"So let me see if I understand you correctly.. this man you speak of, this Connor MacNessa, he claims to be the rightful laird to the MacNessa clan, with no other proof of it other than his own word, and he is raising an army to take back his clan from the MacDonald's?" The tone of his voice was unsettling, and had a way of making me feel like an idiot for even bringing this idea to him in the first place. In the back of my mind I could hear Kampi and Ajax telling me to keep calm and not to run my mouth. "I trust the man" I spoke up when I realized the laird was waiting for me to say something. "And based on that alone you think I should put an entire clan at risk? What if he is lieing to you? What if he is playing you for the fool? Let's say I agree to this and he turns out to just be a rogue highlander with a vendetta? We attack the MacDonald's, based solely on his word, and realise it to late? We start another clan war we cannot afford to have." Involuntarily I felt my head slump but immediately caught myself and stood tall again. "Clan MacDonald is one of the largest clans in the highlands. The Macpherson's could not fight them alone if a war was to start. We would need the entire of the Chattan federation for such a war, which means we would be putting more than just our clan at risk." The laird places two fingers to his right temple and rubbed it with frustration "however... There is merit to what you say. My own father used to speak to me of the MacNessa clan and how the MacDonald's overthrew it. Mind you in his story all members of the Laird's family were killed. But he did have a son of that name" the laird looked down at me from his thrown.
The Grand Hall was the largest room in the castle. All events held at the castle were held here. Breakfast, lunch, and dinners for the laird, his family, and all those who worked and lived in the castle, was had in this room. The clan gathering was held in this room. It truly was the centure of the castle and the life that went on here. Solid stone walls made up the rectangular shape of the room. On the wall to my left was a large fireplace, which burned warm and steady, the stones around it blackened from the constant fire that burned within it. To my right were a few small doors leading to various rooms in the castle, and allowed the servants to come and go during large events relatively unnoticed. A large wood balcony circled the entirety of the room, except for the far wall. That wall had no balcony. A large tapestry hung from the far wall, the family coat of arms of the MacPherson Laird's family embroidered on it in its magnificent colours of gold and blue, beneath it was the MacPherson clan crest.
"I cannot make this decision so lightly and without thought. Give me some time to consult my men and I will give you an answer when I have reached a decision." I made no attempt to argue, despite how much I wanted to, again, Kampi and Ajax in the back of my head kept me calm. I bowed before being escorted out of the room by Malcolm.
Once the door to the grand Hall was closed, I slammed my fist hard into the nearest stone wall and roared in frustration. Malcolm didn't say anything. I am sure he has seen his fair share of unhappy people leave the grand hall. I am sure he was even one of them at times. "Relax lad, the laird has a duty to protect his clan. I am sure there are times he would love to run off into the fray of battle as you do, but he needs to think about how his actions will affect those under his care." Of course Malcolm was right, and I knew this. However, this was a serious matter, to me anyways. How could I return to Arrakis and tell Connor he would gain no MacPherson aid because my laird believed him a lier? I heaved a heavy sigh "excuse me, I need a smoke and a drink" I tried to excuse myself from Malcolm "there is a court yard just down the next hall. I will meet you out there with a cup of our finest ale" with that Malcolm turned on his heel and headed for what I assumed was the kitchen. Guess I wasn't going to get rid of him that easily. Hand resting on the hilt of my broad sword I made for the hall he had directed me to.
The halls, other than their decoration and furniture, were empty, for the most part. Those I did pass paid me no heed, purhaps it was the clan tartan I wore, or maybe they were just to busy. I passed doorway after doorway without any care what might be on the otherside of the threshold. As I pulled my pipe from its pouch and filled it with tobacco, something caught my attention and I found myself taking a few steps back. The room was dark, no windows, and lit very faintly by a few candles. The room was full of benches, each side of the room lined with large stone pillars, between each pillar, a stone statue. At the far end of the table was a large stone alter, on either side of it, two large candle stands with small doors off to either side. I stepped into the room to investigate further. As I walked up the isle, i examined each stone statue, not recognizing any of them. Then I spotted it. A stone statue of a young woman, she wore a single robe, which appeared to be in the process of falling off. She held a spear in on hand and a shield in the other. All stone statues look the same to me. It is hard to capture, in my opinion, ones likeness in stone. But this face.. this statute.. I knew my goddess when I saw her.
"So it is an ancient who calls to you?" I turned to find an monk standing behind me, his plain brown robes held to him by a single rope around his middle. "You are not Caledonia?" It was the first thing I noticed. "Yes. And no. I was born here, but my parents are not from here" i gave him a look before turning back to look at the statue. "What do you mean ancient?" I asked, admiring the statue and finding comfort in its being here.
