‘What was her name? Do you remember that?’
‘Oh yes, her name I do remember. It was Liamuin. I think she had been newly widowed, but she had come here under Menma’s protection. Menma was a bó-aire, a cow lord, and influential in these parts.’
‘And this warrior from Cashel, you say that he fell in love with her?’
‘Pretended to be in love with her,’ she corrected. ‘Liamuin certainly fell in love with his deceitful looks and lying tongue.’
‘Very well. What then?’
‘On the day it happened, Menma and his sons were shearing some sheep. Menma’s wife was preparing the meal with Comnait, a young girl serving the household. Liamuin was outside with the muide churning the butter.’
Seeing that Eadulf looked puzzled, Fidelma quickly explained: ‘A muide is a small hand-churn.’ The popular word that Eadulf knew was a cuinneóg but this seemed to be a local term known to Fidelma.
Suanach had not noticed the interruption for she was continuing. ‘I had gone down to the boundary wall to look after the pigs and was—’
‘And did you say that the warrior with the golden collar was not here?’ interrupted Fidelma.
‘He was not. He was in the habit of leaving every few days. He would vanish on his horse and then return. I suppose he went to meet with his men who were encamped elsewhere in the territory.’
‘So, what happened?’
‘Everything was peaceful that morning and then … Then he appeared with a dozen of his men. They jumped their horses across the border fence and made straight for Menma and his sons. They struck them down with their swords. Burning torches were flung into the house. I saw Liamuin, her black hair flashing in the flames. She grabbed a sickle and rushed to defend Menma’s wife and little Comnait. She actually wounded the leader of the attack – yes, her former lover with the golden collar.’
‘You say that she wounded him?’
‘Yes. I saw him drop his sword as blood gushed from his hand. Then two of his men released their arrows and shot her down.’
‘And what of Menma’s wife and Comnait?’ asked Eadulf.
‘Both cut down. God forgive me, I turned and fled. I heard one of the warriors riding after me. I was trying to run into the forest to hide, but before I got there I felt a blow on the back of my head and everything went dark. I don’t really remember any more. I am told that I was over a week in fever until I came to my senses in the cabin of Flannait and her man. Cadan and his son had found me and taken me there. May they be blessed. They managed to get the local apothecary to come and tend me. It was from Lachtine that I learned that everyone had been killed and the rath burned to a cinder.’
‘Lachtine!’ exclaimed Eadulf, glancing excitedly at Fidelma.
‘He was the apothecary here. He waived his fees for he had also been in love with Liamuin. Of course, he was not alone in that. She was that sort of woman – men fell easily in love with her. God’s curse that she fell in love with the Eóghanacht warrior!’
‘You said Lachtine was the apothecary here?’ Fidelma picked up on the tense.
‘He left some time later. I do not know where he went.’
‘And you say that the attackers were led by this warrior wearing a golden collar, the one whose name you cannot remember?’
‘That is correct.’
‘And you recognised him – face to face?’
‘Not exactly – I was some distance away.’
‘How did you recognise him then?’
‘He wore a golden collar.’
Fidelma breathed out softly. ‘So you recognised him simply because he wore a golden collar at his neck. Was there anything else?’
‘I know he had a stag rampant on his shield. It was picked out with jewels.’
Fidelma started, a hand came up to her throat. ‘A stag rampant with jewels?’ she repeated faintly. ‘Do you know what that symbolises?’
‘No. I know nothing of shield emblems, nor do I wish to. I only know that he wore the hated symbol of the golden collar.’
Fidelma paused for a moment to collect herself before asking: ‘Did Liamuin, so far as you saw, make any form of recognition as she swung at him with the sickle?’
Suanach frowned and shook her head. ‘I was too far away to see what was on her face.’
‘Why would this attack have taken place? Do you know of any reason why this warrior, having lived with Menma for so long, would suddenly turn and order his men to attack and destroy the rath and its people?’ demanded Eadulf.
‘It is not for me to give reasons. I only know what happened that day and will forever bear the scar.’