Suddenly she recognised the voice of one of the speakers, and shuddered. It was Verbas of Peqini. She was thankful that his common language with Beretrude’s guards was Latin so that she could understand what was said. Verbas was not happy.
‘This means another delay,’ he was complaining. ‘Why didn’t the Lady Beretrude tell me that one of the prisoners was this Fidelma of Cashel! I knew the cunning vixen. I would have taken a special care of her.’
There was an apologetic cough and a gruff voice said: ‘My lady did not know you knew the foreigner, lord.’
‘Well, I am forced to leave now. It is up to Beretrude to kill or recapture that troublemaker. I would have liked to have done so myself, but I have a boat waiting on the river. It takes many days to navigate down to the southern sea and my ship. I cannot wait for ever.’
‘A cargo of slaves fetches a good price, lord, so surely it is worth the wait until these women are recaptured?’
‘And your mistress has collected a good price,’ muttered Verbas of Peqini. ‘No, I cannot wait any longer.’
His voice died away and it was obvious that the men had moved towards the door. It seemed an eternity before Magnatrude’s voice came from above them.
‘They have gone. Are you both all right?’
‘We are cold and it is dark down here,’ Valretrade called back.
‘I am sorry, but it is best to leave you there for a short time in case they return to catch us out. I will let you up as soon as I think it is safe.’
Fidelma thought the woman was wise.
‘Let us up as soon as you can,’ Valretrade shivered. She was clearly not enjoying the confinement.
A good hour or so later, Magnatrude returned. She removed whatever it was covering the trap door and pulled it open, then helped Valretrade first from the narrow confines and then Fidelma.
‘Your warning was very timely,’ Fidelma told her as she stretched to get her blood circulating again.
‘It was a lucky thing that this house has an upper floor and I was there in time to see the warriors approaching from the top of the lane,’ Magnatrude told them grimly.
Valretrade was trembling, more from the effects of being in the claustrophobic souterrain than from near recapture by Lady Beretrude’s warriors.
‘Have they gone?’ she whispered.
‘Of course,’ replied her sister. ‘But not before a thorough search of this place.’ She suddenly went pale.
‘What is it?’ asked Fidelma in alarm.
‘The manacles!’ Magnatrude stared with wide eyes. ‘What if…?’ She scanned the workroom. ‘Ageric brought them in here.’
Fidelma pointed with a smile.
‘They say that the best way to hide something is to leave it in plain view.’
The workroom of the smith had several nails and hooks along one wall from which an assortment of chains and other devices were hanging. Among them Ageric had hung up the manacles and chain from which he had released Fidelma and Valretrade. They were so obvious that the warriors would not have taken any notice of them, thinking they were just part of the smith’s equipment.
‘Don’t worry, Magnatrude. As soon as Eadulf gets here, we will not trespass on you much longer and put you in fear of this Beretrude.’
Magnatrude shook her head. ‘You mistake my fear. My sister Valretrade is the only relative I have. I will do anything to protect her.’
‘They say Beretrude has the second sight.’ Valretrade was still nervous. ‘How did she know to send her warriors here?’
‘Second sight?’ Fidelma was disapproving. ‘For shame-and you a Sister of the Faith. Beretrude must have known or been told that Magnatrude was your blood sister. There is no mystery to it. But she has been remarkably well informed.’
‘I told only my close friends like Sigeric and Inginde.’
‘Not Sister Radegund?’
‘Radegund knew as steward.’ The girl looked deflated. ‘She is Beretrude’s niece. I should have realised.’
Magnatrude led them back to the other room and offered them a bowl of hot broth.
‘The Lady Beretrude is said to have spies everywhere. She is a powerful woman. More powerful than her sons.’
‘Her sons? Oh, you include the younger son who was sent away when he was young. I have spoken to Guntram,’ Fidelma added, explaining her knowledge.
‘Guntram is the elder son and technically, the ruler. In reality, it is Beretrude who controls this province,’ replied Magnatrude.
‘What of the other son?’
‘No one knows what happened to him. He was sent away from home when he was young to enter the religious.’
‘Do you know the story?’ asked Fidelma curiously.
‘Gundobad was his name, I believe. The story is that he went into the abbey there when he was seven years old because his mother rejected him. She wanted to lavish her attention on Guntram, being the heir to the lordship of Burgundia, but only succeeded in spoiling him and making him indolent.’
Magnatrude offered them more broth but sleep was catching up with them again.
‘Let’s hope Ageric returns with Eadulf soon.’ Fidelma noticed that Valretrade had already fallen asleep again. But she herself was too nervous to sleep, and just wished Eadulf would come. However, she must have fallen asleep in spite of herself, for the next thing she knew, she awoke to hear Eadulf’s anxious voice. Ageric had returned with him.
‘You were not followed from the abbey?’ she demanded after they had exchanged enthusiastic greetings.
‘We were very careful, and no one saw Ageric contact me, except Abbot Ségdae, whom I have taken into my confidence. We were very lucky. We were just setting out to search for you again when Ageric approached and asked where he might find Brother Eadulf.’
‘So Ségdae knows where we are?’
‘When you did not return by dark last night, I approached Ségdae and told him where you had gone. We went to Bishop Leodegar and demanded that he send to Beretrude to enquire if you were in the villa. We wanted to go ourselves in case there was trouble. Instead, he sent Brother Chilperic, who was told that no one at the villa had seen you.’
Fidelma’s face was grim. ‘Beretrude is guilty of selling members of the
‘She has many warriors to back her.’ Eadulf was no longer surprised at the news. ‘What is your plan?’
‘Are Ségdae and his companions still at the abbey?’
‘I told him not to say anything further until I had spoken with you. I said I would get word to him as to what must be done.’
‘Did you discover the answer to my question?’
‘About Benén mac Sesenén?’ Eadulf was surprised at what he saw as a sudden change of conversation. ‘Oh yes. You were right. He did have a Latin nickname.’
‘And Benignus was his Latin sobriquet?’
Eadulf looked surprised for a moment and then said: ‘It was.’
Fidelma nodded slowly as if everything now fitted together.
‘What of Bishop Leodegar-what was his reaction to my disappearance? Was he concerned, or do you think he knew what was happening?’
Eadulf paused for a moment’s thought. Then: ‘He is either very good at disguising his feelings, or he was more concerned at the reaction from Nuntius Peregrinus when he heard you were missing. Tell me what has happened to you.’
