Mainchin Proclaims the Hero of Dunland

It\'s nearly midday, a full day after the early morning assault on Redvyrne Keep. All leavings of the Bear Clan are quickly being cleared away, scrubbed clean, and destroyed. Repairs are being made where neccessary and the injured are being tended.

Now that Jadiran Dunhallow has been chased away by his hurt friend, he\'s stepping out of the room and making his way down the hallway, covering a yawn as he meanders along. The archer is dressed far from his usual attire. His hair is a tangled mess, his clothes are only a step above something a beggar would wear, and he has the bandages tied around his wrists from the where the ropes cut into them. All around, Jade looks rather -scruffy- today.

[Mainchin(#15443)]

There is a bit of excitement, and the source is quickly discovered.

\"A wagon has just pulled up!\" One of the apprentice healers announces, carrying a sack full of something. \"With supplies! And food!\"

With a bit of fanfare, Fian Mainchin enters the Keep, dressed in his usual fineries, with his lovely wife in tow. He looks about, greeting folks with a friendly nod. \"Anybody seen my son, the hero?\"

Jade is just making it into the Grand Hall when this all begins, and a grin builds on his face when he sees the man make the notable entrance. After the initial excitement passes the archer quickly makes his way over to greet the Fian. \"Father!\" He calls as he approaches, his ego already much assauged by the small acknowledgment of his efforts. His green eyes drag to the elegant woman and the young man gives a less warm, but polite greeting. \"Mother.. \"

[Mainchin(#15443)]

Small acknowledgement?

The entrance of the Dunhallow couple is followed by a parade of people bringing in food, caskets of wine, much needed supplies and new blankets.

\"In your honor, son.\" He gestures at the food and supplies. \"Why, from what I heard, you practically captured the Keep all on your own!\" Mainchin cries, taking his son into a giant embrace, followed by hearty, manly pats on the back.

His mother, even goes so far as to give him a tiny smile, though the extent of her physical affection stops at a tiny peck on his cheek.

\"Come on, Tara, the boy deserves more than a frostbite on his cheek! Come, son. Sit at the table while the servants fix a banquet in your honor!\"

Jade would feel more dignified if he wasn\'t dressed as some bootless pauper. Still, his father\'s exuberant welcome isn\'t to be dismissed. His smile falters a bit when Mainchin wraps him into the hug and the archer looks confused for a brief moment, but he\'s smiling again soon enough. Maybe that approval has finally been earned. Jadiran has never questioned good fortune.

\"It\'s good of you to come, father. There\'s been limited supplies. I\'m sure Fian Desmond will appreciate your generosity.\" He then mutters under his breath, \"If he can ever pull his head out of his ass..\"

[Mainchin(#15443)]

\"Fian Desmond is not the Ceann of this clan, son. I\'m not doing it for him.\" Mainchin looks into his son\'s eyes. \"I\'m doing it for the clan. And for you. For us.\" There is a glint of something in his eyes as Mainchin\'s expression turns serious for a moment, but it melts away into a happy laugh.

\"Gahh! Tonight is your night. One you have earned with your courage and backbone! Come! You will regale us with your deeds of bravery over endless mugs of ale. And in your honor, I have invited every comely maiden in all the land!\" The proud father proclaims loudly, and makes his way into the heart of the Keep.

Some of the people are thrilled with the extra festivities, some are agreeing heartily, and of course there are those that are giving the occasional scowl and mutterings about Jade\'s cowardice and prisoner status.

The young archer simply smiles and soaks up the positive attention like a sponge. He walks along with his father, either missing or ignoring the subtle change in demeanor. \"I don\'t suppose you brought any change of clothes? The Fian has misplaced my belongings since the other night, and I\'m still looking like some filthy Bear.\" He hesitates, then adds in a quieter voice, \"And maybe we could talk about a few things I seek your advice upon... you know, with the women.\"

[Mainchin(#15443)]

Tara presses a handkerchief to her nose ever so delicately to hide the scowl underneath. \"Mainchin. Jadiran wears unclean clothes of the Bear clan. This simply will /not/ do.\" The offended woman turns and heads for the door, taking along with her a handful of servants.

\"There. She\'s finally good for something,\" Mainchin lets out a derisive huff as his wife goes to fetch something suitable to wear. \"Besides bearing me a son I can be proud of, that is.\" His smile returns again.

They find a comfortable table in the main hall which, although clean, seems to have suffered from the abuse of the previous occupants. There are deep gashes in the walls and missing or broken pieces of furniture. \"Looks as if our guests did not show much respect for Wulf property.\" Mainchin looks around, shaking his head. \"Alas. You avenged us, son. Now what it is that you were asking about women?\"

Jadiran grins as his mother disappears and is beginning to actually appear a bit embarrassed by all the unexpected praise. He follows Mainchin to the table and sits down, sagging back into the chair with a sigh of relief. Jade hasn\'t had much consistant sleep in the last few days. \"Well.. Actually, I want to talk to you about Desmond.\" He glances around, then asks in a lowered voice. \"Can\'t you pull me from his service? The man is trying to kill me, I\'m sure of it!\"

[Mainchin(#15443)]

The main hall is busy with those preparing for this sudden banquet. But they all stop to stare at Mainchin when he slams his fist violently on the table and yells, \"WHAT? THAT UNGRATEFUL DESMOND WANTS YOU DEAD AFTER ALL YOU\'VE DONE?\"

Jade is equally stunned by the reaction of his father and can\'t help staring in silence along with the rest of those present. \"Father.. The man had me tied and left under -guard- after I risked my life and came into the keep alone to rescue the hostages. Then he drug me in here after the battle as some common criminal and threatened to lock me in the dungeon. He\'s refused to let me leave the keep!\" The youth presses his case quickly, taking advantage of the moment for what it is.

