Whispers of the Dead

Fidelma sat quietly for a moment. Then she raised a slender shoulder and let it fall.

“It is impossible to make an answer based on the facts that you have cited.” She glanced quickly at Brehon Morann. “I presume that I am allowed to ask questions of the Druimcli before expressing any opinion?”

Firbis interrupted before the Brehon could answer.

“I thought the facts were plain enough, young woman. The casket was found under the bed of Sochla. Have you overlooked that fact?”

“I have not,” replied Fidelma.

“Bearing that fact in mind, do you tell me that you do not think it is a simple, open and shut case? Surely you do not wish to waste time here? The answer is simply a negative or positive one. Was a true or false judgment rendered when Sochla was pronounced guilty of the crime?”

Fidelma turned to Brehon Morann.

“I think it is right that I should ask questions,” she said stubbornly, determined not to be cowed by the Druimcli. “No one would be able to express support for a judgment without knowing all the facts.”

The Brehon smiled gravely.

“You may ask, but do not waste time.”

Fidelma turned back to Firbis.

“What was the motive according to the Brehon who pronounced the woman guilty?”

Firbis blinked and glanced at Brehon Morann with a raised eyebrow. Then he turned back to Fidelma and shrugged indifferently.

“With a priceless relic, I would have thought that the matter of motive was obvious.”

“Really? I would have thought that the motive became more obscure.”

Firbis’s eyes narrowed. Before he could respond, Fidelma asked another question: “Was this Sochla an intelligent woman? Was she half-witted or did she have any other defects that would cause her a lack of common sense?”

“She was intelligent,” replied Firbis tightly.

“Then she would have known that it is impossible to make financial gain from a priceless article such as the skull of Maine of Tethbae. Who would want to buy such a relic apart from those to whom it is priceless?”

“She could have taken it to demand a ransom from Catharnaigh, the King of Tethbae, for its safe return,” pointed out Brehon Morann quietly.

“That would be equally preposterous,” replied Fidelma. “Once she had revealed that she had the casket and skull, she would be in a vulnerable position and, even if she succeeded in the negotiation, thereafter she would condemn herself to a life of exile from Tethbae and from the reach of its King. No, there is no motive in theft for profit. . if, as you say, the woman was intelligent.”

Firbis shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“Are you saying that, on this reasoning alone, you believe that the judge made a false judgment?”

Fidelma shook her head at once.

“Not on that reasoning alone,” she smiled softy. “In all cases, as you know, there must be motive, means and opportunity. All three things must come together in one pattern. You tell me that the opportunity was there. . that she was in the hall alone when everyone had gone to watch a game of hurley. Presumably we can be assured that the casket and skull were observed to be in their place before people departed for the game and then were gone when they returned? To remove a casket containing a skull does not require any great means.”

“So you admit that the judge was correct on means and opportunity?” pressed Firbis.

Fidelma pursed her lips thoughtfully.

“I have heard no evidence that this Sochla possessed the only means and opportunity. Is there such evidence? Is it not possible that someone could have happened by and removed the casket while Sochla was elsewhere in the hall of Catharnaigh? Is it not possible that some other person could have planted the casket under Sochla’s bed?”

Firbis laughed, amused by the suggestion.

“For what motive?”

“There might be several motives, but one would need to ask a great many questions to find and validate them.”

“It seems to me, Fidelma, that you are attempting to make the woman in this case, Sochla, innocent,” observed the Brehon Morann.

Fidelma shook her head quickly.

“Not at all. I am attempting to find out the facts before rushing to judgment. I certainly would have asked more questions on means and opportunity. Tell me more about this Sochla. Is she young or old, what is her disposition, is she married, does she have lovers and, if so, who are they?”

“She is of young age,” Firbis replied. “She is barely over the ‘Age of Choice.’ Her father was of the daer-nemed class, that is a manual worker. In this case he worked as an assistant to the king’s blacksmith, while the girl worked as a manual worker, a cleaner, in the king’s hall.”

“And why was one so young and of such a class left alone in the king’s hall while all others went to a ball game? Did the king fear no enemies, no envious hands, that he would leave his house and wealth unguarded?”

Firbis exchanged another glance with Morann.

“Presumably this line of questioning was pursued with Catharnaigh?” pressed Fidelma when there was no response to her question.

Firbis sniffed: “What are you implying?”

“Druimcli, surely you should know that I could not imply anything. It is merely my duty to ask questions and through the answers to discover the truth.”

The Druimcli looked uncomfortable.

“The King had no cause to fear his enemies nor to fear envious hands in his property.”

“Yet, is it not unheard of that such a noble would vacate his hall and possessions in this manner?”

“The facts are as I have told them. It is not my task to comment or speculate on why a person should do this or that.”

Fidelma leaned forward quickly.

“But isn’t that the very task of a Brehon-to examine motivation behind each fact and ascertain what lay behind the fact and whether the person had criminal intent or not?”

Druimcli Firbis sat up more stiffly.

“I declare, you now exceed the parameters of your position, young woman. You are here to answer my question, which you have not yet done.”

“I have not done so because the question cannot be answered in the manner in which it is given,” she replied stubbornly. “You said that Sochla was young. Was she married?”

“She was not.”

“Did she have a lover?”

Firbis hesitated and inclined his head.

“And where was he on this day?”

“He claims that he was with Sochla.”

Fidelma pursued her lips in astonishment at this new revelation.

“And Sochla? What does she say?”

“That after the king and his entourage left, she began to work and then her lover came by. That they spent some time together. . ”

“Was she out of sight of the casket?” interrupted Fidelma.

Firbis blinked and paused a moment before responding.

“The casket is kept in a place of honor in the main feasting hall, on a stand behind the King’s seat. She claimed that they were out of sight of it for nearly an hour.”

“So anyone might have entered the hall and taken it.” Fidelma pouted. “It seems a very weak case against the girl, indeed. Who was this lover? Will he confirm what she says?”