‘But it is his cousin Fínsnechta who is behind the plot – not the Eóganacht.’
‘We know that much, for Fínsnechta was apparently on board the Saxon ship. But we’ll talk about it in the morning,’ Eadulf assured her. ‘There is no need to stress yourself.’
‘The Saxon ship?’ The girl groaned. ‘Is it here?’
Eventually Eadulf persuaded the girl to lie back and try to relax. When he was sure that she was asleep, he rose and went back to where he thought Fidelma was sleeping. She was not. She was wide awake. He was about to say something but she placed a finger over her lips and shook her head.
She said softly: ‘Tomorrow. Everything is clear to me, but tomorrow we will have the last piece of this puzzle.’
Eadulf was disappointed but there was nothing to be gained from staying awake and trying to analyse what the girl had said.
It was well after dawn when the hollow sound of the bell woke Eadulf. He sat up and glanced around the guests’ hostel, the large single room with its many beds in which they had spent the night. Enda was already up and crouched before the fire, stacking some logs on its smouldering base. Fidelma was stirring beside him, yawning in protest. He looked across at the girl, Cairenn. She, too, seemed to be reluctantly waking at the sounds of the bell and of movement outside. It seemed that Enda had already washed. It was the custom of the people to wash only the face and hands in the morning. Eadulf moved to perform his toilet and, having done so, went to the girl’s bed. She was awake, blinking in the morning light.
‘How do you feel?’ he smiled.
‘A dry mouth and a strangely light head,’ she replied.
He placed a hand on her forehead and nodded with approval.
‘The fever is gone,’ he said with satisfaction. He was standing up when the door opened and the young man Pilib entered.
‘You have missed morning prayers,’ he announced but his tone did not sound censurious. Eadulf thought he was conveying the feelings of Éladach. ‘My lord is strict about his Eastern Faith and likes people to join in morning prayers.’
‘I think your lord will appreciate that more urgent matters required our attention,’ Eadulf returned drily. ‘Has the warrior, Petrán, returned from the river yet? From his mission to see whether Grella and Fínsnechta had found a boat on the river and left the territory?’
‘Not yet.’
‘Is there anything else you need?’ Eadulf asked – the young man seemed reluctant to leave.
‘Has the girl …?’ He looked across at Cairenn. ‘Has she recovered from her fever?’
‘As you will observe.’
Pilib stood there awkwardly and said: ‘It was I who found her outside our gates the other night.’
‘I am sure she will be most grateful,’ Enda said solemnly, from his position stretched out by the fire. ‘I am sure you now need to tell your lord that she is well.’
As the young steward left, Fidelma returned from washing and went to the girl. Cairenn was easing herself up on the bed and smiled awkwardly.
‘No ill-effects from the fever?’ Fidelma asked. When the girl shook her head, Fidelma said, ‘Perhaps it is a good time to speak about what happened? Firstly, how did you get here?’
Cairenn shrugged. ‘There is little to say that you cannot guess, I suppose. After you urged me to flee, I met your companions. I agreed with them to take the horses to Baile an Stratha and wait there for three days.’
‘I understand you know that area of the Uí Liatháin country well?’ interposed Fidelma.
‘Not well, but I was a friend and companion of Grella long before she left the Uí Liatháin to wed Cenn Fáelad of the Uí Néill. We journeyed here together several times.’
Fidelma nodded slowly. ‘Continue.’
‘I was there a short time and arranged things with Báine. I went walking on the beach, only to be surrounded by a band of men. They were Glaisne’s men. The leader told me that my lady Grella was ill and needed me to go to her immediately. They told me to mount behind one of them and, of course, I went. It was not until we came to Cluain that they were stopped by a tall religieux in black. Their behaviour changed at what he told them.’
She paused and there was a catch in her throat. Fidelma prompted her to continue.
‘They took me to a cabin somewhere in these woods. Some of them rode off with the religieux. A few remained at the hut.’
‘How did you escape?’ asked Fidelma quickly.
