‘He ordered the immediate release of Brother Drón,’ the man repeated helplessly.
Fidelma was already turning to Caol and issuing curt orders. ‘Find out whether Brother Drón is still in the fortress. I suspect he is probably gone by now. Seek out Brehon Ninnid. If you find him, bring him to Colgú’s chamber at once — bring him under duress if necessary. If you see the Brehon Barrán ask him to come there straight away. I have never. .’ She was shaking her head in disbelief even as Caol hurried off on his errands.
Fidelma erupted into her brother’s chamber in the violence of anger. Colgú was alone and started up in surprise as his sister burst in.
‘Brother Drón has been released in your name!’ she thundered before he could speak.
Colgú looked at her in bemusement. ‘But you know I did not order. .’ he began, but Fidelma interrupted.
‘It was Ninnid. He dared to go to the jail and order Drón’s release in your name.’
At that moment Chief Brehon Barrán entered behind her. ‘What has happened?’ he demanded. ‘I was asked by the commander of your guard to come here with all despatch. Is something wrong?’
Colgú had realised the seriousness of the situation and assumed a steely glint in his eyes that matched his sister’s.
‘Brother Drón was being held in the jail here under my authority, with the knowledge of Blathmac of Ulaidh. My sister tells me that Brehon Ninnid of Laigin has ordered his release in my name without my knowledge nor permission. He must answer for this.’
Even Brehon Barrán appeared momentarily shocked at this news, but his surprise was tempered with curiosity. ‘What had Brother Drón done to deserve being incarcerated in the first place?’
Fidelma swiftly sketched in why she had agreed to Caol’s taking the unusual step of keeping Brother Drón secured. She had barely finished speaking when Caol himself entered.
‘Brother Drón has, indeed, left the fortress,’ he said quickly. ‘So has Brehon Ninnid. Using the brehon’s authority, they took their horses from the stables and rode off.’
‘Is it known what direction they took?’
Caol shrugged eloquently. ‘They were last seen riding down into the township. After that, who knows? I have sent men to see if they can find anyone who can tell us.’
Brehon Barrán’s countenance was bleak. ‘I have no understanding of Ninnid’s actions, except they are of great affront to you, Colgú. First, we must try to repair the damage,’ he said firmly, turning to Fidelma. ‘Are you saying that Brother Drón is guilty of one or other of these murders?’
‘He is an important witness,’ Fidelma replied. ‘Something links him to Sister Marga and that is the mystery I must elucidate. It is a mystery that apparently makes it imperative that he control her movements. What it is, I was hoping to find out by questioning him. I suspect that Marga’s life is in danger now.’
‘I was told that Sister Marga had fled during the night after there was an attack on the Ulaidh warrior, Fergus Fanat.’
‘Another matter that needs clarification,’ Fidelma said. ‘Marga did leave here and Drón attempted to follow her. As it was, it was on a false trail.’
She quickly told the Chief Brehon what had happened at Patrick’s Well. Brehon Barrán looked puzzled. ‘It sounds a complicated story.’
‘Due to Ninnid’s intervention, Drón has eluded me. I think he will now try to track down Sister Marga.’
‘Track?’ Colgú turned abruptly to Caol. ‘Who is the best tracker we have?’ he asked.
Caol had no hesitation. ‘Rónán.’
‘Of course.’ Colgú smiled briefly. ‘Fetch him to me. The only thing we can do is attempt to trace Drón’s tracks and see where he is heading.’
Caol was just leaving when one of his warriors halted him in the doorway and whispered something. The commander turned back with a grim smile.
‘Brehon Ninnid has just returned to the fortress. My men have brought him hither protesting innocence of any wrongdoing.’
Colgú turned to Fidelma in grim satisfaction. ‘Now, perhaps, we shall learn the answers to some of our questions.’ He glanced at Barrán. ‘As Chief Brehon of the Five Kingdoms, you must give authority to this matter.’
Brehon Barren’s features were stern. ‘I will conduct the questioning myself, for Brehon Ninnid’s actions are without support in law.’
Fidelma went to sit by her brother while Brehon Barrán took up a stance before the fireplace with his hands clasped behind his back. Colgú nodded to Caol, who stood aside and motioned to someone in the adjoining antechamber.
Brehon Ninnid entered the room, red-faced and angry, followed by Enda, whose hand was clasped on the hilt of his sword.
‘You can fetch Rónán now,’ Colgú told Caol, ‘and wait with him in the adjoining chamber until we are ready.’
As the door closed, Brehon Ninnid took a pace forward. His features showed his hostility. Then his eyes widened with surprise when he saw the grim face of Brehon Barrán.
‘I am glad you are here,’ he said, recovering his poise. ‘I have been treated with the utmost discourtesy. This warrior almost hauled me off my horse as I rode back from the township just now. He marched me here under threat of physical force. He dared to use me thus in spite of the fact that I am a brehon. This is outrageous!’
Brehon, Barrán waited calmly until Ninnid stopped speaking.
‘So you have no idea of any reason why you should be asked to come here?’ he asked softly.
‘None that demands such discourteous treatment,’ snapped Ninnid.
Brehon Barrán raised an eyebrow. ‘Not even that you abused your authority to help a prisoner to escape?’ His voice was still gentle.
‘Help a prisoner. .?’ Brehon Ninnid began angrily, and then his expression changed slightly. ‘Ridiculous. I presume that you refer to Brother Drón? He was unjustifiably incarcerated by a warrior and I merely released him.’
Brehon Barrán’s expression did not change but his tone hardened. ‘You are in the palace of Colgú, king of Muman, and the release of prisoners from the Duma na nGiall can only be made in his name. Did you tell the jailer that the release was ordered in the name of Colgú?’
Brehon Ninnid frowned. ‘I probably implied it. . but I am a brehon. It is my right and duty to correct injustice and it was obvious that the warrior had gone too far.’
‘How do you know this, Brehon Ninnid? Who told you that Brother Drón had been jailed in the first place?’
‘Someone saw him being marched there and I went to investigate. I demanded to speak to the prisoner in my capacity as a brehon.’
‘So how did you learn the details of why Brother Drón was jailed and decide that it was an injustice?’ pressed the Chief Brehon.
‘It was simple enough to decide. Brother Drón told me.’
The Chief Brehon’s expression became incredulous. ‘And you believed him?’
‘Why should I not? He is a religious man, a leading churchman of Ulaidh, and he. . he is. .’ Brehon Ninnid was suddenly quiet.
‘And he is originally’from Laigin. Of the Uí Dróna, as are you, Ninnid,’ Fidelma said softly.
Brehon Barrán frowned as he considered this. ‘Of course. I had forgotten. Are you related to him?’
Brehon Ninnid raised his jaw defensively. ‘I am of the Uí Dróna but that is irrelevant.’
‘Is it? Drón told you that he was being wrongly imprisoned?’
‘Of course. I saw at once that the commander had simply overstepped his authority and made the jailer release him.’
‘Further, you took him to the stables where you both took your horses and rode out of the fortress. . what
