The second death, p.34
The Second Death,
p.34
‘So it was no great mystery,’ Colgú remarked, hiding a humorous smile. ‘It was simply a matter of commonsense.’ Fidelma swung round, a touch of fire flickering in her eyes, before she realised that her brother was being ironic.
Brehon Fíthel, however, was serious. ‘What you have discovered is a repulsive story of religious fanaticism.’ The man shifted his weight and peered around at the prisoners. ‘Two centuries ago, a New Faith came to this land. Many found it an alien creed. Others merged it in with the old ideas and values. But in that interval, between the decaying and disappearance of the Old Faith and the formation and establishment of the New Faith, there was always a period of danger. Some people would become uncertain; others confused or even frightened. Emerging on both sides, there could be a wild fanaticism as each tried to protect their own beliefs. Unfortunately, claiming one deity as an ally for partisan values leads to the worst fanaticism of all. It is a step towards barbarism which destroys our humanity.’
There was a silence while the Chief Brehon continued to gaze towards the prisoners.
‘Certainly the case seems clear to me now. Failge, one-time steward of Cill Cainnech, will be handed over to the care of Abbot Ségéne, as Chief Bishop of Muman, until the punishments are decided. I believe Failge took sacred vows to one faith while holding allegiance to another.
‘The two men Duach and Cellaig seem willing to sell themselves to whoever will pay them. I shall ask King Colgú for permission to take a company of the Nasc Niadh to Cill Cainnech and the two prisoners will come with us to help identify any remains of these vermin called the Fellowship of the Raven. You have told us there are some at the fortress and farmstead of Coileach. I am sure that Duach and Cellaig will be most willing to do this for a promise that they will face lesser sentences than the ones they deserve.
‘As for the woman who calls herself Dar Badh, this evil and twisted creature must be taken to a secure place where she can do no harm.’
‘One point more,’ Fidelma spoke up. ‘What of the Golden Stone? As you know, we have brought it for safekeeping to Cashel. It was taken to Osraige nearly a hundred years ago from Cairpre Gabra when the Druids retreated to what became Cill Cainnech. Is it the property of Osraige, who now pay tribute to Cashel, or is it the right of Cashel to hold it? Or is there a third choice?’
‘The law would say that it is now up to the King of Muman to dispose of it,’ Brehon Fíthel answered. ‘He is overlord of Osraige.’
Colgú sat back thoughtfully for a few moments. ‘The one thing we must ensure is that it is never used by fanatics again. That was the purpose for which the two young people came from the Abbey of Clochar to retrieve it for their Abbot.’ He turned towards Cerball, Lord of Cairpre Gabra. ‘Come and stand before me, Cerball.’
The Lord of Cairpre Gabra rose hesitantly and came to stand before Colgú.
‘My decision is that the stone be handed over to you, that you may transport it back to the place of its rightful origin so that it may be sanctified once again to stand in the gateway of the abbey at Clochar,’ said Colgú. ‘To stand there so that people of the New Faith shall see it as merely a symbol of our ancient history and of a new hope for our future under the guidance of the New Faith.’
The Lord of Cairpre Gabra bent his knee before Colgú in traditional respect. ‘It will stand as a memorial to the wisdom of Cashel and the talent of the King’s sister,’ he averred.
‘Better still,’ Fidelma suggested gravely, ‘may it remind people of the sacrifice of two young people – Ultan and Ultana – who gave their lives and that of their unborn child to stop such fanaticism.’
There was a pause and then Brehon Fíthel was rising. ‘I think the business of this court is now completed.’
‘What about judgement for Ríonach?’ It was Enda who called out, causing everyone to turn in surprise.
Brehon Fíthel was astonished, for the warrior had no authority to address the court once the Chief Brehon had risen. A look of annoyance was forming on his features. Fidelma took a quick step forward.
‘Enda means the girl Ríonach whose case I mentioned to you last night,’ she explained hurriedly. ‘Perhaps now is a good time to clarify her situation?’
‘Is the girl here?’ the Brehon demanded.
