Peter Tremayne - Valley of the Shadow

The girl placed her basket on the table and began to unpack fresh bread, cold meats, boiled eggs and some vegetables. She had even brought an amphora of wine.

‘Do your mother and father know that you are here?’ inquired Fidelma.

Esnad raised her chin defiantly.

‘I am of the age of choice,’ she replied in an annoyed tone. ‘I was fourteen last birthday.’

‘Yet your parents might be angry that you are consorting with us after what has happened.’

‘Let them be,’ the girl said dismissively. ‘I do not care. I am old enough to make my own decisions.’

‘There is no denying that,’ observed Fidelma gravely.

The girl finished unpacking. There was, at least, enough food for a passable supper.

It was clear that the girl felt uncomfortable in Fidelma’s presence and it appeared that she wanted to speak with Eadulf on her own. That intrigued Fidelma. She was also amused that Eadulf seemed embarrassed at the young girl’s attentions. Nevertheless, she hoped that Eadulf would have the sense to see that the girl wanted to speak with him.

She rose with a smile.

‘I promised to discuss something with Murgal,’ she said with a meaningful glance at Eadulf, hoping that he would understand her motive.

The Saxon looked thoroughly alarmed but he apparently understood that she wanted him to stay and discover what it was that Esnad wanted of him.

Esnad was looking pleased.

‘I hope that I am not interfering with your plans,’ she observed coyly.

‘Not at all,’ replied Fidelma. ‘I will be back shortly, so save me some of that excellent supper.’

She left the hostel and found herself in the gloom of the courtyard.

For a few moments she walked without purpose, wondering if Esnad had some information which could add anything towards a solution of the mystery of Gleann Geis. Then she found herself retracing the route that she had taken on the previous night when she had followed Brother Solin. She had not gone far when she saw a portly figure of a woman leave the building which contained Murgal’s apartment and begin to hurry across the courtyard. The figure was easy to recognise. Fidelma quickened her step.

‘Cruinn!’

The rotund hostel-keeper paused and peered round. She recognised Fidelma within an inward hiss of her breath. She would have moved on had not Fidelma quickly moved to block her path.

‘Cruinn, why have you not come to the hostel?’ Fidelma asked reproachfully. ‘Why are you so angry with me?’

The woman turned and scowled at her.

‘You should know the laws of hospitality, you being a dálaigh. You insulted your host by insulting his sister.’

‘That is unjust,’ Fidelma pointed out. ‘I know that Orla is well respected but I can only tell the truth. I, myself, was wrongly accused.’

‘You only escaped justice on a technical point of law,’ Cruinn returned sharply, much to Fidelma’s astonishment.

‘You seem to suddenly know much about the law, Cruinn,’ she replied. ‘Where did you learn so much?’

Even in the gloom, Fidelma saw that Cruinn looked uncomfortable for a moment.

‘I only repeat what everyone is saying. Had Artgal not been so foolish as to accept the cows then his evidence would have been proven.’

‘I did not kill Brother Solin.’

Cruinn turned away quickly.

‘I have things to do,’ she muttered. ‘But do not look for me in the hostel. There are few people here who welcome your presence now, Fidelma of Cashel. The sooner you leave Gleann Geis the better.’

The portly figure hurried away into the darkness. Fidelma watched her go with some regret. It was discouraging how people changed their attitudes because of false information and prejudice.

A door opened and a light fell across the courtyard. Fidelma saw the light came from the apothecary of Marga. Two figures were framed in the door. One was Marga and the other was Laisre. Fidelma stood bathed in the light from the doorway. Laisre’s figure stiffened as he turned in her direction. Then he bowed his head to Marga.

‘Thank you, Marga. How many times must I take the infusion?’ His voice came clearly.

‘Only once in the evening, Laisre.’

The attractive apothecary turned and closed the door, cutting off the light from the courtyard.

Laisre stepped away in the gloom which had descended towards Fidelma.

‘Well, Fidelma of Cashel,’ he greeted her heavily, ‘I have just been told by Murgal that you disobeyed my orders and left the ráth earlier.’

‘It was not an order as I recall. You stated that it was only your preference,’ Fidelma replied solemnly.

Laisre snorted angrily.

‘Do not play with words. I did not sanction you leaving the ráth.’

‘If I had not left the ráth do you think that Brother Dianach would have been any the less dead?’

‘You bring death in your wake. The ravens of death are forever fluttering over your head,’ grunted Laisre sourly.

‘Do you really think that I am responsible for the deaths that have occurred?’

Laisre made an impatient gesture.

‘All I know is that such deaths have never occurred in our community before you came. The sooner that you are gone from here the better.’

He left her abruptly and hurried away towards the council chamber.

Fidelma sighed and decided to return to the hostel. She reasoned that she had allowed enough time for Esnad to unburden herself to Eadulf and say whatever it was she had wanted to say.

She was about to open the door when it was flung open and Esnad nearly collided with her. Fidelma almost lost her footing as the young woman pushed into her and, without faltering herself, hurried off into the night.

A moment later another figure came out of the hostel.

‘Esnad! Wait!’

The figure of Rudgal hurried by without even seeing Fidelma in the shadows.

Fidelma stared after his vanishing figure with an expression of perplexity. She entered the hostel and closed the door behind her. Eadulf was seated where she had left him. The food was barely touched.

He looked up with some relief.

‘What’s happened?’ Fidelma demanded. ‘Esnad came hurrying out and nearly knocked me over. Then Rudgal came out apparently chasing after her.’

‘I’ve no idea,’ confessed Eadulf. ‘I begin to think there is a madness in this place.’

‘Why was Esnad so keen on speaking to you alone? I thought she had something of importance to tell you which might have helped us solve this puzzle.’

Eadulf shook his head.

‘She was more anxious to ask me questions about who I was,where I came from and what life was like in the land of the South Folk.’

Fidelma was disappointed.

‘Is that all?’

Eadulf became embarrassed.

‘Actually, no. She wanted to know why I was travelling with you and what our relationship was.’

Fidelma gave a mischievous grin.

‘Our relationship?’

Eadulf gestured half-heartedly.

‘You know,’ he said lamely.

Fidelma decided not to tease him further.

‘Why do you think she was asking such questions? Was there a purpose in it?’

Eadulf was perplexed.

‘None that I could see. If she was older …’

Fidelma examined him closely. There was still some humour in her eyes.

‘ If she was older?’ she prompted. ‘Remember she is already beyond the age of choice now.’

Eadulf, red with embarrassment, protested.

‘She is only a child.’

‘Fourteen is the age of maturity for a girl in this land, Eadulf. A girl can be married at that age and make her own decisions.’

‘But …’

‘You felt that she was being more than simply friendly towards you?’

‘Yes, I did. To be truthful, I have noticed her wanton attitude before. Well, it is probably only infatuation,’ he ended lamely.