The merchant was shaking his head rapidly. He glanced at the boatmen and waved them away.
“How can you know this?”
“Did you examine the markings on the barge when you bought it?”
Ségán shook his head.
“I know that it had been repainted. There is new tar. What markings?”
“The image of a wolf’s head is branded into the woodwork at the prow. That is Olcán’s mark. Now where did you get this barge?”
“As I said, I bought it. I bought it from a boatman.”
Fidelma frowned.
“And what was his name?”
“Name?” He shook his head.
“There were some boatmen up at Conna’s Fortress upriver and they were trying to sell the barge. I offered them a good price.”
“You bought the barge from someone whose name you do not even know?”
“I know Conna,” replied the fat merchant. “He knew the boatmen. That was good enough for me.”
Fidelma sighed.
“Then we must have a word with Conna,” she said to Ross. Turning back she viewed the merchant with disfavor. “I would advise you not to travel far. The boat you now claim to own was stolen and doubtless its owner will seek restitution.”
The merchant paled a little.
“I bought it in good faith. .” he began to protest.
“From someone whose name you didn’t know,” interrupted Fidelma sharply. “You therefore share some of the culpability.”
She stood up and left the tavern, followed by Ross.
“Would it not be wise to keep an eye on the merchant?” the old sailor ventured.
“I do not think he will be hard to find in the future. I am sure that he was telling the truth although I suspect that he probably realized something was wrong with the transaction.”
“Where now?”
“As I said, to Conna’s fortress. How far is that from here?”
“About four or five kilometers.”
Conna’s fortress was perched on a rocky outcrop beside the river. There were several barges and boats moored beneath its walls and signs of boatmen unloading cargoes. As they climbed out of the
“Take me to Conna at once.”
The leading warrior halted and blinked in surprise, unused to being addressed in such a fashion by someone in religieuse robes.
Fidelma followed the advantage.
“Don’t stand there gawking, man. It is Fidelma, sister of Colgú your king who demands this.”
Nervously the man glanced at his companions and then, without a word, turned and led the way. Ross, following a step behind Fidelma, was trying to hide his nervousness. Fidelma’s royal rank apart, Ross knew that Conna owned allegiance to the Prince of Maige Féine, who was an hereditary enemy of the Eóghanacht kings of Muman.
Their guide had instructed one of his men to run on and announce Fidelma’s coming to Conna.
The chieftain met them at the door of his hall, a thinly-built man with beady dark eyes, like those of a snake. He gave the impression of someone close to starvation, so gaunt and elongated of limbs was he.
“The fame of Fidelma of Cashel precedes her,” he greeted, almost sibilantly. “How may I serve you?”
Fidelma was not impressed with the man.
“You may best serve me by telling me the truth. I have spoken to the merchant Ségán.”
Did a nervous look appear in the man’s dark features?
“You recommended Ségán to a boatman who sold him a stolen barge.”
The features of Conna became immobile.
“I am not responsible for that.”
“If you recommended a thief to persuade another to receive stolen property, then there is your responsibility-chieftain or not.”
“This boatman was trading here at the time. I did not vouch for his character. I simply told Ségán of the fact. Ségán was saying that he wanted to expand the number of barges he had. I introduced them, that is all.”
“Tell me about this boatman.”
“What can I tell you?”
“His name, where he came from, where he is now.”
“His name was Dathal. He came from a downriver port.”
“You say that you had never seen him before?”
“I didn’t say exactly that. I know that he traded along the rivers.”
“You have bought cargoes from him?”
“He was only a boatman. The man he worked for owned the cargoes. The man who imports the cargoes from the land of the Britons or the Franks.”
“With whom did you transact your business, then?”
Conna was hesitant but no match for Fidelma in her most assertive manner.
“I always gave the money to Dathal,” he admitted. “I presumed that he was selling the barge on behalf of his master.”
“Do you know where this Dathal went?”
“Back to Eochaill, I presume.”
Fidelma let out a sighing breath.
“This is not the first time that boatmen have brought you a cargo and then sold their barge before leaving, is it?”
The expression on Conna’s face confirmed the suspicion that was in her mind.
“Dathal sold the barge two weeks ago, is that right?” pressed Fidelma. “Who sold a barge six weeks ago?”
“I bought a cargo then. The boatman’s name was Erc and he was from Eochaill. Erc and his men sold their barge to a trader from The Ford of the Cairn not far upriver. That was over four weeks ago.”
Fidelma suddenly smiled brightly. The smile seemed to disconcert Conna.
“Then I have no need to bother you further. You may be required to attend the Brehon Court at Dair Inis. It depends. You will be informed in due course. In the meantime, I shall trouble you no more.”
She turned swiftly and with Ross trotting in bemusement at her heels she returned down from the fort to where they had moored the
“Where now, lady?” demanded Ross, scrambling in after her. “Upriver to the Ford of the Cairn?”
Fidelma shook her head with a smile of satisfaction.
“No, back to Eochaill. I think the mystery is cleared up.”
Two days later the merchants Abaoth and Olcán stood before her.
“Ah yes. Abaoth, you claim compensation for the loss of your cargoes due to the disappearance and theft of Olcán’s barges. Two losses in the same month, one six weeks ago and one two weeks ago. Is that right?”
“It is, learned
Fidelma turned to the glowering Olcán.
“And you counter this claim, Olcán?”
“Of course,” snapped the man. “The loss of my barges and crews and the loss of the money for the transportation of cargoes for which I have not been paid is the compensation that I seek.”
