‘Cétach, the elder boy, at least, had been warned that Salbach was looking for them so when Salbach came here, Cétach pleaded with me not to mention him or his brother to the chieftain. Then they both disappeared.
‘While Midach now hid the children, Eisten went to book passage for them on a merchant ship in the bay. At first she chose the wrong ship — she asked a sailor who was from the Laigin warship captained by Mugrón. Unfortunately, Intatthen spotted Eisten. The rest of that tale we know. In spite of torture, Eisten would not tell where the children were and finally, in anger, Intat killed her. The children had to remain in hiding until Midach could get them safely away.’
Fidelma paused for her throat was now dry.
Barrán took the opportunity to address Midach.
‘Do you deny this story or any part of it?’
Midach sat, his arms folded, without expression.
‘I neither confirm nor deny it.’
The Chief Brehon turned back to Fidelma.
‘There is one point in your explanation that I do not follow. You have not dealt with Dacán’s death, which, as important as these events are, is the main cause of this action brought by Laigin.’
‘I will come to it, Barran,’ Fidelma assured him, coughing slightly as she attempted to clear her drying throat.
‘Midach was hiding the boys, Cétach and Cosrach, here in the abbey where he continues to hide them. I think that we can now bring them safely forth from the sepulchre of the Blessed Fachtna, for they will be under the protection of the High King. Is this not so?’
The question was directed to Sechnassach.
The High King returned Fidelma’s interrogative look with a brief smile.
‘They are so protected, Fidelma of Kildare.’
‘Midach, will you bring them forth?’
The physician rose unsteadily. He found difficulty speaking.
Fidelma decided to prompt him.
‘If you go to the statue of the cherub behind the High Altar and twist it one half turn to the left it will release the spring which pivots a flagstone.’ Midach’s mouth slackened in surprise.
‘How did you discover this?’ he demanded in consternation.
‘The steps beneath lead down to the secret sepulchre of the Blessed Fachtna, the founder of this abbey,’ went on Fidelma.‘It is there, since the death of Sister Eisten, that Cétach and Cosrach have been in hiding. Is that not so, Midach?’
Midach’s shoulders slumped in resignation.
‘It is even as she has said,’ he mumbled. ‘She seems to know everything.’
A couple of the High King’s guards moved at a gesture from Sechnassach and followed Fidelma’s instructions. A few moments later the two young black-haired lads were brought blinking from the underground tomb to stare in fear at the mighty assembly.
The Chief Brehon immediately sought to reassure them of their safety.
Forbassach was on his feet.
‘I must point out that we, of Laigin, have no wish to harm these boys … if they, indeed, are the sons of Illan.’
‘They are the sons of Illan,’ confirmed Fidelma. ‘And if their hair is washed clean of that black dye you will find two thatches of copper-coloured hair. Midach dyed their hair as an extra precaution when he took them to Sister Eisten. Isn’t that so?’
Midach seemed too dispirited to answer.
Forbassach was on his feet repeating himself.
‘We sought the heirs of Illan simply to identify them. To discover their whereabouts. The purpose of this was to offer our support for their claims and restore them to the kingship of Osraige. There is only one power here that would oppose that purpose — Cashel. As we have claimed all along, Cashel’s interest would be to destroy them. It was in Cashel’s interests to kill Dacán. We repeat our original claim, that Osraige be forfeit for the honour price of Dacán.’ He smiled towards the two young boys. ‘But as neither boy is anywhere near the age of choice, whereby he might be affirm as king, then the right of the kingship must devolve in the gift of Fearna.’
At once Colgú, ignoring the protocol of the court, was on his feet in anger.
‘Cashel is not at the centre of this claimed conspiracy to harmthese boys. Salbach admits that he is the culprit. For that Cashel shall punish him. The evil of the chieftain of the Corco Loígde is not to be put on the shoulders of Cashel!’
‘Yet Corco Loígde owes allegiance to Cashel,’ sneered Forbassach in reply. ‘What other shoulders but Cashel can the guilt rest on?’
Barrán held up both hands. His face showed dismay and there was irritation in his eyes.
‘That you both forget the protocol of this court is a matter of sadness. That you both persist in a squabble before me is a matter of penalty. Colgú, you are find one séd, the value of one milch cow, for not allowing your dálaigh to present your arguments. Forbassach, you are more guilty of an offence being not only trained in law but the advocate of your king. You shall be find one cumal, the value of three milch cows. If this occurs again the penalties shall not be so light.’
Barran gave everyone a moment to settle down again and instructed the two young boys be brought before the cos-na-dála.
‘Am I to understand that these boys are both under the age of choice?’ he asked, turning to Midach.
‘They are,’ agreed the physician, accepting his role as their foster-father.
‘Then we cannot give any weight to their evidence,’ sighed the Chief Brehon. ‘Nevertheless, we may call upon them but what they say, if contradicted by other evidence, may be discounted. This is the law.’
‘I am aware of this, Barrán,’ agreed Fidelma. ‘And, unless Forbassach insists, I have no wish to call them.’
‘I would prefer Sister Fidelma to deal with the specific matter of the murder of Dacán,’ replied Forbassach.
‘Then I shall do so,’ replied Fidelma. ‘It should be obvious now that Dacán’s death was essentially connected with the task that he had come to Ros Ailithir to perform. He was killed because it was thought he presented a threat. But let me pointthis out, that it is true that Dacán alive was worth more to Salbach than Dacán dead. So who, then, was Dacán a threat to? He was clearly a threat to the children of Illan, as I have said before.’
Forbassach was on his feet yet again.
‘And I have said, Laigin was no threat to these children. It sought to help them.’
‘But did the children know that?’
Fidelma’s question was sharp and left an uneasy silence.
She turned to Midach. The once-jocular physician looked tired and exhausted before her.
‘Dacán had been two months at the abbey researching before you learnt that he was looking for your foster children. When you discovered that you immediately set off to remove them from Sceilig Mhichil. You left here on the very night Dacán was killed, the night he wrote to inform his Brother Noé that he was leaving for Sceilig Mhichil.’
Barrán intervened, thinking to preempt Fidelma.
‘And did you kill Dacán, Brother Midach?’
‘Dacán was alive when I left the abbey,’ Midach replied quietly but firmly.
‘That is true,’ Fidelma affirmed quickly. The Chief Brehon raised his hands in protest.
‘How can you know that?’
‘Simple enough. We know that Dacan was killed around midnight. Certainly not before. Midach had to be on board his ship just after vespers in order to sail with the evening tide for Sceilig Mhichil. I checked the tides with the local sailors. If he had delayed then he could not have been able to sail until the following morning.’
‘Then who did kill Dacán?’ Barrán was totally perplexed.