Absolution by Murder

Author:Peter Tremayne [Tremayne, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: _NB_fixed, _rt_yes, Church History, Fiction, tpl, Mystery, Historical, Clerical Sleuth, Medieval Ireland
ISBN: 9780451192998
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2012-03-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Fidelma raised a quizzical eyebrow as she returned the bewildered gaze of Athelnoth.

‘You placed the brooch in your bag?’

‘Yes. I placed it in there yesterday afternoon.’

‘Who would take it?’

‘I have no idea. No one knew I had it.’

Eadulf was about to make a pointed remark when Fidelma stopped him.

‘Very well, Athelnoth. Have a careful search and if you find the brooch contact us and let us know.’ Outside Athelnoth’s cell, Eadulf turned to her with a frown.

‘You surely don’t believe him?’

Fidelma shrugged.

‘Did you think he was speaking the truth?’

‘By the living God, no! Of course not!’

‘Then Gwid would seem to be right. Athelnoth was visiting Étain for some reason other than the return of a mere brooch.’

‘Yes, of course. Athelnoth is lying.’

‘But does that prove that Athelnoth killed Étain?’

‘No,’ admitted Eadulf. ‘But it gives us a motive for the killing, doesn’t it?’

‘This is true, though something is not quite in order. I was sure that Athelnoth invented the story of the brooch until he claimed it was still in his possession in his cubiculum. If it was a lie, it would be so easy to discover it.’

‘He was under pressure to come up with a story quickly. He thought of it on the spur of the moment, not realising its weakness.’

‘That is a good argument. Yet we can afford to leave Athelnoth to his own devices for a while. Would you know anyone among the Saxon clergy who would give you some information on Athelnoth’s background? Perhaps someone who accompanied him when he went to meet Étain on the border of Rheged? I’d like to know more of this Athelnoth.’

‘A good idea. I will make some enquiries during the evening meal,’ agreed Eadulf. ‘In the meantime, shall we question the monk Seaxwulf next?’

Fidelma nodded her head.

‘Why not? Seaxwulf and Agatho were among the last to see Etain. Let us return to Sister Athelswith’s officium and have the good sister send for Seaxwulf.’ They were walking through the guests’ quarters when the sound of distant shouting came to their ears. Eadulf pursed his lips in perplexity.

‘What new problem is this?’

‘One we shall not identify by standing here,’ Fidelma said, turning towards the origin of the sound. They came on a group of brethren peering through the windows of the abbey building at something below. Eadulf made a space for himself and Fidelma at a window. For several moments Fidelma could not identify what was happening. A crowd was gathered around what seemed a bundle of rags on the ground. They were clearly angry, yelling and throwing stones at it, although, curiously, keeping a good distance from it. It was only when she caught sight of a slight movement of the rags that, with horror, she realised that it was a person. The crowd were stoning someone to death.

‘What is going on?’ she demanded.

Eadulf asked one of the brothers, who replied with an expression of fear.

‘A victim of the Yellow Plague,’ Eadulf translated, ‘the pestilence that is tearing this land apart, destroying men, women and children without deference to race, sex or rank.

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