‘If anyone who worked in the ircha saw her, they would chase her out, certainly, but not without throwing her some bread or a piece of cheese, and she would go away cursing but content. They would not kill her nor attempt to kill me. It must have been some stranger.’
‘A stranger who infiltrated the royal enclosure in daylight?’ mused Fidelma.
‘If Dubh Duin could infiltrate the High King’s house at night, then anything is possible,’ replied Rogallach defensively.
‘Your point is a good one,’ agreed Fidelma. Then she added thoughtfully: ‘We either have Mer encountering a stranger in the uaimh or someone whom she knew and who did not want her to reveal that they were there. Since we are here, tell us about Bishop Luachan’s visit.’
Brother Rogallach looked startled. ‘I swore an oath to Sechnussach not to speak of it.’
‘Sechnussach is dead,’ Fidelma reminded him. ‘Maintaining your oath might be aiding his killer.’
Brother Rogallach examined her for a moment. Doubt and indecision were plain in his features. Then he shrugged.
‘Since you know that Bishop Luachan was here, then you must know all I know.’
‘Let us hear what happened, in your own words.’
‘It was the evening before the assassination. Sechnussach called me to him and told me that Irél, the captain of the Fianna, would arrive at the main gate around midnight. He would be escorting Bishop Luachan of Delbna Mór. I was to meet them at the gate and escort them to Tech Cormaic. Then I was to tell Irél to care for the horses, refresh himself and be ready to depart before dawn. I was to bring Luachan to Sechnussach in his bedchamber. I did so, and was told to wait outside and let no one in.’
‘Did the High King himself instruct you?’
Brother Rogallach nodded. ‘And not only that, but I was surprised when he closed his chamber door and locked it.’
‘So that was unusual?’
‘It was. Bishop Luachan was not a confidant of the High King. He never usually came to Tara. I would have known.’
‘You had no idea what business brought Luachan here?’
‘None at all.’
‘Was Luachan carrying anything?’
Brother Rogallach looked surprised. ‘You know that?’
‘Tell me.’
‘He was carrying a heavy saddlebag.’
‘Did you see the contents?’
Brother Rogallách shook his head, then winced and added: ‘Whatever it contained, he did not carry it away with him. The saddlebag was light on his arm when he left.’
‘So whatever the object or gift was, it was left in the possession of Sechnussach. Therefore, it should be in his chamber. But his chamber is empty. Who cleared it?’
‘I did,’ Rogallach said. ‘I cleared it with Brónach, but I can tell you there was nothing there that could account for the gift.’
‘It could not have been hidden somewhere?’
‘After Sechnussach had dismissed me, when Bishop Luachan had departed, it was approaching dawn. I had seen Irél and Bishop Luachan to the gate and then returned to my own chamber. I was just entering it when I heard the door of the High King’s apartments swing open. My room is at the far end of the corridor and I have a view of his door from there. I saw Sechnussach emerge and was about to call out to enquire if he needed me. But I noticed that he was carrying something heavy in his hands; I could not see what it was because it was wrapped in cloth. Something made me press back into my room for the manner in which he emerged was surreptitious. When I looked out, he had crossed the landing and disappeared down the stairs.’
‘Carrying the object?’
Brother Rogallach nodded.
‘You did not follow to see if you were needed?’
‘I concluded that he would have come to find me if he needed me. I believe that whatever it was Bishop Luachan had given him, he went to place it elsewhere than in his chamber.’
‘Did he have a special place for storing things? Treasures and the like?’ enquired Eadulf.
Brother Rogallach shook his head. ‘Not specifically. However, I did hear the door that led out to the kitchen open and concluded that he had gone outside.’
Eadulf leaned forward excitedly. ‘You suspect that he may have gone to the pantry … perhaps to the uaimh?’
‘It is not beyond the realm of possibility,’ agreed Brother Rogallach.
‘But it is speculation,’ Fidelma pointed out, turning her remark to Eadulf.
‘You’ve absolutely no idea what it was that Bishop Luachan brought to the High King that night?’ pressed Eadulf, ignoring her.
