Behold a Pale Horse

there?’

‘He had gone to see Wamba or Hawisa about giving them the value of a coin that the boy had found and brought to the abbey. Apparently it was only a small coin and not worth much, but the boy had thought it valuable. We agreed with Hawisa that the boy’s body would be taken to the abbey graveyard as a tribute. We all came down to the abbey for the burial that night. Hawisa stayed with a relative in the settlement.’

Fidelma stood unable to move, totally bewildered at the man’s confidence. ‘I say again,’ she finally said, ‘why would the old woman lie?’

Wulfoald’s tone was belligerent. ‘I can offer no explanation, lady. But there is one way to answer the question.’

‘Which is?’

‘To put it to the person who can answer it.’

‘Hawisa?’

‘Exactly so. Tomorrow, when my men go to the sanctuary, I shall accompany them as far as Hawisa’s cabin. They can go on but I shall put the question to her.’

‘Then you will have no objection if I accompany you?’ she said coldly.

‘I would expect no less. However, having been once abducted on that mountain, are you sure that you are willing to ride up there again? Is that wise?’

‘Wise or not, I think we should both hear the answer that Hawisa gives us as to what are two diametrically opposed accounts over the death of her son.’

‘Agreed, lady. You are right. Let us meet here at first light.’

‘Very well. One more thing,’ she said as Wulfoald started to turn away.

‘Only one?’ He turned back with a thin smile.

‘When you came across the body of Wamba, was there anything suspicious about it?’

‘Suspicious?’ She had his full attention now. He took a small step towards her, staring down into her face as if trying to read her mind. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Everything appeared as if he had missed his footing at that point, fallen down the cliffs and broken his neck?’

‘What else could have happened?’

‘What else?’ echoed Fidelma softly, but did not answer the question.

‘I don’t know what is in your mind, lady, but I have told you what I know. Now, tomorrow we will attempt to discover why you have been told one story which I know is contrary to what happened.’

He turned on his heel and strode rapidly for the gates of the abbey. A shadow emerged — she realised it was Brother Bladulf — and a gate swung open to allow him to leave. Fidelma stood for a while gazing thoughtfully after him. Then, making up her mind, she returned to the abbot’s chambers. The steward, Brother Wulfila, was outside.

‘I wish to see the abbot,’ she told him.

‘He has retired for the night with strict instructions not to be disturbed. I am surprised that you are still up, lady, after our exhausting adventures.’

‘I presume the abbot rises early?’

‘He does.’

‘Then it will have to wait until the morning.’

The steward inclined his head. ‘Vade in pace.’

Outside, Fidelma glanced quickly up towards the windows of the scriptorium. A flickering light was showing in the window above. She strode purposefully through the hall, turned to the left, through the small cloistered area, and then ran up the stairs into the tower.

The door to the scriptorium was not locked. She entered and found Brother Eolann seated at his desk before a tall tallow candle. He looked up with a tired smile.

‘You are working late, Brother Eolann,’ she said. ‘And at a time when you should be resting after the adventures we have had.’

‘I have much work to catch up on, lady.’

‘We both should be resting,’ she said.

Brother Eolann looked at her expectantly as she paused. ‘But there is something on your mind, lady?’

‘You remember our conversation with Hawisa, the mother of the boy Wamba?’

The scriptor looked puzzled. ‘I do.’

‘Are you satisfied that she was telling us the truth?’

‘I thought so. Why do you ask?’

‘I wanted to know why Wulfoald had taken the boy’s body directly here to the abbey for burial and not to her cabin. That is what she told us, was it not?’

The look of bewilderment increased. ‘I remember what she said clearly.’

‘I do not wish to cast aspersions on your knowledge of this Longobard language, nor on your interpretation, but are you satisfied that she was telling us the truth?’

‘As I said, I thought she was.’

‘When I asked Wulfoald just now, he said that this was not so. He claims that he took her son’s body to her cabin and, moreover, Abbot Servillius was there with Hawisa at the time.’

‘Abbot Servillius was …? I was not told that. I mean, she did not tell me that.’ Even in the candlelight it seemed that Brother Eolann’s features had paled. Then he shook his head in denial. ‘That cannot be, lady. Someone is lying and I would say it is Wulfoald. The woman Hawisa was clear in her statement. I cannot see where there is any misunderstanding.’

‘I thought so,’ sighed Fidelma.

‘Anyway, there is one way to discover the truth,’ Brother Eolann went on. ‘Ask Abbot Servillius if he was there.’

‘He has retired for the night. I shall question him in the morning. But I want to find out why Hawisa lied to us.’

‘Then I am not sure what you-’

‘I have agreed with Wulfoald that we shall ride to Hawisa’s cabin at first light and speak with her again,’ she interrupted.

‘Is that a good idea?’ he protested. ‘If it is not Hawisa who is lying then it must be Wulfoald, and why would he lie unless there were some good reason — one that he does not want you to discover.’

‘I thought of that, which is why you must come with us. Once more I would have to rely on your ears and tongue as my interpreter so that I know what Hawisa is saying to Wulfoald.’

Brother Eolann was hesitant. ‘Is it necessary?’

‘It is.’

‘Then, of course, I shall come with you.’

‘Excellent. We shall meet in the courtyard at first light.’

As she reached the arch that led into the courtyard, Fidelma heard the sound of horses leaving the abbey. She paused in the shadow of the cloisters and saw two riders moving through the gates. Although they had their backs to Fidelma and only the torch-light to illuminate them, she could make out that one was male and one female. They disappeared into the darkness outside. Curious, she made her way to where Brother Bladulf was closing the gates after them.

‘Who was that leaving the abbey?’ she asked.

Brother Bladulf turned, surprised. ‘Oh, it is you, Sister … er, lady,’ he said, recovering. ‘That was the abbot.’

Fidelma stared at him in astonishment. ‘But the abbot had retired for the night and left instructions not to be disturbed. Who was the woman with him?’

‘Sister Gisa, lady. She came to get the abbot. An emergency, she said.’

‘An emergency?’ she echoed.

‘Old Aistulf. He is unwell and Sister Gisa came to fetch the abbot.’

‘Aistulf?’

‘So you have heard of Aistulf? Apparently, he was an old friend of Abbot Servillius but he only appeared in this