The Haunted Abbot

Fidelma and Eadulf were aware of Brother Higbald bending over something which lay near the altar. Brother Beornwulf was also there, standing behind him with a scowl on his features.

To one side yet another figure sat surrounded by some of the brethren. One of Sigeric’s warriors stood nearby. As they approached, those around the figure parted slightly as they turned towards them. The figure seated in their midst was revealed as Abbot Cild.

Sigeric halted before him. Fidelma and Eadulf drew up at his shoulder.

Abbot Cild looked up at them. His usually grim face was wreathed in an inane smile. In fact, he was giggling like a child. Eadulf had never seen anything so alarming to the senses. It was a frightening, unpleasant sight, to see the strange, vacuous expression on the abbot’s face.

They became aware that blood saturated the abbot’s clothing; literally saturated it. Blood stained his hands which he held before him, twisting and wringing them together.

The abbot’s eyes were vacant and, while he seemed aware of their presence as they stood before him, he did not appear to see them as individuals. He knew that they were there and he smiled up at them.

‘I am free.’ The words came out in between the giggles. ‘I have rid myself of the ghost that has haunted me.’

Eadulf looked towards Sigeric but the old man was impassive.

‘The demon, the wraith, that was conjured up to persecute me,’the abbot was continuing. ‘I have destroyed it. Destroyed it. So easy. I am free.’

Eadulf was aware that Brother Redwald was one of the religious standing around the abbot. He looked towards the shocked face of the boy. Redwald met his gaze. His face was deathly white and his lip was trembling as his eyes went to where Brother Higbald was bending down. Both Eadulf and Fidelma turned and stared at what lay on the floor there. It was a slim body. The body of a girl with red-gold hair.

‘It is Gélgeis.’ Brother Redwald’s hysterical cry suddenly resounded through the chapel. ‘She is dead. Yet she was dead before. But now she is dead again. The abbot has killed the ghost of Gélgeis!’

Chapter Eighteen

Eadulf let go of Fidelma’s hand and strode forward to where Brother Higbald was still bending over the body. The apothecary glanced up. Eadulf was surprised at the anger in the man’s face. Higbald seemed about to say something to him but then he looked quickly away. Eadulf glanced down, peering closely at the features of the dead girl. Then he turned towards the sobbing Brother Redwald, who was trying to control an emotion that Eadulf realised was not grief.

‘Come here,’ Eadulf ordered in a sharp, imperative voice that surprised those about him.

The young boy moved automatically in response to his command. He shuffled forward to stand by Eadulf, his face twitching nervously.

‘Don’t be afraid, son.’ Eadulf was suddenly gentle but firm. ‘This body is bleeding too profusely to be a ghost. I want you to look down upon her face.’

Brother Redwald stared back at him, eyes wide, almost pleading.

‘I cannot, Brother …’

‘Look down!’ snapped Eadulf.

The boy unwillingly lowered his gaze to the corpse.

‘Tell us now, is that Gélgeis? You said that you knew her well. Is it she?’

Brother Redwald closed his eyes, not really looking, and merely nodded vigorously before backing quickly away.

‘Do you say that this is a woman who has been dead for over a year?’ growled Sigeric angrily. ‘Think, boy. This is a substantial body and no ghost.’

The boy was crying, frightened and incoherent.

‘The boy is useless as a witness,’ admonished Fidelma, moving forward. She glanced towards Brother Willibrod. ‘Shall we explain the identity of this girl, dominus, or will you?’

Sigeric was surprised. ‘You know the identity of this girl?’

Fidelma grimaced, still looking at Brother Willibrod. He was too immersed in grief to answer her.

‘Then I shall explain,’ Eadulf said. ‘This is the girl known locally as Lioba.’

‘You mean that Gélgeis has not been dead but was living under the name of Lioba?’ Sigeric asked quickly. ‘You told me that you suspected a girl Lioba as being involved in some conspiracy. Now I am confused. What has that to do with Willibrod?’

‘I’d rather that Brother Willibrod answer that question,’ replied Eadulf firmly.

‘I am at a loss to understand what is happening here.’ Sigeric sighed. Then he looked across at Fidelma. She was bent down to the body of the girl and seemed to be examining her clothing. She looked up at Eadulf and gave a quick shake of her head. A number of expressions chased themselves across Sigeric’s features. Confusion. Annoyance. Finally, resignation.

‘Let no one touch anything here,’ he ordered sharply. ‘Remove Abbot Cild to his chamber and let someone remain with him. Brother Willibrod, are you able to return to your own chambers?’ The dominus seemed to pull himself together at the harsh tone of command. He rose, wiping his face on his sleeve and inclined his head in supplication. ‘Then do so. Also take that young boy away,’ motioning to Redwald, ‘and see to him.’

Sigeric issued a stream of orders, placing his warriors on guard around the chapel. Finally, he turned back to Fidelma and Eadulf. He now seemed to have difficulty in articulating his thoughts.

‘I have, perhaps, made a mistake,’ he began hesitantly. ‘My questions throw up more questions and now it seems that the abbot has killed a woman in this chapel because he believed that she was the ghost of his dead wife. But you identify her as a local woman named Lioba. This is a matter beyond my understanding.’

They waited silently for him to finish.

Sigeric was a proud man and it was hard for him to come to the point.

‘Perhaps I made a mistake in incarcerating you while I tried to substantiate your claims against Abbot Cild. It might be that we could have prevented an unnecessary death.’

Fidelma waited a moment before she made a response.

‘You did what you considered the right thing. No blame on you for that.’

Sigeric continued to look awkward.

‘What I am trying to say is, do you see any solution to this mystery, Fidelma of Cashel? I … I would appreciate your assistance.’

Fidelma regarded him thoughtfully. The man was trying his best to overcome a cultural prejudice. She finally smiled gently.

‘I believe that I might see the solution to the tragedy that pervades this abbey.’

Sigeric regarded her, still with some embarrassment on his features.

‘You believe you can solve the mystery?’

Fidelma nodded quickly. ‘I am sure of it.’

‘Then explain it to me.’

To Eadulf’s surprise, Fidelma shook her head.

‘I will do so only on certain conditions,’ she announced confidently.

An angry expression immediately crossed Sigeric’s features.

‘Do you dare bargain with me?’ he asked sharply.

‘I am not bargaining,’ she assured him. ‘I am telling you what I need in order to bring this matter to a successful conclusion.’

Sigeric hesitated, controlling his irritation. His features mirrored an inward struggle and then he seemed to relax. His calm nature returned.

‘And what is it that you need?’ he asked softly.

‘Complete freedom and authority to conduct the investigation in the manner I am used to. I do not ask that you set up a court of law as we do in the five kingdoms of Éireann, but allow me to gather those I would call