The Haunted Abbot (16 page)

‘You know that I was Botulf’s close friend, don’t you?’ Eadulf said after a while.

‘He spoke often of you,
gerefa
, and wished that you had not left the land of the South Folk in your journeying.’

‘Did you know it was because of him that I have returned?’

‘I do. It was I who took his message on the first stage of its journey to you at Canterbury. Botulf was pleased when he heard that you were there. I took the message to the port at Domnoc’s Wic and entrusted it to a sea captain I knew.’

‘So you knew that it was urgent? You were told that Botulf’s need to see me was imperative?’

‘That’s a long word that I have no understanding of,
gerefa
. But I knew that he wanted to see you urgently, if that is the meaning of it. I knew that he also wanted to see Aldhere. I brought the message to Aldhere from him. Botulf did not confide everything to me. Of that which he told me, I remember little.’

‘But why did he want to see Aldhere? Why did he want to see me?’ cried Eadulf in frustration.

‘If I knew that, there would be no mystery. He did say this, and you must interpret it as you like - he said that there was great danger to the kingdom lurking in the abbey. He said that it was an evil which had to be confronted before we all perished.’

Eadulf frowned. ‘An evil?’ It was that word ‘evil’ again that caused a shiver of apprehension to go through him. ‘And danger to the kingdom - to Ealdwulf’s kingdom? From whom?’ He sighed in his frustration. ‘This is more baffling than ever.’

They rode on in silence for a while as darkness began to descend across the marshes.

‘Not far now,
gerefa
. Soon you will see the river and to the right the dark shadows of Aldred’s Abbey.’

It was as they were rounding a bend in the road that they came upon a figure hurrying in their direction. It suddenly appeared out of the gloom before them, startling their mounts, and by the time Eadulf had brought his mule under control the figure had scrambled from the roadside. It was lost among the dark trees to their left, away from the low, flat marshlands. Eadulf could hear the panting scramble and breaking of twigs as it progressed through the growth.

‘In the name of … !’ he exclaimed.

He retained an image of a slim figure, a woman, long hair and no more.

Wiglaf was chuckling to himself.

‘What do you find amusing?’ demanded Eadulf. ‘Who was that?’

‘That was Lioba. She’s a … a friend of Aldhere and others, if you know what I mean.’ He chuckled lewdly. ‘A local girl.’ He paused for a moment and then continued. ‘As I was saying, we are not far from the abbey now.’

Eadulf nodded absently. His mind immediately returned to their conversation. He wanted to pursue it further before he bade farewell to Wiglaf.

‘When did you last see Botulf?’ he asked as they set off again.

‘A few days ago. I was Aldhere’s intermediary and would take messages to and from the abbey. But my cousin was no fool. He kept his own counsel in these matters. I was just a messenger. As I have told you, all I know is that he felt there was danger in the abbey.’

‘But you must have had some idea of what was happening at the abbey?’ Eadulf pressed. ‘Your cousin is dead, Wiglaf, and I desire to bring his killers to justice.’

‘I understand that. I do not think that you have to come out of the gates of the abbey to find his killer.’

‘Do you mean that you think it was the abbot who killed your cousin?’

‘Abbot Cild is a ruthless man, and if he suspected Botulf of being in league against him …’ He ended with a shrug.

‘But he must have known that Botulf was in touch with Aldhere? That much is obvious.’

Wiglaf did not reply. It was now too gloomy to see each other’s faces clearly. It was going to be a dark night, cloudy, with no stars nor moon to reflect off the white carpet of snow and provide some illumination.

‘It will snow before daybreak,’ remarked Wiglaf absently. Then he added: ‘I don’t think Cild knew that Botulf was in contact with Aldhere. That was not the reason for their enmity. There was something else. What it was I am not certain.’

‘Last night, at the funeral, Cild was claiming to have been a close friend of Botulf and lamenting his passing. Do I understand that you are saying his statement was far from the truth?’

Wiglaf gave a sardonic bark of laughter which answered Eadulf’s question.

‘Are you sure there is nothing you can suggest that might shed a light on these matters?’ Ealdulf asked desperately.

