Peter Tremayne - Suffer Little Children

Grella was sobbing openly now, crying: ‘I did not know any of this! I did not know!’

Fidelma glanced at her without pity.

‘You were so besotted by your love for Salbach that you had not reasoned out the truth. I concede that it is possible but find it difficult to believe. You would not believe that your lover was capable of ordering the death of little children. I think the reality is that you did not want to know what was going on around you.’

There was a commotion at one of the doors. Fidelma smiledsourly when she saw that Scandlán’s seat was empty. The Chief Brehon had noticed also and waved to a member of the fianna and issued instructions in a low voice.

‘Your cousin will not get out of this abbey,’ Barrán told Salbach.

‘What does it matter now?’ Salbach gave an eloquent shrug. ‘I have admitted my guilt in this matter. I am prepared to stand for judgment. Doubtless my wealth and chieftainship will be forfeit as compensation and I shall be sent into exile. I am prepared for it. Let us proceed with the judgment forthwith.’

Forbassach had risen from the Laigin benches amid the pandemonium that had broken out. He was smiling crookedly.

‘We are grateful to Sister Fidelma for discovering the culprit. But I must point out that Salbach, as chieftain of the Corco Loígde, still owes his allegiance to Cashel. What Fidelma is proving is that responsibility for the death of Dacán still rests with Cashel. Our demand for Osraige as his honour price is still valid.’

The Chief Brehon, Barrán, looked grave.

‘That appears true. Or is there more to this story you wish to tell us, Sister Fidelma?’

‘Much more,’ Fidelma affirmed grimly. ‘For I am not accusing Salbach of the death of Dacán. He is only responsible for the slaughter of the innocents, for the death of those I have named. Neither he nor Grella killed the Venerable Dacán. ’

There was a murmur of excitement from the Muman benches as Sister Fidelma made her surprising announcement. Colgú had been wearing a long face. He had already been aware of the point which Forbassach was bound to make. Now he stared in astonishment at his sister.

‘If Salbach did not kill Dacán,’ the Chief Brehon demanded, with an air of exaggerated patience, ‘are you going to reveal to this assembly who did?’

‘We must come to that logically,’ Fidelma replied. ‘First let us go back to the day when, going through the genealogies here, Dacán discovered the whereabouts of the heirs of Illan. I have already said that he sat down and wrote a letter to his brother Noe.’

Noé leaned forward in his seat and spoke rapidly to Forbassach.

The fiery advocate rose again.

‘There is no proof that Dacán, even if engaged in such a search, reported to the Abbot Noé; there is no evidence that he had even been asked to report to the abbot. In view of that, this assertion is an affront to the abbot and to Fianamail of Laigin.’

‘I will contest that,’ replied Fidelma with assurance. ‘I have also requested the presence at this hearing of Assíd of the Uí Dego. Is he within the court?’

A well-built man with the rolling gait of a sailor came forward. His skin was tanned, his hair sun-bleached and therefore it was impossible to discern its colour.

‘I am Assíd,’ he announced in an almost defiant tone. ‘I appear before this assembly by order of the Chief Brehon but I appear unwillingly for I have no intention of bringing harm to my king.’

He stood before the cos-na-dála with arms folded, staring in antagonism towards Fidelma.

‘Let that be so recorded,’ the Chief Brehon cautioned his scriptor.

‘Let it be recorded that Assíd is, indeed, a loyal subject of Fianamail of Laigin,’ added Fidelma lightly with a smile.

‘I do not deny that,’ affirmed Assíd suspiciously.

‘Are you the captain and owner of a coastal trading barc?’

‘I do not deny that, either.’

‘For the last year or so have you traded between Laigin and the lands of the Corco Loígde?’

‘Once again, I do not deny it.’

‘And you were staying in the abbey on the night the Venerable Dacán died?’

‘That’s common knowledge.’

‘You left the abbey on the same day and sailed directly for Laigin. You went to Fearna and reported Dacán’s murder to Fianamail and Abbot Noe.’

Assíd hesitated and nodded slowly, trying to see where Fidelma’s path was leading.

‘This was why Laigin was able to act so swiftly over this matter.’ Fidelma made the statement as an explanation to the assembly, rather than putting it as a question to Assid. ‘Tell us, Assíd, for I have not had time to question you before, what were the circumstances of that evening in the abbey? Tell us when you last saw the Venerable Dacan alive and when you heard of his death?’

Assíd seemed to lose his aggressive posture for a moment and he reached forward to use the rail before him as a support, leaning his weight from the shoulders upon it.

‘It is true,’ he began slowly, addressing himself to the ChiefBrehon, ‘that I was trading along this coast and had decided to put in to Ros Ailithir and seek a night’s rest at the abbey’s hostel. There I saw the Venerable Dacán …’

‘Whom you greeted as someone you knew?’ interposed Fidelma.

Assíd hesitated and then shrugged.

‘Who in Laigin does not know the Venerable Dacán?’ he countered.

‘But you knew him better than most for you greeted him as an old friend. There is a witness,’ she added in case it was denied.

‘Then I shall not deny it,’ Assíd agreed.

‘It makes me wonder why you put in to Ros Ailithir? Pure chance? No. There were other hostels along the coast. You could even have stayed at Cuan Dóir. Yet you put in here. It leads me to suspect that you had arranged to meet Dacan.’

Assíd looked uncomfortable. It was obvious that Fidelma was correct in her assumption.

‘So I asked myself why you had an assignation to meet Dacán here? Will you tell us or shall I explain?’

Assid seemed to be attempting to catch the eye of those on the Laigin benches.

Fidelma turned to the book satchel on the bench where she had been sitting and drew out some pieces of vellum.

‘I present, in evidence, the draft of a letter written by Dacán to his brother, the Abbot Noé, informing him of his discovery of a surviving heir of Illan in words that leave little doubt that he had been asked to conduct this research and also that he subsequently expected some action on the part of his brother.

‘Fortunately for us, in writing this draft, Dacán spilt ink on it. Being the fastidious and methodical man he was, he put it to one side and rewrote it. He either forgot to destroy his draft or, before he could do so, it was stolen from him. It was certainly in the possession of Sister Grella and this is how we can prove that Dacán acted on his brother’s commission.’

Fidelma did not bother to look at the Laigin benches — theywere curiously quiet while Barrán scanned the evidence which Fidelma had handed him.

‘And you say that the finished form of this letter was given to Assfd? Assfd then took the report to Noé?’ asked Barran.

Fidelma inclined her head in agreement.

The Chief Brehon turned to Forbassach as advocate for Laigin. His expression was dour.

‘Forbassach, the evidence here is clear. I now have to warn you. The law text, the Din Techtugad, states that a person who gives false testimony loses his honour price. False testimony is one of the three falsehoods which God avenges most severely. I will not impose the penalty at this stage, giving the Abbot Noé time to reflect on this matter.’ He turned back to Fidelma. ‘Please, proceed, sister.’