Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in Earth - An Unexpected Meeting

Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - An Unexpected Meeting

Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - An Unexpected Meeting
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Ragna swallowed a large gulp of tea. “Well it actually has to do with that letter, and some other papers I was directed to deliver to you. I called and was directed to the clan Marshal, who promptly told me where I could send myself and my papers and hung up on me. After a week of trying to call back and no one taking my call, I showed up at the gate. The gardener told me that you were gone but I could speak to the game Warden. He drove me here. I ended up getting caught in the storm. We,” Ragna took another sip of her tea, “shared a meal, I warmed myself by his fire, and we shared his bed. I wore his colors,” she glanced over the door where Seamus’s claymore and her sword still hung, ” I held his steel in my hands and I gave him my blade.” She didn’t mention being ill. “There was a misunderstanding on my part. I returned to my family. Seamus came and brought me home.”
Ragna McKenzie

Tara read as Ragna spoke. When Ragna finished Tara, still reading (or perhaps re-reading), said “That boy always did prefer the old ways. Can’t say that I fault him for that. Sometimes I think this whole universe would be better off with less technology and more face to face dealings. For instance…” and she gestured to the letter. “I will say I applaud your sister’s decorum. Please extend my thanks when you next speak with her.” and she folded the letter and put it back in the envelope and then tucked that away in her coat.

Ragna nodded, “Of course, Lady McKenzie, thank you.” Her face softened a moment, “It is not my place,” and here she grinned because though she wasn’t being rude, she was sticking her nose where it may not be wanted, “but there is no one quite like my sister Revna. She is a kind soul. Even when she was young she was always making peace among people.” Her eyes got very far away and she downed the tea. “Mike brought her back to us, and for that I will forever be in his debt.”

“Now then, Ragna McKenzie… you will tell me all about yourself, up to and including how you became my grandson’s wife in detail. While I am aware of the old traditions and how they can be interpreted; my dear Seamus is not one to give his heart away freely, nor is one to do so blindly. So tell me about the moment you knew you loved him and knew that he loved you. And be warned… when he returns, I will ask him the same. If the two do not align…” and she sipped her tea, “… well, let us reserve grandmotherly threats for those who need them, shall we? Now… tell me.”

Lady Tara

Ragna got up and refilled her tea cup and offered to refill Tara’s as well. “I am the third daughter of Cuyler and Helka Edman. My two older sisters are twins. They are out traveling the stars, but that is something I have never been interested in. I help my father and Uncle in our family meadery which supplies most of our clan income. I love brewing and attended the Scandinavian School of Brewing when I was in high school. I earned my degree in archeology and history in college. I have worked with the national historical society of Norway for many many years. I spent a great deal of time as a child exploring old ruins and recreating their stories. I am the clan herald, historian, archivist. Not because I have to be, but because I love the work.” She took more of the mint and ginger tea and less of the honey this time. “I am an 8 time live blade world champion, and with my sisters have won several boat races. I love to sail and spend weeks on end at sea with my Uncle.”

Ragna sipped the tea ordering her thoughts. “I think perhaps our stories shall not line up, but that doesn’t make my tale any less true. As I said, it starts with that letter and several papers I was instructed to deliver to you.” She motioned to her bag still holding said documents. Ragna began to tell her story, from calling and speaking to Seamus, only knowing him as the clan Marshall who accused her of attempting to ‘serve’ the clan legal papers and hung up on her. The following week of trying to contact someone yet again and failing. Showing up at the gate and being taken to see the Game Warden, and finding Seamus. “I can say I was…” Ragna’s mouth twitched, “overwhelmed I think is the word. It’s not often I meet some one who is so much taller than myself. He explained that is comm was out and was very polite, invited me and offered to listen.” She continued the story explaining about the storm and her sudden departure. She explained about her headaches, the migraines, and that she had left because she knew she had to get back so she could get her medicine, even if that meant being soaked through after an 8 mile walk, but Angus had other ideas. That she’d been given no alternative but to allow Seamus to care for her. She told her about their conversation both personal and official, about giving Seamus her sword and what little she remembered of the night through the haze and pain. Ragna left no detail out about the next day either. “What you must understand is that when I have these headaches it can take several days sometimes for me to…be myself again. I knew when I gave him my sword what I was doing, what it meant, and that I meant it without a doubt. But I was confused from the migraine, and when it was suddenly gone, when he kissed me it left me…disoriented. I left, going out into the storm. He came after me and he tried to explain it to me, but I misunderstood. I thought....” Ragna breathed deeply, “I thought he rejected me, my sword, returning it to me, and I left. His rejection, or what I thought was his rejection, broke my heart. That’s when I knew, without doubt or confusion I loved him with all I am. I knew it before, but I was…fuzzy headed. And I knew without doubt that he loved me, when he threw me over his shoulder and carried me off.” And then she proceeded to give Tara all of those details as well.
Ragna McKenzie

Tara listened and sipped her tea, and when Ragna finished she looked at her and set her cup aside and folded her hands on the table in front of her. Her green eyes bore into Ragna with a look that showed with no uncertainty that she was a force to be reckoned with, but also a woman of extreme wisdom and patience. “So I take it you know the story, then. Being the herald, historian, and archivist; I’m sure you know this isn’t the first intermingling of our peoples?”

