Read Dancing With Demons for Free Online Page A

her, Enda and Gormán, stood outside the doors of her brother’s private chambers. They smiled at her and then Enda turned and struck the door twice before opening it so that she and Caol could pass inside. As Fidelma did so, she thought it
strange that her brother was meeting a messenger from Tara in his private chamber and not in the official reception hall, as was the custom.
    Inside, her brother, Colgú, King of Muman, was standing in front of the fire, hands clasped behind his back. His handsome face wore a haggard expression. Before him stood a dishevelled young man, still with the dust of travel on his clothes and exhaustion chiselling his features. He bowed stiffly as Fidelma entered. She acknowledged him with a nod and then addressed her brother.
    ‘There is bad news from Tara?’ she asked.
    ‘Caol has not told you?’ demanded Colgú.
    ‘Caol has told me nothing except that this messenger is from Tara. The expression on your face tells me that he does not bring good news.’
    Colgú’s mouth formed a thin line for a moment as though he was hesitant to tell her. Then he said simply: ‘The High King has been murdered.’
    There was a pause and, shocked, she looked at the messenger. He seemed to feel the need to confirm Colgú’s statement.
    ‘It is true, lady. Sechnussach was murdered in his bed.’
    Fidelma blinked slightly. The High King had been at her wedding scarcely a year before. She had met him a few times before that and, indeed, had solved a matter of the theft of the official sword of the High Kings of Éireann, without which he would have been prevented from holding office. 1 Fidelma had respected Sechnussach for, during the few years he had reigned from Tara over the five kingdoms, he had proved a just and bountiful monarch.
    ‘Is it known who did this?’ was her next question.
    ‘It is, lady,’ replied the messenger. ‘It was Dubh Duin of the Cinél Cairpre. He also killed himself when the High King’s guards rushed into the chamber.’
    ‘The Cinél Cairpre?’ Fidelma thought for a moment.
    ‘A northern tribe,’ Colgú explained. ‘They claim descent from Cairbre, one of the sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They dwell around Loch Gomhna, the Lake of the Calf, in the High King’s own territory of Midhe.’
    ‘They are Uí Néill, then?’
    ‘Distantly related to the High King’s own family who descend from another son of Niall. In fact, the Cinél Cairpre once provided a High King themselves – Tuathal Maelgarb. But that was well over a century ago.’
    ‘And what was the motive for the murder? A blood feud?’
    The messenger sighed. ‘Alas, that is not known, lady.’

    ‘But some reason must be suspected?’
    The young man glanced at Colgú as if asking him to respond.
    ‘This messenger has come here from the High King’s tánaiste, his heir apparent …’ Colgú paused and shrugged. ‘The next High King, Cenn Faelad.’
    ‘Sechnussach’s brother? I have met him.’
    ‘Cenn Faelad sends his messenger with a request: that you make the journey to Tara and undertake the enquiry into the causes of the murder of the High King.’
    Fidelma looked astonished. ‘But what of the Chief Brehon, Barrán? Surely it is he who should conduct this enquiry?’
    ‘That is impossible, sister. You see, Barrán is of the Uí Néill, too. He is cousin of Sechnussach and Cenn Faelad. Apparently the Great Assembly, or those of it who were present in Tara, felt that someone from outside the Uí Néill should undertake this investigation, someone who is not seen as partisan to one branch of the Uí Néill or another. As both victim and assassin were members of different branches of the Uí Néill it is feared that, at best, a blood feud could arise or, at worst, a war that would have devastating effects on the unity of the five kingdoms. The investigation should be seen to be without bias.’
    Fidelma thought for a moment. ‘And what if such an investigation found that it was an internal