Free Dancing With Demons by Peter Tremayne

King but also to establish Cashel as his great capital.

    ‘We would surely have heard some rumour of Ornait’s return if return she has,’ Abbot Colmán argued.
    ‘Anyway, these are just speculations,’ Fidelma summed up impatiently. ‘There is much to be talked of, but later with Cenn Faelad. Once we are refreshed, and start to gather all the facts, we can put our minds to this problem.’
    The abbot nodded and, turning to the bruden doors, he clapped his hands to attract attention.
    At once, they were opened and a tall, slim, dark-haired girl came forward to greet them. Her dark eyes seemed to have an angelic quality to them, or so Eadulf thought, and she had a ready smile. ‘Pretty’ was a word that came to his mind. She carried herself with a certain grace.
    ‘This is Báine,’ Abbot Colmán announced. ‘She will attend to your wants while you are staying in the guesthouse. There is no one else here at the moment and so I have presumed that you will want your escort,’ he nodded at Caol and Gormán, ‘to be on hand. There is room enough for all.’
    The girl Báine made a deferential move of her head towards Fidelma. ‘Water is heated, lady, and the dabach is filled ready.’
    The dabach was the wooden vat in which one bathed.
    ‘Good,’ Fidelma said. ‘Then I will seize the opportunity to bathe first.’
    Abbot Colmán made his excuses. ‘After you have refreshed yourselves,’ he said, ‘I will come for you and Brother Eadulf to escort you to see Cenn Faelad. He is staying in my house on the other side of the royal enclosure. It was thought better not to move into the royal residence until after things have been settled. The tánaiste has arranged a private meal for you so that we may discuss the matter that brings you hither. Báine will see to it that your warriors are fed.’
    He turned with a wave of his hand and moved away towards the central buildings of the royal enclosure.
    They followed the young girl into the guests’ hostel. She was thorough and efficient, showing Fidelma and Eadulf to the chamber they would share and then conducting Caol and Gormán to rooms close by. Like most of the buildings, the guests’ hostel was a rectangular structure of wood, mainly oak beams and yew panels, with a thatched roof. It was fairly dark in the interior without seinester or windows to admit light, so the place reeked of the heavy fumes of tallow candles and oil lamps, even though it was still light outside.
    It seemed that Fidelma and Eadulf had hardly had time to look round
the chamber assigned to them and unpack their few belongings from their saddlebags before the girl, Báine, returned.
    ‘I will take you to your bath, lady,’ she announced. ‘I have laid out all the toiletries you may need; even a comb is provided so you have no need to bring anything else. We have fragrances and items for all your needs.’
    Fidelma glanced at Eadulf with an amused expression. ‘Hospitality indeed,’ she murmured, as she left the room to follow the girl.
    Hardly any time passed before the girl was back again, knocking gently at the door of the chamber.
    ‘Excuse me, Brother, but I wonder if you would like a beaker of the juice of crushed apples to slake your thirst while you are waiting for your bath to be prepared?’
    ‘Indeed, that I would.’ Eadulf smiled gravely.
    The girl went to pour the drink and Eadulf followed her into the side room where she was preparing it.
    ‘Have you served in the guests’ hostel long, Báine?’ he asked.
    The girl looked anxious. ‘I hope nothing is amiss, Brother?’
    ‘No, no.’ He shook his head reassuringly. ‘Nothing at all is wrong. You are very efficient in your work, that is all.’
    Báine looked relieved. ‘This is my first time attending to the needs of the guests here. You are my first guests.’
    Eadulf raised his eyebrows a little. ‘I would not have realised it. I thought that you had been born to the task.’
    The girl handed him the drink and