Our Lady of Darkness

ranged from hostile to simply curious. Only once or twice did a few people express their suspicions of her by shouting abuse. She ignored them. No one in Fearna, it seemed, remained ignorant of her identity, nor of her connection with the Saxon who had been due to hang at midday.

Within her, Fidelma still felt an intensity of different emotions about the situation. She realised that if she was to achieve anything now, she must keep those emotions in check. She had to make a tremendous effort of will and sweep all sentiment from her mind. If she thought of Eadulf in any other way than someone who desperately needed her help and experience, then she could go mad with the anguish that bubbled just below the surface of her calm exterior.

At the gates of the abbey, Sister Étromma greeted her with deep suspicion.

‘You are the last person I expected to see,’ she said rudely.

‘Oh? Why so?’ demanded Fidelma innocently, as the rechtaire grudgingly let her through the gates.

‘I would have thought that you would be returning to Cashel rejoicing. The Saxon has escaped. Isn’t that what you wanted?’

Fidelma regarded her seriously.

‘What I wanted,’ she replied with heavy emphasis, ‘was that Brother Eadulf should have justice and be cleared of the charge against him. As for returning to Cashel rejoicing, I will not leave here until I find out what has happened to Brother Eadulf and, indeed, until after I have cleared his name. Escape does not absolve people before the law.’

‘Escape is better than death,’ the stewardess of the abbey pointed out, almost echoing the words of Dego.

‘There is truth in that but I would rather that he was cleared than became a fugitive, in which case any man can treat him as one who is without the law and act accordingly.’

‘Everyone in the abbey thinks that you had a hand in the escape. Did you?’

‘You are direct, Sister Étromma. No, I did not help Eadulf to escape.’

‘It will be difficult to convince people of that.’

‘Difficult or not, it is the truth. Nor am I interested in wasting time trying to convince people.’

‘Here you may find that lies win you friends but truth only begets hatred.’

‘Speaking of hatred, you do not like Abbess Fainder much, do you?’

‘It is not a requirement for a stewardess to like the abbess whom she serves.’

‘Do you like the way she governs the abbey? I refer to this business of the Penitentials.’

‘The Rule of the Abbey has been pronounced. I have to obey it. But I can see where you are leading, Sister. Do not attempt to persuade me to condemn the attitude of the abbess, nor of Bishop Forbassach. Whether punishment be by the Penitentials or by the Law of the Fénechus, remember that the Saxon was found guilty of rape and murder. For that crime, punishment under law must be made — whatever the law. Now, I am busy. There is much to be done in the abbey this day. What is the purpose of your visit?’

‘I would firstly like to see the abbess.’

‘I will be surprised if she agrees to see you.’

‘Let us put that to the test then.’

Abbess Fainder did see Fidelma. She sat behind her desk as usual, looking austere, her dark eyes suspicious.

‘Sister Étromma tells me that you have denied any knowledge of the Saxon’s escape, Sister Fidelma. You do not expect me to believe that?’ was her sharp opening remark.

Fidelma smiled softly and seated herself without being asked, conscious of the flicker of annoyance on the face of the abbess, but this time Abbess Fainder was too wise to object.

‘I do not expect you to believe anything, Mother Abbess,’ Fidelma replied calmly.

‘But you want to plead your innocence of knowledge to me?’ sneered the abbess.

‘I do not have to plead anything before you,’ Fidelma said. ‘I have come merely to seek your consent to continue to ask questions among the members of this community.’

Abbess Fainder sat back with a surprised expression.

‘For what purpose?’ she demanded. ‘You have asked all the questionsand have made your appeal to the court. The truth was known when the Saxon fled from his cell.’

‘Yesterday I did not have time to ask all the questions that I wanted to ask concerning the matter of the charges levelled against Brother Eadulf. I would like to resume today.’

For the first time Abbess Fainder looked totally bewildered.

‘You will be wasting your time. Anyway, as I understand it, Forbassach will be investigating any involvement that you might have in the Saxon’s escape. To me this escape is a clear indication of his guilt. He will be dealt with when he is caught. Those who have helped him escape will also be punished. Remember that, Sister Fidelma.’

‘I am fully aware of all the legal procedures, Mother Abbess. And until Brother Eadulf has been recaptured, I have time to resume my task. That is, unless you have something which you do not want me to discover.’

Abbess Fainder went white and was about to retort when there was a noise at the door and it opened before she could protest.

Fidelma swung round.

To her surprise, it was the thin, reedy river boatman named Gabrán who stood in the doorway. He paused and then his eyes fell on her and he looked uncomfortable.

‘I am sorry, lady,’ he muttered to the abbess. ‘I did not know you were engaged. The stewardess said you wanted to see me. I will return later.’

He left the room, closing the door, without acknowledging Fidelma.

Fidelma turned back to Abbess Fainder with a slight look of amusement on her features.

‘Now that is a fascinating thing. I have not seen a boatman with such a free run of an abbey that he may come and enter the abbess’s private chamber without knocking.’

Abbess Fainder looked embarrassed. ‘The man is a boor. He has no right to presume to enter here,’ she said after a hesitation. Her tone was not convincing. ‘Anyway, who are you to question me on such matters?’

Sister Fidelma smiled gently but did not comment.

Abbess Fainder waited for a moment and then shrugged.

‘The man trades with this abbey, that is all.’ She sounded defensive. Fidelma remained silent, sitting as if waiting for Abbess Fainder to continue.

‘Bishop Forbassach was coming to see you last night,’ began theabbess. ‘As soon as it was discovered that the Saxon had escaped, or — rather — had been helped to escape, I called for the bishop. He felt it was obvious that if the Saxon was anywhere, you would know. He seems to have missed you.’

‘He did not,’ replied Fidelma. ‘He woke me from my sleep in the middle of the night in a fruitless search for Brother Eadulf.’

Abbess Fainder’s eyes widened. She had obviously not had a report about Forbassach’s midnight call.

‘He searched your room and discovered nothing?’ She frowned uncertainly.

‘You sound surprised. No, he did not discover Brother Eadulf under my bed, if that is what you mean, Mother Abbess. Nor, if he had intelligence, would he have expected to do so. Bishop Forbassach found nothing.’

‘Nothing?’ Abbess Fainder’s tone was incredulous and she sat deep in thought as if considering the news. Then her haughty attitude seemed to collapse. She became subdued. ‘Very well; if you need to ask more questions then ask away. I am sure that everyone in this abbey suspects the identity of those who helped the Saxon escape.’

Fidelma rose casually. ‘Thank you for your cooperation, Mother Abbess. It is good to know that everyone in the abbey suspects those who helped Eadulf to escape.’

Abbess Fainder looked startled. There was a question in her eyes as she peered at Fidelma.

Fidelma decided to answer.

‘If everyone in this abbey has some idea who helped Brother Eadulf escape, then perhaps they will be able to inform me so that we can swiftly resolve this mystery. They might even know who really killed the young girl whom he was falsely accused of murdering.’