Peter Tremayne - Valley of the Shadow

Fidelma regarded her empty beaker as if searching for the answer in it.

‘This is what I do not understand. He did not have to be bribed. I think he might have genuinely believed what he thought he saw. He would not have changed his testimony anyway. Why would Ibor ofMuirthemne risk all by offering to pay him such an extraordinary sum of money?’

‘We must seek out Ibor of Muirthemne,’ Eadulf announced. ‘He will provide many answers.’

Fidelma glanced at him with resignation.

‘You heard what Laisre said? I am forbidden to inquire further.’

‘When has that stopped you before?’ countered Eadulf in humour.

‘Well, tomorrow we conclude our negotiation here and then we may turn our minds to the matter. Certainly I would agree that there is some mystery here which emanates in part or in whole from Ulaidh, from the north. I cannot yet fathom it. Do you recall my finding the warrior’s torc of northern workmanship near the bodies?’

‘I have not forgotten,’ Eadulf replied. ‘But we do not have to wait until tomorrow. It is only early evening, and there are two milch cows at Artgal’s farmstead. Even dumb animals may talk.’

Fidelma was confused.

‘Animals do not appear out of thin air,’ Eadulf elucidated. ‘They must have come from somewhere. Perhaps they have brands. We might learn where they came from. If so we might be able to track Ibor himself and find out who he represents and what his purpose here has been.’

Fidelma regarded him with satisfied approval.

‘Sometimes one is so concerned with examining the tree that one loses sight of the wood. A splendid idea, Eadulf. More and more you are proving that you are equal to a dálaigh. But we must proceed carefully. Laisre will not approve of our investigation.’

‘Laisre will not know. He and his friends will be starting their feasting soon,’ Eadulf pointed out. ‘Rudgal told me that this evening feast is a regular affair. I think,’ he added with a grim humour, ‘it will be a long time before I will go willingly to such a feast again.’

Fidelma now became aware that it was approaching meal time and they were the only people in the hostel.

‘Where is Cruinn? She should surely be here to prepare our food?’ she asked.

‘I am afraid that Cruinn has been disapproving of us. She seems to have taken a personal dislike to us and withdrawn her services. We have to fend for ourselves. Brother Dianach is nowhere to be seen. I suspect he, too, has not accepted the finding of the court.’

Fidelma was puzzled.

‘I can understand Brother Dianach being upset. But I cannotunderstand such animosity from Cruinn. Even if I had been proved guilty, what was Brother Solin to her?’

‘Her anger comes from your accusation against Orla. Orla is well liked here in Gleann Geis.’

‘Ah well, her absence might be good. It gives us a free hand. We can move without the constraint she would place on us …’

She had not finished the sentence when the door opened and Rudgal came in. He looked rather sheepish.

‘I came to tell you that Cruinn, the hostel keeper, refuses to come here to cook for you. She is rather old-fashioned …’

‘We have just been discussing that,’ Fidelma informed him.

‘But Fidelma was exonerated by Murgal,’ protested Eadulf indignantly. ‘How dare she refuse to fulfil her duties?’

Rudgal shrugged.

‘She is one who takes the view that there is no smoke without fire. She refuses to set foot in this hostel until you have both departed. Even the chiding of Murgal, who admittedly has not been too forceful, has failed to move her. Therefore, I have come here to offer to tend to your needs, though I am no great cook.’

‘I thank you, Rudgal,’ Fidelma smiled appreciatively. ‘We can manage well enough if we have a supply of food and drink. We shall, after all, not be here more than another day. And I am sure Brother Dianach will be able to look after himself. Where is he, by the way?’

‘I have not seen him.’

Fidelma was disappointed. She remembered the whispered conversation between Solin and Dianach before he went to his death in the stable. ‘If all goes well,’ Solin had told the young cleric, ‘Cashel will fall to us before the summer is out.’ To us ? Who was the us ? It was clear that Dianach was party to whatever mischievous plot was being hatched. She wanted to question the gauche young scribe as soon as possible, especially now that he had not the protection of Solin to fall back on. But, if he couldn’t be found, there were other things that could be done and Eadulf had made a good suggestion.

‘There is another favour we would ask of you, Rudgal,’ Fidelma went on, having considered the way forward. ‘We would like to go to Artgal’s farmstead and examine these two milch cows with which he was bribed.’

Rudgal looked uneasy.

‘Is that wise, Sister? Laisre forbade further investigation.’

‘Wise or not, we would like you to take us to his farmstead where we may examine the cows. Even a king cannot forbid a dálaigh to investigate a crime. A king is a servant of the law, not its master.’

‘I am not questioning the wisdom of you wishing to investigate but I think you should know that in spite of Laisre’s command that Artgal should not leave the ráth, he has done so. He is nowhere to be found. Artgal might contemplate harm against you for the ruin which you have brought on him.’

Fidelma rose to her feet resolutely.

‘Do you think that he is gone to his farmstead perhaps to destroy the evidence of his wrong doing? In that case, we must certainly go in search of him, for he is our only link to Ibor of Muirthemne and those cattle are confirmation of the deed.’

‘But he could have gone anywhere,’ Eadulf pointed out. ‘Anywhere to escape Laisre’s justice.’

‘I do not think so,’ interposed Rudgal. ‘His cabin lies not far away on the hillside overlooking Ronan’s hamlet. Ronan was sent to his farmstead in pursuit of Ibor of Muirthemne. Ibor has fled the valley. But Ronan told me on his return that he had caught sight of Artgal on the hill path going to his farmstead. He did not think it his duty to stop him as he had only been told to bring Ibor back to the ráth. Besides, Artgal was a friend and cousin to Ronan. Ronan will say nothing to Laisre unless directly asked.’

‘So Ibor has fled the valley?’ Fidelma repeated quietly. ‘Well, that was to be expected.’

‘Ibor of Muirthemne and his horses must have left the ráth even before Murgal finished the hearing,’ Rudgal agreed. ‘However, as for Artgal, I cannot see him willingly parting with the cattle now he has them. If he intends to leave the valley to escape Laisre’s wrath, he will collect his possessions first.’

‘Then let us find out if he is still at his farmstead,’ Fidelma insisted, moving towards the door.

They left the ráth of Laisre without being challenged. As Eadulf had pointed out, although there were several hours of daylight left in the warm summer evening, everyone appeared to have taken themselves to Laisre’s feasting hall. Laughter and the noise of feasting echoed over the empty courtyard. There was no one about or at the gates of the fortress. It was Rudgal who suggested that they did not encumber themselves with horses as they might be spotted more easily on horseback if Artgal was trying to avoid them.

In any case, it was scarcely a mile to the farmstead which Rudgal indicated on the side of the hill, just above the hamlet dominated by Ronan’s farm. Rudgal led the way at an easy pace with the two religious following close behind.

It was still warm, for the summer’s day had been hot beyond the shelter of the ráth. Although it would not grow dark for two hours at least, a few dark storm clouds were hanging over the mountains and there was a threat of rain beyond their peaks. They could hear a distant rumble of thunder from the other side of the surrounding pinnacles. At least the clouds were hanging around the summits of the hills, as if anchored to them, and not moving across the bright blue sky above the valley.