Suanach had not noticed the interruption for she was continuing. ‘I had gone down to the boundary wall to look after the pigs and was-’
‘And did you say that the warrior with the golden collar was not here?’ interrupted Fidelma.
‘He was not. He was in the habit of leaving every few days. He would vanish on his horse and then return. I suppose he went to meet with his men who were encamped elsewhere in the territory.’
‘So, what happened?’
‘Everything was peaceful that morning and then … Then he appeared with a dozen of his men. They jumped their horses across the border fence and made straight for Menma and his sons. They struck them down with their swords. Burning torches were flung into the house. I saw Liamuin, her black hair flashing in the flames. She grabbed a sickle and rushed to defend Menma’s wife and little Comnait. She actually wounded the leader of the attack — yes, her former lover with the golden collar.’
‘You say that she wounded him?’
‘Yes. I saw him drop his sword as blood gushed from his hand. Then two of his men released their arrows and shot her down.’
‘And what of Menma’s wife and Comnait?’ asked Eadulf.
‘Both cut down. God forgive me, I turned and fled. I heard one of the warriors riding after me. I was trying to run into the forest to hide, but before I got there I felt a blow on the back of my head and everything went dark. I don’t really remember any more. I am told that I was over a week in fever until I came to my senses in the cabin of Flannait and her man. Cadan and his son had found me and taken me there. May they be blessed. They managed to get the local apothecary to come and tend me. It was from Lachtine that I learned that everyone had been killed and the rath burned to a cinder.’
‘Lachtine!’ exclaimed Eadulf, glancing excitedly at Fidelma.
‘He was the apothecary here. He waived his fees for he had also been in love with Liamuin. Of course, he was not alone in that. She was that sort of woman — men fell easily in love with her. God’s curse that she fell in love with the Eóghanacht warrior!’
‘You said Lachtine was the apothecary here?’ Fidelma picked up on the tense.
‘He left some time later. I do not know where he went.’
‘And you say that the attackers were led by this warrior wearing a golden collar, the one whose name you cannot remember?’
‘That is correct.’
‘And you recognised him — face to face?’
‘Not exactly — I was some distance away.’
‘How did you recognise him then?’
‘He wore a golden collar.’
Fidelma breathed out softly. ‘So you recognised him simply because he wore a golden collar at his neck. Was there anything else?’
‘I know he had a stag rampant on his shield. It was picked out with jewels.’
Fidelma started, a hand came up to her throat. ‘A stag rampant with jewels?’ she repeated faintly. ‘Do you know what that symbolises?’
‘No. I know nothing of shield emblems, nor do I wish to. I only know that he wore the hated symbol of the golden collar.’
Fidelma paused for a moment to collect herself before asking: ‘Did Liamuin, so far as you saw, make any form of recognition as she swung at him with the sickle?’
Suanach frowned and shook her head. ‘I was too far away to see what was on her face.’
‘Why would this attack have taken place? Do you know of any reason why this warrior, having lived with Menma for so long, would suddenly turn and order his men to attack and destroy the rath and its people?’ demanded Eadulf.
‘It is not for me to give reasons. I only know what happened that day and will forever bear the scar.’
‘So, as far as you are concerned, there was no reason?’
‘He was an Eóghanacht warrior. Did he need a reason? They spread death and destruction wherever they go.’
Fidelma compressed her lips for a moment. Eadulf had noticed that she had been tense since the woman had mentioned the shield. Now she seemed to allow herself to relax a little.
‘Did anyone come to investigate this matter?’ she asked.
‘None to my knowledge. Oh, I did hear that someone had been asking questions about the attack some time afterwards. But no one knew who it was. I was still confined at Flannait’s cabin and in no fit state to answer questions. I am told that after that, there was no sign of the warrior who led the attack or anyone else. Of course, by then a peace was agreed between our people and the Eóghanacht. Much good did it do us.’
To their surprise the old woman suddenly spat at her feet.
‘I say this to the Eóghanacht of Cashel — may they melt off the face of this land like snow melts off a hedge when the sun appears. May guinea fowl cry at each new birth from the loins of their women. May the old ones die roaring. May they have only ashes in their hearth through the coldest winter. And may they sustain no comfort in this world nor the other one.’
Fidelma shivered suddenly at the chill intensity of her voice. Eadulf looked angry.
‘Christ forgive you, woman. It is against the Faith to make such a curse. It is bad and penance should be made,’ he admonished.
‘Bad was its inspiration,’ muttered the old woman, ‘and the bad seed only produces a bad harvest. I have already served my penance and now it is the turn of others to serve their due.’
Fidelma gave a warning glance at Eadulf when he would pursue the moral rebuke. She rose to her feet and reluctantly Eadulf followed.
‘I thank you for telling your story, Suanach. It was bad, what happened to you — but you cannot curse a whole people for what one person has done. It is wrong to live with such bitterness in old age.’
‘It is that bitterness which sustains me in what is left of my life, dálaigh,’ she replied emphatically.
Fidelma led the way back through the fern-covered path to the main track.
‘Where now, lady?’ asked Gormán as they rejoined him.
‘I think we will return to Flannait’s farm. There are some further questions I would like to ask.’
‘The old woman was still very angry,’ remarked Eadulf, after they had quickly told Gormán what had happened.
‘I cannot believe someone of the Nasc Niadh could do such a thing,’ the young warrior said. ‘It goes against all our training, all our code of chivalry.’
‘Yet it must be true,’ replied Fidelma. ‘Warriors have sometimes been known to betray their code as well as loyalty to those they claim to hold dear and to serve until death.’
‘It is hard to accept that a warrior of the Golden Collar could have done this thing, but if the evidence shows it then we must accept it,’ Eadulf said sadly. ‘We must then find out who is the man responsible and secure his punishment.’
‘If only Suanach had not forgotten his name,’ replied Fidelma. ‘She is certain she saw him lead the attack, but only because he wore a golden collar.’
‘And carried a shield,’ added Eadulf. ‘Remember? The shield bore the symbol of a bejewelled stag rampant on it.’
Gormán’s reaction was a sharp tug on his reins so that his horse came to an abrupt halt. He turned a pale face to them.
‘You did not mention this before,’ he grated.
Eadulf looked at him in bewilderment. ‘Is there something I should know?’ he asked uneasily, recalling Fidelma’s reaction when Suanach had mentioned it.
‘There is only one person who is allowed to carry on his shield a bejewelled stag rampant.’ Fidelma’s voice was almost inaudible.
‘The stag rampant is the symbol of the Eóghanacht. That shield is only carried by the King of Muman,’ Gormán added grimly.
They rode on in silence for a while. It was Eadulf who finally broke it.
‘If the old woman was the sole survivor of the attack, then she must have told someone who also knew who carried such a shield.’