Fidelma moved to her, seizing the woman by both arms. ‘Pull yourself together, Sister!’ she said sharply. ‘Tell me what is happening? Who is attacking us?’
Scothnat paused in her distraction, cowed by the sharpness in Fidelma’s tone. Then she began to softly sob again. ‘The abbey, the abbey is under attack!’
‘But who is attacking it?’
She saw that Sister Scothnat was too overcome with fear to answer her question.
Fidelma turned and hauled on her clothing. It was still dark outside her chamber window and she had no idea what time it was although she felt it could not be long before dawn.
Hurrying out of the chamber, she left Scothnat still sobbing behind her. She almost collided with a dark, muscular figure, hurrying in the opposite direction. Even in the gloom she recognised Eadulf.
‘I was coming to find you.’ His voice was anxious. ‘The abbey is being attacked by warriors.’
‘Do you know anything more?’ she asked.
‘Nothing. I was aroused only moments ago by Brother Madagan. He has gone to ensure the gates are secured but I believe the abbey has little defence except its walls and the gates.’
Suddenly the abbey’s great bell began to toll, the sound increasing in volume as the hands which tugged the bell-rope grew more frenzied with each chime. The sound was more a frantic peal for help than a solemn warning.
‘Let us see what we can discover,’ cried Fidelma above the din, heading down the corridor towards the main gate.
Eadulf followed, protesting, ‘The other women have been led to a place of safety within the abbey vaults.’
Fidelma did not bother to respond. She moved quickly and Eadulf was hard pressed to keep up with her. They hurried down the dark cloisters, through which several panicking brethren ran hither and thither, distracted and with no coordination.
Fidelma became aware of the increasing sounds of war horns and the screams and cries of fighting from beyond the great walls of the abbey. They passed into the main courtyard. There they could see a group of young, more sturdy monks, trying to secure the wooden bars on the great central gate. Directing them was the rechtaire, the steward of the abbey, Brother Madagan.
Fidelma hailed him as they came up.
‘What is happening? Who are the attackers?’
Brother Madagan paused from directing his fellows.
‘Strange warriors, that’s all we know. So far they have not attacked the abbey directly. They seem more intent on sacking the township.’
‘Where is the abbot?’
Brother Madagan pointed to a small square-built watch-tower which rose by the gate to a height of three storeys.
‘Forgive me, Sister-’ Brother Madagan turned away — ‘I must continue to see to our security.’
Fidelma was already making for the tower, with Eadulf at her heels.
Inside the tower a stairway led to each of the storeys. It was large enough for only one person to ascend at a time. Fidelma did not pause but raced upwards with Eadulf behind her.
The lower floors were empty but they found Abbot Segdae on the top of the tower, standing behind what, if the place had been built with a martial purpose, would have been battlements. A wall surrounded the roof, rising to chest height. From this vantage point, one could see all around the abbey.
Abbot Ségdae was not alone. Next to him stood the burly figure of the merchant Samradán. Segdae was standing behind the wall’s protection and gazing across the square towards the township beyond. His shoulders were hunched, his hands were two balled fists, held at his sides and his head thrust forward as he watched the scene grimly. Samradan seemed equally transfixed by the spectacle. Neither man acknowledged Fidelma nor Eadulf as they climbed onto the roof.
Fidelma and Eadulf had already become aware of an unearthly red glow, a strange yellow-red flickering light bathing the frontof the abbey. Its curious colour of menace reflected off the low clouds which hung above them. It was obvious that many buildings in the township were already in flames. The screams and cries plus the protesting whinny of frightened horses filled the night air. There was a lot of movement beyond the abbey walls. Men on horseback, some brandishing flaming brands, others with swords, were riding to and fro across the square and moving through the streets among buildings. It was clear that it was the unprotected buildings of the town that were suffering the first onslaught. Now that her eyes had grown accustomed to the curious twilight, the gloom of the night, lit by the fires of burning buildings and movement of flaming torches, Fidelma could see something else. Here and there on the ground were dark mounds which were obviously bodies. Worse still, she saw people, singly or in small groups, running for their lives, being pursued by the mounted warriors. Now and then there came a scream as the flashing swords found a victim.
Fidelma turned grimly to Abbot Segdae.
‘Are there no means of protecting Imleach?’ she demanded.
The abbot seemed too shocked to answer at first. He suddenly looked a frail old man. Fidelma shook him roughly by the arm.
‘Ségdae, innocent people are being cut down. Are there no warriors near here whom we can call upon?’
Almost reluctantly the hawk-faced abbot turned. His expression was dazed as he tried to focus on Fidelma.
‘The nearest are the warriors commanded by your cousin, the Prince of Cnoc Aine.’
‘Is there any way we can contact him?’
Abbot Ségdae raised a hand as if to indicate the bell-tower on the far side of the abbey. The frantic tolling of the bell was continuing. ‘That is our only means.’
Samradan was looking on the scene as one hypnotised; his face was ghastly. Fidelma had rarely seen such naked fear on a man’s face before. Even in that situation, a thought came to her mind. What was it that Vergil has written? Fear betrays unworthy souls. Why had that come to her mind? There was, so she believed, nothing uglier than fear on the face of a man.
The burly merchant now turned to the abbot. ‘Do you think that they will breach the walls of the abbey?’ His voice held more than anxiety in it.
‘This is no fortress, Samradan,’ the abbot replied grimly. ‘Our gates were not built to keep out armies.’
‘I demand protection! I am only a merchant. I have done no harm …I am not a warrior to defend …’ His voice rose in sheer panic. It seemed to raise Abbot Ségdae from his lethargy.
‘Then get down to the vaults below the chapel with the women!’ he snapped. ‘Leave us to defend ourselves … and you!’
The merchant almost cowered away from him.
Fidelma gave an expression of disgust. She turned to Eadulf. ‘Take Samradan to the vaults and then ask Brother Madagan to come here,’ she said. Command suddenly came easily to her. She was of the Eóghanacht of Cashel and these were her people.
Eadulf pulled the trembling merchant roughly away from the scene of death and destruction on which they gazed.
Fidelma stood by Abbot Ségdae regarding the scene with growing anger.
She could make out the smith’s forge erupting in sheets of flame. Several of the buildings were already destroyed. She turned her gaze to the shadowy figures of the horsemen, hoping she could make some identification of them but there was little to see in the darkness beyond men in war helmets, some with flashing shirts of chainmail. But there were no identifying badges on them.
She heard a scuffling sound on the stairs and Brother Madagan came breathlessly onto the roof.
He glanced grimly towards the burning town.
‘They have gone for the easy option first,’ he observed once more. ‘Once they have finished sacking the undefended township then they will make an onslaught on the abbey.’
Abbot Ségdae suddenly gave a cry and fell backwards onto the floor. They turned to look at him in surprise. There was an ugly, bloody wound on his forehead. Fidelma glanced round, puzzled for the moment. She had heard the sound of something striking stone. She bent and picked up a small pebble.