The Haunted Abbot

In the likeness of the birds, with the bearing of a

king

Stronger shall I be than the evil I will encounter.

At the end of the Offering, Fidelma returned directly to her bed. Eadulf was not long in retiring also for he, too, had not enjoyed one full night’s sleep in days. He had expected to pass another uneasy night but, so exhausted was he, it seemed as if as soon as he lay down he was being roused by the weak winter sun shining in on them. To his surprise he found that Fidelma was already up. She was outside with Brother Laisre.

‘The blessings of Christ Saviour be with you on this day’s joyous morning and every day hereafter, Brother Eadulf,’ the leader of the community greeted him.

When Eadulf had responded, Brother Laisre turned back to Fidelma. He had obviously been answering a question.

‘Indeed, Sister, we had lookouts posted throughout the night on all the approach roads. There was no sign of any movement at all. No one appears to have followed you to this place.’

Fidelma seemed relieved. ‘So it seems that my second interpretation was incorrect. Did Brother Higbald use false news about the Saxon warband to force us to flee the abbey? Did he mean to drive us out into some ambush?’

Eadulf shook his head. ‘I cannot see the purpose of that. Why go to those lengths simply to kill us? As you said, the abbot was hell bent on doing that anyway and sooner rather than later. Why would Higbald want to waste his energies when the job would have been done for him? Perhaps the simple answer is that Higbald was given false information knowing that he would pass it on to us.’

Fidelma regarded him in surprise. ‘Sometimes one cannot see the wood for the trees. Well done, Eadulf. It is a possibility that escaped me.’ She turned back to Brother Laisre. ‘There is no further word about any warband marauding along the coast?’

‘None at all,’ confirmed the leader of the community. ‘Before sunrise, I sent one of my brethren to the nearest of the coastal villages to make inquiries. There have been no raids anywherealong the coast in the last forty-eight hours. And, if you would take some advice … forget this matter for the moment and let your day begin with breaking your fast. Solemn thoughts often make more sense on a nourished stomach than in the clawing pangs of hunger.’

Fidelma smiled. ‘You are wise, Brother Laisre. It is advice that I will gladly accept. However, had you forgotten that this is the day of Aoine — the day the Saxons call Frig’s Day, which is meant as a day of fasting and abstinence before tomorrow’s Sabbath?’

‘Yet it is also Christ’s birthday and we are allowed to celebrate as well.’

Brother Laisre led the way to the small refectory building.

As they fell to eating, the leader of the Irish community of Tunstall asked: ‘What is your plan now that you have escaped from Aldred’s Abbey? Do you intend to travel back to Canterbury?’

Fidelma shook her head quickly. ‘I should have made my intentions clearer last night. A dálaigh cannot walk away from a situation where a chieftain has embarked on the ritual of the troscud leaving no other legal witness present.’

Eadulf noticed with relief and satisfaction that she now appeared to have recovered all her former strength and determination. She was her old assertive self.

‘Does that mean that you will stay here?’ asked Brother Laisre.

‘I have tried to dissuade Gadra of Maigh Eo from the course on which he has embarked. He is determined. So I must remain and see that the ritual is carried out in legal fashion. My honour as a dálaigh is at stake.’

Eadulf regarded her in some surprise but it was Brother Laisre who articulated his thoughts.

‘But what of Cild? He will not be happy with you since you absconded from the abbey. He will be determined to destroy you.’

Fidelma’s chin raised a fraction.

‘Better men and women than Cild have tried,’ she said almost under her breath. Then she spoke normally. ‘It is true that we must be careful of Cild. However, there is a mystery at that abbeywhich involves not only the fate of Gadra and this troscud but also the death of Eadulf’s friend, Botulf. We cannot walk away from it without attempting to bring the truth to light. So we must stay and attempt to find that truth.’

Brother Lasire shook his head in bewilderment.

‘But the truth lies in the abbey. You cannot return to it in order to question those who might lead you to it. So how can you find what is the truth?’

Fidelma smiled quickly. ‘You have an astute mind, Brother Laisre.’

Brother Laisre waited for a moment and when she made no further comment he rose, frowning.

‘Well,’ he said irritably, ‘you do not have to tell me your plans.’

Fidelma nodded as if in agreement. ‘The less people know of them, perhaps, the better.’

Brother Laisre clearly felt that he should be included in her designs but now he left them showing his wounded pride.

Eadulf grimaced at Fidelma. ‘He feels upset.’

‘But I am right. The less people know, the less they can tell.’

‘But you must have a plan. I know you.’

Fidelma glanced at him. ‘Laisre was pointing to the obvious when he said that I could not go back to the abbey to find the truth which is buried there.’

‘That is basic logic,’ agreed Eadulf.

‘So basic that everyone would think it. That is why I am going back to the abbey. After all, we know a secret way inside through those curious tunnels.’

Eadulf stared at her, horrified.

‘Go back into the abbey?’ he stuttered. ‘I don’t believe you can be serious.’

‘On the contrary, I am perfectly serious. I do not like having my life threatened and I do not like leaving behind unsolved crimes and mysteries. I am determined to resolve this.’

‘But how …?’ Eadulf raised his arms in an almost hopeless gesture.

‘If one woman can traverse the corridors and chambers of the abbey undetected then so can I.’

‘But …’ Eadulf began to protest.

Fidelma looked at him with disdain. ‘Come now, Eadulf, you do not believe in apparitions and phantasms?’

Eadulf flushed, for deep within him he had to admit that he did believe in such things.

‘I say that to return is to court an unnecessary danger,’ he said stubbornly.

‘Yet to do nothing is to let matters take an inevitable and tragic course. You do not have to come back with me,’ she added mischievously, knowing full well that her words would goad him.

Eadulf rose to the bait.

‘If you go, of course I will come.’

‘Then it is decided,’ smiled Fidelma sweetly. ‘But first we have some other matters to deal with.’

Eadulf looked nervous. ‘Other matters? What matters?’

‘Do you think that Brother Laisre and his community might provide us with horses?’

Eadulf’s nervousness increased.

‘Why would we need horses?’ he ventured. ‘If you mean to return to the abbey, then it is best to come upon it on foot so that we are not observed.’

‘We have a journey or two to make before that event and it is best if we can do it with relative comfort and more quickly than merely walking in this inhospitable weather.’

‘Journeys to where?’

‘I want to meet Cild’s brother, Aldhere. You have given me an excellent report of matters, but I would like to make some personal assessment of him before I reach any conclusions.’