‘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. ‘But 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.’