A Bloodless Council in Caerdh?

[Olmys(#32384)] The dishes from the morning meal have been cleared away and the time has arrived for the Council of Fianni to finally meet. Though each is Fian is allowed to keep a few retainers present, the majority of those within the Hall of Fire are ushered from the room by the red clad guards.

It is as these are being removed that Fian Ruaidhri Mailduin enters, with *tap* *tap* *tap* of his cane upon the stone floor. Accompanying the Fian is his eldest son Calbhach and his grandson the young Fian Gregoir Laoghaire.

\"I hope I have not missed the first round of table throwing,\" Maulduin says as he settles himself into one of the empty chairs about the main table.

Ciaran is already sitting at the table, sipping a hot drink with a mild awareness about him. He inclines his chin to Mailduin in greeting, smiling, \"Good morning, Ruaidhri.. and to your family as well.\" The Fian of Ranich seems to be in a good enough mood. Sitting next to him is his uncle, Caileann, with Breveg left to stand guard should things get violent.

Caileann will turn at the sound of the tapping, giving the elderly Fian a nod of respect as he makes his way in. \"Good morning, Fian Maulduin. I see you are relatively unhindered by your mob today... A shame that they could not all be here, I\'m sure.\" The younger Fian accompanying him is also given a nod, but Caileann either does not know him or has no interest in speaking to him it would appear.

[Gabhran(#15443)]

\"Good morning, Father.\"

A freshly scrubbed face of Isobeil greets the formidable old man who seems somewhat odd without his usual of tag-alongs. \"I will be sitting in on behalf of my son Alois, for Fian Odhran and before any of you raise your objections,\" she glances at Maulduin in particular, \"Egan is my late husband\'s half brother. He has agreed I should sit at the meeting.\" She smiles smugly and settles back down in her seat. Standing behind her is the looming, lurking, silent figure of Egan, the blacksmith whose identity has finally been revealed.

Already seated and carrying on smalltalk is Diarmad who nods politely at the copper-headed patriarch and the Woman. \"I have no objections.\"

\"Well I do.\"

A terrible wheezing announces his presence even before he speaks. Fian Gabhran Kavanagh enters the room with no escort, not even his heir. \"A woman got us into this blasted mess and I\'ll be damned if I\'ll let another one take us down again.\"

[Brev(#30997)] Breveg stands silently behind Ciaran\'s chair, eyes narrowed as he counts the number of empty places to be filled. At Kavanagh\'s claim he raises one eyebrow, but says not a word. \"Laoghaire,\" he supplies the name quietly to Caillean with a glance toward the youngest Fian.

[Olmys(#32384)] \"A shame, he says!\" Maulduin barks with laughter as he nods in greeting to the two Ranich\'s. \"It is a blessing, is what it is. Though I did have to swear to them that I would not die while out of their presence.\"

He turns his gaze briefly towards Isobeil as she enters, but says nothing only dips his head in greeting. Upon Gabharn\'s arrival he turns fully in his seat. \"Kavanagh!\" he roars. \"You\'re still as ugly as nule\'s ass on winter morning. Have you given any thought to raiding my border like I suggested?\" he asks Gabharn. \"Nothing major mind you. Just a few quick strikes to thin out the brood a bit?\"

He turns then towards Gregoir. It is not so much a nod as a lowering of the eyes, that would most likely be unnoticed by most.

\"I agree with Fian Kavanagh,\" Gregoir says rising from his chair. \"There is no place for a woman at this council!\"

Ciaran\'s brows draw together when Isobeil makes her claim, looking as if he might object, but Gabhran speaks up first. The Fian of Ranich looks over towards the speaker and his eyes widen at the sight of the large, hulking Kavanagh. He blatantly stares for a long moment, then tears his gaze away to look back to the woman. \'If there is an understanding that she has no claim as Ceann, as she is only a regent until her son is of age, I have no objection.\' He leans over to speak quietly to Caileann, \"Though I wonder why Egan does not speak for himself?\"

