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be off, to meet with the merchants on the Salt Road.’
    ‘Then there is nothing more than to thank you again for your timely help.’ Magister Ado bowed his head. ‘Our thanks and blessings.’
    Wulfoald remounted his horse. For a moment Fidelma thought the warrior had mistaken his mount, for his pale grey looked the image of the steed ridden by Brother Faro. Then she realised that it was of the same breed. At a sign from him, the band of warriors soon disappeared along the track.
    Brother Faro had risen cautiously to his feet, aided by the concerned-looking Sister Gisa. ‘I am ready to move when you are, Magister ,’ he said.
    Once mounted again, Fidelma joined Magister Ado while Sister Gisa rode anxiously alongside Brother Faro. Behind them came the two silent warriors. They were professional and now and then, when Fidelma glanced back at them, they seemed to be surveying the surrounding woodlands with eyes that were alert and never still.
    Magister Ado was not forthcoming with any further thoughts about the attack and Fidelma only once again broached the subject of the identity of the attackers.
    ‘You must have deeply offended these followers of Arius, for them to make such attempts on your life,’ she said.
    ‘You seem sure that this attack was by the same men as in Genua,’ he replied stiffly. ‘There are enough bandits in this country, especially so close to the merchant routes, to give me pause before I would make such accusations.’
    She knew it was useless to press him further. For some reason he did not want to acknowledge the obvious logic. Instead she tried a more oblique approach.
    ‘How is it that people here are so adamant in their adherence to the teachings of Arius?’ she asked.
    Magister Ado glanced at her suspiciously. Then he shrugged.
    ‘When the philosophies of Arius were flourishing in Constantinople, a Goth named Ulfilias, who had converted to Christianity but through the teachings of Arius, went as missionary to the Germanic peoples. His teachings spread among the Goths, Vandals, Visigoths, Burgundians and Longobards. Most accepted this form of the Faith and fought those who, like us, declared for the Nicene beliefs.’
    ‘And they have clung to the argument of Arius in spite of attempts to dissuade them?’
    Magister Ado sighed – a deep, sad sigh. ‘My people, the Longobards, have been followers of Arius for centuries.’ He paused. ‘Let me explain. Over three centuries ago, Arius was denounced in Alexandria for his teachings. Emperor Constantine called an assembly in Nicaea to argue the matter. Arius, as I have said, argued that while Christ was divine, He was sent to us for the salvation of mankind, but He and the Holy Spirit were not equal to God the Father, Who must have created them, for God created all things. The debate at Nicaea was long and fierce, and finally Arius and his teachings were condemned. A creed, a set of orthodox beliefs, was agreed by the assembly of bishops, and its central teaching was that the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit were of the same substance; that they were One, being Three in One. Christ is no less than God.’
    ‘So once the Council at Nicaea had agreed on this, what was the outcome?’
    ‘Constantine, the Emperor, exiled all those who refused to abide by the decision and all those who refused to condemn Arius and his supporters. He ordered all copies of the Thalia to be burned.’
    ‘ Thalia – what is that?’ queried Fidelma.
    ‘It is the book in which Arius explained his teachings. It means “Festivity”.’
    ‘So that should have ended the argument.’
    ‘It did not. Another Emperor, Constantius, the second Emperor of his name, became an adherent of Arius and used his authority to exile the Nicene bishops, even exiling Pope Liberius and installing the Arian, Felix, in his place.
    ‘When Constantius died, Emperor Julian went back to pagan idolatry, but declared everyone had a right to believe whatever they wanted. So every sect