Eadulf stared at him in surprise.
‘Did you know her well?’
‘As well as my role of dominus here would allow.’
‘How long have you been dominus here?’
‘I was in the abbey when Cild and Gélgeis came here.’
‘Did anyone else share your views about her character?’
Willibrod sniffed with disdain.
‘You will have to ask them, although most here did not know her as long and as well as I did. I have my opinion. It is not an opinion that I share with Abbot Cild, so I wish you not to reveal that I held his wife in such low esteem.’ He paused and indicated along the passage with a jerk of his head to where Brother Beornwulf was seated on a three-legged wooden stool, his massive arms folded across his chest. ‘You will remain in your rooms in accordance with the abbot’s orders. I am sorry that things have come to this, Brother Eadulf.’
He turned and walked swiftly away.
Eadulf returned to Fidelma’s chamber and found himself feeling cold apprehension. Spirits walking abroad, desecration of a high altar, and people who had known the abbot’s wife in life swearing that it was her form returned to haunt him. In spite of his dread he went to check on Fidelma and found her deep in a natural sleep.
He sat down in his chair and tried to pick up his scattered thoughts.
There was no decision to be made now. They had to accept Brother Higbald’s suggestion. Safety came before the solution of this mystery. His mind full once more of conflicting thoughts, he felt into another troubled slumber.
When he awoke again, a brilliant morning light illuminated the room. He realised that he had been disturbed by young Brother Redwald who had entered bearing a tray with two steaming bowls, some bread and apples on it. He started up.
The young boy smiled apologetically. He seemed embarrassed.
‘I have brought you and the Sister breakfast, Brother.’
Eadulf examined him cautiously.
‘How do you feel now?’ he asked.
The boy set down the tray.
‘I apologise for my condition of last night. I was truly alarmed. I have calmed down this morning and am able to fulfil my duties.’ He bobbed nervously and moved to the door. ‘If there is anything else you need, Brother Beornwulf will be outside the door.’
He hesitated still, as if trying to make up his mind. Then he smiled quickly at Eadulf.
‘You have shown consideration to me, Brother. I am sorry to see you in this predicament. I hope no action of mine has brought it on you. But I did see the lady Gélgeis, I swear it. If she be spirit, then she seemed to mean me no harm, so I regret if harm will follow.’
Eadulf responded reassuringly.
‘Do not worry, Redwald. You cannot be held responsible for the actions of others.’
When the boy made to leave, Eadulf stayed him.
‘Did you like the lady Gélgeis?’ he asked.
The boy looked bemused for a moment and then nodded.
‘She was kind to me. I have told you that she nursed me when I was ill.’
‘I remember. You were a boy newly come to the abbey. So you liked her?’
‘I think I did.’
‘Aren’t you sure?’
‘I thought she was an angel, when I was ill. But later on, when I was well and growing, I found that she was distant, as if she cared little about me.’
‘Are you scared of seeing her image now?’
The boy considered the question and then shook his head.
‘The abbot told me that I have the faith to use as my shield. If I am steadfast in the faith, I need not fear.’
The boy left abruptly and Eadulf turned back to the tray and the bowls of steaming broth. He realised that he had not eaten for some time.
‘Water,’ came a croaking voice from the bed. ‘I need a drink.’
‘Fidelma!’ Eadulf turned and found a pale but more normallooking Fidelma easing herself up against a pillow.
‘I feel like death,’ she added.
‘You should feel like life, having come through a dangerous fever,’ smiled Eadulf, sitting at the side of the bed and taking her cold hand in one of his while he held out a beaker of water with the other.
She sipped cautiously.
‘How long have I been in the grip of the fever?’
‘Only twenty-four hours.’
‘It seems longer. I had the most bizarre dreams, if dreams they were. People rushing in and out and shouting and anger, lots of anger. Are we still at the abbey of …’ She frowned.
‘Aldred’s Abbey,’ Eadulf supplied. ‘We arrived two nights ago. Do you remember anything?’
Fidelma tried to recollect.
‘The last thing I remember was a visit from the apothecary, and something about a woman being seen in the abbey. After that things have become extremely hazy. I must have gone into the fever then.’
Eadulf turned and picked up the bowl of broth and some bread.
‘After a fever is passed, it is necessary to get some sustenance into you. Have that and afterwards I shall tell you what has been going on here.’
It became obvious during the meal that Fidelma was still weak and unstable. Her hands trembled as she tackled the soup. Eadulf had to help her. She seemed exhausted. Eadulf realised that there was no way they would be able to move her that day.
She finished half of the bowl of broth and nibbled at a piece of bread, before pushing the rest away from her. Eadulf took it and she lay back down on the pillow and closed her eyes.
‘You were going to … to tell me something,’ she yawned.
Eadulf shook his head. ‘Not at the moment. You need to sleep awhile.’
‘I feel so … tired …’
A moment later, Eadulf realised that she had passed again into a natural sleep.
He finished his own meal and then sat back to reconsider matters.
Over the next hour or so he did not progress far with his thoughts. The door opened softly and Brother Higbald entered. He nodded to Eadulf and glanced at Fidelma’s recumbent form.
‘The fever’s broken,’ Eadulf replied in answer to his raised eyebrow. ‘She’s having a natural sleep now.’
Brother Higbald pointed to a corner of the room, indicating that he wished to talk without disturbing Fidelma.
‘I heard what happened last night,’ he whispered. ‘Someone profaned the high altar.’
‘And we are blamed for it,’ Eadulf cut in sharply, in irritation. ‘I know. I am now determined to follow your advice. It is foolish to remain here in harm’s way any longer.’
Brother Higbald was approving.
‘A wise choice of action. But when will Sister Fidelma be able to travel?’
‘Not before tomorrow at the earliest, I think.’
‘Does she know of what she is accused?’
‘I have not told her yet. When I do, I doubt if she will have any understanding of it. Such things do not happen in her country.’
‘Well, the sooner you are gone from here the better.’
‘Have you heard anything more about what is happening?’
Brother Higbald shook his head. ‘I believe Abbot Cild is scared of something. However, he blames you both as being the cause of it.’
‘There is some mystery going on that I do not understand, Brother Higbald. You seem to be the only person here that I can get sense from. What is this darkness that enshrouds this abbey? Do you have any idea?’
Brother Higbald shrugged. ‘I have never seen it as a darkness. Abbot Cild is a man of uncertain temperament, as are we all — each to his own. There are undercurrents of emotion between us all. Jealousies, suspicions, rivalries. But that is surely normal? Not until the death of Botulf and the subsequent events of the other night was there any hint that there was a real problem.’
‘Nothing at all?’ demanded Eadulf in frustration. ‘No hint that Botulf was in danger? No hint of suspicion about the death of the lady Gélgeis?’
‘Well, there were Cild’s changes of mood after Garb’s first visit and there was always gossip among the brethren. I think we were all shocked when Botulf’s body was found. But Brother Wigstan said he had seen the notorious outlaw Aldhere nearby at the same time. There was no cause to question Abbot Cild when he pointed the finger at Aldhere.’