Suffer Little Children (31 page)

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Authors: Peter Tremayne

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BOOK: Suffer Little Children
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She turned and retrieved the small piece of burnt stick which she had taken from the sepulchre the previous night.
‘Only this piece now remains. This says “the resolve of the honourable one determines the fosterage of my children”.'
‘That sounds gibberish,' laughed Forbassach.
‘Not if you know the code and the full text. The piece that I recall from the wand I found in Dacán's chamber stated: “let my sweet cousin care for my sons on the rock of Michael as my honourable cousin shall dictate”.'
‘Even more gibberish!' sneered Forbassach.
‘Dacán did not think so. He knew that the rock of Michael was Sceilig Mhichil. It was easy to learn that the Father Superior was named Mel. The meaning of that name is “sweet”. Mel was, therefore, Illan's “sweet” cousin!'
‘You make the interpretation of the puzzle sound easy,' observed the Chief Brehon.
‘Then allow me to return to it later. Sufficient to know at this time that Dacán deciphered the will's puzzle and wrote a report of his finding. Sister Grella saw that report and informed Salbach. Salbach dispatched Intat immediately to “the rock of Michael”. But Illan's sons were no longer there. Indeed, Intat learnt that there were two sons of Illan on that rock but they had been removed by a religieux. This religieux was a cousin of Father Mel.
‘It is then that Grella entered the picture again to provide
information to Salbach. Grella had become soul-friend to Sister Eisten at Rae na Scríne. Eisten, by one of those apparent coincidences which are all too common in life, was the very person to whom the young sons of Illan had been given for safekeeping after their removal from Sceilig Mhichil. They had been sent to her orphanage at Rae na Scríne. Sister Eisten made the biggest mistake of her life. She confessed the intrigue to her soul-friend, Sister Grella.
‘Grella triumphantly informed Salbach. He thought he would lay a trap by inviting Eisten and her orphans to his fortress. Once he was able to identify her charges … well, Eisten accompanied Grella but did not take her children. There was plague in the village and she did not want to move the children unnecessarily. It was a decision which actually saved the lives of the sons of Illan but which cost the village its existence.
‘In desperation, Salbach told Intat to go to Rae na Scríne and destroy the children. The trouble was that Intat had no means to identify them. He decided, brutal man that he was, to destroy the entire village. When I and Cass came along, Intat tried to disguise the true nature of this crime by claiming that there was plague in the village and presenting himself and his men as frightened neighbouring villagers burning out the plague. Sister Eisten and some of her children survived.
‘Eisten was shocked. I thought she was shocked by the death of the people and especially by the death of a baby she tried to save. However, in reality she was shocked because she had worked out the real reason for the killings. She even knew who had betrayed her. She asked me if a soul-friend could betray a confidence. I should have listened to her more closely for then she might not have been killed. I might have saved her. Do you follow the events so far, Salbach?'
Salbach's mouth was pressed tight. He was clearly shocked at the extent of her awareness and knew that there was little he could say in the face of Fidelma's remorseless knowledge except to resort to truth.
‘You have a brilliant mind, Fidelma. I knew that I should not underestimate you. Yes, you are right. I accept your knowledge.'
‘When you came to this abbey and found that Sister Eisten had survived with several of her children, you could not dare allow that to pass. Intat, doubtless on your orders, managed to waylay Sister Eisten while she was down at the harbour. He tortured her to find out where the sons of Illan had been taken. She would not reply and so he killed her, dumping her body in the waters of the inlet.
‘Grella came to your aid once more, eventually discovering that some children from Rae na Scríne had been taken to the house of Molua. The bodies of four religious and twenty children and the charred ruins of their houses are the mute testament to Intat's visit.'
‘I will deny nothing. But let me take oath that my cousin, Scandlán of Osraige, did not know my plans to safeguard the kingship of Osraige for our family. Neither did Grella. She is innocent of the blood that I have spilt.'
Fidelma regarded Salbach with an expression of undisguised revulsion. She found it difficult to accept that a man could admit responsibility for such death and destruction but could seek to protect others with a twisted concept of honour and love. But then it was a strange world and humankind were the strangest creatures in it.
Grella was sobbing openly now, crying: ‘I did not know any of this! I did not know!'
