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A feast like the one being held during Samhaine in the year of 507 had not been seen on [[Tisbury]] in many long years. Some speculated that Sir [[Cadry]] had not felt the inclination since the death of his foster brother, Sir [[Melkin]]. But suddenly messengers had ridden from [[Tisbury]] to kin near and far. Only kin had been invited and some speculated that the fading pagan was laying out plans for the future in case things should go wrong. Others claimed that now that [[Salisbury]] had a king once again Sir [[Cadry]] was sharpening his [[weapons]] and arming his men to start settling old scores that had lain dormant for too long. No one knew for certain. No one, but an unassuming man dressed as one of the servants, albeit in clothes that was a cut above the rest. Many men and women had met him during the years that had passed since he had been rescued from a bandit camp in the [[forest]] of gloom. Yet no one seemed to recall any pertinent fact about the man other than that he was sometimes seen helping the lord of [[Tisbury]] dress for a feast or possibly trimming the beard and hair of the selfsame lord. It was true that servants were supposed to be around when needed but otherwise unheard and unseen yet this man had made being a part of the background into an art. [[Guilaumme]] quietly observed the many pagan men and women assembled in the large, smoky hall of [[Tisbury]]. At the head of the table sat Sir [[Cadry]] and by his side sat his new wife [[lady]] [[Mati]]. At his other side was an empty chair as always but the plate and goblet in front of it was full as always. The rest of the seats at the high table was filled by [[Cellydon]] knights. Sir [[Yraen]], the heir of [[Tisbury]], was there as well as his younger brother Sir [[Fionnach]], a newly dubbed knight who was supposed to leave for King [[Nanteleod]]'s court after [[The Feast|the feast]]. Sir Dylan, nowadays an experienced [[Household Knight|household knight]] in the service of [[lady]] [[Ellen]], was the first of several young [[cellydon]] boys who gained Sir [[Cadry]]'s patronage in becoming squires and later on knights in [[Salisbury]], is also sitting in a position of honor. By his side sits Sir Nerthach who has served many lords as a mercenary knight and has made himself rich thanks to his silver tongue. The triplets Sir [[Ffinan]], Sir [[Fferyll]] and Sir [[Fflergant]] were the last to arrive just before [[The Feast|the feast]] was about to begin and quickly slipped into their seats like they had not a care in the world. At the other tables sits many other family members of lesser and greater distinction but [[Guilaumme]] quietly observes that only knights are accorded the greatest honor. He muses to himself that even though his lord is a dyed-in-wool pagan, he is still very much a "son" [[Aurelius]] and [[Uther]] in that he has embraced knighthood as the foremost sign of distinction. A generation or two ago other men would be sitting at the high table. It was fortunate that the knights sitting here had earned their titles through distinction rather than merely because of who their father was. It didn't hurt either that each and everyone owed Sir [[Cadry]] for giving the opportunity to proved themselves as squires. A young man quietly sidles up beside [[Guilaumme]] which makes the older man smile in spite of himself. His son is truly growing up and moves about quietly enough. He doesn't possess quite the same ability to fade into the background but on the other hand he hardly makes a sound when he sneaks of somewhere. "Claude, have you done as I asked?" [[Guilaumme]] ask quietly. "Yes father, I have listened and observed as you asked whilst helping Sir [[Yraen]] and Sir [[Fionnach]] dress and make ready for [[The Feast|the feast]]. Many of the other family members were speaking around them." "So, who do you think will be made captain of the guard now that Cannog is dead?" "Many seems to think that Gault will win the king-of-the-gravehill contest, him being the strongest and the toughest." "In this case I didn't ask for other people's opinions even though that is something you should always be aware of." [[Guilaumme]]'s kind eyes briefly strayed in Claude's direction. "I think that Brannag will be victorious in the end, for is far more cunning and will wait until the other's have tired themselves out, including Gault." [[Guilaumme]] considered his son's words as he watched the interplay and social favor trading that went on among the men and women sitting at the high table. All tried to maneuver and jockey for favor from the lord and [[lady]] of the manor, them being the heads of