Peter Tremayne - Penance of the Damned

‘It is difficult to believe a young woman would be able to give you a sufficiently powerful blow as to cause a burly man like you to be rendered unconscious.’ Eadulf was suspicious.

The man looked sheepish. ‘Nevertheless, brother, that is what happened. She must have hit me with something heavy. A cudgel – that’s it! She must have used a cudgel.’

‘So what happened to the tray of food that she was carrying while she was producing the cudgel from somewhere and preparing to knock you out with it?’ Fidelma asked.

The guard hesitated, his face reddening even deeper. Then he dropped his gaze.

‘What did the girl say to the prisoner after she paid you to let her into the cell?’ Fidelma demanded brusquely.

‘She said …’ the man began, stopped and looked helpless.

‘It was obvious you were bribed,’ Fidelma continued. ‘She needed help to arrange such an escape; to have the gate unlocked and horses ready. You were bribed, that is plain. Now I want to know what she said.’

The guard seemed to realise it was futile to make any further pretence. He muttered, ‘I heard her say something about betrayal.’

Fidelma’s eyes narrowed. ‘Betrayal? Can you recall her precise words?’

The man frowned. ‘I think it was “we are betrayed”. Perhaps it was “we have been betrayed”. Something like that. The rest was spoken in a whisper. I agreed to give them a good head start …’

‘For a price?’ Conri was angry.

‘Most things are done for a price,’ the man replied sulkily.

‘You will have time to meditate on that at leisure in the cells that you once guarded. We will hear what your commander has to say about your willingness to take bribes and betray our trust.’

As Conri marched the man off at sword point, Fidelma glanced at Eadulf and Enda. ‘“We are betrayed!”’ she quoted. ‘What do you think Aibell meant by that?’

‘Earlier this morning, she was content to leave the inquiry in your hands,’ the warrior replied. ‘Then in a short space of time, she had planned and executed a successful escape for Gorman. Why?’

‘And why at this precise time?’ Eadulf wanted to know. ‘If such a plan was feasible, why had she not put it into action before? Nine whole days have passed since her man was incarcerated and more or less declared guilty, apart from the legal niceties. Why wait until after you had arrived and started an investigation? It just doesn’t make any sense.’

‘Things only make sense when we are in possession of all the facts.’ Fidelma sounded resigned. It was clear that she could not find any logic for this new turn of events.

Brehon Faolchair had called a meeting in the great hall. Prince Donennach, looking more exhausted than before, sat in his seat of office and allowed Brehon Faolchair to conduct the proceedings. Prior Cuan and his steward, the tall and arrogant Brother Tuaman, attended but sat quietly. Abbot Nannid and his steward, Brother Cuineain, had plenty to say on the other hand, muttering about conspiracy and Gorman’s guilt. Conri and Enda stood in the background. There was a tense atmosphere as Brehon Faolchair began.

‘We have heard what happened,’ he said. ‘On my part, we admit our responsibility in that one of the guards was bribed. We are not without fault in this matter.’

‘We also know why it has happened,’ interposed Abbot Nannid. ‘The man escaped to avoid punishment and has given us a clear declaration of his guilt. Further, we know now that his woman is as guilty as he is.’

‘The escape is not so easily explained as there was no logical reason why Gorman should decide to escape now,’ remarked Fidelma. ‘It is strange.’

‘Strange because you do not want to believe his guilt.’ Abbot Nannid’s voise was full of derision. ‘I am sure that you have had time to work out some honey-tongued reason for the man’s action. Come, Fidelma of Cashel. I am waiting for some excuse.’

‘I am as perplexed as you are,’ Fidelma returned heatedly. ‘Perhaps even more so. The case against Gorman has yet to be heard in its legal entirety.’

As Abbot Nannid let out a bark of laughter, Prince Donennach stirred and said, ‘Surely, Fidelma, the matter now speaks for itself? I am afraid that I now agree with the abbot that Gorman has declared himself guilty.’

‘Yet a court must still legally try him and find him so. That is the law,’ Fidelma insisted stubbornly.

‘You may have beguiled those who wish to be beguiled last night by trying to gain time by making legal points. But now the matter is at an end.’ Abbot Nannid raised his chin aggressively.

‘Gorman will be returned for trial. Let us wait for that trial until we declare him guilty,’ Fidelma said firmly. ‘I promise you, he will return for trial.’

Brehon Faolchair smiled with sad cynicism. Even Eadulf stared at her in some amazement.

‘How long will that be?’ Abbot Nannid sniggered. ‘We do not have eternity to wait for that promise to be fulfilled.’

‘I do not expect to wait an eternity.’ She turned to Conri. ‘Is there word from Socht yet?’

‘There is none yet,’ Conri said.

Abbot Nannid’s tone was disparaging. ‘If you ask me, Gorman and the women had help … and I don’t mean just one guard’s greed. I mean the help of Gorman’s friends. He won’t be found easily when he has all the territories of the Eoghanacht to hide in.’

Fidelma bridled at the accusation. ‘I hear Nannid is of the line of Coirpre, son of Brion, who claimed to be seventh-generation descent from Eoghan Mor. So Nannid claims to be an Eoghanacht. If that is so, perhaps Nannid is hiding him?’

Prior Cuan was worried at the studied insult and tried to draw them back to the main point of the discussion.

‘I am sure that the correct path is to persuade or attempt to bring Gorman back here for a hearing so that all the arguments can be properly presented before the prince and his Brehon. We must put our trust in Conri’s men to overtake him in this flight.’

‘What if they do not overtake him?’ Abbot Nannid jeered. ‘I recall that Gorman has friends among certain warriors of the Ui Fidgente.’ The barb was clearly thrown towards Conri, who made an obvious effort of will not to take the bait. The abbot went on: ‘What if he goes to ground like some fox? Do you expect us to calmly wait for ever and a day before we demand that Cashel make recompense for the action of the commander of the King’s bodyguard?’

Fidelma turned her gaze to Prince Donennach. ‘I ask for an adequate period of time to find Gorman and then persuade him to return here to answer the charges.’

‘Even if you found him, do you think you could persuade him?’ Prince Donennach asked in surprise.

‘I offer no guarantee, but the consequences of the matter are such that we must go as far as we can to resolve it.’

‘I object to such sycophantic behaviour to the Eoghanacht of Cashel!’ Abbot Nannid thundered. ‘These are just honeyed words again without substance. Of course she has no intention of persuading the man and his woman to return here!’

Prince Donennach ignored him even though Conri had uttered a loud hissing sound at the suggestion that Prince Donennach was a sycophant. The prince held up a hand, as if to wave Conri back, and glanced anxiously at Brehon Faolchair. ‘Is there some precedent to our giving a ruling to this matter?’ he asked.

Eadulf realised that most judgements were usually justified by reference to precedent or fasach .

Brehon Faolchair was hesitant. ‘I have not heard of one. Nonetheless, perhaps it is time one was set, in view of the uniqueness of the situation. However, if it is done we must have some time limitation. Abbot Nannid has made his strong views known. What do you say, Prior Cuan? Would you agree that the dalaigh from Cashel be allowed a period of time to find and persuade Gorman to return for trial?’