Badger's Moon sf-13

by Peter Tremayne

  ‘Hopefully, Accobrán will overtake them and bring back prisoners so that we may question them. Only then will we know for certain.’

  Becc was clearly worried.

  ‘There is nothing else to do until the return of Accobrán,’ Fidelma gently assured him.

  Becc sighed in resignation.

  ‘You will want to retire and refresh yourselves,’ he said, rising. ‘The evening meal will be ready in an hour’s time.’

  Fidelma and Eadulf rose with him. She was turning to the door when she swung back to look at the chieftain.

  ‘I have a question, Becc. Do you have a senchae, an historian, in the fortress?’

  ‘Several. It depends on what history you wish to know. There is the genealogist, the custodian of the history of my house; there is the teller of the ancient tales…’

  Fidelma held up her hand. ‘I am rather more interested in the history of the Thicket of Pigs.’

  Becc raised his brows. ‘I am afraid there is only one person who has stored that history in his mind. He might take some persuading to part with his knowledge.’

  ‘Old Liag, the apothecary?’

  Becc gazed at her in surprise. ‘How did you know?’

  ‘A guess, that is all,’ she replied softly. ‘We will join you for the meal within the hour.’

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‘Is there nothing that can be done until the return of Accobrán?’ queried Eadulf, once they were in the seclusion of their chamber. ‘I would have thought that there would be many things we could do. For example, what are we to do about Gobnuid? Brother Dangila and Goll also need to be questioned.’

  Fidelma shook her head.

  ‘You are impatient, Eadulf,’ she replied quietly. ‘I am not neglecting our main purpose in being here. Certainly, all being well, we shall continue our investigation in the morning. Now, show me the nugget that you and Menma found.’

  Eadulf produced it from his marsupium. Fidelma examined it for a moment or two.

  ‘I would say that Menma was right. It is genuine gold, just as the nugget that young Síoda found was genuine. Are you not intrigued by that?’

  Eadulf shrugged. ‘I thought our only concern was to find the killer of the three girls?’

  Fidelma showed her disapproval.

  ‘Scintilla set potent,’ she said softly. ‘Knowledge is power. You are fond of repeating that maxim. Eadulf.’

  ‘I fail to see what a history of that hill has to do with the murders of the three young women. We know that a madman killed all three on the nights of the full moon. So I cannot see what the old mine has to do with anything except there is gold still there. In fact, I cannot see that we are making any progress at all in the matter of the murders.’

  ‘Then you should remember another maxim — perspicuam servare mentem. If you keep a clear mind you will see the truth instead of being bogged down in irrelevancies.’

  The next morning came with no news of Accobrán’s pursuit and so Fidelma and Eadulf mounted their horses and went directly to Goll’s cabin. As they entered the clearing before Goll’s bothán, the door opened and Gabrán came out. The youth looked surprised to see them and stood scowling in the doorway.

  ‘I thought that I was now cleared of suspicion,’ he greeted them sourly as they rode up.

  Eadulf was surprised at the boy’s unfriendly manner after all Fidelma had done for him. Fidelma looked down at the youth.

  ‘As you well know, you were cleared of suspicion in the death of Lesren. But we are still trying to account for other deaths.’

  ‘I was cleared of Lesren’s foul claims.’

  Fidelma swung down from her horse and faced the belligerent youth.

  ‘I am here to speak to your father,’ she said in a sharp tone that made the youth blink and take a step backwards. ‘Where may he be found?’

  The boy hesitated and then motioned to one of the outlying sheds. ‘He is at work there.’

  ‘Thank you. And where is your mother?’

  ‘My mother?’ He frowned. ‘She has gone to wash clothes down at the stream. Shall I call her?’

  ‘It is Goll that we wish to see.’ Fidelma turned to the shed that Gabrán had indicated. Eadulf, also dismounting, tethered their horses to the nearby pole and followed her, leaving Gabrán regarding them with his look of suspicion deepening.

  The shed door was open and inside Goll was bent over a workbench. He was engaged in polishing a large piece of timber. Even Eadulf could recognise that it was a piece of red yew and carved with intricate designs.

