Peter Tremayne - Act of Mercy

Fidelma saw the saturnine face of Gurvan break into a lopsided grin of relief.

‘Have we escaped?’ she asked.

‘We passed through the Neck,’ replied Gurvan solemnly. ‘We can turn south into calmer waters from here.’

He turned then, shouting an order to Wenbrit to allow the passengers to go below if they chose.

Fidelma was still standing, gripping the rail and gazing at the black seas sliding by, when Cian approached her.

‘How long are you going to keep up your antagonism?’ he began, slightly belligerently. ‘I am just trying to be friendly. After all, we shall be in one another’s company for a long time yet.’

Fidelma came back to the reality of her situation with a sharp exhalation of breath. She was about to respond when she changed her mind.

‘As a matter of fact, Cian,’ she said tightly, turning towards him, ‘I do need to talk with you.’

It was obvious that Cian was not prepared for her acquiescence. He looked at her in blank astonishment for a moment and then a triumphant look came into his eyes.

‘There, I knew you would see sense eventually.’

Fidelma hated that knowing look of one who had won some victory. She would dispel that notion immediately. Her voice was cold.

‘Murchad has asked me to make an official enquiry into the disappearance of Sister Muirgel in order to protect him from any action her kin might take against him for negligence. I need to ask you some questions.’

Cian’s face fell. It was clearly not the reply he had been expecting.

‘I hear that you have taken it upon yourself to lead this company.’

Cian’s mouth tightened and his jaw tilted upwards.

‘Is there anyone better qualified?’

‘It is not my place to challenge your competence, Cian. I am not one of your company. I merely asked to get the matter clear in my report.’

‘There needs to be a leader. I have said as much ever since we left the Abbey.’

‘I thought Sister Canair was the leader of this pilgrimage?’ she asked.

‘Canair was …’ He paused and shrugged. ‘Canair is not here.’

‘What made you become concerned for the safety of your company last night? What made you start checking if everyone was all right and at dawn? Surely it was not your place to do so? Were you disturbed by the storm?’

‘I was not disturbed.’

The blunt denial caused Fidelma to raise an eyebrow slightly.

‘I thought we were all disturbed by the violence of the storm,’ she commented.

‘You know that I am … was … a warrior. I am used to being in situations where-’

‘So you slept through the storm?’ Fidelma cut him short.

‘Not exactly, but-’

‘So you were disturbed along with the rest of us?’ Fidelma took a vindictive pleasure in pressing the point. ‘But you have not answered my question. Why did you feel that you needed to check on the members of your company?’

‘As I have said, someone needed to be in charge. Sister Muirgel was clearly not in control.’

‘So it was merely to show your claim to authority?’

Cian glowered.

‘I just wanted to make sure no one had any problems.’

‘So you appointed yourself as guardian to check on everyone?’

‘As it turned out it was a good thing I did so.’

‘So everyone was safe in their cabin, with the exception of Sister Muirgel?’

‘Since you are being so specific,’ he sneered, ‘no, not everyone was in their cabin.’

‘Can you explain?’

‘When I awoke, Brother Bairne, with whom I share, was not in his bunk. I later found that he had been to what these sailors call the head.’

‘I see. Anyone else apart from Muirgel not in their cabin?’

‘No.’

‘When did you discover Muirgel was missing?’

‘Almost at once. As you will recall, her cabin is opposite mine. When I entered, she was not there.’

‘Was her door locked?’

‘Why should it be?’ He frowned.

‘No matter. Go on. What did you do?’

‘I turned from the cabin and that was when I saw Brother Bairne returning from the head. He went back into our cabin.’

‘Where did you go then?’

‘I checked Sister Crella’s cabin. She was asleep. Then I checked with Sister Ainder and Sister Gorman. Sister Gorman was already awake and dressed.’

‘Did you have an argument with Gorman?’

His features became guarded.

‘Why would I have an argument with her?’

‘Sister Ainder says she was awakened by the sound of it.’

‘Rubbish! Ainder was angry that our voices disturbed her sleep. I then checked the other cabins and everyone was where they should have been, with the exception of Sister Muirgel.’

‘And so?’

‘Then I came to check that you were all right. You were still asleep. Having realised that Sister Muirgel was the only person not in her cabin, I checked the head and the large cabin where we eat. Then I saw the captain, Murchad, and informed him that I could not locate Sister Muirgel. He said that he would search the ship for me and asked the Breton, Gurvan, to do so. When the ship had been searched and Muirgel was found not to be on board, Murchad concluded that she had been swept overboard during the storm. He then asked Gurvan to make a double-check which, as you know, confirmed our worst fears.’

‘And you heard nothing during the night, saw nothing which might provide an explanation of what happened?’

‘It is as I have said, Fidelma.’

She paused thoughtfully.

‘How well did you know Sister Muirgel?’

Cian frowned suspiciously.

‘If you want to know about Sister Muirgel, ask Sister Crella. She was her close friend and they were related.’

‘It is what you know that I am keen to discover. You told me that you entered the Abbey of Bangor. I understand that you went to Moville frequently. You would surely have met Muirgel there.’

Cian’s mouth tightened.

‘I ran messages for the Abbot of Bangor and helped in the fruit garden.’

‘Was that how you first met Sister Muirgel, running messages?’

‘As I recall, it was Sister Crella who introduced me.’

‘Did Crella also introduce you to Sister Canair?’

‘Muirgel did. Why?’

‘I merely want to know how you came to be part of this company of pilgrims.’

‘I have already told you.’

‘Tell me again.’

‘I came because I had heard of Mormohec the healer at the Shrine of St James.’

‘So you said. You therefore persuaded Sister Canair to accept you into the pilgrimage which she had organised?’

‘It was hardly organised. This band lacks discipline.’

‘They are pilgrims, Cian, not militia. Yet one thing puzzler me. If Sister Canair was the organiser, why did she fail to come aboard the ship when it set sail?’

‘It is not for me to say. Some people have a habit of lateness. Isn’t there an old proverb that a late man brings trouble on himself? So with women. Perhaps she thought the tides and winds would stop for her.’

‘Are you saying that Sister Canair had a reputation for dilatoriness?’

‘I am not saying that. It is just an observation to explain why she might have missed the sailing.’

‘It is strange, though, that the leader of this party could not even sail with the ship, having led the group all the way from Ulaidh south to Muman.’ Fidelma pressed the point once again.

‘Life is made up of strange occurrences.’

‘Such as poor Sister Muirgel’s untimely demise?’ observed Fidelma softly.

‘I do not see that as strange. Sister Muirgel was a very self-willed woman. Once she had made up her mind to do something, nothing would change it. It was the same when she decided to come on this voyage.’