Saint Brigid's Bones by Philip Freeman

Author:Philip Freeman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pegasus
Published: 2014-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning Cormac sent word that he would receive me in his feasting hall. It was nothing more than a larger version of a typical village hut, circular with mud walls and a high thatched roof. The dark interior, with benches all around and a blazing fire in the center, smelled of boiled meat and the sweat of men. Cormac was sitting alone in the room on a chair at the front of the hall, scratching the chin of an enormous wolfhound at his feet.

“Please forgive the informal setting for our meeting, Deirdre, but I’m weary of ceremony after yesterday’s strenuous activities.” He then called a slave to bring me a cup of wine, which I accepted.

“I hope you don’t mind if Muirne here keeps us company while we talk. She just weaned a litter of puppies and could use a bit of rest. Tell me how you liked the horse sacrifice. Wasn’t it spectacular? Nobody has done anything like that since Niall of the Nine Hostages became high king.”

“You seemed to have enjoyed it more than the horse.”

Cormac burst into laughter. “You’re probably right. But still, you didn’t come here to discuss such crude matters. We need to talk about the bones of Brigid.”

I was so furious at Cormac I thought I might throttle him then and there. I knew one of Cormac’s own warriors had been hiding near Kildare on Michaelmas. I had thought the king’s sons were guilty of stealing the bones, but now I wondered. I had brought the piece of tartan cloth along to reveal at the right moment.

“Yes, Cormac. As you know, the bones draw many pilgrims to Kildare who come in search of hope and healing.”

“Not to mention increasing the power and income of the monastery, especially at the expense of the churchmen of Armagh,” he interjected. Cormac cared little for Christianity or any other religion, but he knew ecclesiastical politics.

“I won’t deny that the theft of the bones threatens the existence of our monastery. You know how precarious our situation is. The authorities in Armagh, not to mention some in Rome, would love to shut us down. A thriving religious community run by women is the last thing they want. Without the bones of Brigid, visitors will stop coming to Kildare, donations will cease, and we won’t be able to continue our ministry to the poor.”

I thought I’d try playing on his sense of guilt. He’d been a student at Kildare, he respected Sister Anna, and had been like a son to Father Ailbe.

“Cormac, if I can’t find those bones soon, the wolves from Armagh will move in for the kill. The abbot will call a synod of bishops and have us placed under their jurisdiction. Sister Anna will be removed and the sisters will be put to work washing their clothes and cooking their meals. Everything depends on finding those bones.”

He pushed the wolfhound away with his foot and poured me another glass of wine.

“You don’t think I stole them, do you, Deirdre?” His face was a mask of innocence.

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