‘But Deogaire claimed to be one of the Druids, still battling to retain the Old Religion, claiming to have the gift of prophecy. He used to irritate poor Brother Conchobhar beyond measure. He is the last person I would have thought would join Glaed’s marauders.’
‘Well, now he bears a blue shield with a raven’s image on it. I saw his weaponry. And one of the men at his side carries a blue silk banner with a similar raven’s image.’
‘Are you sure that they are heading to the Hill of Truth?’
‘Where else does that track lead?’
Fidelma was silent for a moment. Then she said: ‘You are right, Enda. It is better that Aibell does not know of this development for the time being.’
As they returned to the others, Fidelma raised her voice a little. ‘There was not much to tell from the horses’ tracks,’ she announced brightly, as if that had been the reason why Enda had asked for her to come and express an opinion. ‘Anyway, I think they were just a group hurrying to catch up with Glaed’s main body. Now let us proceed. We can leave the horses here then two of us shall climb the hill. From the top we should be able to see across the little valley to the Hill of Truth.’
Eadulf knew when Fidelma was disguising facts that she did not want others to know. What others? He glanced at Aibell and realised that it must have some connection with her. Was it a sighting of Gorman? He was determined to find out at the first opportunity when the girl was out of earshot.
It was agreed that Aibell would remain there with Eadulf while Enda and Fidelma climbed the hill to spy out the land. The first intention was to see if Glaed and his men were camping on the hill or had passed on. Before they left, noticing that Aibell was preoccupied in bathing her head and her arm, which still needed some attention after the attack on her, Eadulf quickly asked Fidelma what she had seen with Enda.
‘Deogaire?’ he whispered in surprise. ‘I knew he came from Sliabh Luachra but he was surely no fighting man? All that mysticism and magic show and belief in the pagan gods and goddesses …’
‘Maybe we should not dismiss Deogaire so easily,’ Fidelma replied, then recalled that she had reacted in almost exactly the same way. ‘What I mean is that he rescued Aibell from being Fidaig’s bond-servant and led her out of Sliabh Luachra with Fidaig’s men chasing after them. I would never under-estimate his physical courage.’
‘But having rescued her from Fidaig, why would he join the war band of Glaed?’ protested Eadulf.
‘If filial allegiance stands for naught in Sliabh Luachra, one can easily change other allegiances.’
Aware that Aibell had left the brook, they fell silent on the subject and continued to make a camp.
A short time later, Fidelma and Enda left to ascend the hill, leaving Eadulf and Aibell waiting anxiously. It was approaching twilight when they returned. They were looking disappointed.
‘There wasn’t much to see,’ confessed Fidelma. ‘Glaed’s men are certainly encamped there for the night. They have erected belscalan across the hillside and we could see smoke from their fires.’
Eadulf frowned, uncertain of the word that she had used. ‘Erected what?’ he asked.
‘Travelling tents,’ she explained. ‘They are encamped on the southern lower slopes below the high point of the hill. We also saw a wooden building that appears to be a chapel on the eastern slopes.’
‘A wooden chapel?’ frowned Eadulf.
‘Perhaps Abbot Nannid was meeting a religieux there, after all.’ Fidelma sighed. ‘Anyway, we saw no sign of him or his steward, although there were a lot of horses tethered nearby.’
‘We decided that the only thing to do is wait until nightfall and then see if we can get closer,’ Enda said. ‘We need to get near the chapel because that would be a natural point where Glaed would be camped and, if Gorman has been caught by him, he would also be nearby.’
‘That’s dangerous,’ Eadulf protested. ‘Would it not be better to-?’
Fidelma cut him sort. ‘Periculum in mora!’ she said sharply, resorting to one of the aphorisms of Publilius Syrus whom she was so fond of quoting. Eadulf grimaced. There was, indeed, ‘danger in delay’ especially if Gorman was still in the hands of Glaed.
‘It will be dark soon,’ said Enda. ‘We had better decide on a plan of how to get near their camp.’
‘I was thinking that one person might elude the sentinels that Glaed will have undoubtedly set up to patrol their camp, but not all of us,’ Fidelma said.
‘You cannot go on your own,’ Eadulf asserted. ‘I’ll come with you.’
‘Eadulf, you and lady Fidelma are not trained at infiltrating an enemy encampment,’ Enda argued. ‘I am, and I should go alone.’
‘It is my duty to go as a dalaigh,’ Fidelma contradicted him.
‘Then the three of us must go,’ Eadulf said.
‘I do not wish to remain here on my own wondering if you are caught or not,’ Aibell protested.
‘It is best if Enda and I go, Eadulf.’ Fidelma was determined to have her own way. ‘You and Aibell will remain here again.’
It happened without warning. There was a sound like a rush of air followed by two thuds. The quivering arrows stuck in a tree just above head height behind Enda. He was reaching for his sword when a nearby voice rasped: ‘Stop or you are dead, warrior. The next arrows will be aimed at you and not as a warning. Hold your hands high, away from your weapons.’
They all froze, hands rising reluctantly in obedience to the harsh command.
Then, to Eadulf’s surprise, there came a strange ‘churring’ sound. It took him a moment to recognise it as the call of a nightjar – a bird that was rarely heard, and only in summer. It must be a signal from one of the men hidden in the trees around them. A signal to whom?
‘Who are you?’ Enda called, trying to recover his dignity, because he felt he should have been aware of any hostile approach. After all, he had just boasted about his warrior’s training and then he had let them down.
‘You will find out shortly,’ came the uncompromising voice from behind the trees.
There was a movement through the shrubbery, a whispered exchange and a tall man appeared, then halted with an exclamation of surprise.
Fidelma looked at the newcomer and said wearily, ‘May we put our hands down now, Conri?’
The warlord of the Ui Fidgente turned towards his hidden companions and called: ‘You can put your weapons down.’ Then he said to Fidelma, shaking his head, ‘Yes, you may all put your hands down. However, I am in no mood to be tricked a second time.’
‘A second time?’ Fidelma asked, slightly amused, as four of Conri’s warriors emerged from the trees.
‘We thought that you were heading directly after Abbot Nannid to the Hill of Truth. But you eluded us.’
‘We took a more circular route,’ Fidelma replied mischievously.
‘And still you managed to meet up with Aibell. Where is Gorman, by the way?’
‘We believe that he has been captured by Glaed.’
Conri’s expression of surprise said it all.
‘It is a long story which I hope to make short.’ Fidelma told him as sparsely and as quickly as possible without losing its sense. When Conri had a chance to absorb the story, Fidelma prompted: ‘Now it’s your turn. How did you come here?’
‘Brehon Faolchair ordered me to take some men and follow you to ensure that you brought Gorman back to us. He wanted him safe at the prince’s fortress so that we can resolve the matter under the law. You managed to elude us almost immediately after we left the fortress. That was clever. So we came up along the river road and found Nannid, but no sign of you until just now.’
‘Are you saying that Abbot Nannid is here?’ demanded Fidelma with unconcealed excitement.