Atonement of Blood(76)

‘I have heard about the finding of Lachtine our apothecary, and the flight of Brother Adamrae,’ the inn-keeper began, glancing nervously towards Fidelma and her companions as they settled themselves.

‘I am told that during the past few days, Brother Adamrae frequented this inn,’ Fidelma said, once they had settled themselves. ‘Why was that?’

The inn-keeper spread his hands apologetically. ‘To explain, I must first tell a long and curious story.’

‘Then the sooner you proceed, the sooner we will hear the story,’ replied Conrí with an air of resignation.

‘It was a peculiar story that Lachtine told me some time ago.’

‘Go on,’ Fidelma prompted impatiently.

‘Well,’ the inn-keeper grew confidential. ‘It was a month or so ago when Lachtine came in, all breathless-like, and told me that he had seen something very singular in the forest. He was there gathering herbs, which he often did, when he witnessed a meeting in a glade. He saw two men – one was in religious robes. However, they both rode good horses, which is not usual among the religious. One was a thickset man, that was the religieux, and the other was a younger man. Lachtine said he thought the thickset man had a humped back, but it turned out he was carrying a sack on his back under his cloak. It was obviously heavy, as when he handed the sack to the younger man, he dropped it. It fell to the ground and the sack split open – whereupon the elder shouted at him to be careful; that it was a sacred object. Well, it did not look like any religious object known to Lachtine, although it was made of some sort of metal. He said it was more like an image of some animal, so far as he could see.’

‘And what was Lachtine doing all the time this exchange was taking place?’ asked Conrí. ‘Why was he not spotted by these two men?’

‘He had been crouching behind a bush gathering some herbs and remained so because of the curious way the men were behaving.’

‘What was this animal that they dropped?’

‘He could not see too well from where he was concealed. It might have been a dog. The elder man dismounted and examined it. Satisfied that it had sustained no damage, he handed it to the younger man. Then he said something to the effect that he had to go, but that he would leave it to the younger one to hand it to the merchant. No names were mentioned and the reference was just to “the merchant”. The younger man said that the merchant was due to be at the very spot shortly so the elderly man mounted and rode off.

‘Lachtine decided to remain hidden and time passed while the young man sat in the glade, apparently growing impatient. But, sure enough, eventually, a heavy wagon rolled along the forest track. The young man handed the bundle to the driver of the wagon and said, in curt fashion, “Remember, the best work must be done on it” and then the wagon rolled on. The younger man then rode off. Realising that he had spent too much time in the glade, Lachtine rose to come back to the Ford of the Oaks. He was trotting along the track towards the settlement when he encountered a group of local farmers and stayed to talk. It was just then that a horseman came trotting by. It was the young man he had seen in the glade. He did not pause but Lachtine felt that he had stared especially at him as he rode by.’

‘This story is a curious one and makes no sense,’ muttered Conrí. ‘What is its relevance to Adamrae?’

‘I will explain,’ the inn-keeper said hastily. ‘Lachtine recognised the man with the wagon as a merchant who frequently passes by here.’

‘And you are going to tell us who that was?’ Fidelma asked patiently.

‘Of course. It was Ordan of Rathordan.’

There was a silence in which Fidelma could not help exchanging a quick glance with Eadulf.

‘I presume that you know Ordan?’ Sitae went on, noticing the look.

‘Rathordan is next to Cashel,’ Gormán answered for her. ‘So yes, we know him.’

‘And how does this answer my question of why did Brother Adamrae visit this inn so frequently?’ asked Fidelma.

Sitae smiled as if he was about to produce some wonderful object to tempt them.

‘Adamrae first came to my inn five days ago and asked after Ordan. He paid me to keep the matter between us but said that he had business with Ordan and must be told the moment he came here.’

‘Why have you decided to tell us now?’ asked Conrí. ‘Adamrae has been here five days.’

‘Because of the news of Lachtine’s death.’

‘Please explain.’

‘Brother Adamrae was the young man whom Lachtine saw in the forest.’

‘Did Lachtine tell you this?’