‘A word of advice,
gerefa
. There is a saying that a habit does not make the religious—’

Wiglaf stopped short and Eadulf, seeing the tension that suddenly filled his body as he stared out across the flat marshlands, also halted and glanced in the same direction.

Several hundred yards away across the gloomy white-carpeted marshland he could see a strange fluorescent glow. At its centre was a blue light which dispersed across an area of ground, flickering now faintly now brightly.

Eadulf felt a chill run through him and quickly crossed himself.

Wiglaf caught sight of his action and guffawed.

‘No need to seek the protection of the Almighty,
gerefa
,’ he said. ‘That is only—’

‘I know what it is,’ snapped Eadulf in annoyance. ‘
Ignis fatuus
…’

‘Aye, fool’s fire. We call it firedrake.’

‘I said, I know what it is. But can you explain
why
it is?’

‘The marsh dwellers have many tales to tell about firedrake.’ Wiglaf smiled. ‘I believe none of them. If I did, I would never venture into the marshlands at all, far less ride them in dead of night. Look, it has already vanished.’

Eadulf shivered and nearly crossed himself again but he did not want to give his companion the opportunity to mock him. In his youth the
ignis fatuus
was called corpse fire for it was said that the spirit of the troubled dead rose in the form of a blue flame to appear to those from whom it wished to seek justice. Indeed, at this very time, the beginning of the feast of Yule, the gods and goddesses allowed wronged spirits to visit their vengeance on the living.

‘Anyway,’ Wiglaf was saying, ‘from those trees ahead you will see the lantern outside the gate of the abbey. A short ride, that is all. Have courage,
gerefa
!’

Eadulf opened his mouth to chide the insolence of the thief, but Wiglaf turned his horse and went trotting back along the track into the darkness.

Eadulf glanced again across the marshes but saw no sign of the blue fluorescent light. He felt another shiver course down his back as he urged the mule forward. It seemed to sense that it was nearing home for it trotted at a speed which amazed him, coming up to the trees from which he caught sight of the river before spotting, a little way ahead, the dark walls of the abbey. There was the lantern flickering by the gates. He felt a wave of relief come over him. It was still only very early evening. If he estimated the hours correctly, it was not even time for the evening Angelus bell to sound, and yet he felt it was so cold and dark that it could be midnight.

It was the
dominus
, Brother Willibrod, who swung open the abbey gates for Eadulf to enter after he had tugged at the bellrope. Thankfully, Eadulf slid from his mule and stretched his aching limbs.

‘God be praised that you have returned safely, Brother Eadulf,’ the
dominus
began immediately, his single dark eye blinking rapidly. ‘It was early morning when you left and now the hour grows late. We had presumed that you had met with an accident or something worse …’

‘Something worse?’ mused Eadulf.

‘Aldhere’s outlaws wander the marshlands, as well you know. The abbot returned after the noon Angelus having given up his attempt to track them down. He said that you had not overtaken him and was angry with me for letting you go after him.’

Eadulf tried to keep his features impassive.

‘As you see, Brother Willibrod, I have returned safely.’

Brother Willibrod gestured to a passing member of the brethren to take Eadulf’s mule and instructed him to unsaddle and feed and water the animal. Eadulf started to walk across the main quadrangle. To his surprise, the
dominus
hurried after him. Eadulf began to get the impression that he was concerned about something other than Eadulf’s late arrival. He felt that the
dominus
was trying to find the right words to approach the subject. Eadulf was initially determined that he would not help the man. However, he could not help feeling some sympathy for him as he saw the anxious expression on his features. Finally, as they reached the far side of the quadrangle, Eadulf asked: ‘Is there something on your mind, Brother?’

‘Something strange has happened, Brother Eadulf.’

‘Strange?’

The concern in the voice of the
dominus
was apparent. Then a sudden thought hit Eadulf.

‘Sister Fidelma … her illness has not worsened?’

To his relief, Brother Willibrod shook his head immediately.

‘No, her illness has not worsened. It is young Brother Redwald who …’

Eadulf was frowning. ‘Who is Brother Redwald?’

‘The young man who attends to the chores of the guests’ hostel.’

‘Yes, I remember the boy. What is the matter with him?’

‘He has had to be locked in his cell and given strong liquor to calm him.’

