‘The easiest way to transport goods is a short sail from the port of An Bhearbha across the great inlet to the peninsula, which is their territory. In good weather it is a simple run due west, then around a finger of land that pokes up from the peninsula to a group of islands, through these and round into Breanainn’s Bay. There is a good landing in the bay and that is where many of the merchants of the Corco Duibhne gather. Also it is not a hard climb into the mountains, to Breanainn’s mount where this abbey keeps a small community at the very spot where the founder-’
‘I know of Breanainn’s mount,‘interrupted Fidelma, suppressing a sigh of restlessness. ‘So you went to Breanainn’s Bay on the north side of the peninsula by ship to trade. How was it that you were later on foot on the south side of the peninsula heading eastward away from your ship?’ She hesitated as another thought occurred to her. ‘How was it that the Abbess Faife did not take her charges by this quicker and easier route to Breanainn’s mount? Why, in the midwinter snows, was she taking her charges on foot on what was surely the longest way to her objective?’
Brother Cu Mara coughed awkwardly.
‘If I might remind you, lady? There were two good reasons. One reason being that her first goal was the abbey of Colman where she had business. It is easier to get there on foot from Ard Fhearta. But she always
‘Of course, of course,’ cut in Fidelma sharply. ‘I had forgotten that point for a moment. ‘But it still does not explain why you, Mugron, should have abandoned your ship for such an arduous route home?’
Mugron was smiling broadly.
‘As I said, lady, there is no quicker route with fair weather and a westerly wind to bring you from the great bay back to my safe little harbour here. The journey there was fine enough. We had a good breeze blowing off the coast from the east and there were no problems. But not long after we landed and were exchanging cargoes, the winds rose, the snows came down and we were forced to seek shelter close inshore. I had business that would not wait and so I negotiated for a fine horse from a local trader. I left my ship, telling my crew to wait until the weather improved before setting out to return here.
‘I took the route south-west through the mountains to pay my respects to Slebene, the chieftain of the Corco Duibhne, at his fortress of Daingean. It did not put me out of my way. I could also proceed to the abbey of Colman and conclude some other business. Then the ride home would be easy.’
‘I see. Go on.’
Mugron massaged his forehead with his fingertips for a moment.
‘Perhaps I should tell you that Brother Maidiu, who is in charge of the community on Breanainn’s mount, had come down to see me at the ship. We carried supplies for him.’
‘And?’
‘He told me that he was worried as he had been expecting the Abbess Faife and some of her companions. It was the first time that she had not turned up on the day they usually celebrated the enlightenment of the Blessed Breanainn on the mountain.’
‘So she was already overdue?’
‘She was.’
Fidelma turned to the young steward.
‘How many are there in this community under Brother Maidiu?’
Brother Cu Mara smiled.
‘To call it a community is merely to flatter it, lady. He has no more than three or four Brothers of the Faith who reside on the mountain all year round. It is a cold and harsh environment and only suitable for those who have a vocation for the life.’
‘I see.’ She returned to the merchant. ‘I am sorry. Please continue.’
‘When I had made my mind up to continue on horseback, I told Brother Maidiu that I would look out for Abbess Faife along the road as I was sure that she was on the way but had probably been caught up and delayed by the snows.’
He paused, as if to gather his thoughts again.
‘I left the fortress, An Daingean, and rode along the south coast road eastward towards the abbey of Colman. It is a long straight track with mountains on one side and the sea’s great inlet on the other. On a pleasant, dry day, it is an easy ride. The abbey of Colman lies about thirty-five or so kilometres from Daingean. I was confident of reaching there before nightfall. The wind was from the south-west, so it was, thanks be, at my back, but the snow was falling thickly and it was causing drifts. I was feeling quite exhausted when I reached the place that is called simply the Island, where, until a short time ago, Uaman, Lord of the Passes, had his fortress. It is in blackened ruins now for the people rose up against him-’
Fidelma nodded quickly.
‘We have heard the story,’ she said. ‘What happened?’
‘Near there is a disused coirceogach, a round stone hut, where I have sheltered several times. I thought that I would rest again and try to dry my clothes, keeping out of the snow for a while, rather than press on the remaining distance to the abbey. I had no difficulty locating the place despite the drifting snow, for I had the position of Uaman’s island to guide me.’
‘The coirceogach is easy to find,’ added Conri.
‘What was your first impression?’ queried Fidelma. ‘Were there any signs of disturbance around that you noticed?’
The merchant shook his head.
‘Don’t forget, lady, the snow was coming thick and fast. I saw nothing but a white blanket across the ground. I tried to pull my horse into the shelter of some trees and made towards the entrance of the coirceogach. I was aware that I had trodden on something that did not feel right. I don’t know how else to explain it. But it was not hard like ground or rock and when I looked down I saw there was something dark beneath the snow. I scraped away and realised it was a body.’
He paused and passed a hand over his forehead as if to wipe it
‘My first thought was to rebury it but… but then I realised that it
‘Why did you do that?’
‘My idea was to preserve the body as best I could. If I left it where it was, someone else might find it. My thought was then to hurry on to Ard Fhearta to report the matter for, as I say, it was clear that she had been murdered.’
‘And you saw nothing else which would give any indication as to why she came by her death? No sign of what might have happened to her companions?’
Mugron shook his head firmly.
‘I was halfway to the abbey of Colman when I realised about her companions,’ he confessed. ‘But there had been no sign of anyone else. As I have said, the snow lay thick on the ground. It had been snowing on and off for several days.’
‘So there were no other bodies?’
‘Not where I found that of the abbess.’
She looked at him sharply. ‘Does that imply there were other bodies in the vicinity?’
Mugron nodded. ‘There must have been some wreck along the coast. There was fresh wreckage nearby, floating along the shore, and among it were one or two bodies. There was nothing I could do about them. Remember, I was alone.’
Fidelma sat back and was silent for a few moments. Then she asked: ‘Your first intention was to enter the coirceogach and get dry. Did you go in at all?’
The merchant hesitated.
‘I did, but only for a moment.’
‘And there was nothing inside that presented you with any information as to what might have happened?’
‘I saw that the fire had recently been used.’ He frowned. ‘There was some discarded clothing in a corner.’
Conri nodded in agreement.
‘The rags were still there when we returned. There was also a water-soaked boot by them.’
Fidelma raised an inquisitive face to the warlord of the Ui Fidgente.
‘A boot?’
Instead of using the word cuaran for an ordinary shoe he had used the word coisbert for something larger.
‘It was the sort of boot that a seaman might wear,’ the merchant chimed in. ‘But it was of foreign origin.’
Fidelma regarded him with interest.
‘How do you know that?’
Mugron smiled complacently.
‘It is my trade, lady. If I did not know a native boot from a foreign one, I would be a poor merchant. This boot was one that I would expect to see in Gaul. In fact, I would say it was a type that many of the seamen of Armorica wear.’