[Fionn]
The dark-haired highlander shifted in his seat and waited for the storytelling to resume before rising to slip from the hall. The Hillrovers, like most of the highland clans, had many a bloody tale behind them, and the storytellers seemed ready to cover every one of them that eve. But his bladder wasn't going to last through the entire performance, and a quick trip to relieve himself seemed in order.
[Snaig/Iogan/Sannt]
As Fionn left the hall a subtle signal was passed to Snaig Hillrover, Geill's youngest nephew, who quickly signaled his brother Iogan, and his foster brother, Sannt. The three young men spaced their leaving so that they wouldn't all be seen together, but once in the halls they joined together to seek out the Fhaolain.
When they saw what he was about, Iogan moved to follow up on similiar business. Casually he glanced over at Fionn and said, "Would ye be minding if I had a word with ye?"
[Fionn]
Fionn finished his business over the wall of the Dun and refastened his
trousers, keeping his hands away from the long hillsman's
knife bound at his
waist. The three hadn't taken threatening stances -- still, he was
keenly aware of the common view of the Fhaolains, and though the clan did
have its allies, the Hillrovers weren't among them.
[Snaig/Iogan/Sannt]
"Tis a bit of business I'd like to offer ye," Iogan said, the elder of the three, whose eyes showed a hungry intelligence similiar to Geill's. "One that should suit ye well."
[Fionn]
"Really?" Fionn looked the three over, wondering whether it was the Dun itself, or the way the other men kept glancing at each other, which made him uneasy. What sort of business would be suited for a Fhaolain? Something unpleasant and sly, he was sure. Something that would suit Niall.
[Snaig/Iogan/Sannt]
Though Iogan stayed where he was, the other two warriors had moved to block Fionn's leaving, but none had gone for their weapons. Iogan said, "It tis said that Fhaolain's are as cunning as a mother vixen, which makes ye of use to us."
He leaned closer and
said, "And in trade I've a bit of news that would be of use to ye - ye
may be guest's of Acair's girl-get, but ye're an
embarrassment to his
alliance with the MacRories so he's let it be known that should ye get
lost in the Dun he won't be searching too hard.
'Course Acair's been an embarrassment to the clan fer a while now, so I don't take much stock he what he says..."
[Fionn]
"I hae noo doubt young Hector wude slip a blade 'twixt me ribs," Fionn answered. "Nor the Hillrover chief wude count him friend for it." One truth and one untruth, both as smooth from the Fhaolain's tongue, a gift from Luatha, mother of lies. "But ye know the honor of the Hillrovers, and their shame for a chief who took his wife among the bedraggled seafolk, is nae my concern."
-This is a cold place, Luatha,- he remarked silently to his clan's fey mother. And colder still would have been her smile at the thought of more blood on its stones.
[Iogan/Snaig/Sannt]
Snaig chuckled and said, "And leek what he bred - a get who doesn't knew her place."
Sannt elbowed Snaig and hissed, "Keep ye're voice down - Ye're loud enough the Geds themselves well 'ear ye." His own brown eyes showed nervousness, combined with eagerness.
Iogan said, "We'd be needin' seme Fhaolain wits, and heve ne use fer MacRorie pride. If ye're willing to walk with us - a jeb will be ye'rs and a worthy purse."
[Fionn]
"I will walk wi' ye," Fionn agreed, showing only what hesitation might be expected of one worried that perhaps he himself was the object of the trap. But if these three had wanted to do him in, this isolated place where they had chosen to relieve themselves would have served well enough. Refusal, at this point would be unwise; he might not be the cleverest of Luatha's line, but he knew well enough that having broached the topic this far, the three would not allow him to simply turn and walk away.
[Iogan/Sannt/Snaig]
"Aye then," Iogan said, beginning to lead the other three through the back halls to the stables - and a hidden room.
[Beud]
Beud had anxiously done her tasks - which meant that none got done well, and about half way into the first epic tale she was able to make her escape to the stable. On her way she was able to steal a winesack of the wine for the lower tables, since she didn't take the finer stock - there would have been questioning over that!
She crept quietly into the stables, which were dark, and the only noise came from the shifting of horses. "Yeung sir?" she said, daring to call only slightly above a whisper.
