~~~House Burgh, Ulster, Ireland.~~~
"All is well, my English friend, there is no need for formalities between us. As I recall my mother and your father are of the same blood as only true brother and sister are."
Alfric motioned for Roland to rise before continuing.
"Although I fear, brave Roland that things are not so simple. As you surely saw around this castle are the corpses of those who love me or hate me. These men bear no coat of arms yet are Irish bred. Many are confirmed freelances, which brings into scope the intent of a malicious actor."
Alfric shifts slightly before continuing.
"Such a malicious actor whose face I must say I do not know. None in my court would be so brazenly assail me, if only out of respect for my recently departed father. Nor would any other Irish fife be so dishonest and strip their family crest from their shield and attack without a declaration of war. I have no evidence, only a suspicion. That suspicion is that this is the work of the Scots. They do not march openly, bearing their crests for they wish to cast doubt on the true actor."
Alfric once more shifted position.
"I have sent my brother, John, to Scotland. He will find us a casus belli that we need to march against the Scotts. But the question remains why the Scotts? The English wouldn't march against their own kin. They have nothing to gain and everything to lose. The Scotts however have everything to gain from allying with or controlling Ulster. They could sail uncontested deep into English terretory. This is a grand threat which in warfare must not be underestimated."
Alfric rose and approached the now standing knight.
"And that is why the Scotts will march on Ulster before the month is through. Under the banner of the English they will fight and lose so that we may join them after the battle is done."
Alfric chuckled to no one in particular.
"Or perhaps these are just the ramblings of a madman. I pray you can tell for surely I cannot. But have I answered your questions dear Roland? Is there anything else you ask of this mad Earl?"
~~~Dunbar, Scotland.~~~
"Oh John, please empty the sea with a thimble."
"Brother, please clean out the dog shit."
"John, couldn't you please go find evidence of a crazy Scottish conspiricy."
John grumbled to himself. Scotland's beauty was not lost on John but the shadow of a fool's errand darkened the entire endeavor. However, how in all of god's creation did Alfric expect him, with no leads whatsoever, to uncover a Scottish plot to frame England for an attack on the house of Ulster? It had been one day since John had arrived in Scotland and he had wasted it riding around the countryside. He even found a little town, Dunbar, or something like that. Alfric had even had him promise that he keep a low profile by staying away from villages and that he couldn't even visit an inn. Even though he had slept on the ground many times during hunting expeditions his familiarity with the ground made it no more inviting.
"At least I can go to the sea-cliffs, there ought to be some rocks or an overhang which will keep out the cold night winds."
As John approached the sea-cliffs the distinct ocean smell began to waft over him, yet something was out of place. An uncanny smell, that of smoke and burning wood. Finding these stranger(s) would save him the trouble of starting his own fire in the darkness. Prior to venturing down the sea-cliffs John tied his riding and pack horses to a convenient rock. They had his armor which bore his family crest, no one would dare steal from him during the night. With a bag of provisions in one hand and a freshly lit torch in the other John slowly walked along the sea-cliffs.
As the sun painstakingly fell into the ocean John's search for the strangers got more desperate. Starting a fire on his own in the middle of the night would not be an easy task. In his frustration John gave up the search and simply called out.
"STRANGERS, I KNOW YOU HAVE A FIRE. WOULD YOU NOT BREAK BREAD WITH A LONE TRAVELER AND SHARE YOUR FIRE'S WARMTH?"
It was not an unreasonable request, at least back in Ireland it was custom to offer hospitality to travelers even if all that meant was sharing a simple fire. Hopefully Scottish tradition wasn't too dissimilar.