Bait

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Cu Chulainn wasn't a patrolman, nor did he ever aspire to be one. He was the guardian of his country in the sense that he would respond immediately to dire threats but he had never been the man to watch every village one by one and butt his head into every squabble he saw. Despite that, he had a keen eye for trouble and countless thoughts about what justice was supposed to be--so, he tended to intervene in problems when they presented themselves if only because of the fickle nature of what justice looked like to him.

Two farmers were arguing over a fairy mound, claiming ownership over a magic bow that sprung out of it. It had been hovering in the air, moving around on occasion from their perspective. Cu Chulainn, puzzled, wondered if the two men were fools--as there was clearly a man in white attire holding the damned thing. He stepped down from his horse to approach the two in the middle of their quarrel, watching the bowman, who was ignoring them as he read from a thin piece of paper held up in front of him. The two men didn't notice the bowman at all.

The bowman met eyes with Cu Chulainn, perplexed.

"You can see me?"

"Yeah. You can call me Cu Chulainn and... I'm curious. Never seen an archer carry that kind of bow, before."

Their exchange of words was brief, if not polite on Cu Chulainn's end. The farmers backed off immediately when they saw Cu Chulainn speaking to what they presumed was a demented ghost clutching the bow and ran when the bow lifted and fired, trying to take off Cu Chulainn's head from the neck. The young man let out a terse sigh, unstrapping his spear from his back after avoiding the volley before making a bit more effort to close the gap and stride towards him. The dark-haired archer was stunned that his shot hadn't landed and even more so when the following dozen bolts were parried and redirected just as easily. He jumped up and kicked the bowman square in the chest, dropping him to the ground before there had been a few popping sounds.

Strange. It didn't sound like the sound of bones breaking--he didn't think he kicked hard enough to do that. The bowman stumbled back, coughing and wheezing, his eyes bulging open as he buried his hand in his clothing to pull out a vial. The thing had broken in the center and little white tablets fell to the ground, dissolving. The shocked expression he wore spoke more about what happened than whatever he could pull out with his strange accent.

"I--I can't stay here!"

He threw a capsule to the ground, blinding light shining and catching Cu Chulainn off guard. He stepped back, vanishing into a tear in thin air, just as a few more of the tablets landed on the ground where he had been standing. Cu Chulainn rubbed under his eyes before stepping over to the remaining tablets, picking them up with a scowl.

"What a pain--fairy mounds are just troubling these days. Nothing good comes out of the damned things anymore--"

As if proving him right, a dozen or so howling voices rose up in the woods, the town, and the mountains all at once. Screaming farmers and milling people came shortly after, clearly bothered by the owners of those inhuman howls. His irritated scowl deepened and he ran off, away from the mound and towards the sound of trouble, "Speak of the devil... and he'll come crawling right away, huh?"

Comments

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Spoons, he knew. 'Chopsticks' sounded like something much sharper in his head than they were. Utensils that were too thin tended to break with the materials the locals liked to build with, though. They still preferred stonework when it came to smithing homes and goods--iron and bronze were things for war. Setanta took the time to eat and mull it over while Yoruichi did the same. Outpacing him, Yoruichi carried onto another meal as the servant from before decided the guest needed more to eat than the nuisance prince. That kind of thing flew over his head.

Cu Chulainn turned slightly to glance at Yoruichi's plate, almost wondering what she preferred to eat until he realized she was stowing it all away with a voracity that showed either a total lack of bias or an appreciation for everything that graced the pewter in front of her. In a way, that was probably more of a relief to him. He had trouble with picky-eaters.

Slowly he opened his mouth to compliment her fortitude on the meal when Yoruichi looked like she was having a rough time with the ale. He shifted his eyes to look back for the same servant from before but she was already there by the time he was ready to ask. She took Yoruichi's ale and set it in front of Setanta, replacing it with a deep, red wine.

"Good thinking," He complimented her as she set off, hustling with the energy necessary to deal with dozens of warriors and royal family members at dinner. Back to Yoruichi, Cu Chulainn registered no surprise at all. It wasn't an issue of local color--some people just plain disliked ale. "I don't know what you like to drink but that's a whole lot sweeter. Maybe it'll sit easier?"

