The Guest Sitting Room

Face burning at being corrected so by a shade, in front of a guest, the young man kneels to clean up the pieces of the plate he had dropped. As he does so he stammers, B..beg pardon, lady, for my seeming callousness. It were not my p..place to speak so. I m..meant noo disrespect. Will ye still be after takin a bit t..to eat, then? I can fetch another plate, quickly enough.

From her apartments, Caitlin emerged holding Alex close to her. The sound that shook the castle could only mean one of two things. Either an early spring storm with all of it's lightning and thunder or... a visit from beyond by her beloved brother, Hagman. She peered out a window as she passed. A glorious sun shone down on the meadow below. A gentle smile played on her lips as she pressed them against little Alex's head. Hagman, only you can make this castle shudder the way you do., she whispered. She kissed her son's head and made her way down and through the castle corridors.

Seeing Marie in a rush, mumbling as she walked she stopped. What's going, Marie? The elderly maid curtsied and spoke softly. We have a guest m'Lady. The Lady Trisalene has come to visit. She and your young cousin, Seamus, are in the sitting room. Marie looked around with caution. And... your elder brother Hagman has seen fit to appear for a look see. The woman shuddered. I'll never get used to his unannounced visits. At least Lord Alexion keeps to the family crypts. The head maid straightened herself and found again that composure she prided herself on. I have just served them a light meal. I will get a few more plates and return directly. I did hear the crash of broken china from there. Jah only knows what went on in there. The maid turned and hurried away.

Caitilin continued to the great entrance and then to the sitting room. She tapped on the door lightly and opened it a crack. Is there room for two more in here? Cait smiled at Tris as she entered. Welcome, Tris to Castle de Stryke. I am sorry I was not here to greet you earlier. This little man seems to keep me busy when I am here. Cait nestled Alex closer. I see that Seamus and Marie have been taking care of you. Cait smiled at Seamus as he cleaned up the broken dishware. I was told we had another visitor... I'm sorry that I missed him. I hope he didn't frighten you Tris. He can be gruff and fierce as a lion but has a gentle heart when it comes to family and dear friends.

Seeing his cousin Caitilin, and young Alex, enter, the young Scot nods politely, still cleaning up broken pieces of plate, and says "Ach, coosin. 'E just came oop. Poof! An' nigh scared the divil oot o' us." After a moment, and with the faintest hint of an accusing look, he murmurs "Ye ne'er told me he werre sae strict. Ugh...'E remind me o' me Da, an' Uncle Charlie too. Acted like 'e werre a Clan Chief, 'e did. Yeesh..."

His words hung in the air like the sweet smell of night jasmine on a warm summer's evening.

Seamus wrote:

"Ye ne'er told me he werre sae strict. Ugh...'E remind me o' me Da, an' Uncle Charlie too. Acted like 'e werre a Clan Chief, 'e did. Yeesh..."

Clan Chief? Somehow that title struck a chord in Cait's memory. She remembered some stories of Hagman's mother's family but he didn't talk much about it. Her elder brother was a quiet sort of man except when in his rage about the injustices of the English government. She shifted Alex from he right hip to the left. Dor sometime now carrying the two children was becoming a bit uncomfortable, her first born and the one she expected soon. Seamus? Tell me about the last Chief of Clan Rood. Who was it?

She took a seat and placed Alex on what lap that still remained and waited for him to answer.

Wrapping the shards of broken plate in a cloth, the young man gets a stricken look at Dame Caitilin's question, and turns his head toward the window for a moment. His jaw works slightly, and he can be seen to apparently blink rapidly for a moment. Turning back, he darts a discreet and slightly abashed look toward Lady Trisalene, then answers in a quiet voice. Uncle Charles werre, an' would hae passed tae his brother Ian, me Da. Then would hae passed either tae cousin Charlie, yer brother, or me, if he were passed wi'out his ain get. Passing round the table, he works quietly for a moment, setting out dinner for Trisalene, and pouring tea for both ladies, as he gathers his thoughts. Da said Uncle Charles werre a harrd mon, but just. Quiet of speech, excepting rare instances of anger. Da said only once in his life did he see Uncle Charlie raise a weapon other than in defense. Ma said he an' Aunt Jane raised her English son tae be the same sort of mon. Ma said, as well, tha' me Da an his brother werre cast of the same mould, as were all the elder men in th' family who I never knew. After a long moment of silence, the young man murmurs, When Ma sent me south, it were tae tell cousin Charlie tha' the torque werre his now, an' tae help him if I could. Why ask you, cousin?

Trisalene recovers slowly from the encounter with the ghost of a well loved spirit of this house. She finally comes out of her reverie. "Good eve my lady." She smiles and nods to Caitilin, then listens as the two converse.

Nodding and smiling to Seamus thankfully, she waits a moment after she is served dinner. Then, seeing that no one else seems to be interested, she nibbles at the food quietly while listening to the conversation... not wanting to interrupt. Her eyes glance to the little boy on Cait's lap now and then, smiling gently to him.

Alex played with the lose curls the lay on Cait's shoulder. His little fingers tangling and pulling as she tried to listen to Seamus. Caitilin loosed his hand more than one time during her cousin's accounting of the line of his clan's chiefs.

She accepted the cup of tea, careful to keep it out of the reach of her son.

Thank you, Seamus. Aye Hagman was just like that, quiet until he had had all that he could take. But mentioned something...a torque? What is that? Is it a symbol or an amulet that designated the position of chief??

She took a sip of her tea and Alex grabbed hold of the cup. Cait moved her hand quickly avoiding a spill.