The Shapeshifter's Lair

by Peter Tremayne

  ‘The serious facts are why this happened,’ returned Fidelma unperturbed. ‘I know that you will have that explanation. Brehon Brocc’s death is also serious, but what is at the root of this is the conspiracy, and you can tell us about that.’

  Princess Gelgéis was troubled. ‘You know of it? Our capture was part of the conspiracy. I heard rumours and that was why I was on my way to see my cousin, Abbot Daircell. So is it true?’

  ‘Because of this, as far as you and Spealáin are concerned, you must remain hidden until I am ready.’

  Eadulf looked startled. ‘You know everything?’

  ‘Everything? No, not everything, but enough to present sufficient facts to force others to supply those that are missing. For the moment, Eadulf, we must return unseen to the vicinity of Láithreach. If Enda has not returned by the day after tomorrow then I shall have to assume help is not coming and try to work out another plan. Now we must put the Princess and Spealáin out of sight for two days. They must be hidden that long.’

  ‘But where are we to hide them at Láithreach?’ Eadulf demanded. ‘Even those old barges where that prostitute lived won’t be safe.’

  Fidelma gave one of her mischievous grins. ‘We are going to hide ourselves in Cétach’s cabin.’

  TWENTY-TWO

  Fidelma was soon feeling guilty at bringing Gelgéis and Spealáin into the cold and darkness of Cétach’s cabin, with its putrid odours. She reasoned it was the last place anyone would look once they found the cave empty and the prisoners escaped. After they had settled as comfortably as was possible, Fidelma took charge.

  ‘Firstly,’ she instructed Gelgéis, ‘tell us your story of why you were on your way to the Abbey of Cáemgen and how you were taken prisoner.’

  ‘It is a tale simply told,’ replied the princess. ‘You know that many rulers of my poor land of Osraige have used its position to extract demands from either the Kings of Laigin or of Muman? They use it as a buffer, a counter in a game of fidchell between the two kingdoms by using one against the other.’

  Eadulf could immediately see the analogy of the board game where king pieces vied with one another to control the board.

  Princess Gelgéis continued, ‘More recently, you know how Crónán of Liath Mhór, one of my distant cousins and close to King Tuaim Snámha, conceived a conspiracy to create a situation where Laigin could use Osraige to invade Muman on the excuse that they were protecting us?’

  Fidelma said nothing as it had been she and Eadulf who had uncovered the conspiracy, which had led to the defeat of Crónán and forced Tuaim Snámha to accept Osraige as vassal to Cashel, paying tribute and reparation.

  ‘It is known that Tuaim Snámha has never been happy with the peace terms that the High King himself forced him to accept,’ Eadulf pointed out.

  ‘Exactly so,’ agreed Princess Gelgéis. ‘Stories reached me from time to time in Durlus Éile that he had not learnt to accept this position. A relative serving in his fortress visited me before I came into Laigin to tell me a worrying story. Tuaim Snámha had received emissaries from Laigin. They had offered him financial support if he would join with them to declare Osraige independent from Muman and stop paying the tribute. The rumour was that he was offered much gold and silver from the mines of The Cuala.’

  Eadulf let out a low breath. ‘Just to declare independence?’

  ‘Just to declare independence,’ Princess Gelgéis confirmed. ‘There is much meaning behind that word – “independence”. It meant that Osraige would immediately be in conflict with Muman. That would lead to a call for Laigin’s military intervention.’

  ‘I would not have thought that Tuaim Snámha would be so short sighted,’ Fidelma commented. ‘He would know that it would also bring Osraige into conflict with the High King and Chief Brehon once again.’

  ‘I was also surprised, but then I heard that Tuaim Snámha had rejected the proposition from Laigin.’

  ‘Then, if Tuaim Snámha did not accept the proposition …?’

  ‘I was informed that Osraige warriors were known to be training in camps. That gold and silver were being brought into Osraige.’

  ‘Implying?’ Fidelma prompted.

