the dressings at all.’
Brother Mochta forced a smile. ‘The journey has worsened my disposition, however, my Saxon friend. I feel as if I have been dragged over a stony stretch of land.’
Fidelma had discovered a stub of candle which she lit from the lamp which Aona had left.
‘What is it?’ asked Eadulf as she started towards the stairs, carrying it in her hand.
‘I am just curious about what Samradán trades in,’ she replied. ‘I am going to have a look in the wagons.’
Eadulf was disapproving. ‘Is that wise?’ he asked.
‘Curiosity is sometimes a more powerful force than wisdom. Look after Brother Mochta until I return.’
Eadulf shook his head in censure as she disappeared into the stable below.
Aona was not in the stable and the horses had not been unsaddled. Presumably he had gone to give instructions to Adag.
Fidelma went on into the yard. It was now in darkness, except for a lamp which, by law, announced the presence of the inn. The clouds had caused the night to come down rapidly. She made her way to the two heavy wagons. Both were covered in tarpaulins which served to keep the rain off their contents. She sheltered the flickering flame of the candle with her hand and moved round the wagons. Leather thongs kept the tarpaulins secure. She balanced the candle on top of one of the wheels, hoping that no sudden breeze would blow it out, as she undid one of the thongs. Then she heaved the covering aside.
By the light of the candle, she could see a number of tools inside, tools for digging. There were spades and picks and other such implements. She turned to some leather bags nearby. They seemed to be filled with rock of some kind. She reached forward and drew out some of the rocks and examined them. They meant nothing in the candlelight. She replaced them and looked into a second leather bag. There were a number of metal nuggets in it. She drew out one. It reflected and gleamed in her hand.
So Samradan and his men were not merely merchants? She had a feeling that what they were up to was something illegal. The metal was silver. She pursed her lips in disapproval as she replaced it back in the bag.
‘What are you doing?’
The voice cut into Fidelma’s thoughts and she swung round, her heart beating fast.
A small boy stood there with a lantern in one hand.
Fidelma relaxed visibly as she recognised him.
‘Hello, Adag,’ she greeted Aona’s young grandson. ‘Do you remember me?’
The boy nodded slowly.
Fidelma replaced the leather covering and secured the fastener. Then she moved away from the wagon.
‘You did not say what you were doing?’ The boy insisted.
‘No,’ agreed Fidelma. ‘I did not.’
‘You were looking for something.’ The boy sniffed in disapproval. ‘It is wrong to look through other people’s possessions.’
‘It is also wrong to steal other people’s possessions. I was just examining these wagons to see if everything belonged to the people who drove them. Now your grandfather said you can keep a secret. Can you?’
The boy regarded her with some scorn. ‘Of course I can.’
Fidelma looked solemnly at the small boy. ‘Your grandfather has told you not to breathe a word about the presence of my companions or myself to anyone. Especially not those men in the inn?’
The boy nodded solemnly. ‘You still have not told me what you were looking for in the wagons, Sister.’
Fidelma grew conspiratorial. ‘Those men in your grandfather’s tavern are robbers. That is why I was looking in their wagons. I was looking for proof. Your grandfather will tell you that I am a
The child’s eyes widened. As Fidelma thought, the boy responded more positively to being allowed into an adult secret than simply being told to mind his own business.
‘Do you want me to keep a watch on them, Sister?’
Fidelma was serious. ‘I think that you are the best person for the job. But do not let on to them that you suspect them of anything.’
‘Of course not,’ assured the boy.
‘Just watch them and come and tell me when they leave the tavern and in which direction they go. Do it stealthily, without them knowing.’
‘Whatever time they leave?’
‘Exactly. Whatever time.’
The boy grinned happily. ‘I shall not let you down, Sister. Now I must unsaddle your horses. My grandfather is making a meal for you and your friends.’
When Fidelma explained matters to Eadulf and Brother Mochta, Eadulf said: ‘Is it wise to involve the boy?’
Brother Mochta was a little fearful and added: ‘Are you sure the boy won’t betray himself?’
‘No.’ Fidelma was adamant. ‘He’s a smart lad. And I do need to know when Samradan and his wagons leave here.’
‘What did you mean by telling the boy that they are robbers’ asked Eadulf.
‘Because it is the truth,’ Fidelma assured him. ‘What did I find in the wagons? Tools for digging and bags of rocks. What does that say to you, Eadulf.’
The Saxon shook his head, mystified.
Fidelma was exasperated. ‘Rocks … ore … mining tools!’ she exploded the words like the crack of a whip. Eadulf caught on.
‘You mean, they were the ones mining the silver in the caves?’
‘Exactly. I have heard of metals being mined a little further south of here but I did not know there was a silver vein in these hills until we discovered it. But, whoever the vein belongs to, I am sure it does not belong to Samradan. He is mining illegally, according to the judgements given in the
Brother Mochta whistled slightly. ‘Has Samradan anything to do with the rest of this puzzle?’ he asked.
‘That I don’t know,’ confessed Fidelma. ‘Anyway, our first priority now is to eat and then we will see what is to be done. I hope Aona hurries up with that food.’
It was just after dawn that Fidelma was dragged from her sleep by a hand shaking her. She came awake reluctantly, blinking at the eager face of young Adag above her.
‘What is it?’ she mumbled sleepily.
‘The robbers,’ hissed the boy. ‘They’ve gone.’
She was still sleepy. ‘Robbers?’
The child was impatient. ‘The men with the wagons.’
Fidelma was wide awake. ‘Oh. When did they go?’
‘About ten minutes ago. I awoke only because I heard the sound of their wagons on the stone of the road outside.’
Fidelma gazed across the room to where her two companions were still sleeping peacefully.
‘At least you were alert, Adag,’ she smiled. ‘We did not hear a thing here. Which way have they gone?’
‘They went off along the road to Cashel.’
‘Good. You have done well, Adag, and …’ She paused.
There came the sound of horses clattering into the yard outside. ‘Could they have come back?’ she asked Adag quickly.
Eadulf groaned in his sleep and turned over but did not wake, and at that moment Fidelma realised that the sounds were not those of pack animals nor of wagons being pulled. They were the shod hooves of warriors’ horses.
She quickly rose from her palliasse and went to the window, taking care to keep well back, and moved the corner of the sackcloth curtain aside.
Down in the yard were the shadows of seven horsemen. The inn light which had been burning all night, cast a faint and uneven glow. Nevertheless, she caught her breath as she saw the thin, bird-like features of Solam
