Peter Tremayne - Penance of the Damned

‘We can make this our base and leave our horses here before we climb up to see what is happening on the Hill of Truth,’ Fidelma announced with satisfaction.

Enda had returned to the main track on foot to make a quick survey of the terrain and ensure that their tracks were not discernible. They had barely dismounted when the young warrior came racing back.

‘There are horsemen riding this way,’ he said urgently. ‘The trees should provide cover here, but try to ensure the horses are quiet.’

Crouching behind a boulder, Fidelma whispered: ‘How many riders?’

‘Four, or maybe six.’

‘What did you make of them? Are they more of Glaed’s brigands?’

‘They are heading for the Hill of Truth,’ he said as if that answered the question.

‘I’d like to see who they are,’ Fidelma suddenly decided.

‘No, lady. It’s best for you to remain here. I will move closer and take a look.’

Without another word, crouching low, the young warrior moved stealthily away while the others held on to their horses, praying the animals did not cause any noise or make a movement that would alert the passing riders to their presence. In silence they waited, dreading the sounds that would announce that the riders had discovered them. When Enda came back, it was clear that something was troubling him.

‘They’ve passed on. However, I’d like to show you something, lady,’ he said. ‘Best keep the horses here, Eadulf. Aibell can help you.’

Fidelma gave Eadulf a shrug to show she had no idea what was going on before she followed Enda without another word.

They had gone a little distance, out of earshot of the others, when the warrior turned and, keeping his voice low, said: ‘I didn’t want Aibell to hear.’

At once Fidelma asked: ‘Was it Gorman?’

Enda quickly shook his head. ‘The riders were definitely from Sliabh Luachra – not professional warriors but dirty, ragged men whose weaponry would not pass inspection among the warriors of the Golden Collar. The thing is, I recognised the man at the head of them … he was old Brother Conchobhar’s nephew. I often saw him at Cashel when he was with Aibell.’

‘Deogaire!’ Fidelma exclaimed loudly in her surprise.

‘The very same,’ Enda confirmed. ‘Black hair and that strange multi-coloured coat – I’d know him anywhere.’

‘So Deogaire is here and joining Glaed?’ She gave a shake of her head as if she could not believe it.

‘I was saddened when Aibell rode off with Deogaire,’ Enda said. ‘You recall how upset Gorman was, and how he rode after them? But Marban said Deogaire had left her at his mill and then gone back to Sliabh Luachra, to his home. Well, now he seems to be in command of some of Glaed’s marauding wolves.’

‘But Deogaire claimed to be one of the Druids, still battling to retain the Old Religion, claiming to have the gift of prophecy. He used to irritate poor Brother Conchobhar beyond measure. He is the last person I would have thought would join Glaed’s marauders.’

‘Well, now he bears a blue shield with a raven’s image on it. I saw his weaponry. And one of the men at his side carries a blue silk banner with a similar raven’s image.’

‘Are you sure that they are heading to the Hill of Truth?’

‘Where else does that track lead?’

Fidelma was silent for a moment. Then she said: ‘You are right, Enda. It is better that Aibell does not know of this development for the time being.’

As they returned to the others, Fidelma raised her voice a little. ‘There was not much to tell from the horses’ tracks,’ she announced brightly, as if that had been the reason why Enda had asked for her to come and express an opinion. ‘Anyway, I think they were just a group hurrying to catch up with Glaed’s main body. Now let us proceed. We can leave the horses here then two of us shall climb the hill. From the top we should be able to see across the little valley to the Hill of Truth.’

Eadulf knew when Fidelma was disguising facts that she did not want others to know. What others? He glanced at Aibell and realised that it must have some connection with her. Was it a sighting of Gorman? He was determined to find out at the first opportunity when the girl was out of earshot.

It was agreed that Aibell would remain there with Eadulf while Enda and Fidelma climbed the hill to spy out the land. The first intention was to see if Glaed and his men were camping on the hill or had passed on. Before they left, noticing that Aibell was preoccupied in bathing her head and her arm, which still needed some attention after the attack on her, Eadulf quickly asked Fidelma what she had seen with Enda.

‘Deogaire?’ he whispered in surprise. ‘I knew he came from Sliabh Luachra but he was surely no fighting man? All that mysticism and magic show and belief in the pagan gods and goddesses …’

‘Maybe we should not dismiss Deogaire so easily,’ Fidelma replied, then recalled that she had reacted in almost exactly the same way. ‘What I mean is that he rescued Aibell from being Fidaig’s bond-servant and led her out of Sliabh Luachra with Fidaig’s men chasing after them. I would never under-estimate his physical courage.’

‘But having rescued her from Fidaig, why would he join the war band of Glaed?’ protested Eadulf.

‘If filial allegiance stands for naught in Sliabh Luachra, one can easily change other allegiances.’

Aware that Aibell had left the brook, they fell silent on the subject and continued to make a camp.

A short time later, Fidelma and Enda left to ascend the hill, leaving Eadulf and Aibell waiting anxiously. It was approaching twilight when they returned. They were looking disappointed.

‘There wasn’t much to see,’ confessed Fidelma. ‘Glaed’s men are certainly encamped there for the night. They have erected belscalan across the hillside and we could see smoke from their fires.’

Eadulf frowned, uncertain of the word that she had used. ‘Erected what?’ he asked.

‘Travelling tents,’ she explained. ‘They are encamped on the southern lower slopes below the high point of the hill. We also saw a wooden building that appears to be a chapel on the eastern slopes.’

‘A wooden chapel?’ frowned Eadulf.

‘Perhaps Abbot Nannid was meeting a religieux there, after all.’ Fidelma sighed. ‘Anyway, we saw no sign of him or his steward, although there were a lot of horses tethered nearby.’

‘We decided that the only thing to do is wait until nightfall and then see if we can get closer,’ Enda said. ‘We need to get near the chapel because that would be a natural point where Glaed would be camped and, if Gorman has been caught by him, he would also be nearby.’

‘That’s dangerous,’ Eadulf protested. ‘Would it not be better to-?’

Fidelma cut him sort. ‘ Periculum in mora !’ she said sharply, resorting to one of the aphorisms of Publilius Syrus whom she was so fond of quoting. Eadulf grimaced. There was, indeed, ‘danger in delay’ especially if Gorman was still in the hands of Glaed.

‘It will be dark soon,’ said Enda. ‘We had better decide on a plan of how to get near their camp.’

‘I was thinking that one person might elude the sentinels that Glaed will have undoubtedly set up to patrol their camp, but not all of us,’ Fidelma said.

‘You cannot go on your own,’ Eadulf asserted. ‘I’ll come with you.’

‘Eadulf, you and lady Fidelma are not trained at infiltrating an enemy encampment,’ Enda argued. ‘I am, and I should go alone.’

‘It is my duty to go as a dalaigh ,’ Fidelma contradicted him.

‘Then the three of us must go,’ Eadulf said.

‘I do not wish to remain here on my own wondering if you are caught or not,’ Aibell protested.