Master of Souls

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Eadulf was doing his best to prevent himself from giving way to seasickness. While he had an horizon to look at he could control it, but as dusk gave way to darkness there was little to focus on. The up and down motion of the naomhog was difficult to gauge. He found himself desperately clinging to the side of the vessel for support as the frail craft began the slow climb up the waves before falling with a suddenness that left his stomach in the air behind him.

In front of him, backs to the bow, sat Socht and his companion, each with the curious bladeless oar which was traditionally used with these vessels. Behind them were Gaeth and Gaimredan, also with an oar apiece. The four men bent their backs, using great reaching strokes to send the craft through the dark waters. Fidelma and Eadulf sat facing the bows, directly in front of the two warriors, while Conri. sat behind in the stern, ready to grasp a fifth oar to use it as a tiller if it was needed.

Gaeth had told Eadulf to place his feet carefully in case he inadvertently stuck his foot through the hide covering of the canoe. Eadulf had to place them on the wooden framework to which the hide was tightly sewn. He hoped those in front of him were unable to see his white face, his panic-stricken features, as the boat heaved in the waves, and, now and again, when the sea threw its salt waters over him.

He shivered slightly and hoped no one could see him in the darkness. Then he hoped, if his companions had seen him, that they might take it as a reaction to the penetrating cold of the winter’s evening. Even though everyone had furs and sheepskins wrapped round them, the icy winter fingers permeated their clothing.

Since the boat had been launched from the broad sandy beach of Breanainn’s bay no one had been able to speak. The noise of the waters

Once or twice, through the darkness, Eadulf saw the white of pounding surf and realised that they must be passing some rocks or small islets. It only increased his fear, not knowing whether they might strike a rock any moment and be precipitated into the waters. In the darkness, so far from land, it would be an agonising death. He tried to concentrate his mind on the prayers that he had been taught and realised that the words that came into his mind were not the prayers of the New Faith but the prayers of his childhood to the ancient sea gods and goddesses of the Saxons.

He glanced at the shadows of the oarsmen before him. In spite of the gyrations of the craft, their dark figures seemed to sit relaxed, moving back and forth in unison, all swaying in an easy, flowing motion, as if they were part of one another, the oars slipping easily into the sea in spite of the waves. Down went the four oars together, never missing a stroke. Eadulf envied them. Envied their ability at the oars; envied their apparent calm.

He glanced to his side. Fidelma was a still shadow in the darkness. He wondered what she was thinking as she sat there so relaxed. Did she share any of his fears? No, not Fidelma. She seemed fearless. Fearless as usual. Quiet, determined and logical.

He became aware of a slightly different sound above the noise of the wind and waves and glanced up, narrowing his eyes and trying to focus in the shadows. Ahead of them was a line of white water showing in the darkness. They seemed to be rowing straight forward. A panic seized him. He was about to shout a warning when Gaeth gave a bellow and the oars ceased their stroke. The craft was left bobbing up and down on the waters.

Eadulf peered round. The turbulent seas had stilled a little and he realised, to his amazement, that they were standing near the shore of a large island, almost sheltered from the wind and the brisk larger waves.

Fidelma leant close to his ear and shouted, pointing to the white breakers.

‘This is Seanach’s Island!’

Eadulf realised he had been so buried in his thoughts that the time had passed quickly and he had almost forgotten his nausea.

It seemed that Gaeth had given an order and the two warriors had shipped their oars, leaving it to the smith and his companion to guide the boat along the rocky shoreline. Eadulf could make out nothing on the island. It was just a dark mass rising a little way above them. The craft moved quickly along. Judging by the blackness of the shape he guessed they had come to a headland of sorts where the south-east corner of the island met its eastern shore. This was where Gaeth claimed that there was a sandy beach where a safe landing might be made.

The sound of the heavy seas and wind had died away now as they reached the shelter of the island and Eadulf heaved a sigh of relief.

As they swung round the rocky outcrop, Conri gave a sharp warning cry.

They had almost collided with the dark outline of a large ship at anchor. Eadulf recognised its lines. It was the warship that had chased them. It appeared to be in darkness except for one lantern bobbing at its stern.

Gaeth and his companion brought their craft almost under the bows of the vessel. Luckily the craft was so light that it made not a sound as it came into the shadow of the warship. Gaeth and one of the warriors put out their hands to minimise the impact of the craft against the wooden timbers of the larger vessel.

