The Sting of Justice Read Online Free PDF Page B

that he packed it; with the position of the goods within his ship?’ Mara looked keenly at Sorley. Now was the time for a little subtle pressure, a covert hint that things might not go his way if he brought this case to court. In her experience this often helped to make warring parties resolve their differences. Lawyer Bodkin gave a nod.
    ‘He always delivered the goods safely before,’ said Sorley harshly, ‘I had no cause for complaint.’
    ‘Just so,’ returned Mara. ‘However, the law, our law, would say that sending goods by a sea is a perilous undertaking and you would, naturally, be aware of the risks. Do you feel that Cathal could have predicted this wave?’
    ‘That’s his business, not mine.’ Sorley was losing patience.
    ‘Surely,’ murmured Mara, ‘but the question is would you be willing to wait until the tides are lower and his son can make another attempt to retrieve the box of silver?’
    ‘Lawyer Bodkin, what have you to say?’ asked Sorley, turning his head.
    ‘I think,’ said the lawyer speaking slowly and carefully, ‘that everything I’ve heard so far makes excellent sense in both English and Brehon law. This case would not come
under the jurisdiction of the Galway court as the goods were lost in the sea adjacent to the Burren and the two people concerned are both inhabitants of the Burren. However, since I am here I will give my advice and that would be to wait and see what the lower tides will reveal.’ He smiled imperturbably into the silver merchant’s angry face.
    ‘I’ll wait no longer,’ said Sorley harshly. ‘I want the value of that silver and I want it now.’
    ‘In that case,’ said Mara regretfully, ‘this is a case that I must deal with at Poulnabrone in front of the people of the kingdom. Shall we appoint Saturday 16 November for the hearing? I would advise both to bring witnesses and this will give you time to find those witnesses. I will send my farm manager to see Cathal and to tell him that he will need to find someone who is expert in tides and sea voyages, and Sorley, you will need to find someone who will testify as to the value of the silver.’
    ‘Easily done,’ said Sorley, sitting down again. ‘In fact, if anything I may have underestimated the value of the goods.’ He smiled the smile of a fat man, his eyes almost disappearing into the mounds of flesh. No doubt, he was running through a mental list of silver merchants who would be happy to oblige him.
    ‘And now, I think I must leave you,’ murmured Mara rising to her feet. ‘I have a busy day tomorrow and will have to rise early. She looked towards Turlough; he had to be back in Thomond that night, but they would ride home together.
    ‘Daire will show you downstairs and make sure that your horse is ready, Brehon,’ said Sorley ringing a silver bell with alacrity. ‘My lord,’ he turned to Turlough, ‘there
is just one more little piece of business that I must detain you with. He will be down instantly, Brehon.’
     
     
    ‘Daire, why are you still an apprentice? Haven’t you served the full seven years?’ This matter had been puzzling Mara through the evening, and while they waited by the fire in the gatehouse she thought she would bring it up. She knew enough about English law to know that there were strict rules about the length of an apprenticeship.
    ‘I have served my seven years,’ said Daire bitterly, ‘but I can’t become a silversmith until my master says that I am sufficiently skilled.’
    ‘I see.’ It’s none of my business, thought Mara, and then instantly changed her mind. Injustice was her business. ‘You made that chess set, didn’t you?’ She eyed him keenly by the light of the pitch torch and he nodded reluctantly.
    ‘But he wants to retain you?’ This would suit with what she knew of Sorley’s character.
    ‘That and …’ Daire hesitated for a moment, his eyes on the doorway. ‘ … he wanted me to marry his daughter.’ The gatekeeper had gone across