The Monk Who Vanished sf-7 Read online

  Brother Madagan looked at her with incomprehension at the question. ‘Why?’ he repeated.

  ‘Yes. Why didn’t you go to rouse Brother Mochta? He was Keeper of the Relics, after all?’

  ‘Ah! I see. Such considerations appear logical in retrospect. The abbot asked me the same question. I confess that in the shock of my discovery, logic had no relevance. I thought that the abbot should be the first to be informed.’

  ‘Very well. Then what happened?’

  ‘The abbot suggested that we inform Brother Mochta. We went to his chamber together to find that he had disappeared, leaving turmoil behind him. There were bloodstains in the room.’

  Fidelma rose with an abruptness, surprising both Brother Madagan and Brother Eadulf.

  ‘Thank you, Brother. We will go to Brother Mochta’s chamber and examine it,’ she announced.

  Brother Madagan rose as well. ‘The abbot has asked me to conduct you there,’ he said. He had brought the key to Brother Mochta’s chamber and he led the way keeping up a constant chatter by pointing out sites of interest in the abbey. Both Fidelma and Eadulf later agreed they had felt that the chatter appeared feigned for their benefit.

  Fidelma stood on the threshold of Brother Mochta’s chamber, once again regarding the disorder with her keen eyes picking out the details.The room was in total disarray. She noticed that items of clothing were discarded on the floor. The straw mattress had been dragged half off the tiny wooden cot that provided the bed. There was, she saw, a stub of unlit candle toppled in a small pool of its own grease on the floor with its wooden holder nearby. There were even a few personal toilet items scattered here and there. There was a table by the bedside which, oddly, had not been knocked askew and on which was a solitary object. The end half of an arrow. Her eyes dwelt on the flight and its markings with immediate recognition. There were also some writing materials scattered in a corner and some pieces of vellum.

  Brother Madagan was peering over her shoulder. ‘There, Sister, on the mattress. You may see the bloodstain which the Father Abbot and I noticed.’

  ‘I see it,’ replied Fidelma shortly. She made no move towards it. Then she turned to Brother Madagan.

  ‘Tell me, the chambers either side of this one … are they occupied?’

  Brother Madagan nodded. ‘They are, but the brothers who sleep there have gone to the fields to gather herbs. One of them is our apothecary and mortician and the other is his assistant.’

  ‘So, are you saying that at the time that Brother Mochta apparently disappeared from this room, the chambers on either side were occupied?’

  ‘That is so.’

  ‘And no disturbance was reported to you or to the abbot?’ Her eyes flickered around the turmoil of the room.

  ‘Just so.’

  Fidelma was silent for a moment and then said: ‘We need not keep you longer from your duties, Brother Madagan. Where can we find you when we are finished here?’

  Brother Madagan tried to hide his disappointment at being so summarily dismissed. ‘In the refectory. We shall be bidding farewell to the pilgrims this morning.’

  ‘Very well. We will join you there shortly.’

  Eadulf watched Brother Madagan disappear along the corridor before turning with a look of inquiry to Fidelma. She ignored him and turned back into the chamber. She stood in silence awhile and Eadulf knew better than to interrupt her thoughts. After awhile she moved inside the door, standing to one side.

  ‘Eadulf, come and take my place. Do not enter the room but stand there on the threshold and tell me your impressions.’

  Puzzled, Eadulf went to stand on the threshold of the door withFidelma at his side. He let his gaze wander over the disordered room. That the room was in a chaotic state was obvious.

  ‘From the look of it, Mochta was forced from his chamber, having put up a fierce struggle.’

  Fidelma inclined her head in approval. ‘From the look of the room,’ she repeated in a soft tone. ‘Yet no disturbance was reported by the occupants in the adjoining chambers.’

  Eadulf glanced at her quickly, picking up the emphasis. ‘You mean that this scene has been …’ he struggled for the word. ‘That it has been purposefully arranged?’

  ‘I think so. Look at the way everything is cast around the room. Look at the mattress and clothes taken from the bed. It all indicates a fierce struggle which must logically have taken place sometime after Vespers and an hour or so before dawn. If such a struggle, as represented here, really took place, the noise would have disturbed even the deepest sleeper on either side. Yet no one reported being disturbed.’

