Dancing With Demons (33 page)

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Authors: Peter Tremayne

Tags: #_NB_Fixed, #_rt_yes, #Adult, #blt, #Clerical Sleuth, #Fiction, #Historical, #Mystery, #Suspense, #Medieval Ireland

BOOK: Dancing With Demons
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‘Not so, Brehon Sedna. The abbot is not a witness to the events as I shall state them. He merely took charge of the royal household until the return of Cenn Faelad and Brehon Barrán. There was no reason for him to be excluded from conducting this meaning.’
Brehon Sedna looked as relieved as the abbot.
‘Then if this procedure is acceptable to the Great Assembly …?’
Everyone signified their agreement perhaps somewhat impatiently and several called out that the report be proceeded with.
‘So, having clarified procedure, you may continue,’ Brehon Sedna summed up, addressing Fidelma.
Fidelma paused, as if gathering her thoughts. Then she began her speech.
‘All murder is heinous. The assassination of a High King is especially so. One fact has been absolutely clear from the start. Dubh Duin, the chieftain of the Cinél Cairpre, entered the bedchamber of the High King, cut his throat and then turned his knife on himself when he realised that there was no escape from capture. There is no disputing this fact.
‘We initially had two main questions to ask. One: did Dubh Duin act alone? And two: what was his motive?’
She let her gaze sweep the Assembly as if seeking an answer there. It was a piece of drama that Eadulf had witnessed several times before when Fidelma was arguing before the
airechtaí
or courts.
‘You may be assured that Dubh Duin did not act alone,’ she went on confidently. ‘This was no spur-of-the-moment killing, nor was it a matter of one person acting alone for reasons of personal hate. Indeed, there was a conspiracy to kill Sechnussach.’
A wave of outrage swept the hall and she allowed it to swell and ebb before she spoke again.
‘As for the motive, at this stage I will firstly tell you what Dubh Duin’s own motive was. I fear it was not the same motive of all those in the conspiracy. Dubh Duin was a traditionalist. He believed in the old ways and customs. Moreover, he believed in the Old Faith. Those in this Great Assembly already know how he argued here for the recognition of the rights of those who still held to their veneration of the old gods and goddesses. Some may recall his dispute on the matter with Sechnussach?’
There were many who were nodding, recalling the debate. Only Gormflaith among the witnesses seemed to shake her head in disbelief.
‘Dubh Duin was fully committed to the Old Faith as we are to the New Faith,’ Fidelma continued. ‘Ardgal, now chief of the Cinél Cairpre, will testify to this. There is no need for me to tell you that scarcely two centuries have passed since the great teachers Patrick, Ailbe, Brigit, Brendan, Ciaran and the others, brought the word of Christ to this land. There are still areas which that word has not reached or where it is not accepted. Even within a day’s ride of Tara, there are still many who gather at Uisnech, which the ancients regarded as the navel of the world, the centre of the five kingdoms, to practise the old rites.
‘Further, there is no need for me to tell you that there is a movement
abroad intent on overthrowing the new teachings and returning this land to the old ways.’
Abbot Colmán bent forward quickly. ‘And are you claiming that Dubh Duin was part of this?’
‘I am.’
‘It can’t be true!’ cried Gormflaith, her strident tone startling everyone.
Fidelma looked at her sadly. ‘I am afraid it can be, and it is,’ she replied, before turning back to the Assembly. ‘We know that there are pagan raiders, the
dibergach,
who have been attacking the abbeys and churches. They started by attacking small, isolated churches and communities, but those attacks are increasing. Many members of the religious have been killed.’
A member of the Great Assembly stood up and signalled that he wished to ask a question.
‘I am sworn to the New Faith and have no advocacy for the old. But I must point out that the faith of our ancient fathers did not advocate violence and death as a way of life. Our fathers believed in the peace and oneness of this world. This was the teaching of our Druids. Why would they be raiding and killing in the name of the old gods and goddesses? It seems illogical.’
Fidelma acknowledged the man’s statement, for it was hardly a question.
