‘How are things proceeding in the resolution of my dilemma, lady?’
‘I have been thinking of little else,’ she replied.
‘If you suspect an attempted plot against you,’ chimed in Eadulf bluntly, ‘I cannot see why you do not act first and move against those you suspect?’
Prince Donennach smiled grimly. ‘Who do I suspect? You mean, make Abbot Nannid my prisoner?’
Brehon Faolchair was shaking his head. ‘For what reason would one do that, friend Eadulf? The only grounds for suspicion are because he demands church law for a churchman’s murder.’
‘Abbot Nannid has considerable authority among my people, Brother Eadulf,’ Prince Donennach added gently. ‘There is nothing overt in his behaviour other than that. He kept a neutral stance when previous members of my family tried to seize power, as well you know.’
‘It seems your family has more than their fair share of conspiracies and plots to wrest power,’ returned Eadulf.
Brehon Faolchair frowned in disapproval but Prince Donennach replied only, ‘That is fairly said, Brother Eadulf. I have devoted years of my life to attempting to put an end to it and arguing that we follow the law of inheritance, which is an estimable law, instead of wrestling in the mud for power. My own grandfather, Oengus mac Nechtain, was killed in a conspiracy just before I was born and that led to the rule of Eoganan and a time of turmoil. So it has continued.’
‘We have managed to keep stability since Colgu defeated Eoganan at Cnoc Aine four years ago,’ added Brehon Faolchair.
‘And since you became ruler of your people, your efforts to maintain the peace have not gone unnoticed,’ Fidelma confirmed.
Prince Donennach sighed. ‘I made it my aim to prevent the internecine conflict among the Ui Fidgente as well as to end the conflict between us and the Eoghanacht. As I have said, we have a good law of inheritance. We cannot better the meeting of the derbhfine, the three generations of the family, to discuss and appoint the person who is the most worthy to succeed as the head of the family. Unfortunately, it is a failing of our kin that we seem to breed jealous, ambitious malcontents who will exploit and manipulate – and even murder – to achieve their ends. I would hate to see all my years of toil unravel.’
‘You suspect that is the aim of all this?’ Eadulf said. ‘If so, I ask again, why not make Abbot Nannid a prisoner, since you seem to suggest he is behind it?’
‘If I did so without plain evidence, under the very laws we aim to protect, the peace among the Ui Fidgente would unravel faster than a horseman can ride around this fortress at full gallop, my friend.’
‘Let me put a direct question to you, Prince Donennach,’ Fidelma said, regarding him thoughtfully. ‘And you may answer as well, Brehon Faolchair. Do you think that the commander of my brother’s bodyguard really went mad and killed Abbot Segdae? Because madness would appear to be the only means of explaining what has happened.’
Prince Donennach gave a tired smile. ‘If it was madness, then it was a convenient madness – convenient for Abbot Nannid, that is.’
Brehon Faolchair nodded slowly in agreement. ‘I did what I could to postpone the inevitable. But Gorman was alone in the room with Abbot Segdae. There were witnesses to his going in and the chamber being locked and secure without anyone else in it. Even Gorman admits to being in the chamber with the abbot and says the latter had a full view of what was behind him. So if Gorman was hit from behind, why didn’t the abbot raise any warning?’
‘So we are faced with a blank wall,’ Prince Donennach summed up.
‘Until we find a weak point whereby it crumbles,’ Fidelma replied with optimism.
Brehon Faolchair stared at her. ‘You think there is such a weakness? Unfortunately, Gorman seems to have already admitted his guilt by running away with Aibell.’
‘I am sure we will find that weakness,’ she told him. ‘Meanwhile, there are some matters on which I should like clarification.’
Prince Donennach sat back and gestured for her to continue.
‘I am told that the reason why Gorman and his wife came here was to give you a warning that Glaed of Sliabh Luachra had killed his brother. That he had declared himself chief of the Luachair Deaghaidh and might be a threat to you. As you know, he killed his own father before, and he was placed in the custody of his brother for trial.’
‘Gorman came to give warning,’ affirmed the prince.
‘How did you react to it?’
Prince Donennach looked at her in surprise. ‘Sliabh Luachra is not far from here. Glaed could raise a substantial raiding party. How would you expect me to react?’
‘Tell me,’ pressed Fidelma.
‘I think you already know that a messenger was sent to Conri, the commander of my battalions. He was at his own fortress downriver, at the Ford of Oaks. I asked him to come here straight away.’
‘For what purpose?’
‘To take command of a band of warriors to Sliabh Luachra to find out whether the report was true and what support Glaed could count on.’
‘And what was your intention?’
‘To pre-empt any attack on the Ui Fidgente. I know what these robber chieftains are like and Glaed, without the restraint of his father or brother, will be a formidable enemy.’
‘But why is Conri still here?’ Eadulf asked.
‘He and his men arrived the morning after the murder of Abbot Segdae. Frankly, I was not sure what to do. I felt it better to keep him and his men here until we could sort matters out. We posted sentinels in the countryside to give us warning of any threat.’
‘So there was no question that you did not take Gorman’s warnings about Glaed seriously?’
Prince Donennach was baffled. ‘Why would I discount his warning? He knew enough about the war bands of Sliabh Luachra from your last visit here. I took the warning about them very seriously indeed.’
‘One of the stories I heard is that you had treated the warning lightly and he had gone to Abbot Segdae in an angry mood. I think it was offered as some way of proving a motivation … incriminating him by implying that he had an uncontrollable anger.’
‘That was not so,’ the prince declared.
‘When Gorman came to see you about the matter of Glaed, were you alone?’
Prince Donennach thought back. ‘As a matter of fact, Brehon Faolchair was with me as was Abbot Nannid and his steward, Brother Cuineain.’
Brehon Faolchair agreed. ‘That is true, Fidelma. I recall Gorman reporting that he had heard from some merchants that Glaed had deposed his brother and was rousing the robber bands of the Luachair Deaghaidh to join him to raid the countryside. On hearing this, Prince Donennach immediately instructed a messenger to ride to Conri and request his presence to discuss a defensive plan.’
‘Was Gorman content with this action?’
‘Why would he not be content?’
‘How did Abbot Nannid respond?’
Prince Donennach frowned and rubbed his forehead thoughtfully. ‘I cannot recall any notable response from Nannid.’
‘I would have expected some response,’ Fidelma said. ‘It was while we were uncovering the plot at the Abbey of Mungairit that Glaed was handed into the custody of his brother, Artgal. His brother was to take him back to Sliabh Luachra to answer to his own people for murdering their father.’
‘Neither of us can recall any response,’ replied the prince after exchanging a look with Brehon Faolchair, who shook his head.
Fidelma was rising when Ceit, the commander of the Prince’s fortress guard came hurrying in. His features looked grim.
‘What is it now?’ Prince Donennach sighed wearily. ‘Have you come with another tale of woe?’
Ceit was certainly nervous. ‘I have to report, lord.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I have to report that the guard – the one who took the bribe to allow Gorman to escape – he has been released from his cell.’
There was a brief silence and then Fidelma repeated incredulously, ‘He was released from his cell?’
‘There was no sign that he broke out,’ muttered Ceit. ‘The door was simply unlocked.’