offered a new life in a family community, since their own has rejected them. The Faith is always seeking novitiates.’
‘That is a matter for them to decide. At the moment they have had a harsh experience. To be betrayed is one thing, but to be betrayed by your own parents …’ He shuddered slightly.
‘Come, Brother,’ Brother Martan rose to his feet. ‘I have kept you long enough from food and mulled wine. Then you must rest. You look completely exhausted.’
‘I am,’ agreed Eadulf. ‘I nearly chose the wrong path when we came out of the woods. If I had made the wrong choice and wandered anylonger on these slopes, I doubt whether I would have kept awake much longer.’
Brother Martan smiled uncertainly. ‘Did you not see our lantern which we always keep burning outside the gates of our community?’
‘Oh yes,’ Eadulf agreed. ‘However, I thought that the other light might mark your community.’
‘The other light?’ Brother Martan raised an eyebrow slightly and then smiled as understanding came to him. ‘Ah! Down the mountain, a few kilometers from here, is one of the King’s hunting lodges. When he or his huntsmen are resting there, there is often a fire and lights to be seen. Fianamail or one of his family are doubtless resting there now.’
Eadulf nearly groaned aloud in relief. Had he made the wrong choice, he knew how this day would have ended. Thankful, in more ways than one, Eadulf followed the kindly Father Superior to the refectory of the community.
In the hall of the fortress of Cam Eolaing, Fidelma had quietly taken charge again.
‘Since Bishop Forbassach has fled from here,’ she told her audience with a note of sarcasm, ‘it might be interpreted — as he and others have interpreted similar actions in other people — as a sign of guilt.’ She gazed in challenge at Abbess Fainder who coloured hotly but did not comment. ‘However, we have much work to do with or without him.’
‘I do not think you have time to do anything, Sister Fidelma. The bishop will return with the King’s warriors soon,’ Mel said provokingly.
Coba ignored his threat. ‘Why were you and Bishop Forbassach trying to kill the young girl?’ he demanded brusquely, without waiting for Fidelma to begin.
‘We were doing nothing of the kind!’ Mel responded coldly.
‘The girl herself accuses you.’
‘It is not so.’
‘It is! It is!’ Fial insisted, less hysterical now, and staring around at the company. ‘You are all trying to kill me.’
Fidelma glanced at Coba before intervening, being technically a guest in his hall. The
‘Let us put this another way, Mel. Why were you and Bishop Forbassach in pursuit of the girl?’
‘It was well known that Sister Fial had gone missing from the abbey. All we were doing was trying to bring her back.’
‘But how did you know where she was?’ demanded Fidelma.
‘I did not know where she was. I don’t think Bishop Forbassach knew either until we came on her by accident.’
‘You say that you came on her by accident? I think that I have missed something. How did you come here in pursuit of Sister Fial?’
‘Why do you insist on calling me Sister?’ the girl intervened in a petulant cry. She started to sob again.
Fidelma moved across and patted her on the arm.
‘Be patient a little longer, my dear. We shall not be long in approaching the truth.’ She glanced at Mel. ‘Proceed with your story, Mel. How did you come here?’
‘You must remember,’ Mel said. ‘You were there. I came down into the main room of my sister’s inn. You were there with Coba, Bishop Forbassach and the Abbot Noé. You accused Gabrán of attacking you. Bishop Forbassach told you that he would investigate and instructed me to go with him.’
‘That is why you were making enquiries about Gabrán at Cam Eolaing earlier?’ intervened Fidelma.
Mel nodded affirmatively.
‘Bishop Forbassach and I went first to the abbey. And when he had seen Abbess Fainder we rode out in search of Gabrán to see if there was any truth in your claim. The bishop could not believe that you had made up the story.’
Fidelma glanced towards Abbess Fainder. ‘Did you tell Forbassach where Fial was?’
‘I did not know where she was,’ she protested.
‘But you did see Bishop Forbassach this morning?’
‘He came early, after he had spoken with you at the inn. He told me of your claim about Gabrán but did not tell me that he was going in search of him. That’s why I went to find him myself.’
Fidelma turned back to Mel. ‘And you tell me that you both left immediately in search of Gabrán? Are you claiming that you had only just arrived when we found you were chasing Fial?’
‘That is when we arrived at Gabrán’s boat, yes.’
Fidelma shook her head reprovingly. ‘If you left the abbey when you claim that you did, and that seems to be confirmed by your early arrival at Cam Eolaing enquiring for Gabrán, how did you only just reach Gabrán’s boat when we encountered you? We could not have passed so far ahead of you.’
‘We were misled.’ Mel was unabashed by the apparent inconsistency. ‘We went up the wrong branch of the river and by the time we realised that it had become too narrow for Gabrán’s boat to be anywhere along it, we had fallen some hours behind you. We had to come all the way back almost to Cam Eolaing again before setting off along the right path. Had we not made that mistake, we would have reached Gabrán’s boat some hours ago, before you or the abbess.’
‘Forbassach and you are local men. You must have known how the river divides.’
‘Fearna is six or seven kilometres from here. Yes, I am a Fearna man, but I don’t know every nook and cranny in the kingdom.’
Fidelma considered the explanation. While she found it questionable it was just possible. She decided that she could not pursue it without further information.
‘Having been side-tracked and returned to find Gabrán’s boat, what then?’
‘That was when we encountered Sister Fial,’ Mel explained. ‘We were riding along the river path when, totally without warning, the girl leapt out of the bushes in front of us and skidded to a halt. I think she recognised us but she started to scream and run off. Bishop Forbassach and I gave chase. The next thing we knew was when we came on you …’ He shrugged and gave a lopsided grin. ‘Well, the rest you know, Sister.’
Fidelma pondered on his evidence for a while and then sighed deeply. She turned to the young girl, Fial. She had ceased sobbing but appeared ill and woebegone.
‘Fial, I want you to know that I mean you no harm. If you are honest with me, I shall be honest with you. Do you understand?’
The girl did not reply but her eyes reminded Fidelma of a frightened animal. They had the same stark expression that an animal has when a predator closes in. Impulsively she went to place an arm around the girl’s gaunt shoulders.
‘There is nothing to be frightened of any more. I am not your enemy and I shall protect you from those who are your enemies. Do you believe me?’
There was still no response. Fidelma tried some direct questions.
‘How long were you a prisoner on Gabrán’s boat?’
The girl’s silence continued.
‘I know that you were there. You were held in a small cabin below and manacled.’
It was not a question but a statement. Finally, Fial shuddered and responded.
‘I do not know how long I was there. This last time, I think it was two or three days. It was dark and I had no way of knowing.’
