Rodney arrived at Ceinn-beithe at midday on the day after leaving the witch’s forest glade.
Indeed, he had planned as much, for he knew that all would be gathered for the midday meal. And he wanted the largest audience he might have. ’Twould ensure that the chieftain could not pretend that he had never received the missive—an old ploy, which was taken as justification for retaliation in many a feud—and also would see to Rodney’s own safety. Few chieftains were so assured of the alliance of every man in their hall that they would attack a messenger before them.
In a smaller conference, however, ’twas not uncommon for a chieftain to have only his most trusted men present. Then any deed might occur and any tale might be told of what few had witnessed.
Midday suited Rodney better.
He had n
