Socht had tied the son of Fidaig to a metal horse ring in one of the barns. Gláed watched their coming with a faint smile of derision on his features.
‘Well, Gláed son of Fidaig,’ Fidelma greeted him coldly, ‘you already know who I am.’
He did not respond.
‘You will wish to know that Ordan’s supply of weapons for your followers has now fallen into safe hands.’
There was only a tiny narrowing of the eyes to indicate that he understood.
‘That also means that the Cathach of Fiachu is no longer available to arouse the Uí Fidgente to rise against Cashel again.’
Gláed continued to remain silent.
‘Cum tacent clamant,’ snapped Eadulf in frustration, using the words of Cicero. When they remain silent, they cry out.
At this Gláed turned and actually spoke: ‘There is an old saying of my people that a silent mouth sounds most melodious. I will say nothing to you, nor will I tell you anything.’
‘A pity. I would have liked to know what a petty chieftain of the Luachra would be wanting with the sacred battle emblem of the Uí Fidgente,’ Conrí intervened.
‘You will learn nothing from me,’ the young man sneered.
Fidelma saw the determined look in the prisoner’s eye and gave a silent sigh. She was a good judge of character and knew resolution when confronted with it. ‘It will not add to our knowledge to question him further,’ she said quietly.
Eadulf and Conrí followed her back to the mill.
‘I don’t understand,’ Conrí said in frustration. ‘The plot has been revealed – so why does he remain silent?’
‘Because all is not revealed. He remains silent because he is only one of the conspirators. He is protecting the others. There is someone at the heart of this who is more powerful than Gláed.’
‘More powerful? You can’t mean Cúana? He is dead now. Anyway, he was only the steward of Prince Donennach’s house.’
‘How many trustworthy men do you have, Conrí?’ she asked abruptly.
‘As you see, lady, about twenty-five warriors. The number that accompanied us from the Ford of the Oaks.’
‘Who did you leave to secure Dún Eochair Mháigh?’
‘I found a few good men there who were unaware of what Cúana had been planning. I also sent a messenger to my own fortress to raise a dozen more men to join us.’
‘It would be better if we had a hundred warriors or more,’ muttered Fidelma. ‘Still, with luck, it might not come to a confrontation.’
Conrí was still puzzled. ‘Confrontation? A battle?’
‘What would be the effect of raising the Cathach Fiachu among your people and calling on them to rise up against Cashel again?’
‘No effect at all – unless it was raised by a prince of the blood,’ Conrí told her. ‘Certainly no effect if it had been raised by Gláed, as he is not even of the Uí Fidgente.’
‘Gláed will not raise it. The person who will do so is to be found in Mungairit,’ she replied confidently.
Three blasts on a hunting horn cut into the air. A moment later, Socht burst in.
‘More horsemen are coming! I’ve told our men to stand to their arms.’
Fidelma sprang up. ‘The fact they have given us warning of their approach may mean there is no hostile intention,’ she pointed out as the warlord clasped his sword. ‘Let your men stand ready, but don’t provoke anything until we know who they are and what their intentions are.’
It was not long before they knew the answers as they gathered in a nervous group outside the mill building.
Fidaig, lord of Luachra, came trotting into the mill complex with a score of his warriors. He halted a little distance away from them and slid from his saddle, handing the reins of his horse to Artgal, who rode beside him. He then walked towards them, his face serious. His keen eyes swept the company before they alighted on Fidelma.
‘I did not expect to see you again so soon, lady,’ he said.
‘Nor I you, Fidaig,’ she replied. ‘What does this mean? I thought you were chasing the man who killed Ordan the merchant to Barr an Bheithe?’
‘That was my intention, lady,’ he said heavily.
‘And now?’
‘My son, Gláed, was not at Barr an Bheithe. I was told that he was attacked and taken prisoner by Conrí of the Uí Fidgente. I am come to find and to claim my son.’
‘If I remember correctly, Fidaig, the purpose of you going to his fortress at Barr an Bheithe was to ask an account of him and to punish him if there was wrongdoing,’ Fidelma stated evenly. ‘There has been wrongdoing and the Uí Fidgente have a prior claim on your son.’