Peter Tremayne - Valley of the Shadow

‘That is up to the Great Council which sits at Uisneach next year.’

Orla was silent for a while considering the matter.

‘Well,’ she said at last, ‘whatever the future, the Brehon Murgal is satisfied that since Artgal has disappeared, there is an end to the matter. We can accept that Artgal killed Dianach and fled the valley.’

‘Rather conveniently,’ muttered Fidelma.

‘There is nothing more to be said.’

‘Perhaps. Perhaps not.’

Orla stared angrily at Fidelma for a few moments and made to speak, changed her mind and shrugged to indicate her indifference. In such silence they came to the ráth of Laisre of Gleann Geis.

They rode into the ráth of Laisre. The same two stable boys who had greeted them when they had first arrived were in attendance and took their mounts. It was only then that Orla addressed them again. There was a curtness in her voice.

‘Laisre and Murgal will want to speak with you immediately. They will be in the council chamber.’

Neither Fidelma nor Eadulf said anything as they followed her into the council chamber.

Laisre was seated on his official chair speaking earnestly with Murgal and Colla. They broke off their conversation to stare in surprise as Orla ushered Fidelma and Eadulf forward. Laisre did not conceal his expression of dislike as his gaze met Fidelma’s. Colla looked slightly bewildered at her appearance while Murgal’s countenance bore a look of cynical amusement.

‘So,’ Laisre said in quiet satisfaction, ‘you have caught our fugitives, Orla?’

Fidelma raised an eyebrow disdainfully.

‘Caught? Have you given orders for my capture then, Laisre? If so — why? And what is this talk of our being fugitive?’

‘I found her and the foreigner riding back here,’ Orla interposed hastily. ‘She said that had Murgal thought more deeply about matters then he would know why she had left the ráth when she did.’

Laisre glanced at his Druid.

‘Did you know that Fidelma was leaving?’

Murgal shook his head indignantly.

‘Not I,’ he protested. Then his eyes suddenly narrowed. ‘Ah, I think I do know … now. You went to investigate the ritual slaughter? You did not trust Colla’s information?’

‘You did not trust me? Why?’ demanded Colla, apparently affronted.

‘Because she is a dálaigh.’

‘What has that to do with it?’

‘Because it is the duty of a dálaigh to judge evidence forthemselves. What is the triad? Three duties of a good advocate: apprise yourself of the evidence not trusting to the opinion of others when you are able to form your own; a fair judgment and a strong advocacy. A good dálaigh would not trust another’s judgment if they could view the evidence themselves. Yes, I should have known, Laisre, that your refusal to allow Fidelma to investigate would have been ignored.’

Neither Colla nor Laisre appeared happy with the explanation.

‘I told you that I wished you to have no more to do with the affairs of Gleann Geis than can be helped,’ Laisre intoned in annoyance. ‘We could have conducted our business this morning and you could have been on your way.’

‘We will conduct our business after the matter of the murders is resolved,’ Fidelma replied firmly. Laisre seemed outraged at her contradiction of his wishes. He was about to speak when Murgal interrupted.

‘Are you saying that you can resolve the mystery?’ The Druid’s keen gaze had swept the features of Fidelma with a strange, unfathomable expression. Fidelma kept her features implacable.

‘I should be able to answer that question tomorrow morning. Tomorrow I shall name the killer of Solin and the cause of the other deaths in this place. Now, it has been a long day, we have ridden far, so we will return to the guests’ hostel. Does Cruinn still refuse to serve us? If so, perhaps you would ensure that our wants are seen to. Baths and food are the duty of a hostel under law.’

Her bright gaze swept the astonished company and then she turned from the chamber, motioning Eadulf to follow her.

Eadulf hurried to keep in step with her as she made her way across the courtyard.

‘Did you see the way Colla was looking at you?’ he asked breathlessly. ‘By saying that you will resolve the problem tomorrow, you are inviting Colla and Orla to act against you tonight.’

Fidelma smiled grimly.

‘I am hoping that they might. It would be a short cut to resolving the matter.’

Eadulf was unhappy.

‘It will be a long night before Ibor gets here.’ Then he paused and his face paled. ‘I hope you are not telling me that you have no other plan to resolve this matter than to frighten Orla and Colla into an attempt on your life in order to prove their guilt?’

‘Ecclesiastics in the book of the Apocrypha,’ she replied enigmatically.

‘Meaning?’ frowned Eadulf.

‘Do not reveal your thoughts to anyone lest you drive away your good luck.’

Eadulf snorted derisively but, wisely, said nothing further.

They made their way to the guests’ hostel. It was deserted. Eadulf took their saddle bags back to their rooms while Fidelma set to banking the fire in the kitchen to prepare hot water for the baths. She was struggling with the logs when Rudgal appeared bearing a basket with him.

‘Let me do that, Sister,’ he insisted at once, putting the basket down on the table.

Fidelma, who had been on her knees struggling with the fire, rose with a smile of gratitude.

‘I shall not be reluctant to hand over the task to you, Rudgal. I presume Cruinn is still displeased with us?’

Rudgal bent to the task of stoking the fire.

‘Cruinn is devoted to the chieftain and his family. I presume she is still angry at your accusation concerning the lady, Orla, and her husband.’

‘She is very opinionated for a hostel keeper,’ observed Eadulf coming down the stairs. ‘She should keep to her place and not pass opinions on those she is supposed to serve.’

Rudgal glanced up at him almost with a scowl.

‘Everyone should keep to their place, indeed,’ he muttered turning back to the fire.

Eadulf had almost forgotten Rudgal’s peculiar manner when he found the girl Esnad with him on the previous evening.

‘Have you brought us some food then, Rudgal?’ Fidelma asked brightly, turning to the basket, apparently not noticing Rudgal’s scowl.

‘Yes, Sister,’ Rudgal replied shortly. He had enticed the fire into a strong blaze. He stood up and moved to the basket. ‘The hot water should be ready soon. Do you want to eat before or after the bath?’

‘We will have our baths before eating.’

‘I will prepare them then,’ Rudgal offered. ‘Perhaps you will keep a watch on this kitchen fire for me while I do so?’

After he had disappeared into the bathing chambers, Eadulf grimaced towards Fidelma and whispered.

‘The man seems to bear a grudge about something and that something appears to concern the girl, Esnad. You don’t think that he is jealous or something? No, that would be nonsense.’

‘Perhaps you should discover what ails Rudgal,’ Fidelma reflected. ‘After we have eaten, I think you should seek out this Esnad and find out what it is all about.’

Eadulf looked uneasy.

‘I do not want to leave you alone until Ibor gets here. If you are going to put yourself in the position of lure to snare Orla and Colla, then you stand in great danger.’

Fidelma shook her head.

‘After we have bathed and eaten, I intend to go to Laisre’s feasting hall and make Orla and Colla feel uncomfortable. They can scarcely do anything to me in front of the assembly. It is my belief that if they intend to attempt anything they will do it in the night when all is quiet.’ She gave him a mischievous grin. ‘Maybe you will be in more danger from Esnad than I will be from Orla and Colla?’