‘Time? Opportunity? And isn’t there a saying that vengeance is a dish best served cold?’ offered Gormán.
‘This is true,’ Fidelma conceded. ‘But there are many things that concern me about this explanation. Suanach did not know who this warrior was. She merely described his gold torque and then the emblem on the shield of the attacker. I have never known my brother to lie. He claimed that the name Liamuin meant nothing to him. If he had stayed at Menma’s rath for the time it was said, he must have been known. His warriors had just defeated the Uí Fidgente. What was he doing here? How could he have stayed here long enough to have an affair with Liamuin? And then what purpose would have been served by this massacre?’
‘All good questions,’ Eadulf replied thoughtfully.
‘Better if we had answers,’ muttered Gormán.
‘And that is why we are going back to Flannait’s farmstead,’ Fidelma said.
‘And there is another question to be answered,’ added Eadulf. ‘Lachtine was the name of the local apothecary who attended Suanach, and he too was in love with Liamuin. He bore the same name as the apothecary at the Ford of Oaks. Is this a coincidence, or was he the same man and is there a connection?’
‘I have not forgotten,’ Fidelma replied. Then she indicated the farm buildings that spread before them on the lower slope of the hill. ‘Let us hope we shall now learn more from Flannait.’
As they approached Flannait’s farmstead, a swarthy man, of medium stature, was emerging from the cabin. Ice-blue eyes stared out from a face that wore an expression of curiosity mixed with anxiety. He called something over his shoulder and was joined in a moment by the woman Flannait, who said something hurriedly to him before coming forward to greet them. This time Fidelma slid from her horse.
‘Well, dálaigh, did you find Suanach?’
‘We did,’ Fidelma replied. The others dismounted and Eadulf joined her while Gormán secured the horses to a nearby wooden fence. The swarthy man had taken his place beside Flannait.
‘This is my man,’ muttered the woman by way of introduction.
‘My name is Cadan, lady,’ he introduced himself. ‘How may we serve you?’
Fidelma smiled reassuringly. ‘Just a few questions more. I understand that after the attack took place on Menma’s rath, you and your son were the first to arrive there and that you managed to rescue Suanach?’
The farmer shifted his weight from one foot to the other and bobbed his head in acknowledgement. His hands were clenching and unclenching at his sides in his nervousness.
‘That is right, lady. We brought her back here.’
‘I understand. Can you tell me any reason why Menma’s rath should have been burned?’
The man raised his shoulder expressively. ‘It was an Eóghanacht attack,’ he said, as if that should explain everything.
‘So I am told. But why was only Menma attacked? It makes no sense.’
‘Menma was a bó-aire. He had the biggest and richest farmstead,’ Flannait said almost defensively. ‘I suppose they attacked it for those reasons – or because of Menma’s rank.’
‘Did they sack it or carry off anything?’ demanded Fidelma.
‘Nothing was taken as far as we could see,’ replied the farmer.
‘Then there was no question of it being done for profit or gain,’ Eadulf decided. ‘It was a case of simple destruction. People killed, the place torched.’
‘Who knows the reason? It was done by the man who stayed there. The Eóghanacht warrior.’
‘I need to know more about this man,’ Fidelma said. ‘Can you tell me anything at all about him?’
‘It was long ago.’
Fidelma looked round. ‘You said your son was with you. Perhaps he might remember something?’
Cadan and Flannait looked uncomfortable.
‘Maolán? He is no longer with us, lady,’ Cadan said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Soon after the attack he left us to join the religious. He was very …’ the man chose his words carefully, ‘very sweet on the woman who was staying with Menma.’
‘Liamuin?’
‘That was her name. He took her death very badly.’
‘But she was in love with the warrior who stayed with them?’
‘So she was. But Maolán had his hopes. So did others, like our local apothecary, Lachtine. He also left us not long after. Liamuin was an attractive woman and she had plenty of admirers. We tried to persuade our son not to leave us. We have no other children. Who will look after us when the winter of our days comes upon us, which must surely be soon?’