The Monk Who Vanished Read Online Free PDF Page B

Prince to the palace to have his wound tended?’ demanded Eadulf angrily. ‘Do not bother us with this matter until the more urgent task is complete.’
    ‘Hold your tongue, foreigner,’ snapped the warrior haughtily, ‘when I am speaking to my Prince.’
    Colgú, who had halted a short distance away, turned back, leaning on Donndubháin, his face distorting in annoyance now as well as pain.
    ‘Do not presume to give orders on the slopes of Cashel, where I rule!’ he grunted through clenched teeth.
    The Uí Fidgente warrior did not even blink. He deliberately kept his gaze on the pale, pain-racked face of Donennach of the Uí Fidgente, laying on the litter before him.
    ‘My lord, the matter is urgent.’
    Donennach raised himself on one elbow, in a pain equally shared with his host.
    ‘What is it that you wish me so urgently to see, Gionga?’
    The warrior named Gionga waved to one of his men, who had cut loose the two bodies. He dragged one over to the side of the litter.
    ‘These are the dogs who shot at you, my lord. Observe this one.’
    He held the man’s head up by the hair.
    Donennach leaned forward from the litter. There was a tightness at the corners of his mouth. ‘I do not recognise him,’ he grunted.
    ‘Nor should you, lord,’ replied Gionga. ‘But perhaps you will recognise the device that he wears about his neck.’
    Donennach looked hard and then he pursed his lips in a soundless whistle.
    ‘Colgú, what does this mean?’ he demanded, glancing to where Donndubhain had helped the King of Muman move forward to view the body.
    Painfully Colgú peered at the dead man. Fidelma and Eadulf stood with him. No one recognised the dead man but it was obvious what the cause of the concern was.

    The man was wearing the collar and emblem of the Order of the Golden Chain, the élite bodyguard of the Kings of Cashel.
    Donennach’s harsh tones suddenly rang out in agitation. ‘This is a strange hospitality which you observe, Colgú of Cashel. Your elite warriors have shot me. They have tried to kill me!’

Chapter Four
    There was a long silence after the Prince of the Uí Fidgente had made his accusation.
    It was Fidelma who finally broke the menacing stillness by inclining her head towards her brother who was standing with his face barely masking the pain of his wound.
    ‘If Colgú’s warriors shot and tried to kill you, Donennach, then they also tried to shoot down the King of Cashel.’
    Donennach’s keen dark eyes examined her searchingly.
    It was his chief warrior, Gionga, who articulated his unasked question.
    ‘Who are you, woman, who dares to speak in the presence of princes?’ His voice was still arrogant.
    Colgú answered quietly although his voice was tight in pain. ‘It is my sister, Fidelma, who speaks and has more right to do so than any in this company for she is a dálaigh of the courts as well as a religieuse. She is qualified to the degree of anruth.’
    Gionga’s eyes widened visibly, realising that only an ollamh , the highest degree ever bestowed by the secular and ecclesiastical colleges of Ireland, stood above an anruth.
    Donennach was not so outwardly impressed. Instead his eyes narrowed slightly.
    ‘So? You are Fidelma of Cashel? Sister Fidelma? Your reputation is known throughout the lands of the Uí Fidgente.’
    Fidelma returned his scrutiny with a grim smile.
    ‘Yes; I have been in the land of the Uí Fidgente - once. I was invited … to a poisoning there.’
    She made no further elaboration, knowing that Donennach knew well enough the details of the story.
    ‘My sister is right,’ intervened Colgú, coming back to the original point. ‘Any charge that my hand is behind this evil act is false!’
    Eadulf decided to take a hand again for he was worried about the wounds of the two men.
    ‘This is no time to discuss the matter. Both of you need your wounds
properly tended before infection sets in. Let us leave this discussion until a more appropriate time.’
    Colgú