Peter Tremayne - Badger's Moon

There was a sudden sense of expectancy among the people in the Great Hall. Fidelma gazed on their upturned faces. A variety of emotions showed in their features: excitement, like dogs waiting to be unleashed in the hunt; consternation and apprehension and, here and there, fear.

‘Let me begin with the crime of the abuse of the laws of hospitality. That is the least serious of the offences that have been committed against the Cinél na Áeda. But we deem it a grave misdemeanour nevertheless.’

She turned and looked down at Brother Dangila and his companions, then glanced towards Brother Solam. ‘Since I have to speak in our own language so that the majority of people may understand, I charge you, Brother Solam, with translating my words into Greek for the convenience of the three brothers of Aksum.’

The steward of the abbey inclined his head, left his place and walked to where the Aksumites were sitting and swiftly interpreted what Fidelma had said. The solemn-faced Brother Dangila bowed slightly in a gesture of acceptance towards her.

‘The three brothers from the far-off land of Aksum have abused the hospitality of the abbey-’

‘I was right!’ interrupted Brocc raucously. ‘They are the killers. I said so all along and I demand-’

Fidelma swung fiercely round on him. ‘You will demand nothing. If you do not remain silent I shall have you removed back to your cell.’

Brocc blinked before her fury and fell sullenly silent.

‘The three brothers from Aksum, being strangers, may themselves have been misled and might use that argument to defend their actions,’ Fidelma said.

Brother Dangila spoke directly to Fidelma, with Brother Solam translating for the rest of the people. ‘We have no understanding of this alleged abuse, Sister. Please explain.’

‘You came here, so you have told us, to study the works that are in the abbey of Finnbarr. Correct?’

‘Correct.’

‘Abbot Brogán gave you hospitality at the abbey on the grounds of that study and for no other purpose. But you had another reason for coming here, didn’t you?’

Brother Dangila’s eyes narrowed slightly and he made no reply.

‘Before you entered the brotherhood of the Faith, Dangila, you told me that you worked in the gold mines of your country, the mines of Adulis which produce gold that is exported all over the world. And was not your father a worker in those same mines?’

Brother Dangila nodded slowly. ‘I do not deny it. I did work in the mines in the shadow of Ras Dashen before I joined the brotherhood of the Faith.’

‘Your words to me were that you learnt more than just how to spot a rich vein of gold or copper,’ Fidelma continued. ‘In fact, you were a craftsman in your field. You knew all about mining techniques.’

The Aksumite shrugged indifferently but made no response.

‘We know how you were saved from a ship that foundered off the shores and take to the house of Molaga. You were there some time. Do you remember telling me how you decided to come here and stay in the community of the abbey of Finnbarr?’

‘My memory is not so short,’ replied Brother Dangila. ‘And yet I cannot see-’

‘Be patient. You told me that you came here to study the writings of Aibhistín about the moon and its effects…’

There was an uneasy murmur from those assembled.

‘That was not entirely true, was it?’ snapped Fidelma.

Brother Dangila said nothing. His two companions, Brother Nakfa and Brother Gambela, exchanged glances. Their expressions were not lost on Fidelma.

‘Perhaps you did not even tell your companions the truth of why you really brought them to the land of the Cinél na Áeda,’ she went on confidently, hoping she was interpreting the movement correctly.

Again, Brother Dangila was silent.

‘It was Accobrán who suggested that you came to this abbey, wasn’t it?’ Fidelma prompted.

The young tanist, who had been lounging with a cynical smile on his face, suddenly tensed.

‘What are you implying?’ he demanded, moving forward, but Becc reached out a hand and held him back.

Fidelma ignored him.

‘What did Accobrán offer you in return for coming here to use your talent in spotting gold veins in the old mines here?’ she said.

‘Outrageous!’ cried Accobrán, taking another involuntary step forward but this time finding his path blocked by the stocky frame of Eadulf. ‘How dare you…?’

Sister Fidelma smiled softly at him. ‘I dare because I am a dálaigh . As Brother Dangila seems reticent, perhaps you will tell me what you offered him to come and be your mine surveyor?’

Becc leant forward, frowning at his nephew. ‘A tanist has a duty to clear such a matter not only with myself but with the council of the Cinél na Áeda. He could not act arbitrarily.’

Fidelma continued to look questioningly at Accobrán but replied to the chieftain. ‘Your tanist was not intending to share any wealth that he discovered with you or the Cinél na Áeda. This leads me to the second of the crimes that I have said have been committed here — a betrayal of trust by your tanist, the man whom you appointed your heir-apparent.’

Accobrán had grabbed his sword hilt to unsheathe the weapon but Eadulf seized a short sword from a nearby warrior and placed its point lightly against the tanist’s midriff. He smiled apologetically.

‘ Aequo animo ,’ he said softly, advising the man to be calm. ‘ Aequam servare mentem .’

‘This affront cannot be tolerated,’ growled Accobrán, but he made no other movement.

Becc was looking on in confusion. ‘We must hear more than accusations, Fidelma.’

‘Oh, so you shall. I am not sure how long Accobrán, Gobnuid and Brother Dangila have been working an old mine on the Thicket of Pigs.’

Gobnuid, still seated, groaned and placed his head in his hands.

‘Can you prove this?’ demanded Becc.

‘I have witnesses to all I say. And when I went to explore the mine, I found a missing piece of an Aksumite crucifix that Brother Dangila had dropped there. When I had previously taxed him with its loss, he told me he had left it in the dormitory of the abbey. But I found it in the mine. Brother Solam will bear testimony that he has seen Accobrán and Dangila going by wagon to the mine. Menma and Brother Eadulf have seen Dangila outside the mine and also Gobnuid. Earlier, I had also witnessed them together with Eadulf.’

She turned back to Brother Dangila with raised eyebrows in silent interrogation. The tall Aksumite seemed to have slumped a little in his seat. But Becc interrupted again.

‘You are accusing Accobrán and this stranger, who hardly speaks our language, of collusion? In what language could they have conducted such subterfuge?’

Fidelma smiled easily. ‘Did you not know that Accobrán spoke Greek, Becc? He was some years studying for the Faith in the house of Molaga and learnt a basic Greek. I learnt that the second day I was here when your tanist started to recite some Greek poetry. Anyway, Brother Dangila, what do you have to say to the charge?’

The tall man raised his eyes to her. ‘During the course of conversation at the house of Molaga, Accobrán found out that I had once been a surveyor in the gold mines of my own land. He told me that he thought he had discovered some gold in his own territory, a place where there had been rich mines until not so long ago. He said he knew a little of how to recognise gold…’

‘That I can confirm,’ nodded Fidelma. ‘When we were in Bébháil’s bothán I chanced to pick up a gold rock and remark on it. Accobrán was knowledgeable enough to glance at it and assure me that it was fool’s gold. He seemed relieved by the fact.’

‘But he did not know enough to follow a seam and mine it from a rock face,’ continued Brother Dangila. ‘He asked me if I would survey it and find out whether the seam would yield riches or simply wither after a short while. For this I was offered a quarter of everything that could be extracted. I believed that this mine belonged to him.’