‘He said that I should go away for a few days while he tried to sort things out.’
‘Did he?’ murmured Fidelma.
‘I said that I ought to tell you.’
‘And he did not protest?’ demanded Eadulf in astonishment.
‘He thought it the best course of action.’
‘I see,’ mused Fidelma.
‘Do you?’ Elen seemed agitated. Her voice suddenly had an hysterical note. ‘Don’t you realise that Iorwerth is somehow linked to this, to the very people that killed his own daughter? He even allowed himself to be used to cover up the fact by being part of the mob who killed poor Idwal.’
Chapter Sixteen
‘You are only surmising that Iorwerth is involved,’ Fidelma said, seeking to calm her.
Elen shook her head stubbornly.
‘Be logical,’ insisted Fidelma. ‘This warrior could have been there merely having his horse shoed at Iorwerth’s forge. Why do you believe that he and Iorwerth were connected?’
‘Because they were laughing and drinking together when I passed by. What else could that mean other than that they were plotting together? I know he recognised me and asked Iorwerth who I was.’ The girl seemed adamant.
‘Do you know what your father has done about this matter? Is he challenging Iorwerth about it?’
‘I do not know what his plan was. He told me to leave until it was sorted out.’
‘He did not raise any objection at all when you insisted on telling us?’ mused Fidelma. She turned to Eadulf. ‘It is strange that he said nothing to us when we spoke at Iorwerth’s forge.’
‘Perhaps he did not want to alert Iorwerth about the matter,’ Eadulf suggested.
‘Perhaps,’ Fidelma unwillingly agreed. ‘Tell me, Elen, do you think that Iestyn is also involved in this matter?’
‘He is Iorwerth’s friend.’
‘But what manner of man is he?’
The girl was impatient. ‘He is a farmer today but he fought as a warrior in many campaigns. He is old now. Old and bitter because he says the young ones do not pay him enough respect.’
‘Where exactly is his farm?’ Fidelma asked with interest.
‘You know the bridge over the stream into the township. . where Iorwerth’s forge is?’
‘I do.’
‘Before you cross that bridge, you turn right along the track. Follow it for a kilometre or so along the side of the stream. At the end of the track you will come to his farm.’
‘Is he married?’
‘He was.’
‘Children?’
‘All killed fighting for Gwlyddien in the wars to protect the boundaries of Dyfed. That also is a cause of his bitterness.’ Elen paused and looked from one to another. ‘Time is passing. Have you learnt enough from me?’
Fidelma told her that they had.
‘What do you plan to do, then?’ Eadulf asked as the girl stood up and wrapped her cloak around her shoulders.
‘I mean to leave here. I have told my father’s servants that I am going back to Cilau to stay with my cousin. But I shall not go there.’
‘Where then?’ asked Fidelma. ‘Do not worry, you may trust us completely. But if I resolve this mystery, which I fully intend to do, then I shall need to know where you are in case you are needed as a witness.’
‘You will not tell anyone?’ the girl pleaded.
‘I will not.’
Elen glanced at Eadulf, who nodded his agreement.
‘To the south-west of here is a community called Llanrhian. I have a friend there. I shall be there.’
‘Do you mean to ride there tonight? In this weather?’
‘Better at night. I know the road well enough and no one will see my passing.’
There was a distant clap of thunder. The girl started nervously. Suddenly she plunged her hand into the folds of her skirt and came out with an object which she handed to Fidelma.
‘I want you to keep this. Idwal gave it to me for safe keeping. It was the only valuable thing that he possessed. He felt that it would be stolen by his gaolers.’
Fidelma took the object. It was a red gold chain from which dangled a bejewelled pendant on which was an image of a hare.
‘When did Idwal give you this?’ asked Fidelma, turning it over in her hands.
‘On the day he was brought back to the hall as a prisoner.’
‘On the day Mair was killed?’
‘The same day. He had not been searched then and he felt that it would be stolen if discovered upon him. You see, he trusted me. He told me that it had belonged to his mother. Iolo, the shepherd who raised him, had given it to him.’
Elen turned to the door and looked out into the darkening night.
‘I have told you what I know. I must be gone. Pray for me, for I realise what wrong I have done by keeping quiet for so long and by actually feeling relief at poor Mair’s death.’
‘We will pray that you come safely to your destination, Elen,’ Fidelma agreed gravely. ‘You alone must come to terms with your conscience about Mair. You may be right, but you may also be wrong. Whether you be right or wrong, there is no blame on you, believe me.’
The girl smiled quickly and left the hut. They heard her mount her horse and ride away.
Eadulf looked at Fidelma as she still stood before the fire drying herself.
‘Well, it seems that the mysteries are being cleared up one by one. You were right about Idwal’s innocence. It was obviously Clydog who killed Mair.’
Fidelma frowned and shook her head. She held up the chain with its glittering piece of jewellery.
‘On the contrary, Eadulf. I think that the mystery is deepening and we can take nothing for granted. I would certainly not accept the idea that Clydog killed Mair in mistake for Elen without more evidence.’
‘But you heard what the girl said? Surely it all fits?’
‘What about the role of Gwnda? You suspected him. He was an accessory to the killing of Idwal. Why? To stop him from speaking? About what? If Gwnda really believed Idwal was guilty, why now agree to his daughter telling us her story? It is all very confusing. Or is it?’
‘Would Gwnda be an accomplice in some plot in which the murder of his own daughter was envisaged? What was that plot? Why prevent her speaking about some chance meeting in a wood about a matter she clearly did not understand? Surely not? I don’t know what path we can take from here.’
‘One obvious place,’ rejoined Fidelma, glancing out of the hut door and observing that the rain was easing still further.
Eadulf raised an eyebrow.
‘We will have to have another word with Iestyn,’ Fidelma said. ‘After that, we’ll go back to Iorwerth and see what he has to say about the strange warrior.’
Eadulf sighed deeply. ‘I had wondered why you were so keen to learn more about Iestyn.’
Fidelma picked up her still sodden cloak and flung it around her shoulders before going out to the horses. Eadulf kicked out the remains of the fire and followed her outside. The drizzle had stopped, but it was still a cold, damp evening.
They rode back towards the bridge in silence, letting their horses walk casually with a loose rein. Just before the bridge, Fidelma turned along the path which Elen had indicated, following the track along the bank of the stream. The dark waters were running on the left side while the trees and undergrowth presented an almost
