Free Dancing With Demons by Peter Tremayne Page B

last people to arrive in this land. The Fir Bolg had conquered this island back in the mists of time, many generations before the coming of the children of the Gael. The five kings met at Uisnech, the sacred centre of the land, and it was from there that they divided it so that each one would rule a fifth.’
    Uisnech again. Fidelma had explained its significance to him after the old woman had mentioned it at the bridge. Even the coming of Christianity had not displaced it as a great sacred ceremonial site, for it was thought to be the ‘omphalos’ or navel of the five kingdoms of Éireann, the point where the five kingdoms met. It was the spot where the goddess Eire, whose name had been given to the entire island, was venerated in ancient times. And it was the place where the Druids of the Old Faith gathered to light the ritual fires at the time of Beltane, the fires of Bél, marking the end of the dark half of the year.
    ‘So you are proud of your name?’ he observed.
    Once again the girl’s eyes flickered to his and this time he saw some tiny sparks of emotion.
    ‘My name is all I have,’ she said simply. ‘I am a servant in this place. And, if you will forgive me, I will now go to Báine and see if she needs my help.’
    She left as Caol and Gormán entered. Eadulf motioned to the jugs of drinks and suggested they help themselves.
    Caol sprawled on a chair and stared moodily at his drink while Gormán leaned against the wall.

    ‘You two do not look happy,’ observed Eadulf.
    Gormán shrugged indifferently. ‘I can’t say that I am happy to be here,’ he acknowledged.
    Caol smiled thinly. ‘I think he is worried by the old woman at the ford.’
    Gormán did not seem offended. ‘You have to admit it was an unusual welcome to Tara. We have received better ones. I was raised on the old legends of the goddess of death and battles waiting at a ford and warning people of their death.’
    Eadulf was not going to confess that he, too, had felt an apprehension about the old woman. He merely said: ‘Well, she did not foretell our deaths. She merely told us to return to Cashel, which I am sure we will do as soon as possible. After all, this affair cannot keep us here long. Sechnussach is dead, we know who killed him and we know that the assassin took his own life. There is little enough to investigate.’
    ‘Then why did the Great Assembly send for the lady Fidelma?’ demanded Gormán.
    ‘Merely to have someone unconnected with the events pronounce the findings,’ replied Eadulf calmly. ‘It seems a logical enough request.’
    ‘There is a feeling of gloom in the place,’ Gormán sighed, not assuaged.
    ‘Why wouldn’t there be? Is it often that a High King is murdered?’ countered Eadulf.
    ‘True. Neither is it so often that religious are slain in an attack for no good reason.’
    ‘You are thinking of the deaths on the Plain of Nuada?’ mused Eadulf. ‘There does seem some atmosphere of restlessness in this kingdom of Midhe.’
    Caol drained his beaker with a decisive motion. ‘Well, there are robbers and outlaws in every kingdom. Even in Muman. Mind you, things have become very quiet now since the Uí Fidgente have decided to pay their respects to Cashel.’ He grinned wryly and added, ‘In fact, I quite miss the conflict.’
    Eadulf shot him a look of disapproval. ‘You miss conflict? That is not a good thing to—’ he began, but Caol held up a hand, stopping him.
    ‘I should be specific in that I miss the excitement that is attendant on the conflict. Of course it is not right to be addicted to death and battle. So, when will you and the lady Fidelma start to consider this matter?’
    ‘Probably not until tomorrow. My guess is that we will be here a few days at the most. We shall know better after we have seen the heir to the High Kingship, Cenn Faelad, this evening.’

    At that moment, Báine returned and announced that the water had now been heated for Eadulf’s bath. He rose with an inward