The Council of the Cursed sf-19

by Peter Tremayne

  Fidelma sniffed in disapproval. ‘So the argument continues between these towns?’

  ‘And probably will as long as no one can offer proof. However, it is a subject that is best avoided among most of the Burgunds, and especially in the Lady Beretrude’s presence.’

  ‘Why is that?’

  ‘Lady Beretrude claims that Benignus was among her ancestors some four centuries ago. Most of the Burgunds seem to have adopted him as a patron of their people, their saviour who will one day free them from the rule of the Franks.’

  ‘This square we just left was named after him, we were told.’

  ‘The Square of Benignus?’ Brother Budnouen shook his head. ‘It was Lady Beretrude who had it named such, and in recent memory. I suppose its claim to the name is as good as any other.’

  ‘Why is there no memorial to Benignus in the abbey?’ asked Fidelma. ‘I have not seen one.’

  ‘Franks now run the abbey,’ said Eadulf. ‘Even if his last resting place were there, they would ignore such a Burgund worthy.’

  ‘Bishop Leodegar is a hard taskmaster, my Saxon friend,’ Budnouen agreed. ‘He would not recognise a Burgund as in any way influential. I am glad that I am not of his community.’

  ‘What community do you belong to? To the abbey in Nebirnum, I suppose,’ asked Fidelma.

  ‘Not so. I am my own man, for all the communities of Gauls are almost drowned in the sea of Burgunds and Franks. Our people have been swept westward. As you already know from our journey here, I earn my daily crust by running goods from the merchants on the river by Nebirnum to Autun, and sometimes I have been known to go as far as Divio.’

  ‘Do you know Abbess Audofleda?’

  The jovial Gaul looked at her. ‘Have you encountered Abbess Audofleda? Ah yes, you would do so, of course.’ It was clear that, knowing the segregation Rule, he would assume that Fidelma was staying in the house of women. ‘Yes, I have had dealings with her.’

  ‘There is no enthusiasm in your voice?’

  ‘Enthusiasm, Sister?’ mused the Gaul. ‘My life has not been made richer by my contact with Audofleda. I admit to a dislike of her. She seems typical of her people, arrogant and overbearing in proclaiming her piety and all without reason.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’ asked Eadulf.

  Brother Budnouen paused for a moment. Then: ‘Let me put it this way, I knew of Audofleda in a past life.’

  ‘In that case, you cannot let your story end there before you have begun it.’ Fidelma looked at him in curiosity.

  The Gaul looked surreptitiously around him as if to ensure there were no eavesdroppers, before saying, ‘I told you that my journeying took me sometimes as far afield as Divio.’

  ‘Which is where Abbess Audofleda comes from,’ Fidelma put in, remembering what the abbatissa had said.

  ‘Except that she was certainly no abbess then,’ agreed Brother Budnouen.

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘To be truthful, Audofleda was a woman of the streets. Until a few years ago, she was known in certain parts of Divio as such.’

  Fidelma was surprised but not shocked. ‘She is not to be condemned for that, but rather pitied that she had no recourse to a happy life other than sell her body to men.’ She was thinking of her friend Della in Cashel who had once been a prostitute and whom she had helped.

  ‘True enough, true enough,’ sighed Brother Budnouen. ‘However, I do not think she wallowed in self-pity for her fate but many said she chose the life out of her hatred for men. And when I heard of this sudden conversion to the religious life, not just conversion but her appointment by Leodegar to be the abbatissa of the Domus Femini here, I had pause to think.’

  They waited a moment and then Fidelma asked: ‘And what was the outcome of your thoughts?’

  Brother Budnouen shrugged. ‘I do not believe in such a rapid conversion, and if I had a daughter who said she wanted to pursue the religious life in Audofleda’s Domus Femini, I would rather kill her with my own hands than allow her to go into that house of suffering.’

  ‘That is an interesting choice of words, Budnouen,’ said Fidelma. ‘“House of suffering”. Why do you use that term?’