‘I did not escape until after … after they ill used me.’ The girl shuddered and an expression of pain crossed her features. ‘They tied my wrists and then … then …’
Fidelma reached forward and took the girl’s hands.
‘You are safe now.’ Fidelma persisted: ‘You escaped. How?’
‘I finally loosened my bonds and climbed out of a window. Outside, it was dark and the wind was whipping the trees, and at one point I was so blinded that I fell into a stream. I was wet, cold and soon the chill was like daggers into my body. That was when I began to feel an ague come upon me.’
‘Was the place from which you escaped far from here?’
‘Perhaps on the far side of some hills. I was wandering for a time. I think a young man found me and brought me into this place.’
‘That seems so. A young steward, Pilib, found you outside this compound and brought you here … the sanctuary, as he calls it, of Éladach, Prince of the Uí Liathán. He is the brother of Glaisne but, be assured, certainly no friend of his,’ Eadulf smiled.
‘I did not know where I went for it was dark, cold and windy. I was wandering without purpose other than to find shelter and warmth. My mind seemed to leave me, until I woke with Brother Eadulf giving me a warm drink.’
Fidelma paused thoughtfully.
‘You said your abductors were stopped by a tall religieux in black robes and after he spoke to them their conduct towards you changed. Did you recognise that man?’
The girl’s eyes immediately widened. ‘How could I forget? He was at Finnbarr’s Abbey. Oh, it comes back to me now. I saw him watching me closely at the abbey. The strange thing was that I was sure that I knew him, from before I was at the abbey.’
Fidelma’s mouth tightened. ‘From where do you think you knew him?’
‘I can’t be sure. But there was something very familiar about him.’
‘Did Abbot Nessán or anyone else at the abbey know him?’
‘I don’t think so. I thought he was just a passing pilgrim who came there the evening after I arrived and claimed hospitality.’
Fidelma paused. ‘Did you know that he left the abbey on the morning of the abbot’s murder?’
The girl stared thoughtfully at Fidelma. ‘Do you mean that he might have been the one who killed Abbot Nessán?’
Fidelma shrugged. ‘It is not without logic. I was told that he left the abbey in the direction of Eochaill.’ She paused. ‘When he stopped Glaisne’s men, after they abducted you from Baile an Stratha, did you hear anything of what he told them?’
‘I could tell by their reaction that Glaisne was dead. He said that they should scatter and await further word. One asked what they should do with me.’ She caught her breath. ‘He said, “Whatever you want, but don’t let her leave here alive.” Then he rode off.’
Fidelma reached forward and patted the girl’s arm. ‘Let me take you back to what Grella told you in Tara. She said she had received a message from Abbot Nessán. Did that surprise you?’
The girl frowned for a moment and then shrugged. ‘Abbot Nessán was an influential man in these parts. He was in regular communication with the High King.’
‘But not necessarily with Grella. Did you not question that?’
‘No reason why I should.’
‘She told you that Nessán had warned her of an attempted assassination of her husband?’
‘She did, and that he felt the Eóganacht were behind it. He gave instructions that she was to take me and a personal guard and seek sanctuary at Cluain wit
h her cousin, Abbot Antrí. While there, she was to send me to Abbot Nessán to get details of the conspiracy.’
‘Did she tell you that she had been specifically told to send you?’
‘She did.’
‘And you did not find that strange?’
‘No reason why I should. She knew Abbot Nessán would trust me. I was a close relative.’
‘But you said that when you arrived he claimed he had not sent the message?’
‘That is true. By that time he had received a message from Cenn Fáelad, saying Grella had left him a note telling him she was sending me to hear the abbot’s evidence and trusted me, even though I am an Eóganacht. At the same time Nessán received a message from you, Fidelma, saying you were on the way to see him. That was when he decided to say nothing until you arrived.’
‘But Nessán said he had definitely not been in touch with Grella about this?’
Cairenn shook her head.
‘Tell me …’ Fidelma sat back. ‘You spent time with Grella at Tara and you must have seen a lot of happenings at the court in recent months.’
