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suspects my leaving might have something to do with us.’
    Eadulf’s brow wrinkled. ‘With us? I do not follow.’
    ‘Because we have separated he thinks …’ It was her turn to shrug.
    ‘He looks for cause and effect,’ Eadulf reflected. ‘That is logical.’
    ‘But not accurate,’ replied Fidelma. ‘Anyway, whether I have his approval or not, and whether I secure the office of my brother’s chief legal adviser or not, I am determined to follow my career in law.’
    ‘I suppose it was silly of me to think that I could change you,’ admitted Eadulf. ‘During these last weeks, I have come
to realise that the cause of most of the problems in this world is the desire to change other people, to make them think as we think, or behave as we do. Quid existis in desertum videre … hominem mollibus vestitum? ’
    It took her a moment before she realised that he was paraphrasing the Gospel of Matthew: ‘What went you out into the wilderness to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?’ In other words, one shouldn’t judge others by one’s own standards.
    ‘I will not attempt to put any further constraints on you, Fidelma,’ he went on. ‘You must do what you think best. And I … I must give thought to what I must do to fulfil my path in life.’
    She stared at him in surprise. And suddenly she felt sorry for him. He looked very tired and resigned.
    Then she mentally shook herself. She did not want to go down the path of discussing what thoughts he might have – at least, not yet.
    ‘Have you seen my brother yet?’
    ‘I have seen him and Abbot Ségdae.’
    ‘And you were interested enough in their proposal to come back to Cashel?’
    ‘Your brother is King and his proposal was more of a summons than a request. I think I have been able to reassure Ségdae that his suspicion was wrong. That your decision to leave the religious was made a long time ago.’
    ‘So what do you think of their plan that we undertake the investigation at Lios Mór?’
    ‘At first I was inclined to think that your brother was hatching some plot to bring us together but apparently the news of the murder of Brother Donnchad of Lios Mór is true.’
    ‘There still might be a motive in my brother’s thinking.’ Fidelma grimaced. ‘Nevertheless, you are right. It is true that Brother Donnchad has been murdered and the abbot has
requested help in resolving the matter.’ She hesitated. ‘Are you prepared to work with me on this mystery?’
    ‘I came here in answer to your brother’s summons,’ said Eadulf. ‘But whether I work with you or not is entirely your decision. I have told him that I will not impose myself where I am not wanted.’
    She glanced at his determined features and suddenly smiled softly. ‘In these matters, we have always worked well together, Eadulf. I am not averse to your aid; in fact, I would more than welcome it.’
    There was a moment of embarrassed silence.
    ‘Then I shall accompany you,’ Eadulf said after a while. ‘If we are to set out for Lios Mór tomorrow at first light, I must find somewhere to sleep.’
    ‘Muirgen will fix you up a bed in little Alchú’s chamber,’ Fidelma replied. ‘He has been asking for his father this last week and will be pleased to see you. Did you come here by foot or by horse?’
    ‘By horse, as it was the King’s summons.’
    ‘A good horse? It is a long ride tomorrow and, as you will recall, there are some steep mountain roads to climb before we reach Lios Mór.’
    ‘You know me and horses, Fidelma,’ Eadulf returned. ‘I had a loan of this animal from a local farmer to whom I have promised to return it.’
    Eadulf knew that Fidelma was an expert horsewoman. She had ridden almost before she had begun to walk, and so he was happy to leave the matter in her capable hands. Eadulf was never comfortable riding, although he had greatly improved in recent years but he still knew little about horses.
    ‘Then you go to see Alchú and tell Muirgen to make you up a