‘Very well,’ Fidelma said. ‘Let us return to Cashel. How did you earn the screpall?’
The dwarf shrugged. ‘I was simply asked to take a message to the palace — that would be the palace of your brother, lady. I was to find a woman called Sárait and convey the message that her sister needed to see her urgently. That was all.’
‘How was it that you were chosen to take this message?’
‘I was walking through the square of the township, it was dusk, and I had barely arrived in the place. There was little to see, so I went straight to the inn. I was approaching it when a hound bounded out at me.’ The dwarf sounded bitter. ‘It frequently happens. Often it is no accident. People can be cruel. They will release their hounds on purpose. Anyway, a woman called it off. She was standing in the shadows by the inn. Then she spoke to me. She offered me a screpall if I would take a message to the palace. I was to ask for a nursemaid called Sárait and tell her that Gobnat wanted to see her at once and urgently. I think it was her way of compensating me for the action of her hound. Well, it was too early for sleep, and I did not want to draw comment on myself by going into the inn at that time. Above all a screpall was a screpall’
‘Did the woman see you were dressed as a leper?’
‘I’d given up that part for the moment as I wanted to eat in comfort in the inn.’
‘You say this woman was in the shadows of the inn?’
‘By the inn. Just outside.’
‘Did she tell you why she was unable go herself to the palace with the message?’
‘I did not ask when money was offered.’
‘How did you deliver this message?’
‘She told me that the guards at the palace would ask too many questions. I should pretend that I was a mute. Well, I have acted mutes before. But I asked her how I could tell the guards who I wanted to see if I was to be a mute. It seems that she was already prepared. She pulled a piece of bark from her marsupium and handed it to me. It had writing on it.’
‘What did it say exactly?’
‘It said, “I am sent to see Sárait.” Something like that. I can’t swear to the exact words.’
‘And the guard passed you through the gate when you showed it to him?’
‘He did.’
‘How did you convey the idea that you were mute?’
The dwarf laughed. ‘How does any player convey concepts but with mime?’
‘How did you find Sárait?’
‘I had been instructed by the guard how to find her chamber. No one bothered me and I found it. She was alone so I was able to tell her the message.’
‘Which was?’
‘As I have said, that she should not delay but go at once to her sister for she needed to see her urgently.’
‘That was all?’
‘That was the message.’
‘How would you have delivered the message had you found that Sárait was not alone?’ Eadulf interrupted. ‘And you pretending that you were mute?’
Forindain grimaced wearily. ‘Then I had to use my own judgement. But she was alone and so I told her. I can also read and write, you know.’ His voice was slightly patronising. ‘We players are quite literate.’
‘Did you wait to accompany the woman, Sárait, back to the village?’ Fidelma asked.
Forindain shook his head immediately. ‘I had earned my screpall and went back to the inn. I was tempted to use it for a good room there but I didn’t.’
Fidelma sighed deeply. ‘So you went back to the inn after delivering the message?’
‘I had corma and a bowl of soup. I saw some pilgrims, and heard them talking about walking to Imleach. Then I left and went to one of the barns. It was less expensive than the inn. I found a warm place among the straw. I did not wake until I heard the noise of people in the yard. I saw some warriors speaking with the pilgrims. They left. I spoke to the leader of the pilgrims and he accepted me as a travelling companion. I had a short time to look round the township and then I joined them as they set off on the highway. At that stage, I decided to play the leper’s part again as it is fine for travelling on the road but no so good in getting accommodation and food.’
‘But you heard nothing? There was no outcry?’
‘Outcry?’ The dwarf rubbed his chin. ‘There was, as I say, some fuss and some warriors seem to be searching for someone. I did not enquire too closely what it was about. I was into my leper’s role at the time so did not really speak to anyone. What am I supposed to have done?’
There was a pause and then Fidelma nodded to Eadulf who answered: ‘When Sárait left the palace, she walked to meet her murderer.’
Forindain blinked rapidly.
‘I did not kill her. I did not know her. What I said is true,’ he said.
‘There is more,’ interrupted Fidelma. ‘She was nurse to my baby and, finding no one to look after it, she carried the child with her. Since then, my baby has vanished.’
The little dwarf moaned a little.
‘I … I was not involved in this. I simply carried a message, lady. I was not part of it…’
Fidelma did not bother to reassure him.
‘I am concerned with the woman who gave you the message to take to Sárait.’
‘I told you, she was Sárait’s sister. It is she that you should be questioning.’
Fidelma regarded him thoughtfully.
‘Sarait’s sister has denied that she sent any such message. Describe this woman, so that I may compare the description.’
‘I have said, it was nearly dusk and she kept herself in the shadow of the inn.’
‘She kept in the shadows the entire time?’
Forindain considered.
‘She did come nearly into the circle of light once. That was when she gave me the note. But she had a cloak with a hood covering her features. I had the impression that she was shapely, small of stature… for a woman of normal growth, that is,’ he corrected himself. ‘Her voice was not that of a young girl. I remember…’ Forindain was suddenly excited. ‘In the light of the lantern I had a momentary glimpse of the colours of her cloak, which I thought unusual for someone to wear in such a time and at such a place.’
‘Unusual?’ queried Eadulf. ‘How so?’
‘It was a long mantle of green silk with a hood that covered her features, as I have said. And the green silk was enriched with red embroidery. The cloak was fastened with a clasp that seemed to be silver and bejewelled. I noticed she had rings on her fingers when she handed me the money but I felt those by touch and did not see them.’
Eadulf glanced questioningly at Fidelma but she seemed lost in thought.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘that certainly is not a description of Sárait’s sister. She is rather dowdy in her dress.’
Fidelma looked up from her reverie, returning his gaze for a moment.
‘Did you expect that it would be?’ she asked.
‘It merely eliminates her from involvement, that is all,’ he protested.
‘I had nothing to do with any murder, lady,’ Forindain was saying again. He was nervous and kept clutching his hands together in front of him.
‘This woman was waiting in the shadows to get someone to take a message to the palace,’ Fidelma mused. ‘It seems that it was fortuitous that you happened to come along and be willing to take the message.’
‘Fortuitous? What do you mean?’
‘How would she know that you would be there?’
The dwarf grimaced sourly. ‘Maybe she was a fortune teller,’ he snapped. ‘How would I know that?’
Suddenly Fidelma gently smiled at him.
‘Will your band of players, the crossan, continue on your travels?’ she asked, apparently changing the subject. ‘Will you now go on to Cashel?’