Atonement of Blood (12 page)

Fidelma’s eyes flashed suddenly. ‘Cannot allow?’ she demanded coldly.

Finguine once again raised his hand for silence. ‘I am inclined to agree with Caol, Fidelma. It crosses my mind that this is an interesting time for this attack to have happened.’

‘Why so?’ Fidelma was impatient.

‘Because Prince Donennach is due here before the next full moon. He is coming to negotiate a new treaty with Colgú to supersede the one concluded at the end of the Uí Fidgente uprising against us four years ago.’

Fidelma was surprised. ‘I was not told this. I had heard that he was going to pay his respects to the High King at Tara, but not that he was returning through Cashel.’

‘It was felt best not to make the negotiation too widely known.’

‘Donennach is a wily politician,’ muttered Caol. ‘That is why I should go with you. You stand in need of protection.’

‘Eadulf and I can protect ourselves …’ began Fidelma.

Finguine intervened again: ‘Your brother has come close to assassination. If there is a danger in the country of the Uí Fidgente then you must take what steps you may for your protection. On the other hand, Fidelma, I can appreciate your argument that it would be ill-advised for you to take an entire band of warriors as your escort. That would draw too much attention to yourselves and might well restrict your enquiries.’

‘What middle path do you suggest?’ Fidelma asked.

‘I would suggest that one warrior of the Nasc Niadh, the Golden Collar, should accompany you.’

Fidelma thought about it and then shrugged. ‘Very well. One warrior will not attract as much attention to us as a band of warriors.’

‘Then it is agreed,’ confirmed Finguine.

‘I will make sure that you are both kept safe,’ Caol promised them with a confident smile. ‘It will be like old times.’

Finguine was shaking his head. ‘I did not mean you, Caol. As commander of the warriors in Cashel your task must be to remain close by my side during this time of unrest. If news of the severity of the King’s injuries becomes known among his enemies, then we may stand in need of your skills.’

Caol’s expression fell in disappointment. ‘But I know the Uí Fidgente,’ he repeated. ‘They are not to be trusted. I was one of the warriors who went with Uisnech, the lord of Áine, to pacify them after they were defeated at Cnoc Áine. And didn’t they assassinate Uisnech before they agreed the peace with Cashel? You must remember that, Finguine. You are of the Eóghanacht Áine and were you not kinsman to Uisnech?’

Finguine would not be moved.

‘My mind is made up, Caol. Your duty is here. Now, who would you recommend to accompany the lady Fidelma?’

Caol looked as if he would argue further, but seeing the determination in the
tánaiste
’s features, he shrugged. Before he could speak, however, Fidelma had answered her cousin. ‘Let Gormán come with us. He has had a great deal of experience.’

‘An excellent choice,’ Finguine agreed, turning to Caol. ‘Do you raise any objections?’

‘He is a good man,’ Caol admitted reluctantly.

Finguine turned back to Fidelma and asked: ‘Do you know when you will leave?’

‘Tomorrow, at first light.’

‘How will you proceed?’

Fidelma glanced at Eadulf and then said confidently, ‘First we will go directly to the Abbey of Mungairit. It may be that something is known there of Brother Lennán. The road is not too difficult beyond Ara’s Well. Two days’ riding should bring us safely to the abbey.’

‘But if you have no success at Mungairit, what then?’

‘Then we shall ride south-west. We’ll follow the river, An Mháigh, to Dún Eochair Mháigh and see what is known of this girl and her mother Liamuin. That’s no more than a day’s ride from Mungairit. A further day’s ride would put us in Luachra territory if our enquiries force us there. From the territory of the Luachra we could be back in Cashel after two or three days at most. Of course, it all depends on how long we stay in each place pursuing our task, but the minimum we should be away is seven days.’

Finguine was calculating the time. ‘I cannot say I feel comfortable about this, but if there is no other way …’

‘This has to be done so that we can learn if there is more danger threatening,’ Fidelma insisted.

Finguine nodded briefly before glancing around at the assembled company. ‘Then it is agreed?’

They assented one by one, although Caol still looked disappointed that he would not be going with them.

Outside the small council chamber Fidelma turned to Eadulf and apologised.

‘For what?’ he asked.

‘Once more we have to leave little Alchú behind.’

