The Subtle Serpent

by Peter Tremayne

  Another thought struck her.

  Stifling a second yawn, she took the candle, shielding it from the draught, and, leaving the library, made her way down the stairway in the corner. Pausing halfway down she saw that the blood was dried on the side of the passage. There was little doubt in her mind that it was Síomha’s blood. Had the sister been killed below in the subterraneus and carried up into the tower or killed in the tower and her head carried … ?

  She descended on into the depths. She paused again. There it was, the vaulted entrance and the scratch marks over it. She reached up a hand and allowed a finger to trace the outline of the primitive animal. Then she sighed.

  ‘Dedelchú!’ she whispered to herself. ‘The hound of Dedel.’

  She passed through the entrance into the vaulted cave and examined it carefully in the flickering light of the lantern.

  The place where the corpse had been laid no longer had the four candles around it. It was a flat, oblong rock which the sisters apparently used as some sort of table. Starting on the right side, Fidelma began to walk carefully around the walls of the cave examining everything as painstakingly as she was able in the flickering faint light. There was little to examine. The only contents of the cave were the large boxes piled on top of each other at one side of the cave and the row of amphorae and other containers with their odour of wines and spirits.

  A close search of the cave revealed nothing more than that it was a large cave with only the two entrances: one by the stairs from the stone store house; the other by the stairs directly from the tower. She stood to one side and gazed into the gloom with frustration. She was about to turn to leave when a sudden sound caused her to start and the candle go jumping in her hand.

  It was a hollow, booming sound. Like the sound of two wooden ships knocking together.

  It seemed to echo from just behind her. But there was nothing behind her but solid grey stone — the stone of the cave walls. She turned, her mind working rapidly as she stared at the solid rocks seeking some clue. Then again, there came the hollow boom as if two vessels were banging together. She placed a hand against the cold, damp rock and waited. There was nothing but silence.

  She was about to turn away when she noticed a dark patch on the rocky floor. She bent down and found it was earth. Still damp and cloying. It was red brown. She saw that it was in irregular patches as if someone had trodden in the muddy earth and then proceeded to walk through the cave. She followed the trail away from the direction of the entrance, as the only logical path to take, and came up against the wooden boxes stacked against a wall.

  She set down her candle and began to push at the top box but she did not have the strength required to move it. It was then that the hollow, booming sound echoed again. It seemed to resonate through the boxes. Then there was silence once again.

  Chapter Seventeen

  It was dark when Fidelma awoke on her cot. For a while she was disorientated. Then she remembered that she had returned to the guests’ hostel after her fruitless exploration of the cave beneath the abbey and, overcome with sheer fatigue, had gone to her cell, climbed on the bed and had fallen asleep immediately. She glanced through the window. While it was not night, the gloom was the dark of an early winter evening. She assessed that it was still well before the time of the evening Angelus. She splashed her face in the cold water bowl and dried herself. Having slept in her clothes she felt decidedly chilly and stretched and moved her arms to warm her body. She felt hungry. With annoyance she realised that she had now missed the midday meal.

  She went out into the candle-lit passage and made her way along to the main room, hoping that no one had noticed her absence. To her surprise she saw a cloth covering some familiar objects on the table and, raising it, saw some food had been placed there.

  Sister Brónach!

  There was no hiding anything from the doirseór of the abbey, Fidelma reflected. That made her uneasy. Sister Brónach knew that she had been out all the previous night; knew, then, that she had lain in an exhausted sleep most of the daylight hours to recuperate. If Sister Brónach was an innocent party to the planned uprising against Cashel, if she was loyal to Cashel, then there was no cause for alarm. But Fidelma was unsure if anyone in this land of the Beara could be wholly trusted. After all, everyone would nominally support their chieftain Gulban.

  She sat down and relieved her hunger from the dishes that Sister Brónach had left. Then, feeling better for her rest and food, she left the guests’ hostel just as she heard the gong sounding the hour followed by the bell summoning the community to the evening prayers. It had not taken long for the abbey to get the clepsydra back in proper order, she reflected. That was probably due to Sister Brónach. It would now surely take a brave spirit to stand watch during the night hours in the tower after the death of Sister Síomha.

