Peter Tremayne - Whispers of the Dead

“I can confirm that Muirecán came to my chamber and warned me that everything was prepared and awaiting my presence. He accompanied me back to the antechamber where Declan and Talamnach were awaiting me.”

Fidelma raised her head sharply.

“Only Declan and Talamnach were in the room? In what order did the others leave?”

From the hall the elderly man, Selbach, stood up.

“I left first, lady. I had hoped to have a word with my brother before he came to preside here and forewarn him about my protest. But with Talamnach there and my brother’s wife and son, it seemed a pointless exercise to seek privacy with my brother. So I left and came into the hall.”

There was a soft bark of laughter. It came from Augaire.

Fidelma swung ’round and examined the young man.

Augaire was still sprawled in his seat; his expression seemed to indicate that he was bored with the proceedings. His face was still masked in a supercilious smile.

“And when did you leave the antechamber?” Fidelma asked in a deceptively pleasant tone.

Augaire did not alter his position.

“After him,” he drawled, nodding his head to Selbach.

There was a sharp cough.

“If I may be allowed a voice. .?”

Fidelma swung ’round to the haughty-looking Berrach.

“No woman outside the derbfine can speak, mother,” interrupted Augaire in a sneering tone.

Fidelma smiled quickly.

“But this is no longer a derbfine meeting but a legal investigation. Berrach, you have the right to speak.”

Berrach inclined her head toward Fidelma for a moment.

“My son and I left the antechamber a moment or so after Selbach. I had noticed that Selbach was having a word with Talamnach and I am unsure what passed between them. But I know that Talamnach left the room but not to come into the hall. After which, Selbach waited a while and then left. Then Augaire and I left to enter this hall. That is all I have to say.”

“And all this while the mugs of mead remained on the table in the antechamber?”

Augaire chuckled softly.

“That is obvious, even for a dálaigh to deduce.”

Fidelma’s featured did not alter as she turned to face him.

“In all matters of observation, young man,” she added emphasis on the “young man,” which made the youth flush for he obviously prided himself on his manhood, “in all matters of observation, people often see only what they are prepared to see, so nothing should be deemed obvious without confirmation.”

She suddenly turned back to Declan.

“You have just been placed alone in the antechamber with the mead.”

Brehon Declan stared at her a moment and then smiled broadly.

“Not exactly. Talamnach had returned by the time Augaire and his mother were leaving.”

“So you were not alone there.”

“In fact,” Declan said thoughtfully,“Talamnach himself was alone because shortly after he re-entered, I went out to see if Cúan was approaching.”

“And do you suggest that Talamnach took the opportunity to poison his own mead?” Fidelma smiled thinly.

“Maybe the mead was meant for my father,” Augaire’s sneering tone came again. “Maybe the poor fool mixed up the mugs and drank from the one which he meant my father to drink out of.”

Fidelma looked at him in exasperation.

“You have spoken of observation. I would suggest that you spend time in developing the art, Augaire. Had you been observant, you would have noticed that I tested both mugs. Both were laced with poison. I suspect the person who did this was not particular as to whether Cúan or Talamnach died. Perhaps they hoped they both would.”

There was a sudden hush in the great hall.

Fidelma looked toward Selbach.

“You were talking to Talamnach and then he left the room. Is that a correct observation?”

Selbach thought for a moment.

“It is correct.”

“What did you speak to Talamnach about?”

Selbach grinned wryly.

“There was one matter preoccupying us. That is the reason why we gathered here tonight. I told Talamnach that Illan would challenge him and nominate me. I wondered if we might reach a compromise in order to keep our family together. He laughed at the idea. He was confident of overwhelming support.”

“How confident were you, Selbach?” intervened Declan, speaking after some time of silence.

“I would not have allowed myself to be named as a nominee if I was not assured of support.”

“And now it seems that you are the only surviving candidate,” sneered Declan.

Selbach flushed.

“Again you seem to imply something, cousin Brehon. Do you have the courage to be honest in your accusation?”

Declan took a step forward.

“You have come back from exile-albeit a self-imposed one-because you did not agree with the way your brother, Cúan, ruled. You abrogated your responsibility in this clan and now, seeing a chance for power, you return. You seek office. The question is just how ambitious are you for that office and what are you prepared to do in order to obtain it?”

Selbach was red with anger now and only Illan, at his side, restrained him from coming forward.

“Declan!” Fidelma was quietly outraged by her former colleague’s behavior.

“This is not the way for a Brehon to conduct himself.”

Declan stood still for some moments, his mouth thin in a tight expression. Then he relaxed.

“I apologize, Fidelma.” He turned and smiled, although it was a smile without any warmth. “I suppose that I am not a very good Brehon. But this is also a family matter and my cousin, Talamnach, lies dead on the ground.”

Fidelma nodded.

“This is why I must conduct the rest of this inquiry. You are too close to it and not detached in your judgment.”

Declan compressed his lips for a second and then shrugged.

“Carry on.” The Brehon walked to the vacant seat left by Talamnach and sat down in an attitude of expectancy.

Fidelma turned to the chief. “I think, at this stage, and with your permission, Cúan, your warriors might remove the body of Talamnach.”

The chief turned to one of the warriors and indicated this should be so.

The people in the hall were getting restless.

“Selbach, a few more questions, if I may,” she began again.

“I am intrigued. There is only one office open for this derbfine to vote on. What compromise did you seek with Talamnach?”

“I suggested to him that if he stood down in favor of my nomination, when I am chief, he would be my chosen heir-apparent.”

There was an audible gasp from some sections of the hall.

Cúan’s face was creased in anger.

“Do you expect my departure so soon, brother?” he said menacingly. “You are younger than I am by merely one year. When was your expectation of becoming chief if you had been elected my heir?”

Selbach was not abashed.

“I have not heard that age debarred a person from office, brother,” he retorted.

Declan’s voice was accusing but he remained seated.

“It is true, Selbach. But I think many here will draw conclusions.”

Fidelma wheeled ’round in annoyance.

“The only conclusion to be drawn here will be when we have the facts and can conclude the truth. At the moment, Selbach has been open in his opinions when it might best have served his purpose had he not been so. What made Talamnach leave the chamber?” she suddenly asked, turning back to Selbach.

The chief’s brother shrugged.

“No great mystery, I am afraid. Nothing more sinister than the call of nature. However, it was clear that he would not entertain my compromise and so I left. As I said, at the time, Augaire and his mother and our cousin the Brehon, were left in the room.”