  ‘God be with you this morning, Goll,’ Fidelma said as they pushed open the door and stepped inside. Goll looked up, startled.

  ‘What do you want here?’ he replied gruffly.

  Fidelma chuckled in amusement. ‘I swear, Goll, that I get the feeling from you and your son that you are not pleased to see the dálaigh who prevented a miscarriage of justice being visited on this family.’

  Goll hesitated and then forced a grin. He laid down his polishing rag, took another cloth and wiped his hands.

  ‘Forgive me. I was involved in my work.’ He saw Eadulf peering at the carving. ‘It is a lintel. The carved red yew is to ornament the replacement door of the chapel at the abbey. The abbot commissioned it some time ago. Forgive my lack of courtesy. I was not thinking. I am sorry. I am truly grateful for what you have done for my boy, Gabrán.’ He laid aside the cloth and looked from Eadulf to Fidelma. ‘How can I be of help?’

  ‘I noticed that there is a bench outside,’ said Fidelma. ‘Let’s go and sit awhile and I will tell you how you may help.’

  Goll looked puzzled but nodded and followed them outside. Against the side of the shed, Fidelma had noticed a large bench and on this all three took their seats.

  ‘What do you know of the Thicket of Pigs, Goll?’ Fidelma began.

  ‘The old hill? There is good wood growing on it. Oaks and alders.’

  Fidelma smiled. ‘That is a woodsman’s assessment. You know nothing else about it?’

  Goll shrugged. ‘In ancient times it was said that a herd of supernatural pigs dwelt on the hill and were led by a great pig owned by the goddess Brigit. If anyone caught and killed and ate one of the pigs, it would reappear alive and well the next day. That is why the hill received its name.’

  ‘So we have already heard,’ Eadulf muttered.

  ‘Do you often walk on the hill?’ Fidelma asked suddenly.

  There was no mistaking the reddening of Goll’s cheeks.

  ‘What do you mean?’ he countered.

  ‘I thought my question was clear.’

  ‘Hardly ever.’

  ‘Then let us be specific, Goll. It seems that yesterday’s excursion on the hill was unusual for you. Is that so?’

  Goll was silent for a while and then he shrugged. ‘It was unusual.’

  ‘What was your purpose in being there?’

  When Goll still hesitated, Eadulf said: ‘It is of little use to prevaricate. I saw you on the hill. You were seen observing someone.’

  ‘You saw who I was following?’

  ‘I did.’

  ‘Then you should know why I was following them.’

  ‘Let us hear the story, in your own words, Goll,’ Fidelma said sharply. ‘I do not have much time for guessing games.’

  ‘What other purpose would I have but the same as your own, Sister? I know my boy was innocent of Lesren’s charges. But someone killed Beccnat, also Escrach and Ballgel. I have become suspicious of the strangers, especially their leader. I do not know his name. But it is not the first time that I have seen him move surreptitiously about that hill. The more I listen to Brocc, the more he makes sense.’

  ‘You mean that you believe that the strangers are guilty of the deaths of the three girls and you were following their leader yesterday in search of proof?’

  ‘That is exactly what I mean. I knew that you had dismissed such an idea-’

  ‘Then you knew more than I did,’ snapped Fidelma. ‘B
ut I do not work without evidence. Brocc would try and condemn a person without evidence. That is not how the laws of the Brehons work.’

  Goll bent forward eagerly. ‘Exactly. I went to find the evidence.’

  ‘And did you?’

  Goll shook his head reluctantly.

  ‘From what I saw, I thought you were following your son, Gabrán,’ observed Eadulf.

  ‘Gabrán was on the hill, it is true. I thought the tall stranger was following him but he turned aside into a cave.’

  ‘So you simply decided to follow the stranger to see if he would reveal anything to you. And did he?’

  ‘Only that he seemed involved with Gobnuid the smith and they were interested in the old cave. It used to be an old mine working but it’s long since been abandoned.’

  Fidelma stood up suddenly. ‘Thank you, Goll. But if there is any further investigation to be done, leave it to us.’

  Fidelma decided that they should return to the fortress immediately in case there was any news of Accobrán’s pursuit party.

