‘And is this investigation concluded?’
‘As I said, last night, there is still much to learn and much to consider.’
‘Ah? I thought that there might have been some developments.’
Fidelma managed to look at him with a bewildered expression.
‘Some developments? Since I left the feast last night? No one has awakened me to inform me of any developments.’
‘I meant …’ Olcán hesitated and then shrugged. ‘I meant nothing. It was just an idea.’
He hesitated awkwardly.
‘Sister Brónach said that you wanted to see me,’ Fidelma now pressed her advantage. ‘I presume that it was something other than to see if I had slept well and to inform me that Ross’s ship had gone?’
Olcán looked confused for a moment at the slight sarcasm in her voice.
‘Oh, it was just that Torcán and I are going hunting. We wondered whether you might join us for you said, when first we met, you would like to see some of the ancient sites of this peninsula and we will be passing some fascinating spots.’
Fidelma kept her features solemn. It was obvious that this excuse had only just occurred to Olcán.
‘I thank you for the idea. Today I have to continue my inquiries here.’
‘Then, if you will forgive me, sister, I will rejoin Torcán and set off. Adnár’s master huntsman has spotted a small herd of deer on the mountain to the west.’
Fidelma watched the young man pulling his cloak around him as he strode out of the chapel. She followed him to the door and studied his retreating figure as he walked across the courtyard and through the buildings. A moment later, she saw him mounted on a horse, riding swiftly off through the woods in the direction of Adnár’s fortress.
It was clear to her what Olcán’s purpose had been.
She hurried back to the guests’ hostel and found Sister Brónach.
‘I am sorry that I overslept, sister,’ she greeted. ‘I feasted with Adnár last night. Is there a possibility that there is something with which I might break my fast for I have missed the call to the refectory.’
Sister Brónach regarded her with curiosity for a moment.
‘A long feast it must have been,’ she observed slyly, turning into the common room of the guests’ hostel. ‘I have already laid a platter for you, sister, realising that you had missed the first meal of the day.’
Fidelma slid gratefully into a chair. Dishes with some hardboiled goose eggs, some leaven bread and honey were placed before her with a small jug of mead. Fidelma washelping herself when she suddenly realised the meaning of Sister Brónach’s remark and she glanced at the mournful-faced sister questioningly.
Sister Brónach almost smiled as she answered the unasked question.
‘I have been too long in charge of this guests’ hostel not to know the comings and goings of the guests.’
‘I see,’ Fidelma was reflective.
‘However,’ continued the doorkeeper of the abbey, ‘it is not my position to question the hours our guests keep so long as they do not interfere with the running of this community.’
‘Sister Brónach, you know why I am here. It is essential that my absence from the abbey is not generally known. Do I have your word on this?’
The middle-aged
‘I have said as much.’
After breakfast, Fidelma made her way towards the library. On the way she met the Abbess Draigen who greeted her with disapproval.
‘You seem no nearer to solving this mystery than when you first arrived,’ the abbess opened in a sneering tone.
Fidelma did not rise to the bait.
‘On the contrary, mother abbess,’ she replied, brightly, ‘I think much progress has been made.’
‘Progress? Another murder has been committed, that of Sister Siomha, while you were investigating. Is that progress? It seems to be remarkably akin to incompetence so far as I judge.’
‘Do you know much of the history of this abbey?’ Fidelma asked, ignoring the thrust.
Abbess Draigen looked a little disconcerted.
‘What has the history of the abbey to do with your investigation?’
‘Do you know of the history?’ insisted Fidelma, ignoring her counter question.
‘Sister Comnat would have been able to tell you, if she were here,’ replied the abbess. ‘The abbey was formed a century ago by the Blessed Necht the Pure.’
‘That much I have heard. How did she come to choose this spot?’
Abbess Draigen raised a hand to encompass the abbey buildings.
‘Is it not as beautiful a spot as any to set up a foundation to the new Faith?’
‘Indeed it is. But I have heard that the wells here were used by the pagan priests.’
‘Necht blessed and purified them.’
‘So this was a spot actually dedicated to the old faith before it became Christian?’
‘Yes. The story is that Necht came here and debated the doctrine of Christ with Dedelchú, chieftain of the pagans who lived here in the caves.’
‘Dedelchú?’
‘So the story is handed down to us.’
‘Do you know why Necht called this abbey that of The Salmon of the Three Wells?’
‘You should know that “The Salmon of the Three Wells” is a euphemism for the Christ.’
‘But there are also three wells here.’
‘That is so. A pleasing coincidence.’
‘In pagan times some of the ancient wells were claimed to have a salmon of knowledge dwelling at the bottom.’
Abbess Draigen merely shrugged.
‘I cannot see why you are so interested in ancient beliefs. But it is well known that the “Salmon of Knowledge” was a powerful image in ancient belief. It could well be why we hail the Christ as The Salmon of the Three Wells, expressing him as part of the trinity but fountain of knowledge. Surely that is not a matter to get us any further along the road to finding the person who is culpable of the murders committed here?’
Fidelma’s expression was bland.
‘Perhaps. Thank you, mother abbess.’
She continued on her way to the tower library, leaving the abbess staring in bewilderment after her.
‘Sister Fidelma!’
The tone of the voice was soft but urgent. For a moment Fidelma could not place it and turned to identify its owner. A slim figure was standing in the doorway of the stone-built store room next to the tower. It was Sister Lerben.
Fidelma left the path and crossed towards her.
‘Good morning, sister.’
Sister Lerben motioned Fidelma to come inside as if she did not want to be seen talking with her. Fidelma frowned but obeyed the urgent gesture. Inside the store room, Sister Lerben seemed to be sorting some herbs with the aid of a lantern. While the day outside was cloudy but bright, inside it was dark and gloomy.
‘What can I do for you, sister?’ Fidelma prompted.
‘Yesterday you asked me questions …’ began Sister Lerben. She paused but Fidelma did not make any attempt to coax her further. ‘Yesterday I said some things about … about Febal, my father.’
Fidelma returned her gaze steadily.
‘You wish to retract them?’ she asked.
‘No!’
There was a harsh vehemence in the word.
‘Very well. What then?’
‘Does it have to be reported anywhere? Abbess Draigen has … has now explained about the function of a
