Peter Tremayne - The Spider's Web

For a while it was as if she had become divorced from the world of petty human vindictiveness; as if she had become part of nature, breathing the warmth of the spring air, scenting the smells of the woods and fields, feeling the gentle heat of the sun. She almost closed her eyes in the sheer pleasure of sensual relish.

Then she roused herself almost with a sense of guilt.

People were dead and she had a duty to discover why they were so and who was responsible.

Her eyes flicked open. She became aware of two riders on the road ahead of them. She immediately recognised Dubán and one of his men.

She drew rein and awaited them. Eadulf halted by her side. She was about to speak when Dubán cut her short.

‘I have already heard the news, sister. Crón sent me word. I have left a couple of my men with Archú and Scoth. They refuse to leave their farmstead. But they are in safe hands.’

‘You have not seen Agdae then? I was told that he was riding this way.’

Dubán shook his head.

‘I doubt whether he will try to harm Archú knowing that my men are with him. It is probably a passion which will eventually ebb. He will come to his senses and realise that Archú is not responsible for the death of Muadnat.’

Fidelma looked slightly puzzled.

‘You seem so sure? I am only prepared to say that I think it unlikely that Archú killed Muadnat.’

‘I know he did not,’ replied Dubán solemnly.

Fidelma’s eyebrow involuntarily arched.

‘You know ?’

‘Surely. That is easy. Last night I left two of my men with Archú and Scoth. They are witnesses to the fact that neither left the farm at all.’

Fidelma smiled contritely.

‘How stupid of me not to remember that. Well, at least that saves time in trying to prove Archú’s innocence. But we must now discover who is guilty.’

‘I am on my way back to the rath ,’ Dubán said. ‘I am surprised that Crítán is not escorting you. He is supposed to be in charge of the guards this morning.’

Briefly, Fidelma told him what had happened. Dubán did not appear unduly surprised.

‘I suppose I knew that the lad did not have the true spirit of a warrior. He had ambition without dedication.’

‘The trouble is that he has a warrior’s skills and little of a warrior’s morality. He is like an arrow that has been loosed from the bow but with no controlling flights,’ Fidelma said.

‘I understand that well enough, sister. I am not yet in my dotage and realise that he might be a danger. I will discuss this matter with Crón.’

‘I hope she takes your advice in this as in other things.’

Dubán’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as he studied her expressionless face. He seemed to ask a question and, after a pause, she said: ‘I am not simple-minded.’

‘I did not think you were,’ admitted Dubán.

‘Good. Remember it well. Speak with Crón and advise her that it is better to speak the truth; better truth than half truth or complete lie.’

She turned and gestured for Eadulf to follow her. Theycontinued to ride along the hillside track and after a while Eadulf called to her.

‘They have gone. What was the meaning of that exchange?’ Fidelma halted her horse.

‘I was merely planting a seed,’ she confided cheerfully. ‘It is about time that the half truths and lies that are being spread are stopped and someone told me the truth.’

‘But aren’t you giving Crón and Dubán warning that you are suspecting them of involvement?’

‘Sometimes to flush out a fox you must start to dig into its lair.’

‘I see. You expect them to react in some way?’

‘We shall see whether they do or not.’

Eadulf sniffed disapprovingly.

‘It is often a dangerous practice for if a fox is cornered it will sometimes turn and rend its tormentor. Anyway, where are we going now? Surely Archú can tell us no more?’

‘We are not going to Archú’s farmstead now we know he is safe and there is no sign of Agdae there.’

‘Then where?’

‘The path you saw yesterday. I want to see where it leads.’

Eadulf looked dubious.

‘Wouldn’t it have been better to have an escort then? What if the path does lead to the lair of the cattle raiders?’

Fidelma smiled gently.

‘Have no fear, Eadulf. I am not going to put myself deliberately in the way of danger.’

‘It is not deliberate actions that I fear,’ muttered Eadulf.

For the first time in a long while she chuckled with genuine amusement and then signalled for him to follow her. They eventually came to the track overlooking the valley in which Muadnat’s farmstead lay. Fidelma halted and examined the fields and buildings with a searching look.

‘I don’t really want to be observed by anyone at Muadnat’s farm,’ she said.

‘I cannot see any other means of joining the path than going through the track which lies between the farm buildings,’ Eadulf pointed out.

Fidelma shook her head and held out her hand.

‘Beyond those fields is a small depression that traverses the valley. I think it is a ditch or stream. Here and there, you can see that trees and brush grow along its banks. If we can find a way down into it we can probably keep below the level of any prying eyes from the farmstead until we get on the far side of the valley and can join the path.’

Eadulf appeared doubtful but observing that she was so determined he insisted that he lead the way, giving his horse its head to pick a path down the steep incline, skirting some cultivated fields and moving steadily towards the shelter of some trees through which the ditch ran. Fidelma had been right, the depression concealed a small stream, no more than six feet across in places. The stream lay at the bottom of a ditch which gave concealment to them as they followed its shallow running waters across the valley floor.

It did not take them very long to traverse the valley and move upwards, this time emerging overlooking the back of the farm buildings. Nothing was moving below them, they could not even see any workers around the barns or in the fields.

It was some time before they finally joined the second track and began to follow its course up into the northern hills.

‘Well,’ Fidelma exclaimed, as she examined the track carefully, ‘it can’t be claimed that this is unfrequented. Dubán’s men obviously did not search this path long enough. It may be stony at the bottom of the hill but up here, where there is less stone, you can plainly see the marks of horses and asses, even a cart.’

The Saxon religieux looked concerned.

‘Shouldn’t we return for Dubán’s warriors?’

Fidelma gave him a withering look.

In silence they followed the track and it began to turn aroundthe side of the steeply sloping hill, away from the valley of the Black Marsh, until Eadulf pointed out that it had doubled back on itself.

‘We are on the far side of the hill to Muadnat’s farmstead now.’ He pointed upwards. ‘Do you see where the sun is?’

‘This is a circuitous route indeed,’ agreed Fidelma.

What was more interesting was that the path was now completely level, keeping at the same elevation along the hillside. They continued on, with the pathway leading directly due eastward and then swinging abruptly due south almost on a high plateau.

‘I don’t understand. We have doubled back on ourselves entirely,’ Fidelma said.

‘Not just doubled back,’ Eadulf smiled, ‘I think we have worked around parallel to the area of the valley where Archú’s farmstead is.’

Fidelma did not understand and said so.

Eadulf pointed to the slope of the hill on his right side.

‘If we climbed over the top of this hill and looked down from the summit we would be looking down onto Archú’s farmlands, perhaps onto the farm itself.’