  Fidelma pressed back into the shadows as groups of sisters and one or two isolated figures moved rapidly towards the duirthech, in answer to the summons of the bell. She made the movement to conceal herself automatically and it was only after a moment or so that the idea struck her. She would use this time to sneak away to the Gaulish ship and seek Eadulf assistance. She was already forming an idea in her mind as to the next step in the investigation.

  She waited until she heard the voices of the community raised together in the ‘Confiteor’, the name by which the general confession which usually preceded the evening prayers was known. It came from the first word of the confession. Then Fidelma moved through the abbey buildings down to the quay.

  She could see two lanterns twinkling out in the inlet on the Gaulish ship. It was fairly dark but Fidelma was not perturbed. She found the small rowing boat and clambered in, untying the mooring rope and pushing off from the side of the wooden quay. It took a moment to unship the oars and ease herself into a steady stroke towards the ship.

  The evening was soundless and the darkness made deeper by a low covering of clouds. Not even the noise of nocturnal birds or the splash of some aquatic creature came to her ears. Only the slap of the oars and rippling water as she propelled the boat across the still waters broke the silence.

  ‘Hóigh!’

  She recognised Odar’s hail as she neared the ship.

  ‘It’s me! Fidelma!’ she called back, swinging the boat alongside.

  Willing hands reached down to help her up and secure her boat.

  Odar and Eadulf were on the deck to greet her.

  ‘We were worried about you,’ Eadulf said gruffly. ‘We have had a visitor this afternoon.’

  ‘Olcán?’ Fidelma was interested.

  Odar gave an affirmative gesture. ‘How did you know?’ he asked.

  ‘He also came to the abbey asking questions. I think he knows that Eadulf and Comnat have escaped. He was particularly interested to know where Ross had gone.’

  ‘I distrusted him straight away,’ Odar confirmed. ‘We hid Brother Eadulf below when he was aboard.’

  ‘Did he suspect anything?’

  ‘No,’ replied Odar. ‘I told him that Ross had gone to do some trading along the coast. He pretended that he was checking about Ross’s right to claim this vessel as salvage.’

  ‘Excellent,’ Fidelma said approvingly. ‘That fits in with what I told him. I think our conspirators are definitely worried that Eadulf or Comnat may raise an alarm before their plan is ready.’

  Odar led the way to the captain’s cabin with Eadulf bringing up the rear.

  ‘In which case, is it hot wise to leave here at once?’ asked Odar.

  Fidelma gave a negative shake of her head.

  ‘I still have my duty to perform at the abbey. And I think that I am near solving this mystery.’

  ‘But surely we know who is responsible for the murder of Almu?’ broke in Eadulf. ‘Odar here has been telling me of the events at the abbey and it seems logical that Almu was killed by the young man at the copper mines who helped her escape. That he was able to do so and then stop any search parties indicates that he was
someone of rank, perhaps a chieftain. It sounds as if it is Olcán who is the culprit.’

  ‘Did you see and recognise Olcán, then?’

  ‘No,’ admitted Eadulf. ‘But it does seem to fit.’

  Fidelma grinned impishly at Eadulf.

  ‘You have been busy,’ she said in amusement. ‘The one problem with your theory, Eadulf, is that there is no motive. Why allow Almu to escape and then kill her? For every action there is a motive, even if the motive is madness. Olcán does not seem insane to me. Also how would you account for Sister Síomha’s death?’

  Eadulf shrugged.

  ‘I confess that I had not worked that one out yet.’

  Fidelma smiled briefly.

  ‘Then perhaps I will be able to enlighten you, Eadulf. In the morning I shall need your help. There is a place of mystery under the abbey which I need to enter and I cannot do that alone. You know my methods. You have worked with me before. Your help will be invaluable.’

