Dancing With Demons by Peter Tremayne

me! Bitch! Then Barrán came in and supported her, saying I had no business to be there.’
    ‘And he was right. Sechnussach had been assassinated. The chambers should have been closed.’
    ‘Brehon Barrán said as much, but …’ Her voice trailed off.
    Eadulf heard the other woman sigh impatiently.
    ‘I don’t know what possessed you. Whatever were you doing in the High King’s chambers? Come on – the truth now. Surely not cleaning.’
    Cnucha seemed to hesitate. Then: ‘If you must know, I was looking for something, that is all. I probably lost it elsewhere. It was … personal. A bracelet.’
    ‘I see. Well, I know jewellery can be of sentimental value, but—’
    ‘It was also valuable,’ the girl protested. ‘It was a bracelet of silver Gaulish coins. I must have lost it when I was cleaning. I did not want to lose it.’
    ‘Well, if it hasn’t turned up during the last ten or more days, I think you will have to resign yourself to its loss. It seems an expensive sort of thing for someone like you to come by.’ The voice was suspicious.
    ‘It was a gift from … a friend.’ The girl’s voice was defiant.
    ‘Well, wealthy friend or not, it still doesn’t absolve you from work, Cnucha. And with Báine not here, I suggest you get started on your duties.’
    ‘Then why doesn’t Báine go to Muirgel and be her attendant, so that we may get another person to help us in our work?’

    ‘All will be changed when this investigation is over and Cenn Faelad becomes High King. He will then choose his attendants as he considers fit.’
    Eadulf heard the girl sniff.
    ‘And will you be staying on then, Brónach? Will you be in charge?’
    ‘Brother Rogallach is in charge. I am only the senior female servant.’
    ‘I doubt whether Cenn Faelad will want Brother Rogallach to continue to be in charge of his household. Cenn Faelad is a real man and not so outwardly pious as Sechnussach was.’
    ‘That is no way to talk about the late High King.’ The voice was stern with disapproval.
    ‘Why not? Anyway, I am comparing Sechnussach to Cenn Faelad. Sechnussach may have surrounded himself with pious religious, but he was no more than—’
    ‘You should have a care what you say about Sechnussach, my girl!’ Brónach hissed. ‘Especially now you have a dálaigh in this guesthouse who is investigating his assassination.’
    ‘Huh! Another so-called pious religieuse with her Saxon lover!’ Cnucha sneered.
    ‘Watch your tongue. They are married and well-respected. She is also sister to the King of Muman. Now, for the last time, get about your chores! When I see Báine, I will discuss this matter with her. She should let us have more notification if she has to attend to other duties.’
    Eadulf heard a door closing and reasoned that the woman, Brónach, must have left by the side door. He paused for a moment and then decided to continue his mission to find water for washing. Cnucha was alone in the kitchen preparing oatmeal cakes for breakfast. She looked up with a start of surprise as he entered.
    ‘I did not know you were up, Brother.’
    Eadulf pretended to stifle a yawn as he saw the girl flush guiltily.
    ‘I have only just risen. I am looking for water to wash. Was there someone else here before me? I thought I heard a voice.’
    ‘Oh, it was only Brónach. She is in charge of us.’
    ‘Ah. I don’t think we have met her yet.’
    Cnucha shrugged and went on kneading oatmeal. She gestured with her head towards the wash room. ‘The water is heating ready for you.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    Her tone had been dismissive and so the opportunity to develop the
conversation was thus lost. Eadulf, with a sigh, accepted it with good grace.
    Abbot Colmán arrived, as promised, as they finished their morning meal and took them to the royal residence called Tech Cormaic. It was a large rectangular building of two storeys with several outhouses, standing inside the ramparts of the royal enclosure, well away from the