Badger's Moon (26 page)

‘The smoke will bring our enemies down on us soon. We should rejoin our companions before we are discovered.’

‘And with our purpose unresolved?’

‘What do we tell our chieftain?’ demanded the second man.

‘There is no need to tell Conrí anything.’

‘Let us hope you are right and this hunter, Menma, follows his wife,’ the other went on.

‘He’ll follow the bait sure enough. Suanach will lure him to us.’

‘If we wanted to find him, surely all we had to do was wait here. I still fail to see why Menma is so important. There are others among the Cinél na Áeda who could supply the information.’

‘The old merchant said that Menma knew all there is to know about the Thicket of Pigs. He would know what has been discovered there. If what the merchant said is right, then we would be able to avenge our defeat at Cnoc Áine by that usurping upstart Colgú.’

‘We will not be able to avenge anything unless we leave this place before the warriors from Rath Raithlen arrive,’ retorted the other.

The two riders turned and rode back to join their companions, leaving Fidelma trying to understand the meaning of their conversation. At least it seemed that Suanach was safe and merely taken hostage rather than perishing in the flames. But what was the mystery discovery at the Thicket of Pigs? Why would it bring the Uí Fidgente raiding deep into Eóghanacht territory? Who was the old merchant and what could Menma know?

There was no time to ponder more on the questions that assailed her. The only thing for her to do was to hurry back to Rath Raithlen and inform Becc. He would have to send warriors in pursuit to rescue Suanach if he had not seen the flames and done so already. Then she and Eadulf would have to go in search of Menma and find out more about this Thicket of Pigs. She was sure that the answer probably lay in the cave that she had wanted to explore. She was thankful that she had told Eadulf to go back to the safety of Rath Raithlen that afternoon. His life would be worth nothing to the Uí Fidgente.

She heard the horsemen leaving. There was nothing she could do to put out the flames of Menma and Suanach’s home. The
bothán
had become a burning pyre. She rose and began to move through the woods, turning eastward at a tangent that she felt would intersect the main track to the fortress. She would probably meet Becc’s warriors on the way.

Dusk was beginning to settle now. There was hardly any discernible path in the undergrowth and she had to twist and turn to find a way through. After a while she began to feel sorry that she had not gone by way of the main path from the
bothán
to the track. After all, the raiders had ridden in the opposite direction. But it was better to be safe than sorry, although her safety was a matter of speculation at the moment. She realised that she had become a little disorientated and she looked about, trying to figure out if she were going in the wrong direction. The darkness made such observation futile and the tall oaks and alders stretched skyward, blotting out the residual light which might have revealed the path.

When all seemed utterly hopeless, she realised that a natural path, perhaps a track used by generations of wild boar, had opened up to give an easier trail through the trees and undergrowth. She saw, even in the twilight, that several of the trees were dark on one side and stopped to reach out a hand to touch this shadow. It was damp moss.

Fidelma smiled.

That side of the tree was facing north. It was an old woodsman’s trick to establish direction. She placed her back to the dry side of the tree and held her two arms straight at right angles to her body. Her left arm would indicate the easterly direction, the direction of the track.

She turned in that direction and nearly tripped over a long, slender branch. It was like a staff and perhaps someone had begun to shape it as such. She picked it up and realised it was a handy weapon. Feeling more secure, she began to push her way along another narrow path and it was not too long before she saw the open space of the track before her. She felt better. Although it was now dark, the moon and stars were out in a cloudless sky and there was some light along the road.

She estimated it would take about an hour certainly no more, of good walking to reach the fortress of Becc. She set out at a quick steady pace.

Barely ten minutes had passed when she heard a horse coming at a gallop. She moved quickly into the nearby bushes and held her staff ready. The moon gave light to a long stretch of the road behind her and she saw the black shadow of a horse emerge. Its rider seemed to be crouched in an awkward position over the beast’s neck. Was it one of the Uí Fidgente who had discovered her flight and was trying to cut her off before she reached Rath Raithlen? Well, little time to debate the point. And she could use the horse.

