‘They are the words that you exchanged with Brother Cu Mara, aren’t they?’ Fidelma pressed.
Once again the girl’s chin came up defiantly.
‘I will not confirm or deny them until I have spoken to Brother Cu Mara,’ she said sullenly.
‘So I can deduce from that that the words spoken are reported accurately?’ Fidelma asked confidently.
‘I do not believe that they have any relevance to Cinaed’s death,’ Sister Sinnchene responded determinedly.
‘But you do believe that something Cinaed might have told Faife was connected with her death. Why?’
‘I have told you as much as I can, Sister. I must speak to Brother Cu Mara.’
Fidelma sighed impatiently.
‘You realise that, as a dalaigh, I can impose a heavy penalty on you for not answering my questions when you have been told to?’
The girl was still defiant.
‘I cannot help you and your stupid rules. I will not answer until I have spoken to-’
Fidelma raised her hand to silence her.
‘I have heard you. Very well. We shall send for Brother Cu Mara. But perhaps you could tell me why you are so adamant that these words have no relevance to Cinaed’s murder?’
Sister Sinnchene raised her eyes to Fidelma and gazed into them for some seconds before she replied in a tight voice.
‘It is because I know who killed Cinaed.’
This time Fidelma could not disguise her surprise.
‘And will you name that person?’
The girl was emphatic.
‘Of course. It was Sister Buan.’
CHAPTER NINE
E adulf and Conri arrived in search of Fidelma just as Sister Sinnchene had made her accusation. They stood hesitantly at the door. Eadulf knew better than to react at the words and he caught the warlord’s eye and shook his head to indicate that he should not enter the conversation either.
Fidelma was examining the girl thoughtfully and ignored their entry.
‘And what is the basis of your claim?’ she asked quietly.
Sister Sinnchene sniffed. It seemed that this was her habit in times of stress.
‘I do not know what you mean,’ she replied.
‘What evidence do you have?’
‘What need of evidence? It is obvious.’
Fidelma was patient. ‘Perhaps it is not so obvious to me. Let us go through your reasoning behind this accusation. Is it because of your relationship with Cinaed? The fact that Sister Buan disliked you and you disliked Sister Buan.’
‘Sister Buan knew of our relationship. Cinaed and I told her. We told her what we wanted. She refused us and was angry. She hated me and she must have hated Cinaed. She killed Cinaed in her jealousy.’
‘Jealousy? Surely the most likely victim of her jealousy would be you, if Cinaed were rejecting her for you?’
‘The woman is spiteful; spiteful enough to vent her feelings on Cinaed.’
‘She must have been a powerful woman to deliver such a stroke as crushed his skull, as the physician has reported.’
Sister Sinnchene laughed shortly.
‘She is strong, that one. And Cinaed was elderly and frail.’
Fidelma shook her head sadly.
‘Accusations without evidence are not valid. What you are telling me is that you suspect Sister Buan’s involvement but have no proof. In which case, Sister, I should remind you to watch how you express that suspicion. The Din Techtugad warns that spreading false stories, satirising a person unjustly and giving false testimony is an offence that results in the loss of one’s honour-price.’
Sister Sinnchene scowled.
‘Law!’ She made it sound like a dirty word.
‘The law is there for the protection of everyone,’ replied Fidelma. ‘I simply warn you to be careful with the words you choose.’
She turned and seemed to notice Eadulf and Conri at the half-open door for the first time.
‘Conri, could you or one of your men find Brother Cu Mara and ask him to come here?’
The warlord nodded without speaking and left.
Fidelma smiled at Eadulf.
‘We will catch up on matters shortly,’ she said, but before she could elaborate further Conri re-entered with the rechtaire.
‘He was just passing outside,’ the warlord explained, ‘so I did not have to search far.’
‘You wanted to see me, lady?’ asked Brother Cu Mara, glancing with a frown from Sister Fidelma to Sister Sinnchene and back again.
Fidelma nodded and gestured for the steward to seat himself on a stool, which she placed beside Sister Sinnchene’s. She reseated herself facing them. There was strategy in Fidelma’s indicating where he should sit. Seated alongside one another, the two would find eye contact difficult and so it would be impossible to pick up any warning expression from the other.
‘I need to ask you for your comments on a conversation that has been reported to me,’ she began, looking at the rechtaire. ‘A conversation between you and Sister Sinnchene.’
The steward frowned.
‘And this conversation?’
‘It took place before the death of the Venerable Cinaed.’
‘And?’
‘Sister Sinnchene wondered whether a certain secret had been revealed by Cinaed to Abbess Faife. You responded that it could not be a coincidence that the body of the abbess was found at a certain spot. What was
Brother Cu Mara’s face reddened as he turned back to her.
‘I was trying to recall…’
‘You don’t recall that conversation?’ Fidelma smiled. ‘Sister Sinnchene does.’
‘I do recall it,’ he finally admitted. ‘But it was some time ago.’
‘It was after Abbess Faife was found and before Cinaed was killed. Not that long ago.’
Brother Cu Mara’s features relaxed in a smile.
‘Ah,’ he said, ‘I remember now. You may have learnt that the Venerable Cinaed and Abbess Faife sometimes worked together?’
Fidelma waited silently.
‘I think that Sister Sinnchene had discovered that Cinaed was working on a denouncement of the claims of Eoganan who led the Ui Fidgente against-’
Fidelma interrupted him with a motion of her hand.
‘This work was completed and placed in the tech-screptra some time ago. What of it?’
‘Did you know that Eoganan had two sons?’
‘We did.’
‘One of the sons, Torcan, was killed at the time that Eoganan led the Ui Fidgente in battle against Cashel. But he had another son-’
Eadulf broke in impatiently.
‘Uaman the Leper who called himself Lord of the Passes around Sliabh Mis.’
Brother Cu Mara glanced at him in surprise.
‘Go on,’ snapped Fidelma with an irritated glance at Eadulf. ‘What of Uaman?’
‘Cinaed heard word that a month or so ago Uaman was reported killed, his fortress burnt and his followers dispersed.’
Fidelma shot Eadulf a warning glance in case he interrupted again.
‘What has this to do with my question?’ she demanded.
‘Cinaed had heard rumours that Uaman’s followers were still active, trying to raise support for a new movement against Cashel. As Sister Sinnchene would have told you, Cinaed confided this to Sister Sinnchene and said he was keeping this a secret until he could discover more.’
‘And so what was the meaning of the conversation?’ prompted Fidelma.
‘Simple,’ answered the rechtaire. ‘When we had news of the Abbess Faife’s death and where her body had been found, Sister Sinnchene wondered if the Venerable Cinaed had told her that Uaman’s followers might have continued their activities before she left for the land of the Corco Duibhne. Had he asked her to make inquiries? That is what was meant.’
‘And your reply?’
‘I thought he must have told her for I did not think it coincidence that her body had been found almost opposite the island where the ruins of Uaman’s fortress stood.’
Fidelma turned to Sister Sinnchene.
‘And you agree with this account?’
The young girl nodded quickly.
Fidelma thrust out her lower lip slightly in thought.
‘There are a couple of things that worry me, though…’ she said slowly.