She had been feeling confident, having assumed that Eadulf was safe in Coba’s fortress and could remain there until Barrán arrived. Her spirits began to drop however as she realised how sombre Coba’s features were.
‘I informed the Saxon of the conditions of the sanctuary. I thought he had understood them.’
‘The conditions being that he remain within the confines of the fortress and make no attempt at further escape,’ Bishop Forbassach intervened pedantically, for Fidelma knew well what the restrictions were. ‘If he attempts to escape then the owner of the sanctuary has the right to strike him down to prevent that escape.’
A cold feeling crept through Fidelma’s veins. ‘What are you saying?’
‘Early this morning, when I awoke, I found the Saxon was not in his room,’ Coba stated quietly. ‘The gates of the fortress were unbarred and he was gone. One of my men was found near the gate. He was dead. Struck down from behind. I only have two watchmen there at night for no one has ever attacked the fortress of Cam Eolaing before. The other guard, Dau, was later found by the river, unconscious. He had beenrobbed of his cloak, boots and weapons. When he recovered, he told my men that he had attempted to pursue the Saxon and recapture him. He had been on the bank when he had been hit from behind. It is clear that the Saxon is trying to make good his escape into the countryside.’
Bishop Forbassach was nodding impatiently. He had heard the story before from Coba.
‘Coba has done a foolish thing in believing that the Saxon had any morals and would obey the rules of the sanctuary. He will be heading east towards the sea and a ship for the Saxon lands.’
He turned to Fidelma, suddenly looking awkward again.
‘I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry that I thought you were involved in his initial escape. I want to make clear to your brother, the King of Cashel, that I have apologised for any insult to you. I also wanted to let you know, however, that the Saxon has tied the noose about his own neck now.’
Fidelma was preoccupied with her thoughts and only caught the last part of his sentence.
‘What?’
‘It is clear that he fled from Cam Eolaing because he was guilty.’
‘You said that when you claimed that he had fled from the abbey. It was not so then. It may not be so now.’
‘Why flee from the safety of the sanctuary of Cam Eolaing if he were not guilty? He could have remained there indefinitely.’
‘He could only have remained there for as long as sanctuary was granted, not indefinitely,’ she corrected pedantically.
“The fact remains that he fled. Now he can be hunted down and killed without further ado. Anyone can kill him and do so in accordance with the law.’
At that moment Mel entered the room. He started to apologise and was about to leave when Bishop Forbassach, in irritation, waved him to remain.
‘I might need you, Mel. It is a matter of the King’s business.’
Meanwhile Fidelma had lowered herself wearily into a seat as she realised that what Forbassach had said was true. A convicted murderer who broke the rules of maighin digona and fled from the sanctuary could be treated as one already dead. She found herself clenching her teeth together to contain her anguish for a moment.
Bishop Forbassach was moving to the door. ‘I must alert the warriors of the King. Come with me, Mel.’
‘Wait!’
The Brehon turned back at Fidelma’s call.
‘Since you are here, I have a complaint to lodge against Gabrán. He and his men attacked me last night.’
‘The river-boat man?’ Bishop Forbassach seemed bewildered. ‘What has this to do with the matter we are discussing?’
‘Perhaps nothing, perhaps a lot.’
‘Gabrán comes from Cam Eolaing, of which I am chieftain,’ Coba a intervened. ‘What did he do?’
‘Last night, one of my companions and I were returning to Fearna. Gabrán and some of his men attacked us. They used swords.’
There was a silence.
‘Gabrán?’ Coba’s voice was hollow. ‘How would you know that it was Gabrán who attacked you? It was a dark night.’
Fidelma swung round to him with narrowed eyes.
‘You forget that even on a dark night, the moon still hangs in the sky, and sometimes even the heaviest clouds are obliging.’
‘But why would he attack you?’
‘That is my question. Do you know anything more about his personal life, his allegiances and values?’
Coba gestured indifferently.
‘He lives outside of the settlement, across the river from it, in fact, on the east side of the valley. I do not think that he has any special allegiances except to that of his trade. So far as I know, he lives alone. He has no wife.’
Bishop Forbassach was following the conversation though with suspicion on his face.
‘Are you sure about this, Sister?’ demanded Abbot Noé, entering the conversation. ‘Gabrán has had a long trading association with the abbey here and is considered most trustworthy.’
‘I am sure it was Gabrán who attacked us,’ affirmed Fidelma.
‘Where do you say that this attack took place?’ asked Bishop Forbassach.
Fidelma looked carefully at him and held his gaze.
‘We were returning from a place which I think you know well. We were on the way back from a cabin at a settlement called Raheen. The attack took place on the road just above Cam Eolaing. My companion Enda and I were lucky to escape with our lives.’
Fidelma was not disappointed by Forbassach’s reaction at the mentionof the name Raheen. The Brehon’s face went pale and it took him some time before he found his voice.
‘Often there are robbers on the highways around Fearna, catching unwary travellers,’ he offered, his voice nervous.
‘It was Gabrán,’ repeated Fidelma.
Coba was rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
‘I would have thought that Gabrán made enough money from his boat. He is often transporting goods up and down the river as far south as Loch Garman, taking cargoes to the ocean-going ships that sail to Britain and to Gaul.’
‘What sort of cargoes does he run?’ asked Fidelma curiously.
‘What does that matter?’ Bishop Forbassach replied impatiently. ‘Are we here to talk about Gabrán and his business or the escape of the Saxon?’
‘At the moment I would like to know why Gabrán attacked me.’
The Brehon seemed concerned in spite of his attitude. He knew the serious implications which might result from an attack on a dálaigh, let alone a King’s sister. That was the very reason he had come to apologise to Fidelma for his previous behaviour.
‘Are you charging this man, Gabrán, with an attack on you, Sister Fidelma?’ he demanded.
‘I am.’
‘Then I shall order that he be arrested to answer this charge. Do you hear this, Mel?’
The commander of the guard nodded thoughtfully.
‘Then you and I will go in search of Gabrán when we leave here,’ Forbassach announced. ‘We can be making enquiries about the Saxon at the same time. The search for the Saxon absconder must be uppermost in our minds. In that matter, Fidelma of Cashel, I must warn you that you also stand in danger if you have helped him evade the justice of this kingdom.’
Fidelma’s eyes flashed momentarily.
‘I am aware of the law, Forbassach! I did not help Brother Eadulf to escape, nor did I offer him sanctuary. In the meantime, I intend to continue to investigate the mysteries which surround this matter … mysteries which have led me along the road to Raheen.’
Coba was not aware of the sharpness in her tone and the pale look on Bishop Forbassach’s face.
‘I regret the Saxon played me false by escaping,’ he said, ‘but I donot regret my action in seeking to prevent his execution under the Penitentials. He should be punished under the native laws of our land.’