It was then that Coba’s chief warrior returned to the hall and came straight to Coba.
‘Bishop Forbassach has left the fortress!’
Coba looked startled. ‘I posted a guard on the gate with strict instructions that no one was to leave unless I or Sister Fidelma said so. How can this be? Were my orders not obeyed?’
The man grimaced awkwardly. ‘They were not, my chieftain. The gate stands open and Forbassach has taken a horse. Someone who saw him leave — they did not know that he had no permission to do so and so cannot be blamed — they saw him ride towards Fearna.’
Coba swore violently.
‘
‘My mind is calm,’ snapped Coba. ‘Where is the guard who was at the gate? Where is he who let Bishop Forbassach through? Bring him to me!’
‘He is gone also,’ muttered the warrior.
Coba was puzzled. ‘Gone? Who is this warrior who dares disobey me?’
‘The man is called Dau. He has a bandaged head.’
Coba was suddenly thoughtful. ‘The same man who was knocked unconscious when the Saxon fled from here this morning?’
‘That is he.’
‘Is it also known in which direction this man Dau has fled?’ intervened Fidelma.
‘The person who saw the bishop riding towards Fearna observed that another man rode with him, Sister,’ the warrior replied. ‘Doubtless, that was Dau. They have fled together.’
‘Bishop Forbassach was not fleeing,’ the abbess laughed scornfully. ‘He rides to Fearna in order to bring the King and his warriors backhere to make an end to your treachery, Coba, and an end to the false accusations of this friend of the Saxon murderer!’
‘I am cold and hungry. I do not feel well. Can’t we stop for a while?’
The complaint came from the young girl, Conna.
Eadulf drew to a halt and peered back to where the girl was lagging behind him and Muirecht in the gloom which was quickly descending over the mountain.
‘This is too exposed — without shelter, Conna,’ he replied. ‘We must reach the religious community before nightfall or soon after. If we halt here, we will freeze to death.’
‘I can’t go on. My legs are giving out.’
Eadulf gritted his teeth. He knew that they were now on the southern slopes of the Yellow Mountain and must surely be near the sanctuary of which Dalbach had spoken. If they halted they would never get started again and, out here on the windy unprotected slopes of the mountain, they might soon perish of cold.
‘We will continue a little further. We cannot be far off now. I thought I saw a wooded area down on the lower slopes a while ago when the sun was out. We will head in that direction. At least, if we don’t find the religious settlement, then we will have some protection in the woods. We might even be able to get a fire going.’
‘I can’t move!’ wailed the young girl.
‘Leave her,’ muttered Muirecht. ‘I am cold and hungry too but I do not want to die this night.’
Eadulf was about to rebuke her for her callousness but decided to save his breath. He turned and walked back to where Conna had sunk to a seat on a boulder.
‘If you can’t walk,’ he said firmly, ‘I must carry you.’
The girl gazed up at him uncertainly. Then she bowed her head and rose unsteadily from her perch.
‘I will try to go on a little further,’ she conceded in a grumbling tone.
It was a long time before the stretch of trees appeared over a sinewy shoulder of the mountain, a gloomy dark outline, no more. It was not far off and Eadulf could see nothing beyond its dim vista which seemed to merge with the slope of the mountains.
‘Come on!’ Eadulf said. ‘It will not be far now.’
They trudged on, the younger girl whimpering to herself now and then, the older one silent and angry.
The woods, when they reached them, were scarcely inviting in their dusk-shrouded blackness. Eadulf had trouble keeping to the track which led through them. Yet the fact that he had come on a well-used track was a good sign; it must mean that this was the way to the religious settlement. Nightfall came rapidly and there was no moon to light the way for the sky was cloudy and heavy.
After a while Eadulf sensed the thinning of the trees: they had emerged into open country again. The track split in two and it was lucky that he had his eyes to the ground trying to decipher which direction it would be best to take, otherwise he would have missed the fact that the path was diverging.
Muirecht suddenly gave a cry. ‘Look! There is a light down there. Look, Saxon, below us!’
Eadulf raised his head. The girl was right. Some way down the darkened slope he could see the flicker of a light. Was it a fire or perhaps it was a lantern?
‘There is another light just above us,’ Conna pointed out peevishly.
Eadulf turned in surprise and peered through the darkness in the opposite direction. Above them he saw the faint light of a dancing lantern. It was closer than the lights below. He made a decision.
‘We will go up towards that light.’
‘It would be easier to go down,’ protested Muirecht.
‘And further to return here if we are wrong,’ replied Eadulf logically. ‘We will go up.’
He began to lead the way up the path towards the flickering light. It was further than he thought but at last they came to a flat area with several buildings, surrounded by walls, emerging from the darkness. A lantern hung above the gates and an iron crucifix was fixed to them marking the purpose for which the buildings were used.
Eadulf gave a sigh of relief. At last they had found the religious sanctuary recommended by Dalbach. He tugged on the bell rope outside the gate.
A young, fresh-faced religieux came to open up. He looked in astonishment at the strange trio who stood outside in the circle of light cast by the lantern.
‘May I see Brother Martan?’ Eadulf addressed him. ‘Dalbach sent me here to seek shelter. I need food, warmth and a bed for myself and the little ones.’
The young religieux moved back and waved them inside.
‘Come in, come in, all of you.’ His welcome was enthusiastic. ‘I will take you to Brother Martan and while you speak with him, I shall see that your daughters are cared for.’
Eadulf did not bother to correct the well-meaning young man.
Brother Martan was stocky and chubby-faced. He was a man of advancing years and he wore a perpetual smile.
‘
‘He told me that I might find a night’s sanctuary from the elements in your house.’
‘And Dalbach spoke truly. Have you come far, for your speech is that of a stranger to this land?’
The old man halted for Eadulf had automatically taken off his hat during the conversation.
‘You wear the tonsure of Peter. So are you of the Faith?’
‘I am a Saxon Brother,’ admitted Eadulf.
‘And you travel with your children?’
Eadulf shook his head and, without giving details of his own background, explained how he had encountered the girls.
‘Ah, such a tragedy is not unusual,’ sighed Brother Martan sadly, when Eadulf had finished. ‘I have heard of such an evil trade in human flesh before. And you say that the name of Gabrán was mentioned in this foul enterprise? He is a man known to our brethren at Fearna. He is a trader along the river.’
‘I shall be on my way to Fearna first thing in the morning.’
‘And the two girls?’
‘Could I leave them in your safekeeping?’
Brother Martan gave his approval. ‘They can stay here for as long as it is necessary. Perhaps they can be
