Atonement of Blood(82)

‘Of course, lady,’ Conrí replied. ‘We would hope that, should the worst happen, it will be understood that whoever the assassin was, it was not a member of the Uí Fidgente loyal to Prince Donennach.’

‘We know how the Uí Fidgente are regarded in some parts of this kingdom,’ Cúana added. ‘And perhaps this assassin tried to mislead you, making it seem that it was an Uí Fidgente plot while it was something that arose closer to home.’

‘Closer to home?’ Eadulf was puzzled.

‘Why not?’ Cúana replied with a thin smile. ‘The Eóghanacht Áíne dwell on our eastern borders. Isn’t Colgú’s heir apparent Finguine of that same clan?’

Fidelma remained surprisingly calm in the face of his outrageous suggestion. ‘You have made an interesting point and I shall bear that in mind,’ she replied coolly.

Gormán and Eadulf exchanged a look, for both of them knew that Finguine was greatly trusted at Cashel and had frequently shown himself to be a very worthy heir apparent to Colgú.

Fidelma suddenly smothered a yawn. ‘Well, it has been a long day today and it may be an even longer one tomorrow. If we are to leave in the morning, then we should be a-bed now.’

She rose and they followed suit. Eadulf and Gormán declined an invitation to continue to sit longer before the fire and thus left the others in the feasting hall with jugs of corma and ale.

Outside, Fidelma grimaced in disapproval. ‘We shall be well away from here before they are stirring,’ she said. ‘Perhaps that is good.’ She turned to Gormán. ‘Are you comfortable for the night?’

The young warrior grinned. ‘I have had worse accommodation, lady. I have a good cot in a corner of the laochtech.’

‘Then I want you to have our horses ready in the courtyard just before first light.’

‘Very well, lady. Anything else?’

‘For the time being, nothing. There is something that troubles me about Cúana. So have a care and sleep with one eye open.’

Gormán raised a hand to his forehead before turning towards the laochtech – the House of Heroes where the warriors slept.

As Fidelma and Eadulf made their way to the guest chamber, Fidelma saw that Eadulf was about to speak and quickly placed a finger on her lips, indicating that she felt it better to reach their chamber first.

Once inside, Eadulf said with a frown, ‘I am missing something here.’

‘I am afraid that we are both missing something – but I am not sure what,’ Fidelma replied, sitting down on the bed, her brow furrowed in thought.

‘The girl said that Escmug had a relative who ran a cornmill nearby. That would surely be known to Cúana, yet he denied knowledge of such a relative. A cornmill and its owner is not of insignificance in this sort of community.’

‘Well observed, Eadulf. So what was Cúana’s reason?’

‘That he did not want us to know?’

‘But why? That is the more important question.’

‘And that is also the mystery.’

‘There is a conspiracy here, but what is it? It is strange that Cúana attempted to place suspicion on Finguine. He may be my brother’s heir apparent but he has demonstrated himself to be trustworthy many times. When Colgú was about to be betrayed by his then heir apparent, Donndubháin, it was Finguine who helped save the day and that was why he was elected tánaiste instead. Since then he has been loyal. Look how he dealt with the recent Osraige conspiracy.’

‘However, you could ask how long Donndubháin was loyal to your brother as former heir apparent before he decided that he wanted to become King.’ Eadulf felt he should play the devil’s advocate.

‘That is true,’ agreed Fidelma quietly. ‘Do not worry, Eadulf. I am not totally blind to treachery. But I cannot find any motive for our cousin Finguine to be involved in a conspiracy. The other credible motive would be jealousy, and jealousy is not in Finguine’s nature. He is quite happy being my brother’s administrator. He enjoys ensuring that the nobles pay their tribute, that the chieftains fulfil their obligations by taking care of the roads, the hostels and the hospitals. He is happy seeing that no one wants in any part of the kingdom. This, of course, may present a reason for enmity against him rather than from him.’

They were silent for a moment or two and then Eadulf said, ‘Nevertheless, there is something going on that is dark and mysterious.’

‘I agree and I am not abandoning the search for answers to the question. I merely think that it is time to part company with Conrí and Socht. That is why I am pretending to go directly to Fidaig’s territory, before returning to Cashel.’