The Council of the Cursed

Bishop Leodegar shook his head. ‘I have received instructions from him on the running of this council… letters he sent on behalf of the Holy Father.’

‘As nomenclator, he receives all complaints and petitions and advises the Bishop of Rome how to act upon them. I felt that the Venerable Gelasius should know how the head of one of the communities acts, especially when that community is currently the centre of an important debate on the future of the western churches. Were these facts known, it could well be that the authority of this council would be called into question.’

Bishop Leodegar spread his hands plaintively. His voice was unnaturally subdued.

‘I am sure there is some misunderstanding, Sister. Perhaps you have misinterpreted Abbess Audofleda’s attitude?’

Fidelma appeared surprised. ‘On the contrary, I thought Abbess Audofleda expressed herself very concisely.’

‘She may have been under a misapprehension,’ the bishop coughed. ‘I had not personally told her of your authority. My steward, Brother Chilperic, may not have set out the situation clearly to her.’

Fidelma was not mollified.

‘I thought that she was most forceful on the subject. After all, you also explained our position at evening prayers on the day we arrived here.’

Like most autocratic people, as Fidelma had already surmised, the bishop was in awe of those with greater powers and autocracy.

‘Perhaps if I explained again to Abbess Audofleda?’ he said persuasively. ‘This time, I will do so in person. Can we not rescind the idea of this letter to the Venerable Gelasius? It would be untimely in view of Rome’s interests in the outcome of this council. I know-let us wait on a decision on the matter until the time is ready for the Nuntius to commence his journey to Rome. What do you say to that?’

At this point, Eadulf, inwardly smiling, decided to play his part: ‘Perhaps Bishop Leodegar is correct,’ he said heavily. ‘Perhaps the Abbess Audofleda behaved wrongly due to ignorance but there is no need to bring down censure on the entire community here. I am sure we can leave it to the bishop to point out the error of her ways.’

Bishop Leodegar began to look hopeful.

‘I think I will be able to persuade Abbess Audofleda to be more cooperative and will certainly censure her on your behalf.’

‘And allow Brother Eadulf and myself the freedom of the Domus Femini to pursue our investigation?’

Bishop Leodegar inclined his head in submission.

Fidelma still seemed relcutant. Then she sighed.

‘Very well. For the time being, I shall put this letter of complaint aside. We will review the matter when the time comes to make reports to Rome about this council. By the way, one of the witnesses that I have consulted is the scribe Brother Sigeric. He has been most helpful. I would not like anything to happen to him.’

Bishop Leodegar’s eyes narrowed. ‘“Happen” to him?’ he asked carefully.

Fidelma gestured indifferently. ‘Perhaps I have expressed myself crudely. I merely meant to say that his well-being is essential to my final report.’

Their eyes met and it was clear that the bishop understood what she was saying. He dropped his gaze first.

‘You have no reason to suppose any harm will befall Brother Sigeric,’ he said tightly. ‘I will ensure that.’

‘That is good. Very well-then we are agreed.’

She turned to go but Bishop Leodegar said: ‘A moment, Fidelma. There is another matter. Lady Beretrude has invited all the delegates to the council to a reception at her villa, which is but a short walk from here. Lady Beretrude is the mother of the ruler of this province, Lord Guntram. Of course, the reception should have been given to all the foreign prelates by Guntram, but…’ He shrugged. ‘Lord Guntram is not enthusiastic about fulfilling such functions and his mother often receives distinguished visitors on his behalf. You and Brother Eadulf are invited to attend.’

‘We would be delighted to accept. When would this reception be?’

‘Late this afternoon. I have asked the delegates to gather in the anticum when they hear the continuous toll of the bell.’

‘Then we would like to see Abbess Audofleda before that.’

Bishop Leodegar immediately looked unhappy.

‘I would need to see Abbess Audofleda first to explain what has happened, and she will not be available until this evening as there are other matters that need her attention. Perhaps the meeting could be postponed until tomorrow morning? I assure you that all will be well then.’

Fidelma felt she had no choice other than to accept the delay.

‘I will make the arrangements,’ the bishop promised. ‘And I am sure Lady Beretrude will be delighted to welcome you today. Hearing of your arrival in Autun, and of your investigation, she has especially requested your presence. And she has extended her invitation to all the women accompanying the delegates. She understands that different people have different customs and she is a lady of great liberal attitudes.’

‘Then we will not disappoint her.’

Outside the bishop’s chamber, Eadulf was smiling.

‘That was a skilful piece of diplomacy,’ he said approvingly.

Fidelma shrugged. ‘Cain cach sái, discir cach dái,’ she said, expressing an old proverb of her people.

Eadulf was unsure of the meaning.

‘Every wise man is courteous, every idiot is a bully.’

Eadulf pulled a face. ‘So you think the bishop is an idiot?’

‘Idiot enough not to realise that his pretentiousness can be spotted by the intelligent. That makes me pause…’

‘Pause?’

‘I had been thinking that the bishop himself was behaving in a highly suspicious manner in this affair. However, I’ve had second thoughts.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘Because if he were involved, he would go out of his way not to bring about my suspicions in the manner he does. Therefore, he is either an idiot or perhaps he is…’ she tried to think of the right word ‘… aneladnach.’

‘Untrained? Without art?’ Eadulf tried to hazard a translation in Latin. ‘Ah, without guile. Well, that’s not the same as an idiot.’

‘Perhaps, in some people’s interpretation,’ replied Fidelma. ‘I mean that maybe he really doesn’t know that what he is doing is wrong. Perhaps it is part of his culture?’

Eadulf sniffed deprecatingly because the Frankish culture was similar to his own.

They were walking through the anticum when Eadulf spotted the steward, Brother Chilperic, attending to some placing of furniture.

‘There is a man who would know about Leodegar’s culture,’ he said.

Brother Chilperic had spotted them and looked surprised. Doubtless he had been thinking that the bishop’s wrath had been about to fall on them. And so he looked disconcerted for a moment.

‘Is all well?’ he asked as they came up to him.

‘Why wouldn’t it be?’ asked Fidelma innocently.

‘I thought the bishop looked angry about something, that is all,’ replied the steward, taken off guard.

‘In fact, it was we who had a complaint to make,’ Eadulf replied. ‘We had the feeling that our investigation was not being taken seriously.’

‘Oh, not so, not so,’ Brother Chilperic said at once. ‘There is much tension in the community. The brethren await your conclusions with some anxiety. Bishop Ordgar paces his room like a caged lion, while Abbot Cadfan possesses an amazing vocabulary in several languages which, I thank God, there are no females present to hear…oh, I crave your indulgence, Sister.’