Chalice of Blood

There was a murmuring throughout the hall and then Fidelma approached Brehon Aillín and whispered to him. He nodded slowly and she returned to her place. The murmuring dissolved to silence as the Brehon spoke.

‘There may well be exonerating circumstances, Seachlann. But a judgement cannot be pronounced as a legal finding until you have argued it before the Chief Brehon of Laighin and your King. Glassán was judged before them and paid the fines imposed on him. Technically, according to the law, he was then a free man and entitled to the protection of his freedom. My advice to my King,’ he glanced at Colgú, ‘would be to have you and Saor escorted to the King of Laighin and for him and his Chief Brehon to consider your case accordingly.’

Seachlann acknowledged the authority of the Brehon with a slight bow. ‘I am most willing to accept that course of action. Our main task here is done and I am prepared to answer for all my actions.’ He glanced at Saor who nodded slightly. ‘And so is my companion in this matter.’

Colgú leant forward to Brehon Aillín and held a whispered conversation before the judge turned to Seachlann and Saor.

‘The recommendation has been accepted. After these proceedings are over, and a record made of these events, two of the King’s warriors will accompany you and your companion to Ferna, where the King of Laighin may sit in judgement on this matter. As victims and perpetrators are men of Laighin, it is no longer in our jurisdiction and the matter is turned over to Laighin for judgement.’

Seachlann glanced to Saor and smiled encouragement before reseating himself.

Brehon Aillín sat back and looked at Fidelma. ‘Are you prepared to proceed on the other matters?’

Fidelma allowed a moment of silence. Eadulf gave her an encouraging smile.

‘I am. I am now ready to proceed in the matter of the murder of Brother Donnchad.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

‘Brother Donnchad was the victim of extreme virtue, or should I say intolerance disguised as virtue,’ began Fidelma. ‘He was a great scholar. Had he lived, he might have been one of the greatest scholars of the Five Kingdoms.’

‘His name will be remembered in such a light,’ came the stern voice of Lady Eithne. ‘That is why I sanctioned the rebuilding of this abbey. By these stone buildings, he will be remembered as a great teacher of the Faith.’

Fidelma allowed the murmuring to die away. Then, without looking at Lady Eithne, she said loudly, ‘Is that what he would have wanted to be remembered as?’

There was a stir of surprise among the brethren.

‘Truth is great and will prevail, so let us consider what the truth is. For some time I did not know why Brother Donnchad was killed. Without a motive, I could not present a case against the killer. Finally, I discovered that motive.’

Everyone was hanging on her words now, leaning forward in their seats in silent expectation.

‘The reason why he was killed was because he had lost his Faith.’

There was immediate uproar. Lady Eithne shouted in outrage but her words were lost in the hubbub. Abbot Iarnla was whitewith shock and Brother Lugna’s features were drawn into a mask of barely controlled fury.

‘It is well known that Brother Donnchad was a great scholar of the Faith,’ Brehon Aillín admonished. ‘I cannot allow such a statement to be admitted in this court.’

Even Abbot Ségdae looked astounded at her words.

‘You can if it can be proved,’ protested Fidelma.

‘I must accept the proof, as we know it. The knowledge and respect accorded to Brother Donnchad and his known writings on the Faith constitute proof of his views and are a precedent, a fásach, which cannot be challenged.’

Eadulf stood up and coughed nervously. ‘I am not qualified to speak here, Brehon Aillín, but could I bring to your attention, through the dálaigh, that the Uraicecht Becc states that among the senfásach there is this admonition: that a Brehon cannot expect to find all truth contained in a fásach. It empowers the Brehon to consider any argument designed to overturn the precedent.’

Fidelma turned to Eadulf in surprise. He passed her the text and she read it rapidly. Then she approached Brehon Aillín and handed it to him. The Brehon read it, pursed his lips and shook his head.

‘I cannot accept the statement you have made without proof. But I am willing to follow this admonition from the Uraicecht Becc and hear your evidence, Fidelma. If you cannot prove your claim then I must impose a fine on you. Will you attempt to prove it?’

‘It shall be proved,’ Fidelma replied, ‘and in the words of Brother Donnchad himself.’

‘How can that be?’ called out Brother Lugna, with a sneer. ‘Are you going to practise witchcraft and conjure him from his grave?’

There were gasps of horror at his words and several of the brethren performed the sign of the Cross.

‘That is unworthy of you, Brother Lugna,’ snapped Brehon Aillín. ‘There should be no need to remind you of the reputation of the learned advocate in this kingdom and even beyond.’

‘I will explain,’ Fidelma said. ‘The words of Brother Donnchad were written down before his death and hidden because he feared, correctly, that someone might kill him and destroy them. They certainly did their best to do so. They removed all traces of his writings and documents from his room, just in case his words were hidden among them. Thankfully, they were not and they have survived.’

‘Do you mean to present them before us?’ asked Brehon Aillín.

‘I will do so although I am loath to as Brother Donnchad presents some disturbing arguments as to why he lost his Faith.’

There was some confusion in the refectorium.

‘And have you proof that they were written by him?’ pressed the judge.

‘I can present someone who can testify to the handwriting of Brother Donnchad for I have learnt that each scribe forms letters in his own way and has a particular style of writing. Further, I will present the person to whom Brother Donnchad gave this writing, with the request that it be hidden.’

There was now silence.

‘Very well,’ Brehon Aillín said after a quick consultation with Colgú and Abbot Ségdae. ‘You may sum up what Brother Donnchad said in this work on condition that the work is afterwards presented to us and verified to be his work.’

‘I can do that simply. I do not have to remind you that Brother Donnchad was a talented scholar, able to read and write several languages. The librarian of this abbey, Brother Donnán, has pointed out on several occasions that Brother Donnchad wasmost interested in the works of the early believers in the Faith — indeed, in the very origins of how the Faith spread from the Holy Land across the world.’

‘That is not denied.’ Abbot Iarnla was frowning. ‘He was always interested in those origins.’

‘For Brother Donnchad, his pilgrimage to the Holy Land was a golden opportunity to further his studies. What concerned him were the references to James in the scriptures, particularly in the gospels according to Mark and Matthew, and in the epistle to the Galatians. James was said to be the brother of the Christ and executed by the Romans some thirty years after the execution of Jesus. The references were to James Adelphotheos, Brother of the Lord.’

‘That’s nonsense!’ cried Brother Lugna, standing up. ‘The name was miswritten, it was mistranscribed. The name should have been James Alphaeus, who-’

‘I cannot debate the translation,’ cut in Fidelma. ‘I do not have that scholarship. I am merely stating what Brother Donnchad said and believed. He had pored over the texts of the Faith that were translated into Latin by the Blessed Jerome who was also called Eusebius Hieronymus. Donnchad found references that confused him, references not only to James as the brother of Jesus, but also to Joses, Simon and Judas, and to sisters, one of whom was called Salome. They were all clearly identified as brothers and sisters of Jesus.’