20 - The Dove of Death by Peter Tremayne

Author:Peter Tremayne [Tremayne, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: _NB_fixed, _rt_yes, blt, Clerical Sleuth, Fiction, Suspense, Medieval Ireland
ISBN: 9780312609276
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: 2010-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

‘I am sorry…I am sorry…I am sorry…’

Fidelma’s voice echoed as if in a cave far, far away. Eadulf found himself fighting against the black oppressive current, swimming badly upwards towards the light and suddenly…His eyes snapped open. Fidelma was leaning over him, her hair and clothing soaked, water streaming down her face – mingling, it seemed, with tears. Her expression was tragic.

He started to cough and spit out seawater. The taste in his mouth was vile.

‘I am sorry.’ Her voice came again.

He sank back. ‘It seems that we are making a habit of trying to drown one another,’ he managed to croak, unable to control the timbre of his voice.

Her face above him broke into a smile of relief.

‘Eadulf!’ was all she said, and was unable to speak further for emotion.

Eadulf became aware that he was lying on grassy ground. The crash of waves came at a distance. He was soaked through. His head ached and his throat was sore. The realisation came to him gradually that he must have been hauled from the water and carried to this spot. He looked at Fidelma and was about to form a question when he observed the shadows behind her. He tried to focus on them and after a moment they moulded into two grim-faced warriors whose swords, however, were sheathed.

Fidelma saw his glance.

‘We were seen – these men came down to the shore and managed to save us.’

He became aware of another man kneeling by his head and proffering a goatskin water bag.

‘Take a sip, swirl it round your mouth and then spit it out,’ the man instructed. ‘You have swallowed much seawater and ’tis better not to digest any more water until your mouth has been cleansed.’

Eadulf tried to raise himself on one elbow but his head started to swim.

‘Better if I could spew it forth,’ he replied, remembering the advice of the physicians under whom he had trained.

‘We caused you to vomit on the seashore, otherwise…’ The man did not finish.

Obediently Eadulf took a sip, tasting the cool fresh water in his mouth. It was hard not to swallow but he rinsed his mouth and spat the water out again.

The man took the goatskin bag and put back the stopper. Then he signalled to his men. They lifted Eadulf like a child between them.

‘It is not far to my lady Trifina’s dwelling,’ the man said. ‘Do you require assistance, lady?’ This last enquiry was addressed to Fidelma.

Eadulf did not hear her answer but it must have been negative.

‘It was lucky for you that we were at the southern point of the island,’ the man said, as they began to move forward. Eadulf had the impression that he was young and swarthy. He was feeling light-headed again and wanted more than anything to close his eyes and sleep. However, he struggled to keep his senses attuned as he remembered their circumstances and realised that they might soon be in trouble.

‘Is the lady Trifina in residence?’ he heard Fidelma ask innocently.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.