state?’ interrupted Eadulf. ‘What does that mean?’
‘He claimed he was drugged.’
‘And what did Cadfan and Ordgar say about this situation?’ asked Fidelma.
‘Ordgar claimed that he had no knowledge at all of what had taken place. He said that he had drunk wine last thing at night, as was his custom, and fell into a dreamless sleep. He now claims his drink was drugged. The physician confirmed Ordgar’s condition. At least, his condition fitted the facts that he claimed.’
‘And Cadfan?’
‘Cadfan says that a note–which he no longer has, incidentally–summoned him to Bishop Ordgar’s chamber on urgent business.’
‘When was this scene uncovered–the finding of the body of Dabhóc?’
‘Well after midnight but certainly before dawn,’ Abbot Ségdae replied.
‘So when was this note delivered to Cadfan?’
‘He says he was awoken in his chamber by a knock and the note placed under the door. He went to Ordgar’s chamber, knocked and a voice bade him enter. He did so–and immediately received a blow to the head. He knew nothing else until he came to, having been carried unconscious back to his own chamber. He swears that he saw neither Dabhóc’s body nor Ordgar. When he entered the chamber it was in darkness.’
‘A curious tale,’ Fidelma observed.
Abbot Ségdae nodded glumly. ‘And one which will end this council, unless it is explained. There is already much friction here. At the opening of the council last week, Ordgar and Cadfan came to physical blows.’
Fidelma’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’
‘That was on the evening just before the murder,’ confirmed the abbot.
‘Was Dabhóc concerned in this fight?’
‘He had intervened in the debate as peacemaker, no more. Many others did as well.’
‘Is it felt that Dabhóc was slain because of his attempt to act as peacemaker between the two?’ asked Eadulf.
‘No one knows what to think. Both Ordgar and Cadfan are confined to their chambers while Bishop Leodegar has been contemplating what to do. In a few days’ time the ruler of this kingdom, Clotaire, is due to arrive to give his approval to the findings of this council, but there has been no formal meeting, let alone debate on the motions that Rome has sent for consideration. As I say, many of the delegates are talking about returning to their lands.’
‘Leodegar has a tough decision to make,’ Fidelma observed.
‘He must either pronounce the guilt of one or the innocence of both,’ agreed the abbot. ‘Both men have proclaimed their innocence and both have proclaimed their hatred of one another–and so accusations are made with venomous conviction.’
‘And what do you say? You are the senior representative of Éireann.’
The abbot raised his shoulders and let them fall in a hopeless gesture.
‘That is my dilemma, Fidelma. You know the rivalry between my own abbey of Imleach and that of Ard Macha. In recent years Ard Macha has been claiming to be the senior bishopric of the five kingdoms, and now claims authority even over Imleach–yet Imleach existed before Ard Macha was established.’
‘How does this affect your thoughts on this matter?’ asked Fidelma, a little impatiently.
‘I am, as you say, now the senior representative. If I do not demand that a pronouncement of guilt and reparation be made following Dabhóc’s death, Ségéne, the abbot and bishop of Ard Macha, could accuse me and Imleach of not caring because Dabhóc was representing Ard Macha. If I do make the demand, then I am demanding that Bishop Leodegar make a decision that is a choice between the guilt of Ordgar or Cadfan. If nothing at all is done, then the council disbands and Leodegar has to answer to the Bishop of Rome.’
‘In other words, there is a political decision that weighs on your mind over and above the moral decision of what is right, what is truthful?’ Fidelma summed up.
Abbot Ségdae smiled tiredly. ‘I wish I saw it as so clear cut, Fidelma. But just consider
‘He claimed he was drugged.’
‘And what did Cadfan and Ordgar say about this situation?’ asked Fidelma.
‘Ordgar claimed that he had no knowledge at all of what had taken place. He said that he had drunk wine last thing at night, as was his custom, and fell into a dreamless sleep. He now claims his drink was drugged. The physician confirmed Ordgar’s condition. At least, his condition fitted the facts that he claimed.’
‘And Cadfan?’
‘Cadfan says that a note–which he no longer has, incidentally–summoned him to Bishop Ordgar’s chamber on urgent business.’
‘When was this scene uncovered–the finding of the body of Dabhóc?’
‘Well after midnight but certainly before dawn,’ Abbot Ségdae replied.
‘So when was this note delivered to Cadfan?’
‘He says he was awoken in his chamber by a knock and the note placed under the door. He went to Ordgar’s chamber, knocked and a voice bade him enter. He did so–and immediately received a blow to the head. He knew nothing else until he came to, having been carried unconscious back to his own chamber. He swears that he saw neither Dabhóc’s body nor Ordgar. When he entered the chamber it was in darkness.’
‘A curious tale,’ Fidelma observed.
Abbot Ségdae nodded glumly. ‘And one which will end this council, unless it is explained. There is already much friction here. At the opening of the council last week, Ordgar and Cadfan came to physical blows.’
Fidelma’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’
‘That was on the evening just before the murder,’ confirmed the abbot.
‘Was Dabhóc concerned in this fight?’
‘He had intervened in the debate as peacemaker, no more. Many others did as well.’
‘Is it felt that Dabhóc was slain because of his attempt to act as peacemaker between the two?’ asked Eadulf.
‘No one knows what to think. Both Ordgar and Cadfan are confined to their chambers while Bishop Leodegar has been contemplating what to do. In a few days’ time the ruler of this kingdom, Clotaire, is due to arrive to give his approval to the findings of this council, but there has been no formal meeting, let alone debate on the motions that Rome has sent for consideration. As I say, many of the delegates are talking about returning to their lands.’
‘Leodegar has a tough decision to make,’ Fidelma observed.
‘He must either pronounce the guilt of one or the innocence of both,’ agreed the abbot. ‘Both men have proclaimed their innocence and both have proclaimed their hatred of one another–and so accusations are made with venomous conviction.’
‘And what do you say? You are the senior representative of Éireann.’
The abbot raised his shoulders and let them fall in a hopeless gesture.
‘That is my dilemma, Fidelma. You know the rivalry between my own abbey of Imleach and that of Ard Macha. In recent years Ard Macha has been claiming to be the senior bishopric of the five kingdoms, and now claims authority even over Imleach–yet Imleach existed before Ard Macha was established.’
‘How does this affect your thoughts on this matter?’ asked Fidelma, a little impatiently.
‘I am, as you say, now the senior representative. If I do not demand that a pronouncement of guilt and reparation be made following Dabhóc’s death, Ségéne, the abbot and bishop of Ard Macha, could accuse me and Imleach of not caring because Dabhóc was representing Ard Macha. If I do make the demand, then I am demanding that Bishop Leodegar make a decision that is a choice between the guilt of Ordgar or Cadfan. If nothing at all is done, then the council disbands and Leodegar has to answer to the Bishop of Rome.’
‘In other words, there is a political decision that weighs on your mind over and above the moral decision of what is right, what is truthful?’ Fidelma summed up.
Abbot Ségdae smiled tiredly. ‘I wish I saw it as so clear cut, Fidelma. But just consider
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