Peter Tremayne - Dancing With Demons

‘And was everyone in Sechnussach’s chamber by the time you arrived?’

Brother Rogallach looked thoughtful. ‘We crowded around the door together. Irél has his chamber on the lower floor and he arrived and pushed through us. I can’t remember the order in which everyone arrived. Oh, I just remembered. As I passed by the rooms of the other servants — the senior servants are on the same floor with me — I saw Torpach’s door opening and he was just coming out. He asked me what was happening. I replied that I did not know and then I realised that people were at the door of the High King’s chambers. I noticed that Brónach’s door was still closed. I paused to tap on it to alert her in case she had not been roused. I called to her and receiving no answer, opened the door. She was not in her chamber and so I moved on, thinking she was already awake and in attendance.’

‘And was she?’ asked Fidelma.

‘I am not sure. I had the feeling that she was not there when I arrived and that she only turned up later.’

‘And you took charge?’

‘As I pushed my way into the chamber, I think Irél was just behind me. In matters of this sort he has precedence, being the commander of the High King’s bodyguard. So I stood to one side while he took charge to ensure that the assassin was dead and that a search of the apartment was made to make certain there were no accomplices.’

At Fidelma’s request, Brother Rogallach sketched what had happened but it was substantially the same story as they had been told before.

Outside the apothecary of Iceadh, Fidelma glanced reprovingly at Eadulf.

‘One of the secrets of being a good investigator is never to reveal what you know or suspect, and to avoid showing your reactions to what others might tell you. Nor is it wise to suggest ideas to witnesses.’

Eadulf was apologetic. ‘I was thinking about Sechnussach hiding the object and it is just that sometimes, after so long a time trying to demolish a stone wall, when it starts to crumble a little, you cannot help giving a shout of joy.’

Fidelma was still disapproving. ‘I cannot agree with your specific analogy, Eadulf. But I do see your point.’

‘I think that this object, this circular thing, is linked with the assassination. Sechnussach obviously hid it in the uaimh below the pantry. Whoever killed Mer was looking for it. I think that when Torpach said he saw Sechnussach in the kitchen at an early hour, it was because the King had sneaked down there to hide it.’

‘It would seem a logical speculation, but it is a speculation nevertheless.’

‘It is a speculation that needs to be followed by a search for information.’

Fidelma acquiesced. ‘I mean to go directly to the uaimh and see if I can find any trace of this circular object. While I do so, I want you to find Caol and Gormán and discover how the search for Cuan is progressing. We should have heard something by now.’

‘But … ’

She sighed impatiently. ‘It is no good both of us going on the same errand.’

Eadulf knew when to compromise. He was leaving the Tech Cormaic when he almost collided with someone. It was the young girl, Báine.

‘You seem to be in a hurry, Brother Eadulf,’ she observed in admonition as she recovered her balance.

‘I am sorry.’ Seeing that the girl was unhurt, he asked: ‘Since I have bumped into you, so to speak, could I ask a question?’

Báine waited with an expectant expression.

‘What is your opinion of Brónach? I was wondering if she is well-liked.’

Báine laughed. ‘Brónach? I think you have been talking to Cnucha. It’s not that she is dis likeable — she has high standards, that is all, and her temper can be sharp. Don’t get me wrong. It is hard to find oneself ordered about all day. Cnucha does not like her, that’s for sure.’

‘And you?’

‘You do not enter service in a great house and expect to be treated as the wife of a lord. Anyway, I shall soon be leaving here … ’

Eadulf was surprised and said so. ‘I thought you had been here some years?’

‘That I have. But it is time for me to leave. This period in my life seems to have ended with the death of the High King. I do not think I could serve another.’

‘Where will you go?’

‘Home.’

‘Which is where?’

‘You would not know it.’

‘Try me.’

‘A little place under the shelter of a mountain to the north-west. The mountain is called Sliabh na Caillaigh.’

‘The Hag’s Mountain?’ asked Eadulf.

The girl smiled and nodded.

‘It sounds a forbidding place.’

‘A place of wisdom much favoured by the ancients,’ replied Báine solemnly. ‘There are sacred buildings set up by the ancients that still stand on the top of the hill. It is a beautiful place. A holy place.’

‘So when will you leave?’

‘None of us can leave until after the investigation that you are conducting. The Great Assembly has to meet and hear the conclusion of that investigation before anyone can depart.’

‘Won’t you have any regrets at leaving Tara? In leaving your friends — say Cnucha, for example? She seems a pleasant girl to have as a friend.’

Again the girl smiled. ‘Cnucha? Everyone thinks she is such a timid luchóc. ’

‘A what?’ Eadulf had not heard the expression before.

‘A little mouse. She is a strange one. Be advised, her meekness is superficial. I once made a joke at her expense and she threw a jug of water at me. I swear, she could have killed me. No, she is not my choice of friend.’

‘Oh. But you must have made some friends here?’

Báine shook her head.

‘Not with Brónach?’ teased Eadulf, making it into a joke but hoping to guide the girl back to information about the voluptuous senior maid.

‘Certainly not. She prefers friends of the male variety anyway.’

‘Indeed?’ Eadulf arched an eyebrow. ‘Oh yes, I heard that she had ended some kind of an affair recently.’

Báine stared at him for a moment. ‘I do not know where you got that from,’ she began, and then said suddenly. ‘Ah, from Cnucha?’

‘Is it not true, then?’

‘Perhaps. You can see for yourself, Brónach is very attractive still and you can tell by the speculative gaze in her eyes when she meets men that she is not averse to amours . You must have noticed it yourself, Brother Eadulf. You are a handsome, red-blooded male.’

Eadulf actually found himself blushing but the young girl’s remarks were not displeasing to his ego.

‘Any idea who she was having an affair with?’ he asked.

Báine shrugged. ‘If it is gossip that you want, Cnucha did tell me that she thought it was someone with access to the royal enclosure.’

‘Why did she say that?’

‘I suppose because Brónach never leaves here, to our knowledge. Anyway, you don’t need me gossiping about Brónach, surely?’

‘You were saying that you are going to leave here. Won’t you regret anything? Don’t you get on well with Muirgel, for example?’

He asked the question slyly and, for a moment, Eadulf thought he detected a spark of fire in the girl’s eyes and then it vanished quickly.

‘What gave you that impression?’

‘I thought you were often asked to attend her?’

‘That is my task here. I am a servant. Muirgel is not the best of people to serve. You might have noticed that if you were ever in her company.’

Eadulf chuckled. ‘It is the one thing I have noticed, Báine. So you will not mind leaving her service?’

For a moment, a longing look came over the features of the girl.

‘There are many things I regret, Brother Eadulf. But that will not beone of them. I long for the open countryside where one is not stuck behind forbidden walls with warriors patrolling up and down. I long for the hilltops where one can touch the stars and be in tune with nature. There will be no regrets when I pass through the gates of Tara and go on my way to the north-west to rejoin my people and comrades.’