Gormán went to the table, collected the items and handed them back to each of their owners. It gave them all a sense of security that their emblems of office were now returned.
‘So, what are you doing in the land of the Uí Fidgente?’ asked Conrí when they were settled.
‘You have not heard the news from Cashel?’ asked Fidelma.
‘We heard news of an attack on your brother in which the Chief Brehon Áedo was killed. But we were told that King Colgú had survived. News travels fast these days.’
By the time Fidelma explained the details, Conrí had assumed a worried look.
‘Brother Lennán was a name well known among the Uí Fidgente,’ he said. ‘He was respected as a physician.’
‘He came from the outskirts of Dún Eochair Mháigh,’ Socht said. ‘I remember him as a boy, before we went our separate ways to study.’
Conrí nodded thoughtfully. ‘The story was that he had been killed in the battle and, being a physician, that created a scandal here. He was also a religieux at Cnoc Áine and was there to tend the injured. If someone was using his name, that must mean the person knew the story. Perhaps it was a vengeance killing?’
‘That was what we came to find out,’ Fidelma confirmed. ‘We had a word with his father, Ledbán, at Mungairit, but it did not help.’
‘Ledbán?’ Socht was frowning at the memory. ‘Yes – that was his father’s name. I remember him. He ran a stable for one of the lesser nobles and his wife died of the Yellow Plague. So Ledbán went to join his son at Mungairit? He must be very old now.’
‘He is dead,’ Eadulf said dryly. ‘He died the night we arrived at the abbey.’
‘Well, I suppose he must have been an old man,’ Socht mused. ‘But it was surely a sad coincidence that he died just when you turned up there.’
‘If coincidence it was,’ Fidelma said. ‘Anyway, he was strong enough to speak with us when we arrived. It was during that night that he died.’ She did not wish to say any more about the circumstances until she was on sure ground. ‘But tell me, Socht, you say that you knew him and his son, Lennán?’
‘When I was young, the family were well known along the river hereabouts.’
‘When did Ledbán’s wife die?’
‘That was some eight years ago. It was when the Yellow Plague devastated the country.’
Conrí shivered. ‘The Yellow Plague! We had several deaths from that pestilence here. Thankfully it was not as bad here as it was in many places, but no one was exempt once it struck. Not kings and bishops, warriors or cowherds.’
‘Ledbán …’ muttered Socht. ‘It comes back to me now. They were a sad family. He hated his daughter’s husband and that is why he decided to go and end his days in Mungairit with his son.’
‘A daughter?’ Fidelma was suddenly interested. ‘Ledbán had a daughter? What was her name and what happened?’
Socht thought for a moment. ‘I think she married a river fisherman who sometimes ran a ferry and—’
‘It was a man who kept a boat at Dún Eochair Mháigh,’ interrupted Conrí. ‘Something bad happened. Didn’t his wife run away and later he was found dead in the river?’
Socht was suddenly excited. ‘I think the man’s name was Escmug.’
‘What happened to him? You say he was found dead in the river?’ Fidelma tried to hide her interest at the news.
‘Maybe he drowned. But this was about the time of the Battle at Cnoc Áine. No one at that time was worried about the stray dead body. There were too many bodies and all had unnatural endings.’
‘This daughter of Ledbán, do you recall her name?’ asked Eadulf.
‘It was not Liamuin, was it?’ Fidelma was watching their reaction to the name, but it did not seem to mean anything to either of them.
‘Perhaps someone at Dún Eochair Mháigh would know it,’ offered Conrí.
Fidelma suddenly glanced at the windows and realised it was rapidly growing dark.
‘I want to see Brother Cronan before the hour grows too late,’ she told them. ‘There are a few questions to which I would like the answers.’
‘But the contagious disease …’ protested Conrí. ‘No one has seen him since he fell ill. That is how young Adamrae came to take over his role here.’
Fidelma smiled. ‘Tell me, where does Brother Cronan live?’
‘He had a small cell which adjoins the chapel,’ replied Conrí. ‘It is part of the building – a little annexe and you enter from inside the chapel itself. But you must be wary, Fidelma. If it is a contagious disease, you may be at risk.’