‘Daig went to the inn and found Gabrán. He had been drinking heavily and so it was a while before some sense could be made of thesituation. Lassar, who owns the inn, told Daig that Gabrán had been joined by the boatman and there was some sort of argument. Gabrán paid him off and they became friendly again. The boatman drank there for while and then returned to the boat. Lassar was asleep by then, as it was late, but was awakened when Daig arrived to question Gabrán.’
The woman paused in her recitation.
‘Is this truly what you want to know, Sister?’ she asked, frowning. ‘Bishop Forbassach thought it was all irrelevant.’
‘Go on, Deog. What else did Daig tell you?’
‘Gabrán confirmed that he had just paid the man some wages that he owed him.’
‘Did he explain the argument?’
‘It was to do with the money. Daig said the cause was not important. What was important was that no money was found on the sailor. There was another thing. When Gabrán was told the money was missing he asked about a gold chain that the man usually wore around his neck. That was gone as well.’
‘I presume no money or chain was found on the body.’
‘That was what worried Daig. You see, after he had made his futile attempt to chase the footsteps he had heard receding into the night, he came back and searched the body.’
‘It worried him? Worried him in what way?’
Deog was frowning as she tried to recall what Daig had told her.
‘It was … and he thought that he might well have been mistaken … it was …’
‘Take your time,’ advised Fidelma as she hesitated, trying to remember.
‘When he first saw the body, before he started to chase after the sound of the footsteps, Daig was sure that he caught sight of the gold chain around the neck of the dead man. He thought it glinted in the torchlight.’
‘But the chain had gone when he returned to the body, is that it?’
‘That’s what caused him concern. It was not there when he returned.’
‘Did he mention this to anyone?’
‘To Bishop Forbassach.’
‘I see. What happened? What did Forbassach do?’
‘I don’t think it was ever mentioned again. After all, Daig was not absolutely sure. Lassar confirmed that the man had been given the money and she knew that he usually wore a gold chain. She knew himas a regular member of Gabrán’s crew who came to the inn several times. He always boasted that the gold chain had been won in some battle against the Uí Néill.’
Fidelma was silent for a moment as she turned over the information in her mind.
‘I know that the question of the gold chain began to worry him,’ Deog added.
‘Did Daig tell you how he managed to follow the trail to Brother Ibar?’
‘Indeed he did and he felt it was an amazing coincidence. Gabrán himself came to Daig the next day and said that he had been in the market square when a religieux approached him and tried to sell him a gold chain. He had immediately recognised it as that belonging to his dead crewman.’
‘Rather an odd coincidence,’ observed Fidelma dryly.
‘Yet coincidences do happen,’ replied Deog.
‘Did Gabrán know the religieux?’
‘He knew he was a member of the abbey community.’
‘So he says he bought the chain?’
‘He pretended to be interested and arranged to meet the man later. Then he followed this Brother straight back to the abbey. He asked the rechtaire what his name was — it was Ibar, of course — and then he went to Daig and told him the whole story. Daig went to the monastery and explained matters to Abbess Fainder. Together with the rechtaire, Daig made a search of his cell. They found the chain and a purse of money under Brother Ibar’s bed.’
‘What then?’ queried Fidelma.
‘The chain was identified by Gabrán who also said that the purse of money approximated to that which he had given his crewman for his wages. Fainder sent for Bishop Forbassach, and Brother Ibar was formally accused.’
‘I am told that he denied the accusation?’
‘He did. He denied the killing, he denied trying to sell the chain to Gabrán, and he denied all knowledge of the money hidden under his bed. He called Gabrán a liar. Yet in view of the overwhelming evidence there was only one conclusion to be reached. Yet Daig was worried about the coincidence — just as you said, he felt it was an amazing coincidence. He was also worried by his memory of having seen the chain on the neck of the victim after the killing.’
‘But you said that he told Bishop Forbassach of his concern?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did he do anything further about all this? Did he pursue the matter with Gabrán?’
‘You are a dálaigh. You should know well enough that Daig was just a watchman. He was no lawyer to pursue such enquiries. He told Forbassach and, from then on, it was his task. Bishop Forbassach was content with the evidence.’
‘But nothing of this came out at Ibar’s trial?’
‘Not as far as I know. My Daig drowned before the trial, so he was not able to raise his questions.’
Fidelma sat back in her chair to reflect on what Deog had told her. ‘Bishop Forbassach appears as both accuser and judge again. That is not right.’
‘Bishop Forbassach is a good man,’ protested Deog.
Fidelma regarded her with curiosity. ‘There is one thing I find fascinating, Deog,’ she observed. ‘For a countrywoman, and one who does not live in Fearna, you have a lot of knowledge of what goes on there and seem intimate with some influential people.’
Deog sniffed deprecatingly. ‘Wasn’t Daig my husband and didn’t he keep me informed? We often talked about what he did down in Fearna. Isn’t it thanks to that fact that you have now learnt answers to the questions that you asked?’
‘Indeed. But you know more than what your husband has told you. I understand that you are visited by Bishop Forbassach and Abbess Fainder.’
Deog was suddenly nervous. ‘So, you know that?’
Fidelma smiled thinly. ‘Exactly so. Abbess Fainder rides out to see you regularly, isn’t that so?’
‘I will not deny it.’
‘With respect, why would Abbess Fainder ride out here so regularly? Why would she feel the need to tell you, the widow of a member of the river watch, a man she told me that she hardly knew, the details about Brother Ibar’s trial?’
‘Why shouldn’t she?’ demanded Deog defensively. ‘Fainder is my young sister.’
Chapter Twelve
It was some moments before Fidelma recovered from the unexpected reply.
‘Abbess Fainder, the Abbess of Fearna, is your young sister?’
Deog gave a swift affirmative gesture.
‘Does it surprise you that a powerful, rich abbess should have such a poor relation?’ she demanded, a note of belligerence in her voice.
‘Not at all,’ Fidelma assured her. ‘Talent and ability deserve important rewards, although it does occur to me to ask you — is Abbot Noé related to your family?’
Deog looked bewildered. ‘Why should he be?’
‘Are you sure that he is not related to you? Or is any other member of his family so related?’ she pressed.
‘He is not related. I do not see why you should ask such questions.’
‘Just idle curiosity, that’s all,’ Fidelma assured her. ‘Now, you were telling me that the abbess has wealth?’
Deog seemed mollified. ‘My sister has made a good life for herself.’
‘To be a servant of the Faith is not a usual way of gaining riches.’
‘Perhaps not. But as abbess in the King’s capital, she has to mix with rich and powerful people and it would not be seemly that she should go abroad in threadbare attire. I presume the abbey ensures that she has sufficient for her needs.’