[<#20237>] Caileann scowls at the woman briefly, but says nothing to her, just nodding along as Breveg speaks. \'He is young... But then, so is our Fian, and he has much wisdom.\' When Ciaran leans over, the tall man will stoop down closer, his expression unchanging as the young Fian speaks, and will murmur in reply \"The woman is Maulduin\'s daughter, so I do not find it surprising at all - my wager is that most of the power there lies safely with her.\"

[Gabhran(#15443)]

\"The Clan has enjoyed years of peace under a woman!\"

Isobeil barks back with venom. If she were any stronger, surely she would have been the first to flip over the table. But the table is made of sturdy wood and it would remain upright, for now. \"Fine. I shall withdraw my claim, then. But I will remember this outrage.\" She glares at Ciaran, at Gregoir and at Kavanagh. \"I suppose it won\'t matter that I am a woman when one of YOU need Fian Odhram\'s support in the future.\" She crosses her arms and sits back, fuming.

\"Enough of this. Let the meeting begin. I ain\'t got all day.\" Gabhran states. \"Let the old coot talk,\" he says, referring to Maulduin.

[Brev(#30997)] Brev listens to the nobles\' debate only when his own Fian speaks in favour of Isobeil\'s presence does a frown come to his features. \"Is that wise, Fian?\" he murmurs. But then the moment passes, and he shrugs.

Isobeil\'s words, however, bring a sharp retort to his lips, words that have no weight in this council but are perhaps directed merely to those standing in similar roles to his own: \"The peace of the grave. Only a woman could lose Mathain.\" Contempt echoes in each word.

[Olmys(#32384)] Maulduin\'s fingers shift on the table as he prepares to leverage himself up from his chair, but as they do Gregoir speaks up once more, and the older Fian pauses.

\"Not yet, Fian Kavanagh,\" he states. \"This woman has no place at our table, I say she be removed along with this bastard of Odharn. Neither should have the vote of Odharn, that should go to my cousin Alois\'s next male heir. Either myself, or my grandfather. Let one of us look out for our beloved Alois\'s best interests.\"

Ciaran watches, his eyes flicking back and forth between speakers as the argument goes back and forth. Isobeil\'s threat is met with a calm face and seems to phase Ranich very little. Gregoir\'s challenge has Ciaran sitting up. \"She has no claim to Ceann, Alois is the next heir. I\'m certain that the boy\'s own mother will be looking out for -his- best interests. A Fian cannot vote more than once.\" He states in a level, but forceful tone.

[Caileann(#20237)] \"I agree with Fian Ranich - let the boy\'s mother stay.\" With a sly glance towards Maulduin, he will continue \"Arguing all day about /this/ may not seem much of a thing to you, young Fian Laoghaire, but old men like myself and, I am sure, Fian Maulduin would rather not waste what time we have left - am I wrong? But it is up to the Fians, and I am sure they /all/ know the way things work here.\" The old man will finish by nodding to Breveg and murmuring \"Thanks\" for the name earlier before returning his impassive gaze to Ciaran.

[Gabhran(#15443)]

A murmur ripples through the room at the mention of Mathain, and the words \"Barseg\'s son\" are heard before they are overcome by louder voices.

\"I agree with Ciaran, Gregoir. To give Odharn\'s voice to Fian Maulduin at this point would serve no purpose other than to assure that we /all/ be saddled with a copper headed wife.\" Diarmad grins and he nods appreciatively at Caileann. \"You speak with wisdom. I say let the Woman stay and move on.\"

Gabhran remains still but moves his eyes towards Maulduin. \"I say let her stay. Not because I want her here, but because it\'ll keep you pissed and keep you from fallin\' asleep.\"

[Olmys(#32384)] \"Ha!\" Maulduin laughs. \"Right you are, Ranich,\" he announces. \"My grandson\'s devotion to his kin\'s rights is admirable, but out of place here. Let us move on. I say we let Diarmad start, he looks fit to burst if he doesn\'t release some hot air soon.\"

He looks up then at the still standing Kavanagh and then to his son Calblach. \"Slide down and make room for your father-in-law, boy.\" he says.

Ciaran glances to Caileann, giving him a significant look when Barseg is mentioned, than goes back to sitting quietly. He takes a sip of his drink and looks to Diarmad, assuming that he will be speaking first.

