answered his cries for assistance. Is that so?”
“I heard Brother Petrán from the herb garden and came straightaway,” confirmed Brother Cruinn.
“I saw immediately that poor Eolang was dead.”
“How long had he been dead? Could you tell?”
“I am proficient in my work, Sister.” The apothecary was proud of his professional capabilities which made him sound a trifle haughty in manner. “He had not been dead long. The blood was still flowing from the wound on his forehead and that was when I realized that murder had been committed.”
“Because of the wound? What was it like.”
“It was on the forehead, between the eyes. It was clear that someone had picked up a cudgel of some sort and smote the brother, who fell into the water and drowned.”
“And had you heard the story of how Brother Eolang had predicted that he would be murdered on that day?”
Brother Cruinn shook his head firmly.
“It was only afterwards that I learnt this story from Brother Senach.”
“But you worked with him. He was your assistant apothecary. Is it not strange that he did not mention this prediction?”
“He knew my views. I knew of Eolang’s reputation as an astrologer. Personally, I did not think much of it. I am a practical man but there are many in my profession who use it as an aid to their medical arts. However, it seems that this time Eolang was right.”
“This time?” queried Fidelma.
Brother Cruinn smiled deprecatingly.
“I have known many of Eolang’s predictions to fail. That is probably why he did not raise the matter of the prediction with me.”
Fidelma nodded thoughtfully.
She made her way back to the chamber of Brother Cass, the steward of the community, and found him in conversation again with Brehon Gormán.
“Have you sent for the messenger of the King of Cashel to hear his evidence?” she asked the Brehon without preamble.
Brehon Gormán looked bewildered.
“The man on horseback who drew Brother Petrán’s attention to the body,” she explained impatiently.
“Oh, that man? How did you find out he was a King’s messenger?” He paused at her expression and then added defensively: “I did not think his evidence would be relevant. After all, we have evidence enough about the incident.”
Fidelma scowled in annoyance.
“Don’t you realize that he might have witnessed the entire incident?” She turned to Brother Cass.
“You must send another messenger to Cashel immediately to find this man. He is one of the King’s messengers so his identity should be easy to discover. He must be brought here as an important witness.” She turned on her heel but at the door she paused and glanced back at the scowling Brehon and then looked at the unhappy steward.
“I shall expect my orders to be carried out, Brother Cass. I shall now speak with the abbot.”
Abbot Rígán was, at first meeting, a likable man; friendly, concerned, and bewildered at the situation in which he found himself. Only after talking to him for a time did Fidelma find that he was, indeed, rigid in his beliefs and a passionate supporter of the Roman Rule of the Faith.
“Did you kill Brother Eolang?” Fidelma demanded in opening the conversation after she had introduced herself.
“As God is my witness, I did not,” replied the abbot solemnly.
“Have you heard the nature of the evidence against you?”
“It is ridiculous! Surely no reasonable person would countenance such evidence as worth considering.”
“Brehon Gormán does. There is much to be explained in that evidence. Over a week ago Brother Eolang foretold that on such a day he would be killed by either drowning or poisoning. No one can deny that he did die in such circumstances.”
The abbot was silent.
“Brother Eolang said that if that circumstance happened, you would be responsible for his death.”
“But that is rubbish.”
“The Brehon says that if one part of the prediction is true, why not the other?”
“I refuse to answer the prattling of superstition.”
“I am told, Father Abbot, that you and Brother Eolang were not friends. That you criticized him because he practiced astrology. Superstition, as you have just called it.”
Abbot Rígán nodded emphatically.
“Doesn’t Deuteronomy say-‘Nor must you raise your eyes to the heavens and look up to the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be led on to bow down to them and worship them. .’?”
Fidelma inclined her head.
“I know the passage. Our astrologers would say that they do not worship the stars, but are guided by their patterns, for that very passage of Deuteronomy continues where you left off ‘. . the Lord your God created these for the various peoples under heaven.’ If He created them, why should we be afraid to follow their guidance?”
The abbot sniffed disparagingly.
“You have a quick tongue, Sister. But it is clear that God forbade star worship. Jeremiah says ‘do not be awed by signs in the heavens’. .”
“Our astrologers would say that they don’t worship the stars. They would point out that Jeremiah is actually admitting that there are, indeed, signs in the heavens, and he merely admonishes us not to be awed by them with the implication we should understand them and learn by them.”
“Not at all!” snapped the abbot. “Isaiah says:-
“Isaiah was addressing the Babylonians during the exile of the Israelites in Babylon. Naturally, he would belittle their leaders. The point is, Abbot, whether you like it or not, astrology accuses you and astrology must, therefore, defend you.”
“I will not be defended by that which my faith denies.”
“Then you cannot be defended at all,” said Fidelma, rising. “If a man comes with a stick to beat you, would you say that I will not defend myself for that man has no right to use that stick as a weapon?”
She was at the door when the abbot coughed nervously. She turned back expectantly.
“In what way would you defend me?” he muttered.
“Where were you when Eolang was drowned?” she asked.
“That morning I was engaged in the accounts of the community. Our brethren make leather goods and sell them and thus we are able to sustain our little community.”
“Was anyone with you?”
Abbot Rígán shrugged.
“I was alone all morning until Brother Cass came to report the finding of Brother Eolang to me. I detected a strange atmosphere in the community for I was unaware of this nonsense about a prediction. I was therefore surprised when Brother Cass informed me that he had already sent for a Brehon based on information he had received. I was more surprised when the Brehon arrived and I found myself accused of killing Eolang.”
“The prediction is damning,” pointed out Fidelma.
