Chalice of Blood

‘Do you know who you are?’

‘Eadulf.’ He had no hesitation. ‘Eadulf of Seaxmund’s Ham.’

‘Do you know who I am?’

He peered up at the man. The face swam into focus and he recognised it.

‘You are the physician … Brother Seachlann.’

‘Excellent. Now, there is something I want you to drink that will make you feel better.’

‘Where am I?’ he asked, easing himself up. He was not in the bed in the guesthouse. There was a pungent smell of herbs in this place.

‘This is the bróinbherg, our little hospital in the abbey.’ The word meant ‘house of sorrow’, the name often given to hospitals.

‘How did I get here?’

‘You ask too many questions. Come, drink this down, it will help ease your headache.’

‘What is it?’ asked Eadulf suspiciously, as a small cup was held beneath his nose. Its odour was pungent.

Brother Seachlann frowned for a moment. ‘Of course,’ he said, ‘you were trained at Tuaim Brecain. This is deoch suain, a sleeping draught that is an infusion of valerian mixed with wild mint and rosemary.’

Eadulf allowed Brother Seachlann to hold the cup to his lips. He knew it was the sort of medication that was prescribed for a bad headache.

As he lay back, he realised his forehead was bandaged. He raised a hand uncertainly to it as the physician stood up from where he had been perched on the side of the bed.

‘What happened to me?’

‘I made a paste of comfrey root and spread it over the abrasion on your forehead. It should heal in a few days.’

‘I meant, how did it happen? How did I get here?’

‘I brought you here.’

At that moment, the door burst open and Fidelma came in, her face drawn and anxious. She hurried to Eadulf’s side.

‘I’ve just heard. Are you all right?’

Eadulf managed a lopsided grin. ‘Non omnis mortar,’ he joked. He could not remember where the line came from. It meant, ‘I shall not wholly die.’

Fidelma made an impatient sound and asked, ‘What happened?’

‘I was just asking Brother Seachlann the same question. I have no idea.’

She turned to the physician. Brother Seachlann placed the cup he was holding on a nearby table.

‘I cannot tell you much. I was passing by the new building, the incomplete one. It was late last night. I heard a moaningsound. I went towards the sound. I couldn’t see much even though I had a lantern. I almost tripped over Brother Eadulf, who was lying in the rubble. It looked as though he had tripped and struck his forehead, for there was blood on it. The fall had knocked the senses from him. Having checked that he had not broken any bones, I lifted him up and carried him here, dressed his wound and put him to bed. As soon as it was light, I sent a message to Brother Máel Eoin to inform you.’

Fidelma looked at Eadulf. His eyes were closing but he was breathing regularly. Seeing her anxious look, the physician said, ‘That will be the effect of the infusion that I gave him. He will sleep and when he wakes again his headache should be gone.’

‘Why didn’t you send for me earlier? It was only a short time ago that the hosteller woke me with this news. You say Eadulf has been here all night?’

‘I could not leave him in case of complications,’ protested the physician. ‘It was best to stay with him. It was only moments ago that he recovered consciousness. It would have served no purpose to rouse you in the middle of the night. Better only one person should lose a night’s sleep than several.’

It made sense to Fidelma but it was frustrating that she could not question Eadulf immediately. She knew it was unlike him to go wandering about without informing her and he was certainly not one prone to accidents.

At that moment Gormán entered, looking anxious.

‘I heard …’ His eyes went to Eadulf lying on the bed. ‘Is he …?’

Fidelma turned to the physician without answering the warrior. ‘Are you sure he is out of danger now?’

Brother Seachlann shrugged. ‘The physician who says he is sure of anything is a physician to be wary of. When Brother Eadulf wakes he should be fine apart from a bruise and a gash on the forehead which he needs to keep bound for a few days.’

‘Then if Gormán will stay with Eadulf, perhaps you will show me the spot where you found him.’

Brother Seachlann looked surprised. ‘For what purpose?’

‘For my own satisfaction,’ Fidelma replied firmly.

Brother Seachlann led the way across to the site. One or two men already at work regarded them with curiosity. The physician halted and pointed to a spot close to the supporting columns of a door. There was no lintel on it; the lintel stone was lying on the ground close by, ready to be hoisted into place.

‘I found him lying there, by that wooden post,’ the physician said.

Fidelma moved forward and inspected the thick wooden post beyond. There was a dark discoloration on it. She licked the tip of her finger and ran it over the stain.

‘Dried blood,’ she muttered. ‘So this is what Eadulf encountered with his forehead.’

‘He must have tripped and hit his head,’ suggested the physician. ‘A place like this is dangerous in the darkness.’

‘Well, one thing is certain,’ Fidelma replied, ‘he did not walk up to the post and bang his own head against it.’

‘Hey! Be careful!’ They turned at the shouted warning to find Glassán hurrying towards them with Saor, his assistant, at his side. ‘What are you doing there? It is dangerous to wander around a building site like this.’

‘That has already been discovered,’ Fidelma replied drily.

Glassán spotted the lintel. ‘What happened there?’ he demanded. ‘Surely that was secure and in place when we finished work last evening.’

Saor looked uncomfortable. ‘I swear it was. Maybe it was not fitted properly.’

‘Even so, it would need a push to get it off its resting place,’ Fidelma observed, looking thoughtfully at the door supports.

Glassán glanced at the lintel and then at her.

‘What do you mean?’ he demanded. ‘Pushed off?’ There was a note of unease in his voice.

‘It could have fallen down,’ Saor suggested as he examined it.

‘It seems Brother Eadulf tripped over something last night. Perhaps that stone,’ suggested the physician.

Glassán’s bewilderment increased.

‘Brother Seachlann found Brother Eadulf last evening,’ Fidelma explained. ‘He was lying unconscious at this spot. It seems he tripped and knocked himself out on that wooden post there.’

Glassán’s face paled; his jaw muscles tightened. Then he turned to Saor. ‘Better be about the work. There is much to do to refit this lintel.’ When Saor had left, he turned, licking his lips nervously. ‘How is your husband, lady?’

‘He is recovering,’ intervened the physician. ‘He has a bad gash on the forehead and a headache. Nothing more. Now I should like to get back to my patient.’

Fidelma dismissed him with a motion of her hand.

‘What was Brother Eadulf doing here last night?’ Glassán asked. ‘I am truly sorry to hear that he has been hurt but I must point out that I cannot be held responsible for anyone entering a building site without permission and injuring themselves.’

‘No one is accusing anyone of culpability just yet. We do not know the facts and will not know them until Eadulf has recovered enough to tell us.’

The master builder hesitated. Then he said quickly, ‘Just so, just so. Well, there is much to be done.’