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi barely has time to thank the woman before she's off again, clearly having seen someone else needing her attention. The best household servants have the observation skills of seasoned warriors, and nothing gets past their notice.

"I don't usually drink alcohol," she says, picking up the wine. "I never had a taste for most of it." Plum wine is good, and she likes peach wine as well. She's not sure what fruit this is, but it smells more promising than the ale. Another careful sip and she blinks, tilting her head in thought. It's good, if different than what she's had before.

"That's a lot better," she sighs, a pleased look settling on her face. She's hardly going to allow herself to get drunk in a strange place, but at least she's not unintentionally insulting her hosts by refusing to drink at all.

Her second plate of food is almost gone, and she's wondering how rude it would be to ask for more. To distract herself, she changes the subject.

"Is there anything I should know before I talk to your uncle? He said wanted to talk after dinner." They don't seem much for ceremony so far, but she'd hate to accidentally insult the king after he'd been kind enough to welcome her into his home.

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Cu Chulainn couldn't quite muster up the willpower to leave the second tankard alone. Once his first was finished--he immediately slid his hand around the handle of the ale set aside from Yoruichi and brought it to his lips. There was a certain sort of training one went through that brought them to appreciate bitter things, he thought. Maybe it was a metaphor for adulthood but then--even his uncle tended to prefer sweet things. Maybe ale-drinkers just disliked themselves.

"Really? Well, we've got milk and juice by the barrel during a season like this. Don't hesitate to ask," Said offhandedly and politely, Cu Chulainn leaned over to place one elbow on the table and watch Yoruichi a little more closely. There was a little hint of something in her eyes he couldn't place. Some mysterious thing that he imagined was on her mind--though certainly not more thoughts of dinner hiding beneath the surface, he imagined.

"You're worried about that?" He teased, his cheeks creased into a grin. "Just don't ask him questions you don't want answered. He can see the future, so he's full of irritating answers."

[goneonenight]

"There's milk?" Her entire face lights up. Yoruichi would never pass up milk, and would certainly prefer it over all the wine in the world. The apparently psychic servant shows up just in time to hear this, and signals one of the servings girls across the hall for a pitcher of milk.

And unlike Cu Chulainn, she correctly interprets Yoruichi's politely forlorn look at her empty plate and makes sure it gets filled once again. If for nothing else, Yoruichi would appreciate her for the fact that she doesn't bat an eye at how much Yoruichi t is eating; she simply seems determined to carry out her duty of making sure an honored guest is fed to her heart's content.

She bristled a bit when he leans in to look at her, feeling self-conscious by the attention. "Yeah, right," she says, assuming he's just teasing her for whatever reason. "Maybe you're just predictable." She drains her mug of milk, making a happy noise in the back of her throat. It's cold and sweet and rich, and better than what she gets at home.

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"Oh? Maybe I am," There was a flurry of activity around Yoruichi from the servants and Cu Chulainn was slowly beginning to realize that they seemed to be chatting with one another about how they could get a good rapport with her. It wasn't blatantly obvious but he could tell that they were sneaking glances at Yoruichi and sorting through things they could bring over on a whim.

He considered asking for a cup of milk for himself but the thought made his stomach twist. Ale and milk--he'd probably turn his stomach over if he mixed too much of both.

"I'll let Daire know you like it," Cu Chulainn leaned back in his own chair, taking another long gulp of ale. "Seems like everyone's excited to have a foreign guest about. I imagine they're trying their best to be polite and not ask you for stories."

[goneonenight]

She had noticed the servants in a little knot by the head table, but'd assumed the king would get a lot of visitors. They probably weren't spirits though, so she guesses it makes sense that they'd be more curious than usual.

She chuckles. "I could manage some stories. Maybe after dinner." She'd never stood on ceremony with servants, often asking after their families and treating them as part of her own. "Is that the woman's name who was helping us? Daire? She seems like she's been with your family a long time."

It's clear Yoruichi is no stranger to being waited on. There are numerous servants at the Shihouin manor, many of them having been sworn to Yoruichi's family for generations. They take pride in their service to one of the Great Noble Houses, and it's clear that's the same here. It's not hard to believe Cu Chulainn's story of the people preferring to keep his uncle as king from what she's seen so far.

