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with an ideal means to build on the fragile peace between Cashel and this wild people. Conrí, the warlord of the Uí Fidgente, came to Cashel seeking my help as a dálaigh. By extending that help to him, I will strengthen the move to reunite my brother’s kingdom.’
    Eadulf saw her argument but his personal feelings did not allow him to be convinced by it.
    ‘I could understand that if all else had been equal for us but it is not so,’ he protested. ‘It is only a matter of weeks since we settled down at Cashel, united as a family again, and started to plan the ceremony by which we will be permanently bound together, which was supposed to be on the feast of Imbolc, when the ewes come into milk. On that day you were supposed to become my cétmuintir.’
    For nearly a year now Fidelma and Eadulf had been joined as ban charrthach and fer comtha , partners for a year and a day, a legal marriage under the law, but a temporary one. After a year and a day, if incompatible, they could go their separate ways without blame and without payment of compensation to one another.
    Fidelma examined Eadulf with a sad expression.
    ‘Do you have cause to doubt that it will happen?’ she asked softly.
    Eadulf raised an arm in a brief gesture almost of helplessness and let it fall.
    ‘Sometimes I am not so sure. We seem to be constantly drifting from one drama to another.’
    ‘Then let me tell you this,’ Fidelma said earnestly. ‘It was my brother’s wish that I should come here, not my response to Conrí, which would have not been enthusiastic in the circumstances. My brother is king. My decision was made in response to the wishes of the king. I tried to explain that to you before we set out.’ As Eadulf opened his mouth to reply, she held up her hand, as if to silence him, and went on. ‘A resolution of this particular drama, as I said, is important to my brother’s kingdom, Eadulf. And since we have arrived here at Ard Fhearta we find the drama has intensified because the Venerable Cinaed has been murdered. The Venerable Cinaed is known and respected throughout all five kingdoms and is admired by the High King himself. His death will create a greater
shock throughout these lands than even that of Conrí’s aunt, the Abbess Faife.’
    Fidelma’s brother, Colgú, had certainly made the political importance of helping Conrí clear enough when they had spoken together. If Cashel could respond to an Uí Fidgente call for help in solving the mystery at the abbey of Ard Fhearta, it would be important in helping to heal the rift that had for so long set the rulers of the Uí Fidgente and the kings of Muman against one another.
    ‘I know what Colgú has argued,’ acknowledged Eadulf with asperity. ‘He is not the one who has had to enter Uí Fidgente country without escort and chance the dangers …’
    Fidelma suddenly smiled mischievously.
    ‘Why, Eadulf! Are you saying that you are solely concerned for my safety?’
    Eadulf grimaced in irritation at her levity. Then he said: ‘I am concerned for the safety of both of us. The warriors of your brother’s guard should have escorted us. Men we could trust. Now we have to rely on Conrí and the goodwill of the Uí Fidgente.’
    Fidelma shook her head in disagreement. ‘I put my trust in Conrí.’
    ‘I remember very clearly my time as a prisoner of the Uí Fidgente. You cannot expect me to trust them.’
    ‘Yet you went alone through Uí Fidgente territory in search of Alchú,’ Fidelma reminded him. ‘You were not concerned with safety then.’
    ‘I had only myself to worry about. You were safe in Cashel.’ Fidelma shook her head, smiling.
    ‘As it turned out, I was not,’ she reminded him. ‘I was a prisoner of the rebel Uí Fidgente myself. And it was Conrí who helped me escape.’
    ‘Fidelma, I will never win an argument with you.’ Eadulf raised his hands as if fending off some imaginary attacker. ‘I should know better than to try. Since we are here, let me be