Lady Tara

Ragna nodded her head. “No it is not. I discovered this as part of a side project for my sister. I remembered the story but didn’t know it was McKenzie clan in the story.” She picked up her satchel and removed the PaDD scrolling through finding the information on Faelon and Amalie. “It’s their marriage certificate, and the new crest and legal documentation that Amalie before stepping down took the McKenzie clan as her own. The document states Faelon did the same, but I would need to find the McKenzie copy of the document. Amalie stepped down as Chief when her son was old enough to take over. She left Edman land to return here to him. And I mean here to this house. Seamus showed me. Their crest is etched into the foundation stones. I can carbon date the stones as scientific and historical evidence of union. When I told Seamus only he and I knew. Now, after I returned home, I told my Da and now you. He will honor it. Whatever you need, even without Mike and Revna’s wedding. There were several more marriages from that event as well.” And Ragna pulled up several more marriage certificates of other Edmans from the boats.
Ragna McKenzie

Lady Tara looked at Ragna and said “Faelon and Amalie. Roderick and Bridgette. Devon and Hildegard. And I’m sure a few that don’t come to mind at the moment. And now Revna and Michael… and Seamus and Ragna. Hmmm… I wonder…” and she stared at Ragna and picked up her tea and sipped it.

“I wonder as to the ‘why’ our two clans are so randy for each other?” and she grinned and sipped her tea.

Lady Tara

Ragna blinked, there were more…no wonder her Da laughed when she told him. He must have known, but why didn’t he say? And she should have searched more, but she’d been more focused on delivering Revna’s letter than on the details of clan co-history. She started to sip her drink, and didn’t quite spit out her tea. That would be beyond rude. “Um…well my sister Runa would probably say there was some amulet or some such wandering around, or that the gods themselves have a hand in it.” She looked at image of the story of Faelon and Amalie, then thinking about Revna and Mike and then her and Seamus. “I think that also begs the question, one why it’s always McKenzie boys and Edman girls. Can you tell me Lady McKenzie did Roderick and Devon issue bets or ‘deals’ to their ladies too?”
Ragna McKenzie

“Oh no, dear girl. Not always Edman girls and McKenzie boys… although that is the majority. No no… Roderick Edman and Bridgette McKenzie are part of that… well… let’s just call it for what it is; a tradition. If the oral traditions are to be believed Roderick wagered her that he could lift five bales of hay with one hand; and if he did she had to serve him for a year and a day. She agreed… he put the bales on a lift under block and tackle and drew the line with one hand. They married six weeks into her ‘servitude’.” and sipped her tea.

Lady Tara

Ragna sat back and sipped her tea slowly, inhaling the scent on the steam. She set the cup down and placed her hands in her lap and looked up the rafters and closed her eyes briefly, seeing the whole thing come to life before her eyes, and then she began to laugh. “That…that sounds like something my sister Runa would do. There is always some twist to it, some subtlety, or fine piece of logic. To date she hasn’t lost a wager. Or if she has no one’s telling.” She laughed for a bit longer before taking a deep breath. She didn’t even bother to apologize, it was too funny. And there was a sense of Fate to it all. She had no doubt at all about that now. Oh Seamus had asked her about it, and it had all come together for her while she was still on Uncle Oddvar’s boat.

She sat forward arms crossed, forearms on the table and asked very seriously. “Tell me Lady McKenzie, what do we do with this information? I tried to explain to Seamus the impact of having the full force of the Edman clan at your disposal, but he wouldn’t listen. Called me daft, said I wasn’t listening, and there was more to problem than I knew. So, please, tell me what I’m missing, so I can help my sister and the man she’s given her heart and soul to.”
Ragna McKenzie

Tara sipped her tea and looked at the young woman. Finally seeming to decide something, she set the tea aside and said “Seamus is correct, there is more to the problem than you know. And you are correct as well. Having the Edman’s as close allies is a monumental change in the way this game must be played… but what you are missing, child, is the fact the game must be played regardless. Right now, yes, the McKenzies could call on Edman aid and we could put up a united front and on and on. But perceptions must also be maintained. Calling on your family for aid will make us appear weak to the Lord High Marshall. If we appear weak, it plays into the machinations of some of my children and grandchildren. That will, in turn, give them yet more leverage to oust me and put one of those slimy, narcissistic ne’er-do-wells in charge. And as I am sure Seamus has told you… that would be the end of Clan McKenzie. And that I will not allow. Not now, not ever.”

Lady Tara