Fidelma motioned for the nervous young woman to come forward. Enda approached to stand at her side.
Brehon Fíthel gazed sternly at her.
‘It is claimed that you killed your husband. Is that so? Do you plead guilty to the charge?’
The girl lowered her head unhappily. ‘Yes, I killed him,’ she admitted in a faint voice.
‘There are mitigating circumstances,’ Eadulf intervened, moving forward to join them.
‘I have been made aware of them,’ replied Brehon Fíthel coldly. ‘Nevertheless the girl killed her husband and therefore there is a penalty. There is no action without consequence. Even in your circumstances, Ríonach, the law is clear.’
The girl visibly tensed as several moments of silence passed before the Chief Brehon continued.
‘The evidence is that you were treated unlawfully, firstly by your father in forcing you to marry for mercenary purposes. Then you were unlawfully treated by your husband, Rechtabra. Had you been able to make a complaint before a Brehon, such as Ruán, he would have ordered the return of your full coibche, your dowry, a smacht fine and an eric fine, and you would have had the choice of divorcing or separating. Is that not so, Brehon Ruán?’
He had looked for confirmation to the elderly Brehon who had now also come forward. ‘That is so,’ he confirmed. ‘But the girl was prevented from doing so.’
‘She continued to be abused,’ Eadulf added stoutly. ‘It was to protect me, as well as in self-defence against the loss of her own life, that she killed Rechtabra. The man was hardly better than a beast. He was one of those who did the killing for this Fellowship of the Raven.’
Brehon Fíthel addressed Eadulf reprovingly. ‘I did not ask you to provide evidence, Eadulf of Seaxmund’s Ham.’ Then: ‘In balancing the two matters, you, Ríonach, must pay a body fine of twelve screpalls. But you will be allowed to keep the farm, livestock and all other goods as constituting your husband’s fine and penalties for his treatment to you.’
‘But I don’t want them,’ blurted out the girl.
The Chief Brehon smiled grimly. ‘Then I am sure you will find someone who will purchase the farmstead from you.’
‘Meanwhile, Ríonach’s fine will be paid by me,’ Fidelma said. ‘I am sure the farmstead will be easily disposed of.’
‘Then the matter is dismissed,’ announced the Chief Brehon. ‘And that, I hope, finally concludes the business of this court.’
Enda turned to the girl with a broad smile. ‘Come, we’ll go and discuss how best we may dispose of your farmstead, since you no longer want to return to it. And, of course, we must find a way of compensating that shepherd and his son. From what Eadulf tells me, things might have turned out very differently, without their intervention.’
Fidelma and Eadulf exchanged a knowing smile as they watched the warrior and the girl leave the council chamber. ‘I hope Enda also likes highly strung little terriers,’ Eadulf remarked, and they both laughed.
Also by Peter Tremayne
Absolution by Murder
Shroud for the Archbishop
Suffer Little Children
The Subtle Serpent
The Spider’s Web
Valley of the Shadow
The Monk Who Vanished
Act of Mercy
Hemlock at Vespers
Our Lady of Darkness
Smoke in the Wind
The Haunted Abbot
Badger’s Moon
Whispers of the Dead
The Leper’s Bell
Master of Souls
A Prayer for the Damned
Dancing with Demons
The Council of the Cursed
The Dove of Death
The Chalice of Blood
Behold a Pale Horse
The Seventh Trumpet
Atonement of Blood
The Devil’s Seal
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PETER TREMAYNE is a pseudonym of Peter Berresford Ellis, a renowned scholar who has written extensively on the ancient Celts and the Irish. As Tremayne, he is best known for his stories and novels featuring Fidelma of Cashel, beginning with Absolution by Murder. He lives in London. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraph
Principal Characters
Map
Author’s Note
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Also by Peter Tremayne
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE SECOND DEATH. Copyright © 2015 by Peter Tremayne. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
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First published in Great Britain by Headline Publishing Group, an Hachette UK company
First U.S. Edition: July 2016
eISBN 9781250081773
First eBook edition: July 2016
Peter Tremayne, The Second Death