  ‘There is no happiness there,’ the Gaul said simply. ‘It’s true that I only deliver goods to the main door and am not allowed in, but when I deliver these goods I see the suffering on the faces of the girls who take charge of them…’

  ‘Such as?’ Fidelma pressed.

  ‘There was a Sister Inginde and Sister Valretrade…’

  ‘Valretrade?’ She echoed the name.

  ‘You know her?’ Her tone had not been lost on the astute Gaul.

  ‘Of her,’ corrected Fidelma. ‘I am told that she left the community a week ago.’

  ‘Ah, that is why this time I looked for her in vain. A nice girl. So, I am pleased.’

  ‘Pleased?’

  ‘Pleased that she left Audofleda’s community, for it means she now has freedom to search for a place where she can fulfil her life. Doubtless, she has left with Brother Sigeric. I was their go-between whenever I could be so.’

  ‘In what way?’

  ‘I knew that Valretrade was deeply in love with Sigeric and messages were hard to send between the two communities. Therefore, whenever I was in Autun I was able to pass messages between them. I am happy to hear that they have gone.’

  Fidelma shook her head. ‘Sigeric is here and knew nothing of her going. He finally went to see Audofleda, who told him that the girl had gone and gave him no other information. He asked us to intercede on his behalf to discover more. Audofleda told me not a short time since that Valretrade had left because she disagreed with the Rule.’

  ‘She would not have left without Sigeric knowing,’ asserted Brother Budnouen. ‘You don’t know the depth of feeling between those young folks.’

  ‘How long are you staying in Autun?’ asked Fidelma, after a thoughtful pause. ‘Do you have any more trade to do?’

  ‘Well, within a few days I am taking goods to the fortress of Lord Guntram, and-’

  ‘I meant, do you have more business with the Domus Femini?’

  ‘I have already done my trade there. The goods were taken, checked and paid for by Sister Radegund. I cannot go again without arousing suspicion. Sister Radegund runs the place like a fortress. No one is allowed in or out without scrutiny-and certainly no male is allowed in.’

  They had passed up the broad thoroughfare from the Square of Benignus and drawn level with the building where Sister Radegund had gone in to see the seamstress. Brother Budnouen pointed to it.

  ‘That is the shop of the mother of one of the members of the Domus Femini. She makes dresses and sells clothes here. I sometimes trade with her. But even she is not allowed into the Domus Femini to see her daughter.’

  ‘Do you know the name of her daughter?’ asked Fidelma. ‘It’s not the stewardess of the community, is it?’ She glanced at the place where cloth and animal skins hung outside. Inside, she could see the elderly woman now sewing.

  ‘Sister Radegund?’ Brother Budnouen’s eyebrows went up in surprise. ‘Good Lord, no. What makes you ask? Oh, because you know Sister Radegund is the only one allowed to have dealings with the outside world for purposes of commerce?’

  ‘So I had heard,’ Fidelma said as they moved on. ‘Is there no one else who has free access to and from the Domus Femini?’

  ‘No one,’ the Gaul assured her. Then a thought struck him. ‘But I was forgetting-you must surely have free access to the Domus Femini, Sister? Or can it be that you are staying among the other wives and advisers of the delegates to the council in the city? I heard that some of the delegates who did not know the Rule of Leodegar’s abbey had brought their wives or female advisers with them. They had to find accommodation not far from the abbey.’

  Fidelma did not respond for a moment, then admitted, ‘No, Eadulf and I are staying together at the abbey.’

  She was amused by the Gaul’s look of utter astonishment.
/>   Chapter Ten

  On reaching the abbey, they bade farewell to Brother Budnouen as he hurried off on his business, and made their way through the anticum of the abbey to their chamber in the hospitia. As they reached it, a door further along the corridor opened and a grim-faced Abbot Ségdae emerged.

  ‘Have you heard the news?’ he greeted them without preamble.

