Whispers of the Dead

Brother Corbb had to bang his staff several times to still the hubbub that had broken out from Colla and his family.

Fidelma gazed thoughtfully at the physician.

“What you are saying is that the boy was murdered.”

Tassach compressed his lips for a moment.

“That is a matter that only you can decide learned Brehon. I can only report what I found. What is clear is that the boy did not fall into the pool and drown.”

“And did your findings persuade Fécho to bring this action?”

“I would not say that it was my findings alone.”

“Really? What then?”

“Obviously, as one of the fine, the kindred of Fécho, even though I am physician and have taken the oath of Diancecht to uphold the honor of my profession, my word would not carry as much weight as someone who was unconnected with our two families.”

Fidelma stared at the physician in surprise. The man obviously knew the law of evidence.

“And did someone unconnected with the families of Fécho and Colla make an examination of the body of Enda?”

Tassach turned slightly to where an elderly man with long white hair rose to his feet.

“If it please you, learned Brehon, I am the physician Niall. I can confirm the findings of my young colleague, Tassach, in so far as the boy had received a sharp blow on the back of the head.”

Fidelma pursed her lips.

“It seems, in this case, it is a curious coincidence that two learned physicians were on hand at the same time as Colla brought the body of Enda to his parent’s home.”

Niall, the physician, snorted indignantly.

“I was not at hand, learned Brehon, but had to be sent for. Tassach wisely, because of his relationship with Fécho and the dead boy, and because of his concerns as to the nature of the injuries, summoned me to attend at Fécho’s forge. I arrived there about an hour later. I am well known in Críonchoill and anyone will tell you that I have no connection with either family in this case.”

Fidelma stirred a little in discomfort, rebuking herself for thinking aloud so publicly.

“In your opinion, then, Niall, the injury on the boy’s head was one that was inconsistent with a drowning accident?”

To her surprise, he shook his head.

“I thought that you agreed with Tassach?” she demanded sharply.

Niall smiled gently.

“We can each only give testimony as to what we know. I confirmed Tassach’s medical opinion that the body was more likely than not dead when he became immersed in the water. That the death was due to the blow that the child received, which not only cut him deeply but splintered pieces of his skull. But whether this was an accident or not, I cannot express an opinion. I do not know the pool in which the child is said to have met his death. Were any rocks there? Was the child thrown against a rock by a surge of water? These are things that others must consider.”

Fidelma sat back, unconsciously drumming her fingers on the arm of her chair.

“Very well. Let me return to Fécho.”

The smith rose again.

“You have heard the evidence of Tassach and Niall?”

“I have.”

“It was on this basis that you charged Colla with death by neglect? Death by neglect and not unlawful killing?”

Fécho spread his hands.

“Lady, I am no lawyer. I do not know what happened except that Colla brought my son home and he was dead. Colla said he had drowned. The physicians said he had not. They say some rock struck him on the head. I can only raise the questions and only Colla can provide the answers.”

There was a murmur of agreement in the court.

“Then we shall ask Colla what he has to say about this matter.”

The burly wainwright stood slowly up.

“Fécho has told you the truth in that we agreed that I would take his son Enda into fosterage and instruct him in the art of building wagons. In return for this, Fécho promised that he would do all the work I needed in terms of his smithy’s art.”

“Then proceed to how Enda came by his death. You do not deny it occurred while in your care?”

“He was in my care as fosterer when the death occurred,” agreed Colla.

“I deny that his death occurred through any neglect or any action of mine.”

He paused for a moment, as if summoning his thoughts.

“It was in the morning. My wife was washing clothes while I went to my carpenter’s shop with my two apprentices. We were turning spokes for wheels for a cart. The young children, my daughters, Una and Faife, and my son, Maine, with young Enda, had been allowed an hour of play. My wife, having finished the washing, was going to teach them their letters.” Colla glanced at Fécho. “This was in accordance with our agreement, that Enda would be taught to read and write alongside my own children.”

Fidelma nodded.

“As is customary in such fostering agreements. Continue.”

Colla made a gesture with his shoulder that was not quite a shrug.

“I suppose it was less than an hour later when I heard a shout. My son, Maine, who is nine years of age, came running to me and said there had been an accident in the pool. That Enda had fallen in and drowned.”

“Fallen in?” queried Fidelma sharply. “So the child was not swimming?”

Colla shook his head.

“None of them were.”

“Just describe this pool.”

“It is about one hundred meters from the house. It is hidden by trees but it is a small pool and not at all deep. It is fed by a small spring and it is where my cattle are watered.”

“Can you hazard its dimensions?”

“A circular pool about four meters in diameter. I can wade across it without the waters coming to my chest.”

“What happened next?”

“I went running to the pool, my apprentices were with me, and I saw the child floating face down in the middle of the pool. I waded in and brought him to the bank but he was already dead.”

“Did Maine explain what happened?”

Colla grimaced.

“My son said that he was wandering by the pool when he saw Enda floating there and came to fetch me.”

“Were the other children, your daughters, there?”

He shook his head.

“So Enda was alone when he fell in the water?”

“I asked my children what they knew. They had gone to the woods just beyond the pool. They were going to folacháin-hide and go seek. It seems, according to Faife, that after a while Enda tired of the game and went off on his own. Later, Maine also tired and was returning to the house when he saw Enda. That is all they knew.”

“And then?”

“Then I could do no more than take the body of the young boy in my wagon to his father. What more could I do? I am not responsible for his death. I did not neglect him. It was an accident.”

Fidelma sighed softly.

“Tell me one more thing, Colla. Are there sharp rocks around this pool?”

The wainwright immediately shook his head.