Fidelma glanced at her without pity.
‘You were so besotted by your love for Salbach that you had not reasoned out the truth. I concede that it is possible but find it difficult to believe. You would not believe that your lover was capable of ordering the death of little children. I think the reality is that you did not want to know what was going on around you.'
There was a commotion at one of the doors. Fidelma smiled
sourly when she saw that Scandlán's seat was empty. The Chief Brehon had noticed also and waved to a member of the
fianna
and issued instructions in a low voice.
‘Your cousin will not get out of this abbey,' Barrán told Salbach.
‘What does it matter now?' Salbach gave an eloquent shrug. ‘I have admitted my guilt in this matter. I am prepared to stand for judgment. Doubtless my wealth and chieftainship will be forfeit as compensation and I shall be sent into exile. I am prepared for it. Let us proceed with the judgment forthwith.'
Forbassach had risen from the Laigin benches amid the pandemonium that had broken out. He was smiling crookedly.
‘We are grateful to Sister Fidelma for discovering the culprit. But I must point out that Salbach, as chieftain of the Corco Loígde, still owes his allegiance to Cashel. What Fidelma is proving is that responsibility for the death of Dacán still rests with Cashel. Our demand for Osraige as his honour price is still valid.'
The Chief Brehon, Barrán, looked grave.
‘That appears true. Or is there more to this story you wish to tell us, Sister Fidelma?'
‘Much more,' Fidelma affirmed grimly. ‘For I am not accusing Salbach of the death of Dacán. He is only responsible for the slaughter of the innocents, for the death of those I have named. Neither he nor Grella killed the Venerable Dacán. '
There was a murmur of excitement from the Muman benches as Sister Fidelma made her surprising announcement. Colgú had been wearing a long face. He had already been aware of the point which Forbassach was bound to make. Now he stared in astonishment at his sister.
‘If Salbach did not kill Dacán,' the Chief Brehon demanded, with an air of exaggerated patience, ‘are you going to reveal to this assembly who did?'
‘We must come to that logically,' Fidelma replied. ‘First let us go back to the day when, going through the genealogies here, Dacán discovered the whereabouts of the heirs of Illan. I have already said that he sat down and wrote a letter to his brother Noe.'
Noé leaned forward in his seat and spoke rapidly to Forbassach.
The fiery advocate rose again.
‘There is no proof that Dacán, even if engaged in such a search, reported to the Abbot Noé; there is no evidence that he had even been asked to report to the abbot. In view of that, this assertion is an affront to the abbot and to Fianamail of Laigin.'
‘I will contest that,' replied Fidelma with assurance. ‘I have also requested the presence at this hearing of Assíd of the Uí Dego. Is he within the court?'
A well-built man with the rolling gait of a sailor came forward. His skin was tanned, his hair sun-bleached and therefore it was impossible to discern its colour.
‘I am Assíd,' he announced in an almost defiant tone. ‘I appear before this assembly by order of the Chief Brehon but I appear unwillingly for I have no intention of bringing harm to my king.'
He stood before the
cos-na-dála
with arms folded, staring in antagonism towards Fidelma.
‘Let that be so recorded,' the Chief Brehon cautioned his
scriptor.
‘Let it be recorded that Assíd is, indeed, a loyal subject of Fianamail of Laigin,' added Fidelma lightly with a smile.
‘I do not deny that,' affirmed Assíd suspiciously.
‘Are you the captain and owner of a coastal trading
barc?'
‘I do not deny that, either.'
‘For the last year or so have you traded between Laigin and the lands of the Corco Loígde?'
‘Once again, I do not deny it.'
‘And you were staying in the abbey on the night the Venerable Dacán died?'
‘That's common knowledge.'
‘You left the abbey on the same day and sailed directly for Laigin. You went to Fearna and reported Dacán's murder to Fianamail and Abbot Noe.'
Assíd hesitated and nodded slowly, trying to see where Fidelma's path was leading.
‘This was why Laigin was able to act so swiftly over this matter.' Fidelma made the statement as an explanation to the assembly, rather than putting it as a question to Assid. ‘Tell us, Assíd, for I have not had time to question you before, what were the circumstances of that evening in the abbey? Tell us when you last saw the Venerable Dacan alive and when you heard of his death?'
