‘The trouble is that the storehouse is behind the Laochtech,’ Fidelma observed. ‘Anyone could have gone round it and entered it without being seen by the warriors in the Laochtech.’
‘Well, there are other matters that I must proceed with,’ Eadulf said. ‘Has my brother returned yet? He needs to identify Rudgal’s body to say whether he was one of the attackers. He can’t still be in Rumman’s tavern, surely?’
Gormán turned to him in surprise. ‘He didn’t tell you?’
Eadulf frowned. ‘Tell me what? I haven’t seen him since I asked you where he was earlier.’
The young warrior nervously cleared his throat at Eadulf’s response. ‘He has left with Dego. They will be gone for a few days.’
Eadulf was staring at Gormán in incomprehension. It was Fidelma who asked the question. ‘Gone where for a few days, Gormán?’ she asked softly.
‘I told friend Eadulf here earlier that they were talking about fishing or hunting.’
‘And?’ snapped Eadulf, his voice dangerous. ‘What are you saying now?’
‘Well, Dego had permission from me to take some days’ rest after our recent trip. He was going to spend a few days fishing and hunting. He has a cabin somewhere in the Sliabh na gCoille.’
Eadulf knew that the Mountains of the Forest was the name of the peaks to the south-west. It was a large area.
‘When did you learn this?’ he asked coldly.
‘When you went to tell the King about the discovery of the body of the prisoner. Dego came back to the fortress at that moment to tell me he was leaving. As he had been in the township, the matter of questioning him about the death of the prisoner did not relate to him. I saw no objection to allowing him to leave.’ The warrior looked embarrassed.
‘That was not the problem.’ Fidelma spoke quietly. ‘This prisoner was supposed to be the man who attacked Egric, so Egric was needed as an official witness. Why did you not keep him here so that he could identify him?’
Gormán raised his arms in a helpless gesture.
‘Egric did not come back with Dego. I presumed that he was waiting for him in Rumann’s tavern. I thought that he had already told Eadulf his intention when Eadulf went to the tavern to see him earlier. In fact, I’ve just seen Beccan, who was asking whether Egric would be feasting with the King this evening. He was worrying about the arrangements as usual. I never saw a steward so worried about details. But. . well, didn’t you say that you were speaking about fishing to your brother?’
Eadulf shook his head in annoyance. ‘He did not mention any intention of leaving immediately with Dego on a fishing or hunting trip.’
The warrior was looking unhappy. ‘I did not realise that he had not told you, and it did not occur to me that you would disapprove.’
‘It’s not that I disapprove,’ muttered Eadulf fiercely. ‘However, the timing and circumstance are. . are odd.’
‘It’s not your fault, Gormán,’ Fidelma intervened. ‘We just needed to ask if Egric could identify this Rudgal as his attacker. But it is no matter, since that was just a formality. We have evidence aplenty. But with this second murder and the fact that the arrival of the deputation from the east is imminent, it would be better had all the trusted members of the King’s bodyguard remained in the palace.’
‘Perhaps if I sent a fast rider after them?’ Gormán offered.
‘Just a moment. Were they both on horseback?’
‘They had the horses they left with this morning. Dego only came back here to collect his belongings for the trip. Your brother had lost all his belongings in the attack on the Siúr, so I presume they would purchase some items in the town before they left.’
‘Which way were they heading?’
‘I am not sure. Dego’s cabin is among the mountains south of the Valley of Eatharlach.’
Fidelma turned to Eadulf. ‘A good rider might eventually be able to overtake them if he were sure of the direction they were taking.’
‘Surely there is only one main track to the south-west?’ he protested.
‘I think Dego would know a dozen more,’ she replied. ‘One could hide an entire army among those mountains, searching for years without being able to discover them.’
Fidelma understood the real reason why Eadulf was upset. His brother had felt so little concern for Eadulf’s feelings that he had left without a word, having only just been reunited with him.
‘If Dego has promised to return in a few days then he is a man of his word. We will have to wait until then, as probably nothing will be resolved meanwhile,’ Fidelma said soothingly. ‘Anyway, twice now Egric has told you that he did not know the purpose of the Venerable Victricius’ journey. Will he change his mind on a third questioning? He told you that Victricius carried papers. We now know from Cummasach, or rather his Brehon, that the papers had been destroyed by Rudgal and his companions. So there is not much help there.’
Eadulf breathed in deeply and then let the air out in a rush. It seemed to calm him a little. ‘So you advocate that we wait for Egric and Dego to return?’
‘There seems little else to do,’ she said. ‘There will be time to try to understand your brother’s attitude later.’
Eadulf was still troubled. He addressed Gormán: ‘You said that Dego’s cabin is in the mountains of Sliabh na gCoillte. Has he ever told you where?’
‘Dego likes to keep what he calls his “retreat” a secret from people.’
As Eadulf sighed, Fidelma asked: ‘There is something else on your mind. What is it?’
‘I was just thinking that, if what Victricius and Egric carried were part of this wider mystery — that they were attacked because of it, and now Rudgal has been killed because of it — then some danger may still attend Egric. After all, it was only by the smallest luck that my brother escaped from being killed alongside Victricius and the boatmen in the first place.’
Fidelma thought for a moment. ‘It is a good point, Eadulf. Yet by going away with Dego, whom we know from our own experiences to be a good warrior and able bodyguard, Egric may be safer than staying here in Cashel.’
Eadulf had not considered the point before. After a few moments, he concluded, ‘Perhaps you are right. He is safer being out of the way.’
CHAPTER NINE
Colgú decided to host the evening meal again as Abbot Ségdae and Abbess Líoch were still officially his guests. Their stewards were also invited, along with Fidelma and Eadulf as well as Gormán. Often the Commander of the Bodyguard was invited to feast with the King. Beccan the steward, bobbing and grinning, took the guests to their appointed places and then, as was protocol, announced the arrival of the King before withdrawing. Apparently, he had already told Colgú of Egric’s absence with Dego, for when Eadulf started to apologise, the King smiled sadly.
‘I wish I could join them over the next few days,’ he said. ‘I’d rather be hunting a wild boar than trying to deal with these matters.’
During the meal, Fidelma found herself seated next to Sister Dianaimh, the bann-mhaor of Cill Náile. After some inconsequential remarks, she asked the young woman if she had ever heard of the Venerable Victricius.
‘The Venerable Victricius? I do not think I have ever heard that name. Why?’ The young girl’s expression was blank.
‘It was just a thought,’ replied Fidelma. ‘That was the name of the cleric who was killed on the way to Imleach. Eadulf’s brother was his companion, but he escaped with minor hurt.’