Hemlock at Vespers

“Did you expect Enodoc to be here?”

The girl shook her head.

“Do you love Enodoc?”

Egeria look at her without answering for a moment or two and then shook her head slowly.

“Enodoc came from our village. He used to be our friend when we were children. I liked him as a friend but no more than that. Then he went to sea. He is captain of a merchant ship. I hardly see him. But whenever we meet, he seems to think he has a claim on me.”

“Indeed; he thinks that he is in love with you.”

“Yes. He has said so on several occasions.”

“But you are not in love with him?”

“No.”

“Have you told him so? Have you told him clearly?”

“Several times. He is a stubborn man and convinced himself that it was Docco who stood against him. That Docco had the ability to make up my mind for me.”

“I see. Are you telling me that he thought that it was only Docco that was an obstacle to marriage with you?”

The girl nodded and then her eyes widened a fraction.

“Are you saying…?”

“I am merely asking questions, Egeria. When did you meet En-odoc today?”

“When he arrived for the service.”

“You and your brother were already in the ecclesia, I take it?”

She nodded.

“You had taken up your position at the front?”

“Yes.”

“Did your brother normally take that position?”

Egeria sniffed a little and wiped a tear from her eye.

“Docco always liked to be the first to take the ritual of the Eucharist and so he liked to place himself near the priest. It was a habit of his, even at home.”

“I see. At what stage did Enodoc join you?”

“A few moments before the service began. I thought that he had finally accepted the situation but then he appeared, breathless and flustered as if he were in a hurry. I thought that the priest, Father Cornelius, was going to admonish him because he had halted the opening of the service while Enodoc took his place.”

Fidelma frowned.

“Why so? I came very late into the service yet Father Cornelius did not halt the service for me.”

“It was because Enodoc entered at the back of the altar and crossed in front of the priest to take his position with us.”

Fidelma could not speak with surprise for a moment.

“Are you saying that Enodoc entered the ecclesia through the sacristy?”

Egeria shrugged.

“I do not know. He entered through that door.” She turned and pointed to the door of the sacristy.

Fidelma was silent for a while.

“Return to your place, Egeria. I will not be long now. Please ask Enodoc to come back to me.”

Enodoc was as pleasant as before.

“You have been selective with your truths, Enodoc,” Fidelma opened.

The young man frowned.

“How so?”

“Docco was not the only person to stand in your way to marriage with Egeria.”

“Who else did so?” demanded the Gaul.

“Egeria herself.”

“She told you that?” The young man flushed.

“Yes.”

“She does not really mean it. She may say so but it was merely Docco speaking. Things will be different now.”

“You think so?”

“She is distraught. When her mind clears, she will know the truth.” He was confident.

“Perhaps. You did not mention that you entered this ecclesia through the sacristy.”

“You did not ask me. Is it important?”

“Why did you choose that unorthodox way of entering?”

“No mystery to that. I told you that I had to see a merchant this morning. I finished my business and came hurrying to the church. I found myself on the far side of the building and heard the bell toll for the opening of the service. It would have taken me some time to walk around the building, for there is a wall which is a barrier along the road. To come from the back of the church to the main doors takes a while, and I saw the door to the sacristy so I entered it.”

“Yet you had only been in this ecclesia once before. You must have a good memory.”

“It does not take much memory to recall something from the previous day, which was when I was here?”

“Who was in the sacristy when you entered?”

“No one.”

“And what did you do?”

“I came straight through into the ecclesia.”

“Did you see the chalice there?”

Enodoc shook his head. Then his eyes widened as he saw the meaning to her questions. For a moment, he was silent, his mouth set in a tight line. His tanned features reddened but he overcame his obvious indignation.

“I am sure that the chalice was already on the altar because as I entered the priest was starting the service.”

Fidelma met his gaze and held it for a moment.

“You may return to your place.”

Fidelma sat thinking for some moments and then she rose and walked toward the doors where the young custos stood. The young man watched her with narrow-eyed suspicion.

“What is your name?” she asked as she came to face him.

“Terentius.”

“Do you usually attend the services in this ecclesia?”

“My house is but a short walk away and my position as a member of the custodes is to ensure that law and order prevail in this area.”

“How long have you performed that duty?”

“Two years now.”

“So you have known Father Cornelius since you have been here?”

“Of course.”

“What is your opinion of Father Cornelius?”

The guard shrugged.

“As a priest, he has his faults. Why do you ask?”

“And your opinion of Tullius? Do you know him?”

She saw the young man flush.

“I know him well. He was born here in this district. He is conscientious in his duties. He is about to be ordained.”

She detected a slight tone of pride.