Assíd seemed to lose his aggressive posture for a moment and he reached forward to use the rail before him as a support, leaning his weight from the shoulders upon it.
‘It is true,' he began slowly, addressing himself to the Chief
Brehon, ‘that I was trading along this coast and had decided to put in to Ros Ailithir and seek a night's rest at the abbey's hostel. There I saw the Venerable Dacán …'
‘Whom you greeted as someone you knew?' interposed Fidelma.
Assíd hesitated and then shrugged.
‘Who in Laigin does not know the Venerable Dacán?' he countered.
‘But you knew him better than most for you greeted him as an old friend. There is a witness,' she added in case it was denied.
‘Then I shall not deny it,' Assíd agreed.
‘It makes me wonder why you put in to Ros Ailithir? Pure chance? No. There were other hostels along the coast. You could even have stayed at Cuan Dóir. Yet you put in here. It leads me to suspect that you had arranged to meet Dacan.'
Assíd looked uncomfortable. It was obvious that Fidelma was correct in her assumption.
‘So I asked myself why you had an assignation to meet Dacán here? Will you tell us or shall I explain?'
Assid seemed to be attempting to catch the eye of those on the Laigin benches.
Fidelma turned to the book satchel on the bench where she had been sitting and drew out some pieces of vellum.
‘I present, in evidence, the draft of a letter written by Dacán to his brother, the Abbot Noé, informing him of his discovery of a surviving heir of Illan in words that leave little doubt that he had been asked to conduct this research and also that he subsequently expected some action on the part of his brother.
‘Fortunately for us, in writing this draft, Dacán spilt ink on it. Being the fastidious and methodical man he was, he put it to one side and rewrote it. He either forgot to destroy his draft or, before he could do so, it was stolen from him. It was certainly in the possession of Sister Grella and this is how we can prove that Dacán acted on his brother's commission.'
Fidelma did not bother to look at the Laigin benches – they
were curiously quiet while Barrán scanned the evidence which Fidelma had handed him.
‘And you say that the finished form of this letter was given to Assfd? Assfd then took the report to Noé?' asked Barran.
Fidelma inclined her head in agreement.
The Chief Brehon turned to Forbassach as advocate for Laigin. His expression was dour.
‘Forbassach, the evidence here is clear. I now have to warn you. The law text, the
Din Techtugad,
states that a person who gives false testimony loses his honour price. False testimony is one of the three falsehoods which God avenges most severely. I will not impose the penalty at this stage, giving the Abbot Noé time to reflect on this matter.' He turned back to Fidelma. ‘Please, proceed, sister.'
‘Do you accept or deny this, Assíd?' she demanded.
Assíd hung his head.
‘I accept that I came here to pick up a message from Dacán to take to his brother Noé. After the evening meal, I met with Dacán and he gave me the letter. We exchanged some heated words when he refused to reveal what was in it and made me swear an oath not to open it. I still have no idea of what the letter contained. I went to bed. In the morning, I heard, that Dacán had been slain. Brother Rumann, who was the steward of the abbey, questioned me as to my whereabouts. Satisfied that I knew nothing, he gave me permission to leave. I left the abbey and sailed directly for Laigin, taking the letter. I reported what had happened to the Abbot Noé. That is all I have to do with this matter.'
‘A few more questions. When did you last see Dacán alive?'
‘Just after the
completa,
the last service of the day. A little after midnight, I should say.'
‘Where did you see him?'
‘In his chamber. It was when he handed over the letter to me.'
‘And where was your chamber?'
‘On the floor above Dacán's.'
‘And so you heard nothing after you had left him? At what time was that?'
Assíd drew his brows together, trying to recall.
‘After midnight. I only heard one thing more, as I went up the stairs. I heard Dacán ringing the bell for the young novice who attended to our wants in the hostel. I heard his voice demanding that she fetch him water.'
‘You may stand down, unless Forbassach wishes to question you.'
Forbassach had been talking rapidly with the grim-faced Abbot Noé. He replied that he had no questions for Assíd.
Fidelma now addressed the Chief Brehon.
‘We have heard that Dacán had been successful in locating Illan's heir. He told his brother Noé that he was about to set off for Sceilig Mhichil to identify him the next day.'