the clan. [[Lady]] [[Mati]] was quite a different beast than the former [[lady]] [[Tisbury]]. She wasn't unkind but she was far more firm with the servants than [[Brangwen]] had ever been. Many of the servants had called [[Brangwen]] by name and she had behaved almost like one of them. [[Mati]] was most certainly a [[Cellydon]] in her own right and spoke her mind like all women of the family but she maintained a distance towards most others. The only things truly dear to hear, was her daughters. The two that she had brought with her to the marriage and the little girl with the strangely colored eyes that was born exactly one year earlier on Samhaine eve. The priestess claimed that the little girl was fated but could not say if it was for good or bad. "You might be correct my son but I myself think that Morag will win in the end." [[Guilaumme]] mused The younger man seemed mildly perturbed by this statement. "How come? He doesn't distinguish himself above others." "Because he has an ability to make friends. I think several of the other kinsmen will help boost him to the top of the hill. What he can't win by cunning or strength, others will win for him because they want him there. I am not certain that our lord will like that though, I think he arranged the contest so that Gault would win." "Won't Sir [[Cadry]] be displeased with the outcome then and declare it void?" Claude asked curiously. "Not very likely. Our Lord is a very just man who feels compelled to follow the rules he himself has set up. That and the fact the he would not hear the end of it from the rest of his family if he reneged on his word. No in this case it will do our lord good to be a bit displeased because he will have the man most suited for the task as his captain rather than the man he wants." Guillaume concluded his analysis. Claude listened to his father's words and looked out over the room. Then he spoke hesitantly. "Father, I overheard some of the men speaking about the [[saxon]] prisoner." His eyes were fixed on a gold-haired beauty who many men desired even though she was one of the invaders. "About slitting her throat in the night? I know. Some guards who have their heads on straight have been posted to keep watch over her. We will not tolerate anyone breaking hospitality in our lord's house, kin or no kin." Even though [[Guilaumme]]'s eyes remained as soft and innocent as always, something crept over the lower parts of his face and made it look stern. "Why does our lord keep her father and not kill her or trade her away? His hate for the [[saxons]] is no secret." The younger man seemed puzzled. "Because our lord is playing a longer and more dangerous game. He intends to use her in order to regain his daughter. He has made a bargain with her in which he promised to let her go if she provided him with information about the [[saxons]] and helped guide him to the place where maid [[Gweneth]] is kept. I advised him to finished her of after she has completed her part of the deal. The lord said nay thou. Our lord has a rather curious sense of propriety and fairness. He also has a soft spot for women and outcasts and not just in the sense that he likes to bed them." As if to make a point, [[Guilaumme]] looked over to one of the furthest tables where a young woman sat by herself. She had until recently been a slave belonging to Baroness [[Pomponia]] but had escaped. The rumors even claimed that the girl was a witch. Whether this was true or not [[Guilaumme]] didn't know but he knew that his lord had sent out discreet requests to [[Nineveh]]'s daughter to inquire where the girl could be sent to learn. Suddenly Sir Nerthach rose from his seat and banged his goblet against the table and then spoke up. "As I am sure that you are all about as tired of toasts by now as I am I'll be brief. Since my last contract is ended I have decided to follow in the tracks of my betters." Here he held up his goblet in Sir [[Cadry]]'s direction whereupon Sir [[Cadry]] acknowledged the compliment with a small smile. "I intend to take to the roads in search of adventure." Many in the hall only grumbled instead of cheering. "As some of you might know, the arch druid, Emrys Myrddin has been sighted once again on this island. I intend to find him and to put myself at his service for as long as he has use of me." The buzzing in the hall suddenly grew loud indeed, for no one else had heard these news. Sir Nerthach only looked smug at having surprised everyone. [[Guilaumme]] and his son faded back into the shadows to make preparations. Their lord would not sit idle at these news. {{#setmainimage:Old-feast.png}}
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