Airmid looked at Brother Tuaman in amusement for a few moments before saying to Fidelma, ‘So what will you do now, lady?’
‘Now?’
‘Now all is lost here, I mean. I suppose you will head back to Cashel tomorrow. Will you attempt to persuade King Colgu that my brother had no choice but to act as he did? I mean, by not interfering in the execution of his warrior.’
Fidelma pursed her lips in a thoughtful expression before speaking. ‘I suppose I would start by saying that perhaps, all is not lost until it is lost. But certainly I will report to my brother, Colgu, and his Chief Brehon, what I have seen here.’
Prior Cuan leaned forward slightly, his brow creased in perplexity. ‘We must do all in our power to prevent any thoughts of vengeful bloodshed, lady. If we must face the consequences of tomorrow, let us hope we can persuade Colgu not to seek reparation on the field of battle.’
Fidelma suddenly felt mischievous. ‘Alas, is there not an old proverb which says that there was never a more just judge than the field of battle?’ she said dryly.
Prior Cuan looked at her in disapproval. ‘It must be a very old saying – from barbaric days. I, for my part, will be riding straight for Cashel tomorrow to admit that my poor scholastic knowledge was unable to move Nannid, who is equally firm in his beliefs. But Fidelma, I will be telling your brother, the King, that he must remember that vengeance is to be left in the hands of God.’
‘Waiting for divine vengeance is a tedious process,’ Airmid said tartly. ‘I recall that in the past, the Eoghanacht have shown us the efficacy of acting more swiftly in such matters.’
Fidelma knew it was a provocation and a reflection on the long history of rivalry between their two families for the Kingship of Muman.
‘We believe it is the King and his council who will make a response once all the facts are known,’ she said quietly.
Airmid seemed surprised. ‘Are they not already known? Do you still insist there should be yet another hearing after the warrior admitted his guilt by fleeing from here before you had time to offer a defence for him?’
‘It would seem that not all the facts have been allowed to come to light,’ Fidelma replied, but she did not elaborate.
Prior Cuan rose from his chair and reached for his stick. ‘It is time I retired,’ he announced.
Fidelma crossed to his side. ‘I need some exercise before I retire,’ she told him. ‘A walk across the courtyard of the fortress will be sufficient. I will accompany you as far as your quarters, if I may, Prior Cuan?’
As they moved towards the door of the hallway, Fidelma glanced at his stick. She frowned, trying to remember something about walking sticks. ‘You seem to have changed your stout blackthorn. Have you lost it?’
Prior Cuan chuckled. ‘I indulge myself by carrying two different sticks when I travel, lady. This one is good for use when I am within the abbey buildings or places such as this. It’s made of chestnut wood. But sometimes I use the other one. To be honest, it often depends which I have left nearer the door of my chamber when I leave it.’
As they left the hall, Prior Cuan glanced back in disapproval at Brother Tuaman, who was indulging in a goblet of some strong liquor as he gazed down at his fidchell pieces. Airmid re-seated herself opposite him, toying with her own drink. Outside, the prior paused and said: ‘I do not think that drinking intoxicating liquids figures in the austerity plans of those who subscribe to the Penitential rules.’
‘Abbot Segdae never approved of the Penitentials being adopted at Imleach,’ Fidelma commented. ‘It is difficult to believe Brother Tuaman when he said that our friend was considering making concessions on their use.’
‘Abbot Segdae was a wise man … I do not believe in the adoption of the Penitentials.’
‘Nannid argues that they should replace the Law of the Brehons.’
‘It was the very reason why Abbot Segdae agreed to lead this delegation to meet with Nannid. Indeed, it was why Segdae chose me to accompany him as adviser, for I have studied these Penitentials.’
‘I presume that you have heard how Nannid enforced his rules on the community here?’
Prior Cuan grimaced. ‘Nannid is fond of rank and authority. He is a vainglorious man and I am sure he would do anything for power. If he was sent into the wilderness for forty days and nights, within the first few minutes he would accept a deal with Lucifer and settle not even for all the kingdoms of the world but for a small part of a bogland.’
Fidelma answered him with a wan smile as she bade him good night. Then, ensuring that he had entered the guest-hostel where the delegation from Imleach was staying, she moved on towards her real objective. A bell was sounding from the Abbey of Nechta. It was time to play her part in the plan to rescue Gorman. She hoped that she would succeed. The guards were gathered at the main gates standing under the brand torches. There were sounds of music from the laochtech, the warriors’ quarters, where they were noisily entertaining themselves.
She passed the stone building in which Gorman had been incarcerated. It was entirely in darkness now that there were no other prisoners housed there. Fidelma paused and took a careful look around her, listening as well as examining the shadows with her sharp eyes. Satisfied, she moved swiftly to the tall wooden gates through which Gorman and Aibell had fled some days before. Now it was not to supply a means of exit that Fidelma had come there but the reverse – to ensure a means of entrance. The iron key was hanging on the wall to one side of the gate and Fidelma took this and eased it into the lock and turned it. Then she found the two bolts and drew them. To her relief, frequent use had made them draw easily and without a sound. She stood up and leaned against the wall for a few moments, breathing a little quickly after her exertions. She took the iron ring handle and pulled it towards her. The gate swung open a little. Then she pushed it back.
She had done her part now. All she could do was pray that no one came by and noticed that the bolts were not thrust home and that the gate was unlocked. She paused to replace the key on its hook before hurrying back across the courtyard towards the main buildings.
What she did not see, after she had left, were the two shadows emerging from the stables and coming to stand before the gate.
‘Interesting,’ Conri, warlord of the Ui Fidgente, remarked softly to his companion Ceit, the commander of the guard.
‘Interesting, indeed,’ nodded his comrade. ‘I presume that the lady has accepted the hint you gave her?’
‘I hope she has.’ Conri was thoughtful. ‘I can’t imagine how she will achieve it, but we’ll keep a watch on this gate tonight. I imagine that come dawn tomorrow we will be faced with more than a little excitement.’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The soft tolling of a bell came clearly through the night air. It sounded distinctly three times.
Etromma sprang to her feet with surprising agility for one of her age. ‘That’s the bell to mark the extinguishing of all lights in the community. It is time to prepare yourselves, lads.’
Enda rose with a studied languor, attempting to show how calm he was. ‘We are prepared enough,’ he said, easing his sword in its scabbard and checking the knife which hung in its leather sheath on his left side. He gazed at Eadulf critically. ‘I wish you had armed yourself with something more powerful than a blackthorn stick, friend Eadulf.’
He was referring to the weapon that Eadulf now clutched determinedly. It was a thick stick with a knob at one end, and it had been well tempered in the smoke of a fire until the stick was almost blackened. It had apparently belonged to Etromma’s dead husband. She had handed it to Eadulf to use when it became obvious that he was no swordsman and, indeed, was unsure of his resolve to kill a fellow human with sharp steel. As a member of the religious he had often tussled with the idea of turning the other check, rather than resorting to violence to prevent further injury or death at the hands of an aggressor. However, he had seen enough death recently to know that the men of Sliabh Luachra would have no compunction about using violence on him.