Brother Rogallach sighed. ‘Only that it was a circular object. The only other person who would have such knowledge is Bishop Luachan himself.’
Eadulf was disappointed.
‘Well,’ Fidelma said, ‘you need not worry further about it, Brother Rogallach. At least you are looking better.
‘Thanks to Iceadh’s noxious potion, my head is not aching as much,’ admitted Rogallach. He raised a hand to massage his brow a little and gave a rueful smile. Then he frowned. ‘What made you come to the pantry, lady? It was certainly a lucky thing for me that you and Brother Eadulf did so.’
‘We were actually looking for you,’ Fidelma told him.
‘Why me?’ asked the bollscari.
‘We have been questioning everyone who was there on the night that Sechnussach was slain,’ explained Eadulf.
Brother Rogallach nodded in understanding. ‘Of course. I was not thinking. I knew that you had arrived and were questioning witnesses. There is not much I can add to what you must know already. Like the others that night, I was roused by a noise … ’
‘A scream?’ suggested Eadulf.
‘Perhaps. It is hard to say. You know what it is like when a noise arouses you from your sleep. You don’t really know what it was and you spend a few moments trying to identify it. When I had all my senses, I heard others waking and there was movement in the corridor. I left my bed and went to see what the commotion was.’
‘And was everyone in Sechnussach’s chamber by the time you arrived?’
Brother Rogallach looked thoughtful. ‘We crowded around the door together. Irél has his chamber on the lower floor and he arrived and pushed through us. I can’t remember the order in which everyone arrived. Oh, I just remembered. As I passed by the rooms of the other servants — the senior servants are on the same floor with me — I saw Torpach’s door opening and he was just coming out. He asked me what was happening. I replied that I did not know and then I realised that people were at the door of the High King’s chambers. I noticed that Brónach’s door was still closed. I paused to tap on it to alert her in case she had not been roused. I called to her and receiving no answer, opened the door. She was not in her chamber and so I moved on, thinking she was already awake and in attendance.’
‘And was she?’ asked Fidelma.
‘I am not sure. I had the feeling that she was not there when I arrived and that she only turned up later.’
‘And you took charge?’
‘As I pushed my way into the chamber, I think Irél was just behind me. In matters of this sort he has precedence, being the commander of the High King’s bodyguard. So I stood to one side while he took charge to ensure that the assassin was dead and that a search of the apartment was made to make certain there were no accomplices.’
At Fidelma’s request, Brother Rogallach sketched what had happened but it was substantially the same story as they had been told before.
Outside the apothecary of Iceadh, Fidelma glanced reprovingly at Eadulf.
‘One of the secrets of being a good investigator is never to reveal what you know or suspect, and to avoid showing your reactions to what others might tell you. Nor is it wise to suggest ideas to witnesses.’
Eadulf was apologetic. ‘I was thinking about Sechnussach hiding the object and it is just that sometimes, after so long a time trying to demolish a stone wall, when it starts to crumble a little
, you cannot help giving a shout of joy.’
Fidelma was still disapproving. ‘I cannot agree with your specific analogy, Eadulf. But I do see your point.’
‘I think that this object, this circular thing, is linked with the assassination. Sechnussach obviously hid it in the uaimh below the pantry. Whoever killed Mer was looking for it. I think that when Torpach said he saw Sechnussach in the kitchen at an early hour, it was because the King had sneaked down there to hide it.’
‘It would seem a logical speculation, but it is a speculation nevertheless.’
‘It is a speculation that needs to be followed by a search for information.’
Fidelma acquiesced. ‘I mean to go directly to the uaimh and see if I can find any trace of this circular object. While I do so, I want you to find Caol and Gormán and discover how the search for Cuan is progressing. We should have heard something by now.’
‘But … ’
She sighed impatiently. ‘It is no good both of us going on the same errand.’
Eadulf knew when to compromise. He was leaving the Tech Cormaic when he almost collided with someone. It was the young girl, Báine.
