I
t was chance that dictated that they should next question Irél, the commander of the Fianna at the royal enclosure. They were returning to the library in the royal residence when they met a young warrior emerging from the main doors. He was about twenty-five years old, handsome, with red-brown hair and light blue eyes, cleanshaven jaw and a tall, well-muscled body. His accoutrements proclaimed him a warrior of some importance.
‘Fidelma of Cashel?’ He hailed her before Abbot Colmán identified him.
‘I am she.’
‘Then, lady, I believe you may wish to speak with me. I am Irél of the Fianna, at your service. I am the
caithmhileadh.
’
Although he was unacquainted with military ranks, Eadulf worked out that this meant that the man commanded a
cath
or battalion of the High King’s bodyguard.
‘Then, indeed, I do wish a few words,’ replied Fidelma. ‘This is—’
‘Brother Eadulf,’ interrupted Irél with a smile. ‘You name is well-known here in association with the deeds of Fidelma of Cashel. You will not remember me but I commanded the High King’s bodyguard earlier this year when he came down to Cashel to attend your wedding celebrations.’
It was true that neither Fidelma nor Eadulf could recall the warrior but they merely smiled and passed no comment.
‘Come into the library and be seated,’ Fidelma instructed.
Abbot Colmán cleared his throat and said, ‘Lady, if you have no need for my attendance, there are some duties that I have to be about.’
Fidelma agreed that there was no need for him to remain and he hurried off while they followed Irél into the library.
‘Alas,’ Irél observed, as they seated themselves, ‘I cannot help much about the night Sechnussach was murdered. I did not arrive until it was too late. The deed was done and the murderer had killed himself.’
‘We were told that you identified him,’ said Eadulf.
‘I did so,’ said the guard. ‘Dubh Duin was a regular attendee at the Great Assembly. I saw him there several times. His territory lies to the north-west of Midhe and he was one of the most important chieftains of the kingdom.’
‘I understand he was a distant relative of Sechnussach,’ Fidelma said. ‘Was he a close confidant of the High King?’
Irél chuckled derisively. ‘On the contrary, I suspect there was some strong antagonism between them.’
‘How so?’
‘Just the manner, one towards the other, during the debates in the Great Assembly. My duties in the assembly are but to stand as guard there and so I have time to watch the arguments and debates and perhaps notice things which others, more involved in the discussions, might miss. Dubh Duin would support nothing that the High King suggested and always had some objection to it.’
‘So there was no love lost between them. Very well. Let us go back to the night of the assassination. Lugna was the commander of the guard in the royal enclosure that night. Where were you?’
‘My duty had ended when I handed over to Lugna at midnight. I had retired to my chamber in the royal house.’
‘Then you are not married?’ Eadulf stated.
‘I am – I have three sons. Why do you ask?’ queried the warrior with interest.
‘A false assumption,’ replied Eadulf. ‘You say that you had retired to your chamber. I did not know that the families of the guards and attendants stayed in the royal house.’
‘They don’t. I have a farmstead close by the great river – that is where my family live. Being often on duty late at night, I stay here in Tara to save the journey in the middle of the night. Therefore I am provided with a chamber to sleep in.’
‘And what brought you to Sechnussach’s chamber that night?’
‘The sound of a disturbance.’
‘Can you be more specific?’
‘At first, I think my sleep was disturbed by a cry. But I cannot be sure.
By the time I was fully awake, I heard several cries as if of a disturbance. I took my sword and threw on a cloak. Anyway, when I reached the chamber, Brother Rogallach was already there and some of the servants. And of course Lugna and Cuan.’
‘Tell us what happened.’
‘I pushed my way through, as the servants were crowded around the chamber door trying to look in. One of the guards had a lantern. I could see the High King lying on his back. Blood was everywhere. Lugna was trying to keep the servants out while Cuan was crouching by the side of a man slumped against the bed. Lugna looked at me and said – “Sechnussach is slain and this is the man who did it”.’ He paused and grimaced. ‘I could tell that Sechnussach was dead. Not that he had bled much from the cutting of his throat. I’ve seen many men slain in battle with blood gushing like a fountain from such a wound and … ’ He paused and looked a little guilty. ‘I beg your pardon, lady. Anyway, I asked whether Lugna had killed the assassin. He replied, sorrowfully, that the man had taken his own life as he and Cuan had entered the chamber. That was when I looked down and recognised Dubh Duin. I sent for Abbot Colmán, being steward.’
Fidelma leaned forward. ‘Had the High King been alone in his chamber?’ she asked.
Irél frowned. ‘Alone? Well, there was the body of Dubh Duin.’
Fidelma smiled without humour. ‘What I meant to say was, was there anyone else present? I want to find out who raised the alarm that alerted the guards, Lugna and his comrade. They tell me that they heard a scream. But
who
screamed?’
‘I am a warrior, lady – and when I saw Sechnussach’s wounds I asked myself the same question. I ordered a search of the adjacent rooms in case someone else was hiding there who had seen the murder, but there was no one. There are three rooms in the High King’s apartment. All were empty. Only Sechnussach and his assassin were in the bedchamber.’
‘No one else could have hidden in the other rooms? You are sure that the door of the privy that leads outside was firmly bolted on the inside?’
‘Yes, I am certain. Dubh Duin was alone and did not have any accomplices. Lugna told me that when he and his comrade entered the bedchamber, Dubh Duin was in the act of collapsing to the ground, having stabbed himself. There was no one else. I had to conclude that the cry did come from the High King.’
Fidelma sighed softly. ‘Then we will let the mystery remain for the time being. Let us move on to other matters. You have served in the Fianna for a long time, I presume?’
