The Council of the Cursed

‘He left the abbey before dawn. No one saw him,’ Brother Chilperic replied impatiently. ‘The body was discovered by a fisherman a little down-river not long after sun-up.’

‘If we see Abbot Ségdae, we will inform him of this tragedy and say that you are looking for him,’ Fidelma said, realising they were showing too much interest. ‘In the meantime, can you tell us which of the rooms Abbot Dabhóc occupied?’

‘It is empty,’ replied the steward, his mind clearly elsewhere. ‘There is nothing there now.’

‘But where is it located?’

‘It is back in the hospitia, in the same corridor as Bishop Ordgar’s chamber-the third along from where he is.’

She thanked him but Brother Chilperic was already on his way. Once out of the steward’s earshot Fidelma spoke her thoughts.

‘Brother Gillucán feared for his life and now he is dead,’ she said quietly.

‘Do you think there is some connection with the death of Abbot Dabhóc?’ Eadulf asked.

‘Let’s keep an open mind. You noticed the look that Brother Chilperic cast in your direction?’

‘He is probably still suspicious at finding me in the necessarium, especially as it was probably near the hour when this Brother Gillucán was making his way out of the abbey. But I thought Gillucán said he was joining a group of pilgrims for the journey?’

‘He did. We’d best keep our own counsel on this, Eadulf,’ Fidelma replied, keeping her voice low, ‘until we find out whether it is in some way connected with the matter here or just a coincidence, There is no use putting ourselves in harm’s way. If Gillucán felt fearful enough to leave the abbey before dawn on his own, then the very thing he feared befell him.’

‘But why? I cannot see any logic in this matter.’

‘Perhaps there is something more to the killing of Abbot Dabhóc, and now his steward, than merely the argument between Ordgar and Cadfan. What was it that those who ransacked Dabhóc’s chamber were looking for-the reliquary box? If so, why didn’t they find it? Who has it? And was this what Gillucán was being asked about when his room was searched? There are too many questions, Eadulf. Too many questions and not enough facts.’

‘For once, I agree,’ Eadulf said. ‘So where do we turn next? Should we see what else we can find out about Brother Gillucán’s death?’

‘Not at the moment. If it is connected with Dabhóc’s death then we do not want to alert our adversary that we suspect anything.’

‘So what now?’

‘Let us have a brief glance at the chamber occupied by Abbot Dabhóc before we return to our initial plan to speak with Abbess Audofleda. Now we know that Dabhóc did not have far to go to meet his death. His room was in the same corridor as Ordgar’s room.’

The chamber that had been occupied by Abbot Dabhóc was empty and had been cleaned thoroughly. There was certainly nowhere to hide such an object as a reliquary box. Fidelma gazed around.

‘Well, this room is not going to tell us anything,’ she sighed.

There was a hollow cough behind them at the doorway. The saturnine figure of Brother Benevolentia stood regarding them,

‘Were you looking for me?’ he asked. ‘My chamber is just along here.’

Fidelma turned to greet him. ‘As a matter of fact, no. We were looking at the chamber Abbot Dabhóc occupied.’

‘Is there anything I can help with?’

‘We were told that this chamber was ransacked on that same night as he was killed. I don’t suppose you heard anything?’

‘As I mentioned before, I did not hear even what was happening in poor Bishop Ordgar’s chamber, since I sleep so very soundly. I knew nothing until Bishop Leodegar and his steward roused me,’ Brother Benevolentia said.

‘Do you know Abbot Dabhóc’s steward?’ asked Fidelma.

Brother Benevolentia shook his head.

‘So you have no idea where his chamber is located?’

‘I do not know him but his chamber is on the left, down that corridor,’ he indicated. ‘The first door you come to. I don’t think he is there right now, although I saw Brother Chilperic leave it earlier. Have you knocked upon his door?’

‘No, he is-’ began Eadulf, then fell silent with a glance from Fidelma.

‘No, you are right. He is not there,’ she added. ‘But if his chamber was there, then you must surely have known him?’

‘Ah, I see what you mean. The word you used implied that he was a person I knew well. He was familiar to me only as one of the foreign delegation, and I certainly did not know him, other than to exchange a courteous greeting when passing.’

‘Then thank you for your help, Brother Benevolentia.’

The religieux nodded to them and retired into his own chamber.

Fidelma moved to the chamber that he had indicated and opened the door. It had been left tidy, the blanket folded on the bed. As Brother Chilperic had said, it was empty but with no sign of a hurried departure. It would reveal nothing more than the abbot’s chamber had revealed.

Behind her, Eadulf remarked: ‘A bit of a pedantic character.’

Fidelma shrugged absently. ‘Who-Benevolentia? Perhaps he is right. Language should be used precisely, especially in legal matters.’ She gestured to the tiny room before her. ‘This won’t tell us much, either.’ She turned and left, closing the door behind her.

‘At least we now know the location of these chambers,’ she observed, as she led the way back down to the main hall of the abbey.

‘Is that important?’ asked Eadulf.

‘It is always good to know the precise layout of where the crime is committed and the surrounding area. Have you noticed that Abbot Cadfan’s chamber was the furthest away from Ordgar’s chamber and along another corridor? Everyone else was in the same corridor or adjacent, like Gillucán.’

Eadulf supposed that he had registered the fact but could not see that there was any relevance.

‘As I say, it is good to know the layout,’ she repeated.

They were crossing the anticum, having ascertained that the only way to gain entrance to the Domus Femini was to leave the main door and walk along the north side of the square, then go up the wagonway into the central courtyard. The main door to the women’s community was on the far side of this courtyard.

A voice suddenly called Fidelma’s name and they saw a figure hurrying towards them across the marble flagged hallway. It was a tall, dark man with a pale olive complexion, wearing the robes and tonsure of Rome, and his attire was not of some poor cleric but someone of rank.

‘Sister Fidelma! I thought I recognised you. It is good to see you again.’ He was holding his hand out in greeting to her.

Fidelma took it, her brow furrowed as she tried to place the man from distant memory.

‘You do not recognise me? No matter. It has been a few years since you were in Rome.’

Memory suddenly came to her. ‘You were a scribe in the Lateran Palace…’

‘I was scribe to the Venerable Gelasius, nomenclator to His Holiness. I saw you several times in his office when you were investigating the death of the Archbishop Wighard. The Venerable Gelasius has frequently wondered how life was treating you since you left Rome. We have heard many things about you and of Brother Eadulf.’ He turned to Eadulf and smiled, reaching out to take his hand. ‘And you, I believe, are Brother Eadulf? I cannot recall meeting with you, though I know you were assisting Sister Fidelma in Rome.’

Eadulf’s greeting was restrained, as he could not place the man at all.

‘You are Brother Peregrinus,’ Fidelma suddenly said.

The man chuckled. ‘I am honoured to be remembered. I am Nuntius Peregrinus now.’