‘You seem to be in a hurry, Brother Eadulf,’ she observed in admonition as she recovered her balance.
‘I am sorry.’ Seeing that the girl was unhurt, he asked: ‘Since I have bumped into you, so to speak, could I ask a question?’
Báine waited with an expectant expression.
‘What is your opinion of Brónach? I was wondering if she is well-liked.’
Báine laughed. ‘Brónach? I think you have been talking to Cnucha. It’s not that she is dislikeable — she has high standards, that is all, and her temper can be sharp. Don’t get me wrong. It is hard to find oneself ordered about all day. Cnucha does not like her, that’s for sure.’
‘And you?’
‘You do not enter service in a great house and expect to be treated as the wife of a lord. Anyway, I shall soon be leaving here … ’
Eadulf was surprised and said so. ‘I thought you had been here some years?’
‘That I have. But it is time for me to leave. This period in my life seems to have ended with the death of the High King. I do not think I could serve another.’
‘Where will you go?’
‘Home.’
‘Which is where?’
‘You would not know it.’
‘Try me.’
‘A little place under the shelter of a mountain to the north-west. The mountain is called Sliabh na Caillaigh.’
‘The Hag’s Mountain?’ asked Eadulf.
The girl smiled and nodded.
‘It sounds a forbidding place.’
‘A place of wisdom much favoured by the ancients,’ replied Báine solemnly. ‘There are sacred buildings set up by the ancients that still stand on the top of the hill. It is a beautiful place. A holy place.’
‘So when will you leave?’
‘None of us can leave until after the investigation that you are conducting. The Great Assembly has to meet and hear the conclusion of that investigation before anyone can depart.’
‘Won’t you have any regrets at leaving Tara? In leaving your friends — say Cnucha, for example? She seems a pleasant girl to have as a friend.’
Again the girl smiled. ‘Cnucha? Everyone thinks she is such a timid luchóc.’
‘A what?’ Eadulf had not heard the expression before.
‘A little mouse. She is a strange one. Be advised, her meekness is superficial. I once made a joke at her expense and she threw a jug of water at me. I swear, she could have killed me. No, she is not my choice of friend.’
‘Oh. But you must have made some friends here?’
Báine shook her head.
‘Not with Brónach?’ teased Eadulf, making it into a joke but hoping to guide the girl back to information about the voluptuous senior maid.
‘Certainly not. She prefers friends of the male variety anyway.’
‘Indeed?’ Eadulf arched an eyebrow. ‘Oh yes, I heard that she had ended some kind of an affair recently.’
Báine stared at him for a moment. ‘I do not know where you got that from,’ she began, and then said suddenly. ‘Ah, from Cnucha?’
‘Is it not true, then?’
‘Perhaps. You can see for yourself, Brónach is very attractive still and you can tell by the speculative gaze in her eyes when she meets men that she is not averse to amours. You must have noticed it yourself, Brother Eadulf. You are a handsome, red-blooded male.’
Eadulf actually found himself blushing but the young girl’s remarks were not displeasing to his ego.
‘Any idea who she was having an affair with?’ he asked.
Báine shrugged. ‘If it is gossip that you want, Cnucha did tell me that she thought it was someone with access to the royal enclosure.’
‘Why did she say that?’
‘I suppose because Brónach never leaves here, to our knowledge. Anyway, you don’t need me gossiping about Brónach, surely?’
‘You were saying that you are going to leave here. Won’t you regret anything? Don’t you get on well with Muirgel, for example?’
He asked the question slyly and, for a moment, Eadulf thought he detected a spark of fire in the girl’s eyes and then it vanished quickly.
‘What gave you that impression?’
‘I thought you were often asked to attend her?’
‘That is my task here. I am a servant. Muirgel is not the best of people to serve. You might have noticed that if you were ever in her company.’
Eadulf chuckled. ‘It is the one thing I have noticed, Báine. So you will not mind leaving her service?’
For a moment, a longing look came over the features of the girl.