  ‘We should make sure by asking the occupants of the adjoining chambers,’ Eadulf said.

  Fidelma smiled. ‘My mentor, the Brehon Morann, said, “He who knows nothing doubts nothing”. Well done, Eadulf. We must indeed check to see what they say. But I am working on the probability that they were not disturbed by any noise in this room. And a reasonable probability is the only certainty we have at this time.’

  Eadulf gestured helplessly. ‘So are we saying that Brother Mochta arranged this scene? But why?’

  ‘Perhaps someone else arranged it. We cannot form a conclusion as yet.’

  ‘If it were true that the slain monk at Cashel was Brother Mochta, then it might make some sense. But Brother Madagan insists that Mochta wore your Irish tonsure and not the tonsure of Rome. Hair cannot grow or be changed in a day. Besides, the innkeeper at the Well of Ara said hair was growing to disguise the tonsure when he stayed there a week ago.’

  ‘True enough. But do you have an explanation for the accuracy of the description of the body at Cashel and that of Brother Mochta? A description which fits even down to the tattoo on his arm.’ Fidelma’s s eyes twinkled a moment. ‘That is also a certainty. We can be absolutely certain only about things we do not understand.’

  Eadulf raised his eyes to the ceiling. ‘A saying of the Brehon Morann no doubt?’ he asked sarcastically.

  Fidelma ignored him as she looked round the room.

  ‘I believe that whoever did this, whether it was Brother Mochta orsome other person, arranged these things carefully. Look at the way the mattress is positioned so that anyone who was not blind would see the bloodstain. Now a mattress, in a struggle, might well fall that way but it does seem contrived. And in a struggle, why would the clothes from that cupboard be taken out and strewn around the room?’

  Eadulf began to realise the detail which her examination of the room had picked up.

  ‘Did you notice the arrow on the bedside table?’ Fidelma asked him.

  Eadulf gave an inward groan.

  He had noticed it but only as part of the debris of the room. Now that he focused on it, he realised the significance of the markings on the flight. It was the same type of arrow which had been carried by the archer during the assassination attempt; the same style of arrow which Fidelma was carrying and which had been identified as being made by the fletchers of Cnoc Áine.

  ‘I see it,’ he answered shortly.

  ‘And what do you make of it?’

  ‘Make of it? It is the shaft of an arrow which has been snapped in two. The end half of the shaft with the flight has fallen on the table.’

  ‘Fallen?’ Fidelma’s voice raised a little in disbelief. ‘It is laying there so clearly exposed that it seems to have been placed there for anyone to see. If it had been broken in some struggle, where is the other half?’

  Eadulf s eyes fell to the floor, searching. He examined the room carefully and saw nothing of it. ‘What does it mean?’

  ‘You know as much as I do,’ Fidelma replied indifferently. ‘If the room has been carefully arranged for us … well, arranged for whoever was meant to gaze on it … what message is it supposed to give?’

  Eadulf stood and folded his arms, gazing around before delivering his answer. ‘Brother Mochta has disappeared. The room is supposed to make people think that he has been removed from his chamber in a violent struggle. The bloodstain on the
mattress and the disorder point to this. Then there is a broken arrow on the bedside table … ah, that might signify that the arrow was broken when an assailant plunged it into the body of Mochta. The piece with the arrow head was left in Mochta while the end of the arrow with the flight was broken and tossed onto the table.’ He glanced at Fidelma for her approval.

  ‘Excellently done, Eadulf. That is precisely the message we have been asked to believe. Yet as the scene was so carefully preparedwe must look behind this message for the real significance of this chamber.’

  For the first time she entered it and began to examine it foot by foot. Then she picked up the broken arrow and placed it in her marsupium.

  ‘I do not think it will tell us much until we have garnered more facts.’

  She then examined the writing materials in the corner and the pieces of vellum.

  ‘Brother Mochta wrote a fair hand. He seems to have been writing a Life of Ailbe.’ She began to read from one of the pieces of vellum: ‘“He was called by Christ to his repose in the hundredth year of his life, as recorded in the Annals of Imleach which were began in that year of Our Lord 522.”’ She paused. ‘The rest appears to be missing. But here is another fragment.’ She read again: ‘“The repose of Ailbe has been distorted by the scribes of the north for they do not wish to acknowledge his appearance in Muman before Patrick of Armagh.”’