They heard a harsh voice calling from the stern.

‘Did you hear something?’

A sleepy voice replied from nearby.

‘Are you joking? Oystercatchers, terns and gulls — isn’t that enough noise for you?’

‘I thought I heard a cry.’

‘You are lucky to hear anything after a few weeks on this bird-infested island.’

‘We are supposed to be on watch,’ snapped the other voice.

‘Watch for what? The old man was killed, wasn’t he? Didn’t Olcan say as much?’

‘He was, but no one has recovered the body.’

‘We saw the naomhog floating away with the old man slumped in it. You could see the arrow sticking out of his back. Do you think he was going to recover, spring up and row that craft all the way to the mainland? You have a great sense of humour.’

‘Well, what of the woman and her companion? I suppose we don’t have to worry about them?’

‘We’ll collect them tomorrow morning. If they made it to that other island safely, that is. They took the last of the hermits’ canoes and it was a leaky one at that. That’s why Olcan didn’t bother to destroy it. No sane person would have attempted to put to sea in that. They are probably drowned anyway. I don’t think we have to bother looking for them.’

There was silence for a moment.

‘Well, Olcan wants us to look over the island anyway.’

‘Why does Olcan think that they have gone there? There are plenty of nearer islands to the north and east.’

The other voice laughed harshly.

‘When it was found they had escaped, a search was made, and Olcan spotted their canoe heading to the north-west. It’s the only island of any size in that direction.’

‘They will have probably missed the island altogether in the darkness… if they didn’t sink first,’ the other responded.

‘When Olcan comes aboard at first light we’ll go and have a look. He doesn’t want to fall into disfavour with the Master.’

‘Who would?’ said the other one and the words were uttered with a note of fear in them.

In the darkness, Gaeth was indicating towards the headland around which they had come. He and Gaimredan laid into their oars, quietly sculling the boat back around the rocky outcrop and finding a stretch of quiet water. Then they shipped their oars.

‘Did you hear that, lady?’ Gaeth called in a low voice.

Fidelma leaned forward. ‘I did.’

‘It seems as if someone called Olcan is in charge,’ Eadulf observed, feeling he should contribute something.

‘The point is, lady,’ the smith continued, ignoring him, ‘that the religious are prisoners here and well guarded. From what was said, when the old man tried to escape, these people had no scruples but simply shot him. That was the old hermit you found dying, wasn’t it?’

‘It was.’

‘It sounded as if someone else has escaped from these people and fled to one of the other islands,’ Eadulf pointed out.

‘Well, no use worrying about them.’ From behind them, Conri entered

Gaeth was rubbing his chin.

‘From what they said, they were heading to the large island to the north-west. I know it. But that’s uninhabited. If they made it, then our friends in the warship will doubtless recapture them tomorrow.’

Fidelma looked at him with interest.

‘What are you suggesting?’

The smith was reflective for a moment or two.

‘That it is pointless landing on this island. It is well guarded and we know now that the religious are prisoners there. It needs more men than we have to effect any rescue. We might also put ourselves in danger of capture and then we would be unable to summon help.’ He paused.

‘Go on,’ Fidelma urged. ‘Your arguments are logical so far.’

‘If the two who escaped have made it to the other island, we might be able to rescue them and find out from them what is happening and who is behind it.’

Conri was sceptical.

‘You heard what the two men said. The boat probably sank and they are drowned.’

‘On the other hand, the boat might just have made it to the island,’ replied Gaeth. ‘The choice is yours, lady.’

Fidelma hesitated, then asked: ‘Do you think you can navigate to this other island?’

‘It is a place where Gaimredan and I have often lifted crayfish. I know it well.’

‘Then the sooner that we start out, the sooner we shall arrive.’ Without a further word, Gaeth and his company pushed out and manoeuvred the craft back to the open seas. At once the winds rose and the waters became choppy.

Eadulf’s fears came back again as he clung to the side of the pitching boat and once more all four oars were used to propel it across the black sea. Eadulf hoped there were no hidden rocks in the black waters. To his eyes, the seas appeared petulant and heavy, although a seasoned sailor would have observed that the waters were fairly calm.