  ‘That either the report was untrue and Tuaim Snámha had made a deal with Laigin, or someone in our family had. If the latter, that meant there was a plot to replace Tuaim Snámha with someone more compliant with Laigin’s proposal.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘That I did not learn, but it had to be someone in my family, a member of the derbfine, otherwise they would not be accepted by the people.’

  The derbfine was of the bloodline, consisting of at least three generations of the family from a common grandfather, all of whom had to have reached the age of choice. The derbfine always met to decide on the most suitable member of the family to be acknowledged as their leader. They elected the head of the family from the High King down to the most minor chieftain, for there was no such concept as primogeniture in the law.

  ‘So, having heard this, what did you do?’ Fidelma asked.

  ‘I thought the best thing was to see my cousin, Abbot Daircell. I knew that he had many connections with the Uí Máil, who rule Laigin and, in spite of being of Osraige, he was trusted by them. If anyone would know if such conspiracies were planned, it would be him.’

  ‘You did not even consider that he might be part of such a conspiracy?’ queried Eadulf. ‘After all, he was one of your family and with a connection to the Uí Máil. That would make him an ideal suspect.’

  Princess Gelgéis was surprised for a moment, then shook her head. ‘No, his life has been bound up too long with the religious. Anyway, I sent him a message that I would be coming to talk with him about what I had learnt.’

  ‘You sent this message by pigeon?’ Fidelma asked.

  ‘I keep pigeons and use them as messengers, as does the abbey. We often exchange messages, keeping them short and in Latin, but written in Ogham characters, which makes it hard for them to be deciphered by unwelcome eyes.’

  ‘And Abbot Daircell replied?’

  ‘Just the words. He said: “Understood. Am expecting you.” So my Brehon and my steward and I took the direct path through The Cuala mountains. It’s the wider track that runs on the other side of the river, on the opposite side of the valley. We were coming through woodland near the mountain called Céim an Doire when there was a shout. We were ordered to halt and dismount.’

  ‘By whom?’

  ‘We could not see, but there were men hidden in the trees. Three arrows drove into the pathway before us to halt our progress.’

  ‘And so you obeyed the order to halt?’

  ‘Not at first. The ambushers were well hidden. Brehon Brocc threatened the weight of the law against them. Again we were ordered to dismount and this time we did. It would have been foolish to resist. The attackers emerged – half a dozen of them but they all wore coverings over their faces so there was no chance of recognition. From their clothing, I would say they were professional warriors, and certainly they had the discip-line of professionals.’

  ‘Were you not able to identify any of them?’ Eadulf pressed.

  Princess Gelgéis shook her head. ‘Not then, nor even later.’

  ‘What happened then?’ Fidelma asked.

  ‘The ambushers took what weapons we had and we were all bound and placed on our horses. We were led over the mountains into some isolated valley. I am not sure where – somewhere south-west.’

  ‘Can you describe it?’

  ‘There was a ruined building there; ancient and deserted. The smell was indescribable. Across the valley we could see and hear several men were working. It looked like a mine.’

  ‘How long were you there?’

  ‘Not long. Several days. One day, a new prisoner arrived. He looked like a nobleman. There was an argument and we heard that this man was killed. Then we were told to prepare for a journey back the way we had come. There was some discussion that we should be taken to a safer place, some
where from which we could not escape. It seemed we were taken back north and brought to the cave where you found us.’

  ‘But what happened to your Brehon?’ Eadulf asked.

  ‘It was when we arrived at the cave that Brocc managed to loosen his bonds and tried to escape. He was shot in the back and then one of our guards bent over him and …’ She paused and shuddered. ‘They took the body to one of those huts nearby. I heard someone say they would wait for orders about what to do.’

  ‘They eventually left his body elsewhere, where it was found and taken to the abbey,’ Fidelma explained. ‘That is what alerted us to the situation.’

  Princess Gelgéis looked surprised. ‘We have been a long time prisoners,’ she went on. ‘Prisoners in that deserted mine, the cave where you found us. I don’t know what they did with our horses.’

  ‘Was anything said to you as to why you were prisoners?’

  ‘Nothing at that time.’

  ‘No word of explanation? No threat? Nothing?’

