Peter Tremayne - Act of Mercy

‘I am sorry?’ She became aware that Brother Dathal was speaking.

‘I was saying that it is a sad business if one dismissed the value of human life. But in honesty, there are probably few who will grieve for Sister Muirgel for any length of time.’

‘I realise that some people disliked her.’

‘Some even hated her. Brother Tola, for example. Then there is Sister Gorman. Oh yes, there are several who will not grieve too much.’

‘Including yourselves?’ Fidelma asked quickly.

Brother Dathal glanced at his companion.

‘We did not hate her. But she was not someone we would say that we liked,’ he admitted.

‘Why did you dislike her?’

Brother Adamrae shrugged.

‘She despised us. She was a highly-sexed young woman. I do not think we need tell you why she looked down on Dathal and me. Anyway, one cannot greet everyone in love and charity. Look at Brother Tola. I would not be saddened if we had lost him from our company.’

Remembering Brother Tola’s views on scholarship, Fidelma gave a quick smile.

‘I take your point. But was there anything particular about Sister Muirgel which created dislike?’

‘Particular?’ Brother Dathal actually giggled. ‘I would say everything about her caused us irritation. She liked people to know that she was a chieftain’s daughter and that she should be in charge of things because of her social rank.’

‘Why did you agree to come on this pilgrimage …?’ Fidelma knew the answer as soon as she let the question slip.

‘Because it was Sister Canair who was the leader when we set out. Muirgel was just one of the party. Sister Canair was able to keep her under control, even though Muirgel tried to assert her authority.’

‘She was a different personality to Sister Canair?’

‘Absolutely. Sister Muirgel was mean-minded, riddled with jealousy, haughty and ambitious!’ Brother Dathal snapped out the words with venom. Fidelma examined him in surprise. Brother Adamrae came to his companion’s rescue.

‘I think Dathal may be forgiven for his unchristian thoughts.’ He smiled softly. ‘Telling the truth can also be considered as being unkind and harsh.’

‘What was she ambitious for?’

The two men exchanged a glance. It was Brother Dathal who responded.

‘Power, I suppose. Power over people; power over men.’

‘I understand she bullied little Sister Gorman.’

‘It’s the first that we have heard of it,’ replied Adamrae. ‘But Gorman always kept herself to herself.’

‘And you said that Muirgel was jealous. Of whom was she jealous?’ she asked, turning to Dathal.

‘Of Sister Canair obviously. Ask among her companions from Moville. We never met her until we started our journey although we heard many things on the excursion to Ardmore. You do not journey with a small group for several days without picking up the things that others try to hide. Muirgel was jealous of Sister Canair, with an intensity that alarmed us.’

‘What was the cause of her jealousy?’

‘I think that there was a hate embedded in Sister Muirgel that could have developed into violence.’

‘It was said that Muirgel was jealous of Canair because of … of Brother Cian.’

‘Who told you this?’

‘Brother Bairne,’ replied Dathal.

‘Were you concerned then when Sister Canair did not join you on the morning the ship sailed, and Sister Muirgel took charge?’

Brother Adamrae gave a shake of his head and answered.

‘It might have been a cause for concern but for two things. Firstly, Sister Canair had not accompanied us to Ardmore. She went to visit someone before we reached the Abbey. It was logical to assume she did not even come to Ardmore. Secondly, Sister Muirgel stayed at the Abbey with us until we came to the quay and found there was no Canair and that we had to get aboard or miss the sailing. Dathal and I would have come aboard anyway, Canair or no Canair, because we would not have considered forgoing our chance to travel to Iberia and finish our task of tracing the ancient history of our people.’

Fidelma was thinking carefully.

‘I still have a question.’

Brother Dathal smiled.

‘Questions always provoke more questions.’

‘Are you sure that Muirgel was jealous of Sister Canair and Cian? I have been told that Muirgel wanted to end the affair with Cian.’

‘Well, Bairne has his problems. He was moonstruck on Muirgel.But Muirgel did dislike Canair. She might well have been hungry for power and for the little brief authority that Canair had.’

Brother Adamrae nodded decisively.

‘I think we have helped you all we can, Sister. I don’t believe you will find the answers you want among our gossip. You have doubtless talked about this to Brother Bairne or will do so?’ He rose and opened the cabin door, and Fidelma left, in a greater state of confusion than before.

Cian looked up in surprise as Fidelma knocked on his cabin door and entered.

‘What can I do for you?’ he asked. ‘Have you come to bemoan the past again?’

Fidelma answered him coldly. ‘I was looking for Brother Bairne, who shares your cabin.’

‘As you can see, he is not here.’

‘As I can see,’ confirmed Fidelma. ‘Where would I find him?’

‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ quipped Cian sarcastically.

Fidelma stared at him with distaste.

‘You should remember in what context that question was asked before making it into a joke,’ she replied, withdrawing before he could respond.

She found Brother Bairne seated at the meal table on the mess deck, looking dolefully at a mug of mead. His eyes were red-rimmed and there was little need to ask about his emotional state.

He looked up as she entered and sat down near him.

‘I know,’ he said, ‘a few questions. I have heard all about your investigation. Yes, I was in love with Muirgel. No, I did not see her after last evening when the storm rose.’

Fidelma took in his statement without apparent surprise.

‘You told me that you were from Moville, didn’t you?’

‘I was training there in order to preach the Word among the heathen,’ he confirmed.

‘Did you know Sister Muirgel well there?’

‘I told you that I was in love …’

‘With respect, that is not the same thing as knowing someone.’

‘I knew her for several months.’

‘And, of course, you knew Sister Crella?’

‘Of course. They were more or less inseparable. Muirgel and Crella seemed to share everything.’

‘Including boyfriends?’

Brother Bairne flushed but said nothing.

‘Did Muirgel return your feelings for her?’

‘You have no doubt asked Sister Crella for her opinion?’

‘I’ll take that as a negative answer. Unrequited love is hard to bear, Bairne. Did you hate Muirgel for rejecting you?’

‘Of course not. I loved her.’

‘It’s just that I wondered why you chose to quote from the Book of Hosea this morning.’

‘I was upset. I did not think. I wished to hit out …’

‘You wished to hurt Muirgel?’

‘I … I don’t think so. Had Muirgel turned to me I would have loved and protected her. But she rejected my love and turned to people who could and did hurt her. Even that one-armed bastard that I am forced to share my cabin with was able to have his way with her …’

‘Brother Cian?’ queried Fidelma.

‘Cian! If only I had trained as a warrior I would have taught him a lesson.’

‘You told Dathal and Adamrae that he had had an affair with Muirgel? That Muirgel still felt for him and that she was jealous of Canair because of the fact that Cian was now having an affair with her.’

‘I knew that he had dropped her for Sister Canair; for the same reason he finishes with all his women. Canair had more to offer him for the time being.’