The Spider's Web

heir-elect.’

Fidelma fought to control her surprise.

‘Muadnat?’

‘Yes. Didn’t you know that he was cousin to Eber and as Eber had no immediate male heirs, he was appointed tanist a long time ago? When Eber disinherited him and caused his own daughter to be elected tanist, there was talk that Eber paid much in bribes for that support.’

Fidelma’s mind was racing.

‘Wake Agdae for me!’

Clídna frowned and was about to protest but she recognised the resolute expression on Fidelma’s face.

It took some moments to bring Agdae round. The man sat on the bed blinking and rubbing his eyes. He was clearly not yet sober.

‘Listen, Agdae,’ Fidelma’s voice was harsh, ‘listen carefully. I want you to tell me the truth. If you do not, then your life might be in danger. Do you understand?’

Agdae groaned in befuddled protest.

‘When was Muadnat deposed by the derbfhine of the house of the chieftains of Araglin?’

Agdae screwed up his eyes as if trying to focus on her. He gazed at her blankly.

‘When?’ persisted Fidelma.

‘When?’ echoed Agdae stupidly. ‘Oh, three weeks ago.’

‘Only three weeks ago? And were you one of the derbfhine?’

Agdae rubbed his tousled head and nodded reluctantly.

‘Give me a drink.’

‘Were you a member of the derbfhine?’ Fidelma raised her voice sharply.

‘I was.’

‘Did you vote for Muadnat to remain tanist?’

‘Of course, why I …’

‘Who else voted for Muadnat … who else?’

Agdae’s head rolled back as if he wanted to go to sleep.

‘Who else supported Muadnat at that assembly?’

She shook him by the shoulders.

‘All right! Enough!’ he protested. ‘Only Cranat, Teafa and myself … oh, and Menma. No one else.’

‘So Menma was a member of the derbfhine?’

‘The stableman is a cousin and entitled to a voice in the derbfhine,’ interposed Clídna.

Fidelma let Agdae collapse in his stupor back onto the bed. She stood for a moment deep in thought before returning to the other room. Clídna followed her, shutting the bedroom door softly. Fidelma sank back in her chair. Cautiously, Clídna reseated herself.

‘So Crón was elected tanist only three weeks ago?’ Fidelma reflected. ‘I know that there is a relationship between Crón and Dubán. What of Dubán’s relationship to Eber?’

Clídna pulled a face.

‘That is easy. It was rumoured that Dubán hated Eber.’

‘Yet he was commander of his bodyguard. Did Eber know of his hate?’

‘Eber was wrapped in a cocoon of self-absorption. He was susceptible to flattery and even when he found enemies, his method was, as I have said, of buying them off. When Dubán returned after many years away from Araglin and offered his services to Eber, Eber was flattered that a renowned warrior in the fight against the Ui Fidgente would offer his services to him.’

‘I see.’ Fidelma was thoughtful.

Clídna regarded her expression.

‘If you suspect Dubán of killing Eber, I would advise against it. Dubán is an ambitious, single- minded person but he is also a warrior with a code of honour. He would slaughter Eber in singlecombat but never sneak up on him in the night and cut his throat.’

‘I have known the most unlikely people resort to means that are out of character.’

‘Well, of all the people in Araglin, I would say that Dubán, in spite of his dislike of Eber, would be the last to resort to murder.’

‘Do you know why Dubán hated Eber?’

‘Ah, that is a story lost in the past. I think something happened when Dubán was a young man here, something which prompted his going to join the armies of the Cashel kings.’

‘You said that if you were considering this matter, you would place other people before Dubán. Such as who?’

Clídna grinned awkwardly.

‘You will not be offended if I speak my mind?’

‘Why should I be?’

‘You may not like what I have to say.’

‘Like or dislike may not enter into it, if it places my footsteps on the path to truth. Truth is what we seek in whatever direction it lies. Vincit omnia veritas.’

‘Father Gormán hated Eber. He was a fanatic about what he believed to be moral. He was always threatening people with hell and fiery furnances. He threatened Eber and Teafa.’

‘How do you know this?’

‘I learnt it from that little conceited boy who pretends to be a warrior. He was often a visitor here.’

‘Crítán?’

‘The same. He was drunk here one evening and in his cups he told me Father Gormán had denounced both Eber and Teafa in the most vehement fashion. He called him a vile whoremonger who would burn in hell and said that Teafa was no better. Father Gormán accused them of many sins, so many that he claimed hell was not hot enough, nor eternity long enough, to punish him.’

‘When was this?’

‘Two weeks ago, according to Crítán. Eber was so outraged by Gormán that he struck him.’

‘Eber struck the priest?’ Even Fidelma was surprised.

‘It is so.’

‘Were there witnesses?’

‘According to Crítán he witnessed this himself for it took place in the stables. They did not see him because he was in the hayloft.’

‘What was the row about?’

‘You should ask Crítán.’

‘I doubt that he would tell me. Don’t worry. If you tell me what Crítán said I shall see that you are not implicated if any of the information needs to be acted upon.’

‘Crítán was in the hayloft of the stables. He was apparently asleep there. He was awakened by the sounds of an altercation. It was the priest with Eber and Teafa. He could not hear precisely what the argument was about except that Father Gormán was censuring them both for their lack of morality. Crítán said something was mentioned about Móen. It was then that Eber actually struck the priest.’

‘What happened then?’ prompted Fidelma when the woman paused.

‘Father Gormán fell to the ground. Crítán said that he cried out words to the effect that Eber would be struck dead in return for that blow.’

Fidelma leant forward with interest.

‘He said those very words?’

‘According to Crítán.’

‘What were the exact words … according to Crítán?’