  Eadulf studied Fidelma inquisitively. He knew her expression. It was clear that he would not get any further information out of her until she was ready. He sighed. ‘Wouldn’t it be better to wait for the return of Ross before we embark on this matter?’

  ‘The longer we leave it, the easier it will be for those responsible for the deaths of Almu and Síomha to make their escape. No, before dawn tomorrow, I want you to meet me under the abbey tower. And be careful. Come before it gets light because there is always a sister in the tower who watches the water-clock there.’

  ‘Why not do this tonight?’

  ‘Because I am wary of the doirseór, Sister Brónach. She knows that I was out all last night and I think she is suspicious of me and watching carefully.’

  ‘You believe that she is involved?’

  ‘Perhaps. Though involved in what, I am not sure yet. Involved in the conspiracy for insurrection? Or involved in the murders? I do not know.’

  ‘You seem sure that the two things are separate issues,’ observed Eadulf.

  ‘I am now certain of it. I hope tomorrow that we will know the truth.’

  It was still dark when Fidelma rose, bathed her face and hurriedly dressed, throwing on a heavy cloak to warm her against the chill. Outside, across the abbey buildings and courtyard, it was white and Fidelma thought another snow had fallen. It was, however, a frost as she realised from the sparkling glint of the covering. She could also see that high on the mountains snow had certainly fallen and it reflected in the pre-dawn creating a twilight landscape. She paused to examine the sky from the window to estimate the time by the fading stars for the snow clouds had already vanished. Her attention was caught by a couple of dark moving specks on the mountain. Squinting, in order to focus better, she could see that they were two riders and horses, ploughing through the snow at a dangerous pace. So fast and so dangerously did the two horsemen press their steeds that Fidelma found herself fascinated for a moment or two. She noted they were on the road to Adnár’s fortress and wondered what took the early morning visitors there with such urgency.

  She turned to the task in hand and left the guests’ hostel as quietly as she could, setting off across the white crisp carpet of frost which lay like slippery ice on the courtyard. The crunch of frost beneath her feet seemed loud as she hurried towards the tower. Eadulf was not waiting for her in its shadows and she halted.

  Almost immediately her ears caught the sound of wood striking water and a moment later the tall figure of Brother Eadulf scrambled up towards her. He, too, was wrapped in a heavy cloak.

  ‘It’s cold enough, Fidelma,’ he greeted.

  Fidelma placed a finger against her lips.

  ‘Follow me and be quiet!’ she hissed.

  Eadulf followed Fidelma as she led the way beyond the tower doorway before quietly entering the stone store house. Here she paused and fumbled in the darkness. Eadulf heard the flint strike and the next moment, Fidelma had lit and trimmed a lantern to illuminate the room.

  ‘What are we going to do?’ inquired Eadulf softly.

  ‘We are going to explore a cave,’ replied Fidelma in a whisper.

  She started down the rough-cut stone steps into the cave store room below with Eadulf following warily.

  ‘Nothing much can be hidden in here,’ he observed, peering over her shoulder. ‘Where do those other steps lead to?’

  ‘Those? Up into the watch tower. But come across here. This is where I need your help.’

  She led the way to the boxes which had defied her attempts to move them on the previous day. She carefully set down her lamp.

  ‘As quietly as you can,’ she instructed as she motioned him to help her move the boxes. To her surprise, only the top two boxes were heavy. These, in fact, were very heavy and, inquisitively, Eadulf carefully wrenched one of the rotting pieces of wood aside to examine its contents. He stared at them in disgust.

  ‘Earth? Nothing but earth and bits of rock. Who would want to store earth in a box?’

  Fidelma was satisfied that she was on the right track but did not enlighten him, gesturing for him to help her lift the other boxes. They were empty and were easily shifted. As Eadulf pushed one of the lower boxes out of the way, Fidelma smiled in grim gratification.

  Behind the box was a hole in the cave wall, a dark aperture some two feet in width and three feet in height. She bent down and examined it. It was a tiny passage which, after only a few feet, seemed to open up a little. The condition of the entrance showed that it had only recently been excavated. Logic indicated that the material from the passage was the excavated earth and stones now stored in the boxes. However, it was also clear that only the immediate entrance to the passage had been filled in with the rubble and that the passage itself was older than the rubble filling. So, at some previous period, someone had filled in part of the passage and, more recently, someone had excavated it.

