Free Chalice of Blood by Peter Tremayne Page A

lads.’
    ‘I came here when our blessed founder, Carthach, whom we lovingly refer to by the pet name of Mo-Chuada, was still alive. He died in the very same year as your own father, King Failbe Flann. Sadly, you did not know either of them, Fidelma.’
    A momentary melancholy crossed Fidelma’s features. ‘I was a babe in arms when my father died,’ she replied quietly. She had often expressed regret that she had never known her father
and barely remembered her mother who had also died when she was young.
    ‘Your father and the Blessed Carthach were good friends. When the Uí Néill drove Carthach and his community out of Raithean, they fled south here to the Kingdom of Muman. Your father offered Carthach lands near Cashel to set up a new community but that holy man had a vision to come to this place, for he had passed through this country some years before. Did you know that Carthach actually healed your father of an ailment in his eye?’
    Fidelma looked surprised. ‘I have not heard that story.’
    ‘Your father was distressed, for the King of Laighin was hard pressed by a revolt led by a distant relative, Crimthann mac Aedo Díbchíne, who had gathered support to challenge him for the kingship. King Failbe had concluded a treaty of friendship with King Fáelán, son of Colmán of Laighin. He promised that he would lead his warriors to assist him in times of crisis. Your father’s ailment caused him to be blind in one eye. To his anguish this meant he could not lead his warriors into battle. The Blessed Carthach treated him and cured the disease in his eye. Your father and his warriors joined Fáelán’s army, together with those of Conall, lord of Clann Cholmai, whose sister was married to Fáelán. They defeated Crimthann and his rebels at the Ford of the Smith, Áth Goain, on the River Lifé.’
    Fidelma smiled sadly. ‘I knew of the victory of Áth Goain. It is a story told by the bards of my family. But I did not know of Carthach’s intercession with my father.’
    ‘It happened four years before your birth, the death of your father and the death of the Blessed Carthach all occurred in that one fateful year. It was just before those events that I heard that Mo-Chuada, the Blessed Carthach, had been offered this land by Maolochtair of the Déisi, and I came and joined him. Carthach was a great man, a great educator.’

    ‘But you say he died in the same year as my father. Is that when you became abbot?’
    Abbot Iarnla chuckled with a shake of his head. ‘Bless you, child, I was still a young man. I could not have risen to such a height as abbot. Mo-Chuada’s maternal uncle, Cuanan, became abbot here. He died twenty years ago. That was when I took over.’
    ‘So there is little about the community here that you do not know,’ Fidelma said seriously.
    ‘I admit to the sin of pride in that,’ confirmed the abbot.
    ‘Then perhaps you can answer a question that has puzzled me. Is it usual in this community for a member to have a key to their cubiculum and to lock it?’
    The abbot shook his head immediately. ‘It is not usual but there are exceptions.’
    ‘So Brother Donnchad was an exception? Why was that?’
    There was some hesitation before Abbot Iarnla replied. He requested a key because he had returned from his pilgrimage to the Holy Land with some relics that he wished to keep safe.’
    Fidelma’s brow furrowed as she considered his reply. ‘You mean that he was worried there might be thieves among your brethren?’
    ‘That is an insult to our community,’ intervened Brother Lugna, whose cheeks had coloured.
    ‘It is not I who am insulting them,’ Fidelma pointed out. ‘What other interpretation can be placed on why Brother Donnchad wanted a key to lock his cell?’
    Brother Lugna’s mouth closed firmly. Abbot Iarnla was also silent for a moment while he seemed to consider the answer.
    Fidelma looked from one to the other. Then she insisted softly, ‘How can I investigate this matter