The Council of the Cursed

the note quickly.

Abbatissa Audofleda-I can no longer agree with the Rule of the abbey. I am leaving to search for a community to which I will feel able to contribute and where I will be at ease. I have heard of such a community in the southern mountains founded by the Blessed Gall of Hibernia. In sorrow, Valretrade.

‘You see?’ Sister Radegund’s voice showed her annoyance. ‘You had no need to doubt our word.’

Eadulf did not reply; instead he put the piece of birchwood in the marsupium that he carried.

‘With your permission, abbatissa, I will keep this for the time being.’ His tone made it clear that he would keep it whether she gave permission or not. ‘And the other notes, do you have them?’

This time she handed him a small bundle without protest. They were mostly the same, written on bitch bark, some bearing three or four names. All ascribed their leaving to their disagreement with the Rule of the Domus Femini. Only Valretrade’s note mentioned the intention to go to the abbey of Gall.

‘They all seem remarkably similar,’ Eadulf pointed out. ‘As if they were written by the same hand.’

‘It is my belief that Valretrade wrote them all. She had been a scribe; her fellows doubtless paid her to write the notes.’

‘And all these women objected to the segregation of the sexes in the abbey?’

‘The Rule is clear,’ the abbess said distantly. ‘If they did not like it, then they were free to go.’

‘Most of them were married. Some of them even had children. Separation must have been hard for them.’

‘They had been given the choice by the bishop a year ago. That was to leave or accept the Rule.’

‘Many felt they had to stay as this was the only place they knew. They had been born here and lived here all their lives.’

‘The choice was their own,’ replied the woman stubbornly.

‘How many of your community are wives of the brethren?’

‘None.’

The answer came back quickly from Sister Radegund and took Eadulf by surprise. His look prompted Abbess Audofleda to add: ‘My stewardess means that Bishop Leodegar declared all the marriages of those who chose to stay invalid under the Rule.’

‘But some had children?’

‘The children were taken care of.’

‘So how many of these women and children are now in the care of the abbey?’

Abbess Audofleda glanced at her stewardess.

‘It has only been in the past few days that the last of them have departed from the Domus Femini,’ Sister Radegund replied firmly. ‘Most of these departures have happened in the last two weeks.’

This time Eadulf was unable control his surprise. ‘In the last two weeks?’

‘That is so.’

‘Where did they go?’

‘After they leave here, it is not our responsibility to know where they go. I presume one encouraged another and, like sheep, they all flocked together-eager to leave here for a more indolent life.’

Eadulf examined her keenly. ‘Did their husbands…did their former husbands,’ he emphasised as he saw the frown gather on her brow, ‘know of their departure? Were they informed that their wives and children were leaving?’

‘It is not our task to inform them or ensure that these women, who reject the religious life, inform those with whom they formerly consorted,’ Abbess Audofleda said irritably.

Eadulf was thoughtful for a moment. ‘How many women now pursue the religious life here under your Rule?’

It was Sister Radegund who answered.

‘There are fifty in the Domus Femini.’

‘And before?’

‘Perhaps a hundred.’

‘A sad decrease,’ he commented.

‘The chaff sometimes has to be blown away from the wheat,’ replied Abbess Audofleda unctuously.

‘That is true,’ agreed Eadulf, sounding amiable. ‘So those who are now left display the true vocation, according to your Rule?’

‘I believe so.’

‘Well, that is good. You must be proud of the good work you have done here. I believe you said that Bishop Leodegar invited you here especially for that purpose?’

‘He did.’

‘From Divio, I think you said.’

‘I did not say.’

‘Then I must have heard it from someone else. But you did come from Divio, didn’t you?’ Eadulf went on. ‘You must have done good work there for the bishop to ask you to come here.’

‘Bishop Leodegar has not complained of my work here,’ the abbatissa said coldly.

‘Of course,’ agreed Eadulf easily. Then: ‘Does this house have a good relationship with Lady Beretrude?’

The abbatissa glanced quickly at Sister Radegund before returning her gaze to him.

‘Lady Beretrude? She is the mother of Lord Guntram who governs this province and is a benefactor to this house.’

‘I am told that you Burgunds consider her a generous patron?’

Abbess Audofleda looked annoyed. ‘I am a Frank. But it is true we have cause to thank her.’

‘I apologise-but a Frank from Divio?’ said Eadulf. ‘I thought that it is a Burgund city.’

‘I did not say that I was born or raised there, but that I was in charge of-’

‘Another Domus Femini. I understand. But do you get on well with the Lady Beretrude? Does she approve of the changes made to this abbey?’

‘Of course,’ Abbess Audofleda replied at once.

‘You frequently meet to discuss matters?’

‘Not frequently. Sometimes my stewardess acts as my deputy in certain transactions.’

‘Transactions?’ Eadulf stared directly Sister Radegund.

The stewardess was staring at the floor.

‘My stewardess and I discuss matters with the bishop and if there is anything of consequence that needs to be drawn immediately to the attention of Lady Beretrude or Lord Guntram, then my stewardess does so on my behalf.’

‘So apart from Sister Radegund, none of your community should have cause to venture out to Lady Beretrude’s villa?’

‘Only in exceptional cases does anyone from the Domus Femini venture out from here,’ replied the abbess crossly.

‘What would constitute such an exceptional case?’

The abbatissa exhaled in impatience. ‘Really, Brother Eadulf! I see no point to these questions.’

‘You will oblige me, abbatissa,’ Brother Eadulf stated firmly. ‘I am trying to clarify something in my own mind.’

The woman went to protest again but then shrugged.

‘For example, then, some of the delegates to the conference that the bishop is holding, not realising the