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No one in their right mind was actually sticking to their own conversations politely--not in that dining hall. Just about everyone was trying to pry in and listen to Yoruichi and Cu Chulainn if they could manage. Some knew they had to keep talking to make sure they weren't clearly acting rude. Others held themselves together expertly. A couple managed to flat out move themselves out of earshot and just ask what the other heard.

As much as Cu Chulainn noticed, he didn't let on. Visitors were always a spectacle he didn't like to deny to anyone. Sometimes, the capital was painfully boring and no one saw anyone new for weeks and months.

"Yup. She's the cousin of a family friend and works out with the cattle during the day," He set down his tankard, deciding to breathe a bit more air than liquor for a bit. "She taught me how to tie braids when we were little."

So, if her patience with him was thin--it was before he wore it down.

"She's not as fond of me anymore, I think."

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi snorts, then drains her glass of milk. This time, it's a girl of about Yoruichi's apparent age who darts forward to refill her glass. Yoruichi thanks her with a grin, prompting a pleased and shy smile in return before she goes back to her group.

"Why?" she asks, her voice dry as she turns back to Cu Chulainn. "Did you ask her to marry you too?"

There's a muffled grown from more than one of the people listening in, similar to the exasperation of the people in the village where she'd met him. It's bad enough he does it regularly enough for no one to be surprised, but does he have to ask their guests as well? A foreign spirit at that?

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"Hah! Well, nothing like that," It was enough of a joke to him but plenty of folks in Emain Macha had a certain caution around Cu Chulainn that came from experience--the sort that was plenty friendly and just as dangerous. He was, to put it as lightly as possible, trouble. "I imagine if we got hitched, we'd be at each others' throats left and right. Don't think either of us would get a single night's rest out of sheer frustration."

Jokingly said, though it was clear that Daire's irritation didn't get under his skin. He would probably kill her out of her own frustration well before she did anything to actually bug him. Cu Chulainn placed his fork over a bit of meat and spun it on the plate to mop up gravy.

He leaned in a little closer to Yoruichi, whispering--

"Between you and me, I know the guy she's interested in. Word is--if Daire keeps in the king's good graces a few more weeks, she'll get a blessing of land for her bulls and she'll be able to marry and retire. In particular, if a guest of the royal family were to give her glowing praise..."

[goneonenight]

"Oh?" Yoruichi blinks, then grins. It's not unusual for a favored servant to be rewarded after years of service. At least Daire is young enough to enjoy it. With luck and hard work, she could make a comfortable life for herself.

"I can do that. I can tell she takes pride in her job." It's easy enough to do, but she's a little surprised Cu Chulainn thought to suggest it. He's more thoughtful than she'd given him credit for. "She reminds me a little of someone from home."

Unconsciously, she lets out a sigh, her expression darkening as her thoughts turn sober. Now that the immediate need for food has passed, Yoruichi can't help but remember that she's trapped here for the moment. Cu Chulainn seems confident her can get her home, but how much does he really know?

But there must be a way--not only had she made it here in the first place, but his grandfather knows Soul Society. She wonders if there will be a chance to speak to him as well.

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"Hey, you don't know the half of it," He grinned, giving Daire a little wave as she was working on setting up a side table for a couple of warriors set to ride in late. She scowled at him and continued working in earnest--something he liked to think of as a good distraction to keep her from listening in on Yoruichi's chat with him. "Pride is more than just currency for folks like her. She wants a family name that'll outlast all of us."

With a snicker, he fell into his tankard again--a little too inebriated to catch Yoruichi's own descent into a somber look. What did catch his eye was the hike of Conchobor's voice in the back. He was speaking to a few richly dressed warriors with fur lining their armor and cloaks. Both looked better off than most of the people in town.

"The answer is no--I can tell you now Daire won't sell her stags. So, move on. Tell Medb she can't have everything in the world."

i'm so sorry! I don't know how I missed this

[goneonenight]

Ambition is something Yoruichi can definitely understand, even if it doesn't drive her the way it does some of her kin. She's never sought power for its own sake, but she knows the value of accomplishing something through your own efforts.

