Shroud for the Archbishop (29 page)
Read Shroud for the Archbishop Online
Authors: Peter Tremayne
Tags: #_NB_Fixed, #_rt_yes, #Church History, #Clerical Sleuth, #Fiction, #Historical, #Mystery, #tpl, #Medieval Ireland
Fidelma managed to prise it loose after a few minutes. Where had she seen the brooch before? Then she remembered. Slowly a smile of satisfaction crossed her features. At last everything began to fall into place.
She was still standing in the middle of Puttoc’s chamber, the object clutched in her hand, when Eadulf returned with Furius Licinius.
‘So,’ Licinius grunted happily, ‘we have finally made a solution to this mystery.’
‘Indeed we have,’ agreed Fidelma, with firm assurance. ‘Has Cornelius of Alexandria been placed in the cells here?’
The
tesserarius
affirmed that he was.
tesserarius
affirmed that he was.
‘Then I must see him a moment. In the meantime, Furius Licinius, would you request the military governor,
Superista
Marinus, to request that Bishop Gelasius invite Abbess Wulfrun, Sister Eafa and Brothers Sebbi and Ine to his
officium
? You should tell Marinus that the invitation is mandatory, lest the Abbess start objecting.’
Superista
Marinus, to request that Bishop Gelasius invite Abbess Wulfrun, Sister Eafa and Brothers Sebbi and Ine to his
officium
? You should tell Marinus that the invitation is mandatory, lest the Abbess start objecting.’
‘Very well,’ the young officer of the guards agreed.
‘Excellent. You go with him, Eadulf. I will see Cornelius and attend shortly. Then, when we have all gathered, I shall
explain the mystery in its entirety And what a tale of evil and vengeance is here, my friend.’
explain the mystery in its entirety And what a tale of evil and vengeance is here, my friend.’
With an abrupt grimace of repugnance, she turned and vanished from the room, leaving Eadulf and Licinius somewhat bewildered.
As Sister Fidelma had requested, they had all gathered in the chamber used as an
officium
by the military governor of the palace, the
Superista
Marinus. Bishop Gelasius sat dominating the group in a chair before the ornate fireplace, his elbows resting on its arms and his hands fingertip to fingertip, almost resting his chin on them as if in a parody of prayer. His saturnine, hawk-like features gave the impression of a bird of prey, watching and waiting for its quarry from beady black eyes. On the other side of the fireplace sat Marinus, looking distinctly irritable and impatient. He was clearly a man of action, unused to long periods of inactivity. To his side and slightly behind, standing with arms folded and a somewhat bland expression on his features, was the
tesserarius
Furius Licinius.
officium
by the military governor of the palace, the
Superista
Marinus. Bishop Gelasius sat dominating the group in a chair before the ornate fireplace, his elbows resting on its arms and his hands fingertip to fingertip, almost resting his chin on them as if in a parody of prayer. His saturnine, hawk-like features gave the impression of a bird of prey, watching and waiting for its quarry from beady black eyes. On the other side of the fireplace sat Marinus, looking distinctly irritable and impatient. He was clearly a man of action, unused to long periods of inactivity. To his side and slightly behind, standing with arms folded and a somewhat bland expression on his features, was the
tesserarius
Furius Licinius.
Chairs had been provided for the Abbess Wulfrun, for Sister Eafa and for Brothers Sebbi and Ine. The Abbess appeared fidgety as if bored with the proceedings. She was continually adjusting the scarf at her neck. At her side sat Sister Eafa with a slightly bewildered expression as if she did not know why she was part of the company.
Brother Ine was even more subdued, his eyes focused
intently on the floor while Brother Sebbi, seated alongside him, was looking his usual smug self. A cynical smile played over his features. Fidelma, on entering, had a momentary picture of Sebbi as a cat about to devour a bowl of cream. Of course, Sebbi undoubtedly believed that he was near to fulfilling his ambition. He had obviously reasoned that there was no one else qualified to step into the shoes of the late, but apparently unlamented, Abbot of Stanggrund.
intently on the floor while Brother Sebbi, seated alongside him, was looking his usual smug self. A cynical smile played over his features. Fidelma, on entering, had a momentary picture of Sebbi as a cat about to devour a bowl of cream. Of course, Sebbi undoubtedly believed that he was near to fulfilling his ambition. He had obviously reasoned that there was no one else qualified to step into the shoes of the late, but apparently unlamented, Abbot of Stanggrund.
