the light from the doorway. Laisre’s figure stiffened as he turned in her direction. Then he bowed his head to Marga.
‘Thank you, Marga. How many times must I take the infusion?’ His voice came clearly.
‘Only once in the evening, Laisre.’
The attractive apothecary turned and closed the door, cutting off the light from the courtyard.
Laisre stepped away in the gloom which had descended towards Fidelma.
‘Well, Fidelma of Cashel,’ he greeted her heavily, ‘I have just been told by Murgal that you disobeyed my orders and left the ráth earlier.’
‘It was not an order as I recall. You stated that it was only your preference,’ Fidelma replied solemnly.
Laisre snorted angrily.
‘Do not play with words. I did not sanction you leaving the ráth.’
‘If I had not left the ráth do you think that Brother Dianach would have been any the less dead?’
‘You bring death in your wake. The ravens of death are forever fluttering over your head,’ grunted Laisre sourly.
‘Do you really think that I am responsible for the deaths that have occurred?’
Laisre made an impatient gesture.
‘All I know is that such deaths have never occurred in our community before you came. The sooner that you are gone from here the better.’
He left her abruptly and hurried away towards the council chamber.
Fidelma sighed and decided to return to the hostel. She reasoned that she had allowed enough time for Esnad to unburden herself to Eadulf and say whatever it was she had wanted to say.
She was about to open the door when it was flung open and Esnad nearly collided with her. Fidelma almost lost her footing as the young woman pushed into her and, without faltering herself, hurried off into the night.
A moment later another figure came out of the hostel.
‘Esnad! Wait!’
The figure of Rudgal hurried by without even seeing Fidelma in the shadows.
Fidelma stared after his vanishing figure with an expression of perplexity. She entered the hostel and closed the door behind her. Eadulf was seated where she had left him. The food was barely touched.
He looked up with some relief.
‘What’s happened?’ Fidelma demanded. ‘Esnad came hurrying out and nearly knocked me over. Then Rudgal came out apparently chasing after her.’
‘I’ve no idea,’ confessed Eadulf. ‘I begin to think there is a madness in this place.’
‘Why was Esnad so keen on speaking to you alone? I thought she had something of importance to tell you which might have helped us solve this puzzle.’
Eadulf shook his head.
‘She was more anxious to ask me questions about who I was,where I came from and what life was like in the land of the South Folk.’
Fidelma was disappointed.
‘Is that all?’
Eadulf became embarrassed.
‘Actually, no. She wanted to know why I was travelling with you and what our relationship was.’
Fidelma gave a mischievous grin.
‘Our relationship?’
Eadulf gestured half-heartedly.
‘You know,’ he said lamely.
Fidelma decided not to tease him further.
‘Why do you think she was asking such questions? Was there a purpose in it?’
Eadulf was perplexed.
‘None that I could see. If she was older …’
Fidelma examined him closely. There was still some humour in her eyes.
‘
Eadulf, red with embarrassment, protested.
‘She is only a child.’
‘Fourteen is the age of maturity for a girl in this land, Eadulf. A girl can be married at that age and make her own decisions.’
‘But …’
‘You felt that she was being more than simply friendly towards you?’
‘Yes, I did. To be truthful, I have noticed her wanton attitude before. Well, it is probably only infatuation,’ he ended lamely.
Fidelma could not help smiling at his discomfiture.
‘So, she could add no more pieces to our puzzle? Very well. But what was Rudgal doing here and what was the meaning of that scene just now?’
‘He came in presumably because he had promised to prepare a meal for us, knowing that Cruinn was refusing to come to the hostel.’
‘Why was he so put out with Esnad?’
‘Maybe because Esnad brought us a supper before he did. He came in and when he saw her he seemed very ill-tempered.’
‘And how did she react?’
‘I do not think that she was pleased to see him. She left immediately.’
‘And he followed,’ mused Fidelma. ‘Interesting.’
Eadulf stood up.
‘It is beyond my understanding, however, it is time we had our supper. The hour grows late and if you still have a mind to depart in search of Ibor of Muirthemne …?’
Fidelma asserted that she did.
‘In that case, let us eat and go to bed early. Who knows what tomorrow may bring.’
Chapter Sixteen
It was still dark when Fidelma awakened Eadulf and told him to get ready. She was already dressed and, while he hurriedly copied her, she went down to fill their saddle bags with the remaining food that had been left from their evening meal. When Eadulf was ready, they crept out of the hostel and across the courtyard, keeping close to the shadows away from the flickering torchlight in case a wandering guard observed them. Fidelma wanted to avoid any vigilant eye as much as possible. There was one sentinel on the walls but he seemed to be dozing.
They saddled their horses as quietly as they could and led them cautiously out of the stables.
Eadulf groaned for the clatter of their shod hooves on the flagstones was surely enough to wake the dead. It certainly woke the sentinel who had been napping on the walls. He came down the steps to stand by the open gates. Fidelma realised the hopelessness of attempting to leave without anyone realising it. The only way was to bluff it out.
‘Who is it?’ demanded the gruff, though still sleepy, voice of the guard.
‘It is Fidelma of Cashel,’ she replied, summoning a haughty tone.
‘Ha! It is not yet dawn,’ replied the sentinel, stating the obvious. ‘Why are you leaving the ráth at such an hour?’
The man spoke uncertainly, knowing who she was and wondering whether he should speak deferentially or with hostility.
‘Brother Eadulf and I are leaving the ráth for a short while.’