"There are many God's. How many of them are real I am unsure, but there are many. Some are old" he gestured to the Morrigan, and across the room in the corner to the statue of an old man with an eye patch, who looked oddly like the man I had bought Kampi yule gift off of, "they come from a time so long ago we have no record of it, and yet they persevered through the times and remain with us. Others" he motioned to two more, ones I did not recognize "are new. Born to life in our life time, or a life time not so long ago it is forgotten." I turned back to the statue from the monk "so this is a church?" The monk gave a soft chuckle. "I would not call it that. A church makes it seem like only one may be worshipped. Here all may be." The idea was nice. It sat well in my mind "so which do you follow?" The monk smiled "none and all" I raised an eyebrow at him "ok lad, I am simple farmer, you canna be talking to me in riddles" the monk laughed "I believe our Laird says it best 'i am godless not faithless' I make it my job to know all I can about the gods, so that I may best suit those who come to worship here" again the idea sat well with me. "So all of these?" I motioned to the statues throughout the room "every laird has had a statue of his choosen deity constructed for the castle temple so that they may have something to worship in front of" I nodded and turned back to the Morrigan statue and smiled. At some point, at some time, a laird of the clan had followed the Morrigan, the thought of it made me swell with pride and set my mind at ease.
I thanked the monk and made to leave, but I paused when a pile of rubble caught my eye. I stopped to look at it and a familiar shape caught my eye, a hammer head, not much different than the hammer that was currently strapped to my horse. "What about this? " I pointed "what God stood there?" The monk walked over to me "ah, well that is an odd tale. For as long as I have been here, a statue stood there of a young knight. He bore a broad sword on his back and stood with a mighty hammer but I am not sure he was a god" I turned to the monk "why is that?" I asked "I have done many nights of research on the statue and the only thing I have discovered about it is that it has been here longer than anyone can remember. I believe it was a statue of either a previous laird, or someone of importance." I eyed the rubble "so you decide to break it down" the monk seemed shocked "oh heavens no. It was the strangest thing, about a day or two ago, the statue just crumbled all on its on.. i guess it's age just finally caught up to it." I gave the rubble one more uncomfortable look, and just when I thought I might get sucked into some sort of void of endless thought "the finest in Caledonia!" Malcolm's voice pulled me back. There he stood, standing in the doorway with two tankards of ale, one of which I took happily.
Malcolm and I had spent almost all day in the court yard. It was massive and several children, kids to those who lived and worked in the castle, ran around playing. Malcolm had even let me bring in the dogs, who were more than happy to play with the kids. What seemed like a life time passed, but in all honesty, it was just passed noon when a runner came to summon us to the laird. I gave the dogs the order to come, and much to the children's dismay, they listened. When we reached the great hall I gave them the order to stay and they listened, sitting just outside the door.
"I have made a choice on this matter" A woman approached me and handed my a piece of parchment. "A treaty, promising aid to you, not to this Connor MacNessa. Should a clan member of the clan Macpherson get caught in confrontation with a member or members of clan MacDonald or any associated clans, then I, as laird, shall have no choice but to come to that man's aid. You have made your choice to support this man and I am making a choice to support you. May whatever gods you follow watch over you." I took the parchment and bowed to the laird and thanked him profusely. It had not been exactly what I wanted, but it was good enough.
I turned sharply on my heel and made to leave "one more thing" I turned back to the laird. "Take this" he waved a man over who held out to me a claymore "it is a clan weapon, used only in battle by a member of the original Macpherson bloodline. Should you need aid, this sword will be the proof you need to gain that aid." It was a beautiful piece. Unlike my own, it was longer, lighter, and did not have the leather wrapped around the blade at the hilt. "Thank you again mi'laird" the laird nodded "gods be with you. Creagh dhu!" I slammed the hilt of the sword into my chest, as a sign of respect, "Creagh dhu!" I returned the battle cry before turning to take my leave.
As I left the front gate of the castle, Malcolm called to me again. I turned to see him, in his hand he held a piece of parchment "this just showed up for you" he handed it to me and I looked down at it "I uh.. I canna read.. I don't ken how.." Malcolm laughed and opened it and read it aloud for me.
"Connor, it's dad. Your sister Maisie has snuck out of the house. Her horse is gone and the cooks say she left the house dressed as a boy. I tracked her as far as the forest of Alder, it seems she has followed after you. Please, find your sister and bring her home. Your mother and I are very worried. To add to all that, last night three of our cows were stolen by thieves, they could not have gotten far, if you can, track them down and bring our cattle home as well."
The letter ended there. "That daft girl!" I cursed Maisie under my breath "she is going to get herself killed, she does not Ken what she is getting herself into!" I took the parchment from Malcolm, gave him a hearty farewell shake and dashed for my horse. I slipped the Claymore into the same place I had the hammer and mounted my horse. I gave a swift firm command to my dogs and we all raced from the castle yard and out of the capital.
I do not own any of these photos. All and full credit to the owners.
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