Valley of the Shadow

Murgal rose slowly to his feet.

‘The council is now in session and, as Druid and Brehon to my chieftain, it is my right to speak first.’

Eadulf started in surprise at the man’s discourtesy when he declared that he should speak before his chieftain. Fidelma, seeing Eadulf s concern, leant towards him and whispered: ‘It is his right under the law, Eadulf. A Druid may speak before a king.’

Murgal apparently did not notice this exchange for he moved to the side of Laisre’s chair of office.

‘You will know that I am opposed to this negotiation. Let my objection be recorded.’

He glanced to Laisre who nodded and added for the benefit of Mel, the scribe: ‘So it is said, so let it be written.’ He turned back to Murgal and indicated that he should continue.

‘Laisre’s ancestors ruled us well. They kept us from outside harm over the years, refusing to have anything to do with those who looked enviously at our pleasant valley. It is a rich fertile valley. Uncorrupted. Why? Because we have forbidden this valley to those who would bring changes from outside. Three years have passed since we accepted Laisre as our chieftain, for his derbfhine elected him in due manner to be the head of his household and made him lord over us.

‘But now my chieftain has seen fit to send to Cashel and ask for an embassy for the purpose of discussing the establishment of an alien religion in our land.’

In spite of his feeling of indisposition, Eadulf felt he could not let the matter pass without protest.

‘A religion that all the kings of Éireann have accepted and which has been freely practised for over two centuries in the five kingdoms.’ He was sarcastic, unable to keep his annoyance under control. ‘Foreign religion, indeed!’

There was a gasp of horror from the assembly and even Fidelma looked uncomfortable. Murgal had turned in annoyance to Laisre. He was about to open his mouth but the chieftain stayed him with an upraised hand. Laisre leaned forward in his chair and addressed himself to Eadulf directly.

‘I shall overlook your outburst this time, Saxon, because you are a stranger in this land and do not know its ways sufficiently to curb your tongue. You do not have the right to speak at this council. Itis only that you travel as a companion with Fidelma of Cashel that you are even allowed to sit in this chamber. Even if you had the right to speak you may not interrupt the opening addresses. Only when the opening arguments have been placed will the accredited delegates debate their worthiness.’

Eadulf flushed with mortification and sank down into his chair. Fidelma was glaring at him in disapproval.

Murgal smiled triumphantly and continued.

‘We have seen what this alien religion brings. Strangers from over the water who do not know our ways or customs and who would dictate to us. Strangers who insult our procedures so that they have to be rebuked.’

Eadulf ground his teeth at the way Murgal had seized on his lack of knowledge about protocol to strengthen his argument.

‘Our brethren outside of the protection of these mountains may well have succumbed to the foreign teachings. It does not make it right nor is it an argument that we must also accept this religion. I say it must be rejected and our mountain barriers used to exclude its pernicious teachings. That is my position as Druid, Brehon and advisor to the chieftain of Gleann Geis.’

Murgal sat down amidst the many mutterings of approval from the people in the chamber.

Laisre nodded to the horn player who let out another blast to silence the chamber.

‘Murgal has a right to speak before all others. It is my right to speak next. I am, like Murgal, an adherent of the true deities of our people, the gods and goddesses whom our forefathers worshipped and who have protected us since time began. But my duty as chieftain is to extend the hand of protection to all the people of this clan. Before I sent to the bishop of Imleach to suggest that we could negotiate a settlement for those of this clan who have adopted the ways of the new Faith, I pondered the matter carefully. I decided that he could send someone to discuss how best we could reach such an agreement. Imleach has long wanted to build a Christian church and a school in our valley.

‘But I am a pragmatist. Because many of our people have married outside of this valley, we have to accept some of us now believe in this new Faith. Some have tried to hide that fact because they think it will displease me. In truth, it does make me unhappy. I will not deny it. Suppress the new Faith was one argument that I was counselled. But the people of Gleann Geis are my children.’

Murgal looked defiantly at him but he kept silent. Laisre paused a moment to reflect and then continued.

‘That would have been a short-sighted policy, for what one prohibits becomes something that is eagerly sought after. So rather than give sustenance to those who would worship the new Faith, I now say give it freedom and let it wither naturally.’

Another outburst of low muttering followed Laisre’s speech.

Fidelma, looking slightly puzzled, stood up.

‘I am here not to argue for the new Faith or against the old Faith. I am here as an envoy of Cashel to negotiate with you on matters which I had been informed your mind was already agreed upon.’

To Eadulf’s surprise, she sat down. The brevity of her statement even surprised Laisre who looked disconcerted.

‘Surely you would want to make some argument for your Faith?’ he faltered.

Even Murgal was looking nonplussed.

‘Perhaps she has no arguments?’ he sneered.

Eadulf leaned forward.

‘You can’t let these pagans denigrate the Faith,’ he whispered. He used the Irish term pagánach.

Murgal had good hearing.

‘Did I hear the Christian Saxon call us pagans?’ he cried out in a loud voice.

Eadulf was about to reply when he remembered the proscription against speaking. He said nothing.

‘Let him confirm that he called us pagan, lord,’ urged Murgal.

‘Your hearing is as good as anyone’s,’ Laisre replied. ‘It is the term that those of the new Faith often call us.’

‘I know it,’ affirmed Murgal. ‘And the very word pagánach is not even a word in the language of the children of Eireann. What better proof of their alien philosophy is this use of that word?’

‘We do not seek to argue that pagánach is a word now adopted into our language,’ intervened Brother Solin wheezily. ‘It is from the Latin paganus.’

Murgal was smiling broadly.

‘Exactly! Even in Latin it describes correctly what I am — a person of the country, pagus — as opposed to the milites or the soldiers who march through the country devastating it. You Christians are proud to call yourselves milites, enrolled soldiers of Christ, and look down on the civilians or paganus who you would trample on. I am proud to be called pagan! It is an honourable estate.’

Fidelma had known that Murgal was a clever man but she wassurprised that he had such a knowledge of Latin. She rose to her feet once more.

‘I repeat, I am not here to discuss theology. I am here only to discuss how best we might agree a practical matter.’

Orla rose abruptly from behind Colla’s empty chair. She was clearly enjoying the argument.

‘If my husband were here, he would challenge this representative of Cashel. But I have a right to speak at this council not only in my husband’s stead but as the sister of the chieftain.’

‘Let Orla speak!’ came a cry which gathered momentum from the seated dignitaries and those standing behind them.

Laisre motioned his sister, Orla, forward.

‘There is no secret that I and Colla, my husband, have disagreed with Laisre, my brother. He has refused Imleach’s attempt to bring Christianity to this valley for years and now he has invited members of the Faith to bring their alien teachings here. My brother, Laisre, is foolish if he thinks that allowing this new Faith to be practised