Politics versus Families

[King Adam Aberdeen I]

Politics… days and weeks of it... The two men of Turas Lan sat in meetings of Dukes, Lords, and Kings… Skye was a powerful country that now led the way toward Gaelic Renaissance and those who once opposed, now sided with those of Skye. Norway, a brethren to Skye had signed the alliance and Germany was expected to sign a document as well. France, an alliance with Scotland was now extended to Skye as well. Italia and the Papal States still argued about Skye’s allowances given to pagans, yet Adam was unyielding to the ways of the Church.

Politics… he hated it… he was a warrior, not a speaker of words or a leader of policies and ideas… but his friend needed him… and he was there… He had seen Adam stand before men, and his mixed accents of Scottish and English made him smile. Adam was not a man of arrogance nor greed… but his work for profiting Skye amazed him. He had watched Adam try to sway the powers, those long-seated by lineage and blood, and often succeded save the English… they wanted the world for themselves…

Arguments led to opposition as Adam stood before the various Papal representatives, his English words tinted with the Gaelic credence he had acquired…. “Ah shall not be swayed yer Emminents… Skye is a free land, free from those of the Church unless they wish tae… Pagan, Jew, Catholic and Protestant are free tae worship any means they wish… and aye, even before yae have the chance to speak, the religionless have freedom tae dae as they wish…” he holds the Laws of Skye in his hand, waving them… “Skye is free, and ye may trade with us be it spice ‘r scholastics… but ye nay shall bend our hand in religion… vote agin us or with us… yers tis for the decision.” then he sits back down.

The Vienna Accords were another coup for the Lord of the Isles… currencies flucated with the rise and fall of Kings… the world of free trade stood at the doorstep of fruition… but many lands were afraid to step into the future… Adam and Dmitrii stood on the floor of the room looking about at those seated, many discussing what had been said over the last few days… Then Adam spoke… “Lords, Duke, Barons, Kings of the lands… we are but a vote away from the future. I have offered a new trading system… currency that is backed by gold… a common currency that shall be good in all countries, able to buy what yu need… Ah knaew yae nay trust one another, but as a new player, Skye leads the way… The Griffon could be the path of least resistance… sae what say yu?” then he sits down next to Dmitrii who had sat earlier.

Two letters in one day… Adam smiled as the messenger handed him the letters. Actually one came days prior but Adam and Dmitrii were busy with Skye’s future. “Dmi, ah feel we are close to accomplishing what we want…” his hand held the letters as he spoke to his best friend, confident, and member of the court. “Ah shall bae glad tae gae home…tis long we’ve been away…” Long it had been…nearly two months… and so much was at stake… He sat back in the chair and sighed heavily…

Almost two months had passed since he last saw Willa… that evening in anger and hurt feelings… Now the letters they wrote often made him feel elated… he had professed his feelings for her, and she had told him she would wait for his return to speak hers of him… THAT, all the more made him ready to go home, and wished anything to get them home.…

“A hug, a kiss on the nose, another hug and then run off, stopping briefly to wave before she disappeared…” Adam explained to Dmi one evening about Edme, as they sat drinking ale after discussing the days lectures… “Ah cannae believe she is growing sae fast my brother…” then he smiled bright… “And Aodhan… aye, he be growin’ strong with each passin’ day… He shall bae a fine knight and Lord one day…”

“Da M’Lord, she shall be a fine Lady one day…” then he smirked at what thought – His child? Would she look like her mother? …again he thought of Willa. “Da, Aodhan is a fine swordsman… with a fine steel, he will be one to beat… much like myself M’Lord… and a handsome man, none like his Papa…” then he winked at Adam and laughed.…

Then the two men clanged their mugs together and hefted a hearty drink and continued reminiscing, the letters to the men held in their laps, ready to read in the their own solitude.

