Peter Tremayne - The Devil's seal

‘One moment. Why did he come to you if you did not know him? Why did he not ask anyone else for a place to sleep? Why not go to the inn in the town below or find a corner in the stables from the stable-master? He could also have sought a corner in the Laochtech , with the warriors. Why come to the King’s house to ask his steward?’

‘As King’s steward he probably realised my importance in running the household,’ Beccan replied with an ill-concealed pride.

‘So he appeared at the door of the kitchen and asked you for a bed?’

‘That is as it happened,’ the steward assured her.

It was certainly not the account given by Deogaire.

‘You then took him to the King’s guest quarters and showed him into an unoccupied room?’ she asked.

Beccan nodded shamefacedly. ‘I did not realise that he would use it as the base for an attack on you and Brother Eadulf,’ he mumbled.

‘That is yet to be proven,’ Fidelma replied. ‘You confirm, however, that you acceded to his request to be allowed to stay in the empty guest chamber? Did you tell him that he must remain there until first light and not venture out?’

Beccan thought for a moment. ‘I expect I did. I explained that it was the custom of the King’s bodyguard, the warriors of the Golden Collar, to be stationed at the doors and on the stairs during the hours of darkness. The King never liked the arrangement, but after the attempt on his life. .’ he ended with a shrug.

‘So Deogaire knew it was impossible to move from the floor of the guest quarters without being challenged?’

‘Especially after the guests retired. Yes, I told him so.’

‘Did you also tell him that he could exit onto the roof, cross it and take the second stairway down to the side to leave the building?’

Beccan dredged his memory. ‘I usually insist that the guests know of that exit, in case of fire. The guests, especially after a feast, could have an accident with their lamp or even candle. Thankfully, it has never happened in my time, but I am told there was one such fire when Máenach Mac Fingín was King here. Tragically, two guests choked to death on the fumes.’

Fidelma had heard of that fire. It had happened about the same time she had left Brehon Morann’s law school, and joined the Abbey of Kildare on the advice of her cousin, Abbot Laisran of Darú. There had been nothing for her at Cashel after the death of her father, King Failbhe Flann. Her father’s nephew Máenach had become King. After him, a distant cousin, Cathal, ruled but he had died of the Yellow Plague at the very time he had invited her back to Cashel to advise him. It was only then that her brother Colgú had been elected as King and her world had stabilised. She had met Eadulf, was gaining a reputation as a dálaigh and felt no need to seek the security of a religious house.

She shook herself slightly and returned her thoughts to the matter in hand.

‘So Deogaire knew the way up onto the roof and across to the other stairway?’

‘Probably.’

‘Very well, Beccan. So you left him in the empty room and returned to your duties?’

‘I did.’

‘I remember that you greeted the guests at the evening meal before you left.’

‘There were few guests that evening.’

‘But then you left, handing over your duties as steward to Dar Luga, the housekeeper.’

‘I sought permission of the King to absent myself for two days. It was only a small intimate gathering that first night,’ Beccan said with a note of protest in his voice. ‘I was not needed to relay the protocols. I left instructions. Dar Luga said she locked the kitchen door and replaced the key on the hook. That would have been my last duty anyway.’

‘Where did you go?’ Fidelma asked. ‘Two days is a long time to absent oneself, especially in view of the imminent arrival of important guests.’

‘It was a private matter, lady,’ he responded defensively. ‘I told the King.’

‘You know well enough, Beccan, that when a dálaigh asks a question relating to a serious crime, there is no such thing as privacy.’ She used the old legal term derritius . ‘I am told you went to nurse someone.’

‘I went to the township to nurse a. . close friend.’

‘Be more specific.’

‘A woman,’ the rotund steward said shortly. ‘A woman friend.’

‘You must tell me her name,’ Fidelma insisted.

He hesitated a moment and then answered: ‘Maon.’

‘I know no one of that name in the town, so you must explain a little more about her and your visit last night. I will need to question her if you are not specific.’

Beccan seemed agitated. It was some time before he managed to answer. ‘Maon was ill. That’s why I had to see her and take remedies to help her.’

‘I am sorry to hear it,’ replied Fidelma. ‘Do you know what is wrong?’

‘She was suffering from fever. I had to leave here to nurse her.’

‘But there is a physician in the township and our apothecary Brother Conchobhar here in the palace. Why not summon one of them to examine the lady?’

‘I sent for the physician in the township but was told that he had been called to the Ford of the Ass and was not expected back for two days. I did not know what to do.’

‘So whose idea was it that Deogaire could provide you with medicine taken from Brother Conchobhar’s apothecary in exchange for a bed and your silence?’

She delivered the question in an even tone and for a moment Beccan seemed not to understand it.

‘He offered it as recompense,’ he replied.

‘But how did he come to know your troubles?’

‘I had seen my friend earlier in the day. Thus I knew her to be ill and that was when I found the physician had left the township. I was coming back to the palace, sick at heart, for I knew the King expected my services. I had no idea how to help her. It was then I encountered Deogaire in the courtyard and he asked me what was wrong. I told him. He said he would appear at the kitchen door later and bring with him some potions; if I took them to Maon and made her drink them, it would help her. He assured me that the fever would break. He was right.’

‘You trusted him?’

‘He said he would bring the potions from his uncle and I knew Brother Conchobhar to be a respected apothecary.’

‘And the fever broke?’

‘It did. She is now almost recovered. In fact, I left her quite well, having nursed her these last two days.’

‘I am confused. Why didn’t you go to Brother Conchobhar directly? Why didn’t you tell him the story and let him attend to this Maon?’

‘My thoughts were in turmoil. I met Deogaire on coming back here and so the need to see Brother Conchobhar no longer occurred to me.’

‘And when you met Deogaire in the courtyard, was this before or after his argument with Brother Conchobhar and his need to find a room?’

‘It was after. We arranged that he come to the kitchen door with the medicine.’

Fidelma paused for a moment before continuing, ‘Well, it is best that Brother Conchobhar be told this story now. He should know that some of his remedies may be missing. But he should also visit Maon and ensure all is well with her, to check that she was given the correct potions. Fevers have a habit of recurring.’

‘Do you think he would want to see her?’ asked the round-faced steward. ‘After all, she appears recovered.’

‘I will ask him. But why have you been so secretive about this Maon? I can’t seem to place her in this township.’

Beccan spread his arms, seeming to grow in confidence now that he had explained. ‘I am of the Déisi, south of the River Siúr, as you know, lady. She is from my home village, which is just by the Church of the Blessed Míodán. She ran away from her family several days ago to join me. I managed to find a small cabin on the forest track beyond the Road of Rocks. She had only been there a few days, when this fever took her. I was hoping to find her a job in the kitchens here. I think she caught a chill because of the hardship of her journey on foot across the mountains amidst the cold rains and winds. She was not well when she arrived here.’