[Rudolpho]
Having gotten to the stables before Beud, Rudolpho had spent the few extra minutes witht the horses. He pat a few of them a little and found a couple that he wouldn't mind having in his "inventory", and so collected some hairs from them. He heard Beud enter the stables and stepped out of the stall that he was in. "It's Rudolpho. I'm glad you could come. Is that wine?" He smiled as headed to where he had put the pudding down. "I brought some dessert I thought we might share...if you want."
[Beud]
"Indeed it tis," she
said, shifting the winesack so it sat saucily on her hip, "And I would
indeed like to share some dessert with ye...." She
wished she had been
able to put the right lilt to her words that her Mam did, but she didn't
let it worry her long, she added, "I'm serry, Yeung Sir, thet I cen't offer
ye a better trysting place."
She nodded towards one of the piles of fresh hay.
[Rudolpho]
Rudolpho walked over to the pile of hay that she nodded to and sat down. "Oh don't be sorry. This is a very interesting place. I'm not very much for wine, but I'll have some if you will. You don't have to call me young sir either. I'm not that much of a sir really." He smiled at her. "My name's Rudolpho."
[Beud]
"I figured ye might not be," Beud said with shrug, "But ye're cleaned up and have nece manners." She went over and got a couple of tin cups that the stablehands kept, and settled next to Rudolpho. She squirted some of the cheap wine into the cups and said, with a wink, "What about that dessert?"
[Rudolpho]
"Thanks. I think that people should try to be as nice as they can to one another. That's why I try to be as nice to people as I can until they show me that they don't deserve it, or I have to um..acquire things." Rudolpho fumbled for the spoons he had borrowed. He pulled them out and offered one to Beud. I brought this pudding we can share. I'm sorry I wasn't able to bring anything else. I would have helped you with the serving but that would have looked bad because I was supposed to be a guest. So do you hide out here often?"
[Beud]
Beud nearly laughed, but not _at_ Rudolpho's naivete. But just at the delight of the situation - for he was actually a well-meaning lad, even if he was a pickpurse. The Chief's daughter did travel in some interesting company, and Beud would bet that none in that party were what they seemed. Except, maybe, the broken woman and the Fhaolian, and the wee babe.
She let die her next come-on, which had been something about "being 'nice' to her," and set down the wine mugs. She took the bowls and helped to dish out the pudding. "If ye had been a server - then me Mam wouldn't have leeked away at me slippin' out. Et's better thet they think ye a lordling."
The sound of men's low voices made her suddenly scramble for a hiding place. She understood that it could be folk on honest business, but then again - it might not, and instinct always said to take no chances.
Heedlessly she pushed both pudding bowls and wine cups into the straw.
[Iogan/Sannt/Snaig]
The three conspirators led Fionn into the quiet stables - leading him towards the tack room.
[Fionn]
Every moment, the situation made the highlander uneasier, and it did not escape him that the tack room was a nicely out of the way place to dispose of an unwanted person. But he had to keep reminding himself that if the three wanted to cut his throat, they would have done it already - and that perhaps the only way out of this ... whatever this scheme turned out to be, and it had the ugly taste of betrayal of the chieftain on it ... and back to Maeve would be to play Fhaolain mercenary for as long as possible. And hope for a chance to find a way for all three to be away from the Dun unharmed. "Ye said thair's a purse innit fer me," Fionn said in a low voice once they were inside.
[Iogan/Sannt/Snaig]
"Aye, there is," Sannt said, motioning the Fhaolain into the darkened tack room. There Iogan was already beginning to feel around in the dark, until he found the marked box he needed.
This he pushed out of the way, and indicated a ladder going down into what should have been dark - but the rungs were light with the faint glow of a nearby lantern. Men's low voices could be heard.
Iogan gave a low bird's call - then motioned Fionn was to follow him down. Sannt came behind the Fhaolain, with Snaig waiting to reposition the box and act as guard.
[Fionn]
"Divided how many ways?" Fionn asked, with a greedy hint to his voice and gleam to his eye. How many were there? And how many Hillrover, ready to betray their chief? -And what difference between them and Fhaolain?- Fionn asked himself as he set his foot on the first step down. Yes, Luatha would be laughing at this, as she had laughed at Niall's theft of Maeve from the MacRories. "The price shude be high to set myself 'gainst the Hillrover chieftain 'neath his very nose," he added, making certain the greed came through.
[Iogan]
"There tis more than enugh to ge 'round," Iogan said, as he brought Fionn into the light.
Which revealed Gairge
Hillrover, his own brother Pedric, and a man whose sandy hair and broad
faced declared him to be a McLenan.