‘Then how do you explain his intense dislike of you? That he would seize this opportunity to hang you?’
Aldhere’s lips thinned a little. ‘It is a long story.’
‘And you have said that before. A story does not get shorter in the telling if one keeps pointing out how long it is. Let us commence. What is it between Cild and yourself that can cause such dislike?’
Aldhere raised a shoulder in a half shrug.
‘It has its roots in the fact that Cild and I share the same mother and father.’
For a moment Eadulf was uncertain of what he had just heard. Finally he said: ‘Then you are …?’
‘Cild and I are brothers,’ confirmed Aldhere.
Chapter Seven
In the sudden confusion of thoughts, only one made any sense to Eadulf. Now he knew why he found Aldhere’s face so familiar. He was looking at an echo of Abbot Cild’s features.
Aldhere was chuckling at his bewilderment. ‘You look surprised, holy gerefa.’
Eadulf drew his thoughts together. ‘I am shocked that Abbot Cild is so violent against his own brother — to the point where he seeks him out to kill him.’
The outlaw grimaced. ‘Fratricide is no stranger to our people, my friend, especially among those who seek power.’
‘You will have to explain that to me.’
‘It is easily explained. Cild and I are both the sons of Bretta. Cild was the elder-’
‘But you became thane of Bretta’s Ham.’ Eadulf frowned quickly.
‘Exactly so. Our father, Bretta, did not like my brother. Cild was often given to rages and tantrums as a child. Once, he went so far as to slaughter a black cat which belonged to our mother on the altar of our chapel and declare his allegiance to Woden instead of Christ. Even when he grew up he could be overcome by a terrible temper. He became a warrior who relied on the power of his battle-axe and not his brain to win his victories. He was an individual, not one who could marshal his forces and devise plans. Bretta felt that he had no qualities for the just leadership of our people. He disinherited him and proclaimed that I would succeed him as thane after he died.’
‘And Cild disliked you for that?’
‘Of course. All through our youth, Cild had assumed that he would become thane. Now I was placed over him — his young brother to whom he would have to bend the knee. He was angry with our father and with me. It was not at first apparent because Cild announced that he was joining the brothers of the faith.’
‘Did that come as a surprise?’
‘A complete surprise. Cild was not interested in anything but fighting, drinking, womanising and power. My father was right — Cild would have made a bad thane. Anyway, he left Bretta’s Ham and the next thing we heard was that he had gone to Connacht in the land of Éireann to enter the service of the faith. Our father died whilst he was away — died in the service of the King fighting his enemies, the forces of Wulfhere of Mercia. Then I became thane. This was three years ago.’
‘When did Cild return?’
Aldhere rubbed the bridge of his nose and frowned at the question.
‘I suppose it was just before the big council in the kingdom of Northumbria …’
‘The Synod at Whitby?’ asked Eadulf.
‘Indeed, the council at the abbey of Hilda.’
‘When did you first know that he had returned?’
‘When I heard that he was appointed abbot. After his wife died he chased most of the brothers out of Aldred’s Abbey and declared it to be a closed community.’
‘Your tone tells me that you think this was illegally done,’ pointed out Eadulf.
‘Not illegally done, holy gerefa, for he had the support of Ealdwulf, our King, who followed Oswy of Northumbria in proclaiming that he would follow the Rule of Rome rather than the Rule of Columba.’
Eadulf recalled that the Blessed Colmcille was called Columba by the Angles and Saxons.
‘But you suspected … what?’
‘Suspected …? I do not believe that a fox may turn into a lamb.’
‘Nor could your brother change his personality to a man of peace and Christian charity,’ muttered Eadulf.
Aldhere grinned broadly but said nothing.
‘He must hate you a great deal to wish you dead,’ Eadulf observed. ‘Have you met him since he returned?’
‘I met him once only. When I heard that he had become abbot at Aldred’s Abbey, I went to see him.’
‘There was no other meeting?’
‘He did come to see my disgrace before King Ealdwulf,’ grinned Aldhere. ‘But I disappointed him by not keeping the appointment.’
‘Did you ever meet his wife?’
‘He did not deserve her,’ Aldhere said quietly. ‘She was a gentle young thing. Gélgeis was her name. Yes, I met her. That was when I went to the abbey. Cild had not then claimed the tonsure of Roman and declared for celibacy. Gélgeis was still alive then. They came to Aldred’s Abbey together.’
‘How did she die? Do you know?’
A curious expression crossed Aldhere’s features.
‘What makes you interested in Gélgeis, holy gerefa?’
Eadulf told him of the events of the previous night in the chapel.
Aldhere sat back with a soft smile.
‘If I have understood you well on this business of ritual fasting,’ he finally said, ‘then these poor fools do not stand any chance of forcing justice upon Cild at all. Who understands this ritual among us? They will simply be killed by my brother’s men if given the opportunity.’
Eadulf leaned forward. ‘Do you think Gélgeis was murdered by your brother?’
Aldhere hesitated. ‘It is possible. I cannot say. She disappeared while crossing the marshes near the abbey one day.’
‘Did Botulf ever speak of the matter? I am told that he knew the girl well.’
‘Botulf? He never spoke of it to me.’
Eadulf sat back in disappointment. ‘What do you know about her death?’
‘I know little enough. When I heard that Cild had returned from Connacht, I was prepared to greet him as a long lost brother. As I said, I came to the abbey. Cild’s wife showed more friendship and courtesy to me than he did. She was very sweet and charming but frail and gentle. I could not believe that my brother had been able to attract such a creature …’
He paused for a minute in his remembrance, then continued. ‘As soon as I saw my brother and realised the enmity that he still held for me, I resolved to have no more to do with him. Then came the battle and my downfall. When I was outlawed, mybrother went to King Ealdwulf to claim my rank and possessions. Ealdwulf is a wily monarch. He sympathised, approved of my brother’s appointment as abbot but said he could not also make him thane of Bretta’s Ham nor give him all my possessions. In truth, Ealdwulf wanted them for himself, but he gave Cild one eighth share of my father’s treasure. This did not mollify Cild but he could not argue further with the King.’
Aldhere paused and reached for the flagon of mead which stood on the table and poured himself a beaker, draining it with two swift gulps.
‘That, holy gerefa, is my unhappy story, and indeed the unhappy story of my brother.’
They sat in silence for a moment or two.
‘It does raise some further questions,’ Eadulf pointed out.
‘Which are?’
‘Was it Cild or Botulf’s presence in the abbey that caused you to set up your base in these marshes?’
Aldhere grinned. ‘In truth, it was a mixture of both.’
‘How would one set about finding this man, Garb, and his father, Gadra of Maigh Eo? For Garb to come to the abbey in the snowstorm last night and proclaim this ritual would indicate that these Irish warriors must be dwelling in the vicinity. I would like to speak with them and maybe save them from Cild’s wrath.’
The outlawed thane pursed his lips in thought.
‘A band of Irish warriors would find it hard to conceal themselves in this country. But there are still a few religious houses where the Irish missionaries have refused to abandon them to Roman clerics. That may be your answer.’