Eadulf was staring at him in amazement.
‘But why was Fidelma not immediately told of this?’ he cried. ‘Surely this argument with the High King constitutes a motive for Dubh Duin’s assassination of him?’
‘In the Great Assembly, everyone can speak what is on their mind without fear,’ Irél told him. ‘Tempers may rise there but must fall before delegates leave the hall. It is the custom, Brother Saxon.’
Eadulf was dubious. ‘It is a matter that I will have to bring before Fidelma. If nothing else, it may help towards an understanding of Dubh Duin’s character.’
Fidelma crossed back to
‘He is in the High King’s library, lady,’ the servant replied.
Fidelma thanked her and moved on. Outside the door she paused. She was feeling nervous. After all, Barrán was the Chief Brehon. She felt the same apprehension as she had when a young student, waiting outside the door of the Brehon Morann, the chief professor of the law school. ‘I think this is one interview I could do without,’ she muttered to herself. Then she remembered that Barrán might have purposefully withheld information which was of importance to her investigation. Anger filled her, and with it came courage. She opened the door and marched in.
Barrán, Chief Brehon of the five kingdoms, glanced up in surprise as Fidelma entered the room. He had been poring over a manuscript. The place was dimly lit with tallow candles and there was no other light. Whenthe room was built as the High King’s sanctuary, the architect had realised that light was harmful to the vellums and papyri. Thus, the library had been built without natural light — which did not help with the study of the manuscripts. However, even in the gloom Barrán could see a fiery glint in Fidelma’s eyes and the set of her features showed that something was seriously amiss. He began to rise from his chair but she made a cutting motion of her hand that stayed him.
‘Is it true that Sechnussach and Gormflaith were about to divorce?’ she demanded without preamble.
There was a fraction of a second of surprise before the Brehon resumed his seat. Then his handsome features relaxed into a smile of resignation and he motioned Fidelma to be seated in a chair before the desk on which he was working while he stretched back in his own chair.
‘It seems your investigation is progressing thoroughly,’ he murmured.
‘Is it true?’ she demanded once again.
‘I have heard of the intention,’ he admitted easily.
Her eyes narrowed with anger. ‘With all respect, Barrán, as Chief Brehon you should know that withholding evidence in an investigation like this merits fines and could even bring you before the assembly of Brehons so that your appointment could be repudiated by them.’
For a moment the Chief Brehon was silent but his expression retained its good humour.
‘In what manner have I withheld evidence?’ he asked, and when she leaned forward as if to reply, he held up his hand to silence her. ‘The fact was that the divorce did not take place. If the intention was serious then Sechnussach’s death ended that. So Gormflaith became widow to the High King and therefore full heir to his entitlements. If the gossip of an impending divorce were made public then it might have had adverse consequences for her and her children’s status.’
‘Even though it was she who was divorcing Sechnussach?’ she snapped. ‘Divorcing him to marry Dubh Duin?’
Barrán‘s eyes widened a little. ‘She intended to marry Dubh Duin? Did Gormflaith tell you that?’
‘Does Gormflaith not speak the truth?’
‘I cannot tell you about the truth of her intentions. I can only tell you what I know.’
Fidelma smiled cynically. ‘You speak as a lawyer, Barrán.’
‘I am a lawyer,’ he reminded her with dry humour.
‘You did not know that it was her intention to marry Dubh Duin?’
‘If she expressed such an intention then I have forgotten.’
‘You did not introduce her to Dubh Duin?’
He hesitated, frowning. ‘I believe I did. But there are many people who throng the court at Tara that I might introduce to various others. Dubh Duin was a representative of his people in the Great Assembly. Those involved with the Great Assembly knew him. So, at some gathering, I might well have presented him to Gormflaith.’
‘The fact is that Gormflaith says she was planning to marry the man who assassinated Sechnussach. Do you confirm that the divorce was arranged?’
Barrán compressed his lips for a moment before replying. ‘I cannot. Gormflaith talked of the … the possibility. That is all.’
‘I am told that Sechnussach and Gormflaith were agreed and that you were writing out the settlement which would have been sealed on the day Gormflaith returned from Cluain Ioraird. Can I see that settlement?’
‘It does not exist, Fidelma. Does Gormflaith say it does? She must be upset. I do not understand this.’
Fidelma let out a breath of irritation. ‘So, you say that while Gormflaith talked about possibilities of divorce from Sechnussach, you have no knowledge of it as an actuality? Sechnussach and Gormflaith made no agreement nor did you draw up such an agreement?’
‘That is what I have said, Fidelma.’ Brehon Barrán’s expression was sad. ‘Do you think Gormflaith’s head has been turned by these events?’
‘Why would she confess to Dubh Duin being her lover and then make up the story about the divorce?’
‘Self-protection?’ Barrán suggested.
‘But she did not have to confess anything in the first place. She could have denied it. It does not follow.’
‘Unless it is to absolve her from any suspicion in the affair. But even if she is not involved, we now have a resolution to this matter for it gives Dubh Duin a motive in his killing. He was jealous … ’
‘No, no,’ Fidelma said immediately. ‘Her argument is that there was to be a divorce and that Dubh Duin knew all about it. She claims that he had no motive to get rid of Sechnussach. Gormflaith would have been free to marry him within a few days.’
‘There — you see? She is trying to exonerate herself by bringing in the matter of divorce. No one can seriously argue that Dubh Duin did not killSechnussach. She is saying that all the eye-witnesses are therefore liars?’ Barrán pursed his lips. ‘Mind you, if it comes to that, and she is stating that I had knowledge of a divorce, then she claims that I am a liar also.’
Fidelma was silent for a moment, before saying, ‘Yet she is admitting to matters that would bring discredit to her, whereas she could easily deny them.’
‘She could be trying to protect Dubh Duin.’
‘She could, but why? Why protect her lover in death while admitting that he was her lover? Why not just say that he was infatuated with her and she did not know his intentions? As I said, it puts her in a bad light. She could well have presented herself as a wronged woman, deceived by a lover who used her to kill the High King. No, it will not do. There is something wrong here.’
Brehon Barrán regarded her thoughtfully. ‘The investigation is yours but there are still several questions to be asked.’
‘I agree. The one fact we do know is that Dubh Duin killed Sechnussach. Whatever Gormflaith says, it remains a fact. The warrior Lugna says that the man admitted his guilt with his dying breath. If she is so besotted with him, even in death, that might explain her not wanting to admit the possibility that he used to her to get close to Sechnussach.’
‘You suspect that? But why would he want to kill Sechnussach, if not for her?’
‘Others are involved, and Dubh Duin is merely a tool. Otherwise, there are matters that make no sense. But we still do not know the motive. The motive becomes more important, the longer I think about things. Who uttered the scream that alerted the warrior Lugna to the High King’s death, thus causing Dubh Duin to take his own life? And why
Fidelma rose suddenly and regarded the Chief Brehon with a serious expression.
‘Do you know if Sechnussach, during the years of estrangement with Gormflaith, ever took a second wife?’
