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help carry him there?’
    Fidelma looked at the heavy form of Brother Ailgesach and then at Enda and Gormán. ‘It will take both of you to carry the man,’ she said.
    Gormán and Enda picked up the dead weight of the unconscious man. The tavern-keeper moved ahead of them to open the door. After they left, the woman who had been stirring the contents of the cauldron retrieved her fallen ladle and placed it to one side. Then she came nervously forward and bobbed awkwardly to Fidelma. ‘My husband is a conscientious man and fulfils his duties as a brugaid with diligence,’ she said. ‘He should not be blamed for Brother Ailgesach’s behaviour. Truly, lady, I am sorry for this transgression of the laws of hospitality.’
    Fidelma had resumed her seat with Eadulf and motioned the woman to join them at the table. She hesitated before shyly seating herself opposite them.
    ‘I fear Brother Ailgesach will be even more sorry when he comes back to consciousness.’ Fidelma smiled thinly. ‘What is your name?’
    ‘I am Grella, wife to Fedach Glas.’
    ‘Then be assured, Grella, the behaviour of Brother Ailgesach will not reflect on you or your husband, nor on your tavern.’
    ‘But the strange words that he shouted at you, lady. It was a terrible insult.’
    ‘It would have been, had the words been meant for me. However, they were from the Holy Scripture. Does he often quote from the Scriptures when he is in his cups?’
    ‘He often raves as if troubled and calls out that we should all beware.’
    ‘Beware? Of what?’
    ‘Something about the sound of a trumpet.’
    Fidelma was silent for a moment or two, pondering on this, before turning to the more pressing subject. ‘I was wondering whether you could supply me with some information. The body that we have found is of a stranger and cannot be identified. I would like to know if you have seen any strangers on the highway in the last day or so.’
    The woman was thoughtful. ‘There are always strangers travelling on the highway. What sort of stranger was this, the one whose body you have found?’
    ‘He was a young man of rank.’
    ‘We have seen no such traveller recently. But then a young man of rank would hardly be likely to choose our poor tavern to break his journey.’
    ‘If not here, then where would he stay?’
    ‘If the man was travelling from Durlus Éile to Cashel, or in the other direction, then those are the only two places where he would find the sort of hostel to cater for the likes of him. North to south or south to north, he would not halt here. We are not grand enough.’
    This was probably no more than the truth. Fidelma, knowing the body carried the emblems of an envoy, had not expected such a person to have stopped here for refreshment.
    ‘No other travellers passed by here recently, to your knowledge?’
    Grella glanced round, almost in a conspiratorial manner. ‘I did hear something.’
    Fidelma waited a moment or two and then prompted: ‘Well?’
    ‘I heard that some travellers had stayed last night with Brother Ailgesach.’
    ‘Brother Ailgesach told you this?’
    ‘Not him. One of the woodsmen saw them arriving last night and departing about midday today. They were heading north towards Durlus Éile. The woodsman said they were riding fine horses.’
    ‘Who is this woodsman?’ asked Fidelma with quickening interest.
    ‘His name is Sétna, lady.’
    ‘And how did he come to observe this?’
    ‘Sétna was crossing by Brother Ailgesach’s cabin at the back of the chapel. He had been helping Saer take wood to the chapel when the visitors arrived just after dark.’
    ‘Was Saer a witness of their arrival then?’
    ‘Saer had already left and Sétna was on his own. He said that one was a man, who looked like a warrior, and the other was a finely dressed woman. A noble.’
    ‘How did this woodsman see so much if they arrived after dark?’ asked Eadulf.
    Grella turned a pitying look at him. ‘One of them carried a lantern to light