The Dove of Death

responsible.’

‘And for what reason do you think the raiders are trying to impugn your family in this manner?’ asked Fidelma. She suddenly realised that the name was close to her own language: colm marbh — the dove of death.

‘So that we may be dispossessed of our lands and titles. There can be no other reason.’

‘So the flag is deliberately flown or planted to mislead people. You used the term “we” when you mentioned that you have been trying to track down the raider. Who is “we”?’

‘Bleidbara and I. Last night we decided to fit out the Morvran…It is really my father’s ship, the name means the Cormorant, which was the warship that you saw. We have fitted her out to search the Morbihan, to find the sea raider.’

The cormorant, with its dark body and its yellow to orange bill, was exactly how the ship that Fidelma had seen a short while before had been painted.

‘And the lights we saw on the shore below Brilhag the other night?’ Eadulf asked.

‘We told you the truth about it. Bleidbara and I came to the conclusion that this Koulm ar Maro must be hiding in these waters.’

‘I see. Does your father approve of this?’

‘My father has been away from Brilhag for several weeks in Naoned. He has probably not heard the news of the activities of the Koulm ar Maro yet. When he returns, he will be made aware by the growing hostility of the people here, and we must have a solution because he will be in the company of King Alain — and the people will exhort Alain to punish us for these attacks for which we are not responsible.’

‘So it is only you, your brother and Bleidbara who know of this?’ Fidelma asked.

To her surprise, Trifina shook her head. ‘My brother Macliau does not know what Bleidbara and I are doing.’

‘Why is that?’ Fidelma asked sharply.

‘Because Macliau cares for little outside of his hunting, drinking and his pursuit of women.’ Trifina’s voice had a disapproving tone.

‘Argantken?’

‘She is his current dalliance,’ Trifina sniffed, making her disdain abundantly clear. ‘Argantken is the daughter of a local farmer called Barbatil. Macliau would not have dared to bring her to my father’s fortress had he been there.’

‘So your brother…?’

‘Is a silly wastrel, indulged by my father after the death of my mother.’ There was no vehemence in her tone. She stated her view as a simple fact. ‘If there is justice, he will not succeed my father as the mac’htiern.’

‘But you would be willing to put yourself forward to the office?’ Fidelma suggested.

‘In the old days, the women of our people could succeed if there were no suitable male of the family to do so. I am told in your country of Hibernia that this is still so. However, our people have become too Romanised. Five centuries of rule from Rome has all but destroyed our ancestral ways of life.’

Fidelma agreed that there was nothing to prevent women rising to such power among her people.

‘So who else of your household is in this secret? Iuna?’

Trifina shook her head quickly, saying, ‘Only Bleidbara and Iarnbud.’

‘Iarnbud? You trust him in this matter?’ Fidelma was surprised.

‘He has supported our house since before I was born. He has the freedom to sail the waters of the Morbihan and to scour the forests around here, and thus is able to report on any gathering of warriors who might be connected with these raids.’

‘So that was what he was doing on this island…coming to report to you. Then why did he bring Iuna with him?’

‘He did not mention her when I saw him. Nor was there any sight of Iuna in his boat when he arrived.’

‘You mentioned Iuna to him? I presume he is no longer here?’

‘He sailed off not long ago, and I did not mention your claim to him because I felt you were mistaken. There is no way he would have allowed Iuna to know our plans.’

‘Had he brought you any news?’

‘Only about the arrival of Riwanon and the death of Abbot Maelcar.’

‘And that is why you were not surprised when I gave you the news?’

Trifina nodded grudgingly. ‘You have sharp eyes, Fidelma. That was indeed why,’ she confirmed.

‘But so far as you know, Iuna was not with him?’

‘As I have said.’

‘Iuna may be on this island.’ Eadulf pointed out the obvious conclusion.

‘Impossible! I trust Iarnbud entirely. But as you are not convinced, I will ask my guards to make a search.’ Trifina called to the guard outside the door and when he entered, she issued the instructions.

‘It is still difficult to see a reason why this Koulm ar Maro — we may as well use the name for the person behind the raiders as well as the ship — should be so set on bringing your family into disrepute — and by such extreme means.’ Fidelma took up the theme that was worrying her once again.

‘If we knew that, we might know who is behind this,’ Trifina said simply.

‘Then let us consider why your family might have incurred the wrath of someone to this extent. The mac’htiern of Brilhag is an ancient noble family of this area, so I am told. In fact, your father’s ancestors were kings of this land not so long ago?’

‘The emphasis is on “were”,’ replied Trifina. ‘We are no threat to anyone now.’

‘Brother Metellus spoke about your family, but I have forgotten the details. Tell me the situation so that I can understand it better.’

‘This was once the kingdom of Bro-Erech, which used to be the largest of the kingdoms of this land of Armorica. That was the old Gaulish name, which meant “the land before the sea”. That has now been displaced. Now it is called “Little Britain” because of the many settlements from Britain in these last two centuries.’

‘That I have understood,’ Fidelma said.

‘There was Bro-Erech and then to the north of us was Domnonia and to the west was Bro-Gernev. There were smaller kingdoms such as Bro-Leon and also Pou Kaer, but these are no more; both were absorbed many years ago. So now there are three large kingdoms.’

Fidelma acknowledged that she was still following.

‘Domnonia, while not as large as Bro-Erech, became very influential and was bearing the brunt of attacks by the Franks and Saxons along the northern coast and eastern borders. Just before I was born, Domnonia was ruled by Judicael who defeated the Franks twice in great battles and even travelled to the court of the Frankish King Dagobert in Paris to conclude a treaty of peace. Judicael claimed to be King of all the Bretons. The scribes wrote that the terror of his name alone was sufficient to keep evil men from violence. Although he was said to be mighty and brave in battle, he eventually decided to follow the religious life and abdicated, retiring to an abbey in Brekilien.’

‘Very well. But how does this tie in with your family and Bro-Erech?’ Fidelma asked, slightly impatient.

‘At the time when Judicael ruled in Domnonia, my family ruled here in Bro-Erech. Just before I was born, my great-grandfather Canao, the third of his name to rule here, died. It was then that Judicael claimed the kingship. He maintained that Waroch, the greatest of our Kings, was also his own ancestor and that Waroch’s daughter, Trifina, after whom I take my name, was his own grandmother. There was a dispute and my grandfather, called Macliau, was defeated. Thus he and my father after him became only the lords of Brilhag.’

‘Your brother mentioned this and explained the symbol of your flag. He also said that one day, he hoped to restore the family to their rightful place. Their place as kings — is that what he meant?’

Trifina laughed sardonically.

‘That is vain talk. My brother is a fool and a dreamer. We must accept reality now. Canao, the last of our family to rule here, was not a nice man. In fact, by all accounts, he was mad. He killed three brothers to secure the throne. Our family are better off out of such politics.’

‘Yet someone is bringing you back into that world,’ Fidelma said thoughtfully.