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in a sheltered corner.
    ‘I did,’ agreed Fidelma. She paused to make herself comfortable. ‘I think that you wanted to tell me something about Sister Buan but were dissuaded by the presence of the abbot. Is it not so?’
    The young steward flushed and seemed to hesitate. ‘I suppose I was about to say that Sister Buan was more than the Venerable Cináed’s companion.’
    Fidelma gazed at him with interest. ‘In what sense are you speaking?’
    ‘As in male and female,’ he said as if in embarrassment.
    ‘Does that cause some concern? Is that not a normal relationship for men and women to follow?’
    ‘Oh, truly.’
    ‘Is not this abbey a conhospitae, a mixed house in which male and female live together working for the glory of God and where their children are raised to that ideal? Mind you, I have not seen many children here.’
    ‘It is so. We are a conhospitae . However, children are not encouraged here and there are some who …’ Brother Cú Mara hesitated.
    ‘Who would welcome these new ideas of celibacy coming from Rome?’ ended Fidelma.
    ‘Indeed. The Venerable Mac Faosma, for example, since he arrived here has been a vociferous advocate of the idea of celibacy. He would have all the females expelled from here and the abbey given over to being solely a male house.’
    ‘I see. Does that meet with the approval of the Abbot Erc?’

    The rechtaire grinned cynically. ‘Since the Venerable Mac Faosma came here, things have changed.’
    ‘So the arguments of Mac Faosma are clearly heeded by the abbot?’
    ‘Oh, there are many who support the argument for celibacy within the abbey.’
    ‘But the Venerable Cinaed did not?’
    ‘He did not and could quote from the holy writings, chapter and verse, to support his contention that the religious life was never meant to deny people what he described as that basic part of their humanity.’
    ‘That must have brought forth some response from the Venerable Mac Faosma?’
    ‘Indeed, it did. His words were quite violent and … oh!’
    The young man raised a hand to his mouth and looked shocked at the admission he had made.
    Fidelma did not comment. ‘I presume that Abbot Erc was well aware of their conflict?’
    Brother Cú Mara nodded unhappily.
    Fidelma sighed. ‘It seems our inquiry begins to show that poor Cinaed was not so universally loved as it was first claimed. He had a fierce antagonist and that antagonist had supporters in this abbey.’
    ‘But it was merely a conflict of ideas - celibacy versus non-celibacy. That has been debated within many communities and at many times.’
    ‘True enough,’ agreed Fidelma. ‘However, to begin to see the garden one must clear away the weeds.’
    Brother Cú Mara looked bewildered.
    ‘I don’t follow.’
    ‘It is of no consequence. Your information is most useful. Is there anything else that I should have been informed about?’
    The young steward continued to look puzzled.
    Sister Fidelma unbent.
    ‘Last night we were asking about people who nurtured possible enmity against the Venerable Cinaed. We are at first informed that everyone loved him. Little by little we learn that the Venerable Mac Faosma was his scholastic enemy and used violent words against him. Not just that, but that the Venerable Mac Faosma had a following. Were they equally violent towards the Venerable Cinaed? Were there others who displayed hostility to him?’
    Brother Cú Mara shrugged.

    ‘I do not think that the Venerable Mac Faosma or any of his supporters would go so far as—’
    Fidelma made a quick cutting motion with her hand.
    ‘Perhaps that is for me to decide … once I am given the relevant information.’
    The young steward shook his head.
    ‘I have only heard cross words exchanged between them during their debates. Although I have heard the Venerable Mac Faosma berating Sister Buan in private for her relationship with Cinaed.’
    Fidelma closed her eyes for a moment.
    ‘You told me last night that you knew Cinaed