The Dove of Death

one. Trifina had not been lying. Iuna could not have sailed to Govihan with Iarnbud, after all. However, she had no time to waste on rebuking herself.

‘That is most helpful, Aourken. And you will look after the cat for a while?’

‘I will. He is no trouble, but I think he is pining for his real owner.’

Fidelma was about to leave when she turned back.

‘One more thing. You told me that you knew Abbot Maelcar when he was a young man here. Did he ever speak about his family?’

Aourken was surprised by the question.

‘Not much. His parents had been killed in a Frankish raid when he was scarcely more than a baby. He was sent to be fostered at the abbey of Meven. Then he came here.’

‘The abbey of Meven — where is that?’

‘In the forests of Brekilien, north of here.’

‘Did he have any siblings?’

The old woman frowned. ‘I do not think so. He always spoke of himself as an only child.’

‘I see.’ Fidelma was thoughtful. ‘That is very helpful. My thanks again.’

The small party left the old woman at her cottage door and walked back towards the abbey. They found their horses where they had left them and bade farewell to Brother Metellus before mounting and heading back to Brilhag.

Chapter Fifteen

They had arrived back at Brilhag well after nightfall, and everyone was exhausted. Fidelma wanted to question Iuna immediately, but Eadulf persuaded her that the morning would be more appropriate. After a hurried evening meal, everyone went to their bedchamber.

When Fidelma and Eadulf descended to the great hall the next morning they found only Bleidbara standing moodily before the fire.

‘Riwanon left the fortress early this morning,’ he stated with a bleak expression. ‘She decided that she wanted to pray at the oratory, just along the coast from here.’

‘She has gone to do what?’ demanded Fidelma in amazement. ‘Why was she allowed to go outside the fortress when there is such danger abroad?’

‘Who am I to dare question the decision of Riwanon?’ Bleidbara answered dourly. ‘Anyway, she has taken her maid Ceingar, and Budic with two of his men.’

‘Better than nothing,’ Fidelma replied but not with approval. ‘Even so, she ought to be aware of the dangers hereabouts. When did she leave?’

‘At first light.’

‘And what is this oratory? I hope that it is not the same one in which Macliau was found?’

‘No, it’s on this side of the peninsula — a little chapel where it is said that one of the saints stayed during some pilgrimage.’

Fidelma shook her head in dissatisfaction. Then she glanced at the remains of the food on the table.

‘It looks as though everyone else has been up before us.’ Eadulf had sat down and was helping himself to bread and cold meats, but Fidelma excused herself. She did not feel at all hungry. Instead, she decided to go in search of Iuna. She found the girl in the kitchens.

‘I was told that you met old Aourken from the village yesterday,’ she opened immediately.

Iuna regarded her in surprise for a moment.

‘You make that sound like an accusation of something,’ she countered defensively. ‘Yes, I did see her yesterday. We often meet when I go to buy oysters. She used to teach me when I was younger and when she was with the religious at the abbey. That was before-’

‘Before Abbot Maelcar took over and changed the Rule at the abbey?’

‘Just so. Abbot Maelcar changed so many good things.’

‘I gather you did not like him?’

‘How could anyone like him? He would insult me by calling me a provincial servant, when my family…’ She took a deep breath. ‘Maelcar was a lecherous old man who shrouded prurience in piety. He preferred to look at women from cracks in curtains. When I was at Brekilian recently, he-’

‘Go on,’ Fidelma invited when the girl suddenly stopped and a flush came to her cheeks.

‘I hear stories, that’s all,’ Iuna muttered.

‘And Iarnbud? I had the impression that you did not like him either.’

‘Am I to take it that these questions have some relevance to the death of the Abbot?’ Iuna said rudely.

Fidelma was unperturbed by the aggression in her tone.

‘You may. You may also assume that I am still carrying out the commission Queen Riwanon gave me.’

‘I was raised at Brilhag. The mac’htiern fostered me when my parents were killed in a Frankish raid. Iarnbud is always about the place.’ She shuddered suddenly. ‘He is a sinister old man, as far as I am concerned. Always creeping about the place, always peering and prying. No, I do not like him one little bit.’

‘What was the nature of the argument that I saw you having with him yesterday?’

Again the girl looked at her in surprise and said nothing for a while. Fidelma decided to prompt her again.

‘I was coming to speak with you when I saw you at the door which leads out to the path down to the small cove where some boats are moored,’ she explained.

Iuna was still defensive. ‘If you were that interested, why did you not come to speak to us and enquire then?’

‘I had to fetch Eadulf, and by the time we came back, you had both vanished. We went down to the cove and saw a boat sailing towards Govihan.’

Iuna smiled grimly. ‘That was Iarnbud.’

‘But you had also vanished. I thought you might have gone with him?’

‘I have my rowing boat there and was on my way to collect the oysters. So I left Iarnbud sailing to Govihan while I rowed along the coast to the oyster beds in the little bay beyond.’

Fidelma had already guessed as much after Aourken had told her of the meeting. She was still irritated that she had made a mistake in thinking Iuna and Iarnbud had sailed off together. So she and Eadulf had been on a wild-goose chase. She grimaced at the dark humour of the expression. They were, indeed, chasing the Barnacle Goose.

‘And the argument between you?’ she added.

‘Iarnbud was asking too many personal questions.’

‘Personal questions?’

‘About Macliau, about Riwanon, even questions about you.’

‘I don’t understand. What sort of questions? For example, what would he want to know about Macliau? He has surely known him since birth.’

‘He wanted to know about Macliau’s friends. He was always going off hunting with them, even though there was no need for meat for the kitchens, and sometimes he would return without any game. Iarnbud seemed curious, for it was unlike Macliau to take an interest in hunting.’

‘Why was this a subject of argument with Iarnbud?’

‘I told him that there was a reason for Macliau’s desire to hunt.’

‘Which was?’

‘Hunting was a euphemism used by Macliau. It disguised his pursuit of the local women. I am afraid my foster-brother is…’ She finished with an eloquent gesture of her shoulders.

‘You have heard the story of what happened yesterday. Do you think your brother murdered Argantken?’

Iuna’s mouth became a stubborn line and she vehemently shook her head.