  There was. When they rode in they could see several horses were mingling in the courtyard and one of the warriors at the gate hailed them to say that Accobrán and his men had returned in good spirits. Fidelma and Eadulf made their way immediately to the chieftain’s great hall.

  Becc was sitting back smiling in his chair of office while to one side Accobrán was poised as if halfway through some story. Adag was there as well with several members of the chieftain’s retinue. They glanced up as Fidelma and Eadulf entered. Accobrán smiled broadly.

  ‘It is good to see you safe and well, Fidelma of Cashel. We heard that you had been hidden in Suanach’s sousterrain during the raid. We examined it on our return but guessed that you had escaped the flames. Becc has now told us of your escape.’

  Fidelma inclined her head in brief acknowledgement. ‘And Suanach? Is she safe?’

  ‘Safe and well and with Menma in the forus tuaithe.’

  The ‘house of the territory’ was the name given to the building for the reception and treatment of the old, sick and injured.

  ‘Don’t be alarmed, cousin,’ Becc said quickly, seeing the expression on her face. ‘The girl is merely exhausted and a little shocked by the experience. She was anxious for your safety.’

  ‘I would have no safety had it not been for her,’ admitted Fidelma. ‘The Uí Fidgente would not have treated one of our family well. I will see her in a moment. But. Accobrán, I seem to have interrupted you in the telling of your story. How did you fare in the pursuit and what prisoners have you taken?’

  Accobrán shifted his weight and smiled wanly. ‘I was saying that it was a good thing that we had Menma along with us as our tracker. The Uí Fidgente were devious. We could have lost their trail several times, but Menma was equal to the task.’

  The tanist paused while Fidelma seated herself, and when Eadulf had done the same he went on with the story.

  ‘We set off in pursuit at the time you returned to alert Becc,’ he began again, initially speaking to Eadulf. ‘It was dark by then and so we soon had to halt as we could see nothing. We waited until first light and then moved on again. The first part of the trek was easy as it lay through muddy woods. It seemed their leader knew what he was about because he soon took to the rivers and stony ground, which made tracking almost impossible. At least the dark had forced the Uí Fidgente to halt for the night as well. As I say, only Menma was able to keep us on their trail.’

  ‘Did you get the impression that they were part of a larger body?’ interrupted Eadulf. ‘Were they were trying to link up with a real invasion force?’

  Accobrán shook his head. ‘There were ten of them all told. We came on them just before midday when they thought they had shaken us off and had paused to rest. In their confidence that we were far behind, their leader was not clever. I placed my men in ambush positions.’

  ‘Good,’ Fidelma said approvingly. ‘So you were able to take all of them prisoners?’

  Accobrán dropped his gaze to the floor for a moment and made a dismissive motion. ‘I am afraid I did not. Thanks be, however, Suanach was not injured in the fight which developed…’

  Fidelma was frowning.

  ‘How many did you capture?’ she said quietly.

  ‘None.’

  ‘Not one of the ten was captured?’ she cried, aghast. ‘Not one of them injured?’

  Accobrán was defensive. ‘In battle, lady, it often happens.’

  ‘It does,’ agreed Becc amiably. ‘I think that Accobrán has done well to bring Suanach home safely. One of Abbot Brogán’s brethren is leaving this afternoon for Cashel and then will proceed to Imleach. He will take news of this matter to the king and doubtless Colgú will know what to do. Compensation must be forthcoming from the Uí Fidgente, and especially for Menma for the loss of his home and the insult to his wife. In the meanwhile, Menma may rely on the Cinél na Áeda to help rebuild his bothán.’

  ‘It shall be so ordered, Becc.’ Adag, the steward, nodded with satisfaction.

  ‘With your permission then, my chieftain, I will wash the dirt from my body and take some refreshment before going to my rest,’ the tanist said, preparing to leave.

  ‘One question!’ Fidelma’s quiet tone stayed them as they were about to disperse. Everyone turned and looked expectantly at her. ‘Did you discover the purpose of this Uí Fidgente raid?’

  ‘Does it need a purpose?’ queried Accobrán in amusement. ‘They say that all the Uí Fidgente are cattle thieves and plunderers.’

