The Subtle Serpent (29 page)
Read The Subtle Serpent Online
Authors: Peter Tremayne
Tags: #_rt_yes, #Church History, #Fiction, #tpl, #_NB_Fixed, #Mystery, #Historical, #Clerical Sleuth, #Medieval Ireland
Fidelma shuddered.
‘Thank God such machines of destruction have never been used in Ireland. Here, when warriors fight, at least they stand and face each other with swords and shields, and often the battle has been resolved by single combat between one champion and another. Such machines are an abomination.’ She paused and then looked closely at Eadulf as the implication of what he had said suddenly dawned on her. ‘Do you mean … ?’
‘Why import men trained in the art of using such machines as the
tormenta
unless they had those engines of destruction to work?’
tormenta
unless they had those engines of destruction to work?’
‘Did the cargo contain these machines?’ Fidelma demanded.
‘After the Frankish soldier had become so garrulous, I decided to go down into the hold of the ship and see for myself. The hold was crammed with all manner of such engines of war. The main pieces were
catapultae.’
catapultae.’
‘What are they?’
‘Special machines which are drawn by horses into battle. A
catapulta
consists of a great bow mounted on a box on wheels, rather like a cart. It can fire javelins a distance of five hundred yards.’
catapulta
consists of a great bow mounted on a box on wheels, rather like a cart. It can fire javelins a distance of five hundred yards.’
Fidelma now recollected the large skein of gut she had found in the hold of the ship.
‘Is this large bow operated by gut?’
‘Yes. The bow is strung with skeins of hair or gut. The skein is winched into place by large wooden washers and secured by a wooden pin. It can be further tightened by hand spokes fitted into holes in the edge of washers. The skein is tightened and javelins placed ready. Sometimes these can be set alight for maximum damage. The skein is released by a simple mechanism.’
‘How many such machines did you see in the hold?’
‘Perhaps twenty, certainly no less. And there were about sixty Franks on the ship.’
‘What then?’
‘I was interested, naturally. But it was none of my business at that time.’
‘When did it become your business?’ Fidelma caught his emphasis.
‘As soon as we landed on this apparently hostile shore.’
‘Explain.’
‘The journey to the Irish coast was uneventful enough. We came into the harbour by the settlement. Then some young chieftain came aboard. I do not know who he was but he commanded the captain to unload. The Frankish soldiers disembarked and they oversaw the removal of their weapons. Under the eye of the warriors, slaves were brought aboard to do the heavy work of lifting the machines out of the hold.
They were a dirty-looking lot, covered in mud. I later discovered that they usually worked in the copper mines.’
They were a dirty-looking lot, covered in mud. I later discovered that they usually worked in the copper mines.’
He paused and after a moment or two, to collect his thoughts, resumed.
‘Horses were provided on shore and they drew the engines away towards the caverns from where copper is excavated. Apparently the machines were to be hidden there. They are still there.’
‘How do you know this?’ asked Ross.
Eadulf allowed himself a bitter laugh.
‘I discovered it by being a fool. No sooner were the Frankish soldiers and their machines taken off the ship than warriors came on board and seized the entire crew and myself. We were told by this same young chieftain that we were all hostages.’
‘That defies all the laws of hospitality,’ Ross burst out indignantly. ‘It is outrageous. If merchants can’t trade without fear of being made slaves then the world has come to a sorry state.’
‘Outrageous wasn’t the word which the Gaulish captain used,’ Eadulf observed bitterly.
‘Wasn’t a resistance put up?’ asked Fidelma.
‘The surprise was total. While the young chieftain told us that we were now all his hostages, slaves would have been a better word. The crew were put to work in the copper mines but as I was a religieux, I was treated with more privileges than the others. I was taken to a cabin where I found Sister Comnat. I was outraged to find her manacled like an animal.’
Sister Comnat broke in for the first time since they had begun to talk.
‘Brother Eadulf is right. I had been their prisoner for nearly three weeks and more. Thanks be to God that you came, sister. I was hoping that Sister Almu had managed to find someone to help us.’
Fidelma held the elderly woman’s shaking hand comfortingly.
