The Leper's Bell by Peter Tremayne Page B

shrugged. ‘It was a thought. They said that they were going on to the Hill of the Ship. There is a fair there tomorrow. It is not very far west from here.’
    ‘I know it. The chieftain is a distant cousin of mine. I’ll bear it in mind, Brother Madagan. Thank you.’
    Later, in their chamber, Eadulf asked: ‘What did you mean when you said that the story of Bebo and Iubdán was a good choice of story? I do not understand.’
    Fidelma was combing her hair and paused.
    ‘A good choice for little people to play? It is one of the ancient tales. Iubdán was king of the Faylinn—’
    ‘I’ve heard of many people in these kingdoms but not the Faylinn,’ interrupted Eadulf.
    They are what we call the little people. A diminutive race that live in a parallel world. The story goes that Iubdán is able to travel to Emain Macha, the capital of the kingdom of Ulaidh. His wife Bebo comes with him. Iubdán clumsily falls into the porridge, which has been prepared for the breakfast of the king of Ulaidh, Fergus mac Léide. He cannot get out of the porridge bowl and is captured by Fergus. However, Fergus falls in love with Bebo, who comes to plead for her husband’s life. Bebo is very beautiful, and they have an affair while he keeps her husband locked up. Bebo and Iubdán were his prisoners for a year and a day before he offered them freedom in exchange for Iubdán’s most prized possession.’
    ‘Which was…?’ demanded Eadulf when she paused.
    ‘A pair of enchanted shoes which enabled the king to travel over water as easily as over dry land.’
    ‘And did they get their freedom?’
    ‘They did so, after a year and a day…’
    Fidelma’s voice trailed off. A year and a day. She stirred uneasily at her thoughts about her marriage. Her own year and a day, which marked the time when she must decide her future with Eadulf, was rapidly nearing and yet how could she make any decision in the current situation? Her mind was already confused about her relationship and even now more confused by the tragedy of Alchú.
    Eadulf had not noticed her sudden melancholy. He was continuing to talk.
    ‘I have noticed here that dwarfs are not usually treated as figures of fun. It is different in other lands.’
    Fidelma stirred herself and continued combing her red tresses. Shetried to turn her mind away from her dark thoughts and concentrate on what Eadulf was saying.
    ‘Why should they be regarded as other than people? Are they so different? In the days before the New Faith, two of the old gods, the children of Danu, were dwarfs. Luchta was one of the three great wrights who crafted shields and spearshafts. Abcán, whose very name means “little dwarf’, was a poet to the gods and goddesses and used to sail a curious metal boat on the waters of Eas Ruadh, the red cataract, which lies in a great river to the north of here. And you will find that little folk are often employed as poets and musicians at the great courts. Even Fionn Mac Cumhail had a harpist named Cnú Deireóil who was a dwarf. He was very handsome, with golden hair and such a sweet voice that he could lull you to sleep by the sound of his singing. Those who are small in stature are not necessarily small in mind.’
    Eadulf was silent for a moment.
    ‘I noticed that when you speak of them you always use the term abacc , while some people use the terms droich and drochcumtha. Which is the proper term for a small person?’
    ‘Abacc is the better word for them, for it carries no connotation of anything bad or misshapen about a person,’ she said. That implies an arrogance on the part of the speaker which is unworthy.’
    Eadulf moved to the window and looked out at the dark cloistered courtyard beyond. One of the abbey’s brethren was going round lighting the torches that hung in their iron braziers on the walls. Eadulf peered up at the patch of blackness above the courtyard and sighed.
    The month of Cet Gaimred,’ he used the Irish name, ‘and the clouds are so thick