‘Since the age of choice. I joined at seventeen.’
‘You must be an accomplished warrior, to have risen to command a battalion, one of the three permanent battalions of the Fianna, in so short a time. And, indeed, the premier battalion to guard Tara.’
‘It was Sechnussach who promoted me to the command,’ replied Irél.
‘So he placed great trust in you?’
‘That would have been for him to say, lady. I served him faithfully, if that is what you mean.’
‘Not exactly. What I mean is that Sechnussach entrusted you to carry out missions on his behalf that required your loyalty.’
Irél frowned, not understanding what she was getting at. Then he said, ‘As his commander and
tréin-fher
, his appointed champion, that was my job – to carry out whatever task he entrusted to me.’
‘And now Sechnussach is dead. The Great Assembly has appointed me to investigate his assassination and therefore has given me authority to question all who might help in that task.’
Irél nodded slowly. ‘That is understood, lady. That is why, when I heard you wished to speak with me, I came seeking you.’
‘Just so. So now I want you to tell me what task Sechnussach asked you to undertake in the matter of Bishop Luachan of Delbna Mór.’
Irél’s face showed his surprise at the question. ‘That was supposed to be a secret matter,’ he said.
‘
Supposed
to be,’ she replied with emphasis. ‘But now it is part of my investigation.’
Irél hesitated a moment and then shrugged. ‘It happened several days before the assassination. Sechnussach called me to him and asked me to take a journey to Delbna Mór and seek out the bishop. I was to escort Bishop Luachan to Tara, bringing him surreptitiously to the High King’s house by night. Sechnussach said he would ensure that his personal steward …’
‘Brother Rogallach?’
‘Yes, that Brother Rogallach would be waiting at the gates at midnight to escort us directly to the High King.’
‘And so you went to Delbna Mór?’
‘Even as Sechnussach requested.’
‘Was Bishop Luachan surprised to see you?’
Irél shook his head. ‘He apparently knew in advance why I had come and that I was to escort him to Tara.’
‘And what was the reason for this visit?’
‘I do not know.’
Fidelma frowned irritably. ‘You do not know?’ she repeated in a tone of disbelief.
‘I tell you the truth, lady. Sechnussach never told me anything more than I have told you. Luachan came willingly with no word spoken on the journey about its cause nor intention. As I say, he seemed to know the reason already.’
‘It is a long ride from Delbna Mór to Tara. Did he really say nothing?’
‘He seemed content with his own thoughts, although several times he appeared to be very nervous.’
‘Nervous? In what way?’
‘He would shy at shadows. I suspected that he thought we might be ambushed along the way. When I asked him, he muttered something about thieves and robbers.’
‘I see. Go on.’
‘Well, everything went as planned. We reached Tara in safety and we found Brother Rogallach awaiting us at the gate with the guard to pass us through. He took us straight to the royal house. I was told to take the horses to the stable, see to their needs and refresh myself and prepare to leave again before daylight … ’
‘Having arrived at what hour?’
‘Just after midnight. In fact, now I recall, it was the very night before the High King’s assassination.’
‘What then?’
‘I did as I was told. I came back well before dawn. I found Brother Rogallach standing guard outside the High King’s bedchamber and the bishop still closeted with the High King.’
‘In his bedchamber?’
Irél heard the note of incredulity and said, ‘I know – it was unusual for anyone to be received there.’
‘So even Brother Rogallach was not privy to the meeting?’
‘It would seem not. Whatever passed between Sechnussach and Bishop Luachan passed in secret. In fact, I asked Brother Rogallach at the time what it was about and he swore that he knew nothing.’
Eadulf rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘A strange affair, to be sure,’ he said to Fidelma.
‘I waited with Brother Rogallach,’ went on Irél. ‘After a while, Sechnussach unlocked the door of his chamber … ’
‘What! He and Luachan were meeting behind a locked door!’ Fidelma exclaimed.
‘Yes. That, too, was unusual,’ agreed the guard commander. ‘He opened the door and saw me standing ready. He asked whether I was ready to escort Bishop Luachan back to Delbna Mór. Naturally, I replied in the affirmative. But Luachan said that it would not be necessary. If I could escort him to the other side of the great river on the road to Delbna Mór, he would be satisfied.’
‘He was prepared to undertake the long journey without adequate rest?’ Fidelma asked curiously.
‘Bishop Luachan is a strong man. Anyway, he explained that he had a friend on the other side of the great river, not far from the ferry landing, with whom he would rest before commencing the journey back.’
‘And on your journey to the place where you left him, was anything said about this strange meeting? No word, no gossip?’
‘Nothing at all. The bishop was just as silent as he had been on our journey to Tara. Grim and taciturn is how I would describe his attitude. All I know is all that I have told you, lady. I can add nothing else.’ He paused and suddenly became thoughtful.
‘Except?’ prompted Fidelma.
‘It is probably nothing at all, but I think that he brought a special gift for Sechnussach.’
‘A gift?’
‘He had a saddlebag. I remember that when we left Delbna Mór he put something in it wrapped in linen cloth. When we arrived here, he took it out and carried it into the meeting with Sechnussach. When he left, he was not carrying it, so it follows that he must have left it with the High King. I noted that it seemed to be a heavy object.’
‘Heavy?’ Eadulf queried.
‘You could tell that by the way he carried it.’
‘What shape was it? Can you recall?’
Irél thought for a moment. ‘The shape may have been distorted by the wrapping of the cloth, but I think it was circular. It was about a
troighid
in diameter but very thin, like a plate.’
Eadulf quickly calculated the Irish measurement to something like the average foot in length.