He eventually became aware of a dark shape looming, just discernible against the western horizon where the sky touched the sea. He was surprised by the height of the cliffs that rose up before them, but then

Gaeth and his companion began to manoeuvre the boat towards the north end of the island. Sheltered from the south-westerly winds, the water grew calmer but was black and fearsome. Eadulf could see the white edges of rocks here and there. Suddenly he saw that they were heading for a black hole in the cliffs, and as it grew closer realised that they were heading for a small cave entrance. He thought a landing impossible. But there were large boulders forming a storm beach at the cave and Gaeth manoeuvred the boat up into a small natural harbour. He was out first, taking the bow rope and holding it while gesturing for the others to climb carefully for’ard and out of the vessel. Once everyone was out, the smith and his companion heaved the boat upwards and on to the smooth boulders above the sea so that it would not be harmed by any rebellious waves.

The air was more peaceful now. While the whispering of the sea continued, a soft breath of a night breeze filled the air. Eadulf realised that he could hear a curious croaking sound. Gaeth, when asked, told him it was merely the male natterjack toads that made the island their home. Now and then came the angry sound of a disturbed tern or gull. He followed the example of the others by stamping his feet to restore the circulation, having been so long in the boat in one position and chilled by the cold of the winter night.

It was then that Eadulf realised just how resourceful Gaeth was, for the smith had removed a leather bag from the boat. From this he took an object which a few moments later revealed itself to be a storm lantern, which the smith lit with the expert deployment of flint and tinder.

He held it up and the others gathered by its light.

‘It looks a large island,’ Fidelma commented, peering into the darkness around them.

‘Not very large. There are only two places where a landing could be effected,’ Gaeth replied. ‘You have seen one. The other is midway down the eastern side where there is another cave. There is no sign of a boat here so if they have managed to make it ashore, the only place they will be is in the other cave.’

‘Do you have another lantern?’ asked Fidelma. ‘It would save time if

Gaeth had, indeed, foreseen the need for a second storm lantern. They were of a type Eadulf knew was called lespaire, made from bronze, and probably the smith had fashioned them himself. They were filled with oil but what type Eadulf could only guess.

‘I will go with one party and Gaimredan will lead the other,’ Gaeth announced. ‘We both know the island and it will be best if both groups have a guide.’

Fidelma and Eadulf chose to go with Gaeth to the second cave while Conri. and his men went with Gaimredan to make sure of the cave at the spot where they had landed.

Eadulf was still a little dizzy from the trip and found he had difficulty keeping his balance on the rocky earth. But the others did not notice in the darkness.

They moved south, passing the rising hill that marked the centre of the island. Eadulf noticed that there seemed to be some shadows on it, just visible against the night sky. They looked like buildings and he remarked upon this.

‘Ancient stones put up when our gods and goddesses were young,’ Gaeth replied shortly.

It was not long before they came to the second cave.

‘If they made it, then that would be the landing place, down there on those stones. Then they would shelter in the cave.’

‘Can we get down there?’ asked Fidelma dubiously.

‘There is a path here, cut by the ancients who built that.’ He jerked his thumb towards the solitary dark hill. ‘Follow me carefully and step where I do. It’s only a three-metre drop but the stones below are sharp.’

He began to descend to sea level by a series of ledges, to where a shelf of stones separated the cliff from the sea and led along to the cave entrance.

They had all reached this level in safety when Gaeth suddenly surprised them by letting out a soft oath and raised his lantern higher.

‘What is it?’ Fidelma whispered, trying to see what he was looking at. The smith pointed ahead.

‘Just there, see it?’

They moved forward. Eadulf could see the broken pieces of wood and torn strips of hide lying in the surf.

‘Do you think it is their canoe?’ Fidelma asked. ‘Could they have made it ashore?’

‘We will soon find out,’ said Gaeth, turning for the cave.

He led the way in, holding the lantern up before him. The cave was not large and it did not take long to discover that it was empty.

Gaeth sighed deeply.

‘Well, unless Gaimredan had better luck, there is nowhere else on this island that they could be.’

Fidelma pulled a face in the gloom.

‘So if that was the remains of the naomhog they did not make it ashore.’

‘If,’ pointed out Eadulf logically. ‘We don’t know that for certain.’

‘Let’s go back,’ Gaeth said abruptly. ‘There is nothing here.’

They scrambled up to the top of the short cliff and began to move back across the island. They were skirting round the base of the small hill when Eadulf stared up towards the black shadows of the rocks on top. Something caught his eye and he came to a halt.

‘What is it?’ asked Fidelma as she nearly collided with him. Gaeth turned and paused.

