Chapter Four: The night before, the morning of..

"CREAG DHU!"

The battle cry echoed throughout the farm as I charged my opponent, lowering my shoulder as I always did in an attempted to topple over my target. However, as I collided with my sparing partners hairy chest, instead of toppling him over, I bounced of the old man's chest and landed hard on the ground behind me. I lay there a moment, trying to catch me breath, the cold snow a welcome sensation as it fell on my face. I had been at this for almost an hour and had yet to move the old man from his spot. When I could properly breath again I rose to my feet, with the help of one of the old man's massive horns "are you sure you're a coo?" I asked as I dusted myself off. The old man turned from me and started to walk away. "Oye! I'm not done yet!" I called after him.
"You need to find yourself a lass baby brother" my eldedt sister teased as she walked by, a basket full of eggs tucked under her arm "no one asked Yoo!" I growled at her. She stuck her tongue out at me teasingly and I responded by kicking dirt in her direction.
When I turned to confront the old man again he had vanished into his barn, so I had decided to leave him be. Instead I grabbed my belt and headed for the forge. If I was going to be leaving for the capital in the morning I would need to make sure my dagger was sharp, since it was the only weapon I had left.

I sat at the turning wheel, working the peddle as I glided my daggers edge across it. When I was sure it was good and sharp, I cleaned it and sheathed it. Reaching into my boot, I pulled out the small knife Ajax had gifted me. It was the first time I had pulled this dagger since Arrakis and I could help but pause for a moment and wonder what Ajax was currently up to. "Hunting probably. Or in a brothel" a chuckled to myself as I set to sharpening the small knife.

"You shoe your horse?" I looked up from the stone to see my father leaning in the door way. "Aye. Horse is shoed and my bags are packed. Got the bow ready to go and the arrows are over their cooling down in the water" I pointed to the large barrel of water. "Look, Connor, I can't stop you from going, and to be honest I admire that you are going to such length to help a friend. Makes me proud. Lets me know your mother and I did well in raising you. But I can't have you going to the capital alone with nothing more than two daggers and a bow." I cleaned the blade of the knife and sheathed it back inside my boot. "I don't have much of a choice dad. I don't exactly have anything else" I said as I walked over to the barrel and pulled the arrow heads from the water and shoved them into another barrel full of sand.

"Take this" he tossed me something at me. "what is this?" My father laughed "I thought you of anyone should know a sword when you see one" he joked "well aye, I mean where did it come from?" I asked eyeing the old sword. "It was mine. From a long time ago. Back when I was forced to fight in the war against the Cameron clan." I looked the blade up and down, pulling it from its sheath. It was old, and would need some repairs, which I could do.

I thought all the soldiers in that war were issued claymores?" I asked questioningly. "Aye. They were. A small group of us got separate from our platoon in the midst of some confusion. You need to remember that I was younger than you are now when I fought in this war. A group of Cameron berserkers hunted us down one by one. We ran for the low land boarder, we didn't think they would fallow us into the low lands but they did. During our retreat I lost my claymore inna bog. They killed the rest of the group and would have killed me, had it not been for once brave Lowlander. Killed three berserkers, with that very sword, before he was able to drag me to safety. I owe that man my life. By the time I was able to walk again the war was over and I intended to return home. He gave me that sword to protect myself. I have never had to use it." My father turned to leave "what was his name? The man who saved you?" I asked before he left. My dad smiled at the memory "Alastair Pringle." With that my father left and I set about the repairs on the old blade.

It was early morning. The sun would not be up for a couple of house and the house across the farm was dark. My dogs sat by the front door of the cabin peacefully, waiting for me to open the door sonwe could start our long journey.

When I opened the door, the dogs quietly left before me. As I was getting everyone packed into my horse, my parents made their way over to the cabin. "Your sisters don't know you are leaving?" My mother asked "I didn't tell them. If you didn't either than no, I guess they don't. But I'll be back before yule. I'm not going to be gone long" I said reassuringly. "Take this please" my mom handed me a bundle of dried meats, cheese, and bread. "Thanks mom" I gave her a hug. "You be careful on your trip home. It won't go well for you if anyone associated with the MacDonalds finds that treaty on you" I chuckled slightly "the laird has to agree first" my father helped me, unnecessarily, onto my horse "he will say yes, I am sure of it" I looked down at both of them and smiled "be safe our son" my dad added as he held my mom close. "Aye, I will" I gave the horse a slight gab of my heels to spur it into motion and a firm call of "Dhòmhsa!" Spurred my dogs into action and they fallowed after me. I cannot know for sure, but I am pretty positive my parents watched me go until I was completely out of sight.

I do not own any of these photos. All and full credit to the owners.

Chapter Three: The day before.

