‘The man is drunk, lady.’
Fidelma looked at Fedach Glas with raised brows. The man understood the silent question and shrugged. ‘Brother Ailgesach has been known to indulge his taste for corma,’ he muttered defensively.
‘And is he also known for his insults? Insults to the King’s sister?’ snapped Enda.
Fidelma frowned, but it was too late to warn him. She had not wanted her rank to be known, other than her being a lawyer. The tavern-keeper stepped back a pace and they heard a gasp from the woman at the cauldron.
‘Forgive us, lady. I did not recognise you. You should have announced yourself. P-please …’ the tavern-keeper stammered.
Fidelma made an impatient gesture. ‘Intoxication to this degree,’ she indicated the prone form of Brother Ailgesach, ‘is reprehensible in one who aspires to be a religieux.’
The tavern-keeper looked nervous. ‘I am afraid Brother Ailgesach has been here since midday. He asked for a jug of corma and sat in the corner there. To be honest, I had almost forgotten that he was here until you asked for him, lady.’ Then, remembering she was both a dálaigh and the King’s sister, he asked: ‘Why were you looking for him?’
‘We came to ask him to perform a burial.’
Fedach Glas was surprised. ‘A burial, lady? Who is it that is dead? I have no knowledge of anyone from our local community who—’
‘A body has been found near here and we have left it in the chapel. We were told by a carpenter called Saer that Brother Ailgesach administers at the chapel and simply came here to ask him to make the arrangements.’
‘But, surely the Brother that you travel with,’ he indicated Eadulf, ‘could perform the necessary ceremonies?’
‘If needs must, then my husband will say the offices for the dead. But it is not our intention to linger here.’
Fedach Glas’s eyes widened a little; he glanced at Eadulf then back to Fidelma. ‘I had heard it said that you are married to a Saxon Brother,’ he murmured.
Eadulf sighed. ‘I am an Angle from the land of the East Angles,’ he told the man, knowing that to all the people of the Five Kingdoms he would be classed as a Saxon whether he was Saxon, Angle or Jute.
‘Is there a place where this man may sleep off his intoxication?’ asked Fidelma, as the Brother lay snoring loudly from his prone position on the tavern floor.
‘He can do so in one of the guest cabins. May I ask for someone to help carry him there?’
Fidelma looked at the heavy form of Brother Ailgesach and then at Enda and Gormán. ‘It will take both of you to carry the man,’ she said.
Gormán and Enda picked up the dead weight of the unconscious man. The tavern-keeper moved ahead of them to open the door. After they left, the woman who had been stirring the contents of the cauldron retrieved her fallen ladle and placed it to one side. Then she came nervously forward and bobbed awkwardly to Fidelma. ‘My husband is a conscientious man and fulfils his duties as a brugaid with diligence,’ she said. ‘He should not be blamed for Brother Ailgesach’s behaviour. Truly, lady, I am sorry for this transgression of the laws of hospitality.’
Fidelma had resumed her seat with Eadulf and motioned the woman to join them at the table. She hesitated before shyly seating herself opposite them.
‘I fear Brother Ailgesach will be even more sorry when he comes back to consciousness.’ Fidelma smiled thinly. ‘What is your name?’
‘I am Grella, wife to Fedach Glas.’
‘Then be assured, Grella, the behaviour of Brother Ailgesach will not reflect on you or your husband, nor on your tavern.’
‘But the strange words that he shouted at you, lady. It was a terrible insult.’
‘It would have been, had the words been meant for me. However, they were from the Holy Scripture. Does he often quote from the Scriptures when he is in his cups?’
‘He often raves as if troubled and calls out that we should all beware.’
‘Beware? Of what?’
‘Something about the sound of a trumpet.’
Fidelma was silent for a moment or two, pondering on this, before turning to the more pressing subject. ‘I was wondering whether you could supply me with some information. The body that we have found is of a stranger and cannot be identified. I would like to know if you have seen any strangers on the highway in the last day or so.’
The woman was thoughtful. ‘There are always strangers travelling on the highway. What sort of stranger was this, the one whose body you have found?’
