moving as if in a dream. I think I asked if I could see the body there and then but they refused. It was only later after the body had been prepared for burial that I was allowed to see
Fidelma folded her hands together and examined Sister Sinnchene’s features carefully. She realised that it was a beautiful and expressive face. No wonder Cinaed could lust — she hastily corrected her thought — could fall in love with the young girl. There seemed no guile in those features. The eyes were wide and clear although they were now lined with red where tears gave an appearance of frailty and vulnerability.
‘So, was anything else said to you after that outburst by Sister Buan?’
‘Brother Cu Mara came to see me. He was nice. He asked me what Sister Buan had meant by her claim.’
‘And you replied?’
‘I told him that such a question was best answered by Sister Buan. So far as I was concerned my conscience was clear.’
Fidelma rose slowly to her feet.
‘One other matter before I leave. Did you have much to do with Abbess Faife?’
The girl suddenly smiled warmly.
‘Of course. She brought me into this community and was my mentor.’
‘How did you come to meet her?’
‘She was passing through the village where I lived. It was a week after my mother died of the Yellow Plague. There was no one left to care for me. Many of my family had died in the Yellow Plague, you understand.’
‘Including your father?’
The girl hesitated, then shook her head.
‘He had left our home some years before. He was a warrior who followed Eoganan. My father was probably killed in some battle or other. We never heard from him after he left. I was on my own when Abbess Faife invited me to join her in this abbey.’
‘I understand that the abbess worked very closely with the Venerable Cinaed?’
‘She did,’ agreed Sister Sinnchene. ‘She helped him with some researches he was doing and in the preparation of his work.’
‘Do you think there might be a connection between Abbess Faife’s death and that of the Venerable Cinaed?’
Sister Sinnchene looked astounded at the question.
‘Do you think there is?’ she countered.
‘I merely ask the question. For example,’ Fidelma went on, looking
Fidelma knew that her repetition of the words that Sister Buan claimed to have overheard was a gamble. The expression on Sister Sinnchene’s face showed that they meant something. She looked confused and did not appear to know how to answer.
‘They are the words that you exchanged with Brother Cu Mara, aren’t they?’ Fidelma pressed.
Once again the girl’s chin came up defiantly.
‘I will not confirm or deny them until I have spoken to Brother Cu Mara,’ she said sullenly.
‘So I can deduce from that that the words spoken are reported accurately?’ Fidelma asked confidently.
‘I do not believe that they have any relevance to Cinaed’s death,’ Sister Sinnchene responded determinedly.
‘But you do believe that something Cinaed might have told Faife was connected with her death. Why?’
‘I have told you as much as I can, Sister. I must speak to Brother Cu Mara.’
Fidelma sighed impatiently.
‘You realise that, as a dalaigh, I can impose a heavy penalty on you for not answering my questions when you have been told to?’
The girl was still defiant.
‘I cannot help you and your stupid rules. I will not answer until I have spoken to-’
Fidelma raised her hand to silence her.
‘I have heard you. Very well. We shall send for Brother Cu Mara. But perhaps you could tell me why you are so adamant that these words have no relevance to Cinaed’s murder?’
Sister Sinnchene raised her eyes to Fidelma and gazed into them for some seconds before she replied in a tight voice.
‘It is because I know who killed Cinaed.’
This time Fidelma could not disguise her surprise.
‘And will you name that person?’
The girl was emphatic.
‘Of course. It was Sister Buan.’
CHAPTER NINE
E adulf and Conri arrived in search of Fidelma just as Sister Sinnchene had made her accusation. They stood hesitantly at the door. Eadulf knew better than to react at the words and he caught the warlord’s eye and shook his head to indicate that he should not enter the conversation either.
Fidelma was examining the girl thoughtfully and ignored their entry.
‘And what is the basis of your claim?’ she asked quietly.
Sister Sinnchene sniffed. It seemed that this was her habit in times of stress.
‘I do not know what you mean,’ she replied.
‘What evidence do you have?’
‘What need of evidence? It is obvious.’
Fidelma was patient. ‘Perhaps it is not so obvious to me. Let us go through your reasoning behind this accusation. Is it because of your relationship with Cinaed? The fact that Sister Buan disliked you and you disliked Sister Buan.’
‘Sister Buan knew of our relationship. Cinaed and I told her. We told her what we wanted. She refused us and was angry. She hated me and she must have hated Cinaed. She killed Cinaed in her jealousy.’
‘Jealousy? Surely the most likely victim of her jealousy would be you, if Cinaed were rejecting her for you?’
‘The woman is spiteful; spiteful enough to vent her feelings on Cinaed.’
‘She must have been a powerful woman to deliver such a stroke as crushed his skull, as the physician has reported.’
Sister Sinnchene laughed shortly.
‘She is strong, that one. And Cinaed was elderly and frail.’
Fidelma shook her head sadly.
‘Accusations without evidence are not valid. What you are telling me is that you suspect Sister Buan’s involvement but have no proof. In which case, Sister, I should remind you to watch how you express that suspicion. The Din Techtugad warns that spreading false stories, satirising a person unjustly and giving false testimony is an offence that results in the loss of one’s honour-price.’
Sister Sinnchene scowled.
‘Law!’ She made it sound like a dirty word.
‘The law is there for the protection of everyone,’ replied Fidelma. ‘I simply warn you to be careful with the words you choose.’
She turned and seemed to notice Eadulf and Conri at the half-open door for the first time.
‘Conri, could you or one of your men find Brother Cu Mara and ask him to come here?’
The warlord nodded without speaking and left.
Fidelma smiled at Eadulf.
‘We will catch up on matters shortly,’ she said, but before she could elaborate further Conri re-entered with
