Peter Tremayne - The Dove of Death

‘So that was what he was doing on this island…coming to report to you. Then why did he bring Iuna with him?’

‘He did not mention her when I saw him. Nor was there any sight of Iuna in his boat when he arrived.’

‘You mentioned Iuna to him? I presume he is no longer here?’

‘He sailed off not long ago, and I did not mention your claim to him because I felt you were mistaken. There is no way he would have allowed Iuna to know our plans.’

‘Had he brought you any news?’

‘Only about the arrival of Riwanon and the death of Abbot Maelcar.’

‘And that is why you were not surprised when I gave you the news?’

Trifina nodded grudgingly. ‘You have sharp eyes, Fidelma. That was indeed why,’ she confirmed.

‘But so far as you know, Iuna was not with him?’

‘As I have said.’

‘Iuna may be on this island.’ Eadulf pointed out the obvious conclusion.

‘Impossible! I trust Iarnbud entirely. But as you are not convinced, I will ask my guards to make a search.’ Trifina called to the guard outside the door and when he entered, she issued the instructions.

‘It is still difficult to see a reason why this Koulm ar Maro — we may as well use the name for the person behind the raiders as well as the ship — should be so set on bringing your family into disrepute — and by such extreme means.’ Fidelma took up the theme that was worrying her once again.

‘If we knew that, we might know who is behind this,’ Trifina said simply.

‘Then let us consider why your family might have incurred the wrath of someone to this extent. The mac’htiern of Brilhag is an ancient noble family of this area, so I am told. In fact, your father’s ancestors were kings of this land not so long ago?’

‘The emphasis is on “were”,’ replied Trifina. ‘We are no threat to anyone now.’

‘Brother Metellus spoke about your family, but I have forgotten the details. Tell me the situation so that I can understand it better.’

‘This was once the kingdom of Bro-Erech, which used to be the largest of the kingdoms of this land of Armorica. That was the old Gaulish name, which meant “the land before the sea”. That has now been displaced. Now it is called “Little Britain” because of the many settlements from Britain in these last two centuries.’

‘That I have understood,’ Fidelma said.

‘There was Bro-Erech and then to the north of us was Domnonia and to the west was Bro-Gernev. There were smaller kingdoms such as Bro-Leon and also Pou Kaer, but these are no more; both were absorbed many years ago. So now there are three large kingdoms.’

Fidelma acknowledged that she was still following.

‘Domnonia, while not as large as Bro-Erech, became very influential and was bearing the brunt of attacks by the Franks and Saxons along the northern coast and eastern borders. Just before I was born, Domnonia was ruled by Judicael who defeated the Franks twice in great battles and even travelled to the court of the Frankish King Dagobert in Paris to conclude a treaty of peace. Judicael claimed to be King of all the Bretons. The scribes wrote that the terror of his name alone was sufficient to keep evil men from violence. Although he was said to be mighty and brave in battle, he eventually decided to follow the religious life and abdicated, retiring to an abbey in Brekilien.’

‘Very well. But how does this tie in with your family and Bro-Erech?’ Fidelma asked, slightly impatient.

‘At the time when Judicael ruled in Domnonia, my family ruled here in Bro-Erech. Just before I was born, my great-grandfather Canao, the third of his name to rule here, died. It was then that Judicael claimed the kingship. He maintained that Waroch, the greatest of our Kings, was also his own ancestor and that Waroch’s daughter, Trifina, after whom I take my name, was his own grandmother. There was a dispute and my grandfather, called Macliau, was defeated. Thus he and my father after him became only the lords of Brilhag.’

‘Your brother mentioned this and explained the symbol of your flag. He also said that one day, he hoped to restore the family to their rightful place. Their place as kings — is that what he meant?’

Trifina laughed sardonically.

‘That is vain talk. My brother is a fool and a dreamer. We must accept reality now. Canao, the last of our family to rule here, was not a nice man. In fact, by all accounts, he was mad. He killed three brothers to secure the throne. Our family are better off out of such politics.’

‘Yet someone is bringing you back into that world,’ Fidelma said thoughtfully.

‘You mean that this is a way to discredit our family in case we ever made the claim against the King?’

‘That might be a reasonable theory. What is your family’s relationship with King Alain?’

‘Alain is the son of Judicael but he succeeded to the kingship after his brother Urbien, who died of the Yellow Plague, so he was not involved in the struggle between my grandfather and his. My father is now a close friend of his. Alain is fair-minded and his rule brings prosperity to us all.’

‘So you do not think there is a chance that he would be regarding your father or your family with suspicion?’

‘I doubt it. As I said, he is a good friend to my father. Even if my brother’s silly ideas were known to him, he would treat them with the contempt they deserve.’

‘Nevertheless, in looking for motivation to back your theory that this Koulm ar Maro is trying to discredit your family, this seems to be the only area where we can find any plausible grounds.’

There was a sudden knock on the door and, at Trifina’s summons, one of the guards opened it and spoke rapidly.

‘A search of the villa and island has not revealed Iuna,’ Trifina interpreted. ‘I did not expect it to.’

‘Then where did she disembark from Iarnbud’s boat?’ Fidelma began. ‘We must find-’

Another warrior suddenly pushed his way unannounced into the room. He looked embarrassed as he saw Fidelma and Eadulf. Trifina seemed to recognise him for her features changed and she said something quickly. The man spoke at a breathless rate. Fidelma’s ears were growing used to the sounds of the language. Now she was able to pick up the words Koulm ar Maro and then the name of Macliau.

Trifina went deathly white and half-rose before slumping back in her chair.

‘What is it?’ Fidelma demanded. ‘What news has he brought?’

The girl turned anguished eyes on them.

‘This man brings a message from Bleidbara — from Brilhag. He says that the local people claim to have caught the Dove of Death, the murderer, and are about to execute him.’

‘Who is it?’ demanded Fidelma.

‘Macliau, my brother!’

It did not take them long to return to Brilhag in the same fast skiff that had brought the messenger to Trifina. She, with Fidelma, Eadulf and three warriors, had immediately set out for the fortress on the peninsula of Rhuis. A worried-looking Bleidbara greeted them as they landed on the quay just below the fortress. He looked surprised for a moment at seeing Fidelma and Eadulf in the party.

Helping her from the boat, Bleidbara began to speak rapidly, but Trifina said something and he reverted to Latin.

‘The message came from Brother Metellus just after I returned,’ he said. ‘Brother Metellus says that Macliau had reached the abbey with a mob on his heels crying for his blood. They would have killed him there and then, but Macliau pleaded for sanctuary. Brother Metellus, acting for the community, granted it.’

‘A mob? Who constitutes this mob?’ demanded Trifina.

‘Local people, farmers, fishermen. They are led by Barbatil.’