The Monk Who Vanished by Peter Tremayne

are well groomed. They do not carry the dirt of a farmer or labourer. The feet are also hardened and the body is tanned but carries two scars, old scars which have healed. See here, one is near the ribs on the left and the other is on the left upper arm. The man has fought in battles. Furthermore, he is a professional bowman.’
    At that last statement, Gionga burst into derisive laughter. ‘Just because you have heard me say that he was a bowman, Saxon, you need not seek to impress us with your powers as if you were some sorcerer.’
    Eadulf was unperturbed. ‘I report only what I see.’
    Fidelma smiled gravely. ‘Perhaps you will explain it for Gionga as he does not understand your reasoning.’
    Eadulf smiled patiently.
    ‘Come here.’ He beckoned to the Uí Fidgente warrior. ‘Firstly, we look at his left hand in which he holds his bow. Look at the calluses on the fingers. They are not to be found on the right hand. This hand is used to holding a sturdy piece of wood. Now look at the right hand and see the smaller calluses on the tips of the first finger and thumb where this hand repeatedly holds the end of the shaft of an arrow. Return your gaze to the inner forearm of the left hand where you see some ancient burn marks. There, the string of the bow has sometimes vibrated against the flesh. It happens when a bowman is trying to release arrows in quick succession and is not always able to line up the bow with precision.’
    Gionga tried not to sound impressed. ‘Very well, Saxon. I grant you that there is a logic to your tricks. Nevertheless, I could have told you that he was a bowman for I cut him down with the bow in his hand after he had tried to kill my Prince.’
    ‘And tried to kill the King of Muman,’ added Donndubhain. ‘You keep neglecting that point.’
    ‘Turn to the assassin’s clothes.’ Gionga was peevish. ‘Explain the emblem of the Golden Chain, which is the elite bodyguard of your cousin.’
    The old monk Conchobar had placed the clothing on a second table with the weapons for them to examine.

    Fidelma picked up the cross on the chain of gold which was the symbol of the ancient order associated with the Eóghanacht Kings of Cashel. There were no distinguishing marks on it. It was similar to the cross and chain that she herself wore around her neck in token of her brother’s gratitude for her services to the kingdom.
    ‘Donndubháin, you have been close to your father, King Cathal, who was King of Cashel before my brother. You have personally known the bodyguard of the kings as well as any. Do you recognise the body of this tall archer?’
    ‘No,’ averred her cousin. ‘I have never seen him before in the company of the bodyguards, Fidelma.’
    Fidelma held out the emblem to him. ‘Have you ever seen this before … I mean, this specific emblem?’
    ‘It is like every emblem worn by members of the Order of the Golden Chain, cousin. You know it for you also wear one. It is impossible to tell one from the other.’
    Gionga was sceptical. ‘Well, you would say that, wouldn’t you? You would hardly admit that one of your bodyguard was an assassin.’
    Donndubhain whirled angrily and clapped a hand to his sword hilt as if to draw it in anger but Fidelma held up her hand.
    ‘Stop! Whether you believe it or not, Gionga, this man is not recognised as a member of the Order of the Golden Chain. I do not recognise him nor does my cousin. On that you have our solemn oaths.’
    ‘I would expect you to say no less,’ replied Gionga, the disbelief in his voice not dissipated one iota.
    ‘Maybe the cross was carried deliberately to mislead you,’ offered Eadulf.
    Gionga started to laugh offensively. ‘You mean that the assassin meant to be killed so we could find his emblem and be misled?’ he sneered.
    Fidelma saw the chagrined expression on the face of her Saxon friend and came to his defence.
    ‘It could be that the assassin meant to drop it where we would find it,’ she said, though