Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Bømlo

The long boat turned, under oars, and slid smoothly pier. Oddvar tied off the rudder and while the men roped the ship to the pier to hold her stead. To the last one of them they all watched Ragna as they made their way off the boat. She’d manned the rudder, trimmed the sails, even helped haul in the nets. But the closer they got to Bømlo, the quieter and more distant she became.

When he’d got the comm from Ragna he’d been concerned and commed his brother, Cuyler first thing. He got the gist of what Ragna was supposed to be doing there and had looked forward to having her on the ship. She always loved to sail and Ragna had a special place in his heart. Seeing her standing in the surf, sobbing like that had broken his heart. He’d tried to get her to talk about it, but all she’d asked was if he’d gotten rid of her sword. His only reply was a cryptic “it’s where it’s supposed to be.”

“Ragna, sweetheart, come on. It’s time to get off the boat.” He took her elbow lifting her up and guiding her to the gang plank. Those were for cargo, but right now it was the safest way to get her off the ship. Cuyler was sitting on a stump, knife in hand, trimming his nails. “So Ragna, how was the trip?”

She took a very deep breath and shook her head. “Pointless. Maybe if you sent them it would carry more weight. I’ll send Revna and Mike digital copies. Maybe they will help.”

Cuyler watched her walk away, “Oddvar, I have never seen her look like that.” And then he laughed and clapped his twin on the back, “I have a feeling that trip and more point than she realizes.” Oddvar shook his head, “No Cuyler, she knows. You remember how Revna was, when Shauwn died?” Cuyler nodded, “Aye, I do.” Oddvar watched Ragna until she disappeared, “I can’t watch Ragna go through that,” and he walked away. Cuyler just grinned did a little jig and made his way home to tell his wife ALL the gossip.
Ragna and Clan

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Three days earlier…

Seamus put the last of his gear in the sheepskin pack and cinched it closed. He tucked his best knife in his boot and looked around, making sure he had everything and the fire was completely dead, no embers. Yes, his sister would come check on the place every few days, but one had to be sure. He then opened the cabinet farthest from the sink.

Inside sat an outdated and long for the recycler comm station. Seamus scowled at it then said “Look, you… I dunnae know why ye shat the bed, an I dunnae care. Work now, or I swear by every god in existence or not I’ll smash you to pieces.” He took a breath and tapped the controls…

And it powered up perfectly. Seamus punched in the name of the person he wanted to speak to,set the mode to ‘Priority Confidential’ and waited, his jaw set and eyes on fire.

Seamus McKenzie, Hey It Worked. Praise Odin

The comm went off and Cuyler got up, hoping it was Oddvar or better yet Ragna, or someone who would tell him what in the name of Valhalla was going on. Earlier that day Oddvar had commed him to tell him Ragna was asking for him to come pick her up. it was ‘odd’ because Ragna was over there officially with clan business, but then again Ragna, well all his girls really, loved the sea. About the time the moon rose he’d gotten another call from Oddvar, he’d picked Ragna up but she was hysterical and all she would say was that “He’d rejected her sword.” Cuyler didn’t even know there was a he in her life, and neither did his wife, because he checked. And since then nothing, no word…nothing. And he was worried.

He moved over to the companel and turned it on, ‘Priority Confidential?’ What in the blue blazes? It wasn’t his daughter and it wasn’t his brother. He accepted the call, “Cuyler Edman, how can I help you?”
Cuyler Edman, worried father

A red haired head and full bearded face with piercing blue eyes appeared. “Chief Cuyler Edman. My name is Seamus Callum Lachlan McKenzie, Marshall of Clan McKenzie… and I love your daughter Ragna. I intend to come get her… now. She gave me her sword. We shared a meal. She warmed herself by my hearth and we shared a bed. She wore the McKenzie tartan and held my blade’s naked steel. None was done against her will… nor mine. I’m coming to your island to fulfill my obligation to her. I will be in the woods on your north shore in two days if the winds are fair. If you wish to talk, come talk. If you wish to fight, bring more men than you have. I will wait three days. On the fourth, I will come and pledge myself to your daughter. If this does not please you, kill me. If it does… bring some of your mead. I’m gonna need it.” and the comms went dark.

