Atonement of Blood(41)

Fidelma’s eyes narrowed in interest at his comment. ‘You’d best explain.’

‘I was thinking. The attempt to kill your brother, the King, must surely be an act of vengeance for the defeat of Étain’s rebels and their allies in Osraige. It is unlikely to be connected with a defeat that happened four years ago. On the other hand, it is only a few weeks ago that our armies defeated Étain and stormed Cronán’s fortress at Liath Mór.’

Fidelma regarded the young warrior thoughtfully. ‘An interesting point. But it is only speculation and …’

‘… without information, speculation is a waste of time,’ piped up Eadulf.

Fidelma was about to express her annoyance but then shrugged. ‘I have always said so,’ she acknowledged.

‘But sometimes such thoughts are a logical process,’ protested Gormán.

‘I will not deny it. However, if one acts on speculation only, therein lies a danger. Do not disregard speculation but do not act solely upon it.’

‘Surely that is difficult? For example, if I have chosen a tender joint of meat for my supper and placed it on the table, then I am called away for a moment and on my return I find the meat on the floor and my hound standing over it, it is logical that the hound must be guilty of theft. However, I have not seen the hound take the meat from the table. So that is speculation.’

Eadulf chuckled. ‘That is a good example of a legal argument. But as I understand your law, a witness is called fiadu, one who “sees”. So what does not take place before the eyes of the witness is irrelevant.’

‘Well done, Eadulf.’ Fidelma smiled in approval. ‘You have obviously read our text, the Barrad Airechta, on the law of evidence. It does say that a person can only give evidence as to what they have seen and heard – and that would imply that speculation must be eliminated.’

Eadulf smiled smugly. Over the years that he had been with Fidelma he had tried to learn as much of the laws of her country as he could, spending time among the law texts in the tech screpta or libraries.

Fidelma turned thoughtfully to Gormán. ‘However, you have also made a good example, for the law texts admit that indirect evidence can be presented if there are grounds for suspicion. But because your hound is standing by the meat which is on the floor, that cannot be the only grounds for blaming the dog. Were the doors and windows closed in the room where the dog was found with the meat? Was the hound enclosed in the room when you left? Could some other animal have entered and could the hound have chased them off after they had taken the meat and left it on the floor? You see, your speculation must be extended to full capacity. When all other avenues are closed then a judge is allowed to decide if there is only one explanation and accept that as indirect evidence which otherwise would be inadmissible. And yet I would still be unhappy with that decision.’

The young warrior was frowning as he followed her reasoning. ‘Unhappy?’

‘There is still room for error unless there is proof. When speculation has convinced people to condemn another, the truth will remain the truth and it is the truth that must prevail.’ Fidelma gave a sudden yawn. ‘And now, we should eat and then get some rest. If we leave after first light, we will reach the Abbey of Mungairit just after midday.’

They sat before the fire and consumed bread, cheese, some cold meats and an apple, all washed down with cold spring water. As frugal as it was, the meal tasted good after their long journey. Eadulf banked the fire again.

‘Do we need to keep a watch?’ asked Gormán.

‘It is not necessary,’ Fidelma replied. ‘Just so long as we do not let the fire go out. Although I doubt whether the wolves will bother us.’

Her sentence was curiously punctuated by the distant howling of the animals on the hillside. It started with a solitary cry from what could only be the leader of the pack; this, after a moment or two, was joined by others. The whole chorus was eerie, rising gradually to a crescendo, until the wolf-pack fell silent.

Eadulf shivered a little. A nearby sound caused him to start nervously before he realised it was only the mournful call of an owl, perched on the ruined wall above him. He found Fidelma trying to hide her amusement, pulled a face at her, and turned to find a comfortable spot for a bed.

It seemed that he had barely stretched out on his cloak in the corner of the ruined chapel than his eyes opened to the cold grey light of morning. He blinked and sat up. The fire was no longer blazing but a plume of smoke was rising where Gormán had placed some dew-dampened wood on it in an attempt to rekindle it. The young warrior was kneeling by the side of the fire, poking at it. Beside him, Fidelma was stirring. Eadulf rose to his feet, stretched and smothered a yawn.