Peter Tremayne - Penance of the Damned

‘I suspected as much,’ Fidelma said.

‘That was why poor Ciarnat was murdered,’ Aibell said passionately. ‘You were right about that.’

‘It is all very well hearing voices – but whose voices were they?’ Eadulf brought them back to reality. ‘We need to know the name of the intermediary who told her.’

The old lady’s features were twisted in anger. ‘That we don’t know. Brother Mael Anfaid was told the lie first; he then told Ciarnat. Ciarnat passed the lie to Aibell, and then Brother Mael Anfaid and Ciarnat were both killed to keep the secret of who told them.’

‘So who was it that your friend heard speaking?’ Fidelma pressed.

‘Unfortunately, my friend said the voice was one he had not heard before,’ replied Etromma.

‘Could your friend not have entered the chamber in order to identify the speakers?’ Eadulf asked.

‘The half-open door was that of the chamber used by Abbot Nannid but it was not his voice.’

‘That does not surprise me,’ Eadulf sighed.

‘Anyway, at that moment, the abbot’s steward came along and my friend thought it wiser not to tarry outside the door.’

‘So are we to believe that it was Abbot Nannid who was being told, or was he telling someone else?’ asked Fidelma.

‘Nannid must be in league with Glaed,’ Aibell said. ‘How else did all this come about and why?’

Eadulf was in agreement. ‘Nannid must be trying to use Gorman to cause dissension among the people here. But how did Nannid manage to persuade Glaed to hand Gorman over to him?’

‘You are right about them using Gorman. That has been obvious for some time,’ confirmed Fidelma. ‘Nannid would like to see a return to a more aggressive leader of the Ui Fidgente either under himself, for he is of the bloodline, or he is working with someone else who is prepared to break the peace that Prince Donennach has agreed with my brother.’

‘There is dissension enough among us,’ muttered the old woman. ‘I have seen two fine sons march off when Eoghanan was our prince. They marched to Cnoc Aine on behalf of Eoghanan and perished there fighting against your brother, lady – fighting the King of Cashel.’

Fidelma sighed. ‘That should be history now that Eoghanan is dead and Donennach rules in peace from this place,’ she said softly.

‘But now I have seen my fine young daughter, Ciarnat, killed for a lie,’ Etromma went on, as if not hearing her. ‘It is time to make a stand and accept that these lies and deceptions must not be ignored if ever there is to be true peace in this land.’

‘This is interesting information against Nannid, but I fail to see where it may lead us,’ Fidelma said restlessly, turning to Aibell. ‘Tomorrow Gorman is due to be hanged.’

‘I know,’ Aibell said gravely. ‘He must be rescued from the abbey tonight.’

‘We had already come to that conclusion,’ Eadulf told her. ‘However, the way to make the thought into reality is much harder to devise.’

Aibell gestured to the elderly woman. ‘Etromma has a plan but it will require the involvement of you, Brother Eadulf, and Enda.’

They looked at the elderly woman in surprise.

‘What have you in mind?’ Eadulf asked. He could not help the sarcasm in his voice. ‘Do we walk up to the abbey, knock on the door and be admitted by the doorkeeper, who will then show us the way to the cell where Gorman is being held, unlock the door, and then we all walk happily forth into the night?’

Aibell ignored his scepticism in her excitement. ‘That is exactly it … if the plan succeeds.’

Before the smiles began to form on their faces, Etromma said sharply: ‘My daughter was murdered. So was the nephew of a dear friend of mine who not only hates those he suspects are responsible but knows them to have corrupted the community of Nechta. He will help and-’

She was interrupted by a knock on the door.

‘That should be him now,’ the elderly woman said, indicating that Aibell should answer the door. The girl opened it a fraction, peered out and then opened it more widely.

Brother Eladach, the doorkeeper of the Abbey of Nechta, came swiftly in and the girl closed the door behind him. His eyes swept round the company before he greeted Etromma.

‘Have you told them?’ he asked.

‘I was just about to,’ confirmed the elderly woman.

Fidelma greeted the doorkeeper. ‘I presume you are the one who overheard the conversation in Abbot Nannid’s chamber?’

‘I did so, lady,’ the doorkeeper nodded. ‘And as the death of young Mael Anfaid was connected, it is obvious that he, too, was sacrificed by those who told him to pass the lies on to Ciarnat. The rest you know. They were both murdered by the same evil person who is intent upon executing an innocent man tomorrow, based on the spurious rules which he has forced upon our once peaceful community.’

‘We are told that you have some sort of plan to thwart Abbot Nannid?’ Fidelma said.

‘It is a simple plan,’ the man replied, looking sheepish.

‘Often simple plans are the best,’ she encouraged him. ‘What do you suggest?’

‘I once told you that I was a carpenter. To my shame, I helped construct the walls that surround our community. But that now works to our advantage. As well as the main gates of our so-called abbey, there are two small side gates, one to the west and one to the east. My plan is that after the moon reaches its zenith, the warrior here will come to the west gate. The only other man of strength that we can rely on is the Saxon brother here …’ Eadulf did not bother to correct him. ‘I will unlock the gate and then lead you to the cell where the warrior Gorman is incarcerated. It is a hut standing by itself. There are two men guarding him – they are men of the Sliabh Luachra, so be wary. They must be dealt with. After Gorman is released, he must be taken back to the west gate and I will secure it after you leave.’

Fidelma was about to ask the obvious question but Etromma pre-empted her. ‘The young man will be brought here and hidden for a while. I have a special place to hide him until it is safe. I do not think anyone would believe he would continue to hide in the township, especially with me. They will assume that he has fled directly to Cashel.’

‘For this we are much indebted, Etromma,’ Fidelma acknowledged.

‘It is a just revenge for what they have done to my daughter.’

‘The plan sounds simple,’ Fidelma allowed. ‘But with this west gate being opened and then closed behind us, you, Brother Eladach, will be the obvious suspect.’

Eladach smiled grimly. ‘I will prepare the east gate, to show that someone must have broken in through it. After you have left with Gorman, I shall make some adjustment to show that he also escaped by that east exit. Thankfully, we have no guards patrolling our walled community.’

‘But you have men guarding the place where Gorman is imprisoned,’ Eadulf said.

‘Men of Sliabh Luachra, as you said,’ Enda pointed out. ‘They are cold-blooded killers. Trying to overcome them might result in a frenzied struggle that could raise the alarm.’

Eadulf looked uncomfortable. ‘Are you suggesting that they are to be killed?’

‘They would have no compunction in killing you,’ replied the young warrior.

‘We should not descend to their level,’ Fidelma admonished. ‘But these men would have to be rendered harmless.’

‘Yet I have no skill as a warrior,’ confessed Eadulf.

Fidelma ignored him. She turned to the doorkeeper. ‘Do you know how Nannid plans his execution?’

‘The buildings of our community are arranged around an old, sacred oak. I have been told that at noon, the brethren of the community will be ordered to gather to hear a homily from the abbot on the Penitentials and on the punishments that merit death as approved by the sacred scriptures. Then he intends to hang Gorman from the tree.’