Seamus McKenzie, Faint Heart Never Won Fair Maiden

Cuyler stared at the dark comm for several long minutes, his expression unreadable. Then he turned his head toward the door to the outer hall and seeing no one he began to laugh, a deep full belly laugh. After several minutes he wiped his eyes. “Ooohhhh....I told that girl…heh heee hoo…oh umm…Alright then. 2 days Mr Seamus Callum Lachlan McKenzie, we shall see what you are made of.”

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One Day Earlier

Cuyler stood on the northern banks of the island, the only place on this side to actually come ashore, unless of course this Seamus intended to climb the cliffs like Fezzik. The North Sea was always cold and a small fire was lit in the small clearing at the edge of the forest. A bottle of 2365 Edman Mead warming in the coals. Cuyler didn’t bring anyone. He figured the lad deserved one chance to make his case without the village knowing about it. Of course if it went wrong it wasn’t the village but his daughters Seamus would have to deal with. And the lads cousin, Mike, wouldn’t be able to keep Revna off him, if he hurt Ragna. And so far…Runa didn’t know a thing and that was very very good.

Cuyler, a large hulking man coming in at a solid 6‘10” and 300lbs, watched the boat pull up on the shore and walked out helping to haul the boat in. Once it was secure and they were seated by the fire, drinks poured, Cuyler leaned back against a log. “Alright Seamus Callum Lachlan McKenzie Marshal of Clan McKenzie. You married my daughter the old way, so you state officially.” It wasn’t a question and it d^%$ well better be official. “Then tell me why, when my brother picked her up, the only thing she said was ‘He gave it back…’ as she attempted to fling her sword into the sea?” Then he held up a hand, “Before you start, you should know I have 3 daughters nothing is far fetched.” And then he went quiet and drank his mead while the Scotsman in front of him began to talk.
Cuyler, dad’s got to have a little fun before making it all better

Seamus was dressed in working kilt and shirt, his sword strapped on his back and Ragna’s on his hip. He watched as the elder took his seat, raised his mug to him, and drank deeply.

“I dinnae give it back. I hung it on my hearth. In my home. That I built with my hands. The fact that… Ragna suffered from a terrible headache and didn’t remember that explains her reaction. Had she stayed with me, that I am sure she would have realized that. I… I am gutted she left in pain, lord. Hurting her? The thought never… and never will… enter my mind. May I sit?”

Seamus McKenzie, I’m Here For Her

It wasn’t like Ragna to miss details like that. Before he could ask Seamus answered his unspoken question. Cuyler nodded and waved the mug at a spot round the fire. “Aye, lad I think ya better.” Cuyler regarded him a long time in silence. He sipped the mead, brewed the year Ragna was born, mulled with late autumn spices, and cayanne. Sweet, welcoming, and a fire that made you wonder what you’d just got ahold of. Just like his youngest daughter.

He’d been worried about the storm, and to know she’d been alone with a virtual stranger, a slight smirk crossed his face, no stranger then, and knowing she’d have an attack, had twisted him, but the storm had knocked the comms out. He looked Seamus dead in the eye, all pretense of being a chief gone from him, and before Seamus simply sat a father. “Did she have a seizure?”

“Ragna’s always been plagued by these headaches, migraines the doctors called them. She can’t see, can’t eat, the slightest noise or light…” Cuyler shook his head, “They are worse during the storm season, the sudden changes in atmosphere and humidity trigger them. The really really bad ones, make her seize. We’re simple here, live off the land, follow more traditional ways. We took her to the best neurologists we could find. No answer, no preventative, no treatment worked. Until my sister-in-law created a liniment. It didn’t stop them, but it seems to help the symptoms. I doubt she had it with her, not expecting to be gone long. Tell me Marshal McKenzie, is my daughter alright?”
Cuyler, Dad first