Queens of Dawn...

#4 - Little trouble

The three of them finally arrive in Tara, where preparations for the coronation are underway atop a small hill. A grand stone with decorative cloth sits right at its center.

"Quite the event, hm?" Ciara mentioned, being absolutely right.

"Spared no expense, that much is clear." Bárid mumbled.

Some Irish man approached them. He was all worried and he was slightly panicking..

"Ara, my lady, one of the priests has gone missing. A violent mess is left of his tent. I fear something terrible has happened."

"Missing? Are you sure?"

"Could be nothing. Could mean danger. Where is Flann?" Eivor said with suspicion in her voice.

"He's not yet arrived."

"That gives us some time. Ciara, act as if nothing were amiss. Bárid and I will look into it. Where is this tent?" Eivor was ready to solve this little mystery before the coronation started.

"Up the hill, to the left."

"Be careful." whispered young poetess.

Eivor and Bárid walked up to the tent. Everything was messed up.

"There was a fight here." Eivor started to worry that if they didn't find the priest the coronation might be poisoned by these bad events.

B: "It is the eve of the coronation and already trouble is brewing."

E: "Keep your wits and stay close. We do not know anything yet. Something dark happened here. We must follow the blood. The blood stops here. Where do these cart tracks lead?"

B: "This story is likely to have a poor ending." Bárid said with no more hope in his voice.

E: "I fear so, cousin."

They follow the cart tracks to a foggy swamp-like field to find a dead body. They could see some torches in the distance so that meant they had a camp up ahead.

E: "There. A cart up ahead. Looks like they hit a snag. Recognize him?"

B: "That is Senan. The priest. Bastards stripped him of his clothes."

E: "That camp up there. What is it?"

B: "Annagh Doo is no camp. Though it appears someone has made it into one."

E: "Let's go."

B: "What do you think?"

E: "The priest was kidnapped. They took his clothes. I believe whoever did this means to wear them."

B: "A disguise?"

E: "We'll soon find out. There, and that one is dressed as the priest. Follow my lead."

Eivor sneaks into this camp, not camp..Nobody can see her. She walks silently as a ghost. She's fierce and fast as Thor's hammer. She knocks one of the bandits down and slits his throat. Eivor turns around to see if someone saw her. She hides the body and continues.

With Bárid's help they kill all the bandits when finally they search the body of the "priest."

E: "Sent to kill Flann. The letter is unsigned. An unknown enemy. Come. We must bring news of this to Ciara."

B: "I'm with you. You handle yourself well, Eivor, I have to say. You really are no stranger to these sorts of encounters."

E: "You did not do so bad yourself."

B: "Aye. We stopped the death of a king on this day. If only we knew who was behind it."

E: "No idea who would go to such lengths?"

B: "You can take your pick of the Northern Uí Néill kings. Though it is the kings of Ulster who particularly dislike Flann."

E: "Different king, same story,"

They ride back to Tara. They need to share this horrible news with Ciara.

C: You're back. Any story?

E: "The priest is dead, and so too are his killers. Bandits. I found this. It's an order to kill Flann. One of them was to disguise himself as a priest, cut Flann's throat during the coronation."

B: "Right under our noses."

C: "Why take the risk? Why not poison? Or striking at him in his sleep?"

E: "Poison can fail, and to kill him in his sleep lacks spectacle. But your point is sound. The killer would not have made it out alive. He was ready to die. Whoever plotted this is intent on seeing Flann fall. We need to warn him."

C: "After the coronation. I will not have this gnawing at him. Flann earned this. He will enjoy it. Meet him afterwards at his quarters in Durrow. He will make time for you there. Now if you will take my excuses, I need to tidy up." she winks at Eivor.

"Come along, Eivor." Bárid leaves, but Eivor lingers for a moment.

"The water was not that murky, was it?" Eivor asked with faked worry in her voice

C: "You don't know much about the role of a poetess, do you, Eivor?"

E: "Enlighten me."

C: "I will." ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Eivor looked at her with sparks in her eyes. What game are you playing, poetess?

C: "Well, what are you waiting for? I asked to be excused, that meant you as well." she raised her eyebrows expecting Eivor to finally leave.

Eivor just smirked and left the tent right after. What fun.

The coronation

Eivor meets Bárid where all the people were gathering.

B: "I see no other kings here. News of Flann's inauguration has reached far and wide. Come, we should join them."

E: "Is that him? Flann?"

There was a large looking man with an epic beard preparing for the ceremony next to an abbot..

B: "Yes."

E: "What are they doing?"

B: "Blessing him. Abbot Eogan is the highest ranking official among the Christians. His blessing asserts that Flann is ready to fill the boots of his predecessor. It is all done before the Lia Fáil, a sacred stone that is said to endow the rightful kings with long reigns."

E: "Does it work?"

B: "Depends on what you consider long."

E: "Coronations are long. Where is the food?"

B: "You have not changed." Bárid chuckled

Flann pressed his head to the Lia Fáil, and Ciara began to walk down the aisle as she played her lyre and sang "Flann for Éirinn." From the crowd, Eivor admires Ciara's voice. Abbot Eogan presents Flann with a sword. The song and ceremony ends, time changing to a nighttime. Eivor spends the night looking up at the stars, thinking about one mysterious young poetess..