‘There has been one sect among our forefathers which
did
advocate death and sacrifice,’ she said. ‘It was an aberration quickly dealt with by the Druids. It is claimed that during the days of Tigernmas, the twenty-sixth High King, dementia overtook him and he set up a great idol on Magh Slecht, the Plain of Slaughter, and demanded that people sacrifice to it. So much bloodshed was caused that finally the Druids rose up and destroyed both the idol and Tigernmas. The idol was called Crom Cróich.’
‘So what are you saying?’ demanded Brehon Sedna. ‘That this idol worship has been reborn?’
‘The sect that has arisen to attempt to overthrow the New Faith is dedicated to the worship of Crom Cróich,’ she confirmed.
‘How do you come to this conclusion?’
‘We have witnesses to that fact, and Irél and Ardgal have led their warriors in the overthrow of these fanatics who were encamped at a place called the Hag’s Mountain not even a day’s ride from here. You need no longer fear them. But how does it fit in with the assassination of the High King? I will tell you. Firstly, when coming to Tara, while we were crossing
the Plain of Nuada, we came on a destroyed church and members of the religious that had been slaughtered. But one was just alive. Brother Eadulf bent and heard his last word. Brother Eadulf thought he whispered something about blame.
‘And when Dubh Duin lay dying by the High King’s bed he too whispered something. Lugna, who caught the last words, also thought he said something about blame.’
‘What is unusual about that?’ Abbot Colmán wanted to know.
‘Both Eadulf and Lugna misheard the word. The word was not
cron
, blame, but
Crom
– Crom Cróich. The religious was identifying the attackers just as Dubh Duin was calling on the idol that he thought was a god. This much we can now prove. We should have been alerted by this fact earlier.’
‘Accepting this then, you say that Dubh Duin believed that Sechnussach’s death would help him in his quest to bring back this evil worship. But how?’ Brehon Sedna asked. ‘I do not understand it.’
‘Because he had been led to believe that the successor would return the five kingdoms to such worship,’ Fidelma answered simply.
At once Cenn Faelad leaped to his feet, his face angry. ‘This is a lie! As the holy cross is my banner and witness, I would not do such a thing!’
Fidelma held up a hand to quench the tumult that had broken out. ‘I did not say it was you, Cenn Faelad,’ she rebuked mildly.
‘You said Sechnussach’s successor.’ Cenn Faelad was not mollified. ‘I am the
tánaiste,
the heir apparent. Who else would you mean?’
‘Your succession was not going to last long,’ she replied starkly. ‘The plot, in essence, was simple but its mechanics were complicated. Indeed, in all the cases that I have been involved in, this one has shocked me by the depth of intrigue and the convolution of its workings.’
Taken aback, Cenn Faelad sat down abruptly.
‘This case has many layers of culpability,’ Fidelma said. ‘I will beg the forgiveness of this Great Assembly for taking them on a long journey through these layers of intrigue. The simplest layer was Dubh Duin, who was part of this sect devoted to bringing back the worship of Crom. Very well. Dubh Duin had tried to get some recognition for the Old Faith in this Great Assembly. When that failed, he turned to other methods. He was supported by the bands of brigands raiding the Christian centres. They were fanatics. But it was like the pricking of pins on a great bear. It did not even harm the body. So there had to be another way.
‘Dubh Duin did not dream up the plot himself. Who persuaded him
that the way forward lay in the assassination of Sechnussach? Someone in the royal household? There was one fanatic already who served in the royal enclosure … ’
‘Cuan!’ declared Lugna loudly. ‘Because he acted as the decoy that took me from my post at the doorway of the royal house that night.’
Surprisingly, Fidelma shook her head.
‘Not Cuan. He did not have the intelligence to think out this complicated plot. He was subverted later, and was ambivalent about religious beliefs anyway.’
‘So how was he subverted? By what means?’ demanded Brehon Sedna.
‘By means of sexual favours,’ Fidelma said. ‘His recruitment to the scheme was later on in the advancement of the plot after it had been thought out.’
Gormflaith suddenly stood up. ‘I wish to make a statement to the Great Assembly,’ she said.
Faces turned expectantly towards her.
Brehon Sedna glanced at Fidelma.
‘I have no objection,’ she said.