[Brev(#30997)] Barseg\'s son keeps his face impassive, though his amber eyes pause on Ciaran and Caileann for a moment. As the Fian looks to Diarmad, he sends another sweeping glance round the room, marking those who show interest or disinterest.

[Gabhran(#15443)]

The younger version of the late Kedhern is a little more polished than his elder predecessor. At the very least, Diarmad does not have raw meat dangling between his teeth when he addresses those gathered.

\"I am honored that you are allowing me to speak first,\" he starts with a slight tone of surprise to his voice. \"So then let me surprise you all by getting straight to the point, instead of boring you with my hot airs. As your next Ceann, I pledge myself to do what is best for the Clan.\"

[Olmys(#32384)] \"What?\" Maulduin says and then brays laughter. \"That\'s it? You pledge to do what\'s best for the Clan? Kiern be damned you /were/ dropped on your head.\"

He lumbers to his feet, using the table instead of his cane to support his weight. \"What\'s best for the clan then?\" he asks. \"You want to lead us then tell us what it is you intend to do.\"

Ciaran quietly sets the mug he\'s been sipping from down on the table. He watches Diarmad, then lets his gaze drift as he loses himself in thought for a moment. Mailduin asks the obvious question that all are likely thinking, but the Fian of Ranich has something more specific in mind, \"And tell me something, if you don\'t mind.. Last night, what fate would have been sealed for that boy that you threatened?\"

[Caileann(#20237)] \"How do we even know that what you say is best for the clan is what we believe it to be? Surely you have more to say than just this, especially given the concerns of those who worry about the safety of Caerdh with so many of our men still in Redvyrne?\" Cailean will shake his head, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as if in hesitant thought. \"Everyone pledges to do what\'s best for the clan, but not everyone is correct in their assumptions of what that is.\"

[Brev(#30997)] Breveg arches a single brow at Maulduin\'s laughter and his companions\' outbursts, then murmurs to Ciaran, \"The point may be moot. I see no other contenders, though Maulduin and Kavanagh appear to know something they have not shared with the rest of us.\"

[Gabhran(#15443)]

\"At least /I/ was forthright and had the honor to say what I wanted outright, instead of trying to weasel and marry my way into it.\" Diarmad returns the braying with a level gaze. \"Maulduin.\"

He next turns to Ciaran. \"Ah. For those of you who do not know, Ciaran speaks of Aeden, the young offspring of Brodie. The lad who daily shows that he is his father\'s image. The very man who shamed the great clan of Bear by attacking a homestead of women and children.\"

Somewhere in the background, someone groans, \"Didn\'t he promise no long winded speeches?\"

Diarmad continues. \"For his crime of kicking a Fian in the shin for telling him the truth? I will leave it to his guardian to mete out his punishment. And as for his fate? Well his Mother has not been questioned. She awaits judgment of the Ceann. The truth has not been revealed yet.\"

Finally, he turns to Caileann. \"You forget, Caileann. Most of those men in Redvyrne are under me, with my brother\'s passing. I have already devised a plan to win over the Wulf Clan in the event a war with Stag breaks out.\"

[Olmys(#32384)] \"If I wanted to be Ceann, I\'d come up there and take it,\" Maulduin replies. \"The way its always been done. Barseg defeated Banedil to take the Ceannship and Banedil did fight the smith Stilicon to win his place. That\'s what we need, a man of action who\'ll take control and do what needs to be done to return Bear to her former glory.\"

He lifts his cane to point it in the direction of Diarmad. \"You are not that man! If you were you\'d have already recalled that army that is under you, instead of letting them linger in Redvyrne in hopes of weaseling concessions from the Wulf!\"

\"No!\" Ciaran argues suddenly, the young man standing up. \"That\'s exactly what we\'ve had and it certainly hasn\'t been working too well, now has it? Brodie took control by force and we suffered.\" So much for telling himself to stay out of things a couple of nights ago. Far more difficult when one is at the table.

