Narrator:
Sir Raymond and Bill stop a man and a woman who claim to have business with Sir Richard. Sir Raymond looks like a poor knight who can barely afford his scale armour. Bill looks very cool, someone's retainer - and probably not Raymond's. Bill is too well dressed, and packs an ornate sword that looks to be worth more than Raymond, his horse and armour combined.
Sir Raymond:
I am Sir Raymond of Devonshire. You claim business with Sir Richard?
Brennan:
Business?
[he smiles]
I'm one of his friends and long-time traveling companions. My name is Brennan and this is my friend Maia. If you would let us pass...
Bill:
I'll escort you.
Narrator:
Brennen and Mia (and a pack of dogs, a wolf ....) meet up with Sir Richard's party and a rather unusual group: a knight even bigger than Richard, a priest, and three women, at least one of whom is obviously a relative. They recognize Richard, but there is a whole crowd of nobles and retainers with them.
Brennan:
Ho! ... Ho Sir Richard!
Narrator:
Richard turns in his saddle and sees Brennan and another figure trotting up the trail behind them. He nods to the big Knight and he relaxes visibly. They all dismount as Brennan and Maia ride up and do likewise. Two of Brennan's dogs, Zeke and Rose, frolic around his feet.
Richard:
Brennan. [he smiles and they clasp arms] Jack Brennan! What a pleasant surprise. I haven't seen you in ages! You're looking particularly hale! And Maia! What brings you both out to the hinterlands of McMannon?
Brennan:
I could ask the same of you! Maia and I are travelling west toward Castle Llughen.
Narrator:
Maia winces when he so blithely announces their destination.
Tabytha, interested in people and skilled in reading emotions, is the only one who really understands the significance of it. Those of the others who are familiar with Brennan's reputation snigger silently to themselves. Fortunately for all concerned, perhaps especially himself, Brennan is oblivious.
Tabytha : [laughs to herself]
Yes, there are all the signs - the soft look on his face, his body leaning unconsciously toward the small woman, the mingled tone of pride and incredulity... Hmmm. The great Brennan appears to be truly smitten. This will be entertaining!
Gloriana: [to herself, appraisingly]
Brennan and his women... Rather scrawny little thing. Wish I could get a better look at her face. The clothes aren't much, though that blue cloak is finely woven.
Sir Richard: [turning to the rest of the group]
I don't think you know any of my companions... this is Her Grace, Tabytha Wellington, the Duchess of Devonshire, my sisters Glorianna and Elisabeth, and Sir Hesketh of McKitrick. Sir Raymond and Sir Hesketh's retainer you have already met. Your Grace, would you have any objections to having Brennan join us this evening?
Tabytha:
Of course not. It is a pleasure to finally meet the famous Brennan in person. We were about to camp for the evening in any event, and I'm sure we can find room in the tents for the Lady Maia, anyway.
Narrator:
Maia, startled, glances up for a moment at the title, then looks down again.
Sir Richard:
I'm afraid that it is unlikely we can coax Brennan to sleep anywhere else but in a tree, Your Grace. I never have figured out how he does it, but...
Narrator:
Brennan watches Maia with concern. She hasn't said anything and seems to be withdrawing even further into her cloak. This isn't the Maia he knows. Without a word, she goes off to see to Shabash's needs.
However once the ladies' pavilion is erected, and the fire ready for dinner, she joins the equerry by the fire, where he has started to spit a roast and cook a pot full of vegetables and grains. Without asking permission, she reaches for the spoon and tastes.
Maia: [sputtering]
This is AWFUL. Here. Let me show you how to cook this properly. Move over.
Narrator:
She rummages through her saddlebags and comes up with several small pouches, the contents of which she uses to liberally dose the vegetable stew. Brennan grins happily - *that* is his bossy Maia, back again.
Gloriana: [to herself]
Somehow Brennan doesn't strike me as a man interested in domestic amenities. I wonder who this woman is?
Narrator:
After dinner (the vegetable stew was excellent, of course), the ladies rise to retire to their pavilion. Maia stays seated on the ground near Brennan.
Tabytha: [sweetly - she actually means it]
Coming, dear?
Narrator:
Two of the younger ladies in waiting whisper to one another.
Lady-in-waiting 1:
I don't want *her* in with us. She may steal things! Or have fleas!
Lady-in-waiting 2:
[giggles]
Narrator:
Tabytha gives them A Look which Nearly Turns Them To Dust, and they subside. They turn to Gloriana and Elizabeth for support, but Gloriana has a lesser version of The Look ready for them. Elizabeth is studying Hesketh for his reactions (as she says a somewhat prolonged good night to him).
Maia: [quietly]
No, thank you. I prefer to sleep with Brennan, off in the trees.
Narrator:
Squeals of delighted horror escape from the two ladies-in-waiting. What a scandal! Tabytha isn't having a good time, (a trace of sadness there?) she bites her lower lip to keep from saying anything as Maia leaves.
Tabytha: [unspoken]
Oh, but were it so easy.
Narrator:
The ladies take their leave of Sir Richard and the others, and move gracefully off to their pavilion. Gossip should be entertaining tonight! (Provided they live through the verbal lashing Tabytha has ready for them).
After a few moments of sitting quietly at the fire, Brennan breaks the silence.
Brennan:
We saw while following you that this has not been a quiet trip. Just what does bring you out here?
