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As deliberations continued over the Scottish throne tension mounted. Coft
grew more persistent in his attentions to Rowan and just as steadily as
before, she was oblivious to them. One night, as most of the local drunks had
drunk their worries away, a man of average build, average face and
not-so-average clothes walked into Oisin's tavern like he'd been there every
day of his life. Stick some farm-worker's clothes onto him and he'd be no one
of importance. This is a good lesson in what the right clothes can do for
you. He strolled up to the bar and ordered a beer from Oisin. The man's
average brown eyes half hidden under bushy eyebrows spotted Rowan. He
half-smiled. Taking a swig from his beer the noble swaggered over to the only
female in the room and slapped her on the rear. Dead silence. Heads had
turned as Rowan dropped the pitcher, but conversation stopped as they saw why
she had been so clumsy. Six men, little children said were ox disguised in
human skins, from the table nearest Rowan stood up. They surrounded the noble
who was beginning to lose his smile, and one ox-man pulled Ro' away. They
escorted him out discreetly as each and every man in the tavern stood up to
join them. Only Oisin stayed to put his hands over Rowan's shaking shoulders.
Daoine was in the next village over to pick up cooking spices from the Far
East, and was not expected until dawn the next day. The longer the men stayed
out the more Rowan shook. Oisin finally put her to bed in Daoine's room and
prayed to his Faerie princess
Rowan did not find out what happened to the man for two weeks, and Daoine kept a closer eye on her. The men Rowan thanked separately and wholeheartedly. Exactly two weeks later, to the day, during lunch a dozen soldiers arrived and set up outside the tavern. The commander was Coft who had been absent that night. He entered the tavern alone and asked for Oisin immediately. His eyes were cold as steel, but softened as they lit upon Rowan who had backed up into a corner. The soldiers took Oisin away that night, and he was not returned for two days. Oisin went back into his tavern with good and bad news. The good news, he
explained to the crowded tavern, was that the noble who had been
"straightened out" about Rowan, was not bringing trouble upon the village men
as everyone had expected. The bad news was that the Norse King Eric was
resorting to drastic measures in order to secure Scotland. One of the English
King's spies discovered that if things did not go in King Eric's favor he
planned to bring in armies hidden in the northern Skye Isles. And that the
nobleman who had liked the look of Rowan was a member of King Eric's
entourage, and an important one at that. King Edward had taken Oisin into his
confidence because Oisin was looked to as a sort of leader for the village
and also it happened that Oisin's tavern had been the location of the Norse
nobleman's actions. When the tavern was closed Oisin took Daoine aside to
speak with him. "I have not told King Edward your secret, and will not, but I
would like to. I think if you could ask for some help from your kith and kin,
then perhaps things may not go as badly as Edward believes they may. Edward
believes that if Eric does not get Scotland's throne by next week, Vikings
starving for bloodshed may besiege us. King Edward will not allow Eric to
take Scotland because that would mean a loss of an ally and no doubt, lands
in Northern England in later years. What Edward would like to do is have
DeBruis take the throne but pay homage to Edward that way the Scots have
freedom but Edward still has power. If you can get an army here in time, we
may save the lives of villagers and our English King. Butâ€|this all relies on
the fact that King Eric will call down his Viking soldiers. It is no doubt
that Edward is planning on telling Eric that DeBruis will rule. What do you
say? Just to asking your folk to consider it? I know they may not agree to
it, but if war comes, it will be bad for them too, will it not?" Oisin
concluded his speech and held his tongue, unable to read Daoine's facial
expressions. "I will ask, but they may not oblige." ------ Daoine sighed and
continued, "Yes, they will be affected just as much as we, but sometimes they
feel that they should stay 100% out of human affairs. That it's not fair to
interfere at randomâ€|to be judges and decide whether this situation or that
situation is proper to get involved. They are like the Dragons*(nod to
Daine's book four), they have intricate ways to decide justice and
involvement in Human Affairs. There is actually a Court of Human Affairs." At
this point he grinned at remembrance. "But I'll try."
 
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