The Leper's Bell Read Online Free PDF

died?’ asked Eadulf.
    ‘Not then. Only that there was blood about the head.’
    ‘What did you do then?’ demanded Brehon Dathal.
    ‘I ran to raise the alarm. I went directly to the house of Capa. I knew he was husband to Gobnat, Sárait’s sister. Capa ordered his wife to remain in the cabin while he came with me, and along the way we saw someone making their way to the palace so Capa told him to raise the guard there.Capa and I carried the body back to his cabin. It was in the light of the cabin that we saw that the head had been battered and there were some stab wounds in the chest. Later, when Caol and his guards arrived, we heard that Sárait had left the fortress with the baby, Alchú. We returned to the woods and searched but there was no sign of the child.’
    Capa was nodding slowly in agreement.
    This is true,’ he intervened. ‘I had no idea about the missing baby until Caol told me. Some neighbours, who had heard the commotion, joined us. It was clear that Sárait had not been killed by wild woodland animals, which is what we first thought when Conchoille told us that he had found her body. As he said, we went back to the spot and searched by lantern light but there was no sign of the baby. We searched again at first light but once more there was nothing to be found. Men were despatched the next day to spread the word, riding east to Gabrán, south to Lios Mhór, west to Cnoc Loinge and north to Durlas.’
    Brother Eadulf had been sitting, head forward, listening to the evidence that he had already heard in emotional exchanges with Fidelma during the last two days. But now he felt more detached, as if he were hearing the facts for the first time. A thought occurred to him.
    ‘Conchoille, you have said that you were working to the south of the township?’
    ‘I did.’
    ‘And you came across Sárait’s body towards the edge of the woods, south of the township as you were returning to it?’
    ‘That is what I said.’
    Brother Eadulf rubbed his chin reflectively.
    ‘What is it, Eadulf?’ queried Colgú.
    ‘I can confirm that Conchoille led us to a spot on the track south of the township,’ Capa put in, looking curiously at the Saxon.
    ‘We seem to be overlooking a curious puzzle here,’ Eadulf said slowly.
    ‘I don’t see—’ began Brehon Dathal officiously.
    ‘This fortress stands to the north of the township, correct? You leave the gateway, as Sárait did with the baby, and walk down along the track which leads to the township, and she was found south of the township on the track beyond?’
    Brehon Dathal exhaled impatiently. ‘What is your point?’
    It was Finguine, the tanist, who had said nothing so far in the council, who spoke. His voice was tinged with bewilderment.
    ‘I understand the point. Sárait had been summoned urgently to her sister, Gobnat. Gobnat lives in the township.’
    ‘But Gobnat said she had not summoned her,’ Brehon Dathal pointed out.
    True. But Sárait did not know that. Why, then, did she go through the township to be found murdered beyond it in the woods? Why take the child so far? What persuaded her to go past her sister’s house?’
    There was a silence. Then Brehon Dathal smiled as if explaining to an idiot.
    ‘She must either have been forced to do so or she knew the message did not come from her sister.’
    Eadulf leant forward quickly. ‘Are we saying that Sárait told a lie to the guard? That she was really going to some other assignation?’
    ‘Summon the woman Gobnat again,’ ordered Brehon Dathal while they were considering the point.
    ‘Have you done with me, my lords?’ queried Conchoille. He had been waiting patiently during this discussion.
    ‘You may wait outside,’ Colgú told him absently.
    Gobnat was ushered back into the chamber.
    ‘We have a puzzle that you may help us with,’ Brehon Dathal began. ‘You say that you did not summon your sister to your house?’
    ‘That is so, lord.’ She nodded quickly.
    ‘And did you see