Brother Dianach stood up and protested. Even Eadulf was surprised at his sudden leap out of character for he had always been shy and nervous. But anger and presumably fear provoked his outburst.
‘You all know that apart from Brother Solin, only myself and the horse merchant there are from the northern lands. I deny any accusation against me!’
His voice had become almost a falsetto. His face crimson.
‘It wasn’t the boy,’ agreed Artgal hastily. ‘It was a deeper man’s voice.’
Only Fidelma noted that Laisre’s anxiety was now replaced by a look of momentary satisfaction.
Eyes turned to where Ibor of Muirthemne had been sitting. He was no longer in his place.
‘Learned judge,’ interposed Eadulf hurriedly, ‘before we lose sight of the main business of these proceedings, this witness has said enough to prove my argument that his acceptance of this money invalidates his evidence.’
Murgal agreed sombrely.
‘It is true. Artgal, you may leave this chamber but confine yourself to the ráth. I will have to consider what shall be done with you. You have disgraced your chieftain and your clan.’
Artgal had barely left his place when Eadulf spoke again.
‘I suggest that as Artgal’s evidence falls, Sister Fidelma be released
Murgal was about to agree when Laisre, surprisingly, held up his hand and bent forward from his chair towards Eadulf.
‘One charge prevents that, Saxon.’ His voice was harsh. ‘When she was charged with this crime, Fidelma of Cashel demeaned herself by seeking to lay the blame on another — namely my sister, Orla. She swore that she had seen Orla coming out of the stable door. But Orla was, by the testimony of her husband, Colla, able to prove she was not at the stable. Now to swear false oath is enough, as I understand the law, to keep Fidelma of Cashel under lock and key until we consider her guilt or otherwise. I say this notwithstanding the dishonesty of Artgal.’
Most people were taken aback by the tough and unsympathetic attitude of the chieftain. Eadulf let the murmur of the court fade away before he spoke again.
‘Chieftain, believe me when I tell you that I know just how insulted you must feel by a claim which you believe falsely impeaches your family. Yet I would argue that it is no grounds on which to ignore what has happened here this day.’
He now addressed himself to Murgal for his was the final judgment and he would obviously guide Laisre as to the law.
‘In Druidic teachings,’ Eadulf continued softly, ‘so I am told, there is always a Middle Way to approach things. A third way. Maybe Sister Fidelma made a mistake about identifying Orla. It is easily done in the darkness. Just as Artgal, before he fell a victim to avarice, made a mistake in thinking that because Fidelma was bending over the body of Solin of Armagh she therefore must have killed him. Fidelma and Artgal leapt to conclusions. The third way was not considered.’
Murgal was clearly impressed with Eadulf’s argument.
‘Is there any other reason why we should accept your argument?’ inquired Murgal.
‘There is the practical evidence, of course.’
‘Oh?’
‘The fact that, as Fidelma had rightly suggested, she was searched and not found in possession of the murder weapon. Nor when the stable was searched was such a weapon found. The conclusion is that the murderer took that weapon with him or her. It may be that it would have identified him or her. Laisre will confirm that his warriors searched diligently. There was no place that the weapon could have been hidden between the time when Artgal entered and when he claimed he saw Fidelma rising from the body. In otherwords, the facts exactly fit Sister Fidelma’s account … but with one exception — she thought she saw Orla. I ask you to believe that she saw someone.’
Murgal turned and leaned close to Laisre and held a whispered conversation. His voice was urgent. Laisre seemed to protest but Murgal was insistent and reluctantly the chieftain finally gestured his indifference. Murgal sat back.
‘You have argued well, Saxon. So well, in fact, that in arguing that Fidelma of Cashel be released until her trial you have dispensed with all the evidence against her. It seems to me that if we find the man who bribed Artgal we might also find the weapon which slew Solin. It has not escaped our notice that Artgal said the man spoke with the accent of Ulaidh or that the horse dealer, Ibor of Muirthemne, has now left this assembly. The fact that Solin was also a man of Ulaidh might suggest that this tragedy was the result of some private quarrel. There is no reason to hold Fidelma in custody any more.’
A burst of noisy voices thundered around the chamber.
Eadulf turned with a smile which was a mixture of relief and triumph to Fidelma. Fidelma was rising for the first time, her face still serious.
‘Murgal,’ her voice was strong and steady, ‘I thank you, as I also thank Laisre, for the justice you have dispensed this day. But there is still the killer of Brother Solin to be caught. I would like your permission to investigate this killing. If Ibor of Muirthemne is responsible, let me bring him to justice. It is my contention that there is a link with Brother Solin’s death and the curious ritual of the thirty-three dead young men.’
Laisre interrupted before Murgal could reply.
‘I would prefer that we finish the negotiations which you are here to conduct and that you then depart in haste back to Cashel. You may be assured that we will do our best to find this man, Ibor of Muirthemne, who has bribed one of my best warriors and destroyed his honour.’
‘Is that your command?’ insisted Fidelma, to Eadulf’s surprise, for, had it been his decision to make, he would have left Gleann Geis with the utmost rapidity.
‘Call it my preference, Fidelma of Cashel. The most important business we have between us is to finish our negotiations. There will be no joy between us in any further relationship. The sooner that you are gone from our valley, the better, for I cannot forget the insult to my family — even if I accept the Saxon’s explanation that you were mistaken in your identification. Let us rest this nightand commence our deliberations in the morning. Now … I think we have finished our business for the day.’
Laisre rose abruptly and left the chamber. There was no happiness on his face. Orla and Colla followed him swiftly. It fell to Murgal to dismiss the court. Across the chamber, Eadulf saw Brother Dianach hurrying away. His face was flushed with anxiety. Of Artgal, there was no sign at all. Eadulf was about to move to Fidelma when he noticed the young girl, Esnad, smiling at him. Orla’s daughter had a warm, alluring smile on her features and when he met her eyes, she did not drop them in maidenly fashion but met his gaze in an open, provocative manner. Embarrassed, it was Eadulf who dropped his gaze first.
The fourteen-year-old daughter of Orla and Colla was being deliberately flirtatious.
Chapter Fourteen
Once Fidelma and Eadulf were alone in the hostel, Fidelma whirled round to the Saxon monk with a warm smile and seized his hands with both of her own.
‘You were brilliant!’ she pronounced enthusiastically.
Eadulf blushed furiously.
‘I had a good teacher,’ he mumbled with some embarrassment.
‘But you found the right laws to argue. And the way you led Artgal into that trap! I have never seen an advocate manipulate a witness better. It was brilliant to use the law to develop your argument. You should claim a degree as a
‘I had some help from Rudgal,’ admitted Eadulf. ‘Without his information, I could not have shown Artgal to be an unworthy witness.’
Fidelma became serious.
‘Are you saying that it was Rudgal who gave you the information about the payment Artgal was to
