For a moment the girl stared at him in incomprehension. It was Fidelma who felt that she had to try to explain. ‘No one is above the law, Dúnliath, not even a king. A king is there because the people appointed him, and he can only remain king as long as he has their approval. He is there by the will of the people.’
The girl shrugged, saying, ‘I have no understanding of such things. But I find Brother Eadulf speaks in amusing fashion. In truth, you must come to a feasting and entertain me with tales of your strange land. You will be better entertainment than a simple gleeman.’
Eadulf looked outraged but Fidelma gave him a warning look.
‘We must be off,’ she said coolly. ‘Doubtless, we shall see you later.’
She turned and walked down the steps to the courtyard and Eadulf hurried after her. As they walked over the flags towards the area of the stables, he could not restrain himself.
‘It is not my place to criticise, but-’ he began.
Fidelma cut him short. ‘De gustibus non est disputandum,’ she said. The words literally meant ‘about tastes there is no disputing’. She felt a little guilty as she said it because it was her brother’s tastes to which she was referring.
Eadulf thought for a moment. ‘I suppose that it is better not to argue about matters of personal preference, but I have no understanding of the attraction apart from the physical.’
They came to the stables and found Ailill. The handsome young warrior hailed them with a broad smile.
‘Greetings, cousin Fidelma. I did not expect to find you here. When did you arrive?’
‘We have only just come,’ returned Fidelma. ‘I observe that you still travel with Drón and his retinue?’
‘You sound disapproving, cousin,’ the young man said. ‘But he was my fosterer and raised me as a warrior, and so I am beholden to him. I command his small bodyguard.’
‘I did not mean to sound critical of your motives. We do not seem to have had much time to get to know one another.’
‘Doubtless we shall see more of each other, cousin, after the Lady Dúnliath marries your brother.’
‘Doubtless,’ she echoed, trying to keep the lack of enthusiasm for such an event from her voice. ‘We are actually looking for Drón and were told that he was in the stables.’
‘He was here earlier but left.’
‘Do you know where he has gone?’
‘I regret I do not, cousin. But I do not think he has left the fortress. Perhaps he is resting in his chamber. Is there anything that I can help you with?’
Fidelma thought for a moment and then told him: ‘I was surprised that you left Cashel in case of attack from the band of raiders. You must know how strong the defences of Cashel are. I would think that it was the safest place in the kingdom. That was why it perplexes me, to see you here seeking shelter at Durlus.’
Ailill sighed. ‘If the truth were known, cousin, I think the suggestion came from Drón himself. I agree that we would have been safer in Cashel than here, but Drón seemed to get it into his head that there was some rebellion against Colgú. But, after all, what need we fear of a band of religious fanatics, raiders out of the Glen of Lunatics, led by a crazed old woman? However, Drón is a father and is fearful for his daughter’s safety …’
‘Lady!’ One of the guards from the gate came trotting up, apparently looking for her.
‘What is it?’ She turned, distracted for the moment.
‘A man has left an urgent message for you at the gate.’
‘A message — for me? Is he at the gate now?’
‘He left it a short time ago, lady.’
‘Why was I not informed before?’ she asked crossly.
The warrior flushed. ‘Because you were then with the Lady Gelgéis and I could not disturb you. It is only now that I was told you were in the stables.’
‘Very well,’ she said in a conciliatory tone. She glanced back to apologise to Ailill but found that he was already walking over towards the main buildings. She turned to the guard. ‘What is this message and who left it?’
‘The message was simple, but he made me repeat it. It was that you should go to the shed where you were left and meet with him. The man said that he would wait there until midday and no longer. You should go there by yourself if you wanted to learn the secret of Liath Mór. He emphasised that part — that you should come alone, otherwise you would learn nothing. Those were his words and beyond that I have no understanding of them.’
She was examining the guard carefully. His features were without guile. He had delivered the message woodenly as if reciting it by heart.
‘And did this man have a name or a description?’ she prompted.
‘He was man of medium height, clad in a long grey cloak and a cowl over his head that made any close description impossible.’
‘Had you seen this person before?’
‘Not to my knowledge, lady. That is all I know. Is something wrong? Should I report this matter to Spealáin, the steward?’
‘You have done your duty,’ she replied. ‘That will be all.’
‘This is a trap if ever I heard one,’ Eadulf said when the guard had returned to his position. ‘It is one of Cronán’s men.’
‘It could also be one of the daer-fuidir who has escaped with some information; although it does sound more like a trap. On balance, there is enough bait to make the chance worthwhile.’ Fidelma made her decision. ‘Come — let’s find Gormán,’ she said. ‘We shall go and meet this person, but on our own terms.’
Gormán was easily found, in a tavern at the corner of the market square.
‘What do you intend, lady?’ he asked after she had explained the situation.
‘You said that this shed was directly across the river, opposite the wooden quays of the town?’ Fidelma asked. ‘I am afraid I have little remembrance of such details when you rescued me.’
‘You are right, lady. That is probably why this man, whoever he is, has chosen the spot. From that shed he will see you coming across the river and will thereby ensure that you are alone.’
‘Is there any other place where I could cross unseen?’
It was Eadulf who pointed out that where they had recrossed the river and taken Fidelma back to Gobán’s forge, was at the south end of the town. Here, the river curved so that any boat crossing there would be obscured from the hut.
‘That settles it,’ she announced. ‘I shall get a boat and cross from the jetty directly to the hut. I shall be alone.’
‘Alone? That’s inviting trouble,’ Eadulf protested.
‘You two must already be across the river and come up on the hut through the trees that surround it,’ she said. ‘Then I shall cross. We do not want our friend to be able to slip away. Understood?’
‘How long will you give us to get into position before you cross?’ Gormán was ever the practical strategist.
‘I’ll wait on this side of the river until I hear two short blasts from your hunting horn, Gormán. Don’t sound it too near the huts so as to alarm our friend. I want him to think that you are just someone hunting in the forests beyond.’
The warrior agreed. As they rose to leave, Eadulf leaned forward and placed his hand on her arm. ‘For Alchú’s sake be careful, if not for mine.’
She looked back at him. ‘I’ll be careful for all our sakes, Eadulf,’ she replied solemnly.
It took Fidelma a while to explore the quays along the river of the township before she discovered a boatman who had a suitable little craft carved out of a single piece of oak. The owner made no fuss about letting her borrow it. She rowed downriver to the spot nearly opposite the collection of huts on the other bank and pretended to be checking something in the bottom of the boat. Thus she was able to delay until she heard the two short blasts from a horn somewhere in the woods behind the huts. Then she began to row across the river, judging its flow so that she was not swept too far downstream. She was near the bank, her eyes focused carefully on the huts, when it happened almost too quickly to follow.