  Princess Gelgéis was firm. ‘I tell you, nothing was said at that time. The guards always wore some sort of masks.’

  ‘What about the person who brought you food?’

  ‘The cackling old crone? They didn’t seem to care about her. But I did not see much of her and probably will not recognise her anyway. She was just a shapeless old woman passing food through the door.’

  ‘You say your captors did not speak at the time they captured you. That implies that they spoke to you afterwards?’

  ‘They did. Well, one of them. After some time passed … I don’t know how long. Days, I think … they bound me and took me from the cave. I was taken to one of the huts outside and sat in a chair. A hood was placed over my head. Then someone came in. It was a male voice and he addressed me courteously.’

  ‘So what was said?’

  ‘He spoke directly and with no attempt to dress things up with explanations. I was told that if I had a mind to, I could become ruler of Osraige. I would have to break off my engagement with Colgú and declare Osraige to be independent from tribute to Cashel. I refused immediately and was taken back to the cave. This happened three or four times over the period. The same question to which I gave the same answer. I replied that Tuaim Snámha was King of Osraige, chosen by the derbfine, as the law prescribed, and would remain so until he was legally declared not so.’

  ‘Do you have any idea who the person was that proposed this?’ Eadulf asked.

  ‘No, except the last time he said that there was not much time left for me to make a decision. I was also advised to think seriously about whose side I was on. I would serve the people of Osraige either way by leading them or being a martyr.’

  ‘Or being a martyr?’ Fidelma was puzzled.

  ‘The man threatened that it would be easy to prove I had been assassinated by an agent of the Eóganacht to stop my marriage to Colgú.’

  ‘There is nothing else that you can tell us about your captors?’

  ‘Just that it was obvious they were in this conspiracy to overthrow Tuaim Snámha and it was proposed that I should replace him as a figurehead under their patronage. I refused.’

  Fidelma sighed and shook her head in bewilderment. ‘At least it seems that the conspiracy with Laigin does not involve your cousin, Tuaim Snámha. Everyone knows that you are a popular figure in Osraige. If you appeared as a figure calling for the country to cease its tribute to Cashel and become independent, or if it was somehow proved that you had been assassinated by agents of Cashel … either way, Osraige would rise up and turmoil would ensue. Laigin could claim that they were interceding to stop Cashel invading Osraige.’

  ‘It is an horrendous idea. I am engaged to Colgú. Who would think me so duplicitous? Would the people of Osraige not suspect that I was being forced into this situation?’

  ‘Some might suspect, many might not,’ replied Fidelma. ‘It depends who is behind this conspiracy. I am afraid you must cast your thoughts to members of your own family. Unfortunately your popularity has made you necessary to their plot, either as a puppet or as a martyr, to be used by them.’ She glanced at the darkening skies. ‘We must return to the abbey, lest we cause suspicion. Try to make yourselves comfortable and we will return in the morning.’

  There was no other alternative to leaving them there, as she pointed out to Eadulf. There was even a small fenced-off area where the horses of the guards could be left. Gelgéis and Spealáin had to remain in hiding for at least two nights and a day, for the moment their captors had found out that they had escaped the hunt for them would be intense. Also, if Fidelma and Eadulf were absent from the abbey, certain conclusions would be drawn, especially with Enda also absent. It was not going to be comfortable, Fidelma admitted to Princess Gelgéis, but better than being prisoners in the abandoned mine. They had the blankets they had taken from the cave, which would be enough to keep them warm without the necessity of lighting fires and alerting the local people to the fact that the cabin was occupied.

  It seemed very quiet as Fidelma and Eadulf approached the abbey, riding across the echoing wooden bridge and into the main abbey grounds. Then, out of the darkness, the figure of Brother Aithrigid emerged.

  ‘The hour grows late, lady,’ he greeted. ‘Have you ridden far, lady?’

  ‘Only from the township,’ she answered truthfully.

  Fidelma swung down from her horse as stable lads came out of the gloom to take their horses and lead them away to the stables.

  ‘The bell for the evening meal will be sounding shortly.’

