The Gauntlet Is Cast

Vortigern's letter was enough to anger anyone thanks to its decidedly insulting language and obvious intention to incite the reader to rash action; Eirian was far from amused herself when Ruadhan stormed in with a growl of fury. The scroll could only prove worse, she was sure. The man was bold to the point of suicidal, but that only confirmed her worst suspicion - the only way that he would ever stop was when he was dead.

Grimacing at the question, she rose involuntarily. "After shooting his horse from under him, stripping Sir Donal of his armor and sword, he then paraded him around in his undergarments before the Cruach men as part of his effort to humiliate the man. If that was not enough," Eirian's eyes flashed with genuine rage, "Vortigern crushed his sword hand and proceeded to make Donal walk back, broken and bleeding. The man is a monster, though that is a mild description of him. And he obviously thirsts for war."

She glanced past him to Laird Penrose, drawing both men to one side. "The question is, do we attempt to reason with him, trick him into calling the banners for a vote, or engage in a war that will cost us all dearly." There was no good answer to this problem, Eirian knew, but she wanted to hear what both had to say.


--


Ruadhan Connell

Ruadhan was not the only one suffering pangs of guilt over the knight's maiming at the hands of Vortigern Cruach. Eirian was angry, but more, she was disgusted at the wanton display of violence for no more purpose than self aggrandizement. She knew what sort of man Vortigern was, had seen the evidence numerous times, yet refused to believe that one human being could be so callous as to deliberately destroy a man's livelihood over words on a parchment.

She would never make the mistake of thinking the Cruach laird a human being or a man again. He was a monster, an inhuman creature with no regard for other persons.

Controlling herself with an effort, she gave a sharp nod to Ruadhan's words. "We owe him no less. A place will be found for him, no matter what, with the Cadags." In that regard, Eirian spoke for Merthen, knowing her brother would support her decision on this point. He was a laird who had a care for each and every man, woman and child under his banner.

Listening as the two Lairds spoke, she was silent as he confirmed what Vortigern wrote, her lips forming a thin, grim line. Vortigern was a man who knew how to play the game well, she accepted, yet... "Except that the fool does not think past the moment, Ruadhan. Vulcanis tried to be independent and paid the price in the blood of its children not once, but twice. We are a proud people, no question, yet pride does not fill the belly, keep roofs over heads or treat the sick. Independence is a dream Vulcanis will not ever realize... but if war will not work, let us play on the pride of those he calls upon. Put it to the people and see who they feel will best lead Vulcanis."

It was not a perfect solution, it was a gamble, but preferable to war in Eirian's mind.


--


Ruadhan Connell

Stubbornness was not a virtue in Eirian's mind, since it often led straight to stupidity. The people of Vulcanis used their pride as a weapon, their stubbornness as a shield, yet did not seem to learn from the mistakes such stances typically caused. Frustrated by that vicious cycle, she refrained from a delicate snort, instead listening to Ruadhan as he argued against her posed idea.

She could not dispute that the Connell laird raised a valid dispute, but the alternate was - to her - far more repugnant. "I know it is a gamble, Ruadhan, but it is a risk I would prefer to test rather than move straight to war. If we can avoid painting the land with blood, shouldn't we do so?" Raising her eyes to meet his, Eirian added an appeal to her words. "I do not think that the vote will go in his favor. As Vortigern is spreading word, so too can we. Donal's tale will undermine a great deal of his so-called tale of woe."

Staring at him as he proposed speaking directly to Vortigern, Eirian was suddenly convinced that Ruadhan had gone stark, staring mad. "Take us more seriously? If anything, I think he'll laugh straight in our faces, if not spit in them." She flinched at his words, aware that the truth could be harsh. Compressing her lips into a grim line, she looked away to think for several minutes before she asked quietly, "Do you wish me to go with you?" Vortigern was not known to be a respecter of women, but Eirian was not afraid of him either.


--


Ruadhan Connell

They hadn't made it political, Vortigern had with his letters that were little more than propaganda, full of twisted half-truths at best, and lies spun to make himself look the savior of Vulcanis. The two of them, along with Lord Penrose, had done their best to treat with Vortigern Cruach as clansmen, to sit down and speak like honest people of Vulcanis, but the Cruach laird refused, claiming he preferred the 'old ways.'

Eirian's gaze followed Ruadhan's to the tent where Donal was still being tended, her sigh echoing his. She felt the burden of responsibility where the Cadag knight was concerned, the blue gaze lowering as she nodded in agreement. She was as ready as she could be under the circumstances.

His comment on Vortigern not expecting her made Eirian look up. "You think not? I think that," she pointed at the tent where the knight lay, "was done as a message to me, Ruadhan. He deliberately damaged that man to flush me out and ensure that I was present. If I continue to hide behind other Cadags, he will just ruin them as well until I stand before that Cruach bastard." The words were hissed in a low tone, but there was no denying the bitterness behind them. She was beyond angry now.

--


Ruadhan Connell

"Some of both, I imagine," she replied shortly. "If I know Cruach at all, he believes Merthen is hiding behind my skirts, and that you seek to shelter me in turn. And aye, Aemrys as well." Eirian was increasingly displeased with how the entire situation was being handled, but it was too late now. There was no backing down for the three of them, and she knew it. The Cadags would not come out of this well, Eirian accepted with reluctance. Merthen would be fortunate to retain the lairdship of his own clan by the time all was said and done. He would not then retain the title of High Laird, nor would it go to his son. Glancing at Ruadhan, she gave a curt nod. "I have not forgotten."

The odds of it being a trap were good. Vortigern was nothing if not a crafty man, one who endeavored to leave little to chance. "We can rely on that, along with numerous accusations flung towards the Cadags for being murderers, users, and the like. In his eyes, we are to blame for every negative thing in his life. And Merthen's tie to the Crown Princess does not help, either." She grimaced, looking away with a long exhale. "But I will be damned, Ruadhan, if I let that insane, manipulate piece of filth drive Vulcanis into its grave."

--

Ruadhan Connell

Eirian's opinion on the Deverauxs was unknown to anyone, Merthen included. No one thought to ask her, so she did not offer it. As Merthen's advisor, she did not volunteer her thoughts to him unless they were alone. To some, it might be an abundance of caution, yet to Eirian it was the only way to be a woman in a position of influence in a man's world. She suspected that was not how the new Crown Princess handled matters, but on a royal level, the situation was different.

Watching Ruadhan, Eirian knew to keep her silence until either he asked a question of her or spoke where a response was required of her. Not because he would take it poorly from her as a woman, simply because he needed a chance to think things through. She'd learned in these past few weeks that he did not deem her inferior simply because she was a woman. That was a discussion for another time, however.

"You might be surprised how truly insane Vortigern Cruach is, but I will follow your lead in this," she replied quietly. "Penrose is already here. I speak for Merthen. What of the Vaughns, though? Aren't they deeply in the Cruach pocket, or is there some slim hopes that they see him for the madman he is and will finally turn on him?"

--


Ruadhan Connell