Eadulf smiled at her. ‘In this case it seems necessary. Let us hope it will not be for long. The boy is bright and I feel he now needs our attention. He is beginning to have dexterity in counting and speaking. He is even picking up some of my language, in spite of Muirgen’s disapproval.’

Fidelma laughed easily. ‘Take no notice. It is what
we
think that is important. Indeed, this is the best time for the boy to learn languages. We should talk to Brother Conchobhar about it. He always says that the younger a child starts learning languages, the more naturally they can pick them up.’

‘Well, I am certainly impressed by the way he counts and with his vocabulary. I nearly flushed in embarrassment when he commented on Ordan’s appearance, but he was accurate. He puts words together to communicate, he knows the difference between time words –
yesterday
and
next week
– and he knows emotional words –
happiness
and
disappointment
.’

Fidelma said teasingly, ‘I have to say that little Alchú is only showing that he is a normal child.’

‘But he can relate the spoken numbers to objects,’ protested Eadulf.

‘As can any average child at his age.’

Eadulf realised that he was sounding like a proud and boastful father.

‘Let’s go and find Brother Conchobhar now,’ Fidelma suggested. ‘We’ll make sure he keeps an eye on Alchú while we are away. Muirgen means well and the boy will be safe in her hands, but now he is learning so rapidly, she needs a little help. What was good for her when she was growing up at Gabhlán in the shadow of Sliabh Mis is not quite good enough for an Eóghanacht …’ She was about to say ‘an Eóghanacht prince’ but hesitated in case Eadulf was offended. Eadulf pretended he did not notice the slip of the tongue.

They crossed the cobbled courtyard to the small apothecary shop where a dim light could be seen through the window. Fidelma tapped on the dark oak door before seizing the handle to open it. Immediately she and Eadulf were engulfed in the pungent aromas of herbs and dried flowers, combining in an almost overpowering smell that caused them to catch their breath. It took a few moments for them to grow used to it.

From the gloom of the interior Brother Conchobhar moved forward, a lamp in his hand.

‘Ah,’ he smiled as he recognised them. He put the lamp down on a work-bench and proceeded to light a stronger lantern to illuminate the scene. ‘There is still no change in the condition of your brother, Fidelma,’ he said at once. ‘I left him but a short time ago. I do not expect any further change one way or another until tomorrow. At least his heart is strong and the bleeding has stopped. It is not the first time the King has suffered grievous wounds.’

Fidelma drew her brows together. ‘I do not recall him suffering a serious wound previously?’

‘You were away at that time, lady – at the Abbey of the Three Wells, as I recall. It was during the Battle of Cnoc Áine when we defeated the Uí Fidgente.’

‘I did not know.’

‘He still bears a scar on his right side. One of the enemy struck his shield from his hand and managed to bite into the flesh with his sword. He was carried barely conscious from the field even moments before the Uí Fidgente admitted defeat. He recovered quickly, as I am sure he will recover from this wound.’

‘Thank you, Conchobhar,’ Fidelma said quietly. ‘We will pray that you are right.’

‘We came to speak with you on another matter.’ Eadulf intervened to break the awkward silence.

‘Another matter?’

‘Fidelma and I have to leave Cashel,’ explained Eadulf. ‘We need to follow some information which may lead us to discover who the would-be assassin was and whether he was working alone or in some conspiracy.’

Brother Conchobhar’s expression was one between resignation and disapproval.

‘Then I presume that you will both be heading off into the country of the Uí Fidgente?’

‘Gormán will come with us,’ Fidelma said, and when the old man did not show any enthusiasm, she added: ‘Have you seen some warning in the heavens?’

Brother Conchobhar was not only a gifted apothecary but he was a keen observer of the heavens and had a gift for making observations from the stars as to the best and worst of times. It was an art that had helped Fidelma several times in the past and the old man had once advised that it was a gift that Fidelma should develop herself.

Brother Conchobhar, however, simply shrugged. ‘The wheel of the sun can tell many things. Some are clear, some are obscure. What I see presently is that it could be a time of ill-judgement.’

Eadulf smiled and said: ‘I have never known a time when one could not make an ill-judged decision.’

‘True for you, friend Eadulf. But the Red Mare consorts with the warrior and the Fair Mare drinks at the watergate of heaven. It is compounded by the star of knowledge being in the company of the bees while the star that defends is in the sign of the reaping hook.’

