He moved forward, holding the candle carefully, and leant over the edge of the trapdoor.
There were steps leading down to a small stone-walled room which was no higher than a tall man. It was about eight feet by eight feet in its dimensions. There was a straw palliasse in one corner. There was little else except … staring up at them with wide eyes above a gag, bound hand and foot, were the unmistakable features of Brother Bardán.
With an exclamation of surprise, Eadulf slipped down the steps followed by Fidelma.
While he held the candle, Fidelma reached for a knife in her marsupium and cut at the monk’s wrist bonds and then removed his gag. While he breathed deeply, she severed the bonds around his ankles.
‘Well now, Brother Bardan, what are you doing here?’ she greeted almost jovially.
Brother Bardán was still trying to adjust to being unrestricted in his breathing. He coughed and gasped. Finally he found his voice.
‘Samradán! That evil …’
He paused and frowned at Fidelma and Eadulf.
‘How much do you know?’
‘We have seen Brother Mochta and he has told us about your involvement in his … er, disappearance. I presume that you were on your way through the secret tunnels to see Brother Mochta when you met up with Samradán?’
Brother Bardan nodded swiftly. ‘I was going to fetch Brother Mochta to bring him to the Prince of Cnoc Aine. He had promised to give us protection.’
‘So, you had informed my cousin, Finguine, where Brother Mochta and the Holy Relics were?’
‘Not exactly. I saw Finguine at the midnight Angelus and told him that I knew where Brother Mochta was hiding with the Holy Relics and the reason why — because he feared for their safety and his own life.’
‘Did you mention that he was hiding in a cave?’
‘Not the specific cave. I promised Finguine that I would fetch Brother Mochta and bring him to Finguine at a certain place on the following morning.’
‘I saw you speaking with Finguine in the abbey chapel that night,’ Eadulf recalled.
‘What exactly was arranged between you?.’ asked Fidelma.
‘I agreed that Finguine would protect the Relics and escort Mochta to Cashel.’
That explained why she had seen Finguine and his men in the woods but why had he been in the company of Solam?
‘Did Finguine say anything to you about letting Solam in on this secret?’ she asked.
‘Solam? The dálaigh of the Uí Fidgente? I did my best to mislead him.’
‘You told him about the crucifix.’
‘It was nothing he did not know or could not learn.’
‘And you falsely identified the severed forearm as being that of Brother Mochta to mislead us?’
‘I knew you and Solam were searching for Mochta. We needed time to work out what we should do, Mochta and I. Who could we trust? When I explained matters to Finguine, he understood.’
‘And you trusted Finguine rather than I?’
Brother Bardan was self-conscious.
‘Do not tax yourself, Bardan. Mochta has told me why you were not forthcoming with me. Silly but I suppose it is understandable. It appears that you trust me now?’
‘Samradán and his men said enough to make me believe that we had made a mistake in not trusting you.’
‘Samradán! Yes; tell us how you came to be imprisoned here?’ Eadulf demanded.
‘To fulfil my promise to Finguine, I rose early and was hastening through the tunnel to Brother Mochta, in order to bring him to the rendezvous with Finguine, when I reached a chamber where there are two passages …’
‘We know it,’ interrupted Fidelma. ‘Go on.’
For a moment, Brother Bardan looked startled. ‘You know it …?’ He caught himself. His questions could be answered later. ‘Well, when I reached there, I heard a noise in the other tunnel. I remember starting to go towards it. I feared for Mochta’s safety and thought he had been discovered … then nothing. I think I was hit on the head and knocked unconscious because my head is still very sore.’
‘You mentioned Samradan?’ pressed Fidelma.
‘Yes. I came to, bound and gagged, even as you found me, but I was lying under a tarpaulin in the back of a wagon. It was moving, bumping and rocking along a roadway. I remember hearing Samradán’s voice. I know it well enough from the times he had stayed at the abbey.’
‘Go on,’ urged Eadulf.
‘I slipped back into unconsciousness for a while. Then I came to again and, after some time, the wagoners stopped and I would say it was after noonday. They had stopped for food. That was when I heard them heartily cursing you and the Saxon brother for interfering and altering their plans. Then I heard a strange thing.’
‘Strange, in what way?’ encouraged Fidelma when he paused.
‘There came the sound of horses, obviously coming up to where Samradan and his men were halted. I heard Samradan being greeted by name by someone who was obviously the leader of the horsemen. I did not recognise the voice. I can tell you that it was not a man of Muman who spoke. It was tinged with northern accents.
‘Well, after the exchange of greetings I heard someone fiddling with the tarpaulin. I lay back with my eyes closed. A hand shook me and I continued to breathe deeply and not respond. A voice said: “He’s stillunconscious. We can speak freely.” Then the tarpaulin was replaced and I could still hear their voices.’
‘What was said?’
‘Samradán started to bemoan that the attack had destroyed the smith’s forge and he would have to find a new means of reducing the ore to silver. I have no idea what he meant. The man to whom he was speaking simply chuckled. He said that it could not be helped. Samradán’s illegal activities were no concern of his nor of the Comarb. Samradán protested and said that the rígdomna approved of them and that he acted under his protection. The other rejoined that so far as he knew, Samradan was just a messenger between the rígdomna and the Comarb.’
Fidelma leant forward eagerly. ‘Both men referred to the “rígdomna”?’
‘Yes. The man said that whatever Samradán was doing, it was no concern of his. He had his orders. He was answerable only to the power of the Comarb … At that moment they moved on out of the range of my hearing.’
Fidelma gave a repressed groan of annoyance. ‘And you are certain that the title of Comarb was mentioned?’ she persisted.
Brother Bardan was not offended by her question but said quietly: ‘Do you think that I do not know the significance of that title? There are only two Comarb in all the five kingdoms — the Comarb of Ailbe and the Comarb of Patrick.’
Eadulf whistled softly as he suddenly understood why Fidelma was so tense.
‘What happened then?’ Fidelma said, after a moment. ‘Did you hear more?’
‘After a while, I heard the riders leaving. A short time passed and the tarpaulin was flung aside. It was Samradán and I had no time to feign unconsciousness again. Samradán took off the gag and threatened to replace it if I said anything. He then gave me drink and some food and replaced the gag immediately afterwards. Doubtless, he thought I had only just recovered and had not heard the meeting with the horsemen. He replaced the tarpaulin. Time passed and off we went again.
‘It was a terrible journey. I sensed rather than felt it was nightfall. Everything was dark. The wagons stopped. I dozed fitfully. There was no movement at all. Now and then I awoke and thought that I heard voices. There was some movement and at one point, I thought I heard your voice, Sister Fidelma.’
Fidelma grimaced bitterly. ‘You did. You were stopped in an inn at the Well of Ara and spent the night until dawn. Then Samradan and his wagons came on here. I must have been within a few feet of you last night.’
Brother Bardan regarded her with curiosity.