‘We do not want your bow, Iobcar,’ she said, motioning Conri to give it to the boy. ‘Nor do we want you to betray the secret of where your people have gone. We would like to know more details about why they felt forced to evacuate this place.’
The boy took his bow and stood for a moment staring at Fidelma as if trying to read her mind.
‘My father used to say that Uaman was the great curse of our people when he dwelt below on the island. His men would often raid our village for sheep and goats and… well, other things. Then perhaps two moons ago it was reported that he was dead and the villagers went down to the island and burnt his fortress and took back what was theirs.’
They waited patiently while the boy paused again, as if to gather his thoughts.
‘Not long ago Uaman’s men appeared in our village again. They demanded tribute on behalf of the master. The village elders gave them what they could. One day soon afterwards my father went to the island and came back and said these men had wrecked a ship there. The elders met and decided the village must move beyond the mountains. We all left about seven days ago to find a new village. Yesterday I found I had forgotten my bow and so today I came in search of it. I had just found it when I heard you calling and thinking you to be Uaman’s people I hid myself in the uaimh talun. But you found me.’
‘I see,’ Fidelma said. ‘Well, we mean you no harm, nor harm to your people. We are not Uaman’s men. Anyway, it is late now, so eat with us and stay so that you are refreshed to return to your people in the morning.’
The boy was hesitant.
‘They will be worried.’
‘But more worried if you set out to traverse these mountains in the blackness of the night, Iobcar son of Starn the blacksmith,’ she replied solemnly.
Iobcar considered the matter and then, sniffing at the odour of roasted rabbit, nodded slowly.
Conri began to slice the meat from the carcasses that he had been cooking on his skewer. Eadulf had not finished questioning the boy but he waited until the lad was settled and munching on the roasted meat.
‘Tell me, Iobcar,’ he asked, ‘do you know anything about those you call Uaman’s people?’
‘Only that my father says they are bad people,’ the boy said between mouthfuls of meat.
‘Have you heard of any religious being killed near here by them?’
Again the boy shook his head.
‘But when my father came back from the island, he said that he saw some warriors taking some women prisoners along the road.’
Eadulf exchanged a quick glance with Fidelma.
‘Women prisoners? And that was when he reported to the village that a ship had been wrecked there?’
‘The same time,’ agreed the boy.
Eadulf glanced triumphantly at Fidelma.
‘And in which direction were Uaman’s men taking these prisoners? Towards the east to the Abbey of Colman or west to Daingean, the fortress of the chieftain of the Corco Duibhne?’
The boy paused, frowning for a moment.
‘Neither. My father said they were going north.’
‘North into the mountains?’ Conri frowned in surprise. He and Eadulf had expected that the raiders would be returning to Slebene’s fortress.
‘Along the track that leads up the mountain valley, where the River Imligh flows,’ agreed the boy. ‘They were heading north.’
Eadulf turned to Fidelma.
‘I know part of that way, for that is the path we travelled in search of little Alchu.’ There was a tense quality in his voice as he spoke which only Fidelma picked up, realising he was remembering his frantic search for their abducted son.
‘Then that is the road we must take tomorrow,’ Fidelma decided with a firmness that admitted no dissension. She waited until she and Eadulf were alone and then she reached out and laid her hand on Eadulf’s arm.
Eadulf sighed sadly and patted her hand.
‘Yet the memories come, especially in this place. It is such a short time that has passed since last I was here. The memories of what happened here are sharp and I am still anxious.’
Fidelma grimaced and Eadulf realised that her eyes were unnaturally bright.
‘Forgive me,’ he suddenly said in a soft tone.
She passed a hand over her eyes quickly, as if to disguise the act of wiping them, and frowned questioningly.
‘I am being too selfish about my feelings,’ Eadulf raised a shoulder and let it fall expressively. ‘It is a great fault.’ He took her hands in his and squeezed them.
Fidelma forced a smile.
‘Brehon Morann used to say, they are truly good who are faultless. I am very aware of my own faults. But I share your anxieties. It is a heavy duty, being sister of the king as well as a dalaigh. It often leaves no room for the woman nor for the mother. Yet the woman and the mother are here in this same body. You, above all people, should know that.’
Eadulf bowed his head for a moment. Then he cleared his throat.
‘We’d best get some rest for we must start early in the morning,’ he said shortly.
Fidelma was the first to wake the next morning. Iobcar son of Starn the blacksmith was gone, along with his bow. She went outside to the well, drew some water, and washed quickly. When she had done, Eadulf and the others were stirring. They decided not to waste time in hunting more game to break their fast, for there was no other food to hand, no fruits nor berries. The midwinter days limited their diet. They decided to press on immediately and pause at lunchtime for food. Eadulf assured them that by that time they would have reached a hamlet where he knew hospitality would be accorded them. So, slaking their thirst with fresh water from the well, they saddled their horses and set off along the track across the shoulder of the mountain which Eadulf indicated was to be their path.
The patient horses climbed for a while, bringing them to a spectacular view of the inlet below them when they emerged above the treeline.
‘Look!’ It was Conri who brought them to a halt. He was pointing down to the island below.
A large vessel had sailed up the narrow waters and was riding at anchor a short distance off the island. Some of the crew were taking down its sails while others launched a skiff from the side of the ship. The vessel looked vaguely familiar to Fidelma and Eadulf, but it was only when the breeze caught at the banner snaking from the mainmast that they realised why. Fidelma turned to Conri in surprise.
‘That is the warship that attacked us off the Machaire Islands.’
Conri had already realised that fact.
‘It must have put on new sail and then passed round the end of the peninsula and sailed up the inlet. Why would they be following us?’
‘They cannot be following us,’ replied Fidelma with a shake of her head. ‘They would not know that we were crossing the peninsula and passing this spot.’
‘Then what are they doing?’ demanded Conri.
‘Well, the best thing is to dismount lest they see that they are being observed,’ Eadulf advised. ‘Then we may be able to see what they are doing on the island.’
Socht took their horses further along the track to a spot behind a group of rocks where they were hidden from prying eyes.
They perched themselves in a clump of boulders from where they could look down into the inlet without being seen. It was not very long before they discovered what the crew of the strange ship was about.
‘Why,’ Conri observed in wonder, ‘they are loading up with the stores from the shipwreck.’
‘Do you think they had any part in wrecking the ship?’ Eadulf asked.
‘Perhaps they are the wreckers, and hoarded the goods so that they could return for them later,’ Fidelma hazarded.
‘Then they must be the same men who killed Faife and abducted her companions. They moved north and picked up their vessel on the north side of the peninsula,’ Conri said. ‘The prisoners must be on board the ship.’