Eadulf waited a moment and then gave an exasperated sigh.

‘For goodness’ sake! Am I to extract this story sentence by sentence? You are clearly upset at something which concerns Brother Redwald, though how it concerns me I do not know, nor probably care unless you can explain to me why I should.’

‘Be seated a moment, Brother,’ said the
dominus
, pointing to a nearby stone bench, ‘and I will tell you.’

Compressing his lips to hide his irritation, Eadulf allowed himself to be guided to a bench and be seated. Brother Willibrod sat down beside him. His features were lit by a flickering storm lantern above them. It produced an eerie effect.

‘It happened just after dusk had fallen,’ began the
dominus
. When Eadulf groaned, Brother Willibrod reached out a hand. ‘Patience, Brother. Redwald is ill and now confined for his own protection. His mind is quite frantic.’

Eadulf controlled himself. The
dominus
continued.

‘Redwald went into the chamber of Sister Fidelma to see if she needed anything. By the bed of your companion Brother Redwald saw a woman standing. Brother Redwald recognised her.’

Brother Willibrod paused dramatically.

‘And who was the person whom Brother Redwald recognised?’ Eadulf asked wearily.

‘Redwald came to our community when Abbot Cild’s wife, Gélgeis, was still alive. Redwald recognised this woman … it was Gélgeis or the shade of Gélgeis. He went out of his mind with fear because he knew that she was dead. But there she stood, pale but almost as if she were in life. She stretched out a hand to him and he went screaming from the chamber. We have barely made sense from his story …’

Eadulf felt a coldness creeping up his back. He remembered the figure of the woman he had seen the previous night near the chapel and everyone’s reaction to it.

‘This … this apparition was in Fidelma’s room?’

‘It was.’

‘But you said that she was all right?’ Eadulf began to rise hastily.

‘She was in a feverish sleep; we could not rouse her when we went to investigate. There was no sign of the woman.’

Eadulf was keen to be gone. ‘I am sure you are eager to attend to Brother Redwald, but now I am equally anxious to ensure that Sister Fidelma has come to no harm through this incident … whatever the reason for the incident may be.’

‘Wait, Brother,’ cried the
dominus
, rising to restrain him. ‘Wait, I have not told you all.’

Eadulf whirled round, his eyes narrowed in sudden apprehension.

‘What have you not told me?’

‘Abbot Cild came to investigate. He told me that you had also seen what you claimed to be a woman near the chapel and that you had described Gélgeis to him. You told me that you had seen such a woman by the chapel. Now Brother Redwald has seen her. And the abbot is almost beside himself with fear, though I should not tell you that. Cild claimed several times that this wraith had been seen by him. Now it is appearing to others. It is clearly black witchcraft.’

Eadulf snorted sardonically. Inwardly, he felt a fear born of the age-old beliefs of his people.

‘That is Abbot Cild’s problem,’ he said in irritation, turning again.

‘Abbot Cild believes that it is the ghost of his dead wife,’ cried the
dominus
. ‘Further, he believes that this witchcraft came into the abbey when you and your companion arrived in this kingdom. There can only be one explanation.’

Eadulf had whirled back towards Brother Willibrod, his heart beating fast.

‘One explanation? What do you mean?’

‘The abbot believes that your companion has conjured the spirit of his dead wife by foul rites. We have locked Sister Fidelma in her chamber to await her punishment for witchcraft.’

Eadulf halted abruptly outside the door of the guest chambers. Further progress was impeded by a thick-set, muscular brother who stood, arms folded and immovable, in front of it. For a moment it seemed that Eadulf would fling himself physically on the man but Brother Willibrod came up behind him.

‘Let him through,’ the
dominus
instructed.

The brother stood aside immediately and Eadulf moved into the room at once.

Fidelma lay in the bed, her breath coming in deep rasping tones.

Eadulf halted inside the door for a moment and brought himself under control. He then walked slowly forward. Fidelma appeared to be asleep, but not exactly in a natural sleep. The perspiration stood out on her forehead and she lay in a profusion of sweat. It was clear that her ague had reached a point where she was in a serious fever; a fever which must break that night or become dangerous. Eadulf had seen such fevers before.