The Council of the Cursed

‘Can you remember her precise words?’

Brother Sigeric thought for a moment. ‘Not really-I’m sorry.’

‘Did she know of any reasons for their leaving? What did these women say?’

‘They were gone before any of the community knew they were leaving so she never spoke to any of them.’

Fidelma’s eyes narrowed. ‘Do you mean that they disappeared from the Domus Femini in the same manner as Valretrade?’

The young scribe stared at her, trying to read a meaning in the question.

‘Disappeared?’ he echoed.

‘How many married women and children are, or were, in the community?’

‘Brother Chilperic would know the correct number,’ began the scribe.

‘An estimate,’ snapped Fidelma. ‘You can surely give us that.’

‘I suppose about thirty or more of the brethren had liaisons or were married, and there were about a dozen children.’

‘And these brethren-have they left here?’

He shook his head. ‘No, the brethren are still here in the abbey. They were mainly the ones who decided to obey Bishop Leodegar and divorce their wives-like Brother Chilperic.’

‘So, how many of their wives and children were still left in the Domus Femini? Fidelma’s jaw had tightened and she banged her fist on the nearby table, startling them both. ‘Information! Sine scientia ars nihil est!’ Without knowledge, skill is nothing.

‘I don’t understand,’ ventured Brother Sigeric.

‘I cannot conduct an investigation without information. Had I known about these stories of wives and children being missing, then I could have asked relevant questions.’

‘But it was just rumours,’ protested Brother Sigeric. ‘Except…’

‘Except what?’ demanded Fidelma.

‘One of the brethren was speaking to a merchant from the city. The man was buying some of our surplus farm produce. He said that he saw three of the female religious with a foreign man. He was surprised because he knew them to be from the Domus Femini and formerly married to some of the brethren before…’ He ended with a gesture.

‘And when were they seen?’

‘Just over a week ago.’

‘Where? In the city?’

‘They were seen entering Lady Beretrude’s villa.’

Fidelma did not comment for a while and then she said: ‘I should have known this so that I could verify it. If stories of the disappearances are true…’ she blinked tiredly, ‘then there are many questions to be asked.’

Chapter Twelve

The next morning, after prayers and the breaking of the fast, Fidelma and Eadulf found Brother Chilperic waiting for them outside the refectory. He seemed anxious.

‘Bishop Leodegar requests that you attend him in his chambers as soon as possible.’ The steward’s tone matched the tense expression on his features.

‘Abbess Audofleda has protested,’ muttered Eadulf.

They found the bishop in an angry mood.

‘I have received a complaint from Abbess Audofleda.’

Fidelma was unperturbed by his belligerent manner and, in fact, assumed a sad expression, shaking her head as if in sorrow.

‘Indeed, I wanted a word with you about that woman before we send our report to Rome.’

‘She tells me,’ Bishop Leodegar fumed, ‘that you have been insulting and forget your-’ He halted and frowned. ‘Send to Rome? Explain yourself.’

‘I wanted to discuss the matter with you immediately, but it so happened that I encountered an old friend of mine, the Bishop of Rome’s emissary to the council.’

‘The Nuntius Peregrinus?’ Bishop Leodegar’s demeanour changed slightly. ‘Do you know him? He did not tell me.’

‘Of course. I was going to discuss the abbatissa with you, but after speaking with him, I felt it was a matter that I should bring to his attention and forward my complaint to Rome.’

Bishop Leodegar was bewildered. ‘Complaint? Complaint? But it is Abbess Audofleda who complains of you.’

Fidelma shrugged with a tired expression. ‘Well, she would, I suppose. It seems a good defence to do so. But I feel that I cannot overlook this matter.’

‘You cannot overlook…? What are you saying?’

‘I believe you have mentioned that this abbey-that both communities, in fact-have already adopted the Rule of Benedict?’

Bishop Leodegar nodded slowly.

‘Then I suggest you instruct Abbess Audofleda as to that Rule, for does it not say that abbatissa ought always to remember that they are representatives of the Christ and must be mindful of the tremendous judgement that awaits them if they do not carry out their work in the manner of a poor and unworthy toiler in the field? From the start, her arrogance surpassed my imagination. And when I told her that we spoke in your name, for you have conceded authority to us to investigate and come to some conclusion on the unnatural death of Abbot Dabhóc, she refused utterly to co-operate. I asked myself, who is in charge of this community? Is it you, or is it Abbess Audofleda?’

Bishop Leodegar flushed. ‘Abbess Audofleda is in charge of the Domus Femini but under my jurisdiction,’ he said defensively. ‘This is not what she told me.’

‘Of course not,’ Fidelma said. ‘I suggest that her position and the Rule are carefully explained to her, for she has shown disrespect to you as her superior.’

‘Abbess Audofleda said-’ began Bishop Leodegar, trying to salvage his original complaint.

‘I am not interested in what she said,’ interrupted Fidelma. ‘It is annoying that she should so far forget her position and duties as head of the female community that she feels able to disobey the authority you gave us. Is it wise that a woman of her background, without any formal training or previous life in the religious, should be put in charge of the Domus Femini?’

Fidelma normally would never have mentioned the background of a woman in such a manner, but she did nothing without a purpose.

Bishop Leodegar was flustered now, trying to cope with an unexpected situation.

‘Abbess Audofleda,’ he began again, ‘says-’

‘And I said that I am not concerned with Abbess Audofleda’s protests! But I am most irritated by her actions, and have decided that she is in grave error. When the Nuntius Peregrinus leaves for Rome, I shall ask him to report the situation here to my good friend, the nomenclator to His Holiness.’

Bishop Leodegar’s mouth slackened. He ran his tongue over his lips.

‘The nomenclator?’ he croaked.

‘The Venerable Gelasius. When I was in Rome, I conducted an enquiry for him. I thought that you knew that? I shall be asking the Nuntius Peregrinus to take a letter to the Venerable Gelasius to inform him of the conditions that I found here and which I feel should be considered.’

Bishop Leodegar’s features showed his concern.

‘Venerable Gelasius?’ he muttered. He clearly knew of the reputation of the nomenclator of the Lateran Palace.

‘I presume that you know him?’ pressed Fidelma.