Peter Tremayne - Badger's Moon

To her disappointment, he shook his head. ‘None near. But there is a cave above the Ring that used to be worked for gold. That is deserted and dangerous.’

‘If we wished to go exploring that cave, say tomorrow or the next day, how might we find you?’

The young man pointed to the far side of the track. ‘There is a path through those trees. A short distance along the path you will come across my bothán , lady. If I am out at the hunt, my woman will be there. She will show you how to find me by blowing three times on the horn that is hung by the hearth. When I hear its call, I will return. It is a signal that my wife and I have long arranged in case of need.’

‘You are a thoughtful man, Menma,’ observed Fidelma.

‘I would rather worry without need, lady, than live without heed. They have an old saying in these parts, that one should never test the depth of a river with both feet.’

‘There is wisdom in that,’ Fidelma agreed.

The young man bent and picked up the dead boar and flung it across his broad shoulders as if it weighed nothing. He smiled up at them, each in turn.

‘I will await your call then. Safe journey back to the fortress of the chief.’

He raised the hand that held his bow in farewell and turned with a sharp call to his dog, which bounded swiftly after him. Within a moment he had disappeared through the trees in the direction of his home.

‘Now we shall return to Rath Raithlen,’ Fidelma said, turning her horse back along the track.

Eadulf turned with her. ‘I still cannot understand what you expect to find among the deserted metal workings, even with a guide such as Menma.’

He was expecting some caustic response but Fidelma’s features softened a little.

‘In truth, Eadulf, I am not sure what I expect to find. Maybe nothing at all. It’s just that I have this nagging thought that there is some mystery that is mixed up with gold. Remember the ladder in the tower of the fortress, which had been damaged so that one of us might have fallen to injure or kill ourselves?’

‘You suspected that Gobnuid the smith was responsible.’

Fidelma looked at him in surprise. Sometimes she felt that she underestimated Eadulf’s perceptive qualities.

‘I did. Gobnuid had tried to tell me that the piece of real gold which Síoda found here was simply fool’s gold. Why?’

Eadulf pulled a wry face. ‘What makes you sure that it has something to do with the death of the three women? Have you not considered that this is but a wild goose chase?’

‘Their bodies were found near here,’ Fidelma pointed out.

‘But does that signify anything? There are lots of places near here. The abbey, for example. The place of the apothecary, Liag.’

‘And there is Lesren’s last word…’

‘A name…which could be anything. It was a name that certainly did not strike a chord in the mind of Liag when you questioned him. I think that you should-’

‘Hush!’ Fidelma suddenly snapped, holding up her hand, while hauling on the bridle with the other. Her horse snorted in protest.

‘What…’ began Eadulf.

Fidelma was pointing down the hill to the oncoming gloom.

They had followed the track where it passed over the brow of the hill, overlooking the valley where, below and to the left of them, lay the buildings that constituted the abbey of Finnbarr. Some distance below was a clearing among the trees. Eadulf could just make out two small figures hurrying across this clearing. One was more obvious than the other for it was a tall figure and it was clear that it was clad in long white robes. They were visible for no more than a few moments before they vanished into the darkness of the trees beyond the clearing.

Eadulf cast a puzzled glance at Fidelma.

‘What was that all about?’ he demanded.

‘Did you recognise anyone?’ she asked.

‘I did not.’

‘I did. It was Gobnuid the smith. Back rather early from his trip. Did you not recognise the other, Eadulf?’

‘How could I recognise anyone?’

‘Think, Eadulf! The tall figure with white robes!’

Eadulf knew what she was getting at. ‘It could have been one of the three strangers at the monastery, I suppose. But which one? I have no idea. They were too far away.’

Fidelma was in agreement. ‘Yet it was one of them. But why would Gobnuid and one of the Aksumites be out together on this desolate hill at dusk?’

Eadulf gave a negative shake of his head. ‘To be honest, I can understand nothing of this. Never have I been so totally baffled by a mystery…by a series of mysteries, in fact.’

Fidelma was defiant. ‘The more the mystery deepens, the greater the challenge, Eadulf. I am determined not to let this overcome me. The Brehon Morann, my mentor, once said that no object nor puzzle is mysterious. The mystery is the eyes and what they perceive. So when the eyes see a mystery do not use the eyes to understand it.’

Eadulf smiled somewhat sceptically. ‘The heart always sees before the head can see?’

‘Exactly so. We will solve this mystery yet.’

It was growing dusk when they finally reached the gates of Rath Raithlen. A stable boy came running forward as they rode in and took charge of their horses as soon as they had dismounted. They noticed that there was some movement in the fortress. Brand torches were being lit to dispel the darkness and suddenly Becc appeared at the doorway of his great hall and came forward to greet them.

‘I am glad to see you back safely, Fidelma. Accobrán was worried that you had gone off by yourself.’

‘I had Eadulf with me,’ she replied shortly, glancing around. ‘What is the excitement about? Where is your tanist?’

‘Gone,’ replied Becc with satisfaction. ‘He’s gone in chase of Lesren’s killer.’

Fidelma stood for a moment, staring at the chieftain of the Cinél na Áeda as if she had not heard him.

‘Lesren’s killer? Does that mean that the identity of the killer has been discovered?’

‘A farmer came into the rath not so long ago and said that he had encountered Gabrán on the road. The young man was heading for the coast and told the man that he was going to find a ship and sign on as one of the crew.’

Fidelma glanced quickly at Eadulf, her face a mixture of surprise and irritation. Then she turned back to Becc.

‘Did this farmer say any more?’

Becc nodded. ‘The young man as good as admitted that he was fleeing from justice. Anyway, Accobrán has taken some warriors and will take the road to the coast. They should be able to overtake him soon enough and bring him back for trial. At least we have solved one murder. Maybe Gabrán will be the means of solving the others. Perhaps Lesren was right after all?’

‘The boy may be stupid,’ replied Fidelma in an exasperated tone, ‘but to run away does not mean to say he is responsible for any deaths.’

Becc regarded in her astonishment. ‘But the very act of running away proclaims his guilt.’

‘A stupid act, I warrant you, but not a proclamation of guilt,’ replied Fidelma. ‘It can also imply fear. Let me know immediately Accobrán returns.’

Then, motioning Eadulf to follow, she led the way to their chambers. Once inside the room, she closed the door with a sharp thud behind her.

‘The stupid, stupid boy!’ she exploded.

Eadulf stood observing the anger on her features as she began to pace the room. ‘You really think that he is innocent?’

Fidelma did not even bother to answer the question.

‘I fear for the boy’s life now,’ she said quietly. ‘Remember there is enmity between him and Accobrán.’

‘But that is all on the part of Gabrán,’ replied Eadulf. ‘A silly suspicion that Accobrán was trying to seduce his betrothed.’