‘The challenge has been issued, you say? And has been accepted?’
‘It has.’
‘Have both men offered to submit to law before proclaiming the combat?’
‘Both men have agreed that they felt no recourse to deciding the matter than by combat until death.’
Fidelma was silent for a moment or two, trying to think of a means to stop the fight. But the existing legal criteria had been fulfilled. Both men, it seemed, were determined to pursue the matter.
‘Very well. Let them step forward.’ When the combatants did so, Fidelma addressed each of them in turn. ‘There is no other way you will resolve this?’
The warrior Loeg said, ‘There is no way but death!’ and Artgal was smiling as he agreed. ‘Loeg challenged me this morning and I accepted. Now it shall be resolved.’
Fidelma was about to confirm the proceedings when she paused. ‘When did you say that the challenge was issued?’
‘This morning. We agreed,’ replied Artgal in a confident tone.
‘They have witnesses,’ Fidaig said quickly, seeing a smile on her lips. ‘I recalled the law and there stand the witnesses on each side. Each combatant has sworn to abide by the result of the fight.’
‘But the fight will not take place, for it is illegal,’ Fidelma stated firmly.
Fidaig gazed at her in astonishment. ‘What squeamish judgement is this, lady?’ he sneered. ‘I have ensured that everything is done within the law, as you have heard.’
‘All except one thing, Fidaig. You should know that according to the Senchus Mór, five full days must elapse between the challenge and the duel.’
Fidaig clenched a fist in annoyance. ‘Where does it say this?’ he demanded. ‘This is not right.’
‘There is a story of two famous champions – Conall Cernach and Laegaire,’ explained Fidelma. ‘They quarrelled and challenged each other to a single combat in legal form. The Chief Brehon Sencha decreed that five days should elapse for them to cool their tempers before they fought. Thus all other combats since then can only be held five days after the formal challenge is made.’
Fidaig struggled to find an answer and could not. Fidelma ignored him and dismissed the combatants and their companions. ‘At least it gives them five more days to think it over,’ she explained quietly to Eadulf.
Even as they were finally relaxing and someone had signalled for the music to restart, there came the sound of a warning horn piercing the darkness close by with three short blasts. Gormán looked round, wondering what new threat was emerging.
‘Don’t be alarmed,’ Fidaig called immediately. ‘It is a signal from one of our sentinels.’ Then he frowned. ‘Curious. We expect no other guests.’
He was looking towards the edge of the camp where the bulky shape of a wagon had emerged, having just crossed the river. It was being escorted by a couple of warriors.
‘I thought all my wagons had been safely gathered in for the night.’ Fidaig was surprised by the new arrival. ‘I do not know this one.’
The wagon had halted on the rim of the encampment with the other wagons. The stocky driver had climbed down. One of Fidaig’s warriors was escorting him towards the pupall. They noticed that he was not so much guiding him as propelling him forward with the point of a sword.
The driver of the wagon was a balding man of stout proportions. He came wheezing before them, his head lowered, his pudgy hands rubbing together.
Fidelma glanced at Eadulf in surprise before turning back to the newcomer.
‘Well, Ordan, I did not expect to meet you again so soon and in this place.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The merchant recovered quickly from his obvious shock and forced a sickly smile to spread over his fleshy features.
‘Lady Fidelma,’ he bowed his head briefly. ‘I, also, hardly expected to find you here and in such distinguished company.’ He looked at Eadulf and made his curious bow again. His small glittering eyes missed nothing, observing Gormán behind them. Then he turned to Fidaig and made an artificial obeisance.
Fidaig simply ignored him but raised a questioning eyebrow to the warrior who had escorted Ordan into the camp.
‘Lord,’ began the warrior, ‘we were returning from the north, and just by the place known as the Hill of Green we saw a campfire. There we found this merchant.’
‘I had camped there for the night, lord,’ Ordan explained hastily. ‘Had I realised your encampment was nearby, I would have hastened to join you. Better to spend the night in numbers than in isolation. I have heard that the wolves and bears are many in these fastnesses.’