changed his vestments and suddenly came out of the sacristy, straight to me and tried to renew the argument. Luckily, Tullius rang the bell for the service to start. I had just told him that I would do everything in my power to see him relieved of his position.”

“Everything?”

Miseno’s eyes narrowed. “What do you imply?”

“How far would you go to have him removed?”

“I will not deign to answer that.”

“Silence often speaks as loudly as words. Why do you dislike Father Cornelius so much?”

“A priest who betrays the guiding principles of-”

“Cornelius says that you disapprove of him because he holds to the teachings of Pelagius. Many of us do. But you claim that it is not that but more personal matters that make him fit not to be priest here.”

“Why are you concentrating on Father Cornelius?” demanded Miseno. “Your task was to find out who poisoned the Gaulish re-ligieux. Surely you should be looking at the motives for his killing?”

“Answer my question, Abbot Miseno. There must have been a point when you approved Cornelius in this office.”

Miseno shrugged. “Yes. Three years ago I thought he was appropriate to the task and a conscientious priest. I do not mind admitting that. It has been during the last six months that I have had disturbing reports.”

Fidelma tugged thoughtfully at her lower lip.

“And where do these reports emanate from?”

Abbot Miseno frowned.

“I cannot tell you that. That would be a breach of confidence.”

“Did they come from a single source?”

Miseno’s expression was enough to confirm the thought.

Fidelma smiled without humor.

“I suspect the reports came from the deacon, Tullius.”

Abbot Miseno stirred uncomfortably. But he said nothing.

“Very well. I take the fact that you do not deny that as an affirmative.”

“All very well. So it was Tullius. As deacon it was his duty to inform me if anything was amiss.”

“And your task to verify that Tullius was giving you accurate information,” observed Fidelma. “Did you do so?”

Abbot Miseno raised an eyebrow. “Verify the reports?”

“I presume that you did not simply take Tullius at his word?”

“Why would I doubt him? Tullius is in the process of taking holy orders, under my supervision. I can trust the word of Tullius.”

“The word of someone currently seeking ordination, you mean? Such a person would not lie?”

“That’s right. Absolutely not. Of course they would not lie.”

“But a priest, already ordained, would lie? Therefore, you could not take Cornelius’s word? Surely there is a contradictory philosophy in this?”

“Of course I don’t mean that!” snapped Abbot Miseno.

“But that is what appears to be happening. You took Tullius’s word over that of Cornelius.”

“The accusation was that Cornelius had dishonored the priesthood by taking a mistress.”