The man’s face paled considerably. ‘But I killed him when I found him.’
‘How many others didn’t you find, who escaped from Fobhair? And he was travelling with this Saxon — travelling to Delbna Mór? Did you not work out what that means!’
The questions were asked in an icy tone.
The leader of the raiders looked confused.
‘I will tell you, you son of a pig. It means that the Saxon had already passed through Fobhair and was returning to Delbna Mór. It may also mean that Fidelma of Cashel was with him and may even now be on her way to Tara to raise the Fianna.’ She turned to Eadulf. ‘Is that so, Saxon? Were you travelling with Fidelma of Cashel?’
Eadulf simply shrugged.
‘I’ll beat the truth out of him, ceannard,’ swore the black-bearded warrior.
‘Oaf! You will never beat anything out of a man like this. You have little judgement of men. You can rip this one apart but he is stubborn. If he does not want to tell you, he will not tell you.’ The woman raised her voice. ‘Ensure that all our lookouts are doubled from now on. You will answer to me later. Meanwhile, take the Saxon and put him with the old man. A Saxon Christian will be a suitable gift for the Great One when the time comes.’
The man turned meekly away with a hand raised to his forehead inacknowledgement. Then he gestured to two of the warriors, who seized Eadulf with rough hands. He was hauled and pushed once more towards a strange, grey stone building which looked like one half of a great scallop shell, lying flat on the ground. There were several other similar constructions in the vicinity, but this was by far the largest. As he was marched towards it, Eadulf noticed some more recent wooden constructions nearby — pens for horses and other animals. He estimated that there must be at least a hundred or more fighting men and their women encamped on the hill and they held a good defensive position.
He gave an inward sigh. What was he thinking about, assessing their defences when there was no one who was going to storm this place to rescue him? He had not reached Delbna Mór to warn Brother Céin, let alone Tara. He wondered whether Fidelma had realised yet that the raiders had doubled back. He had to face the fact that he was on his own.
The two warriors shoved him towards an entrance in the stone construction, which was revealed when a wicker gateway was swung aside. It was a small, narrow passage that seemed to lead into the bowels of the earth like the entrance to a tomb.
One of the men pointed along it. ‘Down there, Saxon!’
Eadulf hung back, warily examining the darkness.
‘Where does it lead?’ he demanded.
The man sniggered and then struck him viciously across the face. Eadulf saw the blow coming and leaned backwards to defuse the force but it stung nevertheless.
‘You do not ask questions. Get down in there.’
Eadulf had no option but to obey. He bent his head and moved along into the passage in a crouching position. The wicker gate swung shut behind him. He paused, expecting to be shrouded in blackness, but there was a flickering light some distance ahead at what was, presumably, the end of the passage. Cautiously he began to crawl forward. The passage was cold but it was dry and the ground easy underfoot. He had the light to guide him and it was not long before he found himself in the interior of the manmade structure.
The first thing he saw was an elderly man squatting on the floor with an oil lamp on one side of him and a clay jug on the other.
The man looked up as Eadulf emerged into the cavern. Despite his white hair and haggard features, he had a striking presence. Even with the shadows, Eadulf saw that he had once been handsome; his eyes werestill dark and his gaze penetrating. The eyes widened a little as he took in Eadulf’s clothing and tonsure.
‘And who might you be?’ he asked, not moving.
‘Eadulf of Seaxmund’s Ham,’ replied Eadulf, staring around the cavelike room in which he found himself. The light showed the interior of it to be covered in intricate carvings, which seemed vaguely familiar. He realised they were like the carvings he had seen in the man-made cave near the Abbey of Delbna Mór.
‘I welcome you, Brother Saxon. You will overlook the fact that I cannot rise. I feel my ankle was broken or sprained when they captured me.’
At once, Eadulf was concerned and bent to the old man, examining his puffy and swollen ankle by the faint light. He touched it gently.
‘You have some knowledge of the physician’s art?’ asked the old man.
‘I studied at Tuam Brecain,’ replied Eadulf, before asking the man to attempt some movement on the ankle.
He did so, wincing a little. Eadulf observed the movement with an expert eye.
‘When did it happen?’
The old man shrugged. ‘Difficult to be accurate when imprisoned without sight of the sky. Perhaps three or four days ago.’
‘Well, it’s not a break, thanks be to God. I think it is a sprain. You really need some cold compress on it. I will ask the guards.’
The old man laughed and caught him by the arm, shaking his head.
‘I don’t think you’ll find any compassion among them, Brother. They are not Christians.’
Eadulf nodded glumly. ‘That I have already discovered for myself.’
‘What brings you hither, Brother … Brother Eadulf? The name has a familiar ring.’
‘I am husband to Fidelma of Cashel.’
The old man looked at him sharply. ‘Fidelma the dálaigh? Is it so? I had heard that the High King’s Great Assembly had sent for her to attend at Tara and investigate the High King’s death.’
‘Just so,’ agreed Eadulf.
‘Then tell me how you came here?’
‘It is a story that will be long in the telling.’
The old man was amused. ‘So far as I can see, we are not pressed for time.’
Eadulf squatted down beside him. ‘So, first things first. You know who I am. What is your name?’
‘I am Luachan,’ the man replied.
‘Bishop Luachan of Delbna Mór?’ gasped Eadulf.
The man frowned. ‘I am. How do you know of me?’
‘We have been searching for you.’
‘How so?’ The old man was amazed.
‘We had a report of your visit to Sechnussach on the night before he was murdered and of the strange gift you took to him. Fidelma and I set out to speak with you at Delbna Mór, and from Brother Céin we heard that you had gone missing.’
The old man groaned. ‘You were with Fidelma? Don’t tell me that they have captured her, or killed her?’
‘They captured only me. Fidelma was on her way to see the Cinél Cairpre with two of Cashel’s best warriors while I was riding back to Delbna Mór to report that the abbey at Baile Fobhair had been attacked.’
Bishop Luachan’s face was woebegone.
‘Baile Fobhair attacked?’ He gave a deep sigh. Then he brightened a little. ‘But Fidelma is not captured? Then there is some hope for her. But tell me your story in detail.’
‘Before I do so, tell me … who are these people? I know they are raiders and hold no allegiance to the Faith.’
‘They are the cursed of the earth!’ hissed Bishop Luachan with such vehemence that even Eadulf was surprised.
‘I know they are not followers of the Christ,’ he said.
‘They are not even followers of the old religion,’ snorted Luachan. ‘They follow an aberration of the old gods that even the Druids of old had to rise up and destroy many years ago. Worse, these animals believe in sacrificing human life to this idol. I am afraid, my friend, that we are their next intended victims.’
Eadulf shuddered. ‘How long do we have?’ he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
‘Oh, a few days yet. I have heard them talking. It is their intention to perform the sacrifice at the time of the sun-standing, the grien tairisem.’
‘Sun-standing? Oh, the solstice. Well, that gives us some time to plan an escape.’
Bishop Luachan smiled in the gloom. ‘You are optimistic, my brother in Christ.’