‘Are there any animals on this island?’ asked Eadulf in a low voice.

‘None that I know of,’ Gaeth replied.

Suddenly, Eadulf was running up the slope in the darkness. It was only a short one, an incline rising three metres above where they had been standing. On top were several stone slabs. As he reached the top something launched itself at him. Hands grabbed him round the waist and he was knocked to the ground, falling so hard that his breath left him. A muscular body was on him, grasping at him, trying to pin him down. He was hard pressed to prevent himself being injured by the strong arms that searched for a hold round his neck.

He managed to cry out and the next thing he heard was Gaeth struggling with his assailant. Then Fidelma’s voice cried out.

Eadulf felt himself drifting into unconsciousness but then, mercifully, the pressure on his neck was released. He was coughing, gasping for breath, and the nausea came back with a vengeance. The weight of the person who had attacked him was gone. He sat up cautiously.

Gaeth was holding the lantern up and Fidelma was by his side.

Before them stood a tough-looking man, clad in the torn remnants of a religious robe, fists balled in a defensive attitude.

‘We mean you no harm, Brother,’ Fidelma was saying. She had been repeating it several times.

Eadulf retched again and Gaeth helped him to his feet.

‘Are you all right, Eadulf?’ Fidelma demanded, glancing at him.

He massaged his throat ruefully.

‘If surviving death by a fraction is being all right, then I am,’ he muttered as he turned to examine his attacker. The man stood arms and legs akimbo as if waiting for someone to attack him.

‘I presume that you are one of those who have escaped from Seanach’s Island?’ Fidelma asked.

‘You’ll not take me back there alive,’ returned the man in a curious accent.

‘We do not mean to,’ replied Fidelma. ‘We are here to rescue you.’

The man stepped back in surprise. ‘You do not mean to kill me?’

Fidelma’s voice was pacifying. ‘We heard of your escape and came in search of you. We are no more friends of those who held you as prisoner than you are. What happened to your companion? Are you the only survivor?’

From behind another of the stones a dark shadow slowly emerged. It was that of a woman.

‘I am Sister Easdan,’ she said slowly. ‘Who are you?’

‘I am Fidelma of Cashel. I came here in search of the killers of the Abbess Faife and to trace her companions.’

‘Fidelma of Cashel?’ The woman spoke slowly. ‘I have heard the name. Aren’t you a dalaigh?’

Fidelma nodded in the lamplight.

‘These are my companions, Brother Eadulf and Gaeth the smith. We have other friends further down by the shore.’

‘How did you trace us here?’ demanded Sister Easdan.

Fidelma made a dismissive gesture with her hand.

‘It is a long story, Sister Easdan. I presume that you are one of Abbess Faife’s companions from Ard Fhearta?’

‘I am.’

‘And this is Brother…?’

The burly man was hesitant.

‘You can trust me,’ Fidelma said encouragingly.

‘My name is Esumaro,’ the man replied hesitantly. ‘I am… I was skipper of the Sumerli, a merchantman out of An Naoned.’

‘An Naoned?’ Eadulf frowned. ‘That is in Gaul.’

‘Was your ship wrecked near where you were taken prisoner?’ asked Fidelma.

‘It was — and that, too. is a long story.’ replied the Gaulish sailor grimly.

‘The men who held me prisoner destroyed my ship and killed my men. It was only by the quick thinking of Sister Easdan and her colleagues, who disguised me as one of them, that my life has been saved so far.’

‘We found him some way from the shore.’ Sister Easdan joined in. ‘And then the raiders rode down on us, killed Abbess Faife, and took us away as prisoners.’

‘We heard that you had seized a canoe and escaped,’ said Fidelma. ‘You were seen making for this island. It was thought your boat was leaking and that you might not make it here. But your captors plan to come at first light to make certain.’

Esumaro made an angry hissing sound between his teeth.

‘We nearly didn’t make it because the boat was damaged. It was thanks to Sister Easdan here that we managed.’

‘There was nothing else to do,’ the girl said simply. ‘Water was coming into the stern through a hole. I was wearing a leather apron and I used a knife to puncture the leather then tied it to the hide with little strips cut into thongs. My father was a fisherman and I have seen it done before on a naomhog. It was simple and kept us afloat for long enough to reach here.’

‘It was impressive,’ the Gaulish sailor corrected with vehemence. ‘The leak would have sunk us within a short time. Sister Easdan worked with frozen fingers and waves cascading over her, struggling to tie a piece of leather over the hole. It was bravely done.’