‘It was not Sister Almu who warned us.’
‘Then how did you come to find that place?’
‘Again, it is a long story and, at this moment, I am more concerned to know your story for much depends on my knowing. I understand, Sister Comnat, that you and Sister
Almu set out from the abbey of The Salmon of the Three Wells three weeks ago. What happened?’
Almu set out from the abbey of The Salmon of the Three Wells three weeks ago. What happened?’
The old librarian hesitated.
‘Do you know anything of Sister Almu’s whereabouts?’ she insisted.
Fidelma decided that she must be blunt.
‘I believe that Sister Almu is dead. I am sorry.’
The old woman was clearly shocked. She swayed a little and Brother Eadulf reached forward a hand to steady her.
‘You are among friends, good sister,’ Brother Eadulf reassured her. ‘This is an advocate of the courts. Fidelma of Kildare. I know her well. So do not be afraid. Tell her your story as you told it to me.’
The old woman managed to pull herself together though she was obviously distressed. She rubbed her forehead with a frail hand as if trying to dredge up the memory.
‘Fidelma of Kildare? The Fidelma who solved the mystery of the deaths at Ros Ailithir?’
‘Yes. I am Fidelma.’
‘Then you are sister to Colgú, king of Cashel. You must warn your brother. Warn him immediately.’ The old woman’s voice was suddenly strident and Fidelma had to place a placating hand on hers.
‘I do not understand. Of what must I warn him?’
‘His kingdom stands in danger. He must be warned,’ repeated Sister Comnat.
‘Let me understand fully; what has happened since you and Sister Almu set out from the abbey?’
Sister Comnat gathered her wits and took a deep breath.
‘Just over three weeks ago I set out with Sister Almu for the abbey of Ard Fhearta with a copy of a book which we had made for them. We reached as far as Gulban’s fortress. We were thinking to rest there for the night. We received hospitality there but the next morning we perceived that there were countless warriors in training around the fort. Moreover, we saw many strange warriors among them.
‘Sister Almu recognised Torcán of the Ui Fidgenti in the company of Gulban. We know that the Ui Fidgenti are no friends to the people of Loigde so we asked ourselves what could this mean. Almu found a young woman whom she had once known before she entered the abbey. This woman told us that Gulban had formed an alliance with Eoganán of the Ui Fidgenti.’
‘An alliance? For what reason?’ demanded Ross anxiously.
‘It seemed that Gulban was angered at the decision of the assembly of the Loigde to elect Bran Finn, son of Mael Ochtraighe, as chieftain in the place of Salbach.’
‘I know that Gulban argued that he should be made chieftain since Salbach had disgraced the office,’ Fidelma said. ‘I was there at that assembly.’
‘Since Gulban did not get sufficient support from the assembly and Bran Finn is now chieftain, it seems that he is resorting to other means,’ interposed Ross.
‘Does he plan to launch an attack on Bran Finn with the help of the Ui Fidgenti?’
‘Worse still,’ Sister Comnat replied. ‘The Ui Fidgenti princes are very powerful, as you may know. They plan to march on Cashel and overthrow Colgú, the king. In the lands of the Ui Fidgenti, there is an army gathering which Eoganán plans to lead in a direct assault on Cashel. If Colgú is overthrówn, then doubtless Eoganán will reward Gulban by making him ruler of the Loigde and of all southern Muman.’
‘Are you sure of this?’ Fidelma was surprised at the duplicity of the Ui Fidgenti even though she knew full well their prince’s long cherished ambition to seize control of Cashel.
‘If I did not trust the mouth of the young woman, who had thought we were supporters of Gulban, and if I did not trust the evidence of my own eyes, having seen the warriors of Gulban being trained under the direction of Torcán of the Ui Fidgenti, then my own capture, and that of Almu, was enough to confirm the story.’
‘How and why were you captured?’
‘Sister Almu and I discussed what we had learned and wondered what best we should do. We are loyal to Bran Finn who, in turn, is loyal to Colgú of Cashel. We realised that we should warn them of this insurrection. But we were stupid for we roused the suspicion of Gulban’s men by setting off back along the road which would return us to our abbey instead of travelling forward on the road to Ard Fhearta, which we had told them was our destination.’