[King Adam Aberdeen I]

Sitting around the table, Adam and Dmitrii are drinking lightly… just enough ale to settle the frazzle of a hard day at politicking… When Adam opens the first letter from Bess…

My Husband, My Beloved:

In your absence, we have encountered many things. Enemies of Avaria launched an attack 'pon their encampent on our land. Since then, the enemy has vanished, and we have been in an effort to hunt for the missing, gather the dead. An explosion of an Avarian warship burned down one of our warehouses, two ships in progress, and a portion of the unwalled harbor. That portion is small, but the concentrated damage sees larger than it is. A loss of life on our part seems minimal, and none of our men were lost in the skirmish the Avarians found themselves in. The General was inflicted a poison wound, their High Ranger hurt by steel.

Two of our ships have been ordered to escort them home when they are well, though they shall not take part in the war of the Island, only open conflict on open water. I have no time to say to you all details in one note, though I bid you tell me of business on the mainland. How fares talks of money, commerce? I have had wind of some mighty doings in Edinburgh.

I await your return anxious, my love, as a wife. Worry not for us, for despite all we are well. We are to be made aunts and uncles again, as Aislin and Eamonn are expecting their second child. Of your own children, how they miss you. A pair of weeks away and your son is ready for greater education thatn we give him, and your daughter makes sentences, speaking now for hours on end it seems.

Faithfully Serving and Awaiting Your Return,
Beathag.

First a frown at the attack on Skye soil… then the smile about anxiousness for his return… ah yes, he was anxious… and the anxiety was beginning to boil over into the politics as heated debate… with Adam taking all and giving none… He was bound and determined to forward Skye for all she was worth.

Looking to Dmi, “Seems that some pirate attacked the Avarian encampment… but knaewin’ Bessie Eve, she probably had much tae say and dae…” winking at Dmi…

“Da M’Lord, Lady Bess is quite the woman… too bad she didn’t take a liking to me…I saw her first…” he teased his best friend. “But I feel I shall be quite happy with Lady Willa…”

Laughing Adam retorts… “Aye my brother, but ye had yer chance… besides, yer too hot tempered for the lass anyways… she’d ‘ave knocked ye on yer arse…” then both men start laughing… No telling what both men told one another in the privacy of their rooms.

The maid wrung her hands together nervously, her eyes welling with tears..did she speak it? The head of the household bade her say nothing, but the Lady was close to the family. Betraying the wishes of one, she hoped to enlighten them all. "My ladies..it was an accident..a terrible accident." She told the story of the children playing in the garden with a nursemaid, hiding in the foilage, over the beautiful flowers..down to where a fountain filled a small pool. Edme had toddled over, and no sound was heard there after. Thinking the babe had hidden, Aodhan and the nursemaid searched until the little lord's cries were met with the nurse maid's screams: Edme had slipped into the pool and drowned. The Duchess would have known the moment it occurred..only no one could find her. White hands came to a face grown to ash. She was but a baby! Turning her head to face Brennah, over her shoulder she saw Caden, taking hold of him as the maid blubbered the tale again… "We..we were told to be silent...until she was found.." Eirian looked to her, "Was no one summoned? Neither her brother, her sister in law? Was nothing done?!" The maid whispered for fear she'd lose her place, and with Sleat gone...what home had she? "The....The Duke is not home...my lady..sir..and no one wanted to make a fright...with all that was going on.. Oh please don't tell the household head...she'll be so cross with me..." Eirian was insistant… "Lead us inside..you know where she would have gone...go!"

"WHERE IS MAH DAUGHTER?! MAH...MAH SON..WHERE ARE THEY...AODHAN?!" The Lady Griffin was frantic for want, for the needto feel the weight of her babies in strong arms. Would the Gods dare do it - a promise broken - the lives of the young recompensation? Eyes began to look this way in that, enraged, confused..as if not understanding why her cry did not produce her children to her side. Danae's wisdom was all for naught, deaf to logic, only instinct prevailed. The same that swung the axe was now only that of a mother..a woman. Too often was a woman of arms forced to choose which she would be. The steward admonished the slip-mouthed servants who blathered it before the woman still dirty from travels. Aodhan's cries echoed down the hall..he fell by the door, held close by Aida. There was one.. but where was Edme? It wasn't until Maahes took hold of her did the raging begin to melt into tremor's the Beast felt under his thick hands. Shock… that he should do so..the undeniable power in it seemed to bring the cries down to whispers as the black-blue bruised arms fell to her side... slowly creeping round him as the world began to spin. "Please... Please... please... make them show meh my children... m'son.... where's mah daughter.." She whispered.