The king's voice cuts through the murmur of the crowd, and Yoruichi's not the only one to turn her head towards him. The warriors seem to be a delegation of some sort, on behalf of a neighboring clan, perhaps? Daire's face is a mixture of apprehension, offense and satisfaction that quickly flickers away to the studied neutrality of a long-time servant. From what Cu Chulainn has already said, Yoruichi doesn't blame her. To have worked all these years to amass property of your own, only to have someone come along and assume they can simply name a price for all you've accomplished.

She leans over, murmuring into Cu Chulainn's ear so as not to be overheard. "Who's Mebd?"

no worries, i've been out of it anyway DX

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"A neighboring queen," Cu Chulainn spoke back to Yoruichi with a little hush, if only because he didn't want to look like he was paying that much attention. Given his sudden frown, it was clear that politics wasn't exactly his most valued topic of interest--especially not with a beautiful princess by his side that he was indebted to help. Helpfulness was just a means to the bonus of spending time with her and Medb's messengers were hampering it by luring the court back into trade deals and business--two things he really didn't like. Something about the situation was putting him on edge, too. As much as he wanted to flirt...

"Sorry. You'll have to excuse me."

Conchobor's response didn't score the sort of blow one might have expected on the crowd. They briefly quieted up as if to let the air clear and then resumed chatting. The men speaking to Conchobor seemed taken aback by his response, even if there wasn't so much as a glance set their way from the patrons around them. It was their first time making that request and Cu Chulainn knew what the outcome would be if they raised their hackles too much.

Medb's messengers never lasted too long if they insulted the king--1something she didn't take too much offense to.

"We can't leave empty-handed, your grace," One urged, spreading his hands evenly. Cu Chulainn notices the glimmer of iron on his forearm. He was wearing armor under his nice clothes, lending the impression of a body bulkier than it actually had been. Still, anyone who had fair eye-sight could tell it wasn't muscle at all. Someone who was simply supposed to be a messenger, wearing armor to see a king, was either foolish or traitorous. Cu Chulainn began to push his chair back, earning a sidelong look from Conchobor--placid and calm. He wasn't worried about himself, rather than the outcome of the young man becoming upset with someone who would insult his lord.

"I suppose it's too late to teach you the good manners to be used before a king, boy. Every messenger before you at least had the decency to wait for a challenge to arm themselves," Conchobor leaned back in his chair--leaving the messenger to take steps back as Cu Chulainn stepped to the side of the king's throne, unarmed and only bearing the gaudy robes he brought after his bath. He wasn't even wearing sandals, anymore. "We would have at least given you that much."

"Who is this garish fool?" The second messenger scoffed, drawing gasps from the crowd. Just to the side of Conchobor, Cathbad began scooting his chair just away from the situation, his wife doing the same though with a modicum more decorum--standing to move her chair out of the way.

"Just your average Ulster warrior," Cu Chulainn responded through grit teeth. Grinding his heel into the cold stones beneath his feet--he extended his other leg and kicked the messenger square in the chest. A cold rush of air came next as the messenger burst through the castle wall and into the courtyard, following Cu Chulainn's next few strained words, directed at the messenger's partner. "You have five minutes."

[goneonenight]

Cu Chulainn's earlier cheer fades as he eyes the messengers. And for good reason--they're pretty heavily armored to just be negotiating. And apparently it's just as rude to arrive in armor here as it would be at home.

He excuses himself, going over to stand next to his uncle. Not content to simply insult the king, they also dismiss Cu Chulainn as he steps up. While he doesn't look dressed for a fight, you'd have to blind to think he's not capable of one. While Cathbad and his wife scoot their chairs back, Yoruichi simply picks up her fork, calmly continuing to eat as the foreign warriors square up.

Between one bite and the next, one of them is flying through the castle wall with a thunderous noise, sending up grit and dust into the dining hall. While fights aren't quite this abrupt at Shihouin dinners, Yoruichi's sometimes wished they were--it would save a lot of needless back and forth. She grins to herself, subtly pushing just far enough from the table so she can easily move if needed. Tempers apparently run high here, so it only make sense to be ready.

