Caol raised a hand in acknowledgment and hurried away without further ado.
‘With Gelgéis’s permission,’ Colgú announced, ‘I suggest that we all repair to her reception chamber and you can tell us all about this matter.’
To his surprise, Fidelma shook her head. ‘There are still many strands of this mystery that need to be pulled together, brother. Before we begin to understand this conspiracy, I would like to speak with the Lady Étain.’
Colgú grimaced dourly. ‘I have no objection but I must warn you, the lady is not right in her mind. Probably she has not been sane in years. I doubt whether you will get any sense out of her.’
‘Indeed. She was not in her right mind the last time we encountered her,’ Eadulf reminded them.
‘Nevertheless, it is important that I try to speak with her,’ insisted Fidelma.
‘As soon as Caol has brought her into a safe chamber, we shall go to see her,’ Colgú acquiesced. ‘Now, perhaps I can prevail on the Lady Gelgéis for some refreshment, for it has been a long and dusty ride and I can tell you how we defeated the so-called rebellion in the west.’
‘What I want to know is how you managed to capture Étain of An Dún after the stories we had heard,’ Fidelma said, when refreshments had been served to her brother, Gelgéis, herself and Eadulf.
‘It was not difficult. She and her band of wretches attacked isolated settlements, travelling merchants and also small religious communities. From each they looted and increased their wealth to be able to extend their numbers,’ said Colgú.
‘But there was no big battle?’ Gelgéis asked. ‘We heard there was a battle and you had to take reinforcements from Cashel.’
Colgú guffawed. ‘No more than a skirmish before Étain and her followers ran away, chased by Dego and his hundred warriors. Where did you hear of such a thing?’
‘So Dego could have overtaken and captured her?’ queried Fidelma, not answering his question.
Her brother shook his head. ‘Dego was so surprised by the size of the band and the poor quality of the bandits that he thought their flight into the western mountains must be a ruse; a means to lure him into a trap — especially when he identified Étain of An Dún as their leader. I confess that I would have thought the same. So he sent a messenger to me and suggested that he would take his men into the trap if he could coordinate with me — asking me to bring a company of warriors round against the rear of her band. That way, if it was a trap, she would be the one that would fall into it. Brehon Áedo and Abbot Ségdae came with me and we took no more than a company.’
‘Only a company of warriors, not a full battalion?’ asked Eadulf. ‘How many men did Étain have?’
‘Hardly any at all, and when we had a final encounter, most of those fled at the sight of trained warriors — as they had when they first encountered Dego and his men.’
‘So what of these stories that we heard, of a mighty army …?’ Gelgéis was baffled.
‘It was either in the frightened minds of those telling the stories, or else they were lies deliberately spread to create panic,’ concluded Colgú.
‘So the mighty army turned out to be nothing but rumour?’
‘Isn’t there a saying that a bad rumour is stronger than good news?’ Colgú grinned. ‘It only needed a hundred trained warriors to disperse the rebels. Most of them were simply there for the loot they’d been promised. Only a handful of acolytes following Étain were possessed of her fanatical religious zeal and remained with her until the end.’
‘But surely they could see that she was insane?’ Eadulf said.
‘Insane? Yes. But she has strength of purpose, a commanding attitude, and was ruthless with both friends as well as enemies. Those sorts of people often command loyalty, whether from fear or avarice, in those who follow them. They spread their own insanity like a disease.’
‘It is hard to believe that she could attract any following at all.’ Gelgéis shuddered.
‘From my dealings with her, I have to admit that she is an amazing woman in many respects,’ Fidelma said. ‘It is true that Étain is a fanatic. She believes in the teachings of the Faith to which she has been converted. It was her own arrogance, her egotism that produced this madness. She truly believes that she, and she alone, holds the key to the truth and can protect the integrity of the Faith in this land. That became clear when we confronted her in Lios Mór. And there are always conscience-free sycophants who will be lured by orators of false passions who promise them the wealth with which they can purchase power.’ There was a pause before Fidelma asked her brother: ‘So what happened when you caught up with her?’
Colgú said wearily, ‘She had a few remaining followers. Those whose loyalty she had purchased had already fled. Most of her band had been killed during her quest for power. As I said, Dego and his men had managed to deal with them. I and my warriors were barely needed. So how on earth did these rumours spread of great battles and me leading a full cath from Cashel?’
‘It is the story that Drón told us,’ replied Gelgéis.
‘How did Aidan come into contact with you?’ Fidelma asked her brother. ‘I had sent him south to Cashel to warn you of Fianamail’s actions.’
‘We were on our way back to Cashel with Étain when I met Caol and Aidan with a full cath, a battalion of a three thousand warriors, moving north. Enda had joined them. Finguine, my tánaiste, had sent them in good faith, having heard news from Aidan. He decided to hold another cath ready to guard the southern approaches. He thought the Laigin army might attack across the fords of An Ghlais Alainn straight westward to Cashel. But Finguine is cautious. He considered the possibility that they could attempt to come through the territory of the Éile as they had tried years ago. So we joined with Caol and his warriors and came here. The rest you know, and you are telling me this is all part of some conspiracy?’
‘A curious one, indeed,’ said Fidelma. ‘I believe that if we can stop Cronán and his plan, then Fianamail and his Laigin army will be denied an excuse for invading Muman.’
‘Let us hope you are right.’
‘Did you try to question Étain of An Dún?’
Colgú uttered a short, dry laugh. ‘There is no means of conversing with her, sister. She has been raving some curious words, almost as if she were quoting some Scripture and calling on God to vanquish her enemies. It was quite unnerving. When we captured her she had some kind of religious banner.’
‘So she has offered no coherent explanation nor given you any clue as to her part in this conspiracy?’
‘Our physician attempted to calm her with some potion, but … well, you will see for yourself.’
‘There were no other prisoners; no one of intelligence who could explain the reasons for these actions?’
‘Only three remained alive, and they were seriously wounded. We left them behind to be tended to.’
‘I just want to be sure about one thing,’ Fidelma said. ‘You left Cashel with only a hundred warriors to support Dego?’
‘Correct.’
‘And you made no suggestion to Drón that he would be safer coming here than remaining in Cashel?’