The Ranich Fian continues, \"If there\'s a risk of the Stag attacking, a Hawk rebellion, and the Wulf only cooperating under threat, that\'s a bad situation to be trying to slog through with brute force. Not to mention that after winter comes spring, and the goblins will be crawling out of their holes the same as always! Does Caerdh have the men to fight battles on three, if not four sides?\"

[<#20237>] Cailean will lean over to Ciaran, murmuring \"My Fian, I might suggest that you compose yourself - you may be right, Kiern knows - but did you not seek to avoid drawing too much ire upon yourself?\"

Then, clearing his throat, he will straighten up and remark \'I must as well express my concerns - the men in Redvyrne may be yours Fian, but they are of little help to Caerdh if they arrive too little too late should we need them, or fall foul of some plot down there. An ally maintained only by threat will always be looking for a weakness.\'

[<#30997>] Breveg does not hear Caileann\'s whisper at Diarmad\'s words his gaze has become abstracted. But he seemingly has some words of his own for Ciaran\'s ears, for he leans forward to murmur something. \"What kind of Ceann keeps a woman in his dungeons? If Brodie\'s wife were capable of causing his end she\'d have done it years ago. Fian, do not trust this Diarmad just yet, fine words or no.\"

Silence. A brief pause. Then, \'\'Perhaps the Fian Maulduin will be so kind as to tell his fellows who this man of action is?\'\' The caustic suggestion does not come from the table, but from behind, where Breveg stands at the back of the Ranich Fian\'s chair, looking no more than mildly interested in the whole proceedings.

[Gabhran(#15443)]

\"Fian Ranich, you show much sense,\" Diarmad nods at Ciaran.

\"The age of ruling by brute force may have worked in your day, Maulduin, with all due respect, but it does not now. And Cailean, I agree. An ally maintained by threat is no ally. No, that is not my plan. I have already set in motion a plan to send an emissary to Wulf. He will explain that it was the foul workings of their own Fian that led to their occupation. We will withdraw our militia and the emissary will offer concession in the form of execution of their traitor, Fian Baodan. And to show our best intention, we will offer them a hostage.\"

He nods at Brev. \"Indeed. I have already taken action to secure the welfare of the clan. Action is not always done with an axe, Maulduin.\"

[Olmys(#32384)] \"No?\" Maulduin asks staring in outraged shock at the rising Ranich. \"No?! Who are you to tell me no, boy! Why are you even here? This is a council of war not of farming! What does Ranich know of war?\"

His gaze then darts towards Breveg as he speaks up, and the elderly Fian\'s face darkens to nearly the same copper as the streaks in his hair. \"Y-y-you!\" he sputters angrily and shakes his cane towards the young man.

\"Enough, grandfather!\" Gregoir says rising from his seat and putting a hand to his grandfather\'s chest, as the the old man\'s outraged stare turns to him. \"Calm yourself, you are exciting Calblach,\" he says with a glance towards the son. \"Your devotion to the old ways is well known, grandfather, but Fian Ranich and Fian Diarmad are right in this, the old ways no longer work.\" The Laoghaire Fian turns his attention to Diarmad.

\"My grandfather is correct in stating that the army in Redvyrne should have been brought home long ago. Letting them linger there as you have, will only have damaged relations with the Wulf more, when they could have been home assisting with the harvest and seeing to the northern patrols. Your inaction there may have cost us dearly. In this plan to appease the Wulf of the wrongs done them by your brother, who will you sacrifice as hostage? What Bear must give up their freedom to repay the Wulf for the idiocy of Kedhern?\"

Ciaran clenches his teeth, listening to the whispered words of his companions with only a faint tightening of his brows. He addresses Mailduin first in a calmer manner, disregarding the \'farmer\' jab. \"I mean no disrespect Fian.. but,\" Ranich looks around at the other men again, \"Right now even a great number of our -own- people fear more brute force, and Caerdh needs to stand strong under a leader they can trust. They will not trust a Ceann that fought and killed his way into the position, they will fear him. That is what I meant.\" He looks towards Diarmad, \"Who would you sacrifice?\" He asks as well, taking his seat once more.

