‘There is cider to drink,’ Scoth said, going to fetch a jug and mugs.
Eadulf smiled appreciatively.
‘A blessing on you for that,’ he said. ‘My throat is shrivelled for want of a drink.’
Archú bade them be seated while Scoth poured the drinks and offered a bowl of fruit.
Eadulf finished most of his mug in a single draught with a deep gasping sigh while Fidelma sipped more gently and appreciatively at her drink.
‘I would have a care, Eadulf,’ she admonished as her companion allowed his mug to be refilled. ‘This is a potent distillation.’
Archú grimaced mirthlessly.
‘At least Muadnat had the goodness to leave a few barrels of this cider behind.’
Scoth was deprecating.
‘Well, it was my own hands that brewed it on his behalf. Better is it that I taste the fruits of my own labour than Muadnat had quaffed it all.’
Fidelma took another sip and turned her gaze to Archú.
‘Have you spent all your life in this valley?’
Archú was surprised by the question.
‘Yes. I was born in this very farmstead and raised here until my mother died. Then Muadnat took over and I was sent to sleep in the barns with the animals until I reached the age of choice and brought my claim to Lios Mhór. I knew nowhere else apart from this valley until I came to Lios Mhór. Why do you ask?’
‘How about the land on the other side of the hill?’
‘You mean the hill which we saw you riding over?’
‘I do.’
‘I know that the hill belongs to this farm.’
‘I thought the farm consisted of seven
‘There are only four
Eadulf looked up from his drink fascinated.
‘The what?’ he asked. ‘I have never heard of that expression before.’
‘You’ll find it in our laws,’ Fidelma explained. ‘According to our ancient classification you will see that the richest soil of a farm is known by the presence of three weeds remarkable for their large roots; that is the thistle, ragwort and the wild carrot. If the land is rich enough for them to grow, then it is highly prized land and can produce many things.’
Eadulf shook his head in bewilderment.
Fidelma was turning back to Archú.
‘But that hill belongs to the farm, you say?’
‘It is the part of the farm called the axe-land. If anything is to grow on the hill apart from the furze and trees, it would require much labour to clear it for cultivation.’
‘But the hill does belong to this farm?’
‘Oh yes. Even Muadnat would not dispute the boundary of it.’
‘I see. Do you know the hill well?’
‘I know it.’
‘But have you explored it?’
Archú sat back clearly bewildered.
‘Why would I want to explore it?’
‘It rises on one side of your arable land and is part of your farmstead.’
‘I have only just been granted leave to run this farm, as you know, sister. When have I had time to explore the hills surrounding it?’
‘When you were a child?’
‘A child?’ He shook his head. ‘I did not wander over those hills as a child.’
‘What do you know of caves in this area?’
To Archú the question seemed an abrupt change of conversation. He shrugged.
‘I have heard of caves to the north of here. There is the Cave of the Grey Sheep which my mother used to tell me about. Shetold me that once a grey lamb came forth out of the cave and was reared by a local farmer. The lamb grew into a sheep and the sheep eventually produced her own lambs. But the day came when the farmer decided to slaughter one of her lambs for food and the sheep gathered her remaining lambs and vanished with them into the cave. They were never seen again.’
Fidelma was impatient.
‘How about mines? Did you ever hear of mines in these hills?’
Archú thought carefully before shaking his head.
‘There may be mines but I could not point you to one. What is all this about?’
‘We found …’ began Eadulf but winced on receiving a sharp kick under the table from Fidelma.
Archú and Scoth gazed at Eadulf in surprise.
‘We found that we wanted to know some of the geography of the area,’ Fidelma said before turning to regard Eadulf with concern. ‘You appear to have had a sharp pain, brother. Did I not warn you that the cider was potent?’
Eadulf grimaced in annoyance.
‘It is nothing,’ he muttered. ‘Perhaps a cramp from walking.’
‘It has been a long day and we have not eaten. We should return to the
‘But you must stay and eat with us,’ Scoth invited.
Reluctantly, Fidelma shook her head.
‘Alas, we cannot. If we don’t leave now we shall not return until after nightfall. Not a time to be abroad on unknown roads.’
They made their farewells and began to ride back towards Araglin.
‘You did not have to kick me so hard, Fidelma,’ admonished Eadulf sulkily. ‘You should have told me if you did not want the young ones to know what we had discovered on the hill.’
‘I am sorry, Eadulf. But it is best that we keep our own counsel for a while. It is clear that someone wanted to keep that mine a secret. The logical answer is, as it is on Archú’s land, that Muadnatwas trying to operate the mine without anyone knowing, especially young Archú. The path to the mine leads from his land. So have we stumbled across the real reason why Muadnat was so desperate to cling to ownership of his cousin’s property?’
Eadulf whistled softly.
‘I see. Muadnat was trying to keep the land in order to exploit the mine.’
‘A mine belongs to the person on whose land it is. The permission of that person must be given before it can be worked by anyone else,’ agreed Fidelma.
‘Yes, but that does not get us anywhere near solving the mystery of the murder of Eber and Teafa.’
‘Perhaps not. But it is strange that Menma seems to keep appearing in this mystery and …’
She halted so abruptly that Eadulf wondered if she had spotted some new danger and anxiously searched the surrounding countryside.
‘What is it?’ he demanded after a while.
‘I am a fool!’
Eadulf was quiet.
‘I should have spotted this before.’
‘Spotted what?’ Eadulf tried to keep his curiosity in check.
‘Menma. Remember how I said it was Menma who led the attack on Bressal’s hostel?’
‘Yes.’
‘And now Menma appears at the mine?’
‘Yes. But I do not see …’
‘What was the connection between Bressal and mines?’ demanded Fidelma.
