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lead to problems.’
    ‘Fidelma and Eadulf have shown not only their love and devotion to one another over the years but they work so well together on mysteries that would have baffled many. I need hardly remind you how they helped me when Brother Mochta and the holy relics of the Blessed Ailbe disappeared and—’
    ‘If there is anyone more indebted to Fidelma, and to Eadulf, than myself, I have yet to meet with them,’ Abbot Ségdae interrupted heavily. ‘I am well aware of the debt I owe her. It is that indebtedness that makes me worried. If there is some problem
between them, of which this declaration is a manifestation, then I must do what I can to see if a resolution can be found.’
    ‘How will you do this?’
    ‘I shall consult the King again. We have heard worrying news from Abbot Iarnla of Lios Mór that might become a solution to this problem.’ He paused, and then smiled as if in relief at his decision. ‘Indeed, that is what I shall do.’
     
    Colgú, King of Muman, the most southwesterly and largest of the Five Kingdoms of Éireann, ran a hand through his crop of red hair and gazed at his sister with a troubled expression.
    ‘I don’t understand,’ he said. ‘Abbot Ségdae is well within his rights to ask you to explain why you wish to leave the religieuse.’
    ‘And I have answered him,’ snapped Fidelma, pausing as she paced up and down in front of her brother, who was seated in his private chamber. ‘He should accept my statement and not start prying into my private affairs.’
    ‘You gave him your reason but even you must admit that there has been much public speculation since you and Eadulf returned from the kingdom of the Bretons.’ He saw Fidelma’s lips thin and the fire come into her eyes, and rather than wait for the storm to erupt, he continued, ‘You know it is true. It is no wonder Abbot Ségdae questions why you have made this request now.’
    For a moment or two Fidelma seemed to be about to give vent to her anger but then abruptly she heaved a sigh and sank into a chair opposite her brother.
    ‘It has nothing to do with it,’ she said quietly. ‘At least, nothing directly to do with it.’
    Colgú was very fond of his fiery sister and he had been increasingly concerned during the past two weeks about her apparent separation from Eadulf. He had also grown fond of the Angle
from Seaxmund’s Ham. It saddened him to see an apparent rift in the relationship between his sister and Eadulf.
    ‘Can’t you tell me what the problem is?’ he asked softly.
    Fidelma made a motion of her shoulder, a half shrug, but said nothing.
    ‘Since our parents died when you were little, you would always confide your problems to me,’ pressed Colgú.
    ‘As far as I am concerned … ’ began Fidelma sharply. Then she halted, compressed her lips for a moment before continuing in a more reasonable tone. ‘If you must know, Eadulf wishes to pursue his life as a religieux. He has accepted many of the teachings of Rome and his idea, when we returned here, was to enter a community and settle. He no longer wanted to be involved in my pursuit of law. He wanted us to settle and raise little Alchú in the service of the Christ.’
    Colgú nodded thoughtfully. ‘He is set on that course?’
    ‘You know he has a good mind and yet he does not realise that he is not suited for a life of contemplation and piety. But he is stubborn. He will become bored with such a life, I know it.’
    ‘And it was over this disagreement of your opinions that he left you and went off to the community at the abbey of the Blessed Rúan?’
    ‘We argued,’ Fidelma agreed simply. ‘But I told him to go. Better he find out sooner than continue in resentment.’
    Her brother grimaced wryly. ‘You told him to go? An order to a man such as Eadulf …’ He left the comment unfinished.
    ‘You know as well as I do that it was our cousin Laisran who persuaded me to join the religious,’ she said. ‘I am not interested in