The Chalice of Blood). Nominally he remains an adherent to the Church of Rome (he still wears a Roman tonsure), but over time, due in part to his debates with Fidelma, in part to his long-term residence and personal experiences in Eireann and in part to his personal interactions with both local and foreign Church dignitaries, his views have become much more moderate to the point where he has realized that he cannot blindly follow the changes in the Faith that come from Rome, such as and including the increased call for religious celibacy and the continual attempt to supplant the Laws of the Fenechus with the Penitentials. Recurring characters Colgú mac Faílbe Flaind - King of Muman (Munster), reigned 665-678; Fidelma's older brother. His first appearance in the series is in Suffer Little Children. Brother Conchobar - the apothecary at Cashel, also expert in astrology; sometimes acts a mentor to Fidelma. His first appearance in the series is in The Monk Who Vanished, but he also appears in the short story "The Astrologer who Predicted His Own Murder" in the collection Whispers of the Dead. His murder is one of the main plotlines in The House of Death. Laisran - Abbot of Durrow; mentor to Fidelma, originally encouraged her to join the religious; appears mostly in the short stories, but also appears in A Prayer for the Damned. Gorman - a warrior of Munster's Nasc Niadh, the King of Muman's Bodyguard; the son of former prostitute Della; accompanies Fidelma and Eadulf on some of their investigations. His first appearance in the series is in The Leper's Bell; eventually promoted to commander of the Nasc Niadh; married Aibell prior to the events of Penance of the Damned. Dego, Enda and Aidan - warriors of Munster's Nasc Niadh, the King of Muman's Bodyguard; they sometimes accompany Fidelma and Eadulf on their investigations. Their first appearance in the series is in Our Lady of Darkness. In The Devil's Seal, Dego was attacked and wounded in the right arm, and due to massive infection Eadulf was forced to amputate the arm. Enda later takes over from Gorman as accompanier of Fidelma and Eadulf on their investigations, and at some time between the events of The House of Death and Death of a Heretic also takes over from Gorman as commander of the Nasc Niadh. Della - a former be-taide (prostitute), mother of Gorman