Lord Radoald’s fortress. Fidelma had considered it inappropriate to raise the matter of Wamba with Wulfoald. It was a subject that would have to be treated carefully.
Brother Wulfila, the steward, came hurrying through the crowd of curious brethren who had assembled to greet them. Willing hands were already helping them down from their horses. The pair ignored the numerous questions shouted at them and asked the steward to take them directly to Abbot Servillius.
The abbot met them in his chamber. Venerable Ionas was at his side but there was no sign of Magister Ado. Brother Wulfila remained in the chamber, shutting the door behind him.
‘My first question must be to ask whether you are in good health. Do you need any attention from Brother Hnikar?’ the abbot greeted them.
‘We are both well,
‘
‘And now,’ invited the abbot, ‘keep us in suspense no longer. Tell us of your adventure which has so worried our brethren.’
Fidelma and Brother Eolann had already held a quick exchange in their own language as they had ridden back down the valley as to the extent of what they should reveal. It had been agreed that while they must report the death of Lady Gunora and the disappearance of Prince Romuald, they should say nothing about the boy Wamba, the gold coins nor his mother Hawisa. Omission was not the same as telling a lie, Fidelma reasoned, remembering a teaching of the Brehon Morann. When one is faced with such a dilemma one should always choose the path of the greater good even though you must do the lesser evil. Fidelma felt guilty nonetheless. Apart from that, they decided to stick to the truth.
It was Brother Eolann who announced the brief facts of their abduction and short imprisonment, and the details of their rescue. It was Fidelma who then described the finding of the body of Lady Gunora.
The abbot’s face was white with shock. ‘It cannot be true,’ he whispered.
Venerable Ionas laid a hand on the abbot’s arm. ‘If this is true, my friend, we had best resolve this mystery and quickly.’
Abbot Servillius became agitated as he shot a series of questions at Fidelma until Venerable Ionas intervened to advise him to allow Fidelma to complete her story beforeleaping to conclusions. It was clear that the abbot blamed the Lord of Vars for the death and believed the young prince, Romuald, was a prisoner at Vars.
‘Grasulf,’ Venerable Ionas explained quietly, when Fidelma had ended her story, ‘has long been an enemy of this abbey and, as you have discovered, he is an enemy of the Faith. He adheres to the ways of the old gods of the Longobards.’
‘We saw no sign of the boy in his fortress,’ Fidelma pointed out.
Abbot Servillius began to reassert his belief but was politely interrupted by Venerable Ionas. ‘Although Grasulf is certainly the sort of man who would have abducted Lady Gunora and the prince, as he abducted Sister Fidelma and Brother Eolann, he would not have them murdered. They were too valuable alive. He would have sold them to the highest bidder. He is a man without morals. If Perctarit paid the price, he would have handed the prince and Lady Gunora to him. Or if Grimoald wanted his son back and paid the price, then he would have sold them to him. A dead body is worth no ransom at all.’
‘It could be that the boy is still his captive at Vars and that Lady Gunora was killed in her attempt to stop the abduction,’ insisted the abbot.
‘But what was Lady Gunora doing on the mountain with the boy in the first place?’ Fidelma demanded. ‘You said that she had left the abbey to find a place of greater security for herself and the boy at the fortress of Lord Radoald. Why would she go in the opposite direction up that mountain?’
The abbot and Venerable Ionas exchanged a nervous glance. Then Abbot Servillius spoke. ‘It was as I said. Lady Gunora was worried when Bishop Britmund arrived here and witnessed her presence with the young prince. She said she did not feel safe and preferred to move on. She wantedno one told so left the abbey with the prince before first light.’
Brother Wulfila coughed to attract attention. ‘Even I, as steward of the abbey, was not informed, lady. I would most certainly have advised against it. It was a foolhardy thing, to leave here in darkness.’
‘I remember that you were looking for her,’ agreed Fidelma. ‘And she told no one else that she was leaving?’
‘She told me,’ answered the abbot. ‘I shared that information with the Venerable Ionas here and with Brother Bladulf, the gatekeeper, since he had to get her horse and open the gate. I swore him to secrecy and placed him under total absolution for any untruth he had to commit to maintain that secret. So there were only the three of us who knew that Lady Gunora and the boy were leaving.’
‘You said that Brother Bladulf had to get her horse. Are you saying that Lady Gunora and the boy left on one horse?’
‘One horse,’ confirmed the abbot. ‘The boy rode behind her.’
Fidelma considered the matter. ‘The fact remains that her body was found in entirely the opposite direction. If she and the boy were heading across Mount Pénas, in contradiction to her intended refuge with Lord Radoald, is there anywhere in particular that she might be making for?’
Abbot Servillius shrugged eloquently. ‘I cannot conceive of anywhere.’
‘There are practicalities to be considered,’ Venerable Ionas interrupted. ‘You have told us that you placed her body in one of the caves behind the sanctuary of Colmbanus. Then we must organise a party to retrieve the body. It is not fit that Lady Gunora lies unburied on the mountain. We should also inform Lord Radoald.’
‘Wulfoald and his men escorted us here,’ Fidelma pointed out. ‘He is staying overnight in the settlement. He could provide some protection if the brethren set out to retrieve the body of Lady Gunora.’
‘Protection?’ The abbot seemed shocked. ‘You think that Grasulf will attack the brethren sent to retrieve her body?’
‘It is possible,’ replied Fidelma.
‘There is little to be done today,’ Venerable Ionas decided. ‘If I may make some suggestions, Father Abbot? Let us allow Sister Fidelma and our good
Fidelma was hesitant. ‘Wulfoald has not been informed of our finding the body.’
‘Why ever not?’ demanded Venerable Ionas in surprise.
Fidelma thought rapidly as she did not want her suspicions of Wulfoald made obvious yet.
‘With our adventures, escaping from the fortress of Grasulf, it did not arise,’ she answered blandly. ‘My thoughts were concerned with returning safely to the abbey.’
‘Of course,’ the abbot seemed to agree. ‘But Wulfoald and Lord Radoald must be informed now. Brother Wulfila will go to the settlement and invite Wulfoald to attend our evening meal. Then we can inform him in detail of this tragic event.’
As Fidelma prepared to leave, she hesitated. ‘Where is Magister Ado? I do not see him. I trust he is also well?’
‘Magister Ado?’ replied the abbot. ‘He has gone to Travo.He left the morning after you began your journey to the sanctuary on Mount Pénas.’
‘Where is Travo?’ she asked. She seemed to recall the name.
‘It is further down the valley, towards Placentia. It is the site of the martyrdom of the Blessed Antonino, who suffered death under Diocletian. Magister Ado wished to make an offering at the church there which is one of the earliest dedicated to the Faith in this land. He should be back within a day or so and will be delighted to hear of your safe return.’
It was some time later after Fidelma had bathed and changed, and feeling unusually alert after her adventures, that she entered the
It was clear that Wulfoald was not pleased. ‘I should have been informed immediately about your discovery of
