‘About the working of stones?’
‘About the lec-logmar,’ confirmed the girl. ‘He was a nice old man. A wise old man. He was not arrogant, like the Venerable Mac Faosma. He would speak to anyone on equal terms no matter what rank they were. How was he murdered, Sister?’
Briefly, Fidelma told her the facts.
‘Who could have done such a thing?’
‘I cannot tell you yet. But I think, finally, I might see a light on the path ahead.’
Conri. gave her a curious look.
‘So we start back to the abbey tomorrow?’ he asked after a moment or two.
‘Indeed we do,’ she replied. ‘But you, Conri, do not. Eadulf and I will go to the abbey with Sister Easdan and our friend Esumaro here. You, Conri, will have to raise a band of warriors and warships to go back to Seanach’s Island and rescue the others there. Try to take the man called Olcan captive; take him alive. We need him to unravel the thread that will lead us to this man “the master”.’
‘And then? If we succeed?’
‘You will succeed,’ she said with emphasis. ‘You will bring all the prisoners back to the abbey. By which time I hope I shall have sorted out this conundrum.’
‘What about Uaman?’ demanded Conri. ‘If it is Uaman he will have gone back to his fortress on the south side of the peninsula. Even if he has not, then he will be in hiding somewhere. We need to search for him.’
Fidelma smiled with calm assurance.
‘You will be wasting your time, Conri. All the strands of this mystery will entwine with one another at the abbey of Ard Fhearta.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The journey back to Ard Fhearta took the best part of a day but seemed very rapid. The day was still cold and the pale sun hung in a limpid blue sky but the winds had apparently died away. Fidelma, Eadulf and their companions took the coast road. Sister Easdan and Esumaro were mounted behind Socht and the other warrior as Gaeth was unable to supply them with extra horses. They came to the end of the Corco Duibhne peninsula in hardly any time at all before turning north to take the ford across the River Lithe. Then it was a short ride north-west towards Ard Fhearta. Within sight of the abbey buildings, with the sun resting on the western horizon far out to sea, Conri. and one of his warriors parted company from the rest. It had been agreed that Fidelma and Eadulf would take Esumaro and Sister Easdan back to Ard Fhearta and Conri. insisted that they be accompanied by his warrior Socht.
‘I shall go on to Tadcan’s fortress at the north end of the bay,’ Conri. said. ‘Tadcan is loyal to me, one of our best chieftains, and he has three good warships. We could sail tonight and be able to raid Seanach’s Island at dawn tomorrow. You can expect word of the outcome by tomorrow evening at the earliest. We could sail directly back to An Bhearbha.’
‘May God go with you, Conri,’ Fidelma replied softly. ‘Remember, we need Olcan to be captured alive.’
‘If I fail it will not be for want of trying,’ returned the warlord of the Ui Fidgente with a grim smile.
He raised his hand in farewell and disappeared swiftly, with his companion, along the road that led northwards. Fidelma led the rest of the party towards the abbey on the hilltop.
Someone must have seen their approach long before they arrived for rechtaire, Brother Cu Mara, was at the open gates and waiting impatiently to greet them.
He immediately recognised Sister Easdan, staring at her in amazement before his eyes swept round the rest of the company.
‘What has happened?’ he demanded excitedly. ‘Where is the lord Conri? Is he dead? How did you find Sister Easdan? Are the others dead?’
His questions came out in a nervous tumble.
Fidelma slid from her horse and bade him calm himself.
‘There will be plenty of time for explanations later.’
Undeterred, Brother Cu Mara turned to Sister Easdan.
‘You must tell me what happened, Sister,’ he demanded. ‘The abbot will want to know at once. Come, I shall take you to him.’
Fidelma frowned at his attempt to override her instructions.
‘You have not listened to me. The abbot will know everything in good time. Sister Easdan and Esumaro are here as witnesses and will not be questioned until I say so. They are now under a prohibition forbidding them to speak about what has happened these past few weeks. I will give them such permission when I am ready to do so.’
Fidelma used the old word of urgarad to explain the importance of the prohibition, which meant they were forbidden under ancient law to disobey her on pain of dire misfortune. They knew it was very dangerous to break such a prohibition. The High King Conari, who reigned in the first century of the Christian era, had broken such a prohibition and his peaceful reign descended into violence, plunder and rapine before culminating in his assassination.
Brother Cu Mara grew angry. His face reddened.
‘This is a very high-handed way of going about things,’ he said stiffly. ‘I am steward of this abbey and it is my right to know what has happened to the members of its community.’
He paused, finding himself staring into the narrowed, glinting eyes of Fidelma.
‘You know who I am, rechtaire?’ Her voice was soft but sharp as a needlepoint. ‘I do not have to remind you. Therefore, do not speak to me again of your office and its rights. I know them well enough. Just as you know mine.’
Brother Cu Mara’s face was bright scarlet. He hesitated and then gave a sour grimace.
‘Abbot Erc will want to see you immediately,’ he persisted stubbornly.
Fidelma glanced at the darkening sky.
‘We will see him later. I want hot baths to be prepared for all of us. Then we shall eat. After that Brother Eadulf and I will attend the abbot. Do I make myself clear, rechtaire?’
Brother Cu Mara was about to say something more when he appeared to have second thoughts. He seemed to realise that he had come up against an immovable object.
‘Abbot Erc will be displeased,’ he muttered audibly as he turned away.
‘And his displeasure will be matched and made insignificant by my own annoyance if we are kept arguing at the gate in this fashion,’ Fidelma snapped after him.
Brother Cu Mara turned back.
‘It shall be done as you say, Fidelma of Cashel.’ He placed heavy emphasis on her title. ‘I will order Sister Sinnchene to prepare baths for you and Brother Eadulf and… and this man.’ He nodded towards Esumaro. ‘Sister Easdan can join her sisters at their evening ablutions and-’
‘Sister Easdan will remain with us for the time being in the guests’ hostel,’ Fidelma replied firmly. ‘That goes for Conri’s man as well.’
The steward’s jaw dropped a little in his astonishment. He seemed about to protest again and then he swallowed.
‘So be it,’ he said tightly.
‘Good.’ Fidelma suddenly smiled in satisfaction. ‘Get someone to see to our horses. We have ridden long and hard today. Make sure that they are well looked after and fed. They belong to Mugron the trader.’
They paused only to remove their saddle bags before Fidelma led the way to the hospitium.
Brother Cu Mara had already set matters in motion and members of the community appeared to be running here and there at his orders.
When they reached the guests’ hostel, Eadulf looked censoriously at Fidelma.
‘You were rather hard on the steward,’ he said.
‘No more than he deserved. There is much to be done and a killer to be caught.’
She turned to the rest of them, to Sister Easdan, Esumaro and the warrior Socht, an old name which suited the man’s temperament well for it meant ‘silence’.
‘You heard me tell the steward that you were all under an urgarad, that
Sister Easdan and Socht nodded immediately, but she had to explain to Esumaro, who as a Gaul was unaware of what this prohibition meant.
‘You see, I want no word of what you have experienced reaching anyone until I hear that Conri and his men have been successful in rescuing the other prisoners on Seanach’s Island and capturing Olcan and his men.’