The Haunted Abbot

evening Angelus bell to sound, and yet he felt it was so cold and dark that it could be midnight.

It was the dominus, Brother Willibrod, who swung open the abbey gates for Eadulf to enter after he had tugged at the bellrope. Thankfully, Eadulf slid from his mule and stretched his aching limbs.

‘God be praised that you have returned safely, Brother Eadulf,’ the dominus began immediately, his single dark eye blinking rapidly. ‘It was early morning when you left and now the hour grows late. We had presumed that you had met with an accident or something worse …’

‘Something worse?’ mused Eadulf.

‘Aldhere’s outlaws wander the marshlands, as well you know. The abbot returned after the noon Angelus having given up hisattempt to track them down. He said that you had not overtaken him and was angry with me for letting you go after him.’

Eadulf tried to keep his features impassive.

‘As you see, Brother Willibrod, I have returned safely.’

Brother Willibrod gestured to a passing member of the brethren to take Eadulf’s mule and instructed him to unsaddle and feed and water the animal. Eadulf started to walk across the main quadrangle. To his surprise, the dominus hurried after him. Eadulf began to get the impression that he was concerned about something other than Eadulf’s late arrival. He felt that the dominus was trying to find the right words to approach the subject. Eadulf was initially determined that he would not help the man. However, he could not help feeling some sympathy for him as he saw the anxious expression on his features. Finally, as they reached the far side of the quadrangle, Eadulf asked: ‘Is there something on your mind, Brother?’

‘Something strange has happened, Brother Eadulf.’

‘Strange?’

The concern in the voice of the dominus was apparent. Then a sudden thought hit Eadulf.

‘Sister Fidelma … her illness has not worsened?’

To his relief, Brother Willibrod shook his head immediately.

‘No, her illness has not worsened. It is young Brother Redwald who …’

Eadulf was frowning. ‘Who is Brother Redwald?’

‘The young man who attends to the chores of the guests’ hostel.’

‘Yes, I remember the boy. What is the matter with him?’

‘He has had to be locked in his cell and given strong liquor to calm him.’

Eadulf waited a moment and then gave an exasperated sigh.

‘For goodness’ sake! Am I to extract this story sentence by sentence? You are clearly upset at something which concerns Brother Redwald, though how it concerns me I do not know, nor probably care unless you can explain to me why I should.’

‘Be seated a moment, Brother,’ said the dominus, pointing to a nearby stone bench, ‘and I will tell you.’

Compressing his lips to hide his irritation, Eadulf allowed himself to be guided to a bench and be seated. Brother Willibrodsat down beside him. His features were lit by a flickering storm lantern above them. It produced an eerie effect.

‘It happened just after dusk had fallen,’ began the dominus. When Eadulf groaned, Brother Willibrod reached out a hand. ‘Patience, Brother. Redwald is ill and now confined for his own protection. His mind is quite frantic.’

Eadulf controlled himself. The dominus continued.

‘Redwald went into the chamber of Sister Fidelma to see if she needed anything. By the bed of your companion Brother Redwald saw a woman standing. Brother Redwald recognised her.’

Brother Willibrod paused dramatically.

‘And who was the person whom Brother Redwald recognised?’ Eadulf asked wearily.

‘Redwald came to our community when Abbot Cild’s wife, Gélgeis, was still alive. Redwald recognised this woman … it was Gélgeis or the shade of Gélgeis. He went out of his mind with fear because he knew that she was dead. But there she stood, pale but almost as if she were in life. She stretched out a hand to him and he went screaming from the chamber. We have barely made sense from his story …’

Eadulf felt a coldness creeping up his back. He remembered the figure of the woman he had seen the previous night near the chapel and everyone’s reaction to it.

‘This … this apparition was in Fidelma’s room?’

‘It was.’

‘But you said that she was all right?’ Eadulf began to rise hastily.

‘She was in a feverish sleep; we could not rouse her when we went to investigate. There was no sign of the woman.’

Eadulf was keen to be gone. ‘I am sure you are eager to attend to Brother Redwald, but now I am equally anxious to ensure that Sister Fidelma has come to no harm through this incident … whatever the reason for the incident may be.’

‘Wait, Brother,’ cried the dominus, rising to restrain him. ‘Wait, I have not told you all.’

Eadulf whirled round, his eyes narrowed in sudden apprehension.

‘What have you not told me?’

‘Abbot Cild came to investigate. He told me that you had alsoseen what you claimed to be a woman near the chapel and that you had described Gélgeis to him. You told me that you had seen such a woman by the chapel. Now Brother Redwald has seen her. And the abbot is almost beside himself with fear, though I should not tell you that. Cild claimed several times that this wraith had been seen by him. Now it is appearing to others. It is clearly black witchcraft.’

Eadulf snorted sardonically. Inwardly, he felt a fear born of the age-old beliefs of his people.

‘That is Abbot Cild’s problem,’ he said in irritation, turning again.

‘Abbot Cild believes that it is the ghost of his dead wife,’ cried the dominus. ‘Further, he believes that this witchcraft came into the abbey when you and your companion arrived in this kingdom. There can only be one explanation.’

Eadulf had whirled back towards Brother Willibrod, his heart beating fast.

‘One explanation? What do you mean?’

‘The abbot believes that your companion has conjured the spirit of his dead wife by foul rites. We have locked Sister Fidelma in her chamber to await her punishment for witchcraft.’

Chapter Eight

Eadulf halted abruptly outside the door of the guest chambers. Further progress was impeded by a thick-set, muscular brother who stood, arms folded and immovable, in front of it. For a moment it seemed that Eadulf would fling himself physically on the man but Brother Willibrod came up behind him.

‘Let him through,’ the dominus instructed.

The brother stood aside immediately and Eadulf moved into the room at once.

Fidelma lay in the bed, her breath coming in deep rasping tones.

Eadulf halted inside the door for a moment and brought himself under control. He then walked slowly forward. Fidelma appeared to be asleep, but not exactly in a natural sleep. The perspiration stood out on her forehead and she lay in a profusion of sweat. It was clear that her ague had reached a point where she was in a serious fever; a fever which must break that night or become dangerous. Eadulf had seen such fevers before.

He turned as he heard the soft tread behind him.

Brother Willibrod had entered and stood at his side.

‘I told you that your companion was not harmed,’ he said softly. ‘No one has been near here, only Brother Redwald and whatever it was that he saw.’