Read Dancing With Demons for Free Online

lady, I have not.’
    ‘Well, I will leave these items with you, my friend, in case you can discover anything else. If the old man was one of those ancient ones, a man who does not recognise the New Faith, it would be interesting to know what he intended. Do you really think he was searching for the Roth Fáil?’
    Brother Conchobhar glanced at her with a worried expression. ‘Perhaps. And there might be something else.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘I have heard that there is a new and growing activity from those who adhere to the Old Faith.’
    ‘Growing activity?’ Fidelma was surprised. ‘I haven’t heard this.’ Brother Conchobhar inclined his head seriously. ‘Some travellers from Inis Celtra in the Red Lake told me that they had heard stories.’
    ‘That is the school which the Blessed Caiman set up. I well remember him from when I was a child. A kindly old man who died when I was away at Brehon Moran’s school.’
    ‘Indeed. The travellers from Inis Celtra said that they had been hearing stories from some of the remoter regions of Connacht that Christian pilgrims have been attacked by bands who proclaim themselves to be of the Old Faith and who carry a totem with a wolf’s head affixed to it.’
    ‘A wolf’s head?’
    ‘Yes. In the old days, among Corco Baiscinn, the people who dwell near the Red Lake, there was a band of those who followed the old religion and they called themselves the Fellowship of the Wolf.’
    ‘And these stories, are they just stories or did these travellers know for certain such attacks had taken place?’
    The old man shrugged. ‘They were repeating stories that they had been told.’

    ‘One can therefore place no reliance on such tales,’ Fidelma said briskly. ‘You know that. The Faith has only been spread for two centuries in this land and although you will find groups here and there who still believe in the old gods, they are usually elderly folk who cling to the traditions of our ancestors. Violence is not part of their character, nor did the old beliefs teach brutality or violence as a virtue. These people live in perfect amity with their Christian brethren. Indeed, there is something sad about them as they come to accept that the youth have eagerly devoured the New Faith and that the future of this land is inevitably linked with the teachings of Christ.’
    Brother Conchobhar’s gloomy features did not lighten. ‘Even so, the story that the travellers recounted was told with such conviction that the Brehon Baithen has gone with some of your brother’s warriors to Inis Celtra to investigate.’
    Fidelma was surprised but not concerned. ‘Well, there was no wolf’s head among the possessions of the old man who died at Ráth na Drínne. There seems no link that I can see and no need to bring the matter to the attention of my brother’s Brehon.’
    She was about to leave the apothecary shop when Caol burst in. He seemed full of suppressed excitement.
    ‘Lady, your brother has sent me to bring you to him … immediately.’
    ‘Is anything wrong?’ she asked anxiously.
    ‘Nothing, lady, but he asks you to join him at once.’
    ‘Why does he summon me thus?’ she demanded.
    Caol made a helpless gesture with his hands. ‘Lady, I am not permitted to say.’ He glanced at Brother Conchobhar and his eyes, still full of some excitement, came back to her. ‘All I can say is that half an hour ago, a messenger arrived from Tara, would not rest, bathe nor refresh himself until he saw the King. He is still with him.’
    ‘Do you know more?’
    ‘Lady, do not press me. I must take you to your brother now.’
    A deep furrow of curiosity formed on her brow. Fidelma bade farewell to Brother Conchobhar, before turning to follow the commander of her brother’s guard. Caol was moving so quickly that she was forced almost to run to keep up with his strides. They crossed the courtyard in front of the chapel steps and went into the main dwellings. Two warriors, well-known to