I could feel the post in the old barn splinters as my fist made contact, the small pieces of wood cutting into my knuckles painfully, but still I drove fist after fist into the old piece of wood. At one point there had been a bag full of straw tied to the post, but that had soon been worn away. "When I first arrived over sea's, I could take a man's life with my bare hands. I could crush plate armour and tear through leather, but after we were pulled from the abyss.. I couldn't anymore. Something had changed. Purhaps the time we spent there soften us.. all I know is I won't let it happen again." I paused a moment to look around the post at my listening audience. From behind a curtain of grey shaggy hair, a pair of brown eyes rolled at me. "Well no one asked you!" I spat at the old man as he nonchalantly chewed his alfalfa. A week has passed since Maisie and I had come home and life seemed to go back to normal. For most part. My eldest sisters still teased me about being a nomad who always returned home, any anything else they could think of for that matter. They had babied Maisie, when they got home. Happy to have their baby sister back. Maisie on the other hand, had been helping mother around the house like always, tending to house hold chores and preparing meals. She also spent a lot of time out behind the old abandoned barn practicing how to fight when she thought no one was looking.

I walked over to a bucket of ice water and dunked my hands inside to help the the sores I had accumulated from my unorthodox workout. Looking over my shoulder I caught eyes with the old man who gave his head a a shake and turned away from me. "Well no one asked you!" I spat as i wrapped some old rags around my hands.
"I will be leaving soon old friend" I told the old man, pulling a stool up to sit in front of him, his larges horns almost wrapping around me. "I have important business to tend to in the capital. I'll be gone awhile I suspect." The old man gave my had a soft bump with his own and I returned it. As I stood I matted the old man's hair playfully and left his barn.

At the far end of my family farm, their is a mountain, or rather a cliff. It over looks all the land we own. You wouldn't see it from a distance, but there is a small winding road of switchbacks that lead to the top. At the top you would find several stone mounds, each covered in a fair amount of moss and grass. A few were even so old that the earth itself had seemed to retake them, leaving not much more than a small bump in the ground. Under each of these was a MacPherson. My father's father and his father and so on. It was tradition in my branch of the family that the father be buried here over looking the farm, as he did once in life. His family would be buried in the family cemetery at the base of the mountain. It is where my father would be buried, and if I take over the farm at his passing, it will be where I will be buried too.

This is where I sat. My feet dangled I've the edge and my forefathers graves at my backs. I looked out over the farm and could here the slight echos of my mother and sisters, and a soft fait wood on wood sound, Maisie out practicing again. No idea why, mother and father would never let her leave to go off and fight. "What's on your mind son?" My father came up beside me and sat down next to me, handing me his already lit pipe. "What makes you so sure something is on my mind?" He gave a slight scoff at the question "you only ever make the hike up here when you have something troubling you." I sighed heavily. He wasn't wrong.

"If this about your friend. The MacNessa?" I puffed on the pipe, savoured it for a moment and released the smoke. "Aye, among other things" I added. "I am leaving in the morning, before sunrise for the capital. I aim to ask for the Laird's aid in the battle to reclaim the MacNessa throne." My father simply nodded his head in understanding. "Couldn't talk you out of the other clan wars. Won't try to talk you out of this one. You do what you need to do son." I was slightly shocked. My father had always argued with me every time I would go off to fight in another clan war. Or when spring would come and I would return across the sea, he would try to talk me out of it.

"Why?" I had to ask. "Son. I want nothing more than for you to stay on the farm and help out, and even take over when I am to old. My father had a family of all sons and therefore had no worries about the farm. You are my only son and so I have put more responsibility onto you than my father did me. Soon I won't be able to keep up the farm work, naturally I would expect my son to do it, but both of your sisters have met strong healthy young men who are eager to help around the farm, and So I am not so worried about it anymore. I had feared they would run off and leave the farm one day but both your older sisters seemed quite keen on taking over the farm one day and so do their men, and I am happy with that." I sighed again. If that was the case than the farm would no longer be in the hands of a MacPherson, as it always had, the idea that it would be my fault hung heavy. I didn't want that.  But at the same time I had other duties. Duties to my goddess and promises I had made to friends and I aimed to keep them.

"I leave before dawn. I'll take the dogs with me. I may be gone awhile but I will be home in time for the yule." My father squeezed one of my shoulders firmly before getting up and walking away. I would sit up here a little while longer. The day was still young and I still had a lot on my mind.

I do not own any of these photos. All and full credit to the owners.

Chapter Two: The Old Man.

