Free The Haunted Abbot by Peter Tremayne

shrugged.
    ‘Do you doubt Abbot Cild’s word that he was seen?’
    ‘So far, I have heard nothing to make me accept or reject Abbot Cild’s word. I have no doubt that he means to hang this man, Aldhere. However, before a man’s life is forfeit it is customary to demand evidence. The abbot tells me that the motive was theft, yet I understand nothing was taken. I am told that someone saw Aldhere leaving the abbey but not who it was. Was it this Brother Osred? The one you told me discovered Botulf’s body?’
    Brother Willibrod smiled grimly. ‘You have been away among strangers too long, Brother. You have forgotten that here we live among animals. Kill or be killed. If a man covets another’s land or his wife, and he is strong, then he will take what he wants. The weak will always lose.’
    ‘The faith has reformed our pagan ways,’ protested Eadulf.
    ‘Only if we have allowed it to. For some, it is impossible to change. Naturam expelles furca tamen usque recurret .’
    ‘You may drive nature out with a pitchfork, but it will still return,’ translated Eadulf, showing that he had understood.
    ‘Our faith may alter but not our ways.’
    ‘You are supposed to follow the way of Christ.’
    ‘Only if we live long enough to do so. Those without the law, such as Aldhere, would not have this abbey survive. He is a mad dog.’
    ‘So the dog has a bad name and thus he will be hanged? His guilt or innocence is of no consequence?’
    ‘If he is not guilty of this act then he is guilty of some other. What difference does it make?’
    Eadulf was concerned that his friend’s killer should be found and punished, but any suspect should be tried under law. Eadulf vowed to himself that if the Abbot did indeed lead a hunting party into the marshes the next day, he would accompany them to see that justice was done. Justice, not blind vengeance.
    ‘And so by such logic we reach paradise?’ he protested sharply. ‘Come, dominus , I would like to see the person who appears to be the only witness in the case of Brother Botulf’s murder. This is a matter far too grave to be judged by prejudice. A mistake will reflect ill on this abbey and on anyone who has a hand in any event which may lead to a miscarriage of justice.’
    Brother Willibrod still hesitated a moment before finally relenting.
    ‘Brother Wigstan was the person who saw Aldhere. He will be at the funeral service tonight. Will you be able to find your way back to the guests’ quarters from here?’
    Eadulf nodded and Brother Willibrod turned abruptly and left at his usual rapid pace.
    When Eadulf returned to the guests’ quarters he went immediately to Fidelma’s room and found her in the middle of a coughing fit. He brought her some water. She peered up with reddened eyes.
    ‘Oh, for a good Irish sweat bath,’ she muttered. ‘A sore throat, sneezing and a cough … all because of this awful climate. I have never known weather so cold anywhere.’
    ‘It is because the country is low lying,’ offered Eadulf in explanation. ‘There is nothing to protect us from the cold northerly winds from the sea. No tall hills nor mountains shield us.’
    ‘So the result is that I have to suffer a cold.’
    Eadulf had studied medicine at the great Irish medical school of Tuaim Brecáin and was already searching one of his bags.
    ‘We have a fire and thus a means of heating water, and while we have these things all is not lost.’ He smiled confidently. ‘I will prepare an infusion of elderflowers and woodbine and stir in a little of the honey that I carry. You will soon be well.’
    As he set to preparing his mixture, Eadulf told her of his meeting with Abbot Cild. Fidelma listened attentively, asking one or two questions to clarify points.
    ‘It seems that he is exactly as Brother Willibrod painted him,’ she murmured at the end of his recital.
    ‘He brings shame on the faith.’
    ‘He brings shame only on himself,’ replied Fidelma. ‘A man of such shabby arrogance