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hand in blessing. ‘To the end of the road – peace and safety.’

Chapter Three
    In the flagged courtyard of the abbey, they found the young man, Archú, with the girl who had been with him in the chapel. They were waiting impatiently, seated in the shade of the cloisters. Nearby two horses stood already saddled. Archú stood up and approached Sister Fidelma as she appeared. He still reminded her of an eager puppy awaiting his master’s pleasure.
    ‘I am told that you need a guide to take you to the land of Araglin, sister. I am pleased to be able to offer my service to you since you have restored my land and my honour.’
    Fidelma shook her head, restraining a smile at his youthful dignity.
    ‘I have told you before, the law was the only arbiter in that matter. You owe no debt to me.’
    She turned as the young girl now approached, eyes down cast. She was attractive, slim and fair-haired and Fidelma estimated that she was no more than sixteen years of age.
    Archú introduced her with a self-conscious air.
    ‘This is Scoth. Now that I have my land, we are to be married. I shall ask our priest, Father Gormán, to arrange it as soon as we get home.’
    The young girl blushed happily.
    ‘Even had the judgment gone against you, I would still have married you,’ she rebuked him gently. She turned to Fidelma. ‘That was why I followed Archú here. It would not have mattered to me which way your judgment went. Truly it would not.’
    Fidelma regarded the young girl gravely.
    ‘But it is just as well, Scoth, that the judgment went well. Now
you are to marry an ocáire and not a landless man.’
    In turn, Fidelma introduced Brother Eadulf to them. One of the brothers had been packing food and drink for the journey into the saddle bags of the horses and now came forward leading the two mounts by their bridles. She noticed that Archú and Scoth each carried a bundle and a blackthorn staff. She realised that there were no other horses in the courtyard and it was clear that they had no mounts, not even an ass to ride.
    Archú noticed her frown and correctly guessed what was passing through her mind.
    ‘We do not have horses, sister. There are horses on the farm in Araglin but, of course, I was not allowed to take them for the journey here. And my cousin, Muadnat,’ he hesitated and his pronunciation of the name was tinged with bitterness, ‘has already left with Agdae, his chief cowman. So we must return as we came … on foot.’
    Fidelma shook her head gently.
    ‘No matter,’ she replied cheerfully. ‘Our horses are strong mounts and you are but small extra weight. Scoth can ride behind me while you, Archú, can get up behind Brother Eadulf.’
    It was mid-afternoon when they turned through the large wooden gates of the monastery and walked the horses along a path by the broad river with the mountains rising immediately to the north of them.
    Archú, seated behind Eadulf, pointed across his shoulder.
    ‘Araglin lies up in those mountains,’ he called eagerly. ‘We will have to rest somewhere in their midst tonight but you will be in Araglin before midday tomorrow.’
    ‘Where were you planning to spent the night?’ asked Fidelma, as she turned her horse across the narrow wooden bridge which spanned the great river in the direction of the tall northern peaks.
    ‘Within a mile or so we’ll leave the northern road to Cashel and begin to ascend through hilly country towards the land of Araglin, along the west side of a small river that rises in those
mountains,’ replied Archú. ‘It is heavily wooded country. Along that path there is a tavern should you wish to spend the night there. We should reach there just before nightfall.’
    ‘Then the next day’s journey will be easy,’ chimed in the girl, Scoth, from behind Fidelma. ‘It will be but a few hours’ ride across the head of the great glen and down into the valley of Araglin which takes you straight to the rath of the chieftain of Araglin.’
    Brother