Eadulf looked blank as he tried to interpret the unfamiliar names and connect them to the stars.

‘It means,’ went on the old apothecary patiently, ‘that there is much restlessness, impatience and hot temper at this time which could lead to quick judgements and wrong conclusions.’

‘I’ve no understanding of these matters,’ protested Eadulf.

‘The Red Mare is what we sometimes call the sun; the Fair Mare is the moon. We call what you might know as Sagittarius, the warrior; the watergate of heaven is Aquarius and the star of knowledge is …’

‘I know that is Mercury, and the Defender is what you call Mars,’ interrupted Eadulf irritably. ‘I know those names.’

‘And it means one is in the sign of Scorpio and the other in that of Leo,’ explained Fidelma.

Brother Conchobhar smiled in approval. ‘Exactly so, my young friends. I do not say this will be the entire influence but, if you find that you are given to impulsive behaviour and decisions, then be warned. Avoid such tendencies.’

‘That we will,’ Fidelma solemnly assured him.

‘Yet that is not what we came to see you about,’ Eadulf added.

The apothecary’s eyes widened. ‘Then … what? Oh, about the girl Aibell? Have no fear. I shall keep an eye on her. I have already spoken to Dar Luga and together you may trust us to keep her safe and secure.’

‘It is not even about her, this time,’ Fidelma said. ‘It’s about Alchú.’

‘He is a bright, intelligent boy,’ Eadulf added.

‘And that is natural in view of his parentage,’ observed the old man with a smile.

‘In seriousness, he is learning many things and his mind needs to be engaged so that he continues to learn,’ pressed Eadulf. ‘While we are away, we thought you might speak with him, teach him things, and especially watch his vocabulary and his knowledge. He is already counting in my own language.’ Eadulf spoke the last sentence proudly.

Brother Conchobhar’s smile broadened. ‘Alas, I do not know much of your language, friend Eadulf. But you may rest assured that I can impart a little of Latin and Greek and much of my own mother tongue.’

‘That would be of tremendous help,’ Eadulf assured him. ‘It is just that …’

‘Just that you realise that the boy is of an age where he is absorbing information very quickly,’ suggested Conchobhar. ‘While Muirgen can teach many things, she is not exactly of a scholarly disposition. The time has come when his mind needs to be engaged with knowledge that she cannot impart.’

‘Exactly so,’ said Eadulf, feeling a little guilty over Muirgen’s role for she had been essential to them in the early days, especially when Fidelma had been seized with a curious depression about the baby and her behaviour had begun to worry Eadulf.

‘Do not worry, my friends. I understand. As a matter of fact, I have recently made a purchase from your old college, Eadulf, which I was going to tell you about before … before …’ He raised a shoulder and let it drop.

‘What sort of purchase?’ asked Fidelma curiously.

‘One that will help with the education of the young. It is a book that has been copied at Tuaim Drecain and much of it is attributed to Cenn Fáelad who was a chief professor at the school. I am told, however, that it was Longarad of Magh Thuathat who devised the entire book. It is a book called
Auraicept na nÉces
–
The Scholar’s Primer
. It gives knowledge on grammar, rhyme, and the meaning of the old alphabet we called after Ogma, the old God of Literacy. It has the new alphabet and shows how children may remember the letters by calling each one after a known tree.’

‘I don’t understand,’ frowned Eadulf.

‘Easy enough. A is
ailm
, a pine tree; B is
beith
, a birch tree; and C is
coll
, a hazel tree and so on.’

‘Ah, it is the way some of our scholars teach young children. A is for apple; B is for boy; and C is for cat.’

‘It seems a good idea,’ Fidelma conceded. ‘So long as someone in the future does not think that there is more symbolism in the concept and start forming other ideas beyond seeing it as a simple way of children remembering their letters.’

Brother Conchobhar chuckled. ‘I don’t think we need have any fear of that.’ He turned and picked up a leather-bound vellum book from a shelf and showed it to Eadulf. ‘I shall leave it in the
tech screpta
, the library, for your return, friend Eadulf. Then you will see some of the matters that I shall pass on to your son.’

‘Fair enough,’ Eadulf nodded. ‘I will rest easy now that you will look after him, for he is an intelligent lad and has the sharp mind of his mother.’