Eadulf was also regarding Fidelma with a bewildered frown at her seeming irrelevant line of questioning. She seemed momentarily disappointed at Liag’s answer.
‘I have heard it said that the mines here are all in disuse now.’
‘You have heard it said correctly, lady,’ agreed Liag. ‘There are some lead workings not far from here but the old wealth is gone.’
‘I suppose things would greatly change if the precious metals were found again?’
Liag grimaced distastefully. ‘They would indeed change, but probably not for the better. For myself, I prefer the quiet and peace that solitude and a degree of indigence brings. Wealth brings greed, greed brings hate, and crime spreads-’
‘Crime such as murder?’ snapped Eadulf, losing patience with the conversation. ‘Have not such crimes already been visited on your idyll, master apothecary?’
Liag’s mouth tightened as he turned on Eadulf. ‘You are direct, Brother Saxon. There is no denying that you come to the point with a directness that others might not use. Yet I prefer my idyll, as you call it. The place is not responsible for the evil in men’s hearts. There is an old saying that wealth does not improve character but always changes it for the worse.’
Eadulf was about to open his mouth to retort when Fidelma moved forward to her horse, unloosening the reins.
‘Thank you for your time, Liag. We have much to do and must now return to the rath. But one question more. When was it that you were asked to examine the body of Beccnat?’
The apothecary looked surprised. ‘On the morning after the full moon. I thought that was understood.’
‘And both Escrach and Ballgel were also examined on the morning after the full moon?’
Liag confirmed it.
‘Thank you once again, Liag. You have been most helpful.’
Liag did not respond but stood motionless as they mounted their horses and rode away. Once out of earshot and sight of the old apothecary, Eadulf learned forward to Fidelma.
‘Why are you so interested in the mines? What has gold to do with this case?’ he demanded, perplexed.
‘Perhaps I should have mentioned to you earlier that it is interesting that the subject of gold often appears in this case. Now, if the name that was on Lesren’s lips really was Biobhal, then it becomes of particular interest.’
‘How so?’ demanded Eadulf.
‘Because there has been only one Biobhal that I know of. It is the name of a character out of our ancient times. The ancients say that long, long ago, before even the children of the Gael came to these shores, there were many invaders of our land. Partholón, the son of Sera, who had killed his father in the hope of obtaining his kingdom, led one of the invasions. But he was driven into exile and he and his followers came to this very kingdom of Muman. Partholón is said to have introduced ploughing into the kingdom and cleared plains and established agriculture and built hostels. Then a plague descended on the land and he and all his people were wiped out.’
Eadulf was looking baffled. ‘So what of this Biobhal?’
‘Biobhal was one of Partholón’s followers. He it was who is claimed as having discovered the first gold in the kingdom.’
Eadulf smiled in amusement. ‘That is a story for old folks and young children told before a blazing hearth on a winter’s night. I see nothing relevant.’
Fidelma gave a patient sigh. ‘I am not arguing the relevance of it, Eadulf. To anyone who is blessed with knowledge of the legends of the old ones, the name of Biobhal is synonymous with gold in this kingdom. I just wonder why Lesren would die with that name on his lips?’
Eadulf shrugged indifferently. ‘Well, now I know why you asked Liag your question, but he did not seem to know who Biobhal is. He mentioned someone called Tigernmas.’
Fidelma nodded with a frown.
‘Indeed, that is curious,’ she agreed. ‘He would surely know the name Biobhal but he chose to name Tigernmas. Tigernmas was certainly the High King in whose reign it is said that smelting of gold began in Ireland. But the ancient story tells that Biobhal discovered gold in the land. Yet Liag claimed not to recognise the name which Tómma said Lesren had on his dying breath.’
‘I can’t see any connection,’ repeated Eadulf.
‘Nor I. We have much talk of gold. I want to see this Thicket of Pigs.’
‘The place where the young boy found his fool’s gold?’
‘The place where he found genuine gold and was fooled out of it by Gobnuid the smith,’ corrected Fidelma.
‘Very well,’ agreed Eadulf. ‘But what shall we find in some disused mine in this Thicket of Pigs that will help us solve these killings?’
‘Who knows?’
Eadulf stared at her and then shrugged. ‘Are you saying that you see a link with the deaths of Beccnat, Escrach and Ballgel?’
Fidelma did not reply. Silently, Eadulf admired her. It was her ability to remember all the salient facts that constituted Fidelma’s exceptional ability as an investigator and solver of conundrums. But he could see no relation at all between the gold and the murders.
He was aware that Fidelma was glancing about her and peering up at the sky through the canopy of trees. Abruptly she pointed to a track which led directly away from the riverbank.
‘Follow me, Eadulf.’
She turned her horse along the narrow path and Eadulf was forced to follow her.
‘What is it?’ he demanded. ‘Where are you heading?’
‘We should be able to strike through these woods to join the main track and then head westwards towards the summit of the Thicket of Pigs.’
Eadulf was at once anxious. ‘But we have only a short while of daylight left. What can we achieve in that time?’
Fidelma glanced over her shoulder.
‘I am not a prophet, so I cannot answer your question,’ she said waspishly.
Eadulf fell silent. He realised that his questions were interrupting some thought process and antagonising her.
They rode on for a while, the path narrowing to a cutting through which it was difficult for their horses to pass even in single file. Then, at last, they burst out of the woods onto the main track which led from the distant gates of Rath Raithlen, beyond the turning to the abbey of the Blessed Finnbarr, and south-west over the wood-covered hill that was called the Thicket of Pigs. They continued on until the track began to rise sharply up the hill. Trees, shrubland and rocks spread in all directions around them with nothing to indicate any mines or metal workings at all. Fidelma looked in vain for some signs. Only someone who knew the area would be able to spot them.
Fidelma felt disappointed. However, she was not so egocentric that she refused to admit that she had, perhaps, made an error in trying to find the location of the metal workings without anyone to guide them. She halted her horse and gazed around. There was a chill in the air now and the skies were darkening in the east. She let out a sigh of irritation.
Eadulf knew better than to state the obvious but it seemed his diplomatic silence agitated her just as much.
‘You can observe that I was too enthusiastic, Eadulf,’ she said sharply.
Eadulf lifted a hand in a gesture of peace and let it fall.
‘A search is always the better for a guide when it is made in a strange land,’ he quoted quietly.
Fidelma pressed her lips together in annoyance. ‘Then we’d best return to the fortress and when we come back it will be with a guide.’
She was about to turn back along the track when they heard a loud whistling sound and a moment later a dog came bounding out of a thicket close by. It was a small hunting hound, not a wolfhound but a short, bristle-haired dog. It skidded to a halt, placing its paws apart and uttering a growl before letting loose a series of yapping barks.
The whistle came sharply. Then they heard a voice calling.
A moment later a young man appeared out of the cover on the slope just below them. He came to a halt as he caught sight of them. It was quite easy to see what the man was. On his broad shoulders he carried the carcass of a dead boar. He balanced it with one hand while his other held a bow of yew. His quiver of arrows hung from his belt alongside a great hunting knife. His clothes were of finely worked buckskin. His hair was auburn and fell to his shoulders though fastened by a band around the forehead. He had fair features and a ready smile.