  ‘Do these writings have significance?’ queried Eadulf.

  ‘Perhaps,’ she replied, rolling the pieces of vellum up before placing them in her marsupium. Then she glanced around again. ‘I do not think this chamber will reveal any more secrets to us. Let us go.’

  She locked the room after they left, for Brother Madagan had left the key in the door. They returned to the refectory. Outside, a dozen or more male and female religious had gathered, wrapped in long cloaks, carrying bundles and each holding a pilgrim’s staff. Abbot Ségdae was there in front of them, standing with raised right hand, his thumb and third finger pressed against one another so that the first, second and fourth finger were raised to symbolise the Holy Trinity in the Irish fashion.

  He delivered the Blessing in Greek, that being considered the language of the Holy Gospels.

  Then the pilgrims, two by two, shouldered their bundles and set out towards the open abbey gates. Their voices rose in a joyful chant as they did so.

  Cantemus in mni die

  concinentes uarie,

  conclamantes Deo dignum

  hymnum sanctae Mariae

  ‘Let us sing each day, chanting together in varied harmonies, declaiming to a God a worthy hymn for holy Mary,’ muttered Eadulf, translating the words.

  Soon the singing column of pilgrims had passed through the abbey gates, continuing their pilgrimage, their voices receding beyond the walls.

  As they stood watching a burly man approached them. He was of average height, well muscled, solidly built with unexceptional grey-brown hair. He wore a leather jerkin over his workmanlike clothes and carried a short sword at his belt. His eyes were bright and keen. His features were ruddy and a little too fleshy to retain the handsomeness he might have enjoyed in his youth. He had the air of acquired wealth about him; acquired because he wore his wealth ostentatiously. He was bejewelled, which seemed at odds with his choice of clothing. Someone to whom such richness came naturally would not have been so tasteless with their wealth. Fidelma suppressed a smile. She suddenly had a vision of this pretentious character wearing a sign around his neck with the legend: ‘Lucri bonus est odor — sweet is the smell of money’. She wondered where the line came from and then remembered it was from Juvenal’s Satires. Well, she was sure that the man would not object to the motto.

  ‘Are you the Lady Fidelma?’ the man asked, his bright eyes narrowing slightly as he examined her.

  Fidelma inclined her head in greeting. ‘I am Fidelma of Cashel,’ she replied.

  ‘I have heard that you have been asking after me. My name is Samradán of Cashel.’

  Fidelma met the gaze of his pale, bright eyes and held it. It was the Cashel merchant that let his gaze dart away first.

  ‘If there is anything I can help you with?’ Samradan shifted his weight uncomfortably.

  Fidelma suddenly smiled disarmingly. ‘Did you know Brother Mochta?’

  The merchant shook his head. ‘The monk who has vanished? Everyone is talking about it here at the abbey. No, I did not know him. I traded only with Brother Madagan as the steward of the abbey and, of course, with the abbot himself. I never met Brother Mochta, at least the name never registered with me if I encountered him in the abbey.’

  ‘You keep a warehouse at Cashel?’

  The merchant nodded warily. ‘By the market square, lady. My house is in the town as well.’

  ‘An assassination attempt on my brother, the King, and the Prince of the Uí Fidgente, was launched from the roof of your warehouse yesterday morning.’

  The merchant paled slightly. ‘I have been here in Imleach for severaldays. I knew nothing of this. Besides, anyone can climb onto the roof of my warehouse. It is a flat roof and easily accessible.’

  ‘I do not accuse you of anything, Samradán,’ chided Fidelma. ‘But it was best that you should know this fact, though.’

  The merchant nodded hurriedly. ‘Of course … I thought …’

  ‘Do you trade among the people of Cnoc Aine?’

  ‘No. Only to the abbey.’

  ‘That seems to limit your business,’ smiled Fidelma. ‘You must do a lot of trade here within the abbey to visit so often and stay so long.’

  Samradan looked at her uncertainly.

