‘They will be rewarded,’ responded Trifina distantly. ‘But how did those at Brilhag let you come out here alone? Macliau knows how dangerous the waters around these islands can be, unless one has knowledge. I do not understand it.’
‘Your brother is away hunting,’ Fidelma said.
Trifina gave an exclamation of surprise.
‘He left you and…?’ Then her tone became brisk. ‘But we must get you dry, into warm clothes, and it looks as though your companion stands in need of some attention. Heraclius, my physician, will take care of him. If only Iuna were here,’ she added absently.
‘Iuna is not here?’ Fidelma’s ejaculation of surprise was apparent but then it seemed she controlled her astonishment. ‘I thought I had heard that Iuna was coming to join you here,’ she added.
‘Indeed not,’ responded Trifina. ‘Why should she? I left her to attend to your wants at Brilhag.’
‘I thought that she might have come bearing the news.’ Was Fidelma searching for an excuse?
‘News?’ Trifina’s tone was perplexed. ‘What news?’
‘Firstly, that Riwanon has arrived at Brilhag with her entourage.’
‘Riwanon!’ The voice had the tone of surprise but there was something not quite right to Fidelma’s ears. A note of falseness. ‘Then are you saying that King Alain and my father are at Brilhag?’
‘They have not arrived yet,’ Fidelma rejoined. ‘Riwanon had left them hunting and came on by herself.’
‘Then it is a good thing that Iuna is at my father’s fortress. And my brother has decided to go hunting at this moment? For shame! No one there to welcome the Queen.’
‘There is even more news, lady,’ Fidelma said. She cleared her throat. ‘Unwelcome news, I regret. Abbot Maelcar of the community of Gildas arrived at Brilhag…and was murdered last night, or rather, early this morning.’
There was a long silence.
‘Are you jesting?’ demanded Trifina. Yet again there was something unconvincing about her tone as though she were affecting surprise rather than truly being surprised.
‘I do not jest about murder, lady,’ Fidelma replied firmly.
‘Let me get this right. You say that Abbot Maelcar was murdered while staying at my father’s fortress at the same time as Riwanon arrived?’
‘Indeed. It was to bring you these tidings that we came.’
Eadulf presumed that Fidelma considered herself to be merely twisting the facts to suit the moment, rather than telling an outright lie. Even in his befogged state of mind he could almost smile at the logic.
‘We will talk more about this when you are dried and changed,’ Trifina announced abruptly.
Eadulf was aware of instructions being issued but he still could not open his eyes. A great lethargy seemed to overcome him and he slid into a gentle sleep.
Fidelma had followed Trifina’s attendants, who carried Eadulf between them through a light oakwood- panelled corridor then up a broad stairway. They ascended without pausing and went along another corridor to a comfortable chamber where a wood fire was already crackling in the hearth. While Eadulf was being bathed and placed in a warm bed, a female attendant invited Fidelma into a small adjoining chamber where a tub of hot water had also been prepared for her and some dry clothing had been brought. It did not take long before she felt restored to her normal self, and one of the female servants told her that the lady Trifina was now awaiting her with refreshments.
She looked in on Eadulf before she left and saw that he was sleeping fairly comfortably. The young physician, who looked little more than a youth, stood respectfully by the fire.
‘I will stay with him for a while, lady,’ he said. He spoke in excellent Latin but she could not place his accent. ‘The water is out of his lungs but the immersion has disturbed him; also he has a bad graze on the head, and so he desires sleep above all things. I have seen this desire for sleep happen before, when someone has been resuscitated after near-death by drowning. A rest, and he will be well again. Have no fear.’
‘Trifina says you are a physician.’ Fidelma gave the youth a slow scrutiny.
‘I am qualified in my own land in medical matters, lady.’
‘What is your name?’
‘Heraclius, lady.’
‘I have heard that name before. And surely it is a Greek name?’
For a moment an expression of pride crossed the young man’s features.
‘I was born and educated in Constantinopolis.’
‘Then I leave Eadulf in your hands, Heraclius. Be sure to send for me, if anything is amiss.’
‘Have no worries, lady. He will be well soon.’
Fidelma turned and followed the waiting female attendant along the panelled corridor again to the stairway. The interior of the building was almost entirely of wood, with the exception of a stone tower and lower foundations. There were outer walls of sandstone which surrounded the large two-storey building. It was an impressive place and Fidelma had seen few buildings to compare with it. It was, in many respects, reminiscent of structures she had seen in Rome.
‘This is a magnificent building,’ she commented to the attendant. The girl bobbed nervously.
‘Indeed, lady.’
‘And old?’
‘They say that a Roman governor, sent to rule over the Veneti many years ago, had it built as a summer palace.’
Fidelma congratulated herself. So that explained the similarity that she had felt between this villa and some of the buildings she had seen in Rome. However, Roman residences were not usually built with second storeys and watchtowers, so she presumed that much had been added to the building over the years. From the bottom of the stairway, the attendant led her along a corridor and through a door which entered on a typical Roman-style inner courtyard with what might once have been a fountain but which no longer gushed water. On the far side of this courtyard, the attendant opened a carved oak door and ushered Fidelma inside.
Trifina received her in a large chamber. A fire was blazing in the hearth at the far end and oak chairs were set on either side. There was a similarly ornate table laid with various dishes and jugs, and Trifina waved towards it.
‘There is mulled wine or soup to choose from. Take what you will,’ she invited. ‘Something warm will help you recover from your ordeal.’
Fidelma took a goblet of mulled wine and went to the seat by the fire indicated by Trifina.
The daughter of the
‘You did not really make your journey here just to bring me news, did you?’ she opened. It was not said as an accusation but a confident statement seeking an expected confirmation.
Fidelma decided to be honest.
‘Not entirely,’ she admitted. ‘Although it is true that Riwanon has arrived and that Macliau is not at Brilhag. It is also true that Abbot Maelcar has been murdered.’
Trifina continued her close scrutiny but without expression,
‘But that is not what brought you on your foolhardy voyage here, is it? Let us start, though, with the death of the Abbot. Who murdered him — and why?’
‘We do not know. At the moment, the only suspect seems to be Iuna.’
Trifina’s eyes widened in surprise.
‘Iuna? Abbot Maelcar was not the friendliest of men and his attitude certainly made him many enemies locally. However, I can’t believe…Iuna. Why?’
‘I found her fleeing from Abbot Maelcar’s bedchamber. She said that she had discovered the body a moment before. I do not think she told me the entire truth. Then I saw her leaving the fortress with Iarnbud in a small sailing boat. They were heading in this direction. Hence, Eadulf and I followed.’
At this, Trifina’s expression turned to one of incredulity. ‘Iarnbud and Iuna? You are mistaken.’
‘I am not. Abbot Maelcar said that he had come to Brilhag in answer to a plea, which was purportedly sent by the King. But it was clear, at once, that no such message came from the King or your father, neither of whom had reached Brilhag at the time.’
