‘He did not show up,’ Tormeid said. ‘But while we were waiting, Brother Ailgesach did reveal his name. It was Bran Finn, the Prince of the Déisi Muman.’
‘So the fact that he did not show up was worrying to you both. Gelgéis had to return to Durlus to host the big harvest festival that had been arranged. That was why you parted company.’
Tormeid agreed. ‘We had gone a good way back to Durlus when I decided that I should return to Imleach, even to the Glen of Lunatics, to find out if I could get some news of Bran Finn. We met a merchant who told us about a place where I might get a boat back downriver. I thought I would travel that way in the guise of an itinerant bard. This would allow Gelgéis to take the horses back to Durlus. Alas, the ferry, with the tavern and chapel, had been destroyed. That spot was where you met me.’
‘What you did not know was that Bran Finn was already dead,’ Fidelma said sombrely.
Tormeid’s astonished expression confirmed it all.
‘His body lay not far from Fraigh Dubh,’ she went on. ‘He had been travelling there when he encountered his killer. The conspirators had learned that Bran Finn had visited his relative and was planning to take some evidence to Brother Ailgesach. They knew that this information — evidence of their conspiracy — would be passed on, so they had to make sure of two things. One, that Bran Finn would not supply the evidence he had discovered and, two, that Brother Ailgesach would pass on nothing else of what he knew about the Glen of Lunatics. Biasta was sent to Fraigh Dubh to ensure that Ailgesach’s voice was silenced. He succeeded, in spite of our being there, and he escaped with final instructions to the conspirators in Laigin.’
‘How did Cronán’s men find us on the riverbank and abduct us — and why did they think you were Gelgéis?’
‘Durlus is not isolated, my friends. Doubtless there were people willing to pass information on to Cronán. Spillán came here and was told that you had both gone south to Fraigh Dubh. He was riding south. In fact, you had turned off the main highway to get to the river and he nearly missed you. Sillán was told by the same merchant who had directed you where you had gone. The same merchant misinformed us about the location of the tavern by the river. Sillán did not know that you would part company with Gelgéis, who would go back to Durlus with the horses. But he did know that you would have to camp by the riverbank at that point because there would be few boats downriver until the next day. Sillán rode directly to a place where he had left some of his men and instructed them to abduct you and Gelgéis. They were to bring you to the sheds in Durlus where he waited. They were then to return with the captives to Cronán. The men were looking for you, whom they knew, and a female companion. They made an obvious mistake when they found us.’
‘It sounds complicated,’ commented Tormeid.
‘Events in life can be complicated,’ Fidelma sighed. ‘But this became simple once we found the thread to unravel it. Sillán’s men just made a mistake.’
‘Bran Finn was bringing proof of a conspiracy,’ Tormeid said. ‘Of a rising against Cashel — but by whom?’
‘By someone able to start a minor uprising — something that would distract attention away from what would eventually take place here in the east.’
‘When Bran Finn did not appear on the appointed night, Gelgéis had to return to Durlus otherwise questions would be asked, rumours would be spread,’ agreed Tormeid. ‘I decided to turn back to search for Bran Finn. When I met you, I was aware that the only other thing that Brother Ailgesach had told me about the conspiracy was that whoever was involved in overthrowing Colgú was someone close to the King. That was why I lied to you about who I was and, indeed, that was why Gelgéis did not help you at first.’
‘We needed to know who was leading these raids in the west and the links between them and Cronán. All Ailgesach could tell us was that a strange religieux from Osraige had been reported in the Glen of Lunatics,’ Gelgéis said. ‘He thought this person had brought gold to help recruit the raiders.’
Fidelma exhaled slowly. ‘That makes sense. And so this religieux, who was doubtless one of Cronán’s men, perhaps even his son, Sillán, supplied money to help start the unrest there.’
‘But all Brother Ailgesach could tell us was that there was some religious involvement. Sometimes, when he was in his cups, he said things which did not make sense. He talked about someone who had been chosen by the seventh angel to drive the impure of Faith from the land. He spoke much about the seventh trumpet, until we finally realised that it was a password among the conspirators.’
‘Why did he not reveal the name of the person who would lead the rebellion in the west?’ Gelgéis asked.
‘We did not even know at that time that Bran Finn was the person who would bring us information. We were not told by Brother Ailgesach until we went to Fraigh Dubh,’ said Tormeid. ‘As I say, that is why I lied to you and why Gelgéis was unhelpful, because you were the sister of King Colgú.’
Fidelma felt almost amused. ‘And you both suspected that I might be involved in this conspiracy?’
‘You would not be the first sibling to covet the other’s power and position,’ replied Gelgéis.
‘Why did you not go directly to Colgú with your suspicions?’ asked Eadulf.
‘And give warning to the conspirators who were trusted by him so that they had time enough to hide their tracks?’ Tormeid replied scornfully. ‘We needed more information.’
‘Now that you have confirmed that it was Bran Finn whom you were due to meet, I can tell you why he was involved,’ Fidelma announced.
They all regarded her with surprise.
The moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps hurrying down the stairs. A voice was calling for Gelgéis. The door burst open as Tormeid sprang to his feet, but it was Spealáin the steward who entered, followed by a breathless Éile warrior.
‘It’s one of our sentinels,’ gasped Spealáin. ‘He comes bearing alarming news.’
‘What news?’ snapped Gelgéis and Fidelma, rising in unison.
For a moment the man hesitated, glancing from one to another in surprise.
‘Speak, man!’ prompted Spealáin.
‘There is an army heading in this direction,’ the man gabbled. ‘I came to warn you.’
‘An army … from the east?’ demanded Gelgéis. ‘From Laigin?’
The man shook his head, rushing on: ‘Not from the east, lady; from the west. We think it is the rebel force that we have heard so much about. They will soon be in Durlus — and at the gates of the fortress.’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
It was not the rebel force that was approaching Durlus. It was a small company of warriors, no more than a ceta, 100 men, with Colgú and Caol, the commander of the King’s élite bodyguard, at their head. Enda and Aidan rode immediately behind, followed by the Chief Brehon of Muman, Brehon Áedo, together with Abbot Ségdae, the senior cleric of the kingdom.
As the column of horsemen trotted up to the gates of Gelgéis’s fortress, Gelgéis, Spealáin and Bishop Daig went forward to receive them as protocol demanded. The escorting warriors waited patiently on horseback outside the fortress while Colgú with his immediate entourage dismounted. Gelgéis welcomed the King first before stepping back to allow Fidelma to come forward to embrace her brother. Colgú acknowledged the assembly with an encompassing smile.
‘Enda and Aidan have told me the news,’ Colgú said immediately, before any questions were asked. ‘Dego and his warriors have gone to confront Cronán of Glean an Ghuail. Is there any more news of Fianamail and his Laigin men? Have they moved into Osraige yet?’