As the beast drew near she leapt out screaming like a
bean sidh
– a woman of the fairy folk. The horse reared up on his hindquarters, lashing out with his forelegs at the air. The rider tumbled backwards and hit the road, lying still. Fidelma dashed towards the figure with upraised staff ready to strike.

The figure groaned and swore – a strange Saxon oath. Fidelma dropped her staff and stared down.

‘
Nar lige Dia!
God look down on us!’ she cried. ‘Is it you, Eadulf?’

Eadulf groaned and shook his head, which he was holding in both hands.

‘I don’t think I ever will be me again,’ he muttered. ‘I am surely broken in two.’

‘I am sorry. I thought you were one of the Uí Fidgente,’ cried Fidelma. She was aghast as she bent forward and tried to raise him into a sitting position.

Eadulf blinked and attempted to focus in the darkness. Her saw her shadowy form, heard her voice, and realisation suddenly hit him. His senses returned in a rush. He struggled up.

‘You were not captured by them?’ he demanded incredulously, reaching out a hand to touch her cheek.

She shook her head with a brief smile, which he could not see in the darkness.

‘As you can surely tell, Eadulf,’ she replied waspishly to hide her relief. ‘Otherwise I would not be here.’

‘Accobrán and Menma with some men from Rath Raithlen have gone in pursuit of the Uí Fidgente,’ he said, managing to scramble to his feet. ‘We thought that you and Suanach were captured.’

‘Suanach is their prisoner,’ she confirmed regretfully. ‘The Uí Fidgente were hoping to lure Menma after them.’

Eadulf seemed to have recovered his senses if not the feeling of his bruised body. He was puzzled.

‘
Lure
Menma? I don’t understand.’

‘No more do I. But I overheard two of the Uí Fidgente speaking. It seemed that the purpose of their raid was to get information out of Menma. Information about some discovery on the Thicket of Pigs.’

‘It seems a bit extreme to conduct a raid as far south from their territory as this in search of information. What sort of information?’

‘Your guess is as good as mine, Eadulf. My immediate concern is for Suanach. She hid me in the sousterrain of the house while she went to confront the Uí Fidgente. That is how I managed to escape.’

Eadulf spoke with all seriousness. ‘Let’s hope Accobrán is as good a warrior as we have heard. Anyway, I think Menma is an excellent tracker and he will be able to follow the trail of the raiders.’

‘In this darkness, I doubt whether he will be able to track them. Why are you not riding with them?’

‘Accobrán told me to go back to the fortress and tell Becc just in case this is not a small raiding party but part of some larger attack on the Cinél na Áeda. Accobrán said that they saw the smoke from Rath Raithlen and he and his warriors rode to investigate. No one realised it was the Uí Fidgente. I was to inform Becc of the fact.’

‘Accobrán said…?’ Fidelma suddenly realised the implication. ‘Were you not at the fortress. then?’

‘I went with Menma this afternoon to investigate the cave that you were so concerned with,’ admitted Eadulf. ‘We were returning to the
bothán
when we saw it in flames. We were there when Accobrán arrived.’

‘You did
what
?’ came Fidelma’s sharp tone. ‘You went back to the cave?’

‘You were so keen to explore it that I felt I could save you the trouble. If there was anything of interest there, I felt that I could find it without you endangering yourself again.’

There was a pause while Fidelma digested the information. ‘And did you find anything of interest?’

‘
Dei gratia!
’ Eadulf confirmed.

‘Then you must tell me all as we ride.’

Fidelma looked round. The horse that Eadulf had been riding had trotted on a few yards and now stood nibbling at some bushes by the roadside. She started for the horse, felt for the reins in the darkness, and then turned to Eadulf.

‘You mount first and I’ll get up behind you.’ Then she paused. ‘You are sure that you are not hurt by your fall?’

‘As you know, I have a thick hide.’

She imagined that Eadulf was grinning in the darkness and she nodded.

Eadulf had just finished his story as they came within sight of the gates of Rath Raithlen. Fidelma had been mostly silent during his recital, only intervening once or twice to clarify points.

Eadulf waited a while and then said: ‘
Quid nunc?
’

‘Well might you ask what now,’ Fidelma mused.

