Sure enough, from the field, came an answering cry, an awesome wailing sound.
Without further ado, not even so much as a glance in Eadulf s direction, the attacking wolf turned and loped over the stone boundary wall and away towards the field behind them.
Eadulf found himself still transfixed and the sweat was pouring from his brow. His staff was slippery in the palms of his hands.
It was Fidelma who moved first.
‘Come on, lest there be others of those creatures nearby. Let’s get to the safety of the township.’
When Eadulf did not move, she reached forward and tugged him by the sleeve.
He tried to collect his wits, turned and hurried after her in a rapid trot, now and then casting nervous glances across his shoulders.
‘But they are heading for the field where we left the …’
‘Of course!’ snapped Fidelma. ‘Why do you think the wolf abandoned its attack against us? Its mate — ’ her voice trembled slightly — ‘had found the carcass; found more easy prey than us. That was the meaning of those terrible cries between them. In death that poor man has saved us. Deo gratias!’
A feeling of nausea welled up in him as Eadulf realised what gruesome meal must now be being enjoyed by the well. Yet they could have been that meal. Fidelma could have been … He began to mutter, ‘Agnus Dei … 0 Lamb of God …’ It was the prayer in the office for the burial of the dead.
‘Save your breath,’ Fidelma interrupted irritably. ‘Honour the man’s sacrifice by being worthy of it and reaching safety.’
Eadulf fell silent, hurt by Fidelma’s curtness. He was, after all, more concerned with her safety than his own. However, he had realised, for the first time since he had known her, that she, too, could be inspired by fear.
They did not speak again until they had reached the edge of the township and went along the main street, quickly passing the glowing lamp of the tavern of Cred. There were a few people on the street but no one seemed to notice them until they came to the blacksmith’s forge.
In spite of the lateness of the hour, the smith was seated near to a glowing brazier which stood by his anvil. He was polishing a metal sword blade. He glanced up and recognised them.
‘I would have a care about being abroad after dark, lady,’ he greeted.
Fidelma halted before him. She had entirely recovered her composure now and returned his gaze evenly. ‘Why so?’
The smith cocked his head to one side in a listening attitude. ‘Have you not heard them, lady?’
In the stillness of the evening the sounds of the baying wolves came faintly to their ears.
‘Yes, we’ve heard them.’ Her voice was tight.
The smith nodded slowly. He did not cease in his polishing. ‘I have never known them nearer to the township,’ he observed. ‘I would hurry back to the abbey, if I were you.’
He bent to his task as if engrossed. Then he raised his head again. ‘I think, as bó-aire of the township, I shall have to call a hunt tomorrow to flush these brutes out from their lairs.’
It was not unusual for a local chieftain, or even a prince or the King himself, to organise a wolf hunt in order to keep the numbers of the savage beasts at an acceptable level. Yet it seemed to Eadulf that there was some other meaning behind the man’s words. He wondered whether he was right or whether he was hearing things which were not there due to the emotion of the evening’s events.
Fidelma left the smith without another word and began to walk towards the tall, dark walls of the abbey, along the path by the great yew-tree. Eadulf hurried after her. Once out of earshot, he articulated his thoughts.
‘Do you think that he had some hidden meaning in his words?’
‘I do not know. Perhaps not. At this stage I think we should be prepared for anything.’
‘What is our next course of action?’
‘I think that should be obvious now.’
Eadulf pondered for a moment or two.
‘Cred, I suppose? We must question her again.’
Fidelma’s voice was approving in the gloom. ‘Excellent. Yes, we must go and have another word with Cred because if Samradán’s driver was correct, that innkeeper knows more of this than she has told us.’
‘Well, I think the solution is clear.’
Eadulf sounded so positive that Fidelma was surprised.
‘You have solved our puzzle already, Eadulf?’ There was a faint sarcasm in her voice which he did not detect. ‘That is clever of you.’
‘Well, you heard what the driver said. The archer was receiving instructions from a prince. Are there so many princes who are enemies of Cashel?’
‘Many,’ she replied dryly. ‘Though I do confess that the Uí Fidgente did spring to mind. But we cannot accuse Donennach merely on thefact that the driver heard the archer address a man as rígdomna. Many princes would like to see the Eóghanacht fall from power. The greatest enemy of the Eóghanacht are the Uí Néill, particularly Mael Dúin of the northern Uí Néill, the King of Ailech. Their enmity goes back to the time of the ancestor of the Gaels Mile Easpain. His sons Eber and Eremon fought over the division of Eireann. Eber was killed by the followers of his brother Eremon. It is from Eremon that the Uí Néill claim their descent.’
Eadulf was impatient. ‘This I know. And the Eóghanacht of the south claim their descent from Eber. But do you really think that Cashel is threatened by the Uí Néill of the north?’
‘That which grows in the bone is hard to drive out of the flesh,’ observed Fidelma as they came to the gate of the abbey and paused.
‘I don’t understand,’ protested Eadulf.
‘The Uí Néill have spent over a millennium hating the Eóghanacht and envying them their kingdom.’
The monk in attendance at the gate was Brother Daig, the fresh-faced youth they had seen earlier. He seemed happy to see them.
‘Thanks be to God that you are safely returned. I have been listening to the cries of the wolves in the hills these last two hours or more. It is not an evening to be without shelter.’
He drew the gate shut behind them.
‘We have heard them as well,’ Eadulf observed dryly.
‘You should be aware that there are many wolves in the woods and fields around here,’ Brother Daig went on good-naturedly. ‘They can be very dangerous.’
Eadulf was just about to rejoin that he was all too well aware of it when he caught Fidelma’s warning glance.
‘You are most considerate, Brother,’ she said. ‘We will have a care the next time we venture abroad at dusk.’
‘There is cold food in the refectory, Sister, if you have not eaten,’ the young monk continued. ‘As the hour is late I am afraid that you have missed the hot food.’
‘It is of no consequence. Brother Eadulf and I will go to the refectory. Thank you for being so solicitous. It is most appreciated.’
As they continued towards the refectory Eadulf whispered: ‘Should we not go to question Cred after our meal?’
‘As Brother Daig has said, the hour is late. Cred will keep until tomorrow. As soon as I have eaten I intend to go to bed and rest. It has been an exhausting day. We can start that task directly after breakfast.’
Chapter Twelve
It was the sound of war horns that awoke Fidelma only moments before Sister Scothnat, the domina of the guests’ hostel bust into her chamber, crying in a loud and fearful voice.
‘Rise and prepare to defend yourself, lady, we are under attack.’
Fidelma sprung up in a moment of panic, now fully aware of the blaring horns and distant cries and screams. She started from her bed and struggled in the shadows to light a candle. The flickering light revealed Sister Scothnat standing at her chamber door, wringing her hands and weeping distractedly.