‘I just wanted confirmation. You had no idea that you would find Brother Cerdic here?’
There was a slight hesitation before Egric replied. ‘I also told you that I did not know Brother Cerdic.’
‘Very well.’ Eadulf sat back, watching his brother keenly. ‘Tell me again, when did you first meet the Venerable Victricius?’
Egric’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. ‘I met him in Canterbury.’
‘How exactly did you come to meet him? It is important.’
‘How exactly? I arrived there, having taken the sea route from Streonshalh with some other members of the religious.’
‘You did not know him at Streonshalh?’
‘I did not. Was he there?’
‘So where and how in Canterbury did you meet him?’ went on Eadulf without answering.
‘I was going to find a band of religious or merchants heading to a new abbey that I had heard about in the east of the Kingdom of Kent and. . I think I met him in a tavern.’ He saw the expression on Eadulf’s face and grimaced. ‘Where else would one pick up news of a merchant band leaving Canterbury?’ Eadulf was about to point out that there were plenty of religious houses and hostels in Canterbury, but Egric was continuing. ‘I was despairing of finding such a band when I fell into conversation with the Venerable Victricius. He told me that no less a person than Archbishop Theodore had given him a special commission which would take him here. I mentioned that I had been in the land of the Cruthin; I knew something of the common tongue, though I had never been here before. All this I told you earlier.’
‘And so he asked you to accompany him?’
‘He needed my skill; also the fact was that he was old and I was young.’
‘And you agreed without knowing the purpose of the trip, to come on a long and arduous journey into an unknown land? It seems strange.’
‘How so, strange?’ Egric challenged.
‘That you set out from Canterbury to accompany the Venerable Victricius, without knowing him and without any idea of his purpose.’
‘Strange but true, brother. I had no other urgent task to occupy me and the prospect of adventure seemed good. Did you never set out on a journey without knowing where it would lead you?’
Eadulf paused, for his brother had a point. ‘I do not have to be convinced, Egric. But the fact that Brother Cerdic arrived here to tell us that there was a deputation coming from Canterbury and then was murdered. .’
Egric frowned quickly. ‘Are you accusing me?’
‘Don’t be so touchy, Egric. You did not arrive at Cashel until after Brother Cerdic was found murdered. What I am trying to find is some thread that would lead me into untangling this mystery.’
‘You were always trying to resolve riddles when you were a boy.’ Egric sounded disgusted.
Eadulf sighed. ‘Isn’t it curious that Brother Cerdic came here from Canterbury and was killed here? That you and the Venerable Victricius came here from Canterbury and were attacked here, leaving Victricius dead? Surely there is something more you can tell us.’
Egric was shaking his head firmly. ‘All I know is what I have said. It might well have something to do with the Venerable Victricius’ purpose in coming to this kingdom — I don’t know.’
‘Bishop Arwald will soon be here in the company of the Venerable Verax. You said that you had heard of Arwald — but what of Verax?’
Egric was silent and covered the silence by taking a sip of his drink.
‘So you do not know the Venerable Verax?’ pressed Eadulf.
‘Eadulf, I am a lowly cleric — not one who mixes with highly placed members of the Faith.’
‘Yet you were travelling as companion to the Venerable Victricius,’ Eadulf said patiently.
‘That is different.’
‘How different?’
‘When is this deputation due in Cashel?’ asked Egric, without replying.
‘They were reported as being about a day’s ride away.’
Eadulf sat watching his brother for a moment. He knew instinctively that Egric was keeping something back. But what was it? He could hardly accuse him of complicity in the death of Brother Cerdic because, as he pointed out, Brother Cerdic had been murdered before Egric arrived at Cashel. But he was sure that his brother knew far more than he was telling him.
‘I must get back to the palace,’ Eadulf finally said, rising. He tried to conceal his exasperation. ‘I have things to do before the Venerable Verax and his party arrive. I will see you later.’
Egric glanced up at his brother. ‘I am sorry to give you such trouble.’
‘Don’t worry. As soon as this deputation has come and gone, we must get together properly and catch up on all that has happened to each of us. I’ll take you fishing along the Siúr; the river circles to the west of us here and further north there is good fishing. I remember how you liked to fish in the Fromus where it passed by our father’s house. .’
‘That was long ago.’
‘Not so long that it has passed from memory. But there is good fishing here. Good hunting, too.’
Egric was suddenly looking thoughtful. ‘You are right, brother. Maybe I should take time to relax.’
‘That’s the spirit.’ Eadulf leaned forward and patted his brother’s shoulder approvingly. ‘You’ve had a bad time. Once we find out what the Venerable Verax wants, things should feel a lot easier.’
He turned. Raising a hand to Rumann, and to Dego and the others, he left the tavern.
Arriving back in the palace, Eadulf went to their chambers to see if Fidelma was there. Muirgen was actually tidying up while Alchú sat watching her.
‘Hello, little hound,’ Eadulf greeted him as he came in.
The boy looked up and peered around Eadulf as if expecting someone to be behind him.
‘Where is that strange man, athair?’ he asked.
‘Strange man?’ Eadulf was puzzled.
‘He means your brother,’ Muirgen offered sheepishly pausing from her work.
‘That is no strange man, little hound.’ Eadulf shook his head reprovingly. ‘That is Egric, your uncle.’
The little boy pouted. ‘I don’t like him.’
Eadulf sat down opposite his son with a strained smile. ‘So what makes you not like your uncle?’
The child stared intently at his hands then mumbled: ‘I don’t know. I just don’t like him.’
Eadulf wondered how best to deal with the situation.
‘You must have some reason,’ he said gently. ‘Why, you don’t even know him. Tell me, what do you feel about your uncle?’
The little boy did not respond but stared stubbornly down, not meeting his father’s eyes.
Eadulf raised his eyes in a helpless gesture to Muirgen. She motioned him with her head to come to the far side of the chamber and then spoke quietly.
‘He seemed strangely silent after you had introduced your brother to him this morning. Some children — indeed, most children — have an intuitive feeling for certain things. To ask them to explain those feelings by means of logic is futile.’
‘I have great respect for your abilities as a nurse, Muirgen. Indeed, that is why we brought you and your husband, Nessan, all the way from Sliabh Mís to look after our son. But I have no understanding of this.’
‘Well, a child will suddenly say they don’t like eggs, or some other food. You ask them why, and often they can’t explain. The same goes with people. Sometimes, someone will come along and you will take an instant dislike to them. Why? You, being older and more mature, might try to find reasons but usually you fall back on instinct.’
‘So you say I shouldn’t force Algú to like him?’
‘What I say is that it will be up to your brother to win the boy over.’
Eadulf grimaced. ‘Easier said than done. Alas, Egric doesn’t seem to have a way with children.’
‘Well, from what I have picked up from gossip, he might be finding it hard to be open with people here at the moment. Having survived an attack, his companion killed, he finds himself a stranger in a strange land. Whom can he trust? No wonder he is awkward with everyone, not just our Alchú.’