‘Maybe the blow could have been delivered with the wooden shaft?’ Fidelma suggested.
‘Had it been so, this staff would not have been sufficient to knock senseless a warrior like Gorman.’
‘Because?’ queried Fidelma, peering closely at the wooden staff. She realised what he meant even before he explained.
‘The wood of the staff is a thin yew and would have shown some degree of damage from such an impact. To knock Gorman out would have taken something harder – perhaps a cudgel or a stick.’
By the time they descended to the lower floor, it seemed that Brother Tuaman had departed. Eadulf saw that Fidelma was deep in thought so he did not speak as they walked back towards the main building of the fortress. It was only when a bell rang out briefly that Eadulf broke the silence.
‘Where now?’ he asked. ‘Should we not go to see Gorman?’
To his surprise, Fidelma shook her head, glancing towards the sun. ‘I think that was the bell for the etar-shod, the midday meal. We will attend to that before we speak with Gorman. I need a little more time to digest things.’
‘It does not look good for him, does it?’ Eadulf sighed.
‘There are some things that need more consideration,’ she replied in a solemn tone. ‘Several questions that need an answer.’
‘We spoke about a lack of motivation,’ Eadulf said. ‘That is a matter we must pursue with Gorman after we have had our meal.’
‘He does not admit to the act, let alone confess to a motivation,’ Fidelma said rather impatiently.
‘You misunderstand. I meant that …’ But Eadulf realised that he did not know what he meant, only that he felt at a loss; unable to see any other explanation.
Several of the household and guests were assembled in the great hall and were sitting down to the light midday meal. Fidelma went to Brehon Faolchair and handed him back the key with a smile of thanks before she joined Eadulf and they seated themselves at the table. Prince Donennach was absent, as was his sister. But Abbot Nannid and his steward were there, along with Prior Cuan. Conri entered and seated himself beside Fidelma.
‘How is the investigation proceeding, lady?’ he asked in a hopeful tone but lowering his voice so that Abbot Nannid at the far end of the table did not hear.
‘Slow and difficult,’ she confessed.
‘Was Airmid helpful?’
‘So far as she was able.’
‘She is a handsome woman, is she not?’ he sighed. ‘Alas, she is too involved in the healing arts to take notice of the warlord of her people.’ There was more than a touch of regret in Conri’s voice.
‘I thought as heir-apparent to Donennach that she was deeply involved in governance as well as her medical work?’
‘Not really. The Ui Fidgente bloodline of Oengus survives only in Donennach and his sister. Most of them were killed when Eoganan and his evil family declared themselves rulers. They were almost wiped out, as you know, when your brother defeated and slew Eoganan on Cnoc Aine. Donennach became ruler as a popular choice. There was no one of consequence to name as his heir-apparent but Airmid. She says it will only be temporary until Donennach’s son Ercc grows to manhood and proves himself worthy to take over. Ercc is undergoing his education among the Corco Duibhne and not yet at the age of choice.’
‘What if Airmid marries and has her own children?’ asked Eadulf.
Conri’s smile grew bitter. ‘She says that one bad marriage was enough for her.’
‘Then she has been married?’
‘Many years back,’ he said. ‘Donennach and the family disapproved of the choice, for the man was unworthy. However, Airmid is a determined woman and she had to find out the hard way. Donennach was trying to get her to divorce the man.’
‘On what grounds?’
‘Oh, that he beat her. She once appeared with a blemish on her face where he had struck her. Donennach ordered her to take her coibhe, the dowry, and leave, demanding full compensation according to law.’
‘And did she?’
‘It was unnecessary, for the husband was then reported killed at the battle of Cnoc Aine, but-’
He was cut short by a guard entering the great hall together with Enda, who was looking strangely agitated. There was something in his stance that caused the warlord to excuse himself, then rise and hasten over to him. Conri bent his head to listen to the guard’s urgent whispering. Fidelma saw a worried expression cross the warlord’s features and he turned towards Brehon Faolchair and beckoned to him. The Brehon immediately rose and went to join the warlord. It was clear that something had happened.
Brehon Faolchair stood still for a moment listening, his face a mirror of the warlord’s grim expression. Then he shook his head from side to side as if in disbelief as he returned to the table.
‘A problem?’ queried Prior Cuan, looking up.
Brehon Faolchair looked straight towards Fidelma, addressing her with a voice that was now very grave.
‘I am afraid that the attempt to buy time with a new investigation of Abbot Segdae’s murder has come to nothing, lady,’ he said tightly. ‘There can be no point in renewing the hearing, for Gorman has now demonstrated his complete guilt.’
Fidelma felt apprehensive as she returned the Brehon’s angry gaze. ‘What has happened?’ she asked.
‘Gorman has escaped from his cell and fled the fortress with the woman, Aibell.’
CHAPTER SEVEN
After Brehon Faolchair and Conri had left the great hall and the clamour that had greeted the Brehon’s outburst had subsided, Fidelma asked Enda what exactly had taken place.
‘It is very confusing.’ It was unusual for her to see the phlegmatic young man so utterly at a loss. ‘This morning, as you know, I went with Ciarnat and saw Aibell to pass on your message. We were then allowed to visit Gorman in his cell. It was true that he and Aibell had been fretting because you had not visited or contacted them since our arrival. Gorman was morose, of course, but seemed thankful when I gave him your message and assured him that you were doing everything to help him.’
‘So what has gone wrong?’ Eadulf demanded.
‘I don’t know. Gorman was vehement that he was innocent but relieved that matters were now in your hands; he was anxious to speak with you. After that, Ciarnat and I left him. I did not bother to come and find you afterwards as there was no need. Your message had been passed on. I went to the barracks and was chatting to some of the warriors there. You can learn much in a barracks when warriors are relaxing and speaking freely.’
‘Probably so,’ Eadulf agreed. ‘But when did you learn about the escape?’
‘Just now. I was in the barracks when a guard came in looking as if he had been in a fight. I recognised him as the guard from the prison. He shouted that the prisoner had escaped. Some of the men leaped to their feet and went haring off to give chase. I could not believe the guard meant Gorman, so I asked him what had happened. As he helped himself to a jug of corma, he told me that the prisoner’s woman, Aibell, had come with a meal. As he bent to open the cell door, he was knocked sprawling by a blow from behind and was rendered unconscious. When he came to, the prisoner and the woman had disappeared.’
‘Is he saying that Aibell knocked him out?’ Fidelma sounded sceptical.
‘The commander of the guard came in at that moment and I hurried here to find you but was overtaken by him – hence we arrived together in the hall.’
‘Have Gorman and Aibell been caught? You say the warriors set off when the guard sounded the alarm. It would be hard to leave the fortress without being seen or to hide without being discovered.’
‘I do not know, lady.’
‘Where is Ciarnat?’
‘That, also, I do not know.’
Fidelma put her hand to her head in disbelief. ‘I do not understand it. Of all the stupid things to do!’ She moved quickly to the doors of the hall, with Eadulf and Enda in her wake. ‘Come, let us follow Conri and Faolchair,’ she called over her shoulder. ‘Whatever possessed Gorman to do this? Things were difficult enough but now this action has made them impossible.’