‘He has a cornmill upriver,’ she confirmed, lowering her voice and giving an anxious glance over her shoulder as if looking for an eavesdropper. ‘It is a place called An Cregáin. You turn west before the Mháigh passes a tributary called the Lúbach. There is a fast-flowing smaller stream that joins the river from the west. Go upstream along it. That stream is still known as the Mháigh. You follow it through a forest and that is where Marban lives. Now, please, we must go.’
‘Just tell me what relation this millwright is to the family of Aibell? Is he brother to her mother or to her father?’
‘Brother to Escmug, but people say that he hated him. Marban rarely came to Dún Eochair Mháigh.’
Then the girl turned and hurriedly led the way along the corridors towards the feasting hall with Fidelma and Eadulf hastening in her wake.
Cúana and Conrí were waiting before a large fire in the central hearth. They had been joined by Socht and Gormán. A table was already prepared.
Fidelma immediately apologised for keeping them waiting. ‘I am afraid I needed some adjustments to my hair and this young girl helped me.’
Cúana nodded, as if understanding, and gestured to the table.
‘Pray, seat yourselves. I have asked Donennach’s harpist to attend and provide us with some distraction.’
Fidelma looked and saw an old man seated in a corner with his clarsach in front of him; at a sign from the young steward, he started to pluck at the instrument with agile fingers. It was the custom for musicians to play while nobles ate, and Cúana obviously did not believe in stinting on the rituals simply because his Prince was absent. As steward, he first ensured that everyone was seated in the appropriate order of priority. In attendance was a deochbhaire or cup-bearer to see that each guest’s goblet was filled, and a dáilemain who would carve and serve the meat dishes.
The meal was impressive. It was mainly composed of meat dishes: spit-roasted venison joints, basted with honey and salt, sausages made of pork and lamb, and a dish of hard-boiled eggs which, by custom, were eaten cold. There was also fish, and Fidelma observed that these had been cooked on an indeoin or griddle; nearby were complementary dishes of craobhraic or samphire, and a braised pottage of herbs. There were other vegetables such as onions and watercress, and kale spiced with wild garlic. Later, there would be platters of nuts and apples. The knife was used in the right hand and the left was used to pick up the food. When needed, an attendant came forward with a basin of water to wash the fingers and a lámbrat, or small linen cloth to dry them on. Throughout, the deochbhaire continued to keep all the goblets filled with ale. If Cúana was trying to impress them, he was succeeding.
Cúana took an opportunity presented by a pause in the harpist’s repertoire to report to Fidelma. ‘I have made enquiries about the matter you were interested in, and I am told no one exists these days who was connected with the family of Escmug or Liamuin.’
Eadulf’s brow creased; he was just about to say something when Fidelma said quickly, ‘That is a shame. It would seem that our enquiries here have come to nothing.’
Conrí nodded absently. ‘So what do you intend to do now, lady?’
‘I intend to take the road south to the territory of the Luachra,’ Fidelma announced.
Cúana was astonished. ‘The Luachra, lady? That is a dangerous country to travel.’
‘Have no fear. I have met Fidaig before.’
‘But why go there?’ It seemed even Conrí was surprised.
‘A few more enquiries, that is all.’
‘You mean the Luachra might be involved in this affair at Cashel?’ asked Cúana.
‘That is what I intend to discover. In the meantime, I know I can leave this territory in the safe hands of Conrí and yourself, Cúana. But I would urge you both to be vigilant.’
Eadulf tried to hide his surprise. It was unlike Fidelma to give up so easily, especially now they had already learned that there was some relative of Aibell dwelling not far away. He realised that she was up to something.
‘Of course,’ Conrí replied at once. ‘When will you leave Dún Eochair Mháigh?’
‘I see little need to tarry here now. We’ll be on our way tomorrow morning.’
‘We can supply you with an escort to the borders of the Luachra territory,’ offered Conrí, and Cúana immediately agreed.
Fidelma said politely, ‘Thank you, but there is no need. We will not be long in their territory for we have already been away from Cashel too long. You forget that when I left, my brother was barely surviving his wound. I need to return as soon as possible.’