Hemlock at Vespers

god and turned away from Woden. The man of Éireann was allowed to form a community, a monastery, at Bosa’s Ham, in our land, and many went to hear him teach. Cissa decided that Wulfstan, who was heir apparent to the king-ship, should come to the land of Éireann for education.”

Sister Fidelma nodded, wondering whether it was the young man’s poor usage of Irish that made him seem so disapproving of Cissa’s conversation to Christ.

“Then Wulfstan is the Tanist in your land?”

Abbot Laisran intervened with a smile.

“The Saxons have a different system of law from us, Sister Fi-delma,” he interrupted. “They hold that the eldest son inherits all. There is no election by the derbhfine such as we have.”

“I see,” nodded Fidelma. “Go on, Eadred. Cissa decided to send Wulfstan here.”

The young man grimaced sourly.

“I was ordered to accompany him and learn with him. We came together with our cousin Raedwald, thane of Staeningum, and ten churls and five slaves to attend our needs, and here we have been now for six moons.”

“And not the best of our students,” muttered Laisran.

“That’s as may be,” snapped Eadred. “We did not ask to come, but were ordered by Cissa. I shall be pleased to depart now and take the body of my kinsman back to my country.”

“Does the Latin inscription cave quid dicis mean anything to you?”

Eadred sniffed. “It is the motto of the young Frankish prince, Dagobert.”

Sister Fidelma gazed thoughtfully at the young man before turning to Raedwald. The muscular young man’s face was flushed and confused.

“And you, Raedwald? Does it mean anything to you?”

“Alas, I have no Latin, lady,” he mumbled.

“So? And when did you last see Wulfstan?”

“Just after Vespers.”

“What happened exactly?”

“As usual, Wulfstan was accompanied by myself and Eadred, with two of our churls and two slaves, to his chamber for the night. We searched the chamber as usual and then Wulfstan entered and dismissed us.”

Eadred nodded in agreement. “I talked awhile with Raedwald in the corridor. We both heard Wulfstan secure the wooden bars. Then I went off to my chamber.”

Sister Fidelma glanced again toward Raedwald.

“And you can confirm this, Raedwald?”

Eadred flushed. “You doubt my word?” His voice was brittle.

“This investigation will be conducted under our law, Eadred,” retorted Fidelma in annoyance.

Raedwald looked awkward.

“I can confirm what Eadred says, lady,” he replied. “The thane of Andredswald speaks the truth. As soon as we heard the bars slide shut we both knew that the prince, Wulfstan, had secured himself in for the night and so we both departed for our sleeping chambers.”

Sister Fidelma nodded thoughtfully.

“You can also confirm, Eadred, that Wulfstan was afraid of being attacked? Why was that?”

Eadred sniffed. “There are too many mad welisc in this place and one in particular had made several threats against him… that barbarian Talorgen!”

“Welisc? Who are they?” frowned Fidelma, puzzled.

Laisran gave a tired smile.

“The Saxons call all Britons welisc. It is a name which signifies that they are foreigners.”

“I see. So you left Wulfstan safely secured in his room? You did not seem to be as afraid of the Britons as your cousin. Why was that?”

Eadred laughed bitterly.

“I would not be thane of Andredswald if I could not defend myself against a pack of welisc cowards. No, I fear no barbarian’s whelp nor his sire, either.”

“And the rest of your Saxon entourage? Did they fear the Britons?”

“Whether they feared or not, it is of no significance. I command them and they will do as I tell them.”

Sister Fidelma exhaled in exasperation. It would be difficult to live in a Saxon country if one was not a king or a thane, she thought.

“When did you realize that Wulfstan was missing?” she prompted.

“At prayers following the first bell“

“He means the Angelus,” explained Laisran.

“He did not come to prayers and, thinking he had slept late, I went to classes.”

“What classes were these?”

“That weasel-faced Finan’s class on the conduct of law between kingdoms.”

“Go on.”

“During the midmorning break, having realized that Wulfstan was missing, I went to his room. The door was shut, signifying he was still inside. I banged upon the door. There was no response. I then went to look for Brother Ultan, the house-churl…”

“The steward of our community,” corrected Laisran softly.

“We went to Wulfstan’s chamber and Ultan had to call upon two other brothers to help us break in the door. Wulfstan had been feloniously slain. One doesn’t have to search far for the culprit.”

“And who might that be?” invited Sister Fidelma.

“Why, it is obvious. The welisc-man, Talorgan, who calls himself a prince of Rheged. He had threatened Wulfstan’s life. And it is well known the welisc practice sorcery…”

“What do you mean?” Fidelma asked sharply.

“Why, the fact that Wulfstan had been slaughtered in his bed-chamber while the window was barred and the door shut and secured from the inside. Who else but a welisc would be able to shape-change and perpetrate such a monstrous deed?”

Sister Fidelma hid her cynical smile.

“Eadred, I think you have much to learn, for you seem to be wallowing in the superstition of your old religion.”

Eadred sprang up, his hand going to his belt where a knife might be worn.

“I am thane of Andredswald! I consented to be questioned by a mere woman because it is the custom of this land. However, I will not be insulted by one.”

“I am sorry that you think, that I insult you,” Sister Fidelma replied, with a dangerous glint in her eyes. “You may go.”

Eadred’s face was working in a rage but Laisran moved forward and opened the door.

The young Saxon prince turned and stormed out. Raedwald hesitated a moment, made a gesture almost of apology, and then followed the prince out of the room.

“Did I not tell you that these Saxons are strange, haughty people, Fidelma?” smiled Laisran almost sadly.

Sister Fidelma shook her head.

“They probably have their good and bad like all people. Raed-wald seems filled more with the courtesy of princes than his cousin Eadred.”

“Well, if Eadred and his followers are to be judged, then we have had their bad. As for Raedwald, although a thane and older than either Wulfstan or Eadred, he seems quiet and was dominated by them both. He is more of a servant than a master. I gather this is because his cousins both stand in closer relationship to their king than he does.” Laisran paused and cast her a curious glance. “Why did you ask them about the Latin motto- cave quid dices?”

“It was a motto found on a piece of linen which wiped the weapon that killed Wulfstan. It could have been dropped by the killer or it could have been Wulfstan’s.”