‘You will doubtless hear from Fidelma that Dubh Duin was my lover,’ declared Gormflaith. ‘I shall not deny it … ’
Once more they had to wait until the tumult died down.
‘ … But I deny that I was part of this so-called plot. I am a Christian. Dubh Duin never ever spoke to me, either of his faith or his lack of it. We did not discuss religion. Nor did Dubh Duin kill my husband to gain favour with me. I can present evidence that Sechnussach and I were estranged for three years from the royal servants, but I also
can
present a witness that I had agreed a divorce with Sechnussach and it was to be sealed on the day after I was due to return from Cluain Ioraird. But by then … ’She shrugged. ‘That witness is Brehon Barrán.
Fidelma saw that Brehon Barrán was shaking his head, and she turned back to Gormflaith with a sad smile.
‘I am afraid that the Chief Brehon will not be your witness to this matter of the divorce agreement,’ she said softly.
‘Dubh Duin had no reason to kill Sechnussach on my account,’ Gormflaith repeated stubbornly. ‘We were going to be married and leave Tara.’
In the shocked silence that followed, as Gormflaith reseated herself, Fidelma spoke clearly.
‘Regretfully, lady, Dubh Duin had no intention of marrying you. You were merely a means by which he could reach Sechnussach. As your lover, he could gain access to the royal enclosure almost at will, as the warrior Erc will state. Dubh Duin’s purpose was always the slaughter of Sechnussach. You were misled, lady, an innocent victim of the conspiracy.’
Abbot Colmán cleared his throat. ‘But it has been pointed out that even with Sechnussach dead, Cenn Faelad would have succeeded. Cenn Faelad is known for his Christian piety and largesse to the Church. As he has already stated, he would not tolerate a return to idolatry and he has said so before this Assembly.’
‘And as
I
have said, he would not have lasted long in office even had he made it to his inauguration,’ replied Fidelma. ‘It was not Cenn Faelad who conspired with Dubh Duin. Indeed, as I have also said, it was the chief conspirator who suggested this plot to Dubh Duin. After Sechnussach was assassinated, Cenn Faelad would also be eliminated. That would lead to this chief conspirator taking control and returning the country to the Old Faith.’
Brehon Sedna frowned. ‘So Dubh Duin was guided by another?’
‘Exactly. One person introduced Dubh Duin to Gormflaith, knowing Gormflaith’s emotional situation,’ Fidelma explained. ‘Sechnussach and she had already parted. The reasons why are not pertinent but they are known to me. Gormflaith was alone, unhappy and vulnerable. At the time of the birth of her last daughter, probably during her confinement, Sechnussach had taken a mistress. Dubh Duin was handsome and personable. He was told that he could make himself even more personable to Gormflaith and did so with inevitable results.
‘But the chief conspirator was not concerned with Gormflaith’s emotional happiness. While he had told Dubh Duin that such a relationship was a means of reaching Sechnussach, this chief conspirator had another reason. He wanted to deflect suspicion from himself and another conspirator so that no blame would fall on them … ’
‘
Another
conspirator?’ repeated Brehon Sedna with a helpless sigh. ‘How many conspirators were there in this plot?’
‘It is a very complicated plot,’ admitted Fidelma. ‘I apologise to the Great Assembly. It is like peeling away the skins of an onion. The person who involved Dubh Duin had a motive, which was purely power. His ambition was to be High King. But he was, in turn, motivated by a woman who also wanted power. She would share power with him if he were
successful. Together, they worked on Dubh Duin, knowing his fanaticism for the old religion. He would, therefore, be the means of clearing the way to their taking power.
‘Dubh Duin knew that there were some in Tara who would help him – people who still worshipped the old gods and goddesses. People so placed that they could even steal the key of the High King’s chambers and make a copy in readiness for the attack.’
‘We have heard many assertions so far, Fidelma,’ Abbot Colman said, becoming impatient. ‘Perhaps you had better start stating facts and naming names of these conspirators.’
Fidelma pouted in annoyance. ‘The assertions I have made, Abbot Colmán, are
facts.
The trouble is, as I have said repeatedly, this is a many-layered plot. I will try to make it all simple.

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