It didn't take long for things to get back to "normal" our first night home, as we sat around the dinner table, enjoying the beef stew mother had spent all afternoon preparing, I had been telling a story of one of Kampi, Ajax, Cypress and mine adventures when father chimed in. "Speaking of the Claymore, where is I" he practically glared at me. My father might not be much for fighting or violence, but he cares deeply for family, and the claymore had been a family heirloom. Maisie and I shared a quick glance. Swallowing my mouth full of stew I decided to leave out the part of my death by changing the story, but I also seized this as an opportunity to tell them about the Albannach cause.



"I lent it to a friend, as a promise." My father put his spoon down and focused all his attention on me "you have away a family heirloom as a promise? It had better of been a good promise" me and Maisie exchanged glances again but she continued to eat her soup in silence.

"I met a man over there. A man named Connor MacNessa. He is Caledonian, and laird to his clan, which was stolen from him by hi..."

"I am aware of the MacNessa story. Most clans are" my father interrupted.

"I have him the sword as a promise to come back and help him raise an army to take back his clan some day."

My father sighed heavily. "More fighting. Another clan war, and this time, it isn't even your clan. Why must you always race off to battle?" The disappointment in his voice was very clear. Where was Ajax or Kampi when I needed them? They were much better at words than I. I didn't want to get into an argument with my father on my first night back. I rose from the table and thanked my mother for the delicious food and made to leave the room. "We are not running a hostel, if you are staying here, you will be expected to work. You can help me on the farm tomorrow" my father added as I left the room.
I did not stay in the house. Unfortunately, there was not enough room. All three sisters still lived at home and my room had been changed into a small work space for my mother, who sowed and weaved baskets to bring in a few extra coin. Instead, I, along with all six of the dogs, stayed in the small cottage down by the small lake we had on the property. It was dusty and had not been looked after much. We never did use it. But it was dry, and once I got a fire going, it would be warm too.

That night I had a haunting dream..

I stood in a field. The grass was wet, I could feel it soaking through my boots and a thick fog hung all around. My only company was the sound of crows, which littered the Feild, feasting on many corpses. My hands were blood soaked, clutched tight between my fingers was my sword. At my feat lay the pale lifeless bodies of those I called friend. Kampi, Cypress, and Ajax all looked up at me with grey lifeless eye's. Fear gripped my chest, a fear I had never before felt. A Raven flew over my head and into the fog, I watched as it faded from view. Just as soon as it faded, the figure of a woman appeared from the fog. Slowly she walked across the field, her feet were bare and she was hardly dressed for the weather. She moved gracefully and with ease, as if she did not need to navigate the maze of corpses at her feet.



I do not know why I found this dreaming so haunting, but I had been having many like them since I passed through the Vail. I know my goddess when I see her, despite what form she might be in. I pride myself on knowing when she is there and that she is proud of me. But since she had to return me to the realm of the living, I have felt a distance between to the two of us. Not from my side, if anything, having been with her on the otherwise has strengthened my belief in her. The distance I feel is from her. Have I angered her? Is she trying to tell me something? What am I not seeing? A knock on the cottage door woke me from the dream. It was always the same. Just before she could reach me I would wake. I heaved a heavy sigh and wrapped my hand tightly around the pendant I wore around my neck. The three intertwined Ravens carved into it. The feeling of it brought me comfort. 



My father came into the cottage, the dogs pushing past him for the chance to run around the farm. "You ready to get your hands dirty?" He asked. "You ken I am!" I retorted as I stood and stretched. "Mom fixed you breakfast, get dressed and go eat. You will need to strength. You get to tend to the old man" my father smiled and left the cottage. My shoulders slumped and I sighed in frustration. Of course he would start me off with the old man.

Breakfast was delicious, oatmeal and eggs with a nice warm cup of proper Caledonian tea. How I had missed it. After a quick morning pipe in the garden, I set out through the front door. "Don't work to hard, your sisters are do home this afternoon." I walked almost half the length of the farm, and anyone who has seen my land knows, that is a lot of walking. I didn't need to ask father. I knew where the old man would be. Sure enough, there he was, under his favorite tree as always, laying in the grass and chewing away.

