‘Not that we have heard. I have sent to Tara to alert the High King and his Brehon,’ Fidelma replied briskly.
‘That is good,’ said Colgú, wiping some of the dust of travel from his brow.
‘I don’t think that Laigin is our immediate worry,’ she continued. ‘Fianamail knows that he must have a good excuse to invade Muman if he wishes to avoid retribution from the High King. Laigin is already under the restriction of the bórama, the cow tribute. If he acts precipitously, he will find himself having to pay tribute to Tara, which is not what he wants. I think he wants to be able to claim that Laigin warriors entered this kingdom legitimately to resolve a civil conflict in Muman that made it unstable as a neighbour.’
‘We can agree on that,’ Gelgéis added. ‘We have been discussing this and conclude that Cronán was trying to construct some civil conflict and is in a conspiracy with Laigin to use it as an excuse for Fianamail to enter the kingdom.’
‘That’s right.’ Fidelma nodded. ‘And the purpose of that conspiracy is to replace you as King with some Laigin lackey.’
‘Well, the rebels in the west have been defeated, as will Cronán be shortly. We have captured their leader,’ Colgú said wearily.
‘You have captured Étain of An Dún?’ Fidelma asked quietly.
Colgú’s eyes widened a little. ‘So you already realised that she was their leader?’
‘I had worked it out. The young noble who was killed near Cashel was Bran Finn of the Déisi Muman. Had I met him when he visited Cashel I would have recognised his body and resolved this matter that much more quickly. Bran Finn had visited Cashel on his way to Imleach and then the Glen of Lunatics, which is looked after by members of the abbey. He was taking money for the upkeep of a kinswoman being held in the glen. It was in that same glen that Brother Ailgesach spent those years looking after the inmates; the same place which drove him to drink, to deal with the horrors of that task. There was only one noblewoman of the Déisi who had been recently incarcerated there.’
‘You are right, sister,’ Colgú confirmed. ‘The so-called rebel army was a ragtail of bandits, thieves and misfits, and a smattering of those who will serve anyone for money or loot. They were the dregs who fled almost as soon as Dego’s warriors confronted them. But when he saw who was leading them, he sent for me. She and some of her more fanatical followers had fled into the mountains. I left Cashel with a few warriors to join him and we quickly flushed them out of their lairs.’
‘So you have taken her captive?’ pressed Fidelma.
‘We have her captive,’ confirmed Colgú. ‘But from what Enda tells us about Cronán’s fortress, I estimate that it will need more than a full cath, a battalion of three thousand, to tackle the task of reducing that place. The longer the siege, the more justified Fianamail will be in claiming a right to intercession.’
Tormeid moved forward. ‘It is no use attacking against the gates and the walls. But I can make it simple for your men to take the fortress with the minimum loss of life.’
Colgú turned to him with a questioning look. ‘And you are …?’ he asked.
‘This is Tormeid,’ Fidelma explained. ‘He is a warrior of the Uí Duach who was held prisoner in Cronán’s fortress where he was forced to help build it. He knows underground passages that will lead our warriors into the very heart of Cronán’s fortress. He escaped and now serves the Lady Gelgéis.’ She smiled at Tormeid and told her brother: ‘You may trust him implicitly, Colgú.’
‘And you will also find Uí Duach prisoners in the fortress who, given the chance, will turn on their captors,’ added Tormeid.
Colgú regarded the young man for a moment. ‘Are you prepared to take my men into the fortress through the underground passage?’
‘I am,’ Tormeid answered resolutely.
‘Then Muman and I will be ever in your debt,’ Colgú said, holding out his hand to the young warrior. A moment later, he threw off his fatigue and became filled with new energy. ‘Enda, accompany Tormeid here to join Dego and our men. They are south of the Suir and marching towards Liath Mór even as we speak.’ As Enda and Tormeid left without a further word, Colgú turned to Gelgéis: ‘Lady, forgive me, but I must request your hospitality of Durlus for my entourage while we await news and while these matters are resolved. I shall also need a secure place for my prisoner.’
‘Then you shall have it,’ Gelgéis replied, turning to relay these orders to Spealáin.
There suddenly came a high-pitched cry and Dúnliath came pushing through those who surrounded Colgú. Ailill followed at her shoulder.
‘My lord! Oh, my lord! Have you come to rescue me?’
Colgú appeared slightly embarrassed as the young woman threw herself into his arms.
‘Dúnliath! What are you doing here?’ he asked in surprise, disentangling himself from her embrace. ‘What rescue do you need?’
‘After you had left Cashel, my father brought me here for safety. He said it was for the best.’
Colgú seemed puzzled for a moment. ‘I do not understand why. There was no threat to Cashel, and the bandits were already defeated to all intents and purposes. I thought that Drón knew that before I left. Where is your father?’ he demanded, looking about him.
It was Fidelma who explained. ‘Drón was murdered here a short while ago.’
Colgú barely had time to register his astonishment before the girl almost wailed, ‘I wanted to take his body home to Gabrán for burial but I was not allowed to leave. Please, my lord, you will escort us home now, won’t you?’
‘I am responsible for stopping her leaving,’ Fidelma said hastily, before her brother could respond. ‘Firstly, there was news of the Laigin army only a short distance from Gabrán and, secondly, I had to take charge of the investigation into the murder of Drón.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I believe his death is related to the conspiracy which confronts us. In the circumstances, I could not allow Dúnliath and her escort to leave until the matter was resolved.’
Colgú gave a smile of reassurance to Dúnliath.
‘I must agree with my sister. It is not the time to be travelling east through Osraige, with the threat of the men of Laigin gathered almost within sight of Gabrán. I still don’t understand why you are here. You would have been much safer in Cashel. No harm would have come to you there.’
Fidelma intervened. ‘I can take it that you did not suggest that Drón bring his daughter and his entourage here for safety?’
Colgú looked at her in astonishment. ‘Why would I do that? Cashel is impregnable.’
The girl gave a tearful sniff and said, ‘It was my father who thought it best to come here and cross into Osraige.’
‘Well, no matter. I am here now.’ Colgú smiled, as if comforting a child. ‘And have no fear, my sister will discover who assassinated your father.’ He turned and saw Ailill for the first time. ‘Greetings, cousin. You should have persuaded your foster-father to remain at Cashel.’
The young man grimaced. ‘I did my best but Drón was a man who was difficult to shift, once his mind was made up.’
Colgú said gently to Dúnliath, ‘There are things that I must do — important matters that need attending to. You go now and I will join you shortly.’
It was a hint but the girl was not one to take hints. Instead, it was Abbot Daig who came forward and ushered the unwilling girl back inside the building. Ailill paused for a moment but, sensing his presence was not wanted, turned to follow them.
A sudden tiredness spread across Colgú’s features. At the same time he became aware that his companions were still standing waiting for his orders. He looked about and, with growing guilt, realised that those warriors of his escort who had not accompanied Enda and Tormeid were still patiently mounted and also awaiting instructions. Colgú turned to Caol. ‘Deploy the men, then bring our prisoner, Étain of An Dún, into the chamber to which the Lady Gelgéis’s steward will conduct you. Make sure that she is secured, for in her distempers she may harm herself, let alone others. Also ensure that you post sentinels at the crossing-points along the river to await news from Dego as to how matters fare at Liath Mór, and quarter the rest of our men as best you can.’