There came some shouting from the gates ahead as the lookouts spotted them in the darkness.

‘Now,’ she reflected on the question, ‘now we shall tell Becc what has happened at Menma’s
bothán
and then I must think awhile.’

In fact, Becc was waiting at the fortress gates for them with his steward Adag.

‘Fidelma!’ He came forward with arms outstretched. ‘I am thankful to see you, cousin. When we saw smoke rising in the forest we were concerned. When Adag told me that you had not been in the fortress since this morning – you and Brother Eadulf,’ he nodded quickly to Fidelma’s companion, ‘we grew very concerned.’

‘Your concern should be for the wife of Menma the hunter,’ responded Fidelma and quickly told him about the raid of the Uí Fidgente.

Becc was shocked. ‘The Uí Fidgente raiding this far south? Adag,’ he turned to his steward, ‘send someone to spread word of this to the abbey and to the surrounding raths so that they may be warned and keep a careful watch.’

All was commotion within the fortress as the chieftain’s orders were camed out. Meanwhile, Becc, having ordered that their horse be cared for, guided Fidelma and Eadulf back to his great hall and summoned a servant to bring wine and mead.

‘How dangerous do you think the Uí Fidgente threat is?’ he demanded of Fidelma after wine had been brought to them.

‘The Uí Fidgente are always to be considered dangerous, Becc,’ replied Fidelma. ‘Since their defeat at Cnoc Áine, they have been waiting for another chance to rise up. Yet, somehow, I believe that this is a small raiding party in search of something specific. I don’t think they were a war party. Merely scouts.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘They want some information. If they came in strength towards your territory, they would rouse the countryside. Someone would have seen the passage of their army. They could not take the easterly route because the Eóghanacht Áine stand in their path. If they came directly south they would encounter the Eóghanacht Glendamnac and if they tried to swing westwards and approach from that direction they would have to come through the Eóghanacht Loch Léin. No large army could come from the lands of the Uí Fidgente without an alarm being given by their very passage. Where an army cannot pass without being seen, a small raiding party can move with stealth and concealment. I think that this band is just such a party.’

Becc leant back looking relieved at her assessment. ‘Still, even a small raiding party presents problems to me at this time. We do not have many young men trained and under arms at present. However, what do you think…what exactly are they after?’

Fidelma raised one shoulder and let it fall expressively. ‘That I am unable to say.’

‘You said that they were a scouting party. But what were they seeking?’

‘Hopefully, Accobrán will overtake them and bring back prisoners so that we may question them. Only then will we know for certain.’

Becc was clearly worried.

‘There is nothing else to do until the return of Accobrán,’ Fidelma gently assured him.

Becc sighed in resignation.

‘You will want to retire and refresh yourselves,’ he said, rising. ‘The evening meal will be ready in an hour’s time.’

Fidelma and Eadulf rose with him. She was turning to the door when she swung back to look at the chieftain.

‘I have a question, Becc. Do you have a
senchae
, an historian, in the fortress?’

‘Several. It depends on what history you wish to know. There is the genealogist, the custodian of the history of my house; there is the teller of the ancient tales…’

Fidelma held up her hand. ‘I am rather more interested in the history of the Thicket of Pigs.’

Becc raised his brows. ‘I am afraid there is only one person who has stored that history in his mind. He might take some persuading to part with his knowledge.’

‘Old Liag, the apothecary?’

Becc gazed at her in surprise. ‘How did you know?’

‘A guess, that is all,’ she replied softly. ‘We will join you for the meal within the hour.’

‘Is there nothing that can be done until the return of Accobrán?’ queried Eadulf, once they were in the seclusion of their chamber. ‘I would have thought that there would be many things we could do. For example, what are we to do about Gobnuid? Brother Dangila and Goll also need to be questioned.’

Fidelma shook her head.

‘You are impatient, Eadulf,’ she replied quietly. ‘I am not neglecting our main purpose in being here. Certainly, all being well, we shall continue our investigation in the morning. Now, show me the nugget that you and Menma found.’

Eadulf produced it from his
marsupium
. Fidelma examined it for a moment or two.

