‘And you say that she was not a religieuse?’
‘No. She was well dressed and therefore someone of rank and prosperity but certainly not a member of the community.’
‘What made you think that it was the abbot’s wife?’
‘It was just an idea, that’s all. It would have explained his reaction to Garb’s accusations.’
‘There are some weaknesses in that argument, Eadulf. If she were still alive, why not simply tell Garb and his father in order to prevent the public accusation against him? And you say that Brother Higbald denied the existence of the woman in the abbey?’
‘He did, but one does not necessarily have to believe him.’
‘Or, maybe, he and other members of the community simply do not know of her existence. Perhaps she comes and goes in secret.’
‘A mistress, perhaps?’
‘You do not have enough information to leap to these conclusions, Eadulf,’ sighed Fidelma. ‘And now, I want to rest a while. Ask more questions and make fewer deductions.’ She took another sip of the herbal remedy and then turned on her side.
Eadulf left quietly.
Outside he met Brother Willibrod. He was standing with another member of the community, a broad-shouldered young man. The dominus was looking less anxious than before as he greeted Eadulf.
‘I understand all is well. It is not the Yellow Plague but an ague. Abbot Cild has told me that you can stay for a few days until Sister Fidelma is recovered. Is there anything that can be done to aid her recovery?’
Eadulf shook his head. ‘Rest, warmth and perhaps someone could take her some clear broth at midday?’
‘It shall be done. Young Brother Redwald shall be instructed in this. By the way, this is Brother Wigstan. You asked to see him.’
Eadulf looked at the young man. ‘I am told that you saw this outlaw — Aldhere?’
Brother Wigstan nodded slowly. ‘I was returning to the abbey early yesterday morning. I was hurrying to join the brethren in singing Matins-’
‘Where had you been?’ interrupted Eadulf.
‘I was returning from a visit to the coast, bringing some fish to the abbey. As my cart came along the road nearby, I swear I saw Aldhere riding away.’
Eadulf frowned slightly. ‘You do not sound positive?’
‘I am positive. It was by the little copse at the side of the abbey that I saw him.’
‘And in order to recognise him, you have obviously seen him before?’
‘I have been robbed twice by him on journeys to and from the coast,’ agreed Brother Wigstan with bitterness. ‘I know him.’
‘And each time he let you go with your life? He does not sound the depraved villain that I have been led to believe.’
‘Is that all, Brother?’
Eadulf nodded absently and when Brother Wigstan had departed, he turned to Brother Willibrod.
‘And on such an observation, a man may be killed?’ he asked rhetorically. ‘It is hardly evidence. I have another favour to ask of you.’
‘Which is?’ demanded the dominus cautiously.
‘I have told you that I was a good friend of Brother Botulf. I would like to see his personal possessions.’
‘The brethren of Christ have no possessions,’ admonished Brother Willibrod gruffly. ‘You know the ruling of the Didache?’
The Didache or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles was a book dealing with church order and ecclesiastical life said to have been handed down from the earliest Christian community. But Eadulf had never read it nor consciously followed its rules. He shook his head.
‘The Didache says,’ quoted the dominus in sonorous tones:
‘“share everything with your brother. Do not say ‘it is private property’. If you share what is everlasting, you should be that much more willing to share things which do not last.”’
‘I have heard the teaching from other church fathers,’ admitted Eadulf. ‘Do you claim that this is the rule which you practise here?’
‘We try to retain the true rules of the faith,’ replied Brother Willibrod with some stiffness.
‘Even so, I would like a moment in the cell of my good friend.’
‘I do not know whether his cell has been cleared.’
‘Please?’
Brother Willibrod suddenly shrugged as if to dismiss the matter. ‘Very well. A moment of contemplation can be allowed. Come.’ He turned and led the way through the abbey, past the main dormitory and refectory buildings. ‘Brother Botulf, as the steward of the abbey, had his chamber here,’ he said, pointing to a door and standing aside.
Brother Eadulf entered the small chamber.
There was hardly anything within. A robe and a cloak were still hanging on wooden pegs, along with a book satchel. A pair of worn sandals were placed underneath them on the floor. The bed was a single straw mattress on a wooden frame with severalneatly folded blankets on it. A candle and a tinder box stood on a small table. There was also a beaker, a jug and a wash basin.
‘As you see, Brother Eadulf,’ intoned the dominus standing in the doorway, ‘Brother Botulf had no possessions.’
Eadulf shook his head. ‘I find it sad. A life gone by and nothing to show but a few memories of those who knew him. And memory dies, too, and is gone like smoke in the wind.’
‘Possessions are an abomination, leading men into temptation,’ replied Brother Willibrod in a stony voice. ‘Did not St Basil the Great declaim that property is theft? We of the faith must do away with all personal possessions. We are all equal in the faith.’
Eadulf sighed in resignation. ‘I think it was Aristotle who said that it was not the possessions but the desires of mankind which required to be equalised.’
He turned to the satchel hanging on the wall. There was a little book of scripture quotations in Latin there. As Eadulf lifted it out he saw a piece of crunched paper beneath it at the bottom of the satchel. He drew it out surreptitiously so that Brother Willibrod did not observe him tucking it in the sleeve of his robe.
‘I should remove that book to the scriptorium,’ Brother Willibrod said, holding his hand out for it.
‘Was it not Botulf’s book?’ queried Eadulf.
‘All is common property here,’ Brother Willibrod replied.
Eadulf watched the dominus return the book to the satchel and take it from the peg. As he did so, Eadulf took the opportunity to secure the piece of paper in the small sacculus that he carried on his belt. Brother Willibrod turned back to him.
‘Have you seen enough?’
Eadulf bowed his head in confirmation. As they were walking back to the main quadrangle, he asked: ‘Tell me, Brother Willibrod, as dominus of this abbey you know everyone who comes and goes, don’t you?’
Brother Willibrod regarded him curiously. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean that you know all the visitors here, don’t you?’
‘If you wish to question me about the intrusion last night, I have already explained that the foreign warriors scaled the walls, and-’
‘I am not asking about that. I want to know the identity of thewoman who was in the abbey last night. And I don’t mean my companion.’
Brother Willibrod regarded him with outrage on his features.
‘Are you mad? A woman, here in the abbey? Impossible!’
‘Not impossible. I saw her in the quadrangle by the chapel. A slim woman, fair-haired, with a red dress and jewels.’
Brother Willibrod took a physical step backwards. A look of astonishment crossed his face. Then it hardened into a mask.
‘There was no such woman in the abbey last night nor any night.’ He swung round and walked away so quickly that Eadulf was left staring after him in surprise at his reaction.
As he stood there, the youthful Brother Redwald came round a corner of the building carrying two buckets of water for the guests’ chambers.