‘He was a young man of rank.’
‘We have seen no such traveller recently. But then a young man of rank would hardly be likely to choose our poor tavern to break his journey.’
‘If not here, then where would he stay?’
‘If the man was travelling from Durlus Éile to Cashel, or in the other direction, then those are the only two places where he would find the sort of hostel to cater for the likes of him. North to south or south to north, he would not halt here. We are not grand enough.’
This was probably no more than the truth. Fidelma, knowing the body carried the emblems of an envoy, had not expected such a person to have stopped here for refreshment.
‘No other travellers passed by here recently, to your knowledge?’
Grella glanced round, almost in a conspiratorial manner. ‘I did hear something.’
Fidelma waited a moment or two and then prompted: ‘Well?’
‘I heard that some travellers had stayed last night with Brother Ailgesach.’
‘Brother Ailgesach told you this?’
‘Not him. One of the woodsmen saw them arriving last night and departing about midday today. They were heading north towards Durlus Éile. The woodsman said they were riding fine horses.’
‘Who is this woodsman?’ asked Fidelma with quickening interest.
‘His name is Sétna, lady.’
‘And how did he come to observe this?’
‘Sétna was crossing by Brother Ailgesach’s cabin at the back of the chapel. He had been helping Saer take wood to the chapel when the visitors arrived just after dark.’
‘Was Saer a witness of their arrival then?’
‘Saer had already left and Sétna was on his own. He said that one was a man, who looked like a warrior, and the other was a finely dressed woman. A noble.’
‘How did this woodsman see so much if they arrived after dark?’ asked Eadulf.
Grella turned a pitying look at him. ‘One of them carried a lantern to light their path and there was a lantern lit outside the door of Brother Ailgesach’s cabin.’
‘Very well.’ Fidelma gave her a smile of encouragement. ‘And he also saw these two leaving about midday?’
‘He was making a journey to see his mother who farms at the place called “the Field of Stones” beyond the Suir. He spends most of his time working the woods on the heath beyond the chapel. Anyway, he was passing, as I said, when the man and woman came out of the cabin with Brother Ailgesach. Sétna was close enough to hear what they said. The woman was saying that should Brother Ailgesach receive news, he was not to delay but to contact them immediately. Their horses were already saddled outside and they mounted them and took the road north.’
‘How did you come to hear of this?’ Fidelma wanted to know.
‘Because Sétna came here to break his journey and told me. Is he not my own nephew and his mother my own sister? He felt it strange that two such fine people would be staying at the cabin of a religieux.’
‘And they turned north?’
‘That is what he told me.’ Her features suddenly lightened and she added, ‘I have just remembered what it was that Brother Ailgesach used to mumble in his cups. It was: “Beware of the seventh trumpet!” That was it.’
The main tavern door opened and Saer, the carpenter, entered. He was followed by a very tall figure clad in the robes of a religieux. The latter was well-built, with pugnacious features that made him appear almost ugly. His thin red lips and dark, nervous eyes did
not enhance his appearance. He wore grey robes with a cowl, a hood that almost covered his head.
Grella moved forward to welcome the newcomers and was surprised when Saer greeted Fidelma. ‘So you are still here, lady? Did you find Brother Ailgesach?’ He glanced about the empty tavern room. ‘Is he not here?’
‘We found him,’ Fidelma answered gravely. ‘Alas, we were unable to talk with him.’
Saer frowned. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘He was inebriated and passed out,’ explained Eadulf.
The ugly religieux let out a deep sigh. Saer’s expression was one of awkwardness. ‘This is Brother Biasta. He is a cousin to Brother Ailgesach and has come to visit him.’
‘You must forgive my cousin, lady,’ the newcomer said. ‘He has not been himself recently. Some illness seems to assail him.’ He spoke with a curious whispering tone, a sibilant voice that oozed with ingratiation.
Fidelma regarded the man carefully for a moment. ‘I am sorry to hear it, Brother Biasta,’ she replied. ‘Is the matter of his illness related to anything specific?’
