Chalice of Blood Read Free Page B

state,’ Abbot Iarnla said.
    ‘It was in the purview of my office to suggest it,’ the steward said defensively.

    ‘So what was resolved by her visit?’
    ‘After a short time alone with Brother Donnchad last evening, Lady Eithne met me at the gate. She was in an agitated condition. Plainly she had been reduced to tears by her encounter. I feel that I must insist that we take some action. The Rule of the abbey must be obeyed. Because of Brother Donnchad, many of the brethren are restless and uncertain as to their behaviour. There is an air of anarchy that is spreading. I find that I need your authority to take some action to rectify this situation.’
    Abbot Iarnla nodded. ‘Yet it is of Brother Donnchad that we speak. He is not only a great scholar but also a hero to the younger brethren, an exemplar to the others …’
    ‘All because of his successful pilgrimage to the Holy Land,’ pointed out Brother Lugna. ‘It is because of this that his behaviour is so destructive. It cannot be allowed to continue.’
    The abbot sat upright suddenly, as if making up his mind.
    ‘You are right, Brother Lugna. I am at fault for allowing too much tolerance of Brother Donnchad’s behaviour. My excuse for my delay is my respect for his achievements. Now I must confront him and demand his acceptance of the Rule of our community.’
    Abbot Iarnla rose abruptly from his seat and Brother Lugna, surprised by his action, followed his example. Without a further word, the abbot turned and led the way from the room. Outside, they passed the wood-bearing Brother Gáeth, now red-faced, as he struggled with an armload of dry wood for the abbot’s smouldering fire. He pressed himself against the wall to allow their passage, his head bowed. They passed by without acknowledging him.
    Across the main stone-flagged quadrangle, in whose middle a fountain had been constructed around a natural spring, stood a new three-storey building made of stone. It was set in one corner of the quadrangle and two of its grey walls stood on the
edge of the abbey complex. From the walls of the building the land sloped steeply down to the dark waters called An Abhainn Mór, The Great River, which marked the northern borders of Lios Mór. It was an unusual building, for most of the others in the complex, except the chapel, were made of wood. But it was clear that there was much new building work taking place across the abbey where the elderly wooden structures were replaced with ones of stone.
    Abbot Iarnla moved swiftly for an elderly and rather portly cleric. Without pausing in his pace, he entered the stone building and climbed the flight of stairs to the upper floors with Brother Lugna hurrying after him. The door at the far end of the corridor on the top floor was the entrance to Brother Donnchad’s cubiculum , literally a ‘sleeping room’ in Latin. Abbot Iarnla halted before it but did not knock, as was the custom. He seized the handle and turned it. The door failed to open; it was locked.
    Irritated, the abbot took a step back and raised his fist, giving three sharp blows on the dark woodwork.
    ‘Open, Brother Donnchad. It is I, Abbot Iarnla.’
    He waited a few moments but there was no response.
    Behind him, Brother Lugna coughed nervously. ‘As I told you, this aberrant behaviour is now usual. He does not respond to any of our entreaties to open.’
    Abbot Iarnla raised his fist again and gave several sharp blows to the door. Then he paused and announced in a stentorian tone, ‘This is the abbot, Brother Donnchad. You are commanded to open this door.’
    There was still no response. The abbot’s features grew grim and bright spots of red on his cheeks showed his mortification.
    ‘Brother Donnchad, if you do not open this door, I shall summon the means to break it open.’
    As the silence continued, the abbot turned to Brother Lugna.
    ‘Summon Brother Giolla-na-Naomh.’

    Brother Lugna hurried off. When he eventually returned with the Abbey’s