Eadulf, who had entered the room with Fidelma, took up a position just inside the door of the
officium.
His face carried a slightly tense expression. He was surprised that Fidelma had not discussed matters with him since the death of Brother Eanred earlier that evening. That irritated him. Especially when she refused to accept that the obvious conclusion to the recent events was that Eanred was responsible for the deaths of Wighard, Ronan Ragallach and now the Abbot Puttoc. However, Fidelma had placated him by stating that her idea was just a hypothesis based on the evidence, but conclusive proof could only come about if her summation of the facts forced an admission from the person she suspected. Nevertheless, she had refused to confide in Eadulf the name of the person whom she suspected. She insisted that the same hand that had garrotted Wighard had ended the lives of Ronan and Puttoc, of that she was sure. Yet, she further insisted, that hand had not belonged to the late Brother Eanred.
officium.
His face carried a slightly tense expression. He was surprised that Fidelma had not discussed matters with him since the death of Brother Eanred earlier that evening. That irritated him. Especially when she refused to accept that the obvious conclusion to the recent events was that Eanred was responsible for the deaths of Wighard, Ronan Ragallach and now the Abbot Puttoc. However, Fidelma had placated him by stating that her idea was just a hypothesis based on the evidence, but conclusive proof could only come about if her summation of the facts forced an admission from the person she suspected. Nevertheless, she had refused to confide in Eadulf the name of the person whom she suspected. She insisted that the same hand that had garrotted Wighard had ended the lives of Ronan and Puttoc, of that she was sure. Yet, she further insisted, that hand had not belonged to the late Brother Eanred.
As she entered the
officium
Gelasius had lifted his head and smiled wanly at her. The bishop
-nomenclator
of the Lateran Palace seemed fatigued.
officium
Gelasius had lifted his head and smiled wanly at her. The bishop
-nomenclator
of the Lateran Palace seemed fatigued.
‘Well, sister,’ Gelasius raised one hand, as if in a gesture of greeting to her, but let it fall back into position when she halted several paces away from his chair. He had almost grown
accustomed to her steadfastly ignoring the Roman custom of kissing his ring of office. ‘There is little need for detailed explanations. It seems that all our mysteries have been solved with the death of Eanred. It remains for us to congratulate you and Brother Eadulf on your vigilance.’
accustomed to her steadfastly ignoring the Roman custom of kissing his ring of office. ‘There is little need for detailed explanations. It seems that all our mysteries have been solved with the death of Eanred. It remains for us to congratulate you and Brother Eadulf on your vigilance.’
There was a mumble of approval from Marinus and the Brothers Sebbi and Ine. Neither Wulfrun nor Eafa registered any emotion.
Fidelma gazed around at the company with a humourless smile.
‘It remains, Gelasius,’ she said, choosing her words carefully, ‘to resolve the matter of Wighard’s death by revealing who killed him. For the same person, to cover up that death, has also killed Brother Ronan Ragallach and the Abbot Puttoc.’
There was a sudden tension in the room. She had their close attention now. Everyone wore an expression of shocked surprise, of uncertainty. Their eyes watched her like rabbits observing a snake. Behind one of those masks was a troubled soul, full of guilt. Fidelma hoped that her deductions were accurate but that remained to be seen.
Sister Fidelma took up a position with her back to the fireplace, between Gelasius and Marinus and facing the company with her hands folded demurely before her.
Bishop Gelasius appeared disturbed as he regarded her in silence for a moment. Then he made a rasping noise as he cleared his throat.
‘I don’t understand, sister? Surely you caught Brother Eanred in the very execution of the deed? I understood from Licinius that Eanred was caught actually standing over the body of his victim, the late abbot, when you and Brother Eadulf burst into the chamber. Isn’t this so?’
‘I need but a few moments of your time,’ Fidelma said, without replying to his question. ‘There have been many mysteries in the matter of the death of Wighard. Many things have happened which have obscured the reality. We must now examine them clearly and thereby separate the wheat from the chaff.’
Bishop Gelasius glanced at the military governor as if for approval, but Marinus sat stony-faced, his facial muscles apparently frozen to hide his impatience. Gelasius turned and made a motion with his hand towards Fidelma, half an invitation to continue but also an expression of his utter bewilderment.
