‘And their positions?’
‘Assistant scribes to make a record of our discussions.’
‘The purpose of this journey was to meet here with clerics of the Ui Fidgente to discuss how our churches and the leaders of the religious communities might come into a better communication with one another after the peace made between the Ui Fidgente and Cashel. Is that so?’
‘It was only a preliminary meeting,’ the steward replied. ‘The Abbot of Mungairit called this council and suggested it be held here at the Abbey of Nechta.’
‘So the council is being held in the new abbey?’
‘It is logical that the council be held in the religious community. But, it being only recently constructed, they do not have a guest-hostel fit for our delegation. Therefore Prince Donennach offered hospitality.’
‘How far had these discussions proceeded with Abbot Segdae?’
‘We had only had two days’ preliminary discussion. It was the evening of the second day that this catastrophe happened.’
‘What churchmen of the Ui Fidgente have attended this council?’
‘Abbot Nannid and his steward are the only senior clerics to attend. No one else, for these were exploratory talks. Had they been successful then a full council of senior clerics would have been called.’
‘I wish to talk about the day that Abbot Segdae was killed. I was about to ask to be shown the abbot’s staff of office with which he was said to have knocked Gorman unconscious … No, wait! We’ll come to that in a moment. While we are in this chamber let us continue the account of that event. I am told that Gorman had called to see the abbot earlier that day. Is that right?’
‘He did,’ affirmed Brother Tuaman. ‘I was here but the abbot was not. I told him that the abbot would not return here until after the evening meal. So it was later in the evening when Gorman arrived again to see him.’
‘The guard mentioned that one of the religieux from Mungairit was here at that time as well. I think he said it was Brother Cuineain.’
Brother Tuaman seemed momentarily surprised. Then he nodded. ‘Indeed, Abbot Nannid’s steward came to go over some essential details with me for the next session of our discussions the following morning. We had just finished when the warrior arrived, demanding to speak with the abbot.’
‘Demanding?’ Fidelma seized on the word. ‘I thought he had earlier made an arrangement to see the abbot. Why would he have felt he had to demand to see him?’
‘Perhaps I chose the wrong word,’ muttered the steward. ‘He asked to see him.’
‘In what manner did he arrive?’
The steward frowned, obviously not understanding.
‘How did he seem in manner?’ Fidelma clarified. ‘Was he excited? Was he anxious? What?’
The steward considered and then shook his head. ‘I couldn’t say.’
‘Did he look like a man intent on killing someone?’ Eadulf snapped, annoyed by the man’s attitude.
‘How does such a man look?’ Brother Tuaman countered.
Eadulf accepted the point. ‘We merely wanted to ascertain if there was anything unusual about the way Gorman presented himself. We have previously heard that he seemed moody.’
‘I would agree that he seemed somewhat short of temper.’
‘Angry?’ Eadulf asked.
‘Not in a good humour,’ replied the steward.
‘What happened when he arrived?’
‘I left him in the hall while I came up here to ask the abbot if it was convenient for him to see the warrior. The abbot asked me to bring Gorman to his chamber immediately. They greeted one another as friends. Therefore I left them alone together.’
‘Closing the door of the chamber?’
‘Closing the door of the chamber,’ echoed Brother Tuaman.
‘And then you went back to continue your discussion with Brother Cuineain?’
‘There was nothing much more to discuss. He had already left.’
‘Then what did you do?’
‘I returned to my own chamber to work on my notes. It is over there,’ he pointed across the hallway to the opposite door. ‘A short time passed and then I heard raised voices coming from the abbot’s room. There was a loud cry, as if of alarm, followed by a tremendous crash. I left my chamber immediately and hastened over here to the abbot’s door. I called out, asking what was wrong. There was a silence. I tried the door but found it locked. It was not the abbot’s custom to lock his door.’
‘There was no response to your call?’
‘None. I shouted for the warrior who was on duty below. That was Lachtna, whom you have just seen.’
Fidelma suddenly looked at Conri, who had remained silent during her questioning. ‘I meant to ask you – was it unusual for a warrior to guard the hostel when its occupants were a religious delegation?’
‘Not in ordinary circumstances,’ Conri replied cautiously. ‘You would have to ask the commander of the household Guard. I was not here at that time.’
‘Not in ordinary circumstances,’ repeated Eadulf. ‘What could be extraordinary circumstances?’
‘This is not an abbey,’ Conri reminded him. ‘I would imagine that Prince Donennach might have some concern about the safety of the abbot. After all, this is the principal fortress of a people who had conflict with Cashel, and Abbot Segdae was the principal adviser to the King of Cashel on religious matters.’
‘A good point and one we shall check,’ conceded Fidelma. She returned her gaze to the steward. ‘What happened then?’
‘Lachtna joined me and tried the door. We agreed to break it in. As you can see,’ the steward added, gesturing at the condition of the oak door.
‘I have seen,’ Fidelma nodded. ‘Which reminds me, when you came to the door, received no answer, found it locked and were fearful for what had happened, did you, in the short time you had to wait for Lachtna to join you, think to peer through one of those knot-holes that I see age has put into the wood?’
‘No, I did not think of such a thing.’
‘Come into the hall with me a moment.’ They went out and Fidelma drew the door shut. She told them: ‘I noticed one knot-hole especially – the one that is just below eye-level and shaped like a diamond. It is the length of a person’s little finger. By pressing one’s eye to it you could see roughly into the chamber. Try for yourself.’
Brother Tuaman moved forward and, following Fidelma’s instruction, peered into the gap. Then he stood back and shook his head.
‘I doubt that anyone would have seen very much. I can only see the abbot’s desk but not where he was lying on the floor, nor can I see where the warrior was. However, lady, this did not occur to me.’
‘I thought you might have made an attempt to look,’ she said mildly. ‘There seem to be a few new scratch-marks around the knot-hole. No matter.’ She reopened the door. ‘So … you and Lachtna burst into the room – and what did you see?’
‘I saw the abbot’s body first. There was blood soaking his robes and staining the floor. He had probably tried to use his staff of office as a means of defence for it was lying by his left hand. Before him, groaning, was the warrior. He was also on the floor. I saw the bloodied dagger by the warrior’s right hand. It was obvious what had happened.’
‘Which was what?’
The steward smiled thinly. ‘The man had attacked the abbot and stabbed him. The abbot, perhaps in his dying moment, had swung his staff of office at his attacker. You may know it bears a heavy cross of silver on the end. This caught his attacker on the side of the head, knocking him unconscious for a while and allowing us to apprehend him.’
‘I see. You felt that, had Gorman not been knocked senseless, he would have contrived to escape somehow. Surely the obstacles were many to such a flight in the circumstances.’
The steward thought and found no answer.
‘You were going to show me the abbot’s staff,’ Fidelma reminded the man.
‘It was cleaned before being given to the prior. After all, it will be his once he is confirmed as the next abbot.’
‘I would still like to see it,’ she insisted.