‘I would say that Menma was right. It is genuine gold, just as the nugget that young Síoda found was genuine. Are you not intrigued by that?’

Eadulf shrugged. ‘I thought our only concern was to find the killer of the three girls?’

Fidelma showed her disapproval.

‘
Scintilla set potent
,’ she said softly. ‘Knowledge is power. You are fond of repeating that maxim. Eadulf.’

‘I fail to see what a history of that hill has to do with the murders of the three young women. We know that a madman killed all three on the nights of the full moon. So I cannot see what the old mine has to do with anything except there is gold still there. In fact, I cannot see that we are making any progress at all in the matter of the murders.’

‘Then you should remember another maxim –
perspicuam servare mentem
. If you keep a clear mind you will see the truth instead of being bogged down in irrelevancies.’

The next morning came with no news of Accobrán’s pursuit and so Fidelma and Eadulf mounted their horses and went directly to Goll’s cabin. As they entered the clearing before Goll’s
bothán
, the door opened and Gabrán came out. The youth looked surprised to see them and stood scowling in the doorway.

‘I thought that I was now cleared of suspicion,’ he greeted them sourly as they rode up.

Eadulf was surprised at the boy’s unfriendly manner after all Fidelma had done for him. Fidelma looked down at the youth.

‘As you well know, you were cleared of suspicion in the death of Lesren. But we are still trying to account for other deaths.’

‘I was cleared of Lesren’s foul claims.’

Fidelma swung down from her horse and faced the belligerent youth.

‘I am here to speak to your father,’ she said in a sharp tone that made the youth blink and take a step backwards. ‘Where may he be found?’

The boy hesitated and then motioned to one of the outlying sheds. ‘He is at work there.’

‘Thank you. And where is your mother?’

‘My mother?’ He frowned. ‘She has gone to wash clothes down at the stream. Shall I call her?’

‘It is Goll that we wish to see.’ Fidelma turned to the shed that Gabrán had indicated. Eadulf, also dismounting, tethered their horses to the nearby pole and followed her, leaving Gabrán regarding them with his look of suspicion deepening.

The shed door was open and inside Goll was bent over a workbench. He was engaged in polishing a large piece of timber. Even Eadulf could recognise that it was a piece of red yew and carved with intricate designs.

‘God be with you this morning, Goll,’ Fidelma said as they pushed open the door and stepped inside. Goll looked up, startled.

‘What do you want here?’ he replied gruffly.

Fidelma chuckled in amusement. ‘I swear, Goll, that I get the feeling from you and your son that you are not pleased to see the
dálaigh
who prevented a miscarriage of justice being visited on this family.’

Goll hesitated and then forced a grin. He laid down his polishing rag, took another cloth and wiped his hands.

‘Forgive me. I was involved in my work.’ He saw Eadulf peering at the carving. ‘It is a lintel. The carved red yew is to ornament the replacement door of the chapel at the abbey. The abbot commissioned it some time ago. Forgive my lack of courtesy. I was not thinking. I am sorry. I am truly grateful for what you have done for my boy, Gabrán.’ He laid aside the cloth and looked from Eadulf to Fidelma. ‘How can I be of help?’

‘I noticed that there is a bench outside,’ said Fidelma. ‘Let’s go and sit awhile and I will tell you how you may help.’

Goll looked puzzled but nodded and followed them outside. Against the side of the shed, Fidelma had noticed a large bench and on this all three took their seats.

‘What do you know of the Thicket of Pigs, Goll?’ Fidelma began.

‘The old hill? There is good wood growing on it. Oaks and alders.’

Fidelma smiled. ‘That is a woodsman’s assessment. You know nothing else about it?’

Goll shrugged. ‘In ancient times it was said that a herd of supernatural pigs dwelt on the hill and were led by a great pig owned by the goddess Brigit. If anyone caught and killed and ate one of the pigs, it would reappear alive and well the next day. That is why the hill received its name.’

‘So we have already heard,’ Eadulf muttered.

‘Do you often walk on the hill?’ Fidelma asked suddenly.

