The Spider's Web

‘I couldn’t see. Menma and this other person were inside the cave talking as I arrived. The other person was giving Menma instructions to kill someone in order to silence them.’

‘You did not see who this other person, the person giving instructions, was?’

‘I did not. But a battle fury descended on me when I heard. Forgetting I had only my bow in my hand, I pushed into the caveand challenged them. Menma fought back fiercely while the other person, no more than a dark shadow in the gloom of the cave, fled by me. I heard them gallop away while I was struggling with Menma. He broke loose and managed to flee to his horse. I could not let him escape. You saw what happened.’

‘I did. And I can confirm that someone else fled from the glade.’

‘Who?’

‘That I did not see. But you heard their voice.’

‘I did not recognise it.’

‘Was it male or a female?’

‘It was a whisper but deep. I think it was male.’

‘Tell me why you hated Eber? The truth, on your honour.’

In the gloom she saw Dubán’s hand go to his neck as if expecting to find the golden chain of the order of warriors there.

She saw his lips compress a moment.

‘You do well to remind me of honour, Fidelma,’ he said. ‘Maybe these last few years in Araglin I have forgotten what honour really means.’

‘Because you have spent too long mixing with young ruffians who think they are warriors? Thugs like Crítán?’

In the gloom ahead they could see lights across the valley.

‘There is the rath. We shall soon be there,’ muttered Dubán.

‘Then it is best you tell me what is on your mind, Dubán, before we reach it.’

‘Eber was not what he claimed himself to be. He was a chieftain without honour.’

‘In what way?’

‘He was morally corrupt.’

‘Moral corruption may take many forms. Can you be more specific.’

‘Have you asked why his wife quit the bed of her husband? It is rumoured that he was like a stag on heat and any deer of the herd which crossed his path was subject to his abuse.’

‘I see …’ murmured Fidelma.

‘No, I do not think you do. I mean … any deer of the herd. Even within his own family,’ muttered Dubán.

‘You mean that he sexually abused members of his own family?’ Fidelma said quietly. She knew the allegation but wanted to hear Dubán’s version.

‘I cannot prove it. Neither can I prove the other thing that I know within my bones … that Eber was a murderer.’

Fidelma was surprised at this assertion.

‘You may speak in confidence with me, Dubán. You must tell me why you suspect Eber of murder.’

‘Very well. I was in love once with Eber’s young sister.’

‘With Teafa?’

‘No. Not Teafa. She was a year older than Eber. Tomnát was the younger sister. She was fearful of her brother. When I tried to persuade her to accompany me to Cashel as my wife, she said she could not for the shameful thing that was on her.’

‘Did she explain what she meant by that?’

‘No, neither did I understand at the time. But within a day or so Tomnat had disappeared from the rath, indeed, from the very valley of Araglin, and was heard of no more. It was my belief that Eber had her killed lest she reveal the evil of his mind and soul.’

‘How can you say this? You must have something which makes you suspicious.’

‘I knew that the night before Tomnat disappeared, she and Eber had a terrible row.’

‘You witnessed this row?’

‘I heard their voices raised. I was on guard and could not enter Eber’s private chambers. After a while there was silence and the next morning Tomnat had vanished. I loved Tomnat. She was as attractive as Crón is today.’

‘And you said that there was a widespread search made for the missing girl?’

‘For months everyone made inquiries for Tomnat. Teafa eventually came to me and told me that it was best for me toforget her sister. Teafa was the only other person who knew my feelings for Tomnat. She told me that ever since Tomnat was a little girl, Eber had forced her to sleep with him. She was never found and eventually I went off to Cashel and pledged myself in the bodyguard of the king, Máenach.’

‘Did Teafa claim that Eber had killed her sister Tomnat?’

‘No, she did not.’

‘When did this happen?’

‘Over twenty years ago. No, I can be more precise. It was a few months before Teafa adopted Móen.’

‘Did you not challenge Eber, or report your suspicion that Eber had murdered Tomnat?’

‘I? What could I have done alone without proof?’

‘What of Teafa, who told you of this sexual abuse?’

‘Teafa felt she could not betray her brother nor bring shame on her sister. I could not bring any accusation unless I had proof. I left Araglin, as I said, hoping to search out a new life. It is true what the ancient bards say — if you destroy your life in one small corner of the world, you have destroyed it in every small corner. I did not realise it until I found myself aging in the service of Cashel. I had not been able to get this place out of my mind. I dreamt of one day finding Tomnat. And though over twenty years have passed, I finally returned.’

‘You have returned, Dubán, but for what purpose?’

‘Easy to say; I returned for vengeance.’

Fidelma tried to examine his features in the dark but gave up.

‘Vengeance is an ugly thing, Dubán. Did you seek vengeance or justice?’

‘It is true that I have been seeking some evidence of what I know in my heart to be the truth. But I will be honest — I wanted vengeance. An eye for an eye, a tooth for tooth, a burning for burning. Exactly as Father Gormán teaches in his chapel.’

Fidelma held her head to one side.

‘You realise what you have told me, Dubán? You have saidthat you had every reason to kill Eber. And, being on guard that night, you also had the opportunity.’

Dubán nodded gravely.

‘This is true, sister. There is no man I would have rather killed. The motivation for returning here and seeking service with the chieftain of Araglin was to eventually find out what happened to Tomnat and punish him if I could. If that makes me suspect, Fidelma, then I am suspect and willingly so. Treat me as you will. Though I would prefer that you discover the truth.’

‘Do you deny that you killed Eber?’

‘As much as I admit to seeking vengeance and weeping no tears of remorse when I heard the news of Eber’s death, I confess that mine was not the hand that struck down that foul man. Nor had I reason to kill Teafa, who had been an honourable lady.’

‘Could Eber not have reformed his personality? Especially after Tomnat disappeared?’

Dubán almost spat.

‘Reformed? Once a wolf always a wolf. They cannot change their natures.’

‘You have changed your nature,’ Fidelma pointed out.

‘I do not understand.’ Dubán was bewildered.

‘You have transferred your love for the long lost Tomnat to Eber’s daughter Crón.’

‘I do not deny that either.’ The warrior was defensive. ‘One cannot love a memory forever. It is true that