‘There are many things I regret, Brother Eadulf. But that will not beone of them. I long for the open countryside where one is not stuck behind forbidden walls with warriors patrolling up and down. I long for the hilltops where one can touch the stars and be in tune with nature. There will be no regrets when I pass through the gates of Tara and go on my way to the north-west to rejoin my people and comrades.’
‘Feeling like that, I wonder you ever came to Tara to take service at all?’ mused Eadulf.
The girl opened her mouth, closed it again and then smiled.
‘We often do things we think are for good reasons at the time we do them. Do not the ancients say that it is at the end of the year that a fisherman can tell his profits?’
‘Tempus omnia revelat,’ intoned Eadulf unctuously, supplying a Latin equivalent.
‘Just so,’ Báine agreed with bowed head. Then she straightened and smiled. ‘And time will reveal that I am dilatory in my work unless I return to the guesthouse to prepare the meals for you and the lady Fidelma.’
She turned and walked away, leaving Eadulf gazing thoughtfully after her.
‘Brother Eadulf!’
He turned at the call and saw Gormán striding towards him.
‘Gormán! I was just about to look for you or Caol. Is there any news of Cuan yet?’
The young warrior shook his head immediately. ‘No word as yet. Personally, I think he has gone from the royal enclosure. There is nowhere left that he can hide, if hide he wants to. Where is the lady Fidelma?’
‘Gone to search the souterrain beneath the pantry.’
‘Alone?’ Gormán asked disapprovingly. ‘Is it wise, in view of what has just happened? We heard about it from Abbot Colmán.’
Eadulf did not take offence at the implied censure.
‘Can you tell a fish to walk on land?’ he replied moodily. ‘She sent me to look for you or Caol and discover the news about Cuan.’
‘Perhaps we should go and find her, now you have accomplished your mission, Brother.’
Together they turned their footsteps to the Tech Cormaic and walked around it to the kitchen area at the back.
Fidelma was just emerging from the pantry building and seeing Eadulf and Gormán, asked immediately
: ‘Any sign of Cuan?’
‘None, lady,’ replied Gormán.
‘And your search?’ asked Eadulf.
‘Nothing,’ she admitted. ‘If the object that Sechnussach had was ever there, then whoever attacked Rogallach and killed Mer took it.’
At that moment, Irél came striding through the kitchen, obviously in search of them. He raised his hand in greeting.
‘Bad news. I am afraid our search for Cuan has proved useless. But just now I spoke to one of our sentinels at the main gates and he reported seeing Cuan leave Tara.’
‘When was that?’ demanded Fidelma.
‘Not long after Rogallach was discovered. He was seen riding westward. He will be way beyond the west bank of the Bóinn by now.’
Eadulf looked annoyed. ‘So he has fled. He probably recovered the object. Where is he taking it — and what is it? And does it indeed point to the reason why Sechnussach was assassinated?’
Irél was looking bewildered. ‘I am not following any of this.’
‘No need for you to be concerned,’ replied Fidelma quickly, with a warning glance at Eadulf. ‘My companions and I will be leaving Tara for a few days.’ She glanced at the sky. Darkness came early in winter and it was too late to set off now. ‘We will have to start at first light tomorrow. Gormán, go and find Caol and tell him of my intention.’
‘Do you intend to chase Cuan?’ Irél asked. ‘If so, I could send a cóicat, a company of fifty warriors after him, and bring him back without you having to stir from here.’
‘Cuan is one thing that draws me away. There are other things that I must do,’ she assured him.
‘But if you are going after him, you do not know the country beyond the great river.’
‘Are there no roads? No stars in the sky to tell directions?’ She dismissed his protests. ‘Do not concern yourself for us, Irél.’ Sending him away, she turned back into the Tech Cormaic.
Brónach was in the hall as they entered.
‘Is Brehon Barrán still here?’ Fidelma asked her.
‘No, lady. I think he left just after you spoke to him,’ the housekeeper said. ‘He was going to his homestead outside of Tara.’
‘And Abbot Colmán?’
‘He is in the library room with the tánaiste, Cenn Faelad, lady.’
Dancing With Demons sf-18 Page 19
