The Dove of Death by Peter Tremayne Page A

rules of the community?’ Brother Metellus asked defiantly.
    Abbot Maelcar’s features reddened. His eyes flashed with fury.
    ‘You still defy me?’ His voice rose sharply.
    ‘Abbot Maelcar,’ Fidelma spoke quietly. ‘We are in the presence of a sick man in the infirmary. If you wish to raise your voice, then we should repair outside and away from this place.’
    The Abbot’s mouth opened in astonishment and he seemed at a loss for a moment at what he considered her impudence.
    Eadulf knew that she was doing no more than obeying the law that appertained in her own land. The laws of how hospitals were run were very precise, and nothing that disturbed the peace of the patients was to be allowed within a certain area of the house where the sick were being nursed – no barking dogs or noisy people. He moved forward, slightly in front of Fidelma, facing the Abbot, and spoke softly but firmly.
    ‘I suggest that we leave poor Berran in peace and continue this discussion outside. It is too important a matter to argue over the dogma of rules when lives are at stake.’ He turned to the worried-looking physician attending him and smiled to indicate his thanks, although Eadulf felt that his anxiety was more for the wrath of the Abbot than care for his patient.
    The Abbot turned on his heel. He was waiting for them outside, his expression angry.
    ‘I defer only to the sick man,’ he said, his tone harsh.
    ‘That is all we were asking you to do,’ replied Eadulf. Fidelma was surprised by his tone. He did not usually assume a belligerentmanner. ‘As to the matter in hand, this man had important information about the people who attacked and killed the merchant’s company. From his description, it was the same thieves who attacked our ship and killed the Prince of Cashel, the cousin of the Lady Fidelma here.’ For the first time Eadulf had abandoned the religious title to emphasise that she was sister of the King of Muman. Before Abbot Maelcar could reply, Eadulf continued: ‘That means these murderers and robbers are based in this vicinity. And that means your abbey might be in danger from them.’
    But Abbot Maelcar did not seem concerned.
    ‘Nonsense. Why would they, whoever they are, attack this abbey?’
    ‘There are many reasons why an abbey is attacked,’ pointed out Brother Metellus. ‘For the precious icons, the riches of the goods bestowed on them and offered in praise of the Christ.’
    ‘No robber would dare attack the Abbey of Gildas,’ snapped the Abbot.
    ‘If they would dare attack and kill merchants bringing goods to the abbey and within proximity to the abbey, then why not attack the abbey itself?’ Fidelma’s voice was still soft but her delivery was studied. ‘If they would dare attack a ship sailing under the protection of a King’s envoy, why bother about a remote abbey? This matter should be brought to the attention of your lord, or his deputy, so that he may extend his hand in protection here in case of attack.’
    ‘Nonsense!’ Maelcar said irritably. ‘How do we know that what this man,’ he gestured to the infirmary, ‘says is the truth? A wounded man comes to the abbey with a story that starts a panic – who knows what his motivations are?’
    Fidelma considered him with surprise.
    ‘I presume that you have already sent someone to the spotwhere this attack took place to ascertain the facts and see if there were other survivors too badly wounded to move?’
    The Abbot raised his chin stubbornly.
    ‘I am not to be panicked into any course of action until I know the facts.’
    ‘You will not learn the facts by sitting here and quoting rules!’ Fidelma admonished him. ‘There might be wounded men out there dying for lack of attention. We must go to where this attack took place and discover the facts.’
    ‘I know the place that Berran was speaking about,’ said Brother Metellus. ‘It’s less than a kilometre east from here in a wooded area. It would be ideal for the sort of