‘I am told, Teafa was the only person in the
‘She was. She had looked after him since he was a baby.’
‘And she was Eber’s sister?’
‘She was.’
‘So Móen was not her own child?’ Fidelma was puzzled about the relationship.
Dubán was firm.
‘No one knows where the child came from. But it was not Teafa’s because she would have been seen to be pregnant in the weeks before his birth and she was not. This is a small community. He was a foundling.’
‘As it is a small community, it must be known who gave birth to the child?’
‘It is not. He was not the child of anyone in the valley. That much is certain.’
‘Can you tell me any more? How and why did Teafa come to adopt the child? Who found him?’
Dubán rubbed a finger along the side of his nose.
‘All I know is that Teafa went out hunting by herself and she returned some days later with the child. She simply went to the mountains and came back with the new-born babe.’
‘Did she explain to anyone how she found it?’
‘Of course. She said that she had found it abandoned in the woods. She announced that she would adopt it. I left Araglin only a short while after that event and I was away fighting the wars of the Cashel kings until three years ago. I am told that as the child grew older, the debilities became known. But Teafa refused to give it up. Teafa never married nor had child of her own. She was a warm-hearted person and maybe needed a surrogate child. It seemed that the child and Teafa grew to be able to communicate in some curious fashion. I am not sure how.’
‘How long were you away from Araglin then?’
‘Nearly seventeen years passed until I returned to serve Eber. That was, as I have said, three years ago.’
‘I see. Is there anyone else here in the
Duban shrugged.
‘I suppose Father Gormán might know something else which can be revealed now that Teafa is dead. But Father Gormán will not be back for a day or two.’
‘What of Eber’s widow?’
‘The lady Cranat?’ Dubán pulled a sour face. ‘I am not sure. She did not marry Eber until a year or so after Teafa brought Móen to dwell among us. On my return I observed that Cranat and Teafa did not share the intimacy one might expect between sister and sister-in-law.’
Eadulf leant forward eagerly.
‘Are you saying that Cranat did not like Teafa?’
Dubán looked pained.
‘I know you Saxons pride yourselves on plain speaking. I thought I had made my view clear.’
‘Clear enough,’ conceded Fidelma quickly. ‘You are telling us that Cranat and Teafa did not get along well?’
‘Not well,’ agreed Dubán.
‘Do you know how long this state of affairs had existed?’
‘I am told that they fell out when Crón was about thirteen years old. There was some sort of argument between them and they barely spoke to one another. Certainly about two or three weeks ago I was witness to a fierce argument between them.’
‘What was this about?’
‘It is not really for me to comment on.’ It was clear that Duban felt that he was resorting to gossip. Fidelma immediately seized on his awkwardness.
‘But having said as much, I feel that you should explain yourself.’
‘I really don’t know the substance except that Teafa was angry, shouting at Cranat, and Cranat was in tears.’
‘You must have heard something then. You must have gained some idea as to the cause of the quarrel?’
‘Not I. I recall that Móen was mentioned and also Eber. Teafa was shouting something about divorce.’
‘She was demanding that Cranat divorce her brother?’
‘Perhaps. I do not know. Cranat ran off to the chapel to seek solace from Father Gormán.’
Fidelma made no other comment but stood looking around the bed chamber, examining it minutely before returning to the dividing door and examining the reception room.
‘For someone who is deaf, dumb and blind, this Móen would appear to have the gift of moving easily through this
Eadulf came to join her with a frown.
‘What do you mean, Fidelma?’ he asked.
‘Regard these rooms, Eadulf. Firstly, Móen had to make his way here. Then he had to enter, negotiate his way to Eber’s bed chamber and enter, take his knife, find his target and kill Eber before the chieftain realised his presence. That not only takesstealth but a talent I would not expect to find in one who is so debilitated.’
Dubán overheard and appeared disapproving.
‘Are you denying the facts?’ he demanded.
Fidelma glanced at him.
‘I am merely trying to ascertain them.’
‘Well, the facts are simple. Móen was found in the act of slaughter.’
‘Not quite,’ Fidelma corrected. ‘He was found by Eber’s body. He was not actually seen killing him.’
Dubán put his head back and gave a gruff bark of laughter.
‘Truly, sister, is this the logic of a Brehon? If I find a sheep with its throat ripped out and sitting by the carcass is a wolf with blood on its muzzle, is it not logical that I should blame the wolf for the deed?’
‘It is reasonable,’ Fidelma conceded. ‘But it is not proof positive that the wolf did it.’
Duban shook his head in disbelief.
‘Are you trying to claim …?’
‘I am trying to discover the truth,’ snapped Fidelma. ‘That is my sole purpose.’
‘Well, if it is truth you want, then it is well known in the rath that Móen was able to move about without undue difficulty within certain areas.’
‘How was this accomplished?’ Eadulf was intrigued.
‘I presume that he had some sort of memory. He also seemed to smell his way.’
‘Smell?’ Eadulf’s tone was disbelieving.
‘You saw the way he used his sense of smell in the stable to identify that there were strangers there. He has developed his sense of smell like an animal. Provided he is placed in certain areas of the
‘Ah, so it is of no surprise that he was able to negotiate his way here?’
‘None whatever.’
Eadulf looked at Fidelma and shrugged.
‘Well, it seems there is no mystery then.’
Fidelma did not reply. She was not convinced.
‘Where is the knife with which Móen stabbed Eber?’
‘I have it still.’
‘Has the knife been identified?’
‘Identified?’
Dubán sounded puzzled.
Fidelma was patient.
