Werferth had already left, urging his horse out of the abbey gates after the others.
Fidelma was shaking her head in frustration.
‘This is most vexing,’ she breathed.
Sigeric was in agreement.
‘If I remember correctly, you were about to accuse one of the brethren here …’
‘Brother Higbald, the apothecary,’ pointed out Eadulf in excitement. ‘He was involved in a conspiracy with Lioba.’
Fidelma suddenly turned round with a startled expression. She raced back into the chapel, the others on her heels. As she suspected, there was no sign of Higbald, nor of Beornwulf and a half-dozen other of the younger religious. She stamped her foot and turned quickly to Sigeric.
‘How many warriors do you have left here to rely on?’
Sigeric was startled.
‘Werferth has just gone after the Irish. I only have three men left and my coachman, who is no warrior. What danger is there that you need warriors?’
She ignored the question and turned to Gadra.
‘And you? How many warriors?’
‘Two men, my personal bodyguard. My son has taken the rest. What troubles you, Sister Fidelma’?’
‘Higbald,’ replied Fidelma. ‘He intends to trouble all of us. He is a warrior of Mercia and so are six, at least, of the young men who have gone with him, including Beornwulf.’
Sigeric was bewildered.
‘I don’t understand. What are Mercian warriors doing in this abbey?’
Fidelma compressed her lips momentarily.
‘It is easy to explain. Your neighbour, Wulfhere of Mercia, istrying to reassert the power of his kingdom. Higbald was sent here with some of his warriors because Mercia had heard of the dissensions between Cild and Aldhere. He came here to incite violence and increase the tension so that King Ealdwulf would have to intervene with force …’
‘Which is precisely what he is thinking of doing,’ agreed Sigeric. ‘That is why I was sent here, to answer Botulf and give Cild and Aldhere warning that if the violence did not end then Ealdwulf would end it.’
‘Higbald and his men came to this abbey pretending to be religious. It was a good disguise and the abbey a good base from which to stir up unrest. As it is an old fortress, they were able to keep their weapons in one of the disused chambers below the abbey. There are several chambers and passageways there. Botulf had discovered this but he was killed by Higbald or one of his men before he could reveal it. His body was found outside the crypt door.’
Sigeric was still puzzled.
‘Are you saying that Botulf brought you to the abbey because of this?’
‘His discovery of Higbald’s hidden armoury was coincidental,’ explained Fidelma. ‘He had called Eadulf here simply because of the troscud.’
‘So when you were about to accuse Higbald of conspiracy with Lioba, this was where your accusations were leading?’ asked Sigeric.
‘I was hoping to make Higbald admit the conspiracy,’ agreed Fidelma. ‘The proof seems to be in his flight. When several of Aldhere’s men were slaughtered two days ago, evidence was planted with the bodies to show that it was the religious of this abbey who were responsible. Higbald had conducted several raids in the surrounding area, each time leaving evidence to incriminate either Cild and his men or Aldhere and his men. Finally, in one last act to incite King Ealdwulf to march to this region with a small force to attack Aldhere, Higbald planned to slaughter Abbot Cild and some of the brethren. He lured them with a message to a spot near here, where he intended to ambush them. As fortune had it, Abbot Cild thought he saw the ghost of his wife on the marsh and fledbefore Higbald came along. When Higbald arrived, Lioba was riding with him.’
‘How do you know this?’ asked Sigeric.
‘Because we were there, under cover, watching the event transpire.’
‘And what are you saying that the purpose of these slaughters was?’
‘To ensure that the people remained at each other’s throats. Above all, as I said, to entice King Ealdwulf to come to this area with a small force, large enough to attack Aldhere but not large enough to withstand an ambush which would have been prepared using Wulfhere’s main army from Mercia. King Ealdwulf would have been killed and Mercia would have taken over the kingdom.’
‘You will have to prove this,’ Sigeric said heavily.
‘I will. But now Higbald and his men have gone for their arms, we might be in danger.’
Sigeric realised why Fidelma was now anxious about the number of warriors they could rely on. He glanced quickly across to Gadra.
‘Well, Gadra, will your men join me in defending this place against Higbald?’
The old chieftain shook his head when Brother Laisre interpreted the request. His face wore a stubborn expression.
‘This quarrel with Mercia is no quarrel of mine. My quarrel is with Abbot Cild.’
Sigeric’s face fell.
‘I am with you!’ cried Mul the farmer, who was now brandishing a wicked-looking sickle.
‘You have not asked me,’ intervened Aldhere, who had been standing nearby. ‘I have half a dozen men with me. If it was Higbald who slaughtered Wiglaf and my men the other day then I owe him a debt that must be settled in blood.’
‘I cannot use outlaws …’ protested Sigeric.
‘There is no time to quibble, Sigeric,’ Fidelma advised sharply. ‘We must find Higbald before he finds us.’
The old man hesitated a moment and then shrugged.
‘Needs must when the devil drives,’ he muttered. ‘We’ll search the abbey. Where first?’
‘The chamber where they hid their weapons,’ Eadulf suggested immediately. ‘They will have gone there to get their armour.’
Gadra and his followers, with the rest of the religious, remained in the chapel. Fidelma and Eadulf led the way to the guests’ chambers and through the tunnel. They realised that there must be an entrance through the crypt but Higbald might have prepared an ambush for them on that direct route. With Sigeric and his men, and Aldhere and some of his warriors, pressing after them, they made their way cautiously along the tunnels. The chamber was lit but empty. However, it was clear that Higbald and his men had been there and taken what equipment they could. Discarded items lay scattered on the floor. Eadulf pointed out the Mercian emblems to Sigeric.
‘Have they gone back to attack the abbey?’ Aldhere asked.
‘I don’t think so, at least not yet,’ Fidelma said. ‘Higbald has only half a dozen men and he is probably not sure how many we can rely on. I think he will withdraw to consider his next move.’
Aldhere laughed grimly.
‘Then I’ll go after him. He’ll not get far.’
Fidelma surprised him by firmly shaking her head.
‘Not yet, Aldhere. He might have anticipated that and be waiting in ambush. From what I’ve seen, he had good archers among his men. Wiglaf found that out the hard way. We should make ourselves secure, that is all. Besides, we are still in the middle of bringing the story of these mysteries at Aldred’s Abbey to a conclusion. If we defend ourselves from a surprise attack we may then conclude our deliberations in the chapel.’
The outlaw shrugged nonchalantly.
‘Whatever you say, Sister. The sooner this charade is ended the better. From what Sigeric has already said, it will do me no good. I am judged guilty no matter how this affair turns out.’
Sigeric did not respond to his gibe. They made their way back to the main quadrangle of the abbey in silence. As they reached it, Garb and his men, together with Werferth, came riding back through the gate. Their faces were grim and there was no sign of Abbot Cild, only a single riderless horse.
Garb addressed himself directly to Fidelma.
‘The abbot is dead,’ he said flatly.
When Fidelma translated, Aldhere gave a strange sound, like a sharp bark. But he said no more.
‘What happened?’ demanded Sigeric threateningly. ‘Did any of your men lay a hand on him? I thought you said that such a thing would not happen under your law?’