Peter Tremayne - Badger's Moon

Goll looked puzzled but nodded and followed them outside. Against the side of the shed, Fidelma had noticed a large bench and on this all three took their seats.

‘What do you know of the Thicket of Pigs, Goll?’ Fidelma began.

‘The old hill? There is good wood growing on it. Oaks and alders.’

Fidelma smiled. ‘That is a woodsman’s assessment. You know nothing else about it?’

Goll shrugged. ‘In ancient times it was said that a herd of supernatural pigs dwelt on the hill and were led by a great pig owned by the goddess Brigit. If anyone caught and killed and ate one of the pigs, it would reappear alive and well the next day. That is why the hill received its name.’

‘So we have already heard,’ Eadulf muttered.

‘Do you often walk on the hill?’ Fidelma asked suddenly.

There was no mistaking the reddening of Goll’s cheeks.

‘What do you mean?’ he countered.

‘I thought my question was clear.’

‘Hardly ever.’

‘Then let us be specific, Goll. It seems that yesterday’s excursion on the hill was unusual for you. Is that so?’

Goll was silent for a while and then he shrugged. ‘It was unusual.’

‘What was your purpose in being there?’

When Goll still hesitated, Eadulf said: ‘It is of little use to prevaricate. I saw you on the hill. You were seen observing someone.’

‘You saw who I was following?’

‘I did.’

‘Then you should know why I was following them.’

‘Let us hear the story, in your own words, Goll,’ Fidelma said sharply. ‘I do not have much time for guessing games.’

‘What other purpose would I have but the same as your own, Sister? I know my boy was innocent of Lesren’s charges. But someone killed Beccnat, also Escrach and Ballgel. I have become suspicious of the strangers, especially their leader. I do not know his name. But it is not the first time that I have seen him move surreptitiously about that hill. The more I listen to Brocc, the more he makes sense.’

‘You mean that you believe that the strangers are guilty of the deaths of the three girls and you were following their leader yesterday in search of proof?’

‘That is exactly what I mean. I knew that you had dismissed such an idea-’

‘Then you knew more than I did,’ snapped Fidelma. ‘But I do not work without evidence. Brocc would try and condemn a person without evidence. That is not how the laws of the Brehons work.’

Goll bent forward eagerly. ‘Exactly. I went to find the evidence.’

‘And did you?’

Goll shook his head reluctantly.

‘From what I saw, I thought you were following your son, Gabrán,’ observed Eadulf.

‘Gabrán was on the hill, it is true. I thought the tall stranger was following him but he turned aside into a cave.’

‘So you simply decided to follow the stranger to see if he would reveal anything to you. And did he?’

‘Only that he seemed involved with Gobnuid the smith and they were interested in the old cave. It used to be an old mine working but it’s long since been abandoned.’

Fidelma stood up suddenly. ‘Thank you, Goll. But if there is any further investigation to be done, leave it to us.’

Fidelma decided that they should return to the fortress immediately in case there was any news of Accobrán’s pursuit party.

There was. When they rode in they could see several horses were mingling in the courtyard and one of the warriors at the gate hailed them to say that Accobrán and his men had returned in good spirits. Fidelma and Eadulf made their way immediately to the chieftain’s great hall.

Becc was sitting back smiling in his chair of office while to one side Accobrán was poised as if halfway through some story. Adag was there as well with several members of the chieftain’s retinue. They glanced up as Fidelma and Eadulf entered. Accobrán smiled broadly.

‘It is good to see you safe and well, Fidelma of Cashel. We heard that you had been hidden in Suanach’s sousterrain during the raid. We examined it on our return but guessed that you had escaped the flames. Becc has now told us of your escape.’

Fidelma inclined her head in brief acknowledgement. ‘And Suanach? Is she safe?’

‘Safe and well and with Menma in the forus tuaithe .’

The ‘house of the territory’ was the name given to the building for the reception and treatment of the old, sick and injured.

‘Don’t be alarmed, cousin,’ Becc said quickly, seeing the expression on her face. ‘The girl is merely exhausted and a little shocked by the experience. She was anxious for your safety.’

‘I would have no safety had it not been for her,’ admitted Fidelma. ‘The Uí Fidgente would not have treated one of our family well. I will see her in a moment. But. Accobrán, I seem to have interrupted you in the telling of your story. How did you fare in the pursuit and what prisoners have you taken?’

Accobrán shifted his weight and smiled wanly. ‘I was saying that it was a good thing that we had Menma along with us as our tracker. The Uí Fidgente were devious. We could have lost their trail several times, but Menma was equal to the task.’

The tanist paused while Fidelma seated herself, and when Eadulf had done the same he went on with the story.

‘We set off in pursuit at the time you returned to alert Becc,’ he began again, initially speaking to Eadulf. ‘It was dark by then and so we soon had to halt as we could see nothing. We waited until first light and then moved on again. The first part of the trek was easy as it lay through muddy woods. It seemed their leader knew what he was about because he soon took to the rivers and stony ground, which made tracking almost impossible. At least the dark had forced the Uí Fidgente to halt for the night as well. As I say, only Menma was able to keep us on their trail.’

‘Did you get the impression that they were part of a larger body?’ interrupted Eadulf. ‘Were they were trying to link up with a real invasion force?’

Accobrán shook his head. ‘There were ten of them all told. We came on them just before midday when they thought they had shaken us off and had paused to rest. In their confidence that we were far behind, their leader was not clever. I placed my men in ambush positions.’

‘Good,’ Fidelma said approvingly. ‘So you were able to take all of them prisoners?’

Accobrán dropped his gaze to the floor for a moment and made a dismissive motion. ‘I am afraid I did not. Thanks be, however, Suanach was not injured in the fight which developed…’

Fidelma was frowning.

‘How many did you capture?’ she said quietly.

‘None.’

‘Not one of the ten was captured?’ she cried, aghast. ‘Not one of them injured?’

Accobrán was defensive. ‘In battle, lady, it often happens.’

‘It does,’ agreed Becc amiably. ‘I think that Accobrán has done well to bring Suanach home safely. One of Abbot Brogán’s brethren is leaving this afternoon for Cashel and then will proceed to Imleach. He will take news of this matter to the king and doubtless Colgú will know what to do. Compensation must be forthcoming from the Uí Fidgente, and especially for Menma for the loss of his home and the insult to his wife. In the meanwhile, Menma may rely on the Cinél na Áeda to help rebuild his bothán .’

‘It shall be so ordered, Becc.’ Adag, the steward, nodded with satisfaction.

‘With your permission then, my chieftain, I will wash the dirt from my body and take some refreshment before going to my rest,’ the tanist said, preparing to leave.

‘One question!’ Fidelma’s quiet tone stayed them as they were about to disperse. Everyone turned and looked expectantly at her. ‘Did you discover the purpose of this Uí Fidgente raid?’