‘I cannot tell you, lady. He sent word to his family that he was not well and so I have only just arrived at his chapel to find out what ails him.’
‘That is why I brought Brother Biasta directly here,’ said Saer. ‘But I have never seen Brother Ailgesach pass out from the drink before.’
‘He never used to indulge in drink …’ began Brother Biasta.
‘When was the last time you saw your cousin?’ Fidelma asked.
‘A year or so ago.’
‘Well, a lot may happen to a man in such a period,’ Eadulf said quietly. ‘A lot may happen to change a man.’
‘You work at the chapel.’ Fidelma addressed her next question to Saer. ‘Would you know how long it has been since Brother Ailgesach indulged in drink?’
The carpenter hesitated a moment, glancing at Brother Biasta. Then he shrugged. ‘I thought he had always indulged. Anyway, I have not known him long. Only since he came to administer the chapel here.’
‘Which was when?’
‘No more than two weeks ago.’
‘Only two weeks ago?’ Fidelma was surprised. At that moment, Fedach Glas re-entered with Gormán and Enda.
‘We left him sleeping like a baby,’ reported Gormán in a cheerful tone to Fidelma. ‘I doubt whether the clap of doom will awaken him before tomorrow morning.’
Fedach Glas then greeted Saer, and gave his companion a questioning look.
‘This is Brother Biasta, the cousin of Brother Ailgesach,’ Fidelma introduced them. ‘I have told him of the condition of his cousin.’
‘I am sorry that you have arrived to find your relative in such a state,’ the tavern-keeper said uneasily. ‘It is in the nature of a tavern-keeper to speak the best of his guests, but …’ He shrugged.
‘Saer is right, of course,’ added Grella. ‘Ever since Brother Ailgesach arrived to administer to the chapel, he has come here each day to drink his fill. However, he has always managed to return to his cabin without assistance. Today is the first day that I have seen him become insensible.’ She looked at her husband with an expression of disapproval. ‘Fedach Glas should not have served him that last jug of corma.’
‘He must be ill,’ interposed Brother Biasta. ‘He never used to drink.’
‘You say that you have not seen him for nearly a year,’ Fidelma said. ‘And he has been at the chapel here only a couple of weeks.’
‘Indeed, lady,’ interposed Fedach Glas. ‘He came here when poor Brother Tressach died.’
Gormán frowned. ‘I remember Brother Tressach, an elderly and kindly man. He was here when I last passed this place.’ He turned to Fidelma. ‘I think I mentioned that I had ridden by here before. So Brother Tressach is dead?’
Grella sniffed. ‘He was a good man. He had served here since I was a young girl. Indeed, he blessed our union – the marriage of Fedach Glas and I.’
Fedach Glas nodded agreement. ‘We had to make representation to Abbot Ségdae of Imleach for a new priest, for he has authority over the chapel. Finally, he sent Brother Ailgesach to us. Alas, even during his short time here, Brother Ailgesach has spent less time in chapel than he has in our tavern.’
‘Would the death of Brother Tressach have distressed my cousin?’ Brother Biasta asked quickly.
‘Not at all.’ It was Saer, the carpenter, who offered the opinion. ‘As far as we knew, he had never met the old man. As I said, he arrived here to replace Tressach.’
‘So, as far as you knew, Brother Ailgesach’s behaviour has been the same since the day that he first arrived here?’
‘As far as we knew him, he always had a fondness for corma,’ said Saer, looking towards Grella for support.
‘Where did Brother Ailgesach come from? Where was he before he came here?’ Fidelma aimed the question at Brother Biasta.
‘We are originally from the north of the kingdom,’ Brother Biasta replied. ‘We both studied at the holy abbey of Brendan of Biorra. After that we went our different ways.’
‘How was it that you came to know your cousin was ill and where to find him? You said you had not seen him during the last year,’ Eadulf said.
‘A traveller brought me the message,’ Brother Biasta replied, but he sounded unconvincing.
‘So Brother Ailgesach knew where you were even if you did not know where he was?’
