That they could all understand.
‘Then we are agreed?’ When they confirmed it, she turned to the impassive warrior. ‘One thing, Socht. Although we are within the walls of the abbey, it does not mean we are safe here. I believe that there is an evil here as great as any we faced on Seanach’s Island. So keep your arms ready at all times and do not sleep too deeply.’
‘I understand, lady,’ grunted the warrior.
‘That goes for all of you,’ she added, glancing at them. ‘Be watchful.’
As she finished speaking Sister Sinnchene entered the hostel. She seemed sullen and a faint look of disapproval crossed her features as her eyes fell on Sister Easdan. It was obvious that she had already received orders from the steward.
‘The baths are already prepared for you and Sister Easdan, lady,’ she announced. ‘The Saxon brother, the stranger and the warrior will have to wait their turn.’
Fidelma returned her sour look with a smile.
‘I know, Sister Sinnchene. The facilities of this hospitium are primitive and you have no separate arrangements for men and women to bathe at the same time.’
Only Eadulf noticed that she was being humorous.
The custodian of the hospitium stood stiffly, doubtless recalling the nature of their last meeting.
‘Very well,’ Fidelma said, rising to follow. ‘Sister Easdan and I will bathe first.’
‘I will take the opportunity to nap,’ Eadulf said, sinking on to one of the beds with a groan. ‘I have promised myself two things on this trip — one, never to get on a small boat ever again, certainly not at sea, and two, to avoid getting on a horse when I can use my two legs to walk.’
Socht regarded him with astonishment but diplomatically made no comment.
Some time later, when everyone had bathed and eaten and was feeling relaxed, Fidelma and Eadulf made their way through the abbey complex to Abbot Erc’s chambers. They had left the others in the hospitium and Fidelma had warned them once again not to say anything if anyone seized the opportunity to try to get information from them.
Abbot Erc was sitting staring moodily into the fire crackling in the hearth in his chamber. Behind his chair stood Brother Cu Mara, a study in peevishness.
The abbot raised a stern face and bade them enter and seat themselves.
‘My steward has reported your arrival with that of one of our missing sisters and a stranger. Yet the lord Conri has not returned with you. Why is that?’
‘All will become clear soon,’ Fidelma replied easily.
The abbot’s frown deepened.
‘My steward also tells me that you refused to answer any of his questions and seemed to be making a secret of your journey and its results. Is that so? For I would look upon that as an insult to this holy establishment.’
Fidelma returned his angry look with a diplomatic smile.
‘No insult is intended to you or your house, Abbot Erc. Let me explain, if I may, for I am sure you will understand my reasoning on this matter.’
The abbot gestured impatiently and she interpreted it as a sign to continue.
‘Sometimes the rule of an abbey must give way to the rule of law,’ she began.
Brother Cu Mara started to sneer from behind the abbot’s chair. ‘The rule of God comes above all things,’ he interrupted.
‘There is no rule of God that is contravened here,’ replied Fidelma evenly. ‘Tell me where it is written in scripture that I must answer the questions of a young rechtaire?’
Abbot Erc raised a hand as if to dissipate their exchange.
‘You were invited to this abbey to resolve a murder and the abduction of some of our members,’ he pointed out. ‘Obviously you have news of this and so we would expect you to inform us what that news is.’
‘There can be no restrictions placed on a dalaigh qualified to the level of anruth, as I am, other than by the Chief Brehon of the kingdom.’ Fidelma kept her voice even. ‘However, I expect to be able to tell you everything within the next day or two at the most. My intention is to
Abbot Erc looked shocked.
‘Are you implying that the guilty are here in this abbey?’
‘I told the Venerable Mac Faosma once that I never imply things. You may take it as a fair interpretation,’ returned Fidelma calmly.
‘Then I demand that you tell me what you know,’ snapped the abbot.
Fidelma’s brows came together.
‘Demand?’ Her voice was cold. ‘You demand of a dalaigh?’
Abbot Erc blinked at her tone. But Brother Cu Mara, young and now a little headstrong, replied somewhat sarcastically.
‘You had best remember that times are changing, Fidelma of Cashel. Your laws are becoming outdated. The new Penitentials of Rome are replacing them and the law and its administration will soon be in the hands of abbots and bishops.’
Fidelma regarded him with a cold and piercing stare.
‘God save us from that catastrophe,’ she said reverently, as if in prayer.
‘When, in ancient times, the High King Ollamh Fodhla ordered the laws of the Brehons to be gathered so that they could be applied evenly over the five kingdoms, it was guaranteed that no king nor priest stood above the law and every judge had to justify his judgements. All were equal before the law. Abbots as well as kings. When that system is overthrown then our people will truly be in bondage, whether it be to your Roman Penitentials or to some other power.’
Brother Cu Mara flushed angrily.
‘Bondage?’ he snapped. ‘That is something you Eoghanacht of Cashel need give us no lessons in. You keep the Ui Fidgente in bondage!’
Fidelma had to control her own growing anger.
‘Indeed? So you would disagree with the policy of your chieftain, Donennach, that peace with Cashel is better than constant rebellion against the king?’
Brother Cu Mara seemed to forget himself and took a threatening step forward.
‘Cu Mara! Enough!’ cried Abbot Erc sharply. ‘Your fidelity is to this abbey and to the welfare of its people. Remember that and leave us.’
Brother Cu Mara paused for a moment. His expression seemed to show that he was struggling.
‘Leave us!’ repeated the abbot harshly.
Exhaling with a hissing sound, Brother Cu Mara left the chamber.
‘There is an enemy in that one,’ Eadulf whispered softly to Fidelma.
Abbot Erc grimaced as if trying to make an apology.
‘Cu Mara is a young and headstrong man,’ he sighed. ‘Diplomacy is not a gift of youth. Yet he does have a point. The Ui Fidgente were defeated by your brother at Cnoc Aine and our ruling family were killed. Many now feel we are in bondage to Cashel.’
‘That’s not exactly accurate, for your new chieftain Donennach traces his lineage back to Fidgennid after whom the Ui Fidgente take their name. Peace for the clan is better than the centuries of continued warfare that have taken place.’
Abbot Erc bowed his head. ‘Let us not talk of politics, Fidelma. I know that you are gifted with eloquence in such matters.’
Fidelma was serious. ‘We may have to speak of such matters before long.’
The abbot looked puzzled. ‘Are you suggesting that politics enter into this matter of murder and abduction? Most of our community here are loyal Ui Fidgente. Most were supporters of our old leadership.’
‘Most,’ agreed Fidelma. ‘But the Venerable Cinaed was not. I think you disapproved of him, didn’t you?’
The abbot was trying to fathom the meaning behind her words.
‘I will not attempt to deny it. I disapproved of Cinaed’s ideas. But that does not mean I killed him. I knew him for many years and we worked together. Yet I simply had no liking for Cinaed’s ambition to seek out controversy.’
‘You call it an ambition?’ said Fidelma. ‘That is an interesting choice of word.’
‘Everything he wrote was designed to contradict orthodoxy. What else is that but courting controversy? He was resolute in his pursuit of controversial arguments so that it can be truly said that he had a strong desire to achieve notoriety in these matters.’