  ‘I mean that I trade only with the abbey in this area. I also trade with the abbeys at Cill Dalua, north of here, and south at Lios Mhór. I have in recent months even traded as far north as the abbey at Armagh. That was an arduous journey. But I have made it twice in the last two months.’

  ‘What sort of goods do you trade in?’

  ‘We barter corn and barley for wool mainly. Around Cill Dalua are first-class tanners and workers in leather. So we buy jackets, leather bottles, shoes and other items and trade to the south.’

  ‘How fascinating. Do you trade in metal work?’

  Samradan was dismissive. ‘Carrying metal objects is a tiresome business for our horses. It weights our wagons and we have to move slowly. There are enough good smiths and forges throughout the country.’

  ‘So you would not deal in metals like silver? There are some silver mines and other workings of precious metals to the south of here.’

  Samradán shook his head vehemently. ‘Be one’s trade good or bad, it is experience that makes one an adept at it,’ he replied, quoting an old proverb. ‘I stick to the trade I know. I know nothing of silver.’

  ‘You are right,’ agreed Fidelma pleasantly. ‘A trade not properly learned can be an enemy to its success. I understand that you have not dwelt at Cashel very long?’

  ‘Only these last three years,’ countered Samradan.

  ‘Then, before you came to Cashel, where did you conduct your business from?’

  Was there a shiftiness in the merchant’s eyes now? ‘I was in the land of the Corco Baiscinn.’

  ‘Is that where you come from?’ pressed Fidelma.

  Samradán raised his chin in an automatic gesture of defiance. ‘It is.’ His confirmation was a challenge but Fidelma said nothing further.

  After the silence continued, the merchant cleared his throat noisily, as if attracting attention. ‘Is that all?’

  Fidelma smiled again as if it had already been made clear and the man had not understood.

  ‘Why, of course. But when you return to Cashel, you might be questioned about this terrible event. You may say that you have spoken with me. However, your testimony may be wanted by the Brehons in Cashel.’

  Samradán looked startled. ‘Why should I be questioned?’ he demanded.

  ‘For the reason I told you … the assassins used your warehouse. No one accuses you of anyt
hing but it is obvious that you would be questioned because of that fact. Tell them what you told me. That you have no knowledge of the matter.’

  The merchant looked uncomfortable. ‘I do not plan to return to Cashel for a few days yet, lady,’ he muttered. ‘I am going to the country of the Arada Cliach to trade first. I mean to start early tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Then I wish you a good journey.’ Fidelma turned and motioned Eadulf to follow her.

  ‘What was that about?’ he asked, when they were out of earshot.

  Fidelma looked at him in mild rebuke. ‘No more than it appeared to be,’ she replied. ‘I just wanted to check who this Samradán was.’

  ‘And are you satisfied that he is no more than he seems to be?’

  ‘No.’

  Eadulf was disconcerted by the enigmatic response.

  Fidelma caught his questioning glance. ‘Samradán may well be what he claims to be but he admits he is of the Corco Baiscinn.’

  ‘I do not know these people,’ Eadulf returned. ‘Is there some significance here?’

  ‘They are one of the people over whom the Uí Fidgente hold lordship. They also claim to be descendants of Cas.’

  ‘Then he might well be part of some conspiracy?’ suggested Eadulf.

  ‘I do not trust him,’ Fidelma returned. ‘However, if he were part of some conspiracy I doubt whether it is connected with the Uí Fidgente. He would not have readily admitted that he was of the Corco Baiscinn. Yet it is better to be suspicious about people than not to be.’

  Eadulf said nothing.

  They found Brother Madagan at the gates of the abbey, speaking with the abbot.

  ‘Have you come to any conclusions?’ asked Abbot Segdae eagerly.

  ‘It is far too early for conclusions,’ Fidelma replied, handing the key of Brother Mochta’s chamber back to Brother Madagan. ‘As soon as I have something positive, I will let you know.’

  Abbot Ségdae appeared anxious still. ‘I suppose I was hoping for a miracle. But at least, of the Holy Relics, Ailbe’s crucifix is safely recovered.’

  Fidelma laid a reassuring hand on the old man’s arm. She wished she could do something further to enhearten this old friend and supporter of her family.