‘The speculation is endorsed by one eyewitness,’ Fidelma replied calmly. ‘Echna, the equestrian performer whose wagon was just in front of the wagon of Ronchú and Comal, told me something that continued to worry me. Comal had said that they were proceeding along the highway when her husband alerted her to the flames from the wagon behind them. She blew the alarm horn. She said that she had not seen the body of the girl lying near the rear wheel of her wagon until she looked back. But Echna told me that she had happened to glance back to see Comal climbing onto her wagon before she blew the warning. She presumed that she had heard or saw something, went to investigate, saw the flames and then issued the warning. She, too, thought that the girl had leaped from the driver’s seat, run forward to the rear of their wagon and collapsed.
‘Comal stands convicted out of her own lips. As to the knot securing the door of the wagon, it is a knot few people would use. Ronchú, however, is a conjurer who uses such clever knots for his act. Ronchú had tried to convince Eadulf that it was the picc that was the source of the fire. He implied that he had been the one who warned people of this, and it was he who claimed that it was impossible to put out with water. But Tóla, the groom, mentioned that it was he, not Ronchú, who had started to use a broom to smother the flames, with others following his example. I subsequently examined the area and clearly smelled alcohol, which alerted me to the possibility that it had been used to start the fire. Who had easy access to strong alcohol? I was told on the journey here that Comal had the ability to distil braccat, the malt alcohol. Ronchú and Comal said too much when they should have remained silent. Eadulf and I were suspicious from the start about their involvement … but involved in what? Before we could present the case against them, we had to find out what that involvement was – and what motivation.’
Ronchú and Comal were being voluble in their defence and the Chief Brehon had to order them to remain silent before turning to Fidelma.
‘Very well,’ he said. ‘It seems that you have sound arguments, but you still need verification as to their part in this conspiracy. You say that the prisoners Duach and Cellaig were to make contact with someone in Baodain’s Players, who would be recognised only by this emblem of the Fellowship of the Raven, So, have you seen this emblem on Ronchú or Comal’s wrists?’
‘I have not,’ replied Fidelma, causing him and the assembly some surprise. ‘I do remember that Ronchú has a nervous habit of massaging his wrist when speaking to us; the piece of hemp that usually tied the emblem to his wrist was obviously causing him soreness.’
‘That is certainly not confirmation,’ Brehon Fíthel declared.
‘I understand that. So, while Baodain’s Players were being brought here to this chamber, I asked Eadulf to search the wagon of Ronchú and Comal. Eadulf, show the emblems to them.’
Eadulf rose, his face expressionless, and from his belt bag he took a couple of the brass discs threaded on to hemp rope. He had hardly approached Ronchú and Comal, holding them out for them to see, when Ronchú turned to his wife with a curse. ‘You mindless Gast Gaoithe!’ he cried, using a contemptuous term for a woman. ‘Didn’t I tell you to hide them well? You—’
Comal started to scream back at him. ‘It was your stupid plan, you foundling spawn of a bastard! We should have left well alone.’
The screeching pair were eventually removed from the chamber, still shouting abuse at one another. Order and quiet was eventually restored.
Fidelma turned to Brehon Fíthel with an apologetic smile.
‘I confess to the court, I have just played a trick. The emblems displayed by Eadulf were not those of Ronchú and Comal. I did not say they were. And while I said that I had asked Eadulf to search their wagon, I did not say he had actually done so. They thought the brass emblems were their own and it was their guilt that convicted them.’
Brehon Fíthel looked shocked at her sleight of hand. ‘That is most unusual, Fidelma. I am not sure that I can allow this as evidence …’
‘You can allow a confession,’ she replied, unperturbed. ‘And I am sure a leisurely search of their wagon will now reveal the items. Anyway, there is something else.’
‘Something else?’
‘After Ultana and her wagon had joined the Cleasamnaig Baodain while they were watering their animals, Baodain told me that Ronchú had trouble with his harness and had to pull out of the third position in the line of wagons. He was able to rectify the problem in time to rejoin in sixth position. That placed his wagon directly in front of Ultana’s wagon. Why would he do that? It meant that he and Comal realised who Ultana was and already knew they had to kill her and destroy the wagon. By making that manoeuvre, Ronchú and Comal’s wagon became the only vehicle immediately in front of Ultana. They had to be the culprits.’
‘So it was no great mystery,’ Colgú remarked, hiding a humorous smile. ‘It was simply a matter of commonsense.’ Fidelma swung round, a touch of fire flickering in her eyes, before she realised that her brother was being ironic.
Brehon Fíthel, however, was serious. ‘What you have discovered is a repulsive story of religious fanaticism.’ The man shifted his weight and peered around at the prisoners. ‘Two centuries ago, a New Faith came to this land. Many found it an alien creed. Others merged it in with the old ideas and values. But in that interval, between the decaying and disappearance of the Old Faith and the formation and establishment of the New Faith, there was always a period of danger. Some people would become uncertain; others confused or even frightened. Emerging on both sides, there could be a wild fanaticism as each tried to protect their own beliefs. Unfortunately, claiming one deity as an ally for partisan values leads to the worst fanaticism of all. It is a step towards barbarism which destroys our humanity.’
There was a silence while the Chief Brehon continued to gaze towards the prisoners.
‘Certainly the case seems clear to me now. Failge, one-time steward of Cill Cainnech, will be handed over to the care of Abbot Ségéne, as Chief Bishop of Muman, until the punishments are decided. I believe Failge took sacred vows to one faith while holding allegiance to another.