"...N..nay. Ah..can't. believe.." Vocal chords shunned the feeling of rubbing against one another, making her gag between words until she shut her eyes, commanding control as much as she could. She wouldn't faulter, though her body had been thrown down. She wouldn't black out, though her eyes swam in a confused haze. They had circled one another in pride..but none could have forseen that the man who spurned all touch, who had,like she, thrown off hands that tried to give clarity and restraint..would be the one that held her. "Where...is. ma..mah girl."

The sight of a body was not new, driving over them, riding around them..walking through the killing fields as if carnage bloomed like spring flowers, blood pouring out like nectar. But the body of a child? None of them were really prepared for the death of an innocent. Her fingers came to her mouth, moving up to the brow, to the chest… forming the sign of the holy cross over her personage. "Christ have mercy, Mary have mercy.." She stepped back to allow the precious, lifeless little bundle to be brought forward. One man was being rewarded with the voice of a child, his precious babe. Elsewhere, a small candle had been smote out. Only three servants remained now: Kendrew, Aida, the woman holding Aodhan at the far end of the hall, and Kendrew, the Duchess' guard. They began the day held fast, and again, Eirian would catch Brynna's hand.

Aodhan to the rear, Edme advancing, reality became juxtaposed in a dream. A requiem to a life that would no longer flourish. No laughter, no bright smiles. She slept, did she not? No, for the bundle was stark still. Her eyes fluttered and an ungodly energy proved to be the thing holding her erect. Where she ought to have collapsed in the place where two feet stood, the thud, drag of a limp became heard across the stone as she went the distance to affirm by sight what the heart of a mother was feeling. Edme was not of her blood. Adam had found her, the survivor of a Lowland skirmish, her body protected by the shield of her dead mother. Adam became her father, and Beathag? She fell in love with the child at first sight, her husband shortly there after. It carried her half-way before the inevitable gravity forced her down to her knees..but the hands waited, expectantly...trembling as they were..

Then comes the opening of the second letter… it was not from Bess… The seal broken, the letter unfolded… reading… Adam dropped his cup… the remaining ale spilling to the floor.

“What is it M’Lord? Is it the Avarians? Is there trouble at home? Is Willa alright?” All possible scenerios passed thru his mind… save one…

Adam’s eyes began to tear… the letter slipped from his hand… once again this man would have to steel his heart in order to move on… Not of blood, but of heart… now she was neither but a memory. “Ah bae sorry my brother, Ah must go bea alone…” then he got up and walked to his room… behind it barring the door.

Dmi picked up the crumpled letter and read it… “Ah Chort!” he exclaimed, then he looks toward Adam’s room… Kneeling, he makes the Rus religious sign of the Holy Orthodox… his hands folded around the letter. He begins to speak Russian… “Holy Father… Mother Mary… Deliver Lord Adam from this pain… I know he asks yu not for his own, and often battles within himself for yer denial… But I, a simple servant of yer Will, asks for forgiveness for him… and bless him… show him the path to freedom from pain… I know what pain like this is… and yu have shown me the Light and a path of happiness… now spread yer Goodness to him Oh Lord… AMEN…” then as he kisses the cross that Tory had blessed for him, he remembers hiw own wish to return... and sighs. Then he lays down upon his bed and weeps for Adam, Bess, and Aodhan…

Adam walks ghostly thru the streets of Edinburgh, making his way to the docks. As he nears the Aberdeen ship, the guards spot him and immediately goes to get the Captain… Upon the deck, Adam’s eyes are lifeless… The Captain questions not his Lord’s motives… Adam speaks slowly… “We sail at high tide Captain… Have someone gather all my things and alert Lord Zurban…” then he walks off as if in a daze.

The Captain did not waste time… he immediately began preparing the ship and sent word to Lord Zurban. Dmitrii was not asleep, and upon word of Adam’s state, he informed the messenger that all would sail as Adam had directed… Dmitrii knew a bit of what Adam was feeling now.