Suffer Little Children

The last time Fidelma had practiced the troid-sciathagid in earnest had been against a giant of a woman in a Roman brothel. She hoped that she had not lost her skill. She let the man run in upon her, ducking and grabbing at his belt, using his forward momentum to pull the surprised ruffian over her shoulder.

With a cry of astonishment, the man went flailing head first and crashed into a nearby wooden barrel, splitting it with the impact of his head so that the water gushed into a spurt.

Fidelma rose quickly to her feet, ducking as she heard the twang of a bow string and felt the breath of an arrow in its flight past her cheek. Then she was hauling herself up into the saddle and thumping her heels against the horse's belly. With a startled whinny, the beast sprang forward across the clearing and into the woods.

She was aware of renewed cries behind her and she knew that at least one of Intat's men had mounted up and was in pursuit of her. Whether others had joined in, she did not know. She had only identified Intat and three men at the cabin. She did not think that the one she had thrown into the barrel would have been in condition to give chase for a while. And surely Cass was dealing with Intat in person. She had to keep in advance of her pursuer. It would not take her long to reach the abbey.

She took the road for Ros Ailithir through the woodland, praying that the High King would not delay giving the order to his men to accompany her back to the rescue of Cass. She also hoped that her escape would draw Intat away from Cass and give Cass an opportunity to make his own escape as Cass had given her that opportunity.

Now she began to bitterly regret her impetuosity born of rage. She should have taken notice of Cass's advice.

Head low along the neck of her horse, she found herself uttering sharp cries which would have brought a blush to her superior, the Abbess of Kildare, had that pious woman heard her young charge conjuring a rich variety of curses to urge her steed to further efforts.

She glanced back across her shoulder.

There were a couple of riders strung out behind her. She could see the leading pursuer was none other than Intat himself. Her heart went cold. She tried not to think what that signified. There was no question that Intat rode a stronger horse than Fidelma for he was gaining on her with ease.

In desperation, Fidelma turned her horse from the main track, hoping that it might make up across country what it was obviously losing to its pursuers on the straight track. It was a mistake for, not knowing the crisscross forest paths, she found she was unable to keep up even the speed that she had maintained on the straight track. Intat was gaining. She could hear the pounding hooves of his horse and the deep rasping of its breath.

Suddenly a river barred her progress. It was the same river that ran by the cabin which had twisted round in its course. She had no choice but to plunge straight into it, hoping it was as shallow as it had been by the cabin; hoping that it was shallow enough to ford. It wasn't. She was halfway across when her horse stumbled, lost the bottom and plunged in panic underneath the water. Fidelma tried to cling on but found herself swept off while the animal went careering forward, found the bottom again and stumbled out of the water.

Desperately, Fidelma struck out but Intat was already urging his horse into the water.

He gave a loud shout of triumph.

She turned, saw him coming and struck out again in reckless desperation to reach the far bank. In her heart she realized it was impossible to escape. She splashed through the shallows, stumbled and slipped on the mud bank.

Intat's mount was pawing the air almost above her. The thick-set warrior leapt from the saddle and stood in the shallows above her, both hands clasping the hilt of his sword.

'So, dalaigh, you have created enough trouble for me. This is where it ends.'

He raised the sword.

Fidelma flinched, put her arm up in an automatic defensive response and closed her eyes.

She heard Intat grunt sharply and when nothing happened she opened her eyes.

Intat was staring, his eyes unfocused. He was still standing swaying above her. Then slowly he began to sink down. It was then she saw two arrow shafts sticking from his chest. The sword slipped from his hands and he pitched forward on his face into the river before her.

With a cry, more to release her pent-up emotion than as a call for help, she scrambled swiftly up the muddy bank.

She became aware of horses milling around her and swung to face the new threat.

'Fidelma!' cried a familiar voice.

She stared in disbelief as her brother swung down from his mount and came running towards her, arms outstretched.

'Colgu!'

He hugged her violently and then held her at arms' length, concern in his eyes and, observing that she was not harmed, he grinned wryly.

'Where is the sister who said she could take care of herself?'

She blinked back the tears of relief. Across the river some of Colgu's bodyguard had rounded up Intat's other henchman.

'You have arrived not a moment too soon,' she breathed jerkily. 'How was this done?'

Colgu grimaced and gestured towards a nearby band of about thirty mounted men, riding under his banner.

'We are on our way to Ros Ailithir to the assembly called by the High King. My scouts saw you being pursued and we came to intercept you. But where is Cass?' He frowned in annoyance. 'I gave him the charge of protecting you.'

Fidelma was anguished.

'Cass is back at the cabin in the forest there. He tried to keep our attackers at bay while I escaped to get help from Ros Ailithir. We must get back there immediately. He was fighting with Intat.' She indicated the man's body, now floating in the shallows of the river. 'We must be quick, for he may be injured.'

Colgu's face was serious.

'Very well. On the way you will have to tell me what is happening. Who is… was this man Intat?'

One of Colgu's men had gone forward to drag Intat's body out of the river and was now bending over it.

'The man still lives, my lord,' the warrior called. 'But I doubt for long.'

Fidelma turned and scrambled down on the mud bank to where the warrior was holding the head and shoulders of Intat above the water. She crouched down beside him and took his head in both her hands.

'Intat!' she called loudly. 'Intat!'

The man's eyes flickered open but there was no focusing in his dark eyes.

'You are dying, Intat. Do you wish to die in sin?'

He did not answer.

'Who told you to slaughter the children?'

There was no reply.

'Was it Salbach? Did he tell you?'

She saw his lips beginning to move and she bent forward to hear the wheezy sound of his breath.

'I… I'll meet—meet you in… helll'

The body suddenly gave a spasmodic jerk and was still. Colgu's man shrugged and glanced at Fidelma.

'Dead,' he said laconically.

Fidelma rose and her brother reached forward a hand to haul her back up the river bank.

'What made you ask about Salbach?' he said with sharp curiosity. 'What is going on?'

'Intat was one of Salbach's chieftains.'

'Was Salbach responsible for this?'

Fidelma pointed to where Intat's companion was being held.

'Have your men question him. I am sure that he may incriminate Salbach in this affair. But let us hasten back now to find Cass.'

Colgu signalled one of his men for a dry cloak and placed it around Fidelma's shoulders. She was shivering with the cold and damp and not a little with the shock of what had happened to her. Colgu helped her back on her horse, giving orders to his men. Then, when they were all mounted, Colgu and his bodyguard turned to cross the