Dancing With Demons

of galar poil-the epilepsy which it is thought that Paul of Tarsus suffered after his vision.’

‘Would you have any objection if Brother Eadulf asked you a few questions? Most of you will know that Brother Eadulf studied for a while at the great medical school of Tuam Brecain.’

‘I will answer any question worthy of an answer,’ replied Iceadh coldly.

Eadulf stood up and smiled briefly at the physician.

‘I have but few questions, but hope you will find all of them worthy of answers, Iceadh. Let me begin by pointing out the obvious so that all members of the Great Assembly can follow our logic. Arriving here two weeks after the assassination, we were not able to inspect the body of Sechnussach, who had already been buried according to custom. That being so, we must rely on your eyes and observations.’

‘My observations are as sharp now as when I first examined the body,’ Iceadh replied fussily. ‘It is not often that one is called to examine the murdered body of one’s High King. I see the body very clearly in my mind’s eye.’

‘And that is good, for you have given us a weighty piece of evidence. As indicated by Fidelma, you pointed to the wound to the heart, which you said was as fatal as the cutting of the throat.’

‘That is true,’ Iceadh conceded, ‘but in what order the wound came, whether it was made before the cutting of the jugular or after it, I cannot say.’

‘I think, as we examine this, you will be able to do so,’ Eadulf assured him, to more gasps from the members of the Great Assembly. ‘I make no claims to be a surgeon, but at the medical school where I studied, I attended many lectures and demonstrations of surgery.’

‘Tuam Brecain is one of our greatest medical schools,’ Iceadh admitted. ‘I grant that the teaching there is of the best.’

‘I have never seen a man have his throat cut,’ went on Eadulf, ‘and, Deo volente, I hope I never will. However, the skilled masters at Tuam Brecain taught by showing what happens when the throat of an animal is cut, how the blood spurts forth like a great spring, powerful and strong.’

Iceadh smiled as if patiently trying to humour him. ‘Just so. Just so,’ he murmured.

‘Stay there a moment, Iceadh. For I would like to ask a question of Brónach,’ Eadulf said.

The woman looked startled and then rose to face Eadulf. ‘Must I answer this stranger?’ she demanded belligerently of Brehon Sedna.

The Brehon frowned in annoyance. ‘If you do not answer him, then you will answer to me,’ he snapped. ‘Eadulf is no stranger to us and has our entire confidence.’

Brónach flushed.

‘As a servant in the royal household, part of your duties was the washing of all the bedlinen. Is that not so?’ Eadulf did not seemed put out by her antagonism.

‘And still is,’ replied the woman tersely.

‘I recall that you told Fidelma and me that you took all the bedlinen and clothes from the High King’s chamber after his assassination for washing. Is that correct?’

‘If you remember, why ask me?’

‘So that you may confirm this to the Great Assembly and show that I am not putting words into your mouth,’ explained Eadulf patiently.

Brehon Sedna leaned forward. ‘I tell you again, Brónach, you will answer Eadulf’s questions promptly and without prevarication.’

‘It is so,’ snapped the woman.

‘Excellent,’ smiled Eadulf. ‘And there was, of course, blood on the linen?’

‘Of course.’

Eadulf glanced at her. ‘Do you recall telling us that there was so little blood that you were able to wash the sheets so that they could be used again, but Brother Rogallach told you to sell them as it would be unlucky for the royal household to keep them?’

‘I do.’ The woman looked wary now, trying to see if Eadulf was leading her into some dangerous admission.

‘Did you find it strange that there was so little blood?’

‘No — why should I?’

‘Because I have seen what happens when a sheep’s throat is cut. There is so much blood that I would say that the entire bed would be soaked in it. Anyway, I have finished. You may be re-seated, Brónach. Indeed, the matter of the lack of blood was perplexing. When we arrived here, Abbot Colmán mentioned that blood must have spurted like a fountain from the wound. It was only later that I discovered he had not actually examined the wounds. But if the throat was cut, the presumption was a valid one.’

Eadulf turned to indicate Irél. ‘It was the commander of the Fianna who first alerted us to the fact that there was little blood and its significance. He had seen many such neck wounds in battle and so commented at the lack of blood that flowed from Sechnussach’s wound.’

Iceadh, the physician, was now looking thoughtful.

‘It is true, now I think on it, that there was remarkably little blood that came from the area of the jugular; as you point out, one would expect fountains to have issued.’ He paused and his eyes widened. ‘The main area of blood was around the heart area. The High King lay on his back and most blood was pooled there. You have made a good observation,’ he said approvingly to Eadulf.

Brehon Sedna leaned forward to interrupt. ‘So what you are saying is that you think the wound into the heart was the fatal one and the throat was cut afterwards?’

‘Just so, just so,’ replied Iceadh. ‘I would agree with that contention. Mind you, there would have to be a short delay between the wounds — otherwise there would have been no negligible effect in the bloodflow. But, as I say, either one was fatal. Dubh Duin could have stabbed Sechnussach in the chest and then, not realising it was fatal, he could have also cut Sechnussach’s throat some time later. I do not see how the order of the wounds can prove … ’

Eadulf held up his hand to stop the old physician.

‘One more question, Iceadh. You observed the wounds. Were you able to ascertain any difference between the knives that inflicted the wounds?’

‘Knives? There was only one knife. It was found in the assassin’s own heart.’

‘Ah, so I don’t suppose you compared the type of wounds inflicted?’ asked Eadulf. ‘The measurements, for example?’

‘I observed only that the wound in the High King’s chest was one simplethrust, a sharp incision. The one in Dubh Duin’s chest was a jagged wound but this was probably due to the fact that he was in a hurry, having, as I am told, been discovered at that point.’

‘Is there any possibility that the two wounds were caused by two different knives?’

Iceadh stared at him. ‘It is not impossible. But only one knife was found and one assassin.’

Eadulf reached forward to take the knife that Fidelma had handed him from her marsupium. He passed it to Iceadh.

‘Had that knife been found next to the High King’s body, would you say that it could have been used in his fatal stabbing?’

Iceadh gazed at the knife. ‘Had it been found next to the body, yes I would have to say that it could have been the knife. But it was not found there.’

Eadulf smiled broadly at the other’s caveats.

‘At this stage,’ he said, ‘you do not have to make any other comment than confirm the possibility.’

‘Where was the knife found?’ demanded Brehon Sedna.

‘If you will be patient a moment or two longer,’ Eadulf replied, ‘Fidelma will come to that point. In the meantime, I would like to ask a question of Torpach, the cook.’

Torpach rose, looking puzzled. ‘What can I say about this, Brother Saxon?’ he muttered nervously.

‘Take the knife from Iceadh and tell us if you recognise it.’

The cook did so, examined it and then swallowed quickly. ‘It is the knife that went missing from my kitchen. A favourite knife. I think I mentioned it to you when poor Mer the Demented was found killed. But she was stabbed