Peter Tremayne - Penance of the Damned

‘I am going to the hall to meet with Brehon Faolchair and break my fast,’ he said. ‘Have you eaten?’

‘We have, indeed. We are now heading for the guest-house,’ Fidelma answered.

‘Ah, yes. Let me congratulate you on the mastery of law that you displayed last night. It was impressive.’

‘There was something I meant to ask you,’ replied Fidelma, ignoring the compliment. ‘You are clearly a man of experience, Prior Cuan, otherwise I doubt that Abbot Segdae would have chosen you as his deputy. But I am sure that you were not always at Imleach.’

The prior shrugged. ‘When I was young I joined the community of Cluain Eidnech and received my learning there. I have but recently joined the community at Imleach.’

‘Cluain Eidnech?’ Fidelma’s eyes widened. ‘Isn’t that in the north of Osraige territory, towards the east of the mountains of Sliabh Bladhma? It has a reputation for scholarship. Indeed, it has been famous ever since Fintan, son of Gabhran, founded it a century ago.’

‘That is so, lady. You are well versed in the history of my old community. We must continue these reflections later, however, as I promised to meet with the Brehon. And you have yet to conduct your investigation. I pray that you may come up with something that we have all overlooked.’

He turned and limped towards the feasting hall. They stood looking after him for a moment or two before Fidelma straightened her shoulders and said, ‘Come – let us find the room where Abbot Segdae met his death.’

They had barely crossed the courtyard when Conri hailed them.

‘We are trying to find the hostel where the abbot was killed,’ Eadulf replied when he asked their intent.

‘I have ordered that the warrior Lachtna make himself available.’

‘That is good thinking.’

‘May I accompany you, unless it would not be deemed proper according to the procedure of law?’

‘You are welcome, Conri. There should be no secrets in the gathering of information in this matter,’ Fidelma told him.

The hostel was a two-storey stone building, rising beside the main warriors’ barracks. It was not very large and, to their surprise, many of the windows had iron bars across them. It seemed more like a prison than a hostel for guests. A warrior stood outside the large oak door which appeared to be the only entrance into the building. Fidelma stopped and was examining the exterior with a critical eye. Conri caught her expression and smiled.

‘I know what you are thinking, lady. I will explain. This used to be the quarters for the commander of the guard, a couple of warriors and any prisoners that needed to be confined. When Abbot Segdae arrived with his small party, he expressed the need for them to be housed together. The prince’s palace is not so extensive with its buildings. Therefore, it was considered that, with some modification, this entire building could be handed over to Abbot Segdae and his delegation.’

‘But Abbot Nannid is staying in this newly built Abbey of Nechta in the township. Why was the delegation from Imleach not sent there?’

‘That you will have to ask of others,’ Conri replied. ‘As I said, I was not here until the day after Abbot Segdae’s murder.’

‘But it seems a curious arrangement for delegates to a council on religious matters to be so divided,’ commented Eadulf.

‘You forget the tensions between the Ui Fidgente and the Eoghanacht, friend Eadulf,’ Conri answered dryly.

Fidelma made no comment and Conri turned to wave the warrior forward.

‘This is Lachtna, who was on duty the night the abbot was killed,’ he said, introducing him.

Fidelma gazed at the man. The name suited him well because it meant fair of skin – literally, ‘milk-like’. It was a popular name among the Ui Fidgente.

‘This is the dalaigh who will question you,’ Conri told the man. ‘Give your answers truthfully and without fear.’

The young warrior stiffened before his commander. ‘I am at your service, lady.’

‘What were you doing on the evening that Abbot Segdae was killed?’ she began.

‘I was on duty at the door of this hostel.’

‘And the abbot and his party were inside?’

‘Well, the abbot and the abbot’s steward …’

‘Brother Tuaman?’

‘That is so. There were two other brothers from the Abbey of Imleach but they were not at the hostel. I can’t remember their names. They were scribes, I think – those who waited attendance on the abbot.’

‘Where were they if not in the hostel that evening?’

‘I was not told, lady. I think that they were in the township and had not returned to the fortress. It was not late.’

‘So you were at the door of this building on guard duty?’

‘It was a hot night, lady. I was outside and I didn’t mind as I had a seat to rest on.’ He pointed to a bench nearby. ‘The guard was not arduous because out here, no danger threatened.’

‘A danger did threaten,’ Conri said reprovingly, ‘otherwise the abbot would not lie dead.’

The young man shifted his weight uneasily. ‘That was a danger within, Commander. One cannot guard against that.’

‘A guard should be prepared for any danger,’ Conri responded.

‘It was a danger that no guard could be prepared for, unless he was standing next to the abbot,’ Fidelma interrupted. ‘Now, let us proceed. Tell me what you know, Lachtna.’

‘When I took over my shift on guard duty, I was told that a warrior from Cashel had arrived at the fortress. He had seen the prince and then tried to see the abbot, who had been in council with other churchmen. The abbot’s steward, Brother Tuaman, told the warrior to return later.’

‘Go on,’ prompted Fidelma when he paused.

‘This Cashel warrior did return that evening. It was not yet dark but many had taken the evening meal by then. He approached me and asked to see the abbot, Abbot Segdae. I opened the door to the guest-hostel and called for Brother Tuaman. The abbot’s steward was in conversation with another religious but he invited the warrior inside. He was, of course, expecting him to return.’

‘Do you know who this religious was – the one he was in conversation with?’

‘I think it was the steward from Mungairit. Brother Cuineain is his name.’

‘Very well. And then what happened?’

‘The door closed and I remained outside on guard. Time passed and I heard the sound of yelling. It was-’

‘Just a moment,’ broke in Fidelma. ‘How long was it between the warrior going into the hostel and the time that you heard this disturbance?’

Lachtna put his head to one side as if calculating. ‘Not very long,’ he said at last.

‘Immediately?’ Fidelma pressed.

‘Not immediately.’ Then Lachtna’s face brightened as he remembered. ‘Long enough for me to have walked to the gates,’ he pointed across the courtyard, ‘paused and walked back to my post.’

‘Then you heard yelling – can you describe it?’

‘It was the anxious cries of Brother Tuaman, the steward, who was calling my name. I rushed in and-’

‘You mentioned that the steward had been engaged in discussion with Brother Cuineain, steward to the Abbot of Mungairit.’ It was Eadulf’s turn to interrupt. ‘Where was he when you came rushing in?’

It was a point Fidelma had nearly forgotten about, and this made her cross with herself.

‘Oh, he had left by then,’ the warrior said. ‘He left as soon as the warrior arrived. Only the steward, Brother Tuaman, was here. So, as I was saying, I rushed in and-’

‘Excuse me.’ It was Fidelma again. ‘The best method is to show us. Take us inside and show us where you went.’

Behind the large oak door was a communal room with doors on either side and, at the far end of the room, a wooden staircase leading to the first floor. Conri took it upon himself to explain the lay-out.