Dancing With Demons

‘Nothing,’ she admitted. ‘If the object that Sechnussach had was ever there, then whoever attacked Rogallach and killed Mer took it.’

At that moment, Irél came striding through the kitchen, obviously in search of them. He raised his hand in greeting.

‘Bad news. I am afraid our search for Cuan has proved useless. But just now I spoke to one of our sentinels at the main gates and he reported seeing Cuan leave Tara.’

‘When was that?’ demanded Fidelma.

‘Not long after Rogallach was discovered. He was seen riding westward. He will be way beyond the west bank of the Bóinn by now.’

Eadulf looked annoyed. ‘So he has fled. He probably recovered the object. Where is he taking it — and what is it? And does it indeed point to the reason why Sechnussach was assassinated?’

Irél was looking bewildered. ‘I am not following any of this.’

‘No need for you to be concerned,’ replied Fidelma quickly, with a warning glance at Eadulf. ‘My companions and I will be leaving Tara for a few days.’ She glanced at the sky. Darkness came early in winter and it was too late to set off now. ‘We will have to start at first light tomorrow. Gormán, go and find Caol and tell him of my intention.’

‘Do you intend to chase Cuan?’ Irél asked. ‘If so, I could send a cóicat, a company of fifty warriors after him, and bring him back without you having to stir from here.’

‘Cuan is one thing that draws me away. There are other things that I must do,’ she assured him.

‘But if you are going after him, you do not know the country beyond the great river.’

‘Are there no roads? No stars in the sky to tell directions?’ She dismissed his protests. ‘Do not concern yourself for us, Irél.’ Sending him away, she turned back into the Tech Cormaic.

Brónach was in the hall as they entered.

‘Is Brehon Barrán still here?’ Fidelma asked her.

‘No, lady. I think he left just after you spoke to him,’ the housekeeper said. ‘He was going to his homestead outside of Tara.’

‘And Abbot Colmán?’

‘He is in the library room with the tánaiste, Cenn Faelad, lady.’

‘Then we will announce ourselves,’ Fidelma said firmly, moving off to the room with Eadulf following.

Cenn Faelad was peering over some papers with Abbot Colmán as Fidelma and Eadulf entered after a cursory knock.

‘Ah, we were just examining the protocols for the hearing before the Great Assembly,’ Cenn Faelad said, glancing up. Then, seeing her expression, he asked: ‘Have you some news for me?’

Fidelma’s voice was flat: ‘Not the news that you are wanting, I am afraid.’

Abbot Colmán had also straightened up from the papers that he had been showing to the tánaiste.

‘We cannot delay the report to the Great Assembly indefinitely, Fidelma. They will want something soon.’

‘Then they will get it.’

‘But we should already be sending couriers to announce a date when the Great Assembly can convene to hear your findings.’

To Eadulf’s surprise Fidelma did not argue but said: ‘Tell the couriers to announce that the Great Assembly should be able to meet in about a week’s time. That will give them time to alert all in the five kingdoms who will send delegations to hear the result.’

Even Cenn Faelad looked astonished. ‘You will be able to give a full report in a week’s time?’ he asked.

‘I would not have suggested it if I did not think I could do so,’ replied Fidelma waspishly. ‘But I have come to say that, for the time being, we must conduct our enquiries elsewhere for a while.’

‘Elsewhere?’

‘We plan to travel west to Delbna Mór and then on to the Cinél Cairpre to see what we can learn about the character of Dubh Duin.’

Cenn Faelad frowned. ‘The journey to see Ardgal of the Cinél Cairpre … that I can understand. But why Delbna Mór? There is nothing there but a few farmsteads and a religious community run by Bishop Luachan.’

‘It is Bishop Luachan I wish to see.’

Cenn Faelad shook his head to express his bewilderment. ‘How long do you intend to be away from Tara?’

‘No more than a few days.’

‘And you can tell me nothing as to how things are progressing?’

‘I can only say that they are progressing in spite of the inability of some to volunteer information. Getting at the facts has been like drawing teeth, and that applies to some I would not have expected to be reticent.’

‘Are you referring to Brehon Barrán?’ smiled the young King confidently.

Fidelma raised an eyebrow in surprise. ‘What makes you say that?’

‘Barrán is a good man, a fine man and wise counsel. That is why I am nominating him as my tánaiste. But like all professional men he is jealous of his abilities and reputation. That was why he may be reticent in responding to your questions. He told me that he had neglected to keep you fully informed.’

‘He told you?’

‘Of course. He is an honest man. He warned me that you might be criticising him because of his choice to pursue a diplomatic frugality of information.’

‘Is that how he sees it?’

‘You heard him say that it was the Great Assembly that decided we should send for a Brehon or dálaigh who was unconnected with our Uí Néill family? As Chief Brehon, he felt the investigation of the High King’s death should have been his. In honesty, I think he resented your coming to take charge of it.’

‘That is a natural enough response, I suppose,’ replied Fidelma, unperturbed.

‘Indeed,’ Abbot Colmán joined in. ‘But I understand that you have both reached an understanding now.’

‘I hope we have.’

‘Irél has told me of the flight of Cuan, a member of the Fianna,’ said Cenn Faelad. ‘I advised him to report that matter to you. I hope it is not because of him that you leave? Irél could easily send warriors to overtake him and bring him back, no matter where he is hiding.’

‘There are other things that must claim my attention.’

‘So you are not concerned with Cuan?’

‘I am very much concerned with Cuan. He was part of the conspiracy and he deliberately acted as a decoy, getting Lugna to desert his post that night. Furthermore, he took your key to a smith and had it copied.’

‘So it was Cuan?’ Cenn Faelad started in surprise. ‘That is a serious charge.’

‘Which is obviously why he fled,’ confirmed Fidelma.

‘Yet you stop Irél from the pursuit. Why?’

‘As I have said, I have other matters to attend to. Cuan is heading west.If my suspicions are correct, I think that we may well encounter him before too long.’

Cenn Faelad gave her a hard look. ‘Do you know something that you are not telling me?’

She shook her head. ‘If I knew anything of pertinence, I would tell you. But it is no use to theorise at this stage.’

‘Who are you taking on your trip?’

‘Eadulf, of course, and Caol and Gormán, the warriors who accompanied me from Cashel.’

‘Only two warriors? Come, I can give you a cóicat, a company of fifty warriors, or a céit, a hundred warriors, to escort you.’