There was no mistaking the reddening of Goll’s cheeks.

‘What do you mean?’ he countered.

‘I thought my question was clear.’

‘Hardly ever.’

‘Then let us be specific, Goll. It seems that yesterday’s excursion on the hill was unusual for you. Is that so?’

Goll was silent for a while and then he shrugged. ‘It was unusual.’

‘What was your purpose in being there?’

When Goll still hesitated, Eadulf said: ‘It is of little use to prevaricate. I saw you on the hill. You were seen observing someone.’

‘You saw who I was following?’

‘I did.’

‘Then you should know why I was following them.’

‘Let us hear the story, in your own words, Goll,’ Fidelma said sharply. ‘I do not have much time for guessing games.’

‘What other purpose would I have but the same as your own, Sister? I know my boy was innocent of Lesren’s charges. But someone killed Beccnat, also Escrach and Ballgel. I have become suspicious of the strangers, especially their leader. I do not know his name. But it is not the first time that I have seen him move surreptitiously about that hill. The more I listen to Brocc, the more he makes sense.’

‘You mean that you believe that the strangers are guilty of the deaths of the three girls and you were following their leader yesterday in search of proof?’

‘That is exactly what I mean. I knew that you had dismissed such an idea—’

‘Then you knew more than I did,’ snapped Fidelma. ‘But I do not work without evidence. Brocc would try and condemn a person without evidence. That is not how the laws of the Brehons work.’

Goll bent forward eagerly. ‘Exactly. I went to find the evidence.’

‘And did you?’

Goll shook his head reluctantly.

‘From what I saw, I thought you were following your son, Gabrán,’ observed Eadulf.

‘Gabrán was on the hill, it is true. I thought the tall stranger was following him but he turned aside into a cave.’

‘So you simply decided to follow the stranger to see if he would reveal anything to you. And did he?’

‘Only that he seemed involved with Gobnuid the smith and they were interested in the old cave. It used to be an old mine working but it’s long since been abandoned.’

Fidelma stood up suddenly. ‘Thank you, Goll. But if there is any further investigation to be done, leave it to us.’

Fidelma decided that they should return to the fortress immediately in case there was any news of Accobrán’s pursuit party.

There was. When they rode in they could see several horses were mingling in the courtyard and one of the warriors at the gate hailed them to say that Accobrán and his men had returned in good spirits. Fidelma and Eadulf made their way immediately to the chieftain’s great hall.

Becc was sitting back smiling in his chair of office while to one side Accobrán was poised as if halfway through some story. Adag was there as well with several members of the chieftain’s retinue. They glanced up as Fidelma and Eadulf entered. Accobrán smiled broadly.

‘It is good to see you safe and well, Fidelma of Cashel. We heard that you had been hidden in Suanach’s sousterrain during the raid. We examined it on our return but guessed that you had escaped the flames. Becc has now told us of your escape.’

Fidelma inclined her head in brief acknowledgement. ‘And Suanach? Is she safe?’

‘Safe and well and with Menma in the
forus tuaithe
.’

The ‘house of the territory’ was the name given to the building for the reception and treatment of the old, sick and injured.

‘Don’t be alarmed, cousin,’ Becc said quickly, seeing the expression on her face. ‘The girl is merely exhausted and a little shocked by the experience. She was anxious for your safety.’

‘I would have no safety had it not been for her,’ admitted Fidelma. ‘The Uí Fidgente would not have treated one of our family well. I will see her in a moment. But. Accobrán, I seem to have interrupted you in the telling of your story. How did you fare in the pursuit and what prisoners have you taken?’

Accobrán shifted his weight and smiled wanly. ‘I was saying that it was a good thing that we had Menma along with us as our tracker. The Uí Fidgente were devious. We could have lost their trail several times, but Menma was equal to the task.’

The tanist paused while Fidelma seated herself, and when Eadulf had done the same he went on with the story.