‘Very well,’ Fidelma said, accepting the gesture as approval for her to proceed. ‘As you must already know, there were two mysteries to be solved. Two mysteries which caused much confusion when Brother Eadulf and I first began to examine this matter because we, naturally, thought that they were but two aspects of the same single mystery. But they were, in fact, unconnected, co-existing without being part of one another.’
They struggled to follow her but were clearly confused. Fidelma began to elucidate.
‘The first mystery was simple. Wighard was murdered. Who murdered him? It was the second mystery which complicated the first. Wighard was robbed of his treasure, the precious items which he had brought with him as gifts to His Holiness and the chalices of the Saxon kingdoms which were to be blessed by the Bishop of Rome. Who robbed Wighard? At first we all thought that the mystery was: Wighard was murdered and robbed. Whoever killed Wighard also robbed him. Or rather, whoever robbed him also killed him.
‘But that was not the question nor in it lay the solution. The
two actions were separate and unconnected.’
two actions were separate and unconnected.’
Gelasius inclined his head gravely as he perceived the logic of what she was saying.
‘Are you saying that the person who robbed Wighard did not kill him?’ His voice was heavy as he strove to emphasise his understanding of her conclusion.
Fidelma glanced at him and smiled agreement.
‘Yes. Yet this was not realised at first and this wrong assumption was what held us back. Brother Ronan Ragallach and Brother Osimo Lando were in a plot to take the treasures brought by Wighard of Canterbury to Rome and use them to buy certain valuable books, once held in the great Christian Library of Alexandria. We know that the followers of Mahomet captured that Library of Alexandria some twenty years ago and with it some of the most priceless books of the ancient Greek world.
‘A week or so ago an Arabian merchant arrived in Rome with a dozen of the rare medical texts which had been rescued from the destruction at Alexandria. Works by Hippocrates, by Herophilus, Galen of Pergamum and others: several invaluable books which had existed only in Alexandria. This enterprising merchant contacted one of the most distinguished medical men in Rome, a person who had been a student at Alexandria and fled the city when the followers of Mahomet captured it. That man, the merchant knew, would understand the value of the books he offered for sale. It was, of course, Cornelius of Alexandria.’
She paused. No one said anything. The news of Cornelius’ arrest had already started to spread through the Lateran Palace.
‘Cornelius was well placed as the personal physician to
Vitalian. However, he was not so wealthy that he could raise the ransom demanded by the Arabian. The money which the Arabian trader wanted was far beyond his means. But he coveted those books. He knew the value of these great medical texts, texts that would be lost forever to civilisation if he did not find the means to secure them.’
Vitalian. However, he was not so wealthy that he could raise the ransom demanded by the Arabian. The money which the Arabian trader wanted was far beyond his means. But he coveted those books. He knew the value of these great medical texts, texts that would be lost forever to civilisation if he did not find the means to secure them.’
‘Why didn’t he come to us that we might raise the money?’ demanded Gelasius. ‘Heaven knows we have little enough money here to spare but we could have raised it somehow to rescue these works for Christendom.’
It was Eadulf who decided to add to the explanation. He spoke slowly without moving from his position behind the door.
‘In a word – greed. Cornelius desired the books for himself. If he owned those texts, he would become wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. But he saw wealth not in terms of pecuniary matter. He saw the books as objects of wealth in themselves. He had to have them. He had to possess them.’
Fidelma nodded appreciatively and continued: ‘He therefore took a fellow Alexandrian, Brother Osimo Lando, into his confidence. Cornelius already had a plan to rob the wealthy to ransom the books. Osimo, as
sub-praetor
working in the foreign secretariat, had information about foreign potentates in Rome and their wealth.
sub-praetor
working in the foreign secretariat, had information about foreign potentates in Rome and their wealth.
‘Wighard and his entourage had just arrived and with a treasure which would easily meet the demands of the Arabian merchant. Between them they decided to relieve Wighard of those precious items. Perhaps Osimo was persuaded that it was God’s work, rescuing great treasures from the infidels. Perhaps Cornelius did not tell him that he was going to keep the books in his personal possession.’
She paused, smiling as she saw their bewildered expressions.
