The Devil's Seal by Peter Tremayne Read Free Book Online Page B

and then, with a brief inclination of his head, turned and left.
    There was a palpable relaxation between them as the door closed behind him.
    ‘I swear that man is getting more irascible each passing week,’ muttered Colgú, surprising them by his comment. It was not protocol for a King to criticise his Chief Brehon to others.
    ‘He is your Chief Brehon,’ Fidelma pointed out gently.
    ‘Yet not by choice,’ her brother reminded her.
    It was true that Aillín had assumed the position by default when Áedo, the elected Chief Brehon of Muman, had been slain protecting King Colgú from an assassin only some months before. Aillín had been his Deputy only by reason of age and experience, and it had been felt, by the Council of Brehons, that he would soon retire and so being appointed Deputy Chief Brehon was a suitable acknowledgement for his service. Then Áedo had been killed. Aillín’s automatic appointment had been accepted in spite of his known prejudices, fastidious attitudes and pedantry. The delays caused by his concentration on unimportant details drove even Colgú to distraction.
    The King now turned to Eadulf. ‘Do you have any ideas – about Brother Cerdic’s death, I mean?’
    ‘Only that I agree with Fidelma’s suggestion of having a further word with Abbess Líoch. It seems the only logical path now. Obviously, there must have been someone here in the palace who knew him well enough to have the motive to kill him.’
    ‘Why do you say that? Couldn’t a stranger have done this – someone who had a grudge to bear against the man’s race, or way of keeping the Faith? Don’t forget, many of our churchmen and their followers have recently been chased out of the kingdoms of the Angles and Saxons after the decision at Streonshalh to follow the ways of Rome . . . Why, even some of the Angles and Saxons have sought liberty to follow their Faith by coming here – for example, Brother Berrihert and his companions who have settled in Eatharlach.’
    ‘A good point,’ agreed Eadulf. ‘But Brother Cerdic knew his attacker. I don’t think it was random.’
    ‘What is your reason for saying so?’ queried Colgú.
    ‘Because Brother Cerdic was not suspicious of his attacker. He allowed whoever it was to come close enough in order to inflict those two mortal wounds. The victim did not suspect what was going to happen. He died without a sound or protest.’
    ‘That’s a reasonable deduction,’ Fidelma commented.
    Colgú suppressed a sigh. ‘Then follow your thoughts by all means. It would be good if we could resolve this matter before Bishop Arwald and his companions arrive. I do not want other distractions clouding whatever is behind the reason of their coming.’
    ‘We’ll do our best to resolve things. Don’t worry,’ Eadulf replied, rising.
    Fidelma rose with Eadulf and moved towards the door. She was opening it when Colgú called after them: ‘
Post equitem sedet atra cura
.’
    Outside, Eadulf said: ‘I didn’t catch the meaning of that.’
    ‘It was from an ode by Horace,’ Fidelma explained with a brief smile. ‘Behind the horseman sits black care.’
    ‘Even a king is not free from worry,’ Eadulf re-interpreted philosophically. ‘I must confess, there seems much to concern him.’
    They collected their horses from the stables, rode across the courtyard and approached the main gates. The commander of the guard, a warrior called Luan, greeted them with a respectful salute.
    ‘We are just going into the township, Luan,’ Fidelma said. ‘If anyone enquires, we shall not be long.’
    ‘Where will you be, lady?’
    ‘We are going to find the lodgings of Abbess Líoch.’
    ‘But you have just missed her, lady.’
    Fidelma exchanged a quick glance of surprise with Eadulf. ‘What do you mean, just missed her?’ she asked.
    The warrior shrugged. ‘She and her companion have only just left the palace. Why, you will overtake her on her way back to the township as they are both on