The Devil's Seal Read Online Free PDF

hoping you could enlighten us on before this delegation arrives,’ sighed Abbot Ségdae.
    ‘I can only tell you what I know. What did you say were the names of the other members of the delegation?’
    ‘There is this Roman cleric named Verax,’ offered the abbot.
    ‘The name is common enough among clerics,’ Eadulf shrugged. ‘It means “the truthful one”.’
    ‘And, of course, this Brother Cerdic.’
    ‘Well, it does sound as if Cerdic comes from Magonsaete,’ mused Eadulf. Then, seeing their baffled looks, he told them: ‘Cerdic comes originally from a name popular among Britons – Ceretic. With the mixture of Britons and Angles in Magonsaete, it is not unusual to see such a name. It is now adopted by the Angles.’
    ‘So it seems that we can do nothing except wait for the arrival of this deputation before we can discover their intention,’ commented Colgú.
    And then, to Eadulf’s surprise, Colgú suddenly grinned. It was the mischievous smile that he shared with his sister when a humorous thought came to his mind. ‘Unless, Abbot Ségdae, you want to consult with Deogaire?’
    Abbot Ségdae’s brow gathered in an angry frown before he saw the smile on the King’s lips.
    ‘I certainly do not,’ he replied tightly.
    ‘Excuse me?’ asked Eadulf. ‘Who is Deogaire?’
    ‘A person to avoid,’ snapped Abbot Ségdae. ‘Especially with your prejudice against Sliabh Luachra.’
    ‘I referred to Deogaire of Sliabh Luachra,’ Colgú explained. ‘Unfortunately, if we did not have concerns enough, he has chosen this time to make one of his infrequent visits to Cashel. He claims to have a gift of prophecy.’
    It was only a short time before that Eadulf had found himself on the borders of Sliabh Luachra, the territory of the Luachair Deaghaidh, and witnessed the killing of their chieftain, Fidaig, by the chieftain’s own son! Eadulf suppressed a shiver, remembering the forbidding mountains that made the territory a fortress against outsiders. It was a grim and frightening land.
    ‘This Deogaire,’ Eadulf went on after a moment or two, ‘is he of the chieftain’s family? Why would
he
be able to answer your questions?’
    It was Abbot Ségdae who responded. ‘It is the King’s humour. Deogaire is a wild man, a man of the hills and mountains. As the King says, Deogaire claims to be able to foretell the future; he calls himself a wizard, a soothsayer. Every so often, he comes out of his mountain fastness and sells his prophecies to the gullible – credulous people who do not trust the Faith.’
    ‘Deogaire has a talent for creating arguments, especially among the brethren,’ added Colgú.
    ‘Then why is he allowed in the palace?’
    Colgú sighed. ‘It is hard to refuse him. He is the nephew of old Brother Conchobhar; the son of his sister.’
    There was little need to explain further because Eadulf knew that Brother Conchobhar was the physician and apothecary who had tended and been mentor to both Colgú and Fidelma since childhood. Even before they were born, he had served their father Failbhe Flann. If there was one person in Cashel that Eadulf had come to trust implicitly, it was this bright-eyed old man.
    However, Colgú was moving on. ‘Eadulf, I will want you to attend this coming council as my adviser, for you will be valuable in that role.’
    ‘Surely Fidelma will make a better adviser?’ he protested.
    Colgú shook his head. ‘You are from the land of these people; you know their language and the way their minds work. I need that knowledge. As for Fidelma, Aillín is my Chief Brehon and it will be his role to advise on legal matters as it is Abbot Ségdae’s role to advise on matters of the Faith.’
    ‘Speaking of which,’ intervened the abbot, ‘I was surprised to learn that Brother Cerdic insisted on visiting Abbess Líoch of Cill Náile and suggesting it was in her interests to attend here.’
    ‘I recall that the abbess is an old friend of Fidelma,’ Eadulf said. ‘Now I