Caileann stiffens at Malduin\'s jab, his face darkening, and for a moment it looks like he\'s going to reply. Discipline apparently takes over however, because he merely snorts and turns away from the old man. \"You would have to be sacrificing one of yours, wouldn\'t you Diarmad? I don\'t know that too many of the Fians would be in favour of giving themselves or one of their kin up as it stands.\"

[Brev(#30997)] Breveg does not flinch under the cane\'s assault, standing as he does a few inches out of reach. He arches a brow as the cane-tip is brandished at a height somewhere below his waist level, and something glints in his amber eyes for a moment - amusement? He lets the Fianni have their outbursts, though the way his lips move slightly suggests that more words may soon be forthcoming.

[Gabhran(#15443)]

\"I have already apologized for my brother\'s brash actions enough times. I am trying to make amends for his ways, Gregoir. But I grow tired of you defaming my family name so show some respect. He was your Ceann. That goes for all of you!\"

The force with which Diarmad slams his fist into the table is enough to make the mugs jump, and their contents slosh.

Diarmad looks everyone in the room with a scowl worthy of a Kedhern. \"My brother may have acted brashly but had it not been for the cowardly act of the Hawk outlaws, my brother would still be alive, and be crowned a king for having the cunning and audacity to give the Bear the coveted lands of Redvyrne! Redvyrne! I dare anyone to tell me that they have not at least once looked upon their lush hills and dreamed of making it his own!\"

He stops to catch his breath, letting the pounding of his heart settle before continuing.

\"As I have had to sacrifice my family pride with the withdrawl of the militia, I expect the same sacrifice from the family who had an equal share in this scheme.\" His head swivels to the great wheezing form of Gabrhan Kavanagh.

\"Give the Wulf Brodie\'s boy.\"

[Olmys(#32384)] \"Brodie\'s boy, is also the Kavanagh heir,\" Gregoir replies. \"A lad of no more than 9, yet you would pin the sins of his kin to him? Fine then let us pin the sins of your\'s to you as well, Diarmad. Since it was a Kedhern who first beset us with this problem, I say it should be a Kedhern who ends it. I nominate you as the hostage to be sent to Redvyrne. Surely the brother of the one who gave the army it\'s orders would appease Wulf more than a child.\"

Ciaran nods in quiet agreement with Gregoir and even smirks faintly. \"If you desire Redvyrne so greatly, you would have as you seek, Diarmad.\"

[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir slips back into his chair and looks at Diarmad questioningly. \"Appeasing the Wulf is our highest priority, and you already told us how you wish to do what is best for the clan.\"

Caileann will remain silent, though at Diarmad\'s mention of using Aeden as a hostage, a flicker of surprise crosses his face. The older man will watch the two young Fians rail against Kedhern\'s brother with some interest, flicking a glance over to Ruadhri at one point, perhaps trying to gauge his reaction, and then to the sharp-tongued Breveg. \"Well?\" He will say at last \"Have you more to say?\"

[Brev(#30997)] \"Aye,\" Breveg answers Caileann quietly, and then more loudly, pitched to carry, \"Aye. When I returned to Caerdh it was to uphold my father\'s honour, not for this! Not to find a clan that treats its own flesh and blood as little more than dogs, and imprisons women and children for a kinship they did not choose and cannot deny.\"

Then slowly and clearly, enunciating every syllable, he states to the room at large, \"Bear must have a Ceann, else all Caerdh will fall to the scavengers. Is that what you want? Diarmad or some other - the Fianni must make a choice, and do it now. Bear\'s enemies will not wait for the Council to end their squabbles.\"

[Gabhran(#15443)]

\"I am committing the lives of my men in a war that will be fought against the Stag once the snow melts, Gregoir. I would think you would rather have me wielding my axe and lopping the heads off our enemies than sit in the warm, comfortable cottage of some wealthy Wulf Fian.\" Diarmad leans in with his knuckles on the table.

\"For that is where Aeden will be. Brodie\'s boy will be safer in the Wulf den than anywhere when war breaks. They will know that so long as they have him safe, the Bear will hold our peace with them. The Wulf are not interested in war.\" Diarmad glares at Ciaran. \"I desire Redvyrne, aye. For the clan.\"

He quiets for Breveg\'s to finish speaking, for his words do seem to have a soothing effect. Diarmad takes his seat. \"We squabble because there is not enough land. We can solve our squabbling by taking Redvyrne or keep Maulduin from reproducing like rabbits!\"

The brother of the former Ceann breaks out into a grin, and for a moment, his temper has calmed.

