‘Then what do you propose to do?’ Eadulf asked, perplexed.
‘As I have said, I shall go back to Gleann Geis and investigate further. But I believe that I will not have far to search now. Ibor is right. We might yet find friends in Gleann Geis who will be as horrified as we are about this plot to destroy Muman. Once I know for sure who is responsible then I can place the facts before them and seek their aid.’
‘But is it wise to go back?’ protested Ibor. ‘You will be in constant danger.’
Fidelma smiled briefly.
‘Wisdom is being wise at the time wisdom is needed. I need to provoke some answers. I think I will need but another day to solve this mystery.’
Eadulf regarded her in astonishment but Fidelma spoke with quiet confidence.
‘It will be early evening when I get back to Gleann Geis. So I should be ready to act by tomorrow morning. At dawn tomorrow I want you, Ibor, and your men to be in control of Laisre’s fortress. Take command of all the key points by dawn.’
Ibor was so amazed at her request that he was unable to speak.But his face did not hold the total astonishment which Eadulf’s expression held.
‘It will be no hardship,’ Fidelma assured him earnestly. ‘I have barely seen more than half a dozen of Laisre’s warriors guarding it at any one time and the gates are left wide open all night.’
Ibor still looked doubtful.
‘It is not so easy. Even in darkness it would be difficult to reach Laisre’s ráth without being spotted. The reason why the gates are never closed is obvious. There is only one narrow ravine entering the valley through which only two might ride abreast and that is always guarded, so no need to close the gates of the fortress. The alarm would be given at the ravine if armed strangers entered.’
Eadulf was in total agreement.
‘Even when we rode out at dawn, we were challenged, Fidelma,’ he reminded her. ‘Ibor is right. His men will not be able to enter the valley at all.’
‘But there is another route.’ Fidelma ignored their objections. ‘There is the river.’
Ibor laughed dismissively.
‘A river of rapids and waterfalls which is not even navigable by boat? Only a spawning salmon could hope to get up it into the valley. I have heard about that so-called route from Murgal when he was boasting of the impregnability of the valley.’
‘According to Cruinn, there is a tiny rocky path beside the river, room for one man at a time, sometimes passing through caves but eventually emerging into the valley beyond.’
‘Is she to be trusted?’ The lord of Muirthemne was doubtful.
‘She let it slip in an unthinking moment and seemed to regret that she had done so. I think we can trust her on that. It means coming into the valley on foot. Will you find the path and under cover of darkness reach the fortress without being seen? After all, you will face only a few unprofessional warriors while you command a troop of the Craobh Rígh.’
Ibor flushed at the implication that the Royal Branch warriors of Ulaidh were afraid of conflict with a handful of non-professional warriors.
This time Ibor gave no hesitation.
‘If there is a way, Sister, my men and I will find it. If we can enter the valley unseen then we will be in control of Laisre’s ráth before dawn as you demand.’
‘Good. Once you have control then I think I will be in a position to draw the veil from these plots and murders without fear for myself.’
‘But we have twelve hours to survive before that,’ Eadulf pointed out.
‘You do not think that I am letting you return alone, do you?’ Eadulf asked in annoyance.
‘I do not ask this of you, Eadulf. It is not your fight.’
‘Neither was the fight between Cashel and the Uí Fidgente but I became involved and made it my fight,’ he said firmly. ‘What threatens Cashel is still my fight.’
He placed a certain emphasis on the last sentence.
Fidelma pretended not to understand but she did not argue further with him.
‘Then, Ibor, we will see you at dawn tomorrow. We will be banking on you.’
Ibor escorted them to the small ravine where his red-haired lieutenant, more deferential now towards them, had their horses waiting. They bade a brief farewell and the red-haired warrior guided them out of the foothills to the edge of the valley. Fidelma refused to allow Ibor’s man to ride further with them in case they encountered anyone from Gleann Geis on the way back. Fidelma and Eadulf continued to ride south keeping to the border of the foothills and not heading back across the valley.
‘Do you really think that you can prove Orla was responsible for the death of Solin?’ Eadulf broke the silence after they had been riding for a while.
‘I need to answer one question and then I might safely put forward a hypothesis,’ she replied quietly.
Eadulf’s mouth drooped pessimistically.
‘A hypothesis is no argument before a judge,’ he replied.
‘True, but it is going to be the best I can offer,’ she agreed. ‘I think it will be enough to bring forth those who will support us against Mael Dúin of Ailech.’
‘What is it?’
‘That I cannot say until I have secured the final link because at the moment it is that one link which worries me. Without it being put in place, the entire argument is destroyed.’
They had made a detour around a small foothill when suddenly a band of warriors came charging at them from two different directions, yelling and waving their swords threateningly. Fidelma pulled her horse around in a tight circle but they were surrounded and without weapons to defend themselves. Eadulf’s horse was rearing and flaying out with its front hooves. He had difficultymaintaining his seat but succeeded in doing so and bringing the animal under control.
Eadulf found himself cursing under his breath quite forgetting his religious calling. For the second time that day they had been taken prisoner.
The warriors came to a halt, ringing them in, swords resting easily across their saddle bows, ready to use at a moment’s notice. Fidelma felt cold. These were not Ibor’s men.
‘Hold hard!’ cried a woman’s familiar voice.
The ring of mounted warriors opened to allow a rider through. The slender figure was undoubtedly their leader. She removed her war helmet and surveyed them dourly.
‘We thought that you had forsaken our hospitality, Fidelma of Cashel.’
It was Orla, a satisfied look on her dark features.
‘As you see,’ replied Fidelma, as evenly as if there had been no threatening behaviour on the part of the warriors. ‘As you see, we were making our way back to Gleann Geis. We had not forsaken you.’
The truth of the statement was obvious enough for they were scarcely a half mile from the entrance of the gorge and had clearly been riding in that direction. A slight expression of bewilderment crossed Orla’s face as she realised the point. Then she scowled.
‘Nor will I forsake you, Fidelma, until I have made you retract your accusation against me.’ Her voice was cold and brittle with anger. ‘Why did you leave?’
‘I would have thought that Murgal might have been able to explain the reason for that,’ Fidelma commented with apparent unconcern.
‘Murgal? What has he to do with this?’ demanded the wife of the tanist of Gleann Geis.
‘Murgal is a Brehon. He would know what motivated me to force myself to leave your brother’s hospitality.’
‘Well, as Murgal isn’t here to speak perhaps you will? Better still, perhaps your Saxon friend can explain it for me? Then I can be sure that I am hearing the truth.’
Fidelma glanced to Eadulf anxiously, hoping that he would understand what she had meant or, at least make no reference to Ibor or his men.
‘Easy enough to explain,’ the Saxon said calmly. ‘We came to look at the remains of the slaughtered men
