âI demand to speak!' he cried. âI am Scandlán, king of Osraige.'
âSit down!' The Chief Brehon's heavy bass voice quelled the whispering that was echoing through the church. âAs king you surely know the rules of procedure of this assembly?'
âMy name is being sullied!' protested the muscular chieftain. âDo I not have a chance to answer my accuser?'
âThere is no accusation at the moment,' Fidelma said. âWhat then is in error?'
The High King was again whispering to the Chief Brehon. Fidelma saw a smile hovering on the High King's lips.
âVery well,' agreed the Chief Brehon. âThere is one question that I will ask of Scandlán now. King of Osraige, did you kill Illan?'
âOf course I did,' snapped the sandy-haired man. âIt is my right as king to protect myself and Illan was in insurrection against me and â¦'
The Chief Brehon raised his hand for silence.
âThen it seems that Sister Fidelma has only stated the truth. She has impugned no mean motive, so far. We will hear you later if either of the learned advocates call upon you to give testimony. Until then, you will not interrupt the proceedings.'
He returned his gaze to Fidelma and indicated that she might continue again.
âThe death of Illan was not the end of the contention. Illan had offspring who were not then at the age of choice when they might take their official claims to the people. The
problem was that no one seemed to know who the offspring of Illan were, for it appeared that he had several children. They had all been sent out of Osraige into fosterage until the time when the eldest of them would be of age and able to present his claim to his people.
âThere were two people who were interested in the heirs of Illan. Scandlán was interested because he knew that sooner or later those heirs would once more contend with him for the kingship of Osraige. And Fianamail of Laigin was interested. Fianamail felt that if the heirs could be found and supported in their fight to throw out Scandlán, then Laigin might influence the future of Osraige so that it would eventually be returned to their authority.'
She paused expectantly but this time there was no outcry.
âBut the heirs of Illan had vanished. The question was how to discover who they were and where they were. One way to discover the identity of these heirs, so it was thought, was to examine the genealogies of the Osraige. Now since the Corco LoÃgde had ruled Osraige, it had been their scribes who had kept the detailed genealogies and histories. And where were these genealogies kept?'
Fidelma paused again and glanced around at the expectant faces in the now silent abbey church.
âThey were kept here, here in Ros Ailithir.'
There was a muttering as some began to see where her arguments were leading.
âFianamail of Laigin sent his best scholar to Ros Ailithir to examine the genealogies in order to trace the heir of Illan. That scholar was none other than Dacan, brother of Abbot Noé of Fearna, and cousin to Fianamail, the king. Now let Fianamail deny this on his sacred oath!'
âA question!' cried Forbassach. âI have the right to ask a question!'
The Chief Brehon conceded that he had.
âIf the current king of Osraige was, as Muman's advocate
suggests, so keen to track down Illan's heirs, why did he not send his own scholar to examine these records which are here, in his own family territory? That would have been easy for him to do.'
âThe simply answer is that he, or rather his family, did,' Fidelma replied evenly. âBut I have asked Fianamail to deny that Dacán was sent here with that task on his behalf. I deserve an answer.'
Forbassach turned to exchange a hurried word with Fianamail and the grim-faced Abbot Noé. The Chief Brehon cleared his throat meaningfully and Forbassach smiled.
âWhatever research Dacán may have been conducting, it does not cancel out the fact that he was murdered, and responsibility for his death lies with the abbot and ultimately with the king of Muman.'
His voice was firm but less assured than he had been in his opening argument.
âNot,' replied Fidelma with emphasis, âif Dacán's purpose for being here was not what he claimed it to be.'
This time it was the
ollamh
of the Chief Brehon who bent forward and whispered into Barrán's ear. The Chief Brehon regarded Fidelma gravely.
âIf this is the basis of your counter-plea, Sister Fidelma, then I am advised to caution you that it is a tenuous defence. Dacán stated that he wanted to research and teach at Ros Ailithir and on that condition he was granted the hospitality of the king of Cashel and the abbot of Ros Ailithir. The fact that he did not stipulate the precise nature of that research does not exclude him from legal protection. He was, after all, conducting research.'
âI would have to argue this,' conceded Fidelma, âbut I made my opening plea with two points. We will leave the first for the time being. I think I can demonstrate later that it is a means of dismissing culpability. But we have more important matters to deal with first. Such as the identity of Dacán's killer.'
There was another outburst of muttering among the assembly. Barrán's eyes narrowed as he leant forward in his chair and rapped for silence.
âAre you saying that you know the identity of the murderer?' he demanded.
Fidelma smiled enigmatically.
âWe will come to that in a moment. I must be allowed to explain some other matters.'
Barrán gestured impatiently for her to continue.
âAs I have said, Dacan came to Ros Ailithir for a single purpose. The purpose was to trace the genealogy of the Illan. To his surprise, Dacán found that his former wife, Grella from the abbey of Cealla, was working here as librarian. He thought that he had been the recipient of good fortune for Grella was from Osraige and her relationship with Dacán had not ended in enmity. So Dacán enlisted her help to obtain the records which he required. She gave that help willingly because she was also interested in finding the heirs of Illan. Alas, her reasons for that interest were not the same as those of her former husband.'
There was another commotion from the benches behind Fidelma.
Barrán raised a tired head and called for order while his
ollamh
began hurriedly speaking in an undertone to him.
Fidelma turned and saw Sister Grella standing, her face distorted and filled with passion.
âSister Grella, be seated!' ordered Barrán as his
ollamh
identified her.