‘Very well,’ she went on, after a moment or two in which no one spoke, ‘Osimo Lando had a lover in the person of Brother Ronan Ragallach. Osimo persuaded Cornelius that he should be brought into the conspiracy. Three heads were better than one or even two, so Cornelius agreed. The idea was to steal the treasure while Wighard slept. Ronan decided to reconnoitre the
domus hospitale
to form a plan …’
domus hospitale
to form a plan …’
‘That was the evening before Wighard’s murder,’ interposed Furius Licinius, confidently speaking for the first time. ‘On that occasion I nearly caught him lurking in the courtyard outside the
domus hospitale.
’ He shrugged and smiled self-consciously. ‘He fooled me on that occasion and escaped.’
domus hospitale.
’ He shrugged and smiled self-consciously. ‘He fooled me on that occasion and escaped.’
‘Just so,’ agreed Fidelma. ‘He was surveying the chambers. Now, at the back of the building there is another, smaller courtyard. Just outside the windows is a small ledge. But where the newer building joins the one in which Wighard was lodged, a broader ledge runs almost directly to what was Brother Eanred’s room. In that new building, as luck would have it for the conspirators, was the very
officium
of the
Munera Peregrinitatis.
This was obviously the best way into the
domus hospitale
because there were palace guards stationed in the courtyard and on the stairs.
officium
of the
Munera Peregrinitatis.
This was obviously the best way into the
domus hospitale
because there were palace guards stationed in the courtyard and on the stairs.
‘To obtain entry, of course, Eanred had to be removed from his room. Cornelius persuaded Eanred to return to his villa on the chosen night and he plied him with drink until after the hour in which Osimo and Ronan would enter the
domus hospitale
and seize the treasure. The plan worked. To an extent …’
domus hospitale
and seize the treasure. The plan worked. To an extent …’
She paused and examined their expressions carefully.
Marinus was still staring woodenly into the middle distance
but Gelasius was beginning to look interested.
but Gelasius was beginning to look interested.
‘To an extent?’ he repeated. ‘How so?’
‘The plan was that Ronan Ragallach would enter the chamber of Wighard while Osimo remained in Eanred’s
cubiculum.
Ronan would fill a sack and bring it to Osimo. Osimo would then traverse the ledge back to the other building while Ronan would collect a second sack and rejoin him,’ Eadulf explained, encouraged by Fidelma’s attitude to his first response.
cubiculum.
Ronan would fill a sack and bring it to Osimo. Osimo would then traverse the ledge back to the other building while Ronan would collect a second sack and rejoin him,’ Eadulf explained, encouraged by Fidelma’s attitude to his first response.
‘But when Ronan entered Wighard’s chamber he found him dead,’ Fidelma continued. ‘Ronan was about to flee when it occurred to him that this did not detract from the plan to steal the precious items. There they were in the wooden chest. Ronan filled a sack, hiding the items that were not needed … he and his conspirators only wanted items that were of immediate monetary value. He took this sack to Osimo who went back along the ledge while Ronan returned for the rest of the goods.
‘He was about to climb from Eanred’s
cubiculum
on to the ledge with his second sack when he realised that he had not secured the door of Wighard’s chamber. Foolishly, in retrospect for him, he decided to return. Leaving the second sack by the window, he entered the corridor and found the
decurion
Marcus Narses had found the door open. This was the very thing Ronan had feared – Narses had discovered Wighard’s body. Ronan was spotted. Quick-witted, he attempted to leave the building by the stairway, leading the trail away from his friend Osimo and the sacks of treasure.’
cubiculum
on to the ledge with his second sack when he realised that he had not secured the door of Wighard’s chamber. Foolishly, in retrospect for him, he decided to return. Leaving the second sack by the window, he entered the corridor and found the
decurion
Marcus Narses had found the door open. This was the very thing Ronan had feared – Narses had discovered Wighard’s body. Ronan was spotted. Quick-witted, he attempted to leave the building by the stairway, leading the trail away from his friend Osimo and the sacks of treasure.’
Fidelma paused and then gave a tired smile.
‘Marcus Narses himself unwittingly gave me a clue that Ronan could not have been leaving the scene of the crime directly after the murder. He told me that when he found
Wighard’s body, the body was cold. If Ronan had killed Wighard but a moment before, then the body would have been warm still. Wighard had been dead at least an hour or more.’
Wighard’s body, the body was cold. If Ronan had killed Wighard but a moment before, then the body would have been warm still. Wighard had been dead at least an hour or more.’
Gelasius cleared his throat, frowning in thought.
‘Why was the second sack of precious items not discovered when the search was made for the missing treasure?’
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