The girl frowned at the abrupt change of subject.
‘I was Grella’s companion, as I have said. But I was not privy to the politics of the court.’
‘But what about the social life?’
The girl nodded. ‘There were a lot of foreigners coming to see the High King: Gauls, Britons, even Saxons, and so there was much feasting and celebration. Grella really enjoyed such occasions, and Cenn Fáelad was often absent on matters of the kingdom.’
‘Were you ever aware of a Saxon prince who might have been an envoy to Tara,’ queried Fidelma, ‘a man called Aescwine?’
The girl’s features tightened in recognition of the name. ‘There were many envoys to the High King’s court. I think he was one of them.’
‘You know, of course,’ Fidelma went on, ‘that there were sections of Cenn Fáelad’s family who were rivals to his claim to the High Kingship – that his own brother was assassinated?’
‘And that is why Grella feared for his life,’ Cairenn replied hurriedly.
‘Did members of Cenn Fáelad’s family ever mix with the foreigners … foreign envoys like Aescwine?’
‘I suppose so. It would be natural.’
‘Did you know a relative of Cenn Fáelad called Fínsnechta?’
‘I was only Grella’s companion and so did not mix with the Uí Néill princes but …’
‘He was a tall man, I believe. Did you ever see such a man mixing with the Saxons at Tara?’
The girl’s eyes suddenly grew wide. ‘I don’t know what you are saying …’
‘No matter. I begin to see a picture now. All Abbot Nessán knew was that he did not send the warning to Grella, that she had misinformed you and that there was no Eóganacht plot to assassinate her husband. He was murdered and you were going to be blamed for it, but you thwarted the conspirators by managing to escape from the abbey. Thankfully, you left me a clue as to where you were going.
‘You were an Eóganacht and trusted by Nessán. There is some betrayal here, but I do not know what it is.’
Fidelma was thoughtful for a moment. Then she relaxed and smiled at the girl.
‘We will leave you to recover, Cairenn. We must join Éladach and you must now regain your strength. I will explain everything in due course.’
At once Eadulf intervened: ‘I shall ask that some broth be prepared to restore you.’
The girl grimaced. ‘I care little what it is for I am exhausted.’
They left her lying back on her bed with her eyes closed.
Outside the guest house, Eadulf glanced at Fidelma curiously.
‘I suspect you have something on your mind,’ he said pointedly.
Fidelma did not respond for a moment. ‘I have to admit that I am beginning to see a pattern emerging.’
‘We were worried about you,’ Éladach greeted them as they entered his feasting hall. He was alone before a blazing fire. Cold meats, cheeses and freshly baked barley bread were on the table, with a jug of goat’s milk. He waved them to be seated. Enda was already impatiently viewing the table.
‘Has the girl recovered?’ Éladach asked.
‘She will be well soon,’ Eadulf confirmed.
‘What was she doing here?’ queried the Éladach.
‘Well, to be honest, she had escaped from some of your brother’s men who had been holding her. She was Grella’s companion.’
Éladach looked shocked. ‘But if she was Grella’s companion …?’
‘She was not party to any conspiracy but was to be sacrificed by the conspirators. But it did not work out as they had hoped.’
A sound abruptly broke the silence. It was not the tolling of the bell at the gate of the community. It was the call of a military stoc, a trumpet. And it was close at hand.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
As Éladach and his companions rose anxiously to their feet, the young steward, Pilib, burst into the hall.
‘It is Petrán returning, lord,’ he announced breathlessly. ‘He has a prisoner with him. My lord, the prisoner is your cousin Antrí.’
Éladach sat back in his seat with a grim smile of satisfaction.
‘I had wondered where that vermin was hiding. I thought perhaps Glaisne had killed him but there is no such luck in the world. Vermin always seem to survive no matter their evil.’ He paused. ‘Pilib, tell Petrán to have him put under guard until we are ready for him …’
‘Lord, Petrán is accompanied by another person. This one is not a prisoner,’ Pilib added.
‘Who is he?’
‘Petrán says he is a lawyer.’
