sins of humanity in equal proportion,’ commented Brother Dangila drily.
Fidelma smiled wanly. ‘Well spoken, Brother Dangila. You are right, and you remind me of our frailty and, indeed, of my task. Let us return to the hypothesis that we were discussing.’
‘I will not change my views.’
‘I do not ask that. I am simply going to work on the hypothesis that it was you that Brocc saw. You see, Brocc was not the only person abroad on this hillside that night who will be called to witness.’
Brother Dangila regarded her with a stony expression. ‘Let that witness also come forward and make identification. If so, we may drop this game of hypothesis for I was told that a Brehon only went by what was a proven fact.’
‘Let us say that I am speculating. I also speculate that your defence would be that you were merely looking at the stars out of your interest in such matters.’
‘As you please.’
Fidelma turned in seriousness towards him. ‘Then let me add this warning, Brother Dangila. If my speculation is found to be false in any point then I can become as a bolt of lightning striking a tall oak. No matter how tall the oak, lightning can be a powerful force. I think you understand me.’
‘You have made it clear, Fidelma of Cashel. You are a woman of firm belief and courage. I admire you for it.’
Fidelma was about ask why Brother Dangila had been in Accobrán’s wagon when there was a sudden cry from the edge of the woods. The next moment, a horse bearing Accobrán, sword in hand, came bounding out of the trees. A second horseman was following close behind. Eadulf was maintaining his seat with difficulty.
Brother Dangila sprang up. To Fidelma’s surprise, the tall Aksumite made to place himself before her in a protective attitude, ready to defend her from the attack.
‘Wait!’ cried Fidelma, grabbing hold of Brother Dangila’s hand in which a sharp throwing knife had appeared. Then she shouted to the oncoming tanist. ‘Put up your sword! Stop, I say!’
Accobrán drew rein, slid from his mount and stood, sword still in hand, ready to threaten Dangila. Eadulf came to a halt beside him and half tumbled, half dismounted from his own horse.
‘What does this mean, Accobrán?’
‘Are you all right, lady?’ demanded the tanist.
‘Of course I am,’ replied Fidelma in annoyance. ‘What are you doing threatening Brother Dangila with your sword? Sheathe it, I say. I am in no danger.’
Accobrán’s eyes were filled with suspicion.
‘How long have you been here with Brother Dangila?’ demanded the tanist, still not obeying.
Fidelma shook her head. ‘Long enough to have a talk.’ She glanced at Eadulf, who had recovered his composure and now came to her. ‘Eadulf, can you explain this behaviour, since Accobrán will not?’
Eadulf had relief etched into every feature of his face as he grasped her hand.
‘We were worried for your safety…’
‘Why? I do not understand. Did I not tell you that I would be safe?’
‘Lesren has been found…’ Eadulf hesitated as if trying to find the right words.
‘Been found? For God’s sake, explain!’
It was Accobrán who finally answered. ‘Lesren the tanner was found a short time ago. His throat has been cut.’
Chapter Ten
After Brother Dangila had been escorted back to the abbey, Fidelma accompanied Eadulf and Accobrán to the tannery of Lesren by the banks of the river. It was Eadulf who cynically pointed out that Fidelma might have come on Brother Dangila after he had killed Lesren. The hill overlooking the abbey was but a half-hour’s walk from the tannery where Lesren’s body had been discovered.
‘I do not discount any fact, Eadulf,’ Fidelma replied, ‘but why on earth would Brother Dangila want to kill Lesren?’
Eadulf opened his mouth and then, as he thought about the question, shut it.
‘The death of Lesren would be a significant development,’ Fidelma said, after a pause.
‘I do not understand, lady.’ Accobrán was frowning.
‘If the killing of Lesren is part of this pattern of killings, then we must reconsider our popular theory.’
Seeing their incomprehension, Fidelma motioned to the blue autumnal sky above them.
‘When was the body found?’ she asked.
‘A little after midday.’
‘And when was Lesren last seen?’
‘Just after the noon meal and…oh.’ Eadulf cut himself short and then sighed. He flushed in embarrassment. ‘His death could not be ascribed to any lunatic killing. It is out of sequence with the killings at the full moon.’
‘Exactly so.’
Eadulf suddenly hit his balled fist into the cupped palm of his other hand as a thought struck him. He forgot he was on horseback and the horse shied nervously as the movement tugged on the reins. He struggled to bring the animal under control.
Fidelma regarded him with amusement.
‘Gabrán! The boy had good reason for killing Lesren. There is the possibility that, after our visit this morning, Gabrán might have been so angry that he went to have it out with Lesren.’
The thought had already occurred to Fidelma. The boy had certainly been angry that Lesren was still accusing him of the death of Beccnat.
Accobrán seemed impressed. ‘I think Brother Eadulf’s suggestion is worthy of investigation.’
‘Certainly, nothing should be discounted,’ Fidelma said. ‘But we know that Lesren’s accusation was false, so Lesren’s death is not part of the pattern of killing.’
‘I suppose that motive can be ascribed to Fínmed as well,’ sighed Eadulf as he thought more about the matter. ‘All three, Goll, Fínmed and Gabrán, felt an anger and hatred towards Lesren which might be a motive for this crime.’
‘On the other hand, there may be no connection with any of these matters at all,’ Fidelma reminded him. ‘We must consider this development very carefully. But, as yet, I have heard no details at all. You have still to tell me how you came by the knowledge of Lesren’s death.’
It was Accobrán who explained. ‘After we left you, we had just returned to the fortress when one of Lesren’s workers came to find me. It was he who reported the matter. So we rode to check whether it was true. Lesren’s body was at the edge of the woods just behind the tannery. Seeing that we could do nothing further for the man. thinking that you might be in danger, we came straight away to find you.’
‘And the man who found the body?’
‘We left him looking after it and rendering what comfort he could to Bébháil, Lesren’s wife.’
They had joined the road which stretched along the riverbank and came once again to the collection of wooden buildings that constituted the tannery of Lesren. The drying hides were still stretched on the frames about the buildings but there was no sign now of anyone working at the framing or the dyeing.
‘Where is the body?’ Fidelma demanded, as they halted outside Lesren’s
Accobrán indicated the edge of the wood. Even before he spoke, a man appeared from the cover of the trees and waved to them.
‘That is Tómma. Lesren’s assistant. It is he who reported the death and he whom we left looking after it,’ the tanist explained, waving back to the man.
‘Am I to presume that Tómma left the body unattended when he came to tell you at the fortress?’
