‘Did they believe you?’
‘I am sure they did.’
Aibell was puzzled, for she had no knowledge of simple Latin. ‘Did Gorman understand – and what did you say?’
‘I roughly told him not to despair. I mentioned the word “rescue” and told him to wait and prepare himself.’
‘That was good,’ Fidelma said.
Enda gave a long sigh. ‘That’s it then. A simple plan. Friend Eadulf, we have no choice but to enter the community as Brother Eladach here has indicated, free Gorman and get away as fast as we can. You must have no compunction in dealing with the men guarding him.’
Eadulf drew himself up a little. ‘I have fought my way out of more threatening situations before,’ he reminded Enda solemnly, ‘even though I have no warrior training. I have seen enough not to be that squeamish.’
Enda clapped him on the shoulder in approval. ‘Now let us prepare. We do not have long.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Aibell announced. ‘I can be of help.’
‘Absolutely not,’ Enda said firmly. ‘In the matter of rescue and possible fighting, Eadulf and I will undertake this. You will stay with the lady Fidelma here, until we bring Gorman back with us.’
‘But …’ began Aibell.
‘Enda is right,’ Fidelma declared. ‘I too would have liked to take part in this. However, he is a trained warrior.’
Brother Eladach nodded approval. ‘I will go back now and attend to my duties as aistreoir. You will hear the little bell in the church sound, calling the community to gather for the last prayers of the day. After that, I will ensure that the bell is sounded three times, marking the end of prayers … three clear notes. Wait a little time after that, allowing for the community to go to their rest. Then come to the side gate. I will be there and shall guide you inside.’
‘What if you are discovered?’ asked Eadulf.
Brother Eladach said bravely, ‘I must take that chance. If there is no other choice, then it is better to fight evil than sit and wait for it to multiply.’
‘Good man,’ approved Enda.
‘There is one other thing,’ Fidelma said. ‘Enda and Eadulf will wait here with Etromma for your signal. But Aibell and I must return to the fortress so that people think that we have all gone back to rest there. Questions would be asked if it were known that tonight, of all nights, none of us were to be seen in the fortress. Once you have carried out the task, Eadulf and Enda must get back into the fortress to appear early the next morning to claim an alibi when the alarm is raised.’
Enda hit his left palm with his right fist. ‘I had not thought of that. We will need a diversion to cover us while we do that. But how do we get back into the fortress?’
‘Before I retire tonight, I will pretend to go for a walk in the courtyard,’ Fidelma said. ‘What has been done once, can work again. During the walk I shall make sure that the side gate is unlocked so that you may sneak in without going through the main gates. As for a diversion this evening, Aibell and I will provide it.’
She waited until they were all in agreement before she glanced round and said earnestly, ‘Let us all go to our tasks and may luck be our companion this night.’
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
As Fidelma and Aibell approached the fortress gate there was no sign of Ceit but the warrior on guard just waved them through. They were moving across the courtyard towards the great hall when a tall figure emerged from the shadows. It was Conri. He halted in the flickering light of the burning brand torches.
‘A gloomy night,’ he greeted – but it was not to the weather that he was referring.
‘Melancholy enough,’ Fidelma replied, making her voice sound despondent.
‘Is Eadulf not with you?’
‘He has already gone to our chamber with some disturbance of the stomach. Probably something he ate earlier,’ she lied. She hoped the warlord could not read her expression in the fading light. Then, sensing that Conri wanted to say something more but seemed inhibited, she said to Aibell, ‘Perhaps you could go to our chamber to see how Eadulf is feeling? And ask if he intends to join us in the hall before we retire.’
The girl nodded and they watched her scurrying away across the courtyard. Then Conri turned to Fidelma.
‘My rider has returned from Mungairit,’ he announced quietly. ‘He is accompanied by someone he met who had just fled from the Hill of Truth. You will meet them both tomorrow. I think you’ll find his news interesting.’
‘You had best tell me now the essence of that news,’ Fidelma instructed him, excited in spite of herself.
‘In short, Nannid is no longer the Abbot of Mungairit. Neither is Brother Cuineain his steward there. They left the abbey six or more months ago having been dismissed by the derbhfine. After the conspiracy that you uncovered, the abbey council decided that they could not place their trust in Nannid or his steward.’
Fidelma felt a growing relief. ‘I had begun to suspect as much since Nannid has spent so many months here trying to create a new community in the township. But this does not help us in the current matter. Nannid is an astute debater. He will doubtless argue that he is now Abbot of Nechta and can still claim entitlement to demand punishment under these Penitentials. Don’t let your rider relay this news to anyone else, not even Prince Donennach or Brehon Faolchair. I will know when the time is right.’
Conri said in surprise, ‘Don’t you think it might help at all? You realise that Gorman’s death is inevitable at noon tomorrow?’
‘Even if Nannid can only call himself Abbot of Nechta, he still has enough influence among the Ui Fidgente to stir them up against Prince Donennach. I think that has been his intention all along.’
‘But surely this might make some difference?’
‘No, not of itself. You mentioned that your messenger encountered someone on his return – someone from the Hill of Truth?’
The warlord nodded grimly. ‘It was the religieux, Brother Feradach. He confirms that he had gone there on behalf of Mungairit to meet with Nannid. However, he saw the encampment of the men from Sliabh Luachra and fled.’
Fidelma said thoughtfully, ‘That just supports Nannid’s version of why he went to the Hill of Truth. Again, it does not help the situation with Gorman.’
‘I know, I know.’ Conri hunched his shoulders in a despairing gesture. ‘There must be some way to help him!’
‘I wish there was.’
‘Perhaps there is. I mean …’ Conri spoke awkwardly. ‘Well, when Gorman escaped from here, I had my duty to fulfil, my allegiance to Prince Donennach to try to recapture him. When Gorman continued to evade us, I began to realise that it was probably the best solution to this problem.’
‘But it was not a permanent solution. The dilemma would still face Prince Donennach.’
‘I mean, what I am trying to say is that if Gorman could escape again and go back to Cashel, it would be better than being killed here. I do not think Prince Donennach would insist that his warriors should pursue him too diligently.’
‘It would still be a problem.’
The warlord looked anxious. ‘This evening I have been speaking with Prince Donennach. If Gorman does hang tomorrow, I don’t want there to be another war between us.’
‘That prospect is one that must be avoided,’ she agreed.
‘Yet I am warlord of the Ui Fidgente and must make preparations for that very prospect. I do not want to send out my riders bearing the fiery cross to summon the clans to the service of Donennach. But once the news of Gorman’s death spreads to Cashel, your brother will have no option but to gather his fighting men. Then he will march on our borders.’