Gaeth nodded appreciatively at their story.

‘How did you know where to land? Have you have sailed these waters before?’

‘I have sailed through these waters,’ affirmed Esumaro. ‘I have traded with the abbey of Ard Fhearta and know this coastline.’

‘So you knew where best to land on this island?’

Esumaro gave a bark of laughter.

‘Had I done so, my friend, I would not have lost the canoe that was our only hope of reaching the mainland. In trying to land on the island, I misjudged in the dark and the canoe broke up in the surf.’

‘You were lucky to come ashore then,’ observed Gaeth.

‘It was not without difficulty,’ agreed Sister Easdan with quiet humour.

There was a shout in the distance and a flicker of light. Esumaro started nervously.

‘What’s that?’

Fidelma calmed him. ‘That is the rest of our party, anxious for us. They probably heard the sounds of our struggle. I think it is best to get back to the mainland before light and you can tell us the main part of your story. Then we must form a plan to rescue the others.’

They rejoined Conri, Gaimredan and the others. Some corma was drunk to put warmth into them and they ate some wheaten cakes, which Gaeth had kept dry in his leather bag. Then they clambered into the naomhog and the oarsmen began to pull away from the island, heading out into the darkness back towards the mainland.

Eadulf tried to concentrate on analysing what this adventure meant. It was one way of trying to prevent the seasickness returning although he did not hold out much hope of it. He only prayed that he would not make an idiot of himself and vomit in front of everyone. Concentrate!

After Ganicca had described what had happened at his village, he suspected that Fidelma and Conri. were now presuming that Uaman the Leper was still alive. That could not be. Eadulf was sure. He tried to recall the memory of how the leper had been sinking into the quicksand when the great wave had come sweeping in and Uaman was there no more. He would stake his life that Uaman had perished in spite of what everyone now thought.

Who was Olcan? Why would a group of men on a warship abduct a group of religious and imprison them on an island of hermits? Why would they kill them when they tried to escape? Why kill the Abbess Faife? Why would they also wreck a merchant ship from Gaul? They were questions that he realised could not be answered with the knowledge he had. He knew what Fidelma would say. Never try to make a deduction until you have sufficient knowledge. And how did this matter connect with the murder of the Venerable Cinaed? Indeed, did it have any connection at all? Was it simply a coincidence?

On reflection, he believed that the young girl — what was her name? Sister Sinnchene — had killed Cinaed. It was a classic tale of jealousy and rejection. Then he considered further. There was the Venerable Mac Faosma to consider. He hated Cinaed. That much was obvious. But would a scholar resort to killing a fellow scholar? Then there was the physician

He realised with abruptness that his mind was racing. There were too many possibilities. Fidelma was right. You could not make any deductions without sufficient knowledge. He was merely guessing.

The increasing noise of seabirds make him glance up. To his left he saw a headland and his heart leapt. Had they already reached the mainland? The plaintive call of gulls was growing stronger, mingling with the crash of the surf, and he could see, by the pale light spreading in the eastern sky, a long low belt of sandy shore stretching away in a curve to the south.

They were back in Breanainn’s bay.

He had heard much about the Blessed Breanainn and his fabulous seven-year voyage out on the high seas. Well, the saintly man was welcome to such wanderings. Eadulf vowed he would never step on board ship again — not if he could help it. He had done enough sea travelling in his life. It was reassuring to see the mainland again. His spirits lifted and he sat back more comfortably.

It was not long before the naomhog turned and went racing ashore with Gaeth and Gaimredan bringing it almost to the very spot they had set out from. And looking at the eastern sky Eadulf realised that they had set out when the sun had gone down in the west and now there was a light in the east. He was exhausted and wondered how Gaeth, his companion and the warriors who had taken the oars were able to stand.

With quiet instruction, Gaeth hid the oars at the top of the shore by some trees. Then the men lifted the naomhog on their shoulders, balancing bottom upwards, and set off down the path to Loch Gile. Fidelma, Sister Easdan and Esumaro came behind while Eadulf was given the task of carrying Gaeth’s leather bag.

They walked in silence and kept that silence even after they had deposited the boat by the loch shore and moved to the forge.

As if by common consent, the first task was banking the fires at Gaeth’s dwelling house and then, without more ado, still in their sodden clothing, they spread themselves around it and were all asleep within moments.