She was interrupted by a knock on the door.
‘That should be him now,’ the elderly woman said, indicating that Aibell should answer the door. The girl opened it a fraction, peered out and then opened it more widely.
Brother Eladach, the doorkeeper of the Abbey of Nechta, came swiftly in and the girl closed the door behind him. His eyes swept round the company before he greeted Etromma.
‘Have you told them?’ he asked.
‘I was just about to,’ confirmed the elderly woman.
Fidelma greeted the doorkeeper. ‘I presume you are the one who overheard the conversation in Abbot Nannid’s chamber?’
‘I did so, lady,’ the doorkeeper nodded. ‘And as the death of young Mael Anfaid was connected, it is obvious that he, too, was sacrificed by those who told him to pass the lies on to Ciarnat. The rest you know. They were both murdered by the same evil person who is intent upon executing an innocent man tomorrow, based on the spurious rules which he has forced upon our once peaceful community.’
‘We are told that you have some sort of plan to thwart Abbot Nannid?’ Fidelma said.
‘It is a simple plan,’ the man replied, looking sheepish.
‘Often simple plans are the best,’ she encouraged him. ‘What do you suggest?’
‘I once told you that I was a carpenter. To my shame, I helped construct the walls that surround our community. But that now works to our advantage. As well as the main gates of our so-called abbey, there are two small side gates, one to the west and one to the east. My plan is that after the moon reaches its zenith, the warrior here will come to the west gate. The only other man of strength that we can rely on is the Saxon brother here …’ Eadulf did not bother to correct him. ‘I will unlock the gate and then lead you to the cell where the warrior Gorman is incarcerated. It is a hut standing by itself. There are two men guarding him – they are men of the Sliabh Luachra, so be wary. They must be dealt with. After Gorman is released, he must be taken back to the west gate and I will secure it after you leave.’
Fidelma was about to ask the obvious question but Etromma pre-empted her. ‘The young man will be brought here and hidden for a while. I have a special place to hide him until it is safe. I do not think anyone would believe he would continue to hide in the township, especially with me. They will assume that he has fled directly to Cashel.’
‘For this we are much indebted, Etromma,’ Fidelma acknowledged.
‘It is a just revenge for what they have done to my daughter.’
‘The plan sounds simple,’ Fidelma allowed. ‘But with this west gate being opened and then closed behind us, you, Brother Eladach, will be the obvious suspect.’
Eladach smiled grimly. ‘I will prepare the east gate, to show that someone must have broken in through it. After you have left with Gorman, I shall make some adjustment to show that he also escaped by that east exit. Thankfully, we have no guards patrolling our walled community.’
‘But you have men guarding the place where Gorman is imprisoned,’ Eadulf said.
‘Men of Sliabh Luachra, as you said,’ Enda pointed out. ‘They are cold-blooded killers. Trying to overcome them might result in a frenzied struggle that could raise the alarm.’
Eadulf looked uncomfortable. ‘Are you suggesting that they are to be killed?’
‘They would have no compunction in killing you,’ replied the young warrior.
‘We should not descend to their level,’ Fidelma admonished. ‘But these men would have to be rendered harmless.’
‘Yet I have no skill as a warrior,’ confessed Eadulf.
Fidelma ignored him. She turned to the doorkeeper. ‘Do you know how Nannid plans his execution?’
‘The buildings of our community are arranged around an old, sacred oak. I have been told that at noon, the brethren of the community will be ordered to gather to hear a homily from the abbot on the Penitentials and on the punishments that merit death as approved by the sacred scriptures. Then he intends to hang Gorman from the tree.’
Fidelma pursed her lips. ‘I would know more of the lay-out of this abbey.’
Brother Eladach went to the hearth where ashes from the last fire lay on the raised flat stones. Using his hand, he spread the grey ash on the top of one of the stones. Then, taking a half-burned stick from the dead fire, he traced a rectangle in the ash.
‘These are the outer walls. As you know, the entire outer walls are built of wood. Here is the main gate facing the square. On the east side is a side gate while, on the opposite west side, is another. The reason I chose the west gate for you to enter by is because it is closer to the cell where the warrior is contained.’
He bent and drew a small square in the centre and marked a little cross.
‘That is the centre square and the cross marks the sacred oak tree where the Lady Nechta used to preach to convert people.’
‘And where Nannid plans to hang Gorman,’ Enda muttered.
‘Where is his cell?’ Fidelma pressed.
Brother Eladach indicated a point at the north-west corner of the smaller square.
‘Inside the wooden walls of the abbey, everything is open. It is not one building for, as I told you, it was a series of homesteads, just like the rest of the township. At the east side of the interior courtyard is the chapel. On the opposite side are the buildings which are occupied by Abbot Nannid and his steward. The men he brought to guard his prisoner are also there.’
‘How many members of your community live there?’
‘We have about forty men and women and a dozen children. They live in huts across the entire site and between them are many storage huts. My own quarters are by the main gate. We have workshops and we have built ourselves a small library. You see, we are not a large community and until Abbot Nannid arrived and started to interfere with his new ideas, we were a contented one.’
‘Aren’t we neglecting what we are here for?’ Aibell said anxiously. ‘The night approaches and now each moment is precious.’
‘These questions must be asked,’ Fidelma assured her.
‘It is also important to know that our community is not content with the rule of Abbot Nannid and his steward,’ Brother Eladach stated. ‘I am sure that you will find no one among the community who supports him. But while Abbot Nannid has legal authority over us, we must not be seen to be acting contrary to his wishes.’
‘It is a simple plan,’ Enda agreed thoughtfully, ‘but I can see no alternative, and it may work. Eadulf and I will deal with the guards – but what are the conditions of his incarceration?’
‘Conditions?’ Brother Eladach was confused.
‘Is he free within his hut, which is presumably locked or bolted, or is he tied up or what?’
‘There are two bolts on the outside of the door of the hut,’ replied Brother Eladach. ‘However, his hands are tied.’
‘Are you sure of this?’
‘I went to take water and food to him earlier today. The guards were cruel and refused him food, saying what good was it to someone who was to be hanged the next day? However, they allowed me to give him some water.’
‘What sort of physical condition was he in?’ Enda said.
‘While his hands are bound, his feet are free. I fear he might find his hands hard to use because of the constriction.’
‘So we would have to overpower the guards, unbolt the door and then cut off his bonds?’
‘The bolts are easily withdrawn. The guards are so confident that Gorman is bound and secured in the hut that they don’t check on him regularly.’
Enda smiled with satisfaction. ‘One good thing is that the men guarding him are lazy. They are not professional warriors, just thieves and robbers. I am feeling more confident now.’
Brother Eladach appeared pleased by the young warriors self-assured attitude. ‘I tried to give your friend a message of hope when I gave him the water. I presumed the brigands were ignorant of Latin, but a commander of the King of Cashel’s bodyguard would have some knowledge. I spoke briefly just in case. ‘I said – nil desperandum. Libersondum. Durate et vosmet rebus servate secundis. The guards asked me what I said so I told them I was giving him a blessing as he was soon to die.’