Éladach glanced at Fidelma in amusement. ‘Another lawyer? Well, one is enough for the moment. Let Petrán come here first and make his report to us. This other lawyer can wait. I want to hear what has happened to the lady Grella.’
The young man left to fetch Petrán and Éladach suggested they all resume their seats. They did not have to wait long for the warrior to join them.
‘Well?’ Éladach demanded after Petrán had saluted him.
‘The bad news is that Fínsnechta has escaped and taken the lady Grella with him,’ Petrán announced. ‘Witnesses saw the man we know as Fínsnechta accompany the lady Grella onto a small river craft. They sailed downriver. It seemed they had been met on the jetty by Saxon warriors, who then accompanied them. But another man had appeared at the same time and an argument followed. This other man was knocked down by one of the Saxons and left behind when they boarded their boat.’
‘I hope we will hear who this man was,’ Fidelma said.
‘We searched and found the man hiding after we arrived. My lord, the man was your cousin Antrí. We promptly made him our prisoner but he offered to make a bargain with us.’
‘He would,’ Éladach commented. ‘What sort of bargain?’
‘If we would give him his freedom, he would show us the place where Fínsnechta and the lady Grella were going.’
‘Did you make such a bargain?’ Fidelma asked sharply. ‘Were binding promises made to the man for his freedom?’
Petrán shook his head with a smile. ‘Thankfully, we had the advice of a young Brehon who pointed out that we would have been legally obliged to fulfil such a bargain if it were made. Anyway, I thought it was obvious where they would be going. So I insisted that he show us where first and said we would consider the matter afterwards.’
‘You used the word “consider”? He agreed to that?’ Éladach asked in surprise.
Petrán grinned crookedly. ‘He had no option, lord.’
‘Where did you find this astute Brehon?’ Fidelma asked, frowning.
‘He had recently arrived at the river on his way to Eochaill. He told us that he, too, was in pursuit of Fínsnechta, for the crime of murder.’
‘For murder? Whose murder?’ demanded Éladach.
‘The murder of Abbot Nessán, lord.’
A look of satisfaction crossed Fidelma�
��s face and she asked quietly: ‘This lawyer … is his name Oengarb?’
Eadulf let out a gasp, and Éladach glanced questioningly in his direction. ‘You know such a Brehon named Oengarb?’ Then he raised his hand as if to silence a reply. ‘First things first. Petrán, did you set out for the place you thought Fínsnechta was making for?’
‘We did. Fínsnechta had had a good start ahead of us on the river. However, we had horses and rode across country. We arrived on a headland above Eochaill. Alas, we were just in time to see the Saxon ship hoisting sail and we could see Fínsnechta and Grella clambering aboard.’
Éladach smacked his right fist into the palm of his left hand and uttered a curse.
‘So they managed to get aboard the ship. Has it sailed? There were no Uí Liatháin warships around to impede their sailing?’
‘None, lord. But surely, even if the lady is taken as hostage, the High King will immediately negotiate a ransom to restore her to Tara?’
‘The wife of the High King has been abducted and I am responsible for allowing this man, Fínsnechta, to take her out of my protection. It will mean war. Grella is now helpless in Saxon hands.’
‘Not so helpless.’ It was Fidelma who spoke quietly, with a thoughtful smile. They all swung round to face her.
‘I don’t understand.’ Éladach gazed curiously at her.
‘I think, apart from a few small points, I can resolve this mystery. Let’s clear those small matters up first. Bring in Oengarb.’
Fidelma recalled that the young man was only a dálaigh and not a Brehon, and further was not as qualified as she was. The young man entered and halted, staring in surprise at Fidelma.
‘Greetings, Oengarb of Locha Léin. I did not think your law circuit would bring you here.’
She referred to the fact that Oengarb had initially told her he was on a cúartaigid, a legal circuit of the territory so that litigants could bring their cases to him without the necessity of travelling great distances.
‘No, lady. I was merely doing what you asked me to.’
‘Which was?’ Her expression showed that she already knew the answer.
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