Master of Souls (43 page)
Authors: Peter Tremayne
Tags: #_NB_Fixed, #_rt_yes, #blt, #Clerical Sleuth, #Fiction, #Historical, #Mystery, #Medieval Ireland
He drew a short sword, which he had hidden under his cloak.
‘Time for a strategic withdrawal, Uallach,’ he called.
‘Don’t be stupid, Slébéne!’ Conrí cried, his own sword drawn. ‘You have no chance of leaving here.’
‘Do I not?’ sneered Slébéne. ‘Then look to the windows, my friend. There are arrows aimed at Fidelma of Cashel and at the abbot. If anyone moves against us to prevent us leaving here, then they will be the first to die. Conrí, put down your sword now and tell you warriors to stand aside from the door and do the same. Do it now or Fidelma dies!’
Eyes had flitted to the windows on either side of the oratory. Through the slits two of Slébéne’s warriors with drawn bows, arrows steadily pointed at their targets, could be seen. One of them was the red-haired champion. The chief of the Corco Duibhne had not told lies. The arrows were well aimed.
Conrí, with a hiss of anger, dropped his weapon and stood back.
‘Now tell your man to move away from the door!’
Conr
did so and Socht and his companions reluctantly discarded their weapons and stood aside.
did so and Socht and his companions reluctantly discarded their weapons and stood aside.Sister Buan, the woman Fidelma had identified as Uallach, was staring at her with features contorted with hate. She did not seem in a hurry to leave.
‘Come, Uallach!’ cried Slébéne. ‘There is no time—’
‘Kill them!’ the woman suddenly screamed. ‘Kill them all!’
The abbot flinched and closed his eyes waiting for the impact of the arrow but Fidelma stood firmly returning Sister Buan’s malignant gaze.
Luckily it was Slébéne who was in command of his warriors and they waited for his orders. He realised that if his men loosed their arrows, Fidelma and Abbot Erc might die but he would have no chance of escape from the oratory. The threat that his own death would almost certainly result prevented him from giving the order.
The chief came forward and gripped Sister Buan’s arm tightly. ‘Think, Uallach! Think! If we kill them, we will never get out of this abbey. We must leave, get to An Daingean and raise our army. It is the only way. Come quickly while my archers can cover us. These others can be dealt with later.’
Reluctantly, Sister Buan, or Uallach, allowed herself to be drawn back along the aisle to the door of the oratory.
‘Tell your man to open the door,’ yelled Slébéne as they backed towards it.
Conrí signalled to Socht to do so.
The warrior turned in disgust and opened the door. While he was still bending to swing the door back, Slébéne brought the pommel of his short sword down on the man’s unprotected head and he fell with hardly a sound.
Slébéne and Uallach were gone through the door. Outside, Slébéne drew it shut behind them. Those inside heard the door slam shut and something placed against it. Then the two archers at the windows withdrew without releasing their arrows. With the threat that confined his actions now gone, Conr
sprang forward, grabbing his fallen sword, and shouting to someone to attend to Socht who was trying to staunch the blood on his head. Conr
tried the door. Socht’s two companions joined him but their assault on the door was useless. It had been well jammed from the outside.
sprang forward, grabbing his fallen sword, and shouting to someone to attend to Socht who was trying to staunch the blood on his head. Conrtried the door. Socht’s two companions joined him but their assault on the door was useless. It had been well jammed from the outside.There was a general hubbub in the oratory and Fidelma called in a loud and clear tone for order and quiet. They heard the sound of horses from outside. She and Eadulf hastened to Conr
’s side.
’s side.‘They’ll be heading for their warship,’ she told Conrí. ‘Will Tadcán be able to deal with them? Is there a way to warn him?’
Conr
grinned and took from his belt a small horn, which had been hanging by its thongs. He went to the window and raised it to his lips. The blast was long and shrill and he sounded it three times. By this time, other members of the community had come to the oratory to see what the commotion was and removed the obstacle, which turned out to be a couple of poles, that had held the door fast.
grinned and took from his belt a small horn, which had been hanging by its thongs. He went to the window and raised it to his lips. The blast was long and shrill and he sounded it three times. By this time, other members of the community had come to the oratory to see what the commotion was and removed the obstacle, which turned out to be a couple of poles, that had held the door fast.Conr
seized a red-faced and bewildered brother. The warlord demanded to know where Slébéne and his companions had gone.
seized a red-faced and bewildered brother. The warlord demanded to know where Slébéne and his companions had gone.‘Lord, they left by the main gate. They all went on horseback and seem to be taking the road to the coast.’
‘Then it is up to Tadcán,’ muttered Fidelma.
Conr
once more raised his horn and blew the three sharp notes into the still winter air. He paused and then, faintly in the distance, they heard three answering blasts.
once more raised his horn and blew the three sharp notes into the still winter air. He paused and then, faintly in the distance, they heard three answering blasts.The warlord turned to Fidelma and Eadulf with a smile of triumph. ‘Tadcán has heard, lady. He will be waiting for them.’
Fidelma peered round and caught sight of Brother Cú Mara.
‘Get our horses, quickly!’ she called.
The steward was looking confused. However, Socht, having partially recovered from the blow, was coming out of the oratory with his two fellow warriors helping him. Hearing Fidelma’s order, they ran towards the stables. While Fidelma and Conrí fretted impatiently, moments passed, and then the warriors returned leading their horses.
A short time later, Conrí, followed by Fidelma and Eadulf, swept out of the gates of the abbey at a canter. Eadulf was hanging on for dear life, unused to the pace. Socht and his companions were left behind trying to organise horses for themselves.
Fidelma, keeping pace alongside the warlord, shouted across as they rode along the path to the coastal port.
‘What if they stand and fight before we reach the coast?’
‘That is not Slébéne’s style, by all accounts,’ cried Conr
. ‘He’ll make for the protection of his ship and his men.’
. ‘He’ll make for the protection of his ship and his men.’‘But he must realise that Tadcán has been forewarned.’
Conr
did not bother to reply. They rode on in silence. It was soon evident that Tadcán and Slébéne were in conflict. As they neared the port of An Bhearbha they saw smoke rising. A moment or two later they swung over the hill and down into the bay.
did not bother to reply. They rode on in silence. It was soon evident that Tadcán and Slébéne were in conflict. As they neared the port of An Bhearbha they saw smoke rising. A moment or two later they swung over the hill and down into the bay.Other books
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