“He did at that,” the other said. He had obviously already downed more than one of the dorrises that were being doled out by half a dozen barkeeps to the clamoring clannsmen. At this rate, John thought, the hospitality of the Aberdeen hosts of the Dail this year would be strained to the point of not having a drop of uisgebeatha left in town before the assembly was over.
The Thompson Sachem said, “Come, have a dorris with me. John of the Hawks. Perhaps when next we meet, it will be at claidheammor point.”
John took the drink proffered. “Happily,” he said, “that will be unlikely, since you have been raised up to sachem and no longer lead the Clann Thompson as raid cacique.”
The other sighed his regret and tossed his drink back over his palate. “I suppose you are right,” he said. “A sachem’s duties are such that he has little time for raids.”
John cleared his throat and said, “Ah, there is something that I would discuss with you, Will of the Thompsons.”
“Of course.” The sachem was signaling to one of the barkeeps for a refill.
John said, “For many years, at each meeting of the Dail, I have sought the hand of Alice of the Thompsons…”
The other was staring at him in surprise.
John hurried on “At each Dail I have offered a generous brideright, so that I might honorably steal my bride. However-”
Will said indignantly, “You approach me as an individual to discuss a Thompson lass? This is not meet,- John of the Hawks. It is not forbidden by the bann, but itiIs not meet.”
John said hurriedly, “No discourtesy was intended, Will, Sachem of the Thompsons. I… I extend my apologies. I… I will be back.”
He turned quickly and left the tent. He stood for a moment at the entry flap, his eyes darting around the area. He shook his head, not finding him whom he sought.
But finally he made out someone he knew and strode quickly over. “Dewey!” he said. “Have you seen the sachem?”
Dewey of the Hawks was evidently mildly befuddled. He blinked owlishly at his fellow clannsman, “Robert? Robert was here but a moment past. He went… he went over that way.”
John hurried off in the direction indicated and, sure enough, found his clann sachem in discussion with two sagamores of the Clann Davidson. He stood impatiently to one side until noticed.
Robert, Sachem of the Hawks, looked over at him and said, “Yes, John?”
John nodded to the two sagamores, neither of whom were known to him, and murmured quickly, “May the bards sing your exploits.” And then to his chief, “It is a matter of importance, Robert.”
The sagamores excused themselves and wandered off to watch a performance of trick riding.
Robert was frowning slightly, but there was also an almost apologetic something in his eyes. “I assume it is the usual matter of importance that you bring to my attention at each meeting of the Dail, John.”
John said hurriedly, “Robert, there is a new Sachem of the Thompsons this year. Will, the former raid cacique, has been raised up to the office. Perhaps…”
Robert sighed. “Very well, John. I shall approach him and represent you. However—”
John said quickly, “He is over here in the tent.” He began to lead the way, his hand on the other’s arm, urgently. “He is in good mood. Perhaps… perhaps this time. Robert, offer him twenty horses, twenty cattle.”
Robert looked at him in irritation. “You do not have twenty horses, John.”
John said, “Don of the Claries is indebted to me. He will loan me the balance.”
Robert was scowling unhappily. “I realize that you have twice saved the Clark clannsman’s life in raid, but he is a fellow phyletic. One does not take reward for such action when the other is a phyletic. It is not against the bann, but it is not seemly.”
John sighed impatience and despair. “He is my blood companion. We are not kyn, but we have taken the oath of comradeship. All that is mine is his, and vice versa.”
Robert grunted sourly. “The proof is there before us that he has the worst of the bargain, since you evidently won’t have anything in short order. Twenty horses! Two would be generous.” He added gruffly. “Don’t the Thompsons steal enough of our horses and cattle in their raids, that you have to offer them forty head, in all, in return for a lass? What is wrong with an Aberdeen lass? Why not have me approach the sachem of the Clarks or Fieldings? For two horses you could steal any girl in Aberdeen, you who are Raid Cacique of the Hawks before you have thirty years.”
John shut his eyes in despair but said nothing and still hurried his chief along.
They entered the tent, and John whispered, “There, up against the bar.” He dropped behind and let the sachem precede him.
Robert, Sachem Of the Hawks, approached Will, Sachem (it the Thompsons, and said, “May the bards sing your exploits, Will of the Thompsons.”
The other nodded. “And yours, Sachem of the Hawks.”
“I would have a word with you.”
John hurried over to the other side of the extensive tent and jerked his head at four Hawk clannsmen seated at a table. They looked up at him in half-drunken irritation.
He said urgently, “The two sachems wish to confer. Robert speaks in my behalf.”
The story was one with which his fellow clannsmen were familiar. Two of them looked at him in commiseration as they came to their feet. The other two, further gone in their cups, merely stumbled away, heading for the bar and alcoholic oblivion.
The two sachems took chairs, and John stood anxiously to one side, not too near, though still able to hear. They ignored him. It was not against the bann for him to stand there as they talked, but it was mildly unseemly.
Robert said formally, “I say the praises of my clannsman John of the Hawks.”
But Will of the Thompsons raised a hand and shook his head. “I know your plea, but we need go no further. It is an impossible plea.”
Robert said doggedly, “He is a young man, in his prime. Already, the bards have sung his exploits a dozen times and over.”
“I know,” Will said wryly. “One time my name was involved. I was shamed.”
Robert said quickly, “But all was resolved between our clanns at the next meeting of the Dail.”
“I hold no bitterness. It would be against the bann for me to do so. However, the Claim Thompson would never consent to the stealing of Alice by a Hawk.”
“He is already raid cacique of his clann, though still a comparative youth. He is highly regarded by the Keepers of the Faith and the bedels, since six times he has counted coup, rather than shed the blood. He offers twenty horses, twenty head of cattle.”
“Twenty!” Will blurted, taken aback.
The other nodded in disgust. “Given the opportunity, he would undoubtedly strip the clann of its little wealth for this single lass.”
Will of the Thompsons looked over at the obviously miserable John but still shook his head. “I myself would be in favor, honorable Sachem of the Hawks. However, though I am sachem and my voice is respected in our clann musters, as you know, my vote is but one, and the great majority of the Thompsons, who have suffered much down through the years, have refused to become kyn to the Hawks through marriage. True kyn, we would not be of course, but still kyn through marriage. The Thompsons refuse to consider that one of theirs would produce Hawk clannsmen who would one day raid their herds and kill their clannsmen.”
His voice slightly huffy, Robert said, “At each Dail, the deeds of violence of the year are wiped out by honorable consultation and balancing of accounts between the sachems. Why else should there be such an office as sachem? Since the misty years, indeed since the coming of the Holy Inverness Ark, the Keepers of the Faith have thus secured us. If such were not the bann, the vendettas would soon accumulate to such degree that all Caledonia would be depopulated. How is it, then, that the Clann Thompson refuses an honorable offer to have one of its unwed lasses stolen by a clannsman of the Hawks?”