  ‘About Brother Gillucán, Abbot Dabhóc’s steward?’ enquired Fidelma, guessing the subject of his anxiety. ‘Brother Chilperic told us earlier this morning. Has there been a further development?’

  Abbot Ségdae motioned to their chamber. They took the hint and led the way inside.

  As Eadulf closed the door behind them, the abbot sank into a chair and heaved a deep breath.

  ‘Abbot Dabhóc murdered and now his steward. I am coming to agree with some of the delegates that this place is cursed.’

  Fidelma sat down on the bed while Eadulf went to a jug and poured some water. His mouth was dry after the morning’s excursion.

  ‘It is not the place that is cursed, Ségdae; people create their own curses,’ replied Fidelma gravely.

  ‘Brother Gillucán was sitting calmly at our table last night,’ the abbot reflected sadly. ‘Now he is dead, killed by robbers while leaving the city this morning, his body stripped and dumped in the river after his throat was cut. How can such things happen?’

  ‘I meant to ask Brother Chilperic how Gillucán was recognised as belonging to the abbey when it was his naked body that was discovered in the river?’ asked Eadulf, sipping his water.

  ‘Apparently by his tonsure. Some boatmen brought the body to the abbey to be identified.’ The abbot looked troubled. ‘As a senior member of our delegation, I asked Brother Gebicca to examine the body so that I could make a proper report to the bishop of Ard Macha.’ He hesitated. ‘When he did so, there was one thing which he found curious.’

  Immediately Fidelma’s head rose a little. ‘Go on,’ she said.

  ‘They cut poor Brother Gillucán’s throat and threw him in the river…but in spite of that, faeces were clinging to parts of his body, under his fingernails and smeared on his flesh. I had to order that his body should be completely washed and ritually cleansed before burial. It was as if the poor boy had crawled through a sewer before his death. It was rather disgusting.’

  Fidelma was thoughtful. ‘The river where he was found…do the city’s sewers empty into it?’

  ‘I suppose so,’ admitted Abbot Ségdae.

  ‘Were the sewers at the spot where he was found?’

  ‘Not really. But even with the sewerage in the water, well…that would not account for the smearing on his legs and arms. The current of the river is quite strong as it passes by the city walls and the effluence is carried along rapidly. I would not have thought it would have covered his body in the way it did if he had simply been immersed in it as it flowed down the river. It seemed to me, as I have said, that he had crawled through it or had been flung in it.’

  The abbot was clearly distressed at the idea of the mistreatment of the young religieux.

  ‘It does seem curious,’ Fidelma admitted quietly. ‘And no witnesses have come forward? I mean, no one who saw Brother Gillucán leave the abbey, pass through the city gates or noticed if anyone was following him? I thought guards were at the city gates all the time.’

  ‘I am told by Brother Chilperic that the guards saw no one. No one at all. Tell me, Fidelma, do you think that there is some connection between the deaths of Dabhóc and Gillucán?’

  ‘I wish I could give you an answer, Ségdae. On face value, there seems none, and yet I do not entirely believe in coincidences.’

  ‘So you have come to no conclusions as yet?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  ‘So sad, so sad,’ muttered the abbot. ‘Brother Gillucán was leaving for home this morning. He told me that there were some pilgrims going back to the five kingdoms who were staying in the city. He was supposed to be travelling with them.’

  ‘It would have been better to have joined their party,’ agreed Fidelma, glad that the question was raised, as she could not have mentioned that Gillucán himself had told her as much. ‘What made him change his mind?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ replied the abbot. ‘He seemed strangely frightened last night. The first I knew that he had left on his own was when Brother Chilperic announced the finding of the body.’

  ‘Who were the pilgrims?’

  ‘Three members of the community of Mágh Bhíle in the north. They had been staying as guests of a wealthy lady in this city. Beretrude is her name.’

  Fidelma did not allow herself to show any recognition of the name and hoped Eadulf would not say anything.

  ‘Do we know whether he contacted these three pilgrims before he left?’

  ‘We don’t. I am told they left this morning.’