‘So Gulban made you both prisoners?’
‘Gulban doubtless ordered the deed though we were not confronted by him. We were taken by his warriors to the copper mines where you found me. We were told that we could look after the spiritual and medical needs of the hostages working the mines until such time as Gulban further decided on our fate.’
Brother Eadulf intervened at this point.
‘That is where I met the sister,’ he repeated. ‘It was a week after Sister Comnat’s companion had escaped.’
‘Do you know what Eoganán’s plans are against Cashel?’ Fidelma asked Sister Comnat.
‘Not in the specific,’ she replied with regret. ‘Sister Almu and I were shackled at the end of each day, just as you found me. Sister Almu, being younger and more vigorous than I, decided that she would attempt to escape. I supported her decision and urged her to take whatever opportunity presented itself for her to escape. If she could return to the abbey and alert the community, that was the most important thing. My rescue could come later.’
‘And she was able to escape?’
Sister Comnat gave a long sigh.
‘Not at first. She made one attempt but was recaptured and flogged to ensure we all learnt a lesson. She was beaten on the back with a birch rod! Words are not adequate to describe that sacrilege. It took her several days to recover.’
Fidelma remembered the welts on the back of the corpse. She needed no further identification now.
‘Ten days ago,’ continued Sister Comnat, ‘at the end of the work day, she did not return to the cabin where we were shackled for the night. I later heard that while she had been tending some of the sick, she had, apparently, disappeared — she had escaped into the woods. There was a great furore. However, I believe that she had help in this escape for she told me that she had now made friends with a young man of the Ui Fidgenti who was in a position to help her.’
‘That might imply that he had some authority among them,’ Fidelma observed cautiously. ‘You had no warning that she was going to make an attempted escape?’
‘A sort of warning, I think.’
‘A sort of warning?’
‘Yes. As she left that morning she smiled at me and said something to the effect that she was going to hunt wild boar. I can’t quite remember exactly what she said. It didn’t make sense.’
‘Wild boar?’ Fidelma was perplexed.
‘Anyway, she did not return. I was told that the guards did not even bother to send out search parties after her. Each day I prayed for the success of her escape, although a rumour was spread that she had probably perished on the mountains. Yet I hoped. I hoped for the coming of a rescue party.’ The old woman paused for a moment: then continued: ‘Then, alas, more prisoners arrived, Gauls, and also this Saxon monk, Eadulf, who speaks our tongue so well.’
‘What Sister Comnat says makes sense of what happened to me,’ Eadulf added. ‘The capture of the Gaulish ship with the
tormenta
aboard, that is. I judge these were arms bought by Gulban on behalf of the Ui Fidgenti.’
tormenta
aboard, that is. I judge these were arms bought by Gulban on behalf of the Ui Fidgenti.’
‘Weapons to help Eoganán overthrow Cashel?’ queried Ross, wide-eyed.
‘They are good siege weapons,’ Eadulf confirmed.
‘A score of these terrible engines of destruction, together
with warriors from Frankia trained in their use,’ muttered Ross, ‘would rain terror on Cashel. I see it. Such weapons have never been seen or used in the five kingdoms before. Our warriors fight face to face, sword, spear and shield. But with these weapons Eoganán or Gulban thinks to take an advantage.’
with warriors from Frankia trained in their use,’ muttered Ross, ‘would rain terror on Cashel. I see it. Such weapons have never been seen or used in the five kingdoms before. Our warriors fight face to face, sword, spear and shield. But with these weapons Eoganán or Gulban thinks to take an advantage.’
‘Could the Franks and their
tormenta
really have such an advantage?’ asked Eadulf, ‘These weapons are well known among the Saxon kingdoms and in Frankia and elsewhere.’
tormenta
really have such an advantage?’ asked Eadulf, ‘These weapons are well known among the Saxon kingdoms and in Frankia and elsewhere.’
