Atonement of Blood by Peter Tremayne Read Free Book Online Page B

lady,’ the young warrior reminded Fidelma.
    ‘I know it. He calls it Rathordan.’ Fidelma turned back to the girl. ‘So you were picked up by Ordan the merchant?’
    ‘He offered me a seat on his cart,’ affirmed the girl. ‘He would have offered me much more had I agreed to it. He was a pig of a man!’
    ‘When was this? When did he pick you up?’
    ‘About midnight.’
    ‘And why did he put you off here, on the western edge of the town at dawn?’
    ‘Because I made him do so.’
    ‘Why did you not want to go into the centre of town?’
    ‘Because I refused to share his bed, which was his intention. As soon as I saw the outskirts of the town, I demanded that he let me off his wagon. In fact, I had to jump from it.’
    Gormán was thinking carefully. ‘The road from the Ford of the Ass, which I presume must have been the ford Ordan crossed over the River Suir, runs by the far side of that field.’ He pointed to the north side of his mother’s paddock. ‘There is no other ford nearby, only the road across the bridge further to the north.’ He turned to the girl. ‘Are you trying to tell us that you came across the paddock and into this wood and found this hut purely by chance? Or did someone guide you here?’
    Aibell glowered at him. ‘I did not say that I had found my way here by chance.’
    ‘That is true,’ said Fidelma slowly. ‘Therefore we would be interested in knowing exactly how you came here.’
    ‘Simple enough. I was told the hut was here.’
    ‘By whom?’
    ‘By a man going early to the fields.’
    Fidelma tutted in exasperation. ‘A man who just happened to be passing in the darkness of early morning? Do you expect us to believe this?’
    ‘I do not expect anything. It is the truth.’
    ‘Why are you here, Aibell?’
    The girl laughed for the first time.
    ‘Why should I not be here?’ she countered.
    ‘What are you doing in Cashel?’ Fidelma insisted.
    ‘Because this is where I have stopped to rest. Had I been left in peace, I would have been elsewhere when the sun reached its zenith.’
    ‘Brother Lennán!’ It was Eadulf who suddenly rapped out the name. ‘What is he to you?’
    The girl regarded him for a moment in silence before she said, ‘I know no one of that name and am now tired of all these questions.’
    ‘As we are tired of asking them and receiving no convincing responses.’ Gormán was clearly irritable.
    ‘I can only respond as I see fit. Whether you accept my replies is no concern of mine.’
    ‘Oh, but it is,’ Fidelma said tightly. ‘I am afraid that you will have to come with us until we are satisfied that you are telling us the truth.’
    ‘Under what authority?’ challenged the girl, her truculent manner returning.
    ‘Under my authority as a
dálaigh
, under the authority of the Chief Brehon of this kingdom, under the authority of—’
    Aibell interrupted with a derisive snort. Fidelma wasted no more time on her. ‘Eadulf, help me carry the things that Gormán found in the hut. Gormán, take charge of this woman. We have stood long enough in this wood. Let’s go back to Della’s place, so that we can examine what you have found in more comfortable circumstances.’
    At once the girl started to protest but Gormán seized her right arm in a firm clasp.
    ‘By order of the King’s sister and a
dálaigh
of the courts, you are to accompany us until we are satisfied that you have given us a truthful account of yourself. There are two ways for you to accompany us – of your own free will or by force.’
    She glared up at him. ‘You wouldn’t dare use force!’ she said. But there was no conviction in her voice.
    ‘Oh, but I would,’ he replied grimly. ‘And don’t try to use your knife again, because this time you will get hurt.’
    They stared at each other for a moment before the girl recognised the determination in his fierce gaze and then tried to feign indifference. She fell in step beside Gormán, who kept his hand on the hilt of his