  Fidelma stretched out the lantern as far as she could into the passage. The light did not extend far for the narrow access appeared to bend into darkness. However, she could see that after a few feet the passageway rose in height to some five feet though it did not widen to any greater breadth. She considered the matter cautiously. The air was chill and somewhat fetid. There was a smell like that of stagnant water. But the passage must lead somewhere and someone had been anxious to excavate it.

  ‘I will have to squeeze through,’ she decided.

  Eadulf looked dubious.

  ‘I doubt there is room. What if you get stuck?’

  Fidelma gave him a scornful glance.

  ‘You can wait for me here, if you will.’

  It was cold, icy cold as she squeezed forward. The rocky surface was damp and sharp in places, scratching at her and tearing at her clothes. It was hardly any easier after she had progressed through the first few feet. The passage suddenly turned and then turned again and, with abruptness that was confusing, she found herself in a smaller cave, its ceiling was low, no more than six feet in height. It was also dark and almost freezing and the air was putrid, it reeked of some foul decay.

  She reached forward to raise her lantern, stretching out a hand to steady herself.

  The surface that she touched was curious, cold and soft. There was also a sensation of what seemed like wet fur.

  She withdrew her hand immediately and held the lantern close to the spot.

  She felt the nausea well inside her and struggled to prevent herself from crying out in disgust.

  She had put her hand on a head. A severed head placed on a rocky shelf on the cave wall. It was a female head, the long dark hair was plastered about it in dampness. Alongside it was a second female head. One of them had reached the stage where it had begun to decay, the flesh white and rotting. The stench was intolerable.

  Fidelma did not need to be a seer to know that these were the missing heads of Sister Almu and Sister Síomha. Sister Síomha’s features were easily recognisable.

  Fidelma felt a hand descend on her shoulder and this time the fear escaped as a terrif
ied groan. The lantern nearly dropped from her hand. She swung round to find the puzzled features of Eadulf staring at her.

  ‘A fox on your fishing hook!’ she snapped vehemently, before giving a breath of relief.

  Eadulf blinked, unused to an Irish curse on the lips of the young religieuse.

  ‘Sorry, I thought you knew that I was following.’

  He broke off as his eyes fell on the grisly discovery in the flickering light of her lantern. He swallowed hard.

  ‘Are those … ?’

  Fidelma was still trying to regulate her pounding heart.

  ‘Yes. One is certainly Sister Síomha. The other I presume to be Sister Almu.’

  ‘I don’t understand. Why would their heads be placed here?’

  ‘There is much that is confusing at this time,’ responded Fidelma. ‘Let’s explore further.’

  Fidelma, with head bent, moved forward a pace into the low-ceilinged cave, holding the lantern before her.

  Eadulf’s hand suddenly closed round her wrist and yanked her to a halt, making her gasp for breath.

  ‘Another step and you would have fallen in!’ he explained as she cast him a startled glance.

  She looked down at her feet.

  Before her was a large dark area. The lamp reflected mirror-like against it. She realised that it was water. Most of the cave was an underground pool. And floating on the water were a couple of apparently empty casks. Now and again there was a ripple and the casks passed perilously close to one another. If they touched, mused Fidelma, then they would produce the hollow, knocking sound. This would undoubtedly resonate with the cave acting like a sounding chamber.

  But apart from the pool and the casks there seemed nothing else in the cave. The pool seemed to be fed by some sort of underground conduit from the inlet which accounted for the ripples which appeared every now and then on its surface. But mainly the water appeared stagnant so she presumed the pool was not completely tidal. She was, however, disappointed in the barrenness of the cave for she had been expecting to find more, much more, than simply the desolate pool and empty casks. She saw that amidst the rocks and slabs which made up the floor of the cave, the earth was churned into a brown red mud.