  ‘Does it not strike anyone that this is a long way to come in search of plunder — just ten men, passing through the lands of many rich clans before they reached here?’

  No one responded. Fidelma tapped her foot impatiently.

  ‘Does no one have an explanation to offer?’

  Eadulf turned to her and opened his mouth but the look he received from her caused him to snap his jaw shut. He was about to point out that she had heard the Uí Fidgente discussing why they had come and for a moment he had not realised what she was doing. He had almost given away her intention to prise information from Accobrán.

  ‘It is a pity that you took no prisoners in order to find out the reason behind the raid, Accobrán. You heard nor saw nor found anything to give you an answer to that question?’

  ‘Nothing, lady,’ vowed the tanist earnestly.

  ‘Don’t forget that Suanach was in their company for a long time. Perhaps she has some knowledge,’ Becc pointed out.

  ‘Then I must ask Suanach,’ Fidelma said softly.

  ‘An excellent idea,’ Becc approved. ‘And now let us allow Accobrán to rest and refresh himself after his exertions.’

  When they were alone, Eadulf glanced apologetically to Fidelma. ‘Why keep silent about what you overheard the Uí Fidgente say?’

  ‘Come, let us speak with Suanach,’ she said, without replying to his question.

  The girl was sitting up having a bowl of broth with Menma at her side. They both smiled broadly as Fidelma and Eadulf entered.

  ‘Well, this is a reversal of fortunes,’ Fidelma greeted them. ‘I seem to remember that last time it was I who was in bed being fed broth by you, Suanach. Are you injured?’

  ‘No, lady. I am only a little tired for I have not slept this last night.’

  ‘Then I am afraid that there is a question that I must ask of you, and of you, Menma, before I leave you to rest.’

  ‘Ask away,’ invited the young hunter.

  ‘I will ask you first, Suanach. During the time that you were the captive of the Uí Fidgente, did they speak of the reason behind the raid?’

  Suanach placed her bowl of broth on a bedside table and clasped her hands before her. She considered the question thoughtfully.

  ‘One of them…no one mentioned any names…told someone to make sure that a trail was left so that Menma could follow them without difficulty.’

  ‘They mentioned Menma’s name?’ interposed Eadulf quickly,
confirming what Fidelma has already told him. ‘They wanted Menma to follow?’

  She nodded assent.

  ‘Did they say for what purpose?’

  ‘They wanted to capture him and ask him some questions.’

  Fidelma turned to Menma with eyebrows raised in interrogation. The hunter shrugged before she said anything.

  ‘I have no idea what they could want. I have neither friends nor enemies among the Uí Fidgente. I have been to their lands neither in peace nor in war. Why they would come hither to attack me, burn my home and kidnap my wife to lure me after them, I cannot begin to understand.’

  ‘I heard snatches of conversation as we rode along.’ They turned to Suanach who had spoken and waited expectantly. She went on: ‘Nothing made any sense at all. One of the men mentioned something about a ship’s captain. Something about the cargo at the house of Molaga. Then something about enough gold to finance a kingdom.’

  Fidelma left out a soft breath. ‘You say that these were snatches of conversation?’

  ‘I can tell you no more than what I have said. I heard no more that made any sense.’

  Fidelma turned to Menma. ‘Does this make any sense to you?’

  The hunter shook his head.

  ‘Would it make any sense if I mentioned that the Uí Fidgente wanted to question you about the Thicket of Pigs?’ added Fidelma. ‘I, myself, overheard this.’

  Menma’s astonishment was not feigned. ‘I do not understand it, Sister. What could I tell them that would be of value to them? Riches? Well, Brother Eadulf here will confirm that it was only yesterday that we discovered the old mine was being worked again.’

  Fidelma turned back to Suanach. ‘Was gold mentioned at all?’

  She shook her head. ‘Nothing more was mentioned in my hearing than what I have said.’

  Fidelma tuned to Menma. ‘Do you have any cause to go to the house of Molaga and speak with the merchants or captains of ships that put in there?’

  ‘Now and again,’ he admitted. ‘I am known only as a hunter in these forests. I knew nothing about the working of the mine until yesterday so if you are saying that I mentioned it to some merchant who then told these Uí Fidgente…’