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Authors: Peter Tremayne
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to pay his respects to the King at the time of our wedding feast. You probably don’t remember him.’
‘As I recall, there was a great deal happening at the time,’ replied Eadulf dryly. ‘Among other distractions there was the murder of Abbot Ultán. However, when Colgú defeated the Uí Fidgente at Cnoc Áine, I presume that Fidaig was their ally?’
‘Curiously, he was not, although I heard that the Luachra had a small band that fought there, commanded by a son of Fidaig. Fidaig claimed that they had mustered without his consent and therefore he was not responsible.’
‘To my mind, it seems that the girl is connected in this,’ Eadulf repeated.
‘But would she have been that forthcoming about being a bondservant in the household of the Luachra chieftain if there was such a conspiracy and she was part of it?’
‘It is the only explanation I can see. But that reminds me – what did she mean when she said that her father was like Oenghus Tuirbech? You seemed to understand, but I do not think Gormán or Della did. I certainly did not.’
Fidelma’s expression was serious. ‘Oenghus Tuirbech was supposed to be an ancient King descended from the race of Eremon. He was called Oenghus the Shameful because he forced his own daughter to go to bed with him and begat a son called Fiachaidh Fear Mara. Oenghus had him put into a canoe and pushed out to sea because he could then claim that his son’s blood was not on his hands.’
For a few moments Eadulf stood frowning at her and then he realised what she was saying.
‘So she meant that her father … ?’
Fidelma sighed deeply, cutting him off and saying, ‘Let us get back to the others. We will have to keep the girl at the palace while we go to see Ordan and check out her story. Perhaps we can also verify the matter of the man going to the fields who told her where the hut is.’
Eadulf suddenly looked nervous. ‘We did promise little Alchú to take him riding.’
Fidelma was about to make an exasperated retort when she suddenly relaxed, saying, ‘The rath of Ordan is not so far distant. Our son can ride with us when we go to see the merchant.’
‘That’s a good idea,’ replied Eadulf with relief. ‘I would not like him to be disappointed again.’
Fidelma glanced sharply at him: was there a hidden criticism in his tone? Then she decided to let the matter pass. Eadulf was touching a tender spot because the life the couple had led since little Alchú had been born was such that the boy had been well-nigh neglected by them. Had it not been for Muirgen, whom Fidelma had appointed as nurse to the boy and, indeed, foster-mother, she did not know how they would have managed.
Fidelma led the way back into Della’s cabin. Gormán looked up in relief as they entered. The girl was sitting in brooding silence while Della was washing dishes. It turned out that she had tried to engage the girl in conversation a few times but without success.
‘What now, lady?’ asked the young warrior, rising from his seat.
‘Now we shall return to the palace. I must learn if there is further word of my brother’s condition and then we will continue our enquiries. Thank you, Della, for your hospitality. I will ask our
táisech scuir
, our master of the stables, to send one of his lads to remove the horse and the responsibility of feeding it from you.’
‘Thank you, lady. Did you find the answer to what it was that you sought?’
As Fidelma shook her head, Eadulf added: ‘We are as much in the dark about the identity of Liamuin as we were before.’
The reaction was unexpected.
‘Liamuin?’ The cry came from the girl. She had sprung from her seat, arms akimbo, body tense, and was staring at them with wide-eyed hatred. Her voice rose to the edge of hysteria. ‘Then you knew? All along, you have known. How did you know?
How did you know?
’
CHAPTER FOUR
T hey stood astounded at the girl’s outburst. Then Fidelma took charge.
‘Tell us what you know of
‘As I recall, there was a great deal happening at the time,’ replied Eadulf dryly. ‘Among other distractions there was the murder of Abbot Ultán. However, when Colgú defeated the Uí Fidgente at Cnoc Áine, I presume that Fidaig was their ally?’
‘Curiously, he was not, although I heard that the Luachra had a small band that fought there, commanded by a son of Fidaig. Fidaig claimed that they had mustered without his consent and therefore he was not responsible.’
‘To my mind, it seems that the girl is connected in this,’ Eadulf repeated.
‘But would she have been that forthcoming about being a bondservant in the household of the Luachra chieftain if there was such a conspiracy and she was part of it?’
‘It is the only explanation I can see. But that reminds me – what did she mean when she said that her father was like Oenghus Tuirbech? You seemed to understand, but I do not think Gormán or Della did. I certainly did not.’
Fidelma’s expression was serious. ‘Oenghus Tuirbech was supposed to be an ancient King descended from the race of Eremon. He was called Oenghus the Shameful because he forced his own daughter to go to bed with him and begat a son called Fiachaidh Fear Mara. Oenghus had him put into a canoe and pushed out to sea because he could then claim that his son’s blood was not on his hands.’
For a few moments Eadulf stood frowning at her and then he realised what she was saying.
‘So she meant that her father … ?’
Fidelma sighed deeply, cutting him off and saying, ‘Let us get back to the others. We will have to keep the girl at the palace while we go to see Ordan and check out her story. Perhaps we can also verify the matter of the man going to the fields who told her where the hut is.’
Eadulf suddenly looked nervous. ‘We did promise little Alchú to take him riding.’
Fidelma was about to make an exasperated retort when she suddenly relaxed, saying, ‘The rath of Ordan is not so far distant. Our son can ride with us when we go to see the merchant.’
‘That’s a good idea,’ replied Eadulf with relief. ‘I would not like him to be disappointed again.’
Fidelma glanced sharply at him: was there a hidden criticism in his tone? Then she decided to let the matter pass. Eadulf was touching a tender spot because the life the couple had led since little Alchú had been born was such that the boy had been well-nigh neglected by them. Had it not been for Muirgen, whom Fidelma had appointed as nurse to the boy and, indeed, foster-mother, she did not know how they would have managed.
Fidelma led the way back into Della’s cabin. Gormán looked up in relief as they entered. The girl was sitting in brooding silence while Della was washing dishes. It turned out that she had tried to engage the girl in conversation a few times but without success.
‘What now, lady?’ asked the young warrior, rising from his seat.
‘Now we shall return to the palace. I must learn if there is further word of my brother’s condition and then we will continue our enquiries. Thank you, Della, for your hospitality. I will ask our
táisech scuir
, our master of the stables, to send one of his lads to remove the horse and the responsibility of feeding it from you.’
‘Thank you, lady. Did you find the answer to what it was that you sought?’
As Fidelma shook her head, Eadulf added: ‘We are as much in the dark about the identity of Liamuin as we were before.’
The reaction was unexpected.
‘Liamuin?’ The cry came from the girl. She had sprung from her seat, arms akimbo, body tense, and was staring at them with wide-eyed hatred. Her voice rose to the edge of hysteria. ‘Then you knew? All along, you have known. How did you know?
How did you know?
’
CHAPTER FOUR
T hey stood astounded at the girl’s outburst. Then Fidelma took charge.
‘Tell us what you know of
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