âI will not sit and be insulted!' cried Grella hysterically, ânor unjustly accused.'
âHas Sister Fidelma insulted you?' demanded the Chief Brehon wearily. âI am not aware that she has. If so, please tell me in what way has the insult been made? Were you or were you not married to Dacán of Fearna?'
âMugrón, the captain of the Laigin warship, stands ready to
give witness,' warned Fidelma quickly, pointing to where the seaman sat on the Laigin benches.
âI was married to Dacán but â¦' conceded Grella.
âAnd that marriage ended in divorce?' interposed the Chief Brehon.
âYes.'
âWhen Dacán came to Ros Ailithir, did he know that you were librarian of the abbey?'
âNo.'
âBut he enlisted your help for his research?'
âYes.'
âAnd you gave it willingly?'
âYes.'
âDid you share Dacán's motives for this research?'
Grella's face reddened and she hung her head.
âThen there is no insult,' Barrán said, assuming her answer. âBe seated, Sister Grella, lest you insult this court by your animosity.'
âBut I know that this woman is trying to claim that I killed Dacan! She is playing like a cat with a mouse! Let her accuse me openly!'
âAre you accusing Sister Grella of the murder of Dacán?' asked the Chief Brehon of Fidelma.
Fidelma smiled wryly.
âI think that I may eventually clear this matter up, Barrán, but by questioning Salbach, chieftain of the Corco LoÃgde.'
âWhatever accusations you make, Fidelma, you must substantiate them,' Barrán warned.
âThat I am prepared to do.'
Barrán motioned to one of the warriors of
fianna,
the High King's bodyguard. A few moments later Salbach was brought, his hands bound before him. He stood somewhat defiantly before the assembly.
âSalbach of the Corco LoÃgde,' Fidelma began, âyou already stand before this assembly denounced as responsible for the
actions of your
bó-aire,
Intat. Intat was responsible for the slaughter of many innocents in your name both at Ros na ScrÃne and at the house of Molua.'
Salbach raised his chin belligerently but did not reply.
âYou do not deny these charges?' demanded the Chief Brehon.
Salbach still did not speak.
Barrán sighed heavily.
âYou do not have to answer the accusation but some inference will be placed on your silence by this court. If you do not answer then the allegations must be considered as true and punishment must follow.'
âI am ready for your punishment,' Salbach said curtly. It was apparent that Salbach had reflected on the weight of the evidence against him and saw no alternative to admitting his culpability.
âAnd is Sister Grella also ready to accept punishment?' Fidelma asked, hoping that she had judged Salbach's feeling for the librarian correctly. If Salbach was reconciled to his punishment, she wondered whether he was as willing to inflict it on Grella? Salbach swung round to Fidelma, his expression impassive.
âShe is not guilty of any of the misdeeds attributed to me,' he said quietly. âLet her go.'
âYet Sister Grella was your lover, wasn't she, Salbach?'
âI have admitted that.'
âIt was either your cousin, Scandlán, or you â it matters not where the idea came from â who suggested that Grella might use her position as librarian to look through the genealogical books of Osraige, which are kept at the abbey, in an attempt to find Illan's heir. Isn't that true?'
âYou are bound to reply,' instructed the Chief Brehon as Salbach hesitated.
âIt is true.'
âThen came a coincidence. Grella told you, probably during
your pillow talk, that her former husband, Dacán, had arrived at Ros Ailithir for exactly the same purpose. He, too, was searching for Illan's heir. Knowing him to be the better scholar, Grella persuaded him to work closely with her so that she could then inform you how he was proceeding. Isn't that so? You wanted to know who the heir of Illan was as much as Dacan did. But whereas Dacán was interested in finding them to use him to serve Laigin's purpose, you wanted to find him to destroy the last of the family of native kings. That would forever safeguard the dynasty of the Corco LoÃgde in Osraige.'
There was a tense silence. No one spoke. All eyes were on Salbach. It was Sister Grella who broke the silence with a wail of fear as, for the first time, she finally realised the enormity of what had been done.
âBut it is not true ⦠I did not know that Salbach ⦠I did not know he wanted to kill them ⦠I am not responsible for the death of all those innocent children ⦠I am not.'
Salbach turned and snapped at her to be silent.
âWhen Dacán discovered the whereabouts of the heir of Illan,' Fidelma went on remorselessly, âGrella ran to tell you. It was the day before Dacán's death. He had found that the Father Superior of Sceilig Mhichil, the monastery of Michael the Archangel, was a cousin of Illan. He had discovered that Illan's heir had been taken there for safety. He wrote of his news and announced that he was about to set out for Sceilig Mhichil. He was killed before he did so.'
âHow did he discover this information? Surely the records placed here would not announce the hiding place of Illan's heirs?' demanded the Chief Brehon.
âCuriously enough, they did. Dacán found Illan's will on some rods of the poets. The irony of this tale is that when Scandlán killed Illan, he seized his fortress and goods. Illan's library was also seized. In that library was his will, which he had specifically chosen to write in Ogham on rods of the poets.
The irony was that Scandlán, unable to read it, had sent it, with other books, as a gift to this abbey, the chief abbey of the Corco LoÃgde.'
âEven so,' protested Barrán, âsurely any reasonable scholar could have read the Ogham of the will and ultimately deciphered the information?'
âIllan was obviously a literary man, for the will was coded. I found a wand from the will in Dacán's chamber where he had carelessly left it. It went unnoticed by his murderer. I have only an extract from one rod. The others had been destroyed.'