the worse for our local wine. However, just as I was retiring, Bishop Ordgar came to my chambers. He wished to complain further about Abbot Cadfan. He was with me some time before I could get rid of him. He was very angry about the behaviour of the Briton that evening. I told him that this was a council in which all representatives must be treated with latitude. After he left me, I fell asleep until I became aware of Brother Sigeric shaking me. It was not then dawn. However, it was that point of darkness just before dawn when you can hear the birds stirring and crying to one another as they sense the approach of light.’
He paused and Eadulf prompted: ‘Go on.’
‘It is as I said. Brother Sigeric urged me to put on my robe and come to Bishop Ordgar’s chamber. He said there had been a bad accident.’
‘Did he describe what sort of accident or how he had discovered it?’
‘Not at that time, but later he said…’
Fidelma raised a hand. ‘We will speak to Brother Sigeric himself on that matter. Let us concentrate on what you did at the time.’
Bishop Leodegar hesitated a moment and then continued, ‘I followed him as he asked me to. Brother Sigeric was in an agitated state and so I did not pursue him with questions at that time. I entered Ordgar’s chamber…’
‘Was there a light it in?’ Fidelma asked quickly.
Bishop Leodegar nodded. ‘A candle was burning.’
‘So you could see the interior quite plainly?’
‘I could see that there appeared to be two bodies there and that Bishop Ordgar was slumped on his bed, groaning.’
‘Did he say anything as you entered?
‘He seemed to be in pain, and mumbling. He was clearly not himself.’
‘And you saw the body?’
‘I immediately noticed Abbot Cadfan who lay stretched on the floor beside the bed. There was light enough to see blood on the back of his skull.’
‘You could see blood by the candlelight?’ queried Eadulf.
Brother Leodegar frowned. ‘Yes…’ He realised what Eadulf was asking. ‘Well, I could see some dark, sticky stuff-and, of course, it turned out to be blood.’
Eadulf smiled in approval. ‘Was he conscious?’
‘No, and he did not revive until he was carried back to his own chamber.’ He paused, then realising that more was expected of him, went on, ‘I was about to bend down to him when I saw the body of Abbot Dabhóc. I called to Brother Sigeric to rouse my steward. I also told Sigeric to fetch our physician, Brother Gebicca. I went to Bishop Ordgar to see if I could administer to him, but it was as if he was intoxicated. He was mumbling nonsensical things.’
‘Did he smell of wine or beer?’ asked Fidelma.
‘There was an aura of stale wine about him,’ admitted the bishop.
‘And then?’
‘Then Brother Gebicca arrived and soon after, Brother Chilperic. When Gebicca pronounced that Abbot Dabhóc was dead, that a blow from behind had crushed his skull, I knew that I should advise Abbot Ségdae, as the senior cleric from your land. I sent Brother Sigeric to rouse him.’
‘And all the time Cadfan lay unconscious while Ordgar was in a state of intoxication?’ put in Fidelma.
‘We did not neglect Cadfan,’ he replied. ‘Brother Gebicca examined him and it was decided to take him back to his chamber where it took a day or so for him to recover fully. We also removed Ordgar to a nearby chamber. When I finally questioned Ordgar, he said he had taken wine as was his custom before retiring and knew no more until he awoke sick and dizzy. He was aware of the people in his chamber but could not say what was happening until he recovered. He thought, at first, that he had been made ill by bad wine-but when I told him what had occurred in his chamber, he believed that Cadfan had tried to poison him.’
‘So, according to Ordgar, why had Dabhóc been killed by Cadfan?’ asked Eadulf.
‘Ordgar claimed that Dabhóc must have interrupted Cadfan’s attempt to kill him and paid with his life.’
‘And Cadfan’s wound? How did he explain that?’
‘Ordgar believed it was either administered by Dabhóc before Cadfan killed him or even by Cadfan himself.’
‘A self-inflicted wound that rendered Cadfan unconscious for a day?’ Eadulf looked cynical. ‘That is hardly a self-administered blow, and if inflicted by another person, would not have allowed the killing of that person before unconsciousness.’
Fidelma shot him a look of disapproval for being so open with his thoughts.
‘We may pursue such matters when we question Ordgar and Cadfan,’ she said. ‘I presume that you also questioned Cadfan? What was
‘He told me that someone had slipped a note under his door, knocked and run off before he could open it. The note told him to go to Ordgar’s chamber at once as there was some urgency. He came to the chamber, found the door ajar, knocked and a voice bade him enter. He recalled nothing except a sharp pain on the back of the head until he recovered consciousness a day or so later.’
For a while Fidelma said nothing, sitting head slightly forward with her eyes focused on the middle distance.
‘A strange tale indeed,’ she said at last. ‘Abbot Ségdae has informed us that Ordgar and Cadfan are confined to their chambers until the matter of the responsibility is resolved.’
‘That is true.’
‘And presumably both are outraged by their confinement?’
‘As you can imagine,’ conceded Bishop Leodegar. ‘But what other course of action can I take?’
‘And how is this suspicion and confinement received by the delegates to this council?’ asked Eadulf. ‘You have spoken of the tensions. Is anyone taking sides?’
Bishop Leodegar gave a bark of cynical laughter.
‘They would not be human if they did not. The Saxons and some of our Franks support Ordgar. The Britons, Gauls and Armoricans denounce Ordgar and demand the release of Cadfan. Those clerics from Hibernia call down a plague on both houses and demand reparation for the death of the representative of the bishop of Ard Macha. So what am I to do?’
Fidelma stood up abruptly, so abruptly that she caused some surprise. She glanced though the tall windows at the darkening day.
‘You are following the right path,’ she declared. ‘You may announce what we are doing at evening prayers. Tomorrow morning we will start in earnest upon this quest and begin by speaking with Brother Sigeric. I presume the chamber where it happened is now empty?’
Bishop Leodegar nodded. ‘As I said, we removed Ordgar to a more secure room.’
‘Then we will visit the original chamber after we have seen Brother Sigeric.’
‘I will ensure that all is ready for you.’ Bishop Leodegar became more assertive. ‘I only hope that you are both as clever at solving conundrums as Abbot Ségdae has assured me that you are.’
‘That will be for you to judge, Leodegar of Autun,’ Fidelma replied quietly. ‘Eadulf and I can only do what is in our power to do, and trust the riddle is one that can be solved.’
Chapter Four
Fidelma and Eadulf were awakened just before dawn by the sound of singing. Eadulf lay for a while trying to adjust to the unfamiliar music. It was Fidelma who recognised it.
‘It must be the
Eadulf groaned. ‘I hope we are not expected to adopt these ways while we are staying here. I am often told
