Peter Tremayne - Penance of the Damned

‘Did you know that he was desperately unhappy when she left? He could not bear her absence, to the point that he asked permission from the king to set out after her?’ Fidelma said.

The girl shook her head. ‘She did not know then, but found out later. But I suppose that she had her pride, as did Gorman.’

‘So are we saying that pride on both their parts caused his lack of communication between them? That it was all a misunderstanding?’

‘Put like that, it sounds silly now, but-’

‘It is not uncommon,’ Eadulf observed. ‘Many of the disputes between men and women begin the same way. Misunderstanding followed by pride. Lacking the ability to climb down and admit to one’s own faults. Each one seeking to hurt the other in retaliation for his or her own hurt.’

Fidelma made a familiar impatient gesture with her hand. ‘So she left with Deogaire. We know that Gorman decided to follow her. You said that she found out about Gorman later. I presume that means that they must have met up with one another?’

Ciarnat smiled brightly and nodded. ‘Yes, they did. Aibell and Deogaire set out for Marban’s mill, and none was more surprised than I when, nine days ago, Aibell and Gorman arrived at the fortress of Prince Donennach, reunited and happy in each other’s company.’

‘Did she tell you how this came about?’ Fidelma queried.

‘Aibell told me that she arrived at Marban’s mill in safety. The old man was pleased to see her and had a lot of stories to tell about her mother, Liamuin, and her family and that of her father, Escmug. I understand that most of it confirmed what you had told her when you returned to Cashel.’

‘So she stayed with her uncle. What happened to Deogaire?’

‘He left her to travel on to his own home in the mountain fastness of Sliabh Luachra.’

‘Was it at Marban’s mill that Gorman caught up with her?’ prompted Fidelma.

‘Aibell told me that one day, Gorman came riding up to the mill,’ Ciarnat said. ‘Aibell was beside herself with joy. When I saw them together, I could see that the hurt and anguish between them was soon mended.’

‘Then why did they not return to Cashel?’ intervened Enda.

‘Simple enough. They were married.’

‘Aibell and Gorman are married!’ exclaimed Eadulf.

The girl glanced at him defiantly. ‘Was there any reason why they should not be?’

‘Except that Della, Gorman’s mother, and his close friends and comrades would have liked to have been there to wish him well,’ Enda said crossly. ‘It is unlike Gorman to ignore his family and friends.’

Fidelma found herself in agreement with him. ‘Gorman is Della’s only son,’ she added gently. ‘It is unusual.’

Ciarnat nodded slowly. ‘I do not think that Aibell and Gorman made their decision lightly. Yet Aibell felt it right and Gorman has a great heart and believes deeply in the spirit of place.’

‘I am not sure what you mean.’ Eadulf was trying to understand. ‘Marriage is marriage. What has spirit of place to do with it?’

‘They decided to go up to Rath Menma, where Aibell’s mother, Liamuin, hid for a while and then met her death. Old Marban went with them to show the way – although, of course, Gorman had also accompanied you there when you went to investigate. They found the farmer and his wife, the old couple, Cadan and Flannair, whom you met. They even found the half-crazy woman, Suanach, who had witnessed Aibell’s mother being killed. The couple sought a local Brehon, and it was there in the ruins of Rath Menma, before those witnesses, that they were joined. I am sure Aibell’s mother in the Otherworld looked down and gave her blessing.’

Ciarnat’s eyes were unusually bright with emotion as she recounted this. After a moment’s pause she continued: ‘Aibell told me that they had spent some time exploring the territory of her ancestry. Finally Gorman announced that they must return to Cashel. He had his duties to fulfil with King Colgu and Aibell wanted to start a new life as his wife to help his mother, Della. Gorman also felt they should receive a blessing at the chapel in Cashel in front of his mother and his friends. He hoped that they would understand why the ceremony at Rath Menma had been so important.’

There was a short meditative silence before Eadulf asked: ‘How did things go wrong? How is it that Gorman is now claimed to be guilty of Abbot Segdae’s murder – and what is Aibell’s role in this?’

Ciarnat took a deep breath. ‘It was after they left Rath Menma that they encountered some merchants on the road and heard some news from them which was apparently so disturbing to Gorman that he decided to head for the fortress of Prince Donennach to warn him before he journeyed on to Cashel.’

‘To warn him of what?’ Fidelma asked. ‘What news was it that so disturbed him?’

‘He was told that someone called Glaed was leading the hordes of Sliabh Luachra and intent on vengeance.’

‘But that’s not possible!’ Eadulf objected. ‘When the judgements at the Abbey of Mungairit were announced, Glaed of Sliabh Luchra was given into the keeping of his brother Artgal to be taken back to his people for trial and punishment for murdering their father Fidaig, who had been chieftain of Sliabh Luachra.’

‘The merchants told Gorman that Glaed had escaped, murdered his brother Artgal and had declared himself chieftain of Sliabh Luachra.’

Fidelma sat back, staring at the girl in incredulity. When she had issued her judgements at the Abbey of Mungairit, after her investigation into the attempted assassination of her brother, King Colgu, she had also found that Glaed, son of Fidaig, was involved in conspiracy; the blood of many was on his hands. She had indeed handed him over to his own brother, Artgal, the new chieftain, who had promised to take him back for trial by his own people.

Eadulf’s features were unusually pale. ‘The fourth shock in two days,’ he said. ‘Segdae dead, Gorman deemed guilty, Aibell and Gorman married and now Glaed is loose in Sliabh Luachra and claiming to be chieftain of those people.’

‘Worse still, the merchants said that Glaed was raising a band to raid the territory of the Ui Fidgente in order to exact revenge.’

‘The dwellers of Sliabh Luachra have been thieves and robbers since time began,’ Enda interrupted in disgust. ‘Glaed’s father was a thief and murderer – and now Glaed has excelled him by killing him and now his brother, Artgal. They are all vile murderers and brigands.’

‘That is true,’ Eadulf agreed slowly. ‘However, Glaed was in league with Lorcan, the son of Ui Fidgente Prince Eoghanan, who met his death on Cnoc Aine. It was thought Lorcan died alongside his father. He did not. Lorcan was a cruel and ruthless man. He killed his own twin brother, Brother Lugna, to take his place and hide in the Abbey at Mungairit while trying to organise the overthrow and death of his cousin Prince Donennach who brought peace to the Ui Fidgente. Glaed was an essential part of that conspiracy.’

‘But didn’t you and the lady Fidelma uncover this Lorcan – and wasn’t he handed over to be incarcerated in Prince Donennach’s fortress to await judgement?’ Enda asked. ‘If Glaed escaped judgement, do not tell me that Lorcan has also escaped!’

There was some relief when Ciarnat made a negative gesture.

‘He did try to escape from the fortress – with the help of sympathisers. But the guards, those loyal to Prince Donennach, were on the alert, and he was mortally wounded in the attempt. He died within a week in spite of the best efforts of our physician.’

Fidelma was regarding Ciarnat with some concern. ‘What else did Gorman learn about Glaed? Is he really being accepted by the people who once supported his father and brother?’