Marban hobbled forward quickly, almost sobbing in relief.
‘By all means, Lord Conrí.’ He looked nervously at Gláed, who sat impassively on his horse, looking neither to right nor left, his mouth set in a firm line.
‘Have no fear, miller,’ Socht assured him. ‘He won’t hurt you. This man is our prisoner. Have you somewhere safe where I might put him? Preferably a well-used pigsty?’
‘Still amazed?’ smiled the warlord as they settled themselves back in the warmth of the mill. ‘You may not have recognised him, but that is actually our missing Brother Adamrae, and Adamrae is—’
‘Gláed, son of Fidaig of Sliabh Luachra,’ finished Fidelma. ‘We spent last night with Fidaig.’
Conrí looked disappointed for a moment. Then he continued his explanation. ‘We took Gláed as a prisoner. He had a few men with him who put up a fight, neglecting to notice I had a couple of good bowmen with me. Gláed finally preferred discretion to valour. Now he will answer for Lachtine’s death and for what he did to Brother Cronan.’
‘He will have to answer for much more than that,’ Fidelma replied grimly. ‘How did you find him? And what happened to confirm my idea of a plot to overthrow Donennach?’
The warlord ran his hand through his hair. ‘It was pure luck,’ he confessed. ‘After you left us at Dún Eochair Mháigh, a messenger came to the fortress. We had decided to stay on for a day or two as Cúana used to be an old friend of mine.’
Eadulf picked up the past tense and looked hard at the man.
Conrí interpreted the question. ‘I am afraid he came off the worst in an attack on me.’
‘What happened?’
‘It was as simple as being in the right place at the right time. Night had fallen and I could not sleep. I was still wondering what the purpose of Adamrae, or Gláed as I now know him, was in the Ford of Oaks. I heard a messenger arrive at the fortress and curiosity brought me from my chamber. The messenger was speaking with Cúana in the antechamber. I was about to enter when I heard him say that the moment to strike was at hand. That made me pause.
‘The messenger then said that Gláed and his men were waiting at a certain place – a small ford north-west of here. The merchant had been told to take his wagon there, and then Gláed would escort him to Mungairit. The merchant would bring “the object” with him. I never learned what that referred to. Cúana was instructed to take those loyal to him and join Gláed in Mungairit, where he would be given further instructions. All I could gather from this was that there was some kind of plot afoot.
‘The messenger left and I was going to withdraw quietly but unfortunately, I slipped on the stone floor and Cúana found me. He knew that I must have overheard what had been said, even though I could make no sense of it except that it promised intrigue and danger for our people.
‘Cúana drew his sword and said, “I am afraid you must die for what you have heard”. I tried to protest but the sword was descending …’ Conrí flinched at the memory, ‘and then Socht’s dagger caught him in the throat. Had that not happened, I would not have been here to tell the story. It was fortunate that Socht, being a light sleeper, had followed me.’
‘There is much to learn here,’ Eadulf said with satisfaction. ‘Ordan was bringing a wagonload of weapons obviously to Gláed – swords, spears and shields from the best smithies of Magh Méine. He also had this …’ He pointed to the standard that Gormán had placed in a corner.
Conrí observed it for the first time in the dark corner of the mill. His mouth opened in silent astonishment as he recognised it.
‘So you bested Gláed at the ford?’ Fidelma said hurriedly before Conrí could speak. ‘What has he said since then?’
Conrí turned reluctantly away from the standard. ‘Said?’ he repeated. ‘He has said nothing.’
‘Nothing at all?’ pressed Fidelma.
‘Well, merely that all would be revealed if he was taken to Mungairit. I think it sounds like a threat.’
‘Then we should avoid Mungairit,’ Eadulf shrugged.
‘I think not. It is at Mungairit that this mystery will conclude,’ Fidelma contradicted firmly. ‘Let us go and have a word with Gláed.’
‘But, lady, you know what that emblem means,’ protested Conrí.
‘I know full well. You must keep it a secret until we have resolved the mystery of how it was meant to be used and by whom.’