It is then, that the living oak, Gabrhan Kavanagh speaks. Quietly, but firmly. \"I will go to Redvyrne.\"

[Olmys(#32384)] \"Safe in some comfortable cottage?\" Gregoir asks. \"If you believe that you are a bigger fool than your brother. The Wulf will want more blood than that of their Fian to repay for the atrocities done at Redvyrne. If there is to be a hostage, Laoghaire\'s vote is it be you Diarmad. I\'m sure Kedhern can find a replacement for you.\"

He turns then towards Gabrhan. \"Do not throw your freedom away for his plan, Fian,\" he says. \"I still say before we plan for any response to the Stag or the rebels we must first be assured the Wulf will not take us from behind. Kedhern\'s brother would go farther to achieve that than any other.\"

Ciaran Ranich twists to look back at his retainer, lifting a brow, but he doesn\'t seem to disagree with the words and simply looks back to Diarmad. He listens until Aeden is brought up again, then he tries to cut in, \"Brodie\'s boy would be butchered in Wulf hands if even half of the rumors of what his father did in Redvyrne are to be believed.\" Tales of murdered farmsteads are not hard to find.

When Diarmad glares his way, Ciaran meets it without flinching. He opens his mouth to challenge but closes it again when Kavanagh speaks up. His face grows thoughtful as this new idea is brought to the table.

Gregoir is watched, and then Ciaran speaks up again, \"If both go, the Wulf should be more than satisfied, and we will benefit far more from not having their armies at our back than the two strong warriors we would lose. Diarmad and Kavanagh both would do much to bandage the open wounds. But I think that both should be -willing- of their own choice to go, because forcing it upon either makes us no better than the behavior we are trying to avoid.\"

[Brev(#30997)] The Wulf have more wit than to think we care for a hostage tossed to them like a bone to a dog,\" mutters Breveg sourly to Caileann and Ciaran as he hears Diarmad\'s words. Aloud he tells Diarmad, \"There is plenty of land - up there.\" He waves an arm vaguely northward. \"We squabble because none is man enough to hold it against the goblins.\"

Whether he might have chosen to say more is unknown, for at the words of Garbhan render him speechless. There is blank amazement in his gaze at first, replaced gradually by a grudging admiration. He rubs a hand across his face and the looks is gone. \"Which leaves the issue of the Ceannship,\" he comments drily. \"Are you putting yourself forward for that, Fian Ranich?\" He manages to keep his tone free of sarcasm.

[Gabhran(#15443)]

\"It was Brodie, my own flesh and blood, who betrayed the trust of the clan. A son I thought who had it in him to cast aside his foolish ways once he became a Ceann. But I was wrong. He has smeared the Kavanagh\'s good name and only a blood kin can clear it. Aeden is innocent, and deserves to be a Fian of Kavanagh, blameless.\"

The old Kavanagh wheezes slowly before turning a dark glare at Ciaran. \"I would say that the blood of Gabhran Kavanagh alone is more than enough for the Wulf.\"

Before he goes silent again, Gabhran Kavanagh makes one meaningful eye contact with Maulduin.

An uncomfortable pause passes after Breveg poses the question before Diarmad speaks, breaking the silence. \"Who here claims the title of Ceann besides me?\"

[Olmys(#32384)] Maulduin has seemingly covered from his attack and looks upon Gabhran thoughtfully for a moment. \"Wulf been wanting you for a long time Kavanagh, heh.\" He nods then and turns back towards the table.

\"I claim it,\" says Gregoir as he stares in challenge towards Diarmad. \"You\'ll only lead us to more problems with the Wulf.\"

Ciaran twists to give Breveg a long, searching gaze, as if trying to decide if bringing the man along was a good idea, or his worst mistake. The Fian turns back to regard the others, his eyes finding Kavanagh again, and the glare from the old warrior quells some of Ranich\'s enthusiasm. \"I make no claim.\" He answers finally, but looks to Gregoir. \"I will support Laoghaire, though.\"

[<#30997>] Breveg rubs at his cheek again as Gabhran speaks. By the time his hand falls away again his features are devoid of expression. His gaze flickers over Maulduin, and the blank look remains. Occupied as he is in maintaining that, he fails to note Ciaran\'s searching gaze.

