“Due to the indisposition of Abbott Cedd, this Synod is suspended for the rest of the morning.” To me he spoke quietly, “Find out the cause and report to me in my chambers in no more than an hour. I will expect definite answers.” I bowed acknowledgement and stepped aside as the King swept out. “Guards! Clear the chapel of the crowd!” he called, and the guards set to with a will. A group of four monks from the monastery had arrived with a stretcher and had placed it on the floor beside Cedd, who looked as if he was about to pull himself on to it.
“No!” I cried, “Cedd, no, you must not move yourself at all. It will cause you more harm. Brothers, lift him carefully - very carefully - and put him on the stretcher, then take him as gently as you possibly can to - where is he going?” I was told that a cell had been made ready in the infirmary. “Good. I’ll be along directly. I have to get my bag and medicines.” They did as they were instructed and I looked around for something I wanted to examine - and there it was. The cup that had been so thoughtfully provided for Cedd. It was lying on its side, under his chair and all the liquid had drained out of it. I stowed it away under my robe and followed the stretcher bearers out of the chapel and into the yard, where the crowd still milled about in confusion and curiosity. The words ‘a judgement from God: it is God’s message’ could be heard here and there. I tried to locate the source but it was impossible. A way was cleared and the bearers proceeded slowly, as instructed, but unimpeded. I went off at a run to my sleeping quarters and collected my bag.
I retrieved the cup in the dark and quiet of our dormitory, settled myself down, closed my eyes to calm myself and then took a deep sniff, held it, and considered the aromas I experienced.
Cedd’s hand. Cedd was distinctive, not unpleasant. A little sweet, which indicated an over-long fast. Probably when he was granted the land at Lastingham. No more fasting for him until he was fully fit.
A short sniff. Wood, from the beaker itself.
Another sniff. There was a particular scent that was in the stones hereabout, and it was detectable, quite noticeable.
Sniff. Berries, old, last year’s store. And apples. The flavouring for the cordial.
Sniff again. Gorse. Blossoms would have fallen into the stream from which the water had been drawn.
Sniff. There was the scent of honeysuckle and briar, strong scents. They gave the water a more pleasant taste but I felt they’d been added to cover something else. Sniff.
Sniff, and sniff again. Something else, something that jarred with the others. A tall plant came to mind. Sage green. Furry stem. Some purple. Angular, pointed leaves. Small, angular flowers. Like stars in the night sky, bunched together, and bunched again.
Hemlock!
I shoved the cup back in my robe, grabbed my bag of medicines, ran to the infirmary and was directed to a small room at the end of the corridor. Aeldred and Aeldwin were there; the younger of the two seemed to be complaining about being ejected from his accommodation. His superior was trying to calm him, ineffectually.
“There is a sick man in there. His need is greater than that of a fit young novice,” I said sternly as I rushed towards them. Aeldwin opened his mouth to speak, saw who it was, and shut it like a trap. I brushed past and closed the door behind me. Cedd lay on the bed, still looking confused. Colman and Chad were making him comfortable.
“Anselm! You’re here,” Cedd exclaimed weakly. “What’s wrong with me?” I took a breath. Honesty was the best policy.
“Cedd, my friend, you’ve been poisoned.” Two gasps and a sob followed the announcement. “I know what by. I’ve found your cup and was able to discern what it is. I can keep you alive but you must do exactly,” I repeated the word for emphasis, “exactly what I say. Keep your movements to a minimum, because the slightest exertion will spread the poison round your body and kill you. I will prepare a draft to make you vomit first, then another to help you to sleep, and mix with it something that will fight the poison. Chad, can you go and get me three cups, a large bag of salt, a bucket and a pitcher of water? Draw the water with your own hand, from a fresh supply. Now?” Chad nodded and went. “And I will arrange for leeches to be applied to your legs, where the poison seems to be doing most damage at the moment, to drain what can be drained.”
“Why? Why poison me? Or was it an accident?”
“I’m not sure, but I don’t think so, I’m afraid. Why? Well, that can wait. I’ll find out. Right now, we have to stop it killing you. The rest we can deal with later.”
Chad returned with the three cups, a pitcher and a bag full of salt. At my request he poured water into two of the cups; I thanked him and prepared the salt water - a fifty-fifty mixture.
“Can’t I just stick my fingers down my throat?” Cedd asked.
“This first. Salt has antiseptic qualities, as well as making you vomit. Drink.” The patient did as he was told. “All of it. Now.” He put his fingers towards his mouth. “No, not yet. Let it mix, to dilute the poison itself and to make it easier for you to vomit. Just a couple of moments.” Cedd flopped back on his bed and rubbed his temples and forehead with one hand. “Headache?”
“Yes, and a...a...I feel drowsy. And numb.” I nodded and opened my medicine bag. I selected some dried nettle, dandelion and lemon balm and powdered them together in the third, dry cup, then added some of my own post-Vision medicine and diluted the mixture with a quarter of a cup of water. I put it on the small nightstand and sat down beside the bed, reached for the bucket and gently pulled Cedd up to a sitting position.
“Time to evacuate your stomach.” With my help, and Colman and Chad to empty the bucket and replenish the water so that there was something to bring up, we did just that. Such a procedure is never pleasant but if the choice is literally life or death, it must and will be done. It left Cedd feeling weaker and with a headache rendered worse by the strain. When it appeared that his stomach had settled, I got the drink of medicine.
“Drink this now,” I told Cedd, and helped him up to a sitting position.
“What is it?”