Shroud for the Archbishop by Peter Tremayne Page A

during the debate at Witebia by solving the murder of the Abbess Étain.’
    Fidelma glanced towards Eadulf who was sitting with his eyes downcast, his face expressionless.
    ‘The service was achieved in cooperation with Brother Eadulf, for without his assistance there might not have been a positive resolution to the matter,’ she replied icily.
    ‘Just so,’ Gelasius agreed. ‘But even with such fulsome recommendation as has been given of your character by Brother Eadulf one had to be sure …’
    Again Fidelma frowned.
    ‘Sure of what? Where is this interrogation leading?’
    ‘Sister Fidelma, when we met the other day you mentioned that you were a qualified advocate of the law courts of your
native land. Brother Eadulf confirms this. You apparently have a singular ability at solving puzzles.’
    Fidelma was exasperated by Gelasius’ pedantic approach. Why didn’t he get to the heart of what he wanted to say?
    The bishop went on carefully: ‘The fact is that you have the talent of which the Lateran Palace is sorely in need. We wish that you, Sister Fidelma, together with Brother Eadulf here, make inquiries to ascertain the cause of Wighard’s death and discover who has stolen the gifts that he brought with him.’
    There was a silence while Fidelma absorbed what Gelasius was saying. An immediate thought came into her mind.
    ‘Does the Lateran Palace have no law officer to conduct such an investigation?’ she asked with a meaningful glance at the military governor.
    ‘Indeed. Rome was, still is, the communis patria of the legal and political world,’ replied Marinus, his voice torn between resentment and pride. Fidelma nearly replied that Rome’s law had never extended to her own land whose ancient legal system was equally as old for it had been collected together in the time of the High King Ollamh Fódhla, eight centuries before the birth of the Christ. Yet Fidelma put a curb on her tongue.
    ‘Law in this city of Rome,’ Gelasius explained more temperately than the Superista, ‘is administered by the Praetor Urbanus and his staff who upholds the rule of existing law. Because there are foreigners involved, this case comes under the jurisdiction of the Praetor Peregrinus who is responsible for all legal matters in which those involved are foreigners.’
    ‘Then why do you need any help from myself, whose knowledge is limited to Irish law, and to Brother Eadulf, who was
once a gerefa – a magistrate of the Saxons?’
    Gelasius pursed his lips trying to frame a careful reply.
    ‘We, in Rome, are sensitive to the differences between the churches of the Irish, the Britons and the Saxons. We are aware of our own perceived role in this matter. It is a matter of politics, Sister Fidelma. Since the Irish bishop Cummian tried to unite the churches of the Irish and Britons with Rome thirty years ago, we have tried to promote just such a reconciliation. I am old enough to remember how Bishop Honorious and his successor John both wrote to the Irish abbots and bishops begging them not to widen the schism which had developed between us …’
    ‘I am aware of the differences between those who hold to Roman rule, Gelasius, and those who remain steadfast to the original council decisions which we in Ireland maintain,’ interrupted Fidelma. ‘But where does this lead us?’
    Gelasius bit his lip, clearly unhappy at being checked in the flow of his argument.
    ‘Where?’ He paused almost as if expecting an answer. ‘The Holy Father is sensitive of these differences, as I have said, and hopes to reunite our factions. The death of the archbishop-designate of Canterbury, so soon after Canterbury’s success at persuading the Saxon kingdoms to turn from the Irish Church to Rome and while the archbishop-designate was staying in the Bishop of Rome’s own palace, may ignite a torch of war that will ravage the lands of the Saxons and the Irish. That conflict will inevitably draw Rome into it.’
    Fidelma sniffed