When the Ranich Fian speaks at last, he sighs, then leans forward t murmur something. \"Kiern! You have more honour than they, you know it.\" And then, more softly still, \"I swore an oath to uphold Ranich\'s best interests - will having Maulduin\'s puppet in the High Seat truly achieve that goal?\"

[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir gives Ciaran a nod. \"Laoghaire recognizes the support of Ranich,\" he says formally and then bows to the Fian.

Maulduin stares at his grandson with a look of profound displeasure. \"Maulduin will support, Laoghaire,\" he says through clenched teeth, his cane twitching slightly in his grip.

\"And you, Kavanagh?\" he asks turning to Gabhran. \"You still have a vote here, you\'re no hostage yet.\"

\"Oh, well of course you would!\" Isobeil sneers at Ciaran and Maulduin. \"I cast my support for..\"

Isobeil pauses, then watches as one by one, the other Fianni stand. And one by one, they march single file to stand behind Gregoir Legohaire. Her mouth is still open, nostrils flared with anger and indecision. She looks at those in favor of Gregoir. She turns her head to look at Diarmad sitting alone at the other end of the table. The shrewish widow gives Diarmad a helpless shrug before voicing, \"for Gregoir Legohair.\"

Gabhran Kavanagh nods at Maulduin. \"I vote for your grandson, if he can get out of his diapers in time for battle.\"

Ciaran\'s gaze loses focus for a moment when Brev is whispering in his ear. \"Yes, it does.\" He answers softly, then gives Gregoir a nod for the acknowledgement, standing again to return the bow. As the others move to cast their votes, Ranich gives Breveg a small smirk, \"Besides, you wanted a decision made, didn\'t you?\" and reaches to clap his retainer on the shoulder.

[Brev(#30997)] \"Aye, Fian,\" Breveg murmurs quietly, then returns the smirk with a half-smile of his own. \"Indeed.\" He watches in silence as the votes are counted, leaning back against the wall and well out of the way of the table. \"The people of Caerdh will be reassured to know that the choice was unanimous,\" he comments, correcting himself as he eyes the lone man at the far end of the table, \"or almost.\"

[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir bows in turn to each Fian as they move to stand in support of his claim. When all have risen and Diarmad remains alone he moves slowly to take a seat at the raised chair at the head of the table. \"You should make arrangements for your departure Diarmad. You will be joining Fian Kavanagh in Redvyrne.\"

He turns then to look across the table to Gabhran. \"You will leave some of him for the Wulf won\'t you Fian Kavanagh? A dead hostage would be of little use.\"

Ciaran watches Gregoir make his first decision and sighs softly, shaking his head. He would object, but figures Diarmad likely deserves it anyhow. Maybe if all continues to go smoothly, he\'ll be able to head back to his sleepy village before the snow falls. The Fian contents himself with those thoughts as steps aside to speak quietly with his uncle for a while.

[Gabhran(#15443)]

\"I still say one Kavanagh is worth more than a thousand Kedherns, and that\'s still more than all the Wulf put together.\" Gabhran shrugs before walking out of the Keep.

When the door is opened, a throng of Bear are waiting to hear the news of the new Ceann.

Their cheer drowns out the screaming protests of Diarmad.

[Brev(#30997)] Breveg covers his mouth as Gabharn speaks, and gives a small cough. He stays silent as the waiting folk acclaim their new leader. When the shouts have died down he clears his throat, however. \"Congratulations, Ceann!\" There is but a moment\'s hesitation before he presses on. \"Ah ... one matter. Do you have a decision regarding that unfortunate woman currently being held in the dungeons?\"

[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir looks upon Breveg for a moment. \"I\'ve a feeling the Young Kavanagh will have need of his mother in the coming years,\" he replies. \"Though we\'ll decide the matter more at later time, I think.\"

[Brev(#30997)] Breveg inclines his head. \"Of course, Ceann,\" he answers softly, before moving away to join the Ranich group. Outside the jubilation continues - for now, at least. Whether the people will still love their new Ceann in a week, or a month, or a year ... only time will tell.