‘The two men Duach and Cellaig seem willing to sell themselves to whoever will pay them. I shall ask King Colgú for permission to take a company of the Nasc Niadh to Cill Cainnech and the two prisoners will come with us to help identify any remains of these vermin called the Fellowship of the Raven. You have told us there are some at the fortress and farmstead of Coileach. I am sure that Duach and Cellaig will be most willing to do this for a promise that they will face lesser sentences than the ones they deserve.
‘As for the woman who calls herself Dar Badh, this evil and twisted creature must be taken to a secure place where she can do no harm.’
‘One point more,’ Fidelma spoke up. ‘What of the Golden Stone? As you know, we have brought it for safekeeping to Cashel. It was taken to Osraige nearly a hundred years ago from Cairpre Gabra when the Druids retreated to what became Cill Cainnech. Is it the property of Osraige, who now pay tribute to Cashel, or is it the right of Cashel to hold it? Or is there a third choice?’
‘The law would say that it is now up to the King of Muman to dispose of it,’ Brehon Fíthel answered. ‘He is overlord of Osraige.’
Colgú sat back thoughtfully for a few moments. ‘The one thing we must ensure is that it is never used by fanatics again. That was the purpose for which the two young people came from the Abbey of Clochar to retrieve it for their Abbot.’ He turned towards Cerball, Lord of Cairpre Gabra. ‘Come and stand before me, Cerball.’
The Lord of Cairpre Gabra rose hesitantly and came to stand before Colgú.
‘My decision is that the stone be handed over to you, that you may transport it back to the place of its rightful origin so that it may be sanctified once again to stand in the gateway of the abbey at Clochar,’ said Colgú. ‘To stand there so that people of the New Faith shall see it as merely a symbol of our ancient history and of a new hope for our future under the guidance of the New Fa
ith.’
The Lord of Cairpre Gabra bent his knee before Colgú in traditional respect. ‘It will stand as a memorial to the wisdom of Cashel and the talent of the King’s sister,’ he averred.
‘Better still,’ Fidelma suggested gravely, ‘may it remind people of the sacrifice of two young people – Ultan and Ultana – who gave their lives and that of their unborn child to stop such fanaticism.’
There was a pause and then Brehon Fíthel was rising. ‘I think the business of this court is now completed.’
‘What about judgement for Ríonach?’ It was Enda who called out, causing everyone to turn in surprise.
Brehon Fíthel was astonished, for the warrior had no authority to address the court once the Chief Brehon had risen. A look of annoyance was forming on his features. Fidelma took a quick step forward.
‘Enda means the girl Ríonach whose case I mentioned to you last night,’ she explained hurriedly. ‘Perhaps now is a good time to clarify her situation?’
‘Is the girl here?’ the Brehon demanded.
Fidelma motioned for the nervous young woman to come forward. Enda approached to stand at her side.
Brehon Fíthel gazed sternly at her.
‘It is claimed that you killed your husband. Is that so? Do you plead guilty to the charge?’
The girl lowered her head unhappily. ‘Yes, I killed him,’ she admitted in a faint voice.
‘There are mitigating circumstances,’ Eadulf intervened, moving forward to join them.
‘I have been made aware of them,’ replied Brehon Fíthel coldly. ‘Nevertheless the girl killed her husband and therefore there is a penalty. There is no action without consequence. Even in your circumstances, Ríonach, the law is clear.’
The girl visibly tensed as several moments of silence passed before the Chief Brehon continued.
‘The evidence is that you were treated unlawfully, firstly by your father in forcing you to marry for mercenary purposes. Then you were unlawfully treated by your husband, Rechtabra. Had you been able to make a complaint before a Brehon, such as Ruán, he would have ordered the return of your full coibche, your dowry, a smacht fine and an eric fine, and you would have had the choice of divorcing or separating. Is that not so, Brehon Ruán?’
He had looked for confirmation to the elderly Brehon who had now also come forward. ‘That is so,’ he confirmed. ‘But the girl was prevented from doing so.’
‘She continued to be abused,’ Eadulf added stoutly. ‘It was to protect me, as well as in self-defence against the loss of her own life, that she killed Rechtabra. The man was hardly better than a beast. He was one of those who did the killing for this Fellowship of the Raven.’
Brehon Fíthel addressed Eadulf reprovingly. ‘I did not ask you to provide evidence, Eadulf of Seaxmund’s Ham.’ Then: ‘In balancing the two matters, you, Ríonach, must pay a body fine of twelve screpalls. But you will be allowed to keep the farm, livestock and all other goods as constituting your husband’s fine and penalties for his treatment to you.’
‘But I don’t want them,’ blurted out the girl.
The Chief Brehon smiled grimly. ‘Then I am sure you will find someone who will purchase the farmstead from you.’
‘Meanwhile, Ríonach’s fine will be paid by me,’ Fidelma said. ‘I am sure the farmstead will be easily disposed of.’
‘Then the matter is dismissed,’ announced the Chief Brehon. ‘And that, I hope, finally concludes the business of this court.’
Enda turned to the girl with a broad smile. ‘Come, we’ll go and discuss how best we may dispose of your farmstead, since you no longer want to return to it. And, of course, we must find a way of compensating that shepherd and his son. From what Eadulf tells me, things might have turned out very differently, without their intervention.’
Fidelma and Eadulf exchanged a knowing smile as they watched the warrior and the girl leave the council chamber. ‘I hope Enda also likes highly strung little terriers,’ Eadulf remarked, and they both laughed.
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The Second Death (Sister Fidelma Mysteries) Page 34