Aíbnat knew it and disliked him. Dúnchad Muirisci knew it and hinted of things that were subsequently repeated in stories that reached even the ears of Abbot Laisran at Durrow. I asked myself this question — why, when Augaire was painting a black picture to persuade me of Muirchertach’s guilt of slaying Ultán, did he not dwell more on this very point? The point that Muirchertach Nár forced his attentions on Searc when she arrived at his fortress in shock and grieving for the loss of Senach. Muirchertach raped her and she, deep in shock and shame, fled to the coast and threw herself from the cliffs. It was Muirchertach’s act that caused her suicide. But Augaire was too much in love with Searc to have her reputation besmirched by revealing it.’
Brehon Barrán sat back looking even more confused. ‘But we have heard that Augaire did not know this girl before. Why would he be in love with her?’
‘Because he fell in love with an image,’ replied Fidelma sadly. ‘It is hard to explain the feelings that motivate a man or woman to this emotion we call love. He saw Searc once in life and then in death and could not get that image from his mind. He did not know who she was. But the image obsessed him. He tracked her identity down and it became a fixation to discover the reasons for her suicide. Ultán’s part in it was fairly clear. But at some stage he learned the reputation of Muirchertach Nár. .’
‘I told him.’ It was Aíbnat who spoke. Her voice was quiet and unemotional. ‘Before we set out here, I told Augaire. I knew my husband’s reputation and one night, in a burst of anger towards me, he boasted what he had done with my sister. I told Augaire, knowing that, eventually, retribution would catch up with him.’
Fidelma turned towards Brehon Barrán and held out her arms in a gesture to show that she could bring no further proof. ‘I have finished except to say that I started to suspect Augaire when he could not refrain from putting a clear sign on each corpse that this was done to avenge Searc.’
‘A clear sign?’ The Brehon frowned. ‘What sign? What have we missed?’
‘The verse of a love poem written by Searc. It was a symbol of the reason why they died.’
Brehon Barrán turned to Abbot Augaire. ‘Do you plead a defence? You may choose to be heard with a
Abbot Augaire shook his head.
‘Have you nothing to say?’ pressed the Chief Brehon. When Augaire still said nothing, he ordered Caol to take him to a secure room and keep him there until Barrán could speak with him and explain his rights under the law. As Caol was guiding Augaire past where Fidelma was sitting, the abbot paused and smiled down at her.
‘Muirchertach Nár thought he had bought me off.’ His voice was quiet, almost a whisper. ‘He offered me the abbacy of Conga as a means of keeping me silent. I took it because I needed time to work out that vengeance. I waited my chance and when it came I took it. I have no regrets.’
Colgú was sprawled in his chair before the fire, regarding his sister over the rim of a goblet of mulled wine with a quizzical smile.
‘I don’t know how you do it, Fidelma. How can you enter the labyrinth of people’s distorted minds and see beyond their lies and deceptions?’
Fidelma smiled in amusement. ‘I thought that you excelled at
‘This is not exactly
‘It is the same principle. You have to have a dexterity of the mind. Identify the problem and gather the information and then analyse it. However, I will say this — of all the cases that I have encountered, this one was most frustrating in that there were too many people who had cause to hate Ultán. At first that blinded me.’
‘At first?’
‘It was only after Muirchertach Nár was killed that I started to see some light. That is not good. I should have been able to solve the first murder without waiting for the second. And then there was the confusion caused by the intrigues of Brother Drón to protect his embassy. I should have seen through that earlier. I had thought that it was Drón tried to mislead everyone with that pagan symbol of the raven’s feather. Of course, it was Augaire who had placed it on Muirchertach’s pillow to make the King look elsewhere for the threat.’
Colgú shook his head. ‘You are always too hard on yourself. You have heard that Abbot Augaire has escaped and fled from Cashel?’
‘I heard,’ she replied calmly.
‘It is believed that he is heading for the coast. Probably to the harbour at Ard Mór.’
‘He will doubtless take ship for Gaul or Iberia, and vanish into one of the religious communities there. Ah well, maybe it is for the best.’
‘I suppose so,’ agreed Colgu. ‘Certainly, Dúnchad Muirsici saw him as an embarrassment. There is already unrest between his family, the Uí Fiachracha, and lady Aíbnat’s Uí Briuin Aí. They are now contesting the kingship of Connacht.’ He was silent for a while and then said, changing the subject: ‘I noticed that your friend Delia seems to have taken Sister Marga in hand.’
Fidelma inclined her head thoughtfully. ‘I feel sorry for Sister Marga. She is a real victim in all this. I don’t think she will be able to forgive Fergus Fanat for not believing her and she certainly cannot return to the abbey of Cill Ria.’
‘Sister Marga has my full permission to stay here,’ Colgú replied. ‘Either here or at Imleach. Both Cashel and Imleach need someone of her talent, able to write a good hand, to copy and translate. We have enough genuine books to work on without resorting to fake ones. Until she makes up her mind, I hear that she is going to stay with Delia in the township.’
‘But what of Drón and Sétach? Has Blathmac mentioned what he intends to do about them and Cill Ria? If I were the king, I would do all I could to have that place destroyed and its community dispersed to religious houses where fear and punishment are not incorporated into the rules and beliefs.’
‘As you suggested, Blathmac is taking them back to Ulaidh, to Segene of Ard Macha, and telling him of the facts of the case. I think he will advise the Comarb of Patrick that before he starts asserting Ard Macha’s moral authority over the churches of the five kingdoms, he should be careful whom he appoints as his emissary.’
‘I do not think that Ard Macha will be strong enough to insist on that moral authority during our lifetimes,’ replied Fidelma with gravity.
‘Speaking of Sister Sétach, you never explained to me exactly what she was doing in Dúnchad Muirisci’s chamber when you and Eadulf went to see him?’
‘Exactly what they told us she was doing.’ Fidelma smiled. ‘She had gone to see him on Drón’s behalf, Drón believing he had succeeded as the new abbot of Cill Ria, to reach some sort of truce in the disagreement between Connacht and the abbey. Sometimes, even the most suspicious circumstances turn out to have a simple explanation, and those involved tell the truth.’
There was a silence between brother and sister for a few moments, and then Fidelma asked: ‘I presume that Brother Berrihert and his brothers still have permission to stay in the glen of Eatharlaí?’
‘Miach has given assurances that can do so. They can remain there for the rest of their lives in peace if they so wish. But speaking of life — ’ Colgu suddenly grinned,
Fidelma coloured faintly. ‘I had not forgotten. I think that you may safely go ahead with the delayed arrangements for tomorrow morning. I’d better find Eadulf so that we can prepare.’
Eadulf was not in their chambers when Fidelma returned. Only, Muirgen was there, with little Alchú. Fidelma spent a short time playing with the baby before Muirgen took him away to allow her some time to rest. Moodily, she crossed to the window and gazed down into the courtyard. At that moment, the door burst open and an excited-looking Eadulf hurried in.
‘Have you heard the news? Apparently Abbot Augaire has fled the fortress. I’ve just been talking to Caol. He was last seen heading south. No one seems bothered to go after him.’
Fidelma turned from the window. ‘I don’t think anyone is unduly worried about Augaire.’
Eadulf stared at her calm features in disbelief.
‘You don’t believe that he should be punished? he demanded in surprise.
