while it’s hot, and your wine, of course. Every young man gets drunk from time to time.’
‘I’m just afraid that he will meet them again and that he and Carlos will come to blows,’ said Margaret.
‘Probably the best thing that could happen, you know. Carlos Gomez is not a bad fellow. Responsible sort of man, too. He handled that affair of the captain of his father’s ship, that Alfonso Mercandez, very well.’ He turned to Mara and continued in a whisper. ‘Carlos found that Alfonso Mercandez has been stealing from his father for years – getting merchants in Galway to pay high prices for the goods that he carried and then subtracting a large chunk before he brought the money back. Of course, the Gomez family are very rich but no one likes to be cheated. Carlos mentioned it to him – he lied and pretended that he knew nothing – but as young Gomez said to me, he decided that it would be best to leave the matter until they returned to Spain and he had all his father’s account books. In the meantime, of course, he has been going around discreetly questioning people like your friend Lawyer Bodkin about the actual prices they paid for horses and other goods.’
‘I don’t care how clever and discreet he is,’ said Margaret unhappily. ‘I don’t want my Walter getting into a fight with him – not tonight of all nights. James would never forgive him, or me, either, if his own son was one to break the peace.’
‘I’ll go and search for him and put his head under the nearest pump once I’ve finished my pie,’ promised Valentine. ‘You take our visitor to see the apprentices’ mystery play in the churchyard and I’ll scour the streets. Once I have him sobered up a little I’ll join you there.’
Jane Bodkin was already in the churchyard waiting for the play to begin, though she explained that her brother was not too keen on plays and found them rather tedious. As they had promised, a bench was reserved for their visitors and a few minutes after Mara arrived, Fachtnan appeared. As they made their way forward, Mara counted heads and was relieved to see that all six were present. Their cheeks were flushed by the excitement, but Fachtnan assured her that they had had no more than a goblet of hot, spiced wine flavoured with the oranges from Spain and Portugal whose exotic taste and smell seemed to be everywhere on these Shrove ceremonies.
‘It’s the story of the three kings visiting the child Jesus,’ explained Jane, leaning across so that the younger boys could hear her. ‘The goldsmith’s and silversmith’s apprentices take the part of the kings. Master Tanner is Herod and his apprentices are the soldiers. One of the innkeepers in Galway always plays the innkeeper part, directing the strangers to the stable, and then the wool merchants’ apprentices play the part of the shepherds.’
Philip and Isabelle Browne were sitting just opposite to them. Margaret had joined her husband in the front row, but Mara could see that she continually looked over her shoulder as though waiting to see Walter appear.
The Brownes, also, were looking around and seemed relieved when Catarina appeared. She was alone, though. Either Carlos had decided that he was not interested in the play, or else Valentine Browne had perhaps taken the two young men off to sober up and perhaps even to fight off their differences.
Whatever had happened, neither Carlos Gomez nor Walter Lynch had appeared by the time that the play had finished.
Seven
Annals of Clonmacnoise
(13th century)
The Brehons of Ireland are divided into several clans and families as the McKiegans, O’Davorans, O’Brisleans, McTholies and Mac Clancies. Every kingdom has his peculiar Brehon dwelling within it, that has the power to decide the cases of that country and to maintain their controversies against their neighbour-countries, for which service they hold lands of the lord of the kingdom where they dwell.
‘S leep in tomorrow morning – we won’t
‘I’m just afraid that he will meet them again and that he and Carlos will come to blows,’ said Margaret.
‘Probably the best thing that could happen, you know. Carlos Gomez is not a bad fellow. Responsible sort of man, too. He handled that affair of the captain of his father’s ship, that Alfonso Mercandez, very well.’ He turned to Mara and continued in a whisper. ‘Carlos found that Alfonso Mercandez has been stealing from his father for years – getting merchants in Galway to pay high prices for the goods that he carried and then subtracting a large chunk before he brought the money back. Of course, the Gomez family are very rich but no one likes to be cheated. Carlos mentioned it to him – he lied and pretended that he knew nothing – but as young Gomez said to me, he decided that it would be best to leave the matter until they returned to Spain and he had all his father’s account books. In the meantime, of course, he has been going around discreetly questioning people like your friend Lawyer Bodkin about the actual prices they paid for horses and other goods.’
‘I don’t care how clever and discreet he is,’ said Margaret unhappily. ‘I don’t want my Walter getting into a fight with him – not tonight of all nights. James would never forgive him, or me, either, if his own son was one to break the peace.’
‘I’ll go and search for him and put his head under the nearest pump once I’ve finished my pie,’ promised Valentine. ‘You take our visitor to see the apprentices’ mystery play in the churchyard and I’ll scour the streets. Once I have him sobered up a little I’ll join you there.’
Jane Bodkin was already in the churchyard waiting for the play to begin, though she explained that her brother was not too keen on plays and found them rather tedious. As they had promised, a bench was reserved for their visitors and a few minutes after Mara arrived, Fachtnan appeared. As they made their way forward, Mara counted heads and was relieved to see that all six were present. Their cheeks were flushed by the excitement, but Fachtnan assured her that they had had no more than a goblet of hot, spiced wine flavoured with the oranges from Spain and Portugal whose exotic taste and smell seemed to be everywhere on these Shrove ceremonies.
‘It’s the story of the three kings visiting the child Jesus,’ explained Jane, leaning across so that the younger boys could hear her. ‘The goldsmith’s and silversmith’s apprentices take the part of the kings. Master Tanner is Herod and his apprentices are the soldiers. One of the innkeepers in Galway always plays the innkeeper part, directing the strangers to the stable, and then the wool merchants’ apprentices play the part of the shepherds.’
Philip and Isabelle Browne were sitting just opposite to them. Margaret had joined her husband in the front row, but Mara could see that she continually looked over her shoulder as though waiting to see Walter appear.
The Brownes, also, were looking around and seemed relieved when Catarina appeared. She was alone, though. Either Carlos had decided that he was not interested in the play, or else Valentine Browne had perhaps taken the two young men off to sober up and perhaps even to fight off their differences.
Whatever had happened, neither Carlos Gomez nor Walter Lynch had appeared by the time that the play had finished.
Seven
Annals of Clonmacnoise
(13th century)
The Brehons of Ireland are divided into several clans and families as the McKiegans, O’Davorans, O’Brisleans, McTholies and Mac Clancies. Every kingdom has his peculiar Brehon dwelling within it, that has the power to decide the cases of that country and to maintain their controversies against their neighbour-countries, for which service they hold lands of the lord of the kingdom where they dwell.
‘S leep in tomorrow morning – we won’t
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