[Mainchin(#15443)]

\"Just what kind of a moron is Desmond? A man who risked his life for his clan should be treated better than a common criminal. Tied you up? Lock you in a dungeon? Fian Desmond is delusional. Delusional!\"

Mainchin cries so that everyone in the Keep can hear. \"He fancies himself a Ceann when he has done nothing but to ride on the glory of the son of Dunhallow. You are hereby released from his services, son.\"

He catches his breath, and when he is certain that everyone heard his proclamation, he sits down. With a crook of his finger, food and drink are ordered to be brought forth.

\"Just you watch son. Fian Desmond will come crawling to you to beg you to return to his services. You are the hero of Redveryne Keep.\" He speaks with his voice lowered.

[Carac(#32384)] With most of the staff of the Keep still needing to be replaced, it is a young boy who skitters out from the kitchen with the trays holding the orders of the Dunhallow men. He nearly stumbles and drops the trays on two occassions, but eventually manages to get the food to the table.

\"Just call if you need anything else, m\'lords,\" the boy says as he deposits the trays before them. Not waiting for a reply he hurries off to take the order from one of the other tables in the packed hall.

The young rescuer of the hostages sits quietly, again surprised by the behavior his father is showing. He allows himself a small smile and nods in appreciation. \"Thank you, father.\" He says carefully, then his brow crinkles and he answers Mainchin in a similar lowered voice. \"Desmond hasn\'t painted the picture quite the same way. He acted as if he could treat me however he liked simply because you had said I was to serve him. It was an insult to our family... to you!\"

Jade glances around to be sure none are close enough to easily listen, and that\'s when the boy brings the food. He waits until the servant moves on before speaking again. \"He already fancies himself Ceann. He acts as if the keep is his, and Bledrann was hit on the hard so hard in the fight that he can barely think straight. He won\'t be able to object. I think Desmond assumes you\'ll blindly support him.\"

Mainchin rubs his chin thoughtfully, thinking over what Jadiran has just said. For a man who had been ranting indignantly at the top of his lungs for the past half hour, Mainchin shows amazing composure. Not only is he not out of breath but his face is barely flushed.

\"Desmond will pay for his insolence. Ah, here we are.\" Mainchin says darkly, then his face breaks into a bland smile as he catches sight of something over Jadiran\'s shoulder.

It is his wife returning with a small army of women carrying bolts of fabric, trimmings, leather belts and spools of thread..

\"Jadiran. I sent for your clothes back at Dunhallow but in the meantime, these women will stitch you something suitable for tonight\'s festivities. Mainchin, I do hope your little talk is through. Jade needs to be dressed properly.\" Tara states matter of factly. \"Come Jadiran. I have set aside a room.\"

Jadiran is just reaching to enjoy some of the food that was brought when his mother returns. He follows his father\'s gaze, twisting around to look and gives Tara a smile that\'s polite, if not heartfelt. \"Thank you, mother. I\'ll be there in just a moment.\" He promises, then looks back to Mainchin. \"Father.. if you talk to Bledrann, promise me that you won\'t harass him with your matchmaking. Please? He\'s not well.\" There\'s true concern in Jade\'s voice for his injured friend, and as he stands, he adds. \"He can\'t remember anything of the battle and he\'s suffering from horrible headaches.\"

[Mainchin(#15443)]

Again, Mainchin strokes his chin thoughtfully.

\"Son, after what you did for the clan, you are entitled to choose any woman of royal blood. I take back what I said to you earlier. You have proved me wrong.\"

His smile as he listens to Jadiran\'s plea is difficult to read. Some may say it is one of boyish mischief, while others may see something else. \"I promise not to meddle into Elidh Faol\'s affairs. But in turn, you will leave the services of Fian Desmond and go aid House Faol in any way you can. Ah, you best go to your Mother\'s before she starts throwing a fit. Who knows, she may even raise an eyebrow. Wouldn\'t THAT be the end of the world?\"

Jadiran lifts his brows, surprised yet again, but a smile is not far to follow. Truely the young man is pleased now, \"Thank you, father. I am more than happy to be at Bledrann\'s side.\" Given the old friendship the two share, it\'s likely not news to Mainchin. He twists to look at his mother again when she\'s mentioned and finishes standing and stepping away from the table. \"I\'m ready! I\'m ready!\" He says quickly, before she can say anything, hurrying to go off with the woman.