The Spider's Web by Peter Tremayne Page A

talked of compensating the victim by putting the wrongdoer to useful work … well, it was humane but he often wondered whether it was an appropriate justice.
    A call halted them as they passed around the grey granite of the hall of assembly.

    It was Dubán hurrying after them. There was still a degree of hostility in his eyes but his features were more controlled.
    ‘I have given orders to Crítán to carry out your instructions, sister. Móen will be made presentable for your …’ He fought for the right word. ‘To your sensibilities.’
    ‘I had no doubt that you would do so, Dubán,’ Fidelma replied quietly.
    The elderly warrior frowned, trying to detect what hidden meaning might lurk in her voice. However much he was affronted by Fidelma’s criticism, he had apparently been told to follow her instructions.
    ‘Crón has charged me to attend you during your stay in the rath of Araglin and carry out any other directions you might give.’
    ‘I see. Well, we are on our way to Eber’s apartments to examine where Menma found the body with the wretched Móen.’
    ‘Then I shall be your guide,’ offered Dubán, moving off to lead them to the building which Menma had already pointed out. It was a single storey affair like most of the wooden buildings within the rath.
    The door led into an easily recognisable reception room where the chieftain could dine and entertain in private when not using the hall of assembly. This room was connected to the hall by means of a door hidden behind a tapestry which Dubán indicated. There was a cauldron in a hearth, a table and chairs. The dead chieftain’s weapons hung on the wall with trophies of the hunt. Rugs and tapestries gave a warmth to the room. A wooden panelled wall and door divided it from what was obviously the bed chamber. The sleeping arrangements were simple, a large straw palliasse on the floor with rugs. Fidelma saw the bloodstains on them but did not comment. A table stood nearby on which an oil lamp stood.
    ‘Is that the lamp which was lit when Menma entered?’
    ‘Yes,’ Dubán confirmed at once. ‘The room has not been disturbed since the … the tragedy. The lamp was still lit when I
came here with Menma. Móen was kneeling just there,’ he indicated with his hand, ‘just by the bedside.’
    ‘Had he made any attempt to leave?’
    ‘Oh no.’
    ‘So he made no attempt to run away before you came?’
    ‘Run away? Deaf, dumb and blind as he was?’ Dubán laughed dryly.
    ‘Yet deaf, dumb and blind as he was, you tell me that he was able to enter here and kill Eber,’ mused Fidelma, examining the room. Before he could respond she instructed him: ‘Tell us what happened from your viewpoint.’
    ‘As commander of the guard, I was on watch that night.’
    ‘This is an isolated rath. Surely there is no need to mount a watch for you have the natural protection of the mountains around this valley?’
    Duban nodded morosely.
    ‘Yet a few weeks ago we had cattle-raiders in the valley, sister. Eber asked me to set a watch.’
    ‘Ah yes, of course. And you were on watch during the night when Eber was murdered?’
    Dubán looked chagrined.
    ‘To be truthful, as daylight approached, I had fallen asleep on the seat within the entrance of the assembly hall. Menma had to rouse me. He told me that he had found Eber dead and Móen was the killer. I came here with him without delay and I saw the body of Eber sprawled in the bed, just as Menma described. There was blood all over the place and you can see where it has dried. Móen was crouched as I have indicated. He still had the knife in his hand, it was stained with blood, and his clothes were all bloody as well.’
    ‘What was he doing?’
    ‘Just rocking back and forth and moaning to himself.’
    ‘And you were able to observe this clearly because the lamp was lit? What then?’ encouraged Fidelma.
    ‘I told Menma to carry on with his duties and went to fetch
Critan. But he was already coming to relieve me