Peter Tremayne - The Subtle Serpent

Fidelma was trying to keep her patience.

‘What has this to do with the tormenta ?’ she challenged.

‘Easy to see,’ replied Ross. ‘I have seen slaughter. I know the damage that could be inflicted with such machines. Warriors could be slaughtered in their hundreds and Cashel would have no defence. The fortifications of Cashel itself could be breached. The range of such machines of destruction is, as the Saxon says, over five hundred yards. I know from what I have heard while trading in Gaul, such engines of war made the Romans almost invincible.’

Fidelma regarded them all sombrely.

‘So that is why the importation of these weapons had to bekept a secret. Gulban and Eoganán of the Ui Fidgenti plan to use them as a secret weapon, doubtless to spearhead a surprise attack on Cashel.’

‘It all makes sense now,’ Eadulf sighed. ‘And explains why, as soon as the weapons and the Franks were landed, the men of this Gulban seized the Gaulish ship and its crew, and me, too, as the only passenger. It was a means of preventing any news of that cargo reaching outside of this place. It was a bad day that I took passage in that ship.’

‘Tell me how the Gaulish captain escaped,’ Fidelma suddenly invited.

‘How did you know about that?’ queried Eadulf. ‘I was about to tell you of that.’

‘Again it is part of a long story but suffice to say we discovered the Gaulish ship.’

‘I spoke to some people who had seen a Gaulish prisoner on board,’ Ross explained. ‘They told me that he had escaped and the ship had vanished while the Ui Fidgenti warriors were ashore.’

Fidelma motioned him to be silent.

‘Let Eadulf tell his story.’

‘Very well,’ Eadulf began. ‘A few days ago the captain and two of his sailors managed to escape from the mines. They took a small boat and headed towards an island off shore …’

‘Dóirse,’ interrupted Ross.

‘The Gaulish merchant ship was still in the harbour. Some of the guards set out in pursuit using the ship. They raised the sails and chased after the smaller vessel. They returned a day later without either the ship or the three Gauls.’

‘Do you know what happened?’

Eadulf shrugged.

‘There was some gossip among the prisoners which I picked up while attending to them … that is if gossip is to be credited. It was said that the warriors had chased and sunk the small boat, killing two of the Gaulish sailors. The captainwas rescued and taken prisoner. It being nearly dark by that time, the warriors put in at the small island harbour. Everyone went ashore to enjoy the hospitality of the local chieftain. That is, with the exception of a warrior and the Gaulish captain. During the night, the Gaul managed to escape again. I think they said that he killed the warrior left on board to guard him. He managed, single-handed, to raise sail and make off into the night. He was a good sailor. I had hoped that he had managed to organise a rescue party for his men.’ Eadulf paused as he remembered. ‘But you said that you found him and his ship?’

Fidelma made a negative gesture.

‘Not him, Eadulf. He didn’t survive. We encountered the merchant ship under sail the next morning but with no one aboard.’

‘No one? Then what happened?’

‘I think I now know that mystery,’ Fidelma said quietly. Ross and Odar were leaning forward with eyes straining in eagerness, awaiting her solution to the puzzle that had mystified them these last several days.

‘Can you really explain?’ asked Ross.

‘I can hypothesise and be fairly certain that my account is accurate. This Gaulish captain was a brave man. Did you ever know his name, Eadulf?’

‘Waroc was his name,’ Eadulf supplied.

‘Waroc was a brave man then,’ Fidelma repeated. ‘Well, he escaped from the island of Dóirse where the ship was moored. We know that part of the story from the information which Ross gathered there, and which fits into your tale, Eadulf. Waroc, having escaped his captors again, decided that he would attempt to sail his ship single-handed. A brave but foolhardy adventure. Perhaps he thought only to move it along the coast to a friendly port and raise assistance.’

‘How did he do it?’

‘He cut the mooring ropes with an axe. We saw the severed ropes when we came upon the ship.’

Odar nodded grimly as he remembered pointing out the severed ropes to Ross and Fidelma.

‘Then he probably let the tide drift him out of the sound,’ Ross said, knowing the waters there.

‘He managed to raise his main sail,’ continued Fidelma. ‘The most difficult sail to raise was the tops’l. We cannot be sure whether he was hurt or not by his captors or during his escapes or even by his efforts to raise the sails single-handed. However, he went aloft and almost succeeded in raising it into place. Perhaps the ship lurched, perhaps there was a gust of wind, or he may have lost his footing. Who can say? But Waroc fell. A spar or a nail ripped his shirt and perhaps his flesh. We found a blood-stained strip of linen on the rigging. We also found blood on the rigging itself. As he fell, he made one desperate attempt to clutch at something. His hand caught the rail of the ship. A blood-stained hand print was there. Then, unable to keep his hold, he went over the side. He could not have lasted long in those winter waters. Perhaps he was dead in moments.’

There was an uneasy silence for a moment or two before Fidelma concluded.

‘It was later that morning that Ross’s barc came close to the merchant ship being blown hither and thither in the currents. Ross is an excellent sailor and was able to trace the tides and winds. I was determined to find you, Eadulf.’

Eadulf looked surprised.

‘You were on this barc ?’

‘I had been asked to go to Sister Comnat’s abbey to investigate the discovery of a corpse.’

‘But how did you know I was on the ship? Ah!’ A look of understanding came into his eyes. ‘You found my book satchel in the cabin where I left it?’

‘I have your Missal safely,’ confirmed Fidelma. ‘It is at Sister Comnat’s abbey which is not far from here. And we must reach it before dawn, otherwise questions will be asked.’

Sister Comnat was examining Fidelma anxiously.

‘You mentioned a corpse? You said that Sister Almu had not successfully escaped … You said that she was dead.’

Fidelma reached forward a hand and gently pressed the arm of the elderly religieuse again in comfort.

‘I do not know for sure, sister, but I am fairly convinced that the corpse discovered over a week or so ago is that of Sister Almu.’

‘But someone must have recognised the corpse?’

Fidelma did not want to cause the sister further grief but it was no use keeping the truth from her.

‘The corpse was decapitated. The head was missing. It was that of a young girl, barely eighteen. There were ink stains on the right hand, on thumb, index finger and along the little finger which tells me that she worked as a copyist or in a library. There were also signs that she had recently worn a manacle and had been scourged on the back.’

Sister Comnat caught her breath.

‘Then it is poor Almu but … where was the body discovered?’

‘In the main well of the abbey.’

‘I do not understand. If she was caught by Gulban’s men or anyone of the Ui Fidgenti why would they draw attention to the matter by placing her in the abbey’s well?’

Fidelma smiled tightly.

‘That is a mystery that I have still to sort out.’

‘We must make a plan,’ interposed Ross. ‘It will not be long to daylight and as soon as Sister Comnat and the Saxon are found missing there will be search parties sent out.’

‘You are right, Ross,’ Fidelma agreed. ‘One of us must sail to Ros Ailithir and alert Bran Finn and my brother. Some warriors must be sent here so that these infernal engines — the tormenta as Eadulf calls them — can be destroyed before they can be used against Cashel.’