I walked up to the old man and gave him a sturdy Pat on the side. Sitting down I lauded against his bulk and relaxed, stretching out under the tree with him. This old bull had been on this farm his intire life. Was born here and would probably die here too. At one point he had been one of our breeding bulls. The best according to my father. The cattle who had been gathered by the old man, my dad claims were the best we had ever produced. But that was years ago and he was far to old for breeding. My dad says it was because of the such great cattle he gave us that he kept the old man around instead of having him butchered for meat. I don't know how true that was but I didn't care. Growing up this old cow had been my best friend. Even now I would proudly claim so. Last yule I had spent much of my time with the old man. Mostly because I was helping rebuild his barn, but still, I can remember countless summer afternoons spent sleeping under this very tree, resting against his bulk and just enjoying the day. I'd smoke my pipe and he would chew on grass.
"Alright old man, it's time to get moving." I jumped to me feet and dusted off my hands. I knew he wouldn't, but I waited to see if he would get up on his own. Never before have I ever met anyone or anything more stubborn than the old man. The first snow fall was always are sign that it was time to retire the cows to their barns for the winter. Sure we would let them out to roam, but after a long spring and summer of free grazing, the cows tend to forget that barns are a thing and when it comes time to use them again, they just don't want to. The weather gets to harsh here in Caledonia to let them roam free in the winter. Letting out a sigh I walked around to his backside and gave it a good hard slap. The old man looked over his shoulder at me and chewed his grass uncaring. "You won't make this easy for me will you?" He turned away from me. I swear, sometimes I think he is mocking me.
I walked back around him and gripped both of his large horns and pulled as hard as I could. His head lulled forward slightly but still the old man didn't move. I could sunder the ground and shatter shield walls with a single swing of a hammer, but getting the old man to move, forget it. 

I walked around to the other side and braced myself against him and pushed. Again nothing. I have taken on orcs, goblins, demons, abyssal Lord's, and even taken down two stone giants with only my sgian-dubh, all of that was nothing compared to getting this old cow onto his feet. "Cut me a break will ya!" I gave the cow a frustrated kick, which didn't seem to phase him in the slightest. He just laid there, chewing away on a mouthful of grass. "I am glad no one is here to see this" I muttered, my mind drifting back to the people of Dagger deep. "I should send you to fight our wars" I joked as I sat back down and leaned against him again. I pulled my pipe from one of my pouches and filled it.

I do not own any of these photos. All and full credit to the owners.

Chapter One: A return home.

It has been just over a fortnight since I returned to Caledonia. Just over a fortnight since I returned to the land of the living. Travel by airship, although faster than by sea, does not do much to settle the nerves. By the time it finally "docked" on the shores of my familiar and beloved homeland, it had already begun to snow.

The carriage ride home was quiet and slow. Maisie and I had not talked much since I walked through the Vail. She had done something stupid and taken her own life, thinking that is what would be needed for me to come back to the land of the living. She is young, and the magic in Arrakis is different than it is here. She is home now, however, and now she can go back to her life the way it was before she was foolish enough to play with the fairy stones.

As the carriage bounced along the rocky road way, my heart hung heavy and my mind drifted back to Arrakis. Or rather, to the friends I had left behind. Kampi, Ajax, Cypress.. I couldn't help but wonder what they were all up to. I had left a letter and a small gift for kampi, I would have sent a letter to Ajax and Cypress as well, letting them know I was alive, however, I would not know where to send it, and paying someone to find them and deliver the letter was pointless. If Ajax did not want to be found, he would not be found.

All those heavy thoughts left my mind as we rounded the bend and looked down on the family farm. Even from the distance we were, I could see father out tending to the cows, smoke rose from the chimney of our old family home and I couldn't help but smile at the scene. Finally, after such a long year, I was home!

As we grew closer to the farm I could no longer contain myself. Taking in a deep breath I let out a loud battle cry. Creagh dhu echoed loudly in the valley. I could see my father stop and look toward the road. He gave the last cow a firm slap on the backside and made his way toward the house. The front door whipped open and I could see my mother exit the house, still washing her hands on her apron from whatever meal she might have been preparing inside. After her, six wiry haired Deerhounds came bounding out the front door. I jumped from the back of the moving cart and raced toward them. I love my family, and I miss my home, but I missed my dogs the most. With no claymore or hammer to way me down I met up with them no problem. I dropped to my knees and was plowed over easily by the bulk of all six of the dogs. There was not enough love to go around, right there on the cold wet ground, the seven of us rolled around in a mock wrestling match in the snow, which continued on well passed the carriage passing us. 

By the time I had reached the house, mother had Maisie wrapped in her arms and was well on her way to crying. Father approached me with a firm hug and a "thanks for looking after your sister." When she was finally done with Maisie, mother turned her attention onto me, her huh was just as tight, but she had no years for me. Unlike Maisie, Mother knew where I was, and of all the years I have been a Nomad, is used to my coming and going by now. My sister's however, have never left home, except when mother and father sent them abroad for schooling. 

"Come, come, inside out of the cold, both of you!" Mother ushered us into the house, which was warm, and full of the smells of a cooking stew and crackling fire. I removed my coat and went to hang it on the hook but mother stopped me, "I won't have you hanging that thing on my walls after you have just been rolling around in the mud with the dogs, here give it to me" she grabbed it from my hands and pushed me and Maisie into the centure room of the house. I was all to happy to kick my feet up infront of the warm hearth and have a pipe with my old man, well Maisie went upstairs for a warm bath. Something neither of us had had since leaving Arrakis.

I do not own any of these photos. All and full credit to the owners.