‘The contact was made by chance, for I was visiting my old mentor at Biorra a week or so ago. Ailgesach’s message had been sent to the abbot, asking him to pass it on to our family.’
The answer seemed glib to Eadulf, but Fidelma appeared to let it pass. Eadulf was wondering why Fidelma should be so interested in Brother Algesach’s failings when it had nothing to do with the finding of the unknown body.
‘So you have journeyed all the way from Biorra? That is nearly on the border of the Kingdom of Connacht. Surely it is a long way to travel on foot?’
‘Along roads such as this, there is often a merchant’s cart that will give hospitality to a wandering religious,’ Brother Biasta replied. He turned to the company with a pathetic expression. ‘I would like to see my cousin now, even if he is in a state of intoxicated sleep.’
‘I hope you will be able to discover what ails and distresses him,’ Fidelma answered. ‘Our only concern and business with him was that I needed to ask him if we could use his office for a burial. We discovered a body …’
‘This man, Saer, told me about it,’ Brother Biasta said quickly. ‘I saw the body in the chapel while in search of my cousin, and there met the carpenter. The poor fellow has no identity, I am told?’
‘None at all,’ returned Fidelma.
‘That is sad. I hope you are able to give the corpse a name before you bury him. Now, may I go to see my cousin? Perhaps I can sober him up enough to get him back to his own bed.’
Fidelma glanced at Fedach Glas and nodded. The tavern-keeper offered to take Brother Biasta to the cabin in which they had laid Brother Ailgesach.
Grella served Saer with ale while Gormán and Enda joined them, leaving Fidelma and Eadulf together.
‘Well, what now?’ Eadulf prompted after Fidelma had been silent for a moment or two.
‘A difficult choice is to be made,’ she replied.
‘Do you think the two people who stayed with Brother Ailgesach last night have some connection with the murdered man? Why would they stay with Brother Ailgesach?’
Fidelma turned to Saer and called him over.
‘I am told that you and Sétna, a woodsman, were at the chapel last night?’
The carpenter looked surprised. ‘We were,’ he agreed. ‘Sétna helped me carry some roofing planks for the chapel.’
‘Did you see Brother Ailgesach’s visitors?’
Saer’s face was blank. ‘Visitors?’
Fidelma tried another tack. ‘You and Sétna took the wood to the chapel. Was it dark when you both left?’
‘I had to leave before dark.
I left Sétna marking the planks for use.’
‘Ah,’ Fidelma let out a soft breath. ‘So Sétna remained behind. And what time did you go to work on the chapel roof today?’
‘I suppose it was after the sun reached its zenith. I had to do some work on my own cabin before I went to the chapel. In fact, I had barely arrived when you and your party came by, lady.’
‘So that makes sense,’ muttered Eadulf after she had thanked him for the information. ‘Brother Ailgesach’s two visitors had already left. So now we have to wait until Brother Ailgesach sobers up and tells us who they were.’
‘That is one choice,’ Fidelma agreed.
Eadulf stared at her. ‘You propose to wait here until that time? Why, it will be tomorrow at least. It would be just as easy to set out after the two and follow them north, trying to overtake and question them.’
Fidelma ignored the sarcasm in his tone. ‘That had occurred to me.’
‘Maybe they were simply relatives. Being religious does not exclude one from coming from a noble family. Mind you, that would mean they were also relatives this Brother Biasta.’
‘This is true,’ agreed Fidelma. ‘There is one thing that troubles me about Brother Biasta. How did we come to miss him on the highway?’
Eadulf was unsure what she meant.
‘The chapel is within walking distance to the south,’ she said. ‘Do you agree?’ When Eadulf conceded the fact, she went on: ‘We rode our horses north up the highway until we came to the tavern – but saw no sign of this Brother Biasta, who says he came down from the north. We have not been in here long enough for him to pass by the tavern, reach the chapel, speak with Saer and then return here with him. He was not on the highway nor have any merchants’ carts passed.’
Eadulf thought about the matter. ‘The logical conclusion is that he did not come down the highway but rode across country or came up from the south.’
23- The Seventh Trumpet Page 6