  ‘Then we will have to eat uncleansed,’ Fidelma returned, unperturbed.

  ‘At least we can cleanse our hands in that,’ Eadulf suggested, pointing to the water trough.

  Brother Aithrigid sounded disapproving. ‘The abbot is particular that the rituals are kept.’

  ‘The choice between eating and disobeying ritual is an easy choice to make,’ Eadulf replied gravely. ‘Nourishment of the inner being comes first before the cleansing of the outer being.’

  Eadulf had barely plunged his hands into the water trough than the bell started sounding from the refectory. Fidelma quickly cleansed her hands and followed Eadulf into the feasting hall.

  As they did so, Fidelma whispered: ‘Tomorrow, we must make ourselves conspicuous. I am sure the conspirators will watch us carefully once they know Gelgéis and Spealáin have escaped.’

  Eadulf frowned. ‘Who do you suspect of being the conspirators?’

  ‘I have suspicions but no evidence. Tomorrow, get Abbot Daircell to show you his pigeon loft and explain how it works. You might learn something. I shall go to Láithreach and attract attention to myself, asking questions around the township. I shall avoid the area where Cétach’s hut is. In this manner, we can confuse the conspirators into thinking we had nothing to do with Gelgéis and Spealáin’s escape.’

  ‘You still have not told me where Enda has gone,’ protested Eadulf. ‘He will be missed tonight.’

  As they pushed through the doors into the refectory hall, Abbot Daircell was in his place and already rising to intone the gratias, which he did without feeling, running through it as if it were a meaningless ritual. It was clear the abbot was very distracted. They took their places at the table and exchanged formal greetings.

  ‘What word is there of your investigation?’ Abbot Daircell asked immediately in a low tone.

  ‘There is little positive to say at this time. But I would hope it will not be long before we have some hypothesis to discuss.’

  The physician, Brother Lachtna, leant forward and employed one of his cynical grins. ‘An hypothesis only? Come, lady, did you not see any of the Aos Sí in your travels? We are told there are plenty about at this time.’

  Brother Dorchú, who had joined them at the table, glared in annoyance at the jocular physician and was about to speak, but it was Eadulf who replied. ‘One sees what one expects to see.’

  A puzzled look crossed the physician’s brow. ‘What does that mean
?’

  ‘I think what Eadulf is saying is that if you expect to see Otherworld entities, you will surely find them,’ Fidelma intervened seriously. ‘I think we have come to agree with your steward, Brother Aithrigid, that the wraiths who haunt these desolate places are entirely human.’

  Brother Aithrigid stopped eating for a moment with an almost disconcerted expression on his features.

  ‘You found something then?’ he demanded sharply.

  ‘Oh, finding things is easy,’ Fidelma said complacently. ‘It is what you make of them that is important.’

  Eadulf was looking around. ‘Is the lady Aróc still a guest in the abbey? Is she not eating here tonight?’

  Abbot Daircell shook his head. ‘I think she and Corbmac have gone to find her brother, Scáth, who apparently is staying nearby.’ Then he switched the conversation back again. ‘I was hoping that you had found something specific towards resolving the mystery that has been set on us?’

  ‘We have yet to make such a resolution,’ Fidelma replied.

  Most of the rest of the meal was eaten in an uncomfortable silence. Finally a bell sounded to mark the canonical period.

  ‘It grows late and it has been a long day,’ Fidelma said, rising.

  It was Brother Aithrigid who looked at them in disapproval.

  ‘I know you have withdrawn from the religious, Fidelma of Cashel, but I see that you and Brother Eadulf do not bother to observe the Liturgia Horarum, even when staying in an abbey. Have you abandoned the religious entirely?’

  Eadulf decided to answer. ‘I don’t mind observing the seven daily prayers when there is time to do so, but, with due respect to the Blessed Benedictus of Nursiae, I object to getting up in the middle of the night for the Matutinus and thus exhausting myself for the rest of the day.’

  After a disapproving glance from Abbot Daircell, the steward did not reply.

  When they left the refectory only Brother Lachtna was still smiling at the riposte while the others’ faces were wreathed in disapproval.