‘I have been a merchant for many years,’ replied Ross, solemnly, ‘but when the fiery cross has been sent out by the king of Cashel, I have answered. I was a young man when I fought at the battle of Cam Conaill during the feast of Pentecost. I don’t suppose you recall that, Fidelma? No? It was when Guaire Aidne of Connacht tried to overthrow the High King, Dairmait Mac Aedo Slaine. Naturally, Cúan, son of Almalgaid, the king of Cashel, led the host of Muman, in support of the High King. But his namesake Cúan, son of Conall, the prince of the Ui Fidgenti, supported Guaire. The Ui Fidgenti were perverse even then, always looking for a short cut to power. That was a bloody battle. Both Cúans were slaughtered. But Guaire ran away from the battlefield and the High King was victorious. That was my first taste of bloody warfare. Thanks be to God, it was my last battle.’
Fidelma was trying to keep her patience.
‘What has this to do with the
tormenta
?’ she challenged.
tormenta
?’ she challenged.
‘Easy to see,’ replied Ross. ‘I have seen slaughter. I know the damage that could be inflicted with such machines. Warriors could be slaughtered in their hundreds and Cashel would have no defence. The fortifications of Cashel itself could be breached. The range of such machines of destruction is, as the Saxon says, over five hundred yards. I know from what I have heard while trading in Gaul, such engines of war made the Romans almost invincible.’
Fidelma regarded them all sombrely.
‘So that is why the importation of these weapons had to be
kept a secret. Gulban and Eoganán of the Ui Fidgenti plan to use them as a secret weapon, doubtless to spearhead a surprise attack on Cashel.’
kept a secret. Gulban and Eoganán of the Ui Fidgenti plan to use them as a secret weapon, doubtless to spearhead a surprise attack on Cashel.’
‘It all makes sense now,’ Eadulf sighed. ‘And explains why, as soon as the weapons and the Franks were landed, the men of this Gulban seized the Gaulish ship and its crew, and me, too, as the only passenger. It was a means of preventing any news of that cargo reaching outside of this place. It was a bad day that I took passage in that ship.’
‘Tell me how the Gaulish captain escaped,’ Fidelma suddenly invited.
‘How did you know about that?’ queried Eadulf. ‘I was about to tell you of that.’
‘Again it is part of a long story but suffice to say we discovered the Gaulish ship.’
‘I spoke to some people who had seen a Gaulish prisoner on board,’ Ross explained. ‘They told me that he had escaped and the ship had vanished while the Ui Fidgenti warriors were ashore.’
Fidelma motioned him to be silent.
‘Let Eadulf tell his story.’
‘Very well,’ Eadulf began. ‘A few days ago the captain and two of his sailors managed to escape from the mines. They took a small boat and headed towards an island off shore …’
‘Dóirse,’ interrupted Ross.
‘The Gaulish merchant ship was still in the harbour. Some of the guards set out in pursuit using the ship. They raised the sails and chased after the smaller vessel. They returned a day later without either the ship or the three Gauls.’
‘Do you know what happened?’
Eadulf shrugged.
‘There was some gossip among the prisoners which I picked up while attending to them … that is if gossip is to be credited. It was said that the warriors had chased and sunk the small boat, killing two of the Gaulish sailors. The captain
was rescued and taken prisoner. It being nearly dark by that time, the warriors put in at the small island harbour. Everyone went ashore to enjoy the hospitality of the local chieftain. That is, with the exception of a warrior and the Gaulish captain. During the night, the Gaul managed to escape again. I think they said that he killed the warrior left on board to guard him. He managed, single-handed, to raise sail and make off into the night. He was a good sailor. I had hoped that he had managed to organise a rescue party for his men.’ Eadulf paused as he remembered. ‘But you said that you found him and his ship?’
was rescued and taken prisoner. It being nearly dark by that time, the warriors put in at the small island harbour. Everyone went ashore to enjoy the hospitality of the local chieftain. That is, with the exception of a warrior and the Gaulish captain. During the night, the Gaul managed to escape again. I think they said that he killed the warrior left on board to guard him. He managed, single-handed, to raise sail and make off into the night. He was a good sailor. I had hoped that he had managed to organise a rescue party for his men.’ Eadulf paused as he remembered. ‘But you said that you found him and his ship?’
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