Sir Richard:
Saving maidens again, of course. [grins] Actually, I was following Glorianna and Elisabeth. They tried to sneak out of Arundel but made the mistake of telling Ariana, who was so worried about the whole thing that she told me about it. Besides, I needed to bring some people out to start working on the Chapterhouse on the estate that the late Sir George obtained for the Helm.
Brennan:
What are they doing out here, and why is the Grand Duchess present?
Sir Richard: [ticking the people off on his fingers]
Taby is taking a vacation from Devonshire at the moment. That's why Sir Raymond is here -- he came because Reg was worried about her, and won't leave until she returns. Sir Hesketh and his man are here with Elisabeth. Apparently he has been paying court to her. It may be a little awkward, but he's a good man. Elisabeth is on a general trip to improve her mood since George's death. Glorianna, though... that's another matter. She is here because she says something is about to happen. That's really why I have stayed as long as I have.
Brennan:
Something? Her intuition told her that an unnamed event was happening?
Sir Richard:
If you will. Except I'd stake my life on Glori's intuition.
[pause]
That's really all I know, Jack. I honestly hadn't thought about how close we were to the old Castle until you mentioned it. I wonder if that couldn't be the cause of it all...? Hmmm. So why are you off to Llughen?
Brennan: [looks thoughtful at Richard's comments, glances at Maia]
Well, I think I'm beginning to underst...
Maia: [jumping up and brushing at her lap]
Stars, that's HOT! And I'm soaked.
Brennan: [to himself while help Maia]
Message recieved! Seems like I do understand after all. Took me long enough. Guess I've had other things on my mind...We'll have to talk about this after I've had a chance to digest.
Narrator:
Richard waits patiently until the hustling is finished. After a few moments, Maia and Brennan sit again, and Maia begins discussing the local herbs. Richard listens for about 15 seconds, stands, and speaks quietly.
Sir Richard:
Maia, you may well have felt that you were being more polite this way, but personally I'd prefer a simple "I'm not at liberty to say". We don't know one another well, and I know you Druids are secretive under the best of circumstances. It was just a matter of curiosity at this point. If you decide you want to tell me about it, I'm an easy man to find. Sleep well.
Narrator:
Richard goes to his tent and Maia and Brennan mount once more and ride a ways into the woods near the road. Maia insists on finding a small stream before stopping for the night. The stream is too shallow and icy for a good bath, but she half strips and scrubs herself violently anyway.
Maia: [aloud, but to herself]
OTHERS!
Narrator:
She shivers, not only from the cold. Brennan stands awkwardly behind her, not sure what to do.
Brennan:
Did I do something? What's wrong?
Narrator:
Maia shakes her head, then reaches up, grabs a handful of braids, and pulls him down so she can kiss him on the nose. The look of concern on Brennan's features melts instantly into the dopey look that Maia has caught him with in the past. He realizes this momentarily and manages reduces it to a small smile and then washes up also.
Brennan selects a large oak, and swings up and begins tying and looping a thin cord in a circle around the tree using the outer edges of various mid-level branches. The cord spirals in quickly after the perimeter loop and terminates next to a wide fork. The thinness of the cord makes it nearly invisible in the dark.
Maia:
What are you doing? Starting a spider web?
Brennan:
A party the size of Sir Richard's will have attracted much attention. We cannot assume that we will not be disturbed tonight. Anything climbing this tree will bend the branches a little at the trunk, but lots towards the ends. That will affect the tension of this cord and awaken me. Wind has a different "feel" to it, so it won't bother me.
Maia:
[She looks pointedly at the dogs]
What about them? Aren't they enough?
Brennan:
Ol' Zeke and Rose here might be out exploring at an inopportune moment. This only takes a few moments and it'll make me feel better. Yes, I'm paranoid, but yes, I'm still alive too!
Narrator:
Maia shakes her head but continues to watch. Brennan goes on to secure another heavier line to a branch of an adjacent tree a little higher than the fork in the oak. He throws the rope over to the oak, and then loops it without securing it near the fork. If he uses it from the oak, he'll have a rough but fairly safe swing to the other tree. If used from the other tree, it'll pull loose immediately and just hang down next to the trunk.
Finally he finishes and comes down to give Erin and Zeke and Rose a good rub, scratching, and a hug for the night. Then he climbs back up carefully and settles into the fork with only a strap and a carbiner to hold him there. He watches Maia with interest as she pulls a Brennan-fist-sized knotted ball of rope out of her saddlebags. She untangles it, scrambles up his tree (nearly pulling the cord out of his hand), and ties each end to a tree branch - it's a hammock. Then she climbs down again, pulls out her down quilt, and takes it back up to the hammock, this time more gently. The cord still moves a lot.
Maia:
Maybe that's a useful trick after all...
[She snuggles into her new nest]
Never could sleep well in a tree until I made this. G'night...
Narrator:
Brennan seems to be wondering whether or not he should comment, and then apparently thinks better of it.
Brennan:
Goodnight Maia...
Narrator:
Meanwhile Sir Raymond takes time to pray and prepare for the evening.
Raymond:
Lord Bahamut grant me the strength to accomplish what must that Lady Tabytha be safe and return of her own accord to her husband and that I be given the opportunity to redeem myself to her. Please protect my homeland and my Liege Duke Reginald that I may return to them, and protect my father that he may live a long and healthy life.
Narrator:
That done. Raymond sets to taking care of his equipment at his post. Occasionally he walks the perimeter to stay awake and waits until Sir Richard sends someone to spell him for a nap.