‘We set off in pursuit at the time you returned to alert Becc,’ he began again, initially speaking to Eadulf. ‘It was dark by then and so we soon had to halt as we could see nothing. We waited until first light and then moved on again. The first part of the trek was easy as it lay through muddy woods. It seemed their leader knew what he was about because he soon took to the rivers and stony ground, which made tracking almost impossible. At least the dark had forced the Uí Fidgente to halt for the night as well. As I say, only Menma was able to keep us on their trail.’

‘Did you get the impression that they were part of a larger body?’ interrupted Eadulf. ‘Were they were trying to link up with a real invasion force?’

Accobrán shook his head. ‘There were ten of them all told. We came on them just before midday when they thought they had shaken us off and had paused to rest. In their confidence that we were far behind, their leader was not clever. I placed my men in ambush positions.’

‘Good,’ Fidelma said approvingly. ‘So you were able to take all of them prisoners?’

Accobrán dropped his gaze to the floor for a moment and made a dismissive motion. ‘I am afraid I did not. Thanks be, however, Suanach was not injured in the fight which developed…’

Fidelma was frowning.

‘How many did you capture?’ she said quietly.

‘None.’

‘Not one of the ten was captured?’ she cried, aghast. ‘Not one of them injured?’

Accobrán was defensive. ‘In battle, lady, it often happens.’

‘It does,’ agreed Becc amiably. ‘I think that Accobrán has done well to bring Suanach home safely. One of Abbot Brogán’s brethren is leaving this afternoon for Cashel and then will proceed to Imleach. He will take news of this matter to the king and doubtless Colgú will know what to do. Compensation must be forthcoming from the Uí Fidgente, and especially for Menma for the loss of his home and the insult to his wife. In the meanwhile, Menma may rely on the Cinél na Áeda to help rebuild his
bothán
.’

‘It shall be so ordered, Becc.’ Adag, the steward, nodded with satisfaction.

‘With your permission then, my chieftain, I will wash the dirt from my body and take some refreshment before going to my rest,’ the tanist said, preparing to leave.

‘One question!’ Fidelma’s quiet tone stayed them as they were about to disperse. Everyone turned and looked expectantly at her. ‘Did you discover the purpose of this Uí Fidgente raid?’

‘Does it need a purpose?’ queried Accobrán in amusement. ‘They say that all the Uí Fidgente are cattle thieves and plunderers.’

‘Does it not strike anyone that this is a long way to come in search of plunder – just ten men, passing through the lands of many rich clans before they reached here?’

No one responded. Fidelma tapped her foot impatiently.

‘Does no one have an explanation to offer?’

Eadulf turned to her and opened his mouth but the look he received from her caused him to snap his jaw shut. He was about to point out that she had heard the Uí Fidgente discussing why they had come and for a moment he had not realised what she was doing. He had almost given away her intention to prise information from Accobrán.

‘It is a pity that you took no prisoners in order to find out the reason behind the raid, Accobrán. You heard nor saw nor found anything to give you an answer to that question?’

‘Nothing, lady,’ vowed the tanist earnestly.

‘Don’t forget that Suanach was in their company for a long time. Perhaps she has some knowledge,’ Becc pointed out.

‘Then I must ask Suanach,’ Fidelma said softly.

‘An excellent idea,’ Becc approved. ‘And now let us allow Accobrán to rest and refresh himself after his exertions.’

When they were alone, Eadulf glanced apologetically to Fidelma. ‘Why keep silent about what you overheard the Uí Fidgente say?’

‘Come, let us speak with Suanach,’ she said, without replying to his question.

The girl was sitting up having a bowl of broth with Menma at her side. They both smiled broadly as Fidelma and Eadulf entered.

‘Well, this is a reversal of fortunes,’ Fidelma greeted them. ‘I seem to remember that last time it was I who was in bed being fed broth by you, Suanach. Are you injured?’

‘No, lady. I am only a little tired for I have not slept this last night.’

‘Then I am afraid that there is a question that I must ask of you, and of you, Menma, before I leave you to rest.’

‘Ask away,’ invited the young hunter.

‘I will ask you first, Suanach. During the time that you were the captive of the Uí Fidgente, did they speak of the reason behind the raid?’

Suanach placed her bowl of broth on a bedside table and clasped her hands before her. She considered the question thoughtfully.