  ‘Are many religious attacked by robbers in such a fashion in these parts?’ asked Eadulf.

  ‘According to Brother Chilperic, it is unusual for a religious to be killed by robbers. They are usually interested only in money or goods, not in taking a life.’

  ‘Yet poor Brother Gillucán was stripped and robbed and, although we cannot be sure, his naked body was defiled by being thrown into excrement,’ Fidelma observed thoughtfully. ‘The circumstances sound unusual at the least.’

  Abbot Segdae regarded her unhappily. ‘This council is turning into a nightmare. If it were not for the important decisions that have to be made, I would suggest that our delegation withdraw.’

  ‘That would not be good politics,’ Fidelma pointed out.

  ‘You are right, of course. We must stay focused on the issues before us.’ The abbot rose abruptly. ‘I will leave you now, but if you come across any information which may help me with my report to Ségéne of Ard Macha…’ He did not finish but left them.

  ‘Brother Sigeric will be anxious to hear what we have discovered about Sister Valretrade,’ Eadulf told her when they were left alone.

  ‘Then we’d better tell him,’ Fidelma agreed. It was clear that her mind was elsewhere for the moment and they left the hospitia in silence.

  They found Brother Sigeric at work in the library, sitting quietly in a corner transcribing some manuscript. He looked up and an expression of hope quickly flitted across his face. Fidelma’s demeanour told him there was none, however, and his features resumed their wistfulness.

  ‘We saw Abbess Audofleda, but she simply confirmed what Sister Radegund had told you-that Sister Valretrade left her community about a week ago, having refused to obey the Rule.’

  ‘Lies!’ snapped Sigeric hotly.

  ‘Why would you say they were lying?’ asked Fidelma.

  ‘Because she would not leave here without me,’ the young man replied simply.

  Fidelma nodded sympathetically. ‘I have heard similar comment from Brother Budnouen.’

  ‘Budnouen used to take messages between us,’ Brother Sigeric acknowledged. ‘I had heard that he had returned to Autun but have not seen him yet. He is a merchant and…’

  ‘We travelled here with him the other day,’ Eadulf informed him. ‘The thing is, Sigeric, if Abbess Audofleda and Sister Radegund are telling lies, what is their purpose and where is Valretrade?’

  Brother Sigeric scowled. ‘I’ll wager that she is imprisoned somewhere in the Domus Femini as a punishment for her relationship with me,’ he said, answering the second question first. ‘I will break in and find her.’

  He half rose as if that was his immediate intention but Fidelma reached out a hand to stay him.

  ‘That will serve no purpose, my young friend,’ she said. ‘Calm yourself. Let us try to work out a better strategy. Meanwhile, you must have a care. If you are right about what has happened to Valretrade, then Audofleda might surmise you would take that action. I think that the abbatissa is one who will hold a grudge. She even threatened us with punishment.’

  Brother Sigeric sank glumly back on his seat. ‘In the e
arly days, Bishop Leodegar punished those who were reluctant to divorce their wives. He had some flogged.’

  ‘Do you mean that they were not given a free choice to leave if they did not agree with his Rule on celibacy?’ Fidelma was horrified.

  The young scribe shrugged to show she was right.

  ‘It is hard to believe,’ observed Eadulf.

  ‘Yet believe it you must. I know it is unusual to you. From what I have heard, there are few places among the Gauls and Franks and even in your western islands, where abbots, bishops and the religious are not married. But these celibates are a small band of fanatics who can only impose their views by force.’

  ‘Can you give any reason why Abbess Audofleda would deny that Valretrade was in the Domus Femini?’

  ‘Only to keep us apart,’ was the young man’s immediate reply.

  ‘She claims that she knew nothing of your relationship. Sister Radegund supported her in that, saying that she had not mentioned your visit to the abbess.’

  ‘Then I say she lies again.’

  ‘Valretrade disappeared on the night Abbot Dabhóc was slain,’ Fidelma said. ‘I think it is important that we find someone who is willing to talk about her.’