Insurrection: Renegade [02] Read Online Free PDF Page B

what would you do with it?’
    Robert steeled himself to the challenge in the older monk’s stare, feeling Murtough could see right through to the desire in his heart – a desire that had little to do with protecting the relic and everything to do with atonement for his sin in the theft of another. If King Edward offered him the Stone of Destiny in return for the staff tomorrow he would gladly accept. He levelled the monk with his gaze, giving away nothing of his thoughts. ‘I would prevent him from taking it. My ancestor offended St Malachy and our family has suffered ever since. For my grandfather and my line, this is my chance to right that wrong.’
    For a long moment, Robert didn’t think Murtough was going to respond, then the monk set down his goblet.
    ‘After Ulster’s men ransacked our abbey and found nothing we thought that would be the end of it, but then we discovered his knights were keeping watch on us, following our brothers when they left the abbey grounds, questioning anyone who visited – labourers, laundresses. A little over two months ago one of our acolytes disappeared. It emerged that he had been seen meeting with Ulster’s knights. Some time later, we discovered documents were missing from our vault.’ Murtough paused. ‘We fear Ulster may now know of Ibracense.’
    Robert frowned. ‘Ibracense?’
    The younger monk glanced at Murtough, who nodded. ‘When Malachy was elected Abbot of Bangor he rebuilt the abbey, but soon after it was attacked by a local chieftain and Malachy and his brethren were forced to flee south. On an island in a great lake, our blessed founder built a monastery where he and his brothers remained, isolated from the barbarities of the world, for three years. Malachy called it Ibracense. He was forced to leave this sanctuary when he took up his position as Archbishop of Armagh, wresting the Staff of Jesus from Niall mac Edan. He never returned. It is only recalled in the records of our abbey, which he rebuilt once more before he passed away. The documents that were stolen from our vault speak of Ibracense – not its location, which is known to only a handful of our brethren – but the description is enough to offer a guide. Soon after our acolyte disappeared, Ulster’s men vanished from Bangor. We believe they are looking for the island. If they find it, they will find the staff.’
    Murtough looked at Donough, his expression now weary, defeated. ‘It is why we answered your summons. We do not have the ability to keep moving it, or soldiers to guard it. The relic’s concealment was all we could rely on.’
    Robert spoke. ‘I can take it to Scotland and secure it until both our countries are free of Edward’s control. When it is safe to do so, I will return it to you.’
    After a silence, Murtough nodded. ‘We will take your proposition to the abbot.’
     
     
    Loughrea, Ireland, 1301 AD
     
    Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster and Lord of Connacht, took the roll of parchment the clerk handed to him. The royal seal hung heavily from it, the red beeswax, imprinted with King Edward’s coat of arms, cracking around the edges. The earl’s face, webbed with scars, was grim as he scanned the inked rows of letters and numerals. Around him the chamber bustled with servants, packing clothes into chests and removing tapestries from the lime-washed walls, emptying the chamber of its movable wealth.
    ‘As you can see, Sir Richard,’ said the chancellor carefully, ‘the revenues requested from Westminster have almost doubled this past year. The exchequer has been forced to raise taxes in order to meet King Edward’s demands without further impoverishing our administration at Dublin. We are stretched to the limit as it is.’
    Ulster looked up from the roll at the chancellor’s solemn face, thinking the man was shrewd to blame the office for the rise, rather than himself as the exchequer’s chief clerk, or indeed the king.
    The chancellor laced his thin fingers. ‘You must