Peter Tremayne - Badger's Moon

Eadulf studied the faces of those around him with surprise, expecting some to react at this curious elegy. It seemed that no one wanted to articulate any criticism for what had been said. More important, Bébháil was standing with her face devoid of emotion. Eadulf realised that few people could have liked Lesren in the community. That fact caused him some consternation. He wondered how many had a motive to kill Lesren. He realised that it was not just Goll and his son. Lesren had made enemies of many people. He wondered if Fidelma was relying on this fact to defend Gabrán.

The people had begun dispersing from the graveside. Accobrán was approaching them with a smile of satisfaction.

‘Have you heard the news, lady?’ he began, seeming pleased with himself. ‘The news about my capture of Gabrán?’

Fidelma did not match his smile.

‘I shall go to see him shortly,’ she said. ‘While the boy was stupid to run away, I do not believe he was guilty of Lesren’s murder.’

Accobran’s jaw dropped in surprise.

‘Not guilty…?’ He shook his head in disbelief. ‘Well, I think he was, and guilty of Beccnat’s murder as well.’

‘Yet you were the one who found the evidence to prove otherwise,’ pointed out Eadulf quickly.

Accobrán flushed. ‘Perhaps he fooled me. Perhaps he was not at the house of Molaga on that night of the full moon.’

‘I spoke to Brother Túan from the house of Molaga.’ Fidelma cut him short. ‘You were not mistaken. He was there at the night of the full moon.’

The young tanist looked glum. ‘Well, at least he showed his guilt of Lesren’s death by running away.’

‘He showed his fear of being blamed for it,’ Fidelma pointed out. She turned and made her way across to where Bébháil was standing with her sister and Tómma.

Tómma greeted her with a grim smile. ‘The tanist has told us that young Gabrán has been caught and imprisoned for Lesren’s death.’

Fidelma examined the downcast features of Bébháil for a moment before replying.

‘He has been captured because he was running away. If he were guilty, it would be stupid to run away and draw attention to himself. There has been too much innocent blood shed in this place for another innocent to have his life destroyed.’

Tómma frowned and cast a nervous glance at Bébháil. ‘But the tanist said…’

‘I am returning to the fortress to question Gabrán. I am hoping that the innocent will go free and that the guilty may come forward.’

She returned to Eadulf, aware that Bébháil had taken an involuntary step after her and that Tómma had reached out a hand to stay her.

Accobrán accompanied them as they rode back to the fortress. Fidelma and Eadulf went immediately to the place where Gabrán had been confined. Fidelma gently declined the tanist’s offer to attend the questioning of the youth. She wanted to speak with Gabrán without Accobrán there.

The young woodcutter rose as they entered the dark stone cell in which he had been confined. He had a cut across one eye and a bruise on his cheek.

‘You have done a stupid thing,’ Fidelma told him after a moment or two.

The boy shrugged, trying to be indifferent. It was clear that he was nervous.

‘I did not kill Lesren,’ he said quietly.

‘Is running away designed to make us believe that?’ she asked, motioning Eadulf to shut the door so that they would not be overheard. He did so.

‘What else could I do? No one here appeared to believe that I did not exact revenge for what Lesren was saying about me.’

‘Who told you that?’

‘Why, Creoda said-’

‘Creoda? And he said — what?’

‘That everyone believed that I had killed Lesren because he accused me of murdering Beccnat. I knew I had to leave.’

‘You should place your trust in the law.’

‘Law and injustice are often the same thing,’ the boy replied quickly. ‘I often heard old Aolú say as much before he died.’

‘That may be true, but it is the interpretation of the law which balances the account.’ Fidelma indicated that the boy should reseat himself on the wooden bench that served as a bed. Then she took a chair while Eadulf stood by the door. ‘When did you first hear of Lesren’s death?’

‘I was returning home from cutting wood.’

‘And Creoda told you?’

The boy nodded.

‘Is Creoda a friend of yours?’

‘I know him.’

‘Did he tell you to run away?’

‘He advised it.’

‘So you ran away at Creoda’s behest. Did you not think that you were doing a foolish thing, if you were innocent?’

Gabrán was regarding her thoughtfully.

‘You do not think that I am guilty?’ he whispered. There was no disguising the sudden hope in his voice.

‘I think that you were panicked into flight to make you appear guilty.’

‘Then you think Creoda is guilty?’

Fidelma shook her head. ‘However, first we must demonstrate that you are not.’

There came a rap on the door and Accobrán came in. Fidelma glanced up with a frown of irritation.

‘I am in the middle of questioning Gabrán,’ she began.

‘It is Bébháil and Tómma come to see you, lady. They insist on seeing you immediately. Also,’ he glanced at Gabrán, bent close to Fidelma’s ear and whispered, ‘the boy’s parents have arrived.’

Fidelma sighed in resignation. ‘Very well. Tell them that I will join them in a moment.’

She waited until he departed and the door was closed again before she glanced back to Gabrán.

‘You do not like Accobrán, do you?’

The boy raised a hand to his bruised face. He returned her gaze levelly for a moment or two and then shrugged.

‘I have reason not to.’

‘Why?’

‘The answer is simple. Knowing Beccnat to be in love with me, he tried to separate us.’

‘You will have to explain that.’

‘A month or so before Beccnat was murdered, there was a féis at the chieftain’s hall. Accobrán insisted on dancing with Beccnat.’

‘Insisted?’ Fidelma picked up on the word. ‘He was forcing his attentions on her?’

Gabrán sniffed and nodded quickly.

‘How did Beccnat respond to that?’

The corner of the boy’s mouth drooped. He said nothing.

‘Did she raise objections? Accobrán is a handsome man,’ she added.

Gabrán looked up angrily. ‘She was flattered at being asked to dance with the tanist. That was all. I suspect that after the féis he tried to see her again. But, as I told you before, Beccnat and I were in love…we were going to marry in spite of the story Lesren was spreading around.’

‘But you suspected Accobrán tried to meet with Beccnat secretly?’ queried Fidelma. ‘Tried or succeeded?’ she added sharply.

‘Tried,’ the boy responded immediately. ‘I trusted Beccnat. I did not trust Accobrán.’

‘Very well.’ Fidelma rose to her feet. ‘I’d better see what Lesren’s widow wants. We will continue this shortly.’

Bébháil and Tómma were waiting for them in the chieftain’s hall with Accobrán. Becc was out hunting and not expected back before evening. Accobrán rose quickly and came to her. In a low voice he explained that Goll and his wife had been taken to an antechamber to await them so that they should not confront Bébháil.

The tanner’s widow and Tómma had risen awkwardly as they entered and Fidelma, having acknowledged Accobrán’s arrangements, walked across to them and motioned them to be seated again.

‘I have little time,’ she began, feigning irritation. ‘Tell me what brings you here. I presume that you have something to tell me about Lesren’s death, Bébháil? Have you persuaded Tómma that he should let you tell me the truth now?’