‘Are you telling us that he was killed to prevent him doing so?' asked Barrán.
‘He was killed because it was feared he would bring harm to Illan's heir.'
‘But you said that the sons of Illan had already been removed from the monastery and placed in Sister Eisten's charge. Is this not correct?'
‘The story grows complicated. When Illan was killed, his sons had been placed in the care of a cousin who would foster them.'
Dramatically, Fidelma swung round and pointed at the abbey benches.
‘It was Brother Midach of this abbey who was the foster-father of the two boys who were known at Sceilig Mhichil as Primus and Victor.'
Midach sat unblinking. His face was fixed in a thin smile. He said nothing. Fidelma continued:
‘Dacán thought that it was Illan's cousin, Father Mel of
Sceilig Mhichil who was the fosterer. In that he did not read the will carefully enough. The will of Illan states clearly “let the resolve of the honourable one determine the fosterage of my children”. Is there anyone here who does not know that the meaning of the name Midach is “honourable”? Midach was appointed the
aite
or foster-father of the sons of Illan.
‘Midach, either by suspicion or accident, read the notes of Dacán in the library and realised that the old scholar was searching for Illan's children. Dacán discovered Midach reading his notes and an argument ensued. Brother Martan was a witness to this. Anxious to protect his charges, on that same evening, Midach left this abbey and sailed to Sceilig Mhichil. He removed the boys and took them to Sister Eisten, who was a former pupil of his. He was able to visit them a few times afterwards on the pretext of visiting the village and helping them with medicine again the plague. He was seen and described to me. The real names of the children of Illan, known at Sceilig Mhichil as Primus and Victor, were Cétach and Cosrach. If one attempted to put Latin names on these they would translate in such a fashion.
‘Midach was shocked when he heard that Intat had raided Rae na Scríne. He believed that Dacán was working for Salbach and through him for Scandlán of Osraige. Alas, he did not realise that Grella was part of the conspiracy and was Eisten's soul-friend. However, after the attack, he found that his two wards were safe. He decided to get the two boys away from this kingdom and asked Sister Eisten to arrange passage for them.
‘Cétach, the elder boy, at least, had been warned that Salbach was looking for them so when Salbach came here, Cétach pleaded with me not to mention him or his brother to the chieftain. Then they both disappeared.
‘While Midach now hid the children, Eisten went to book passage for them on a merchant ship in the bay. At first she chose the wrong ship – she asked a sailor who was from the Laigin warship captained by Mugrón. Unfortunately, Intat
then spotted Eisten. The rest of that tale we know. In spite of torture, Eisten would not tell where the children were and finally, in anger, Intat killed her. The children had to remain in hiding until Midach could get them safely away.'
Fidelma paused for her throat was now dry.
Barrán took the opportunity to address Midach.
‘Do you deny this story or any part of it?'
Midach sat, his arms folded, without expression.
‘I neither confirm nor deny it.'
The Chief Brehon turned back to Fidelma.
‘There is one point in your explanation that I do not follow. You have not dealt with Dacán's death, which, as important as these events are, is the main cause of this action brought by Laigin.'
‘I will come to it, Barran,' Fidelma assured him, coughing slightly as she attempted to clear her drying throat.
‘Midach was hiding the boys, Cétach and Cosrach, here in the abbey where he continues to hide them. I think that we can now bring them safely forth from the sepulchre of the Blessed Fachtna, for they will be under the protection of the High King. Is this not so?'
The question was directed to Sechnassach.
The High King returned Fidelma's interrogative look with a brief smile.
‘They are so protected, Fidelma of Kildare.'
‘Midach, will you bring them forth?'
The physician rose unsteadily. He found difficulty speaking.
Fidelma decided to prompt him.
‘If you go to the statue of the cherub behind the High Altar and twist it one half turn to the left it will release the spring which pivots a flagstone.' Midach's mouth slackened in surprise.
‘How did you discover this?' he demanded in consternation.
‘The steps beneath lead down to the secret sepulchre of the Blessed Fachtna, the founder of this abbey,' went on Fidelma.
‘It is there, since the death of Sister Eisten, that Cétach and Cosrach have been in hiding. Is that not so, Midach?'

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