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Heaving a sigh shortly after, Cu Chulainn reached up and placed one hand over his face. Flustered, he turned back to Conchobor even as he began tracing a rune in the open air. Visibly, it seemed to simply hang in the air--gradually rotating as he spoke with his uncle.

"Again? Uncle, you have to send her an appropriate statement. They were going to challenge you this time. I can go arrange a duel right now and end this before--"

Conchobor scoffed. He had been in the middle of beaming pride with Cu Chulainn's rough approach to diplomacy before finding himself irritated with the concept of being told how to act as a king.

"I'm not taking advice from a dog in plumage. I already look crazed enough, taking it from that old codger."

Cathbad moved back his chair, sniffing indignantly. Cu Chulainn bristled in return, glowering at the two of them as it was made very clear that they only wanted him to do the kicking--not the talking. The other messenger, still stunned by the disappearance of his associate and the fact that Cu Chulainn had stopped paying attention to him feebly raised his voice.

"Fi--Five minutes?"

"Isn't it implied? To get the hell out of here before I kill--"

Conchobor stood up, his hand finding a large golden sword strapped to his seat. Dragging it out of his scabbard, he dragged the tip along the floor lazily as he strode towards the messenger. Cu Chulainn stopped when Conchobor started up, stepping aside and lowering his head. Conchobor stopped short of the messenger, collapsing on one knee. All throughout the room, groans and heavy breathing could be heard as men and women collapsed--namely the ones carrying weapons. Daire dropped her tray and fell on her side, weakened as well.

"What--Is this a curse?" Conchobor stammered, his hand opening as his sword clattered to the ground. Cu Chulainn went to his side, supporting his weight with his shoulder while Cathbad sucked in a breath and grunted.

"--Yep," The mad old man responded, fishing his hand in the air--finding a thin thread in the air, resembling one from a spider. It connected throughout the room, leading to the messenger who was still left over. "Seems like the little conqueror didn't like your uncle's answer, boy."

Cathbad curled his finger and snapped the thread. Immediately, the messenger dissolved into snapping, cawing crows that immediately flew out of the opening in the wall Cu Chulainn made.

[goneonenight]

The disagreement between uncle and nephew seems like an old one, but Cu Chulainn gives way when his uncle stands and draws his weapon. It seems Conchobor is going to deal with the messenger on his own.

But then he drops to one knee, along with several others around the room. Cu Chulainn rushes to his side, still able to move. Yoruichi is unaffected as well, as are all the children and some of the adults. At a quick glance, it looks like everyone on the ground is a warrior, now unable to defend themselves or those around them.

Even as she jumps to her feet, Cathbad makes a curious gesture, and the messenger just...turns into a bunch of crows, crying their defiance as they escape through the newly destroyed wall.

Yoruichi's fully alert, her weight balanced to respond to a threat from any direction. "What the hell was that?" she says softly, not really expecting an answer.

[red_branch]

Conchobor, sweating at the brow, managed to pick himself up to stand--though he was clearly bent at the waist. He pushed his nephew away feebly, prompting a startled look from the young man. It was unreal seeing his uncle look so weak but it didn't keep him from looking to the rest of the warriors. There was a point connecting them all in that pain but he couldn't figure it out. Even Cathbad's wife was leaned up against him, breathing hard and clinging to his arm. She hid her pain well enough but he reached to take her hand and hold it, thinking on what he was seeing. Cathbad was struggling to think things over himself, his hand tightening on Nessa's.

"It's definitely specialized," He commented as Nessa gripped him. "I'm not affected--the dog isn't affected. The princess isn't affected. All the children are untouched and a few of the servants don't seem bothered."

At that point, Cathbad was simply laying out facts. Cu Chulainn spoke up, pointing something out. He looked to Yoruichi briefly before looking to Cathbad. She didn't know what was going on, so he tried to help out--if only a little.

"It's a pretty bad situation to be in. Only a god could create a curse based on a single condition like that. Which god was that--the one posing as that messenger?"

Cathbad grunted, watching the crowd as they began taking care of one another. Given the fact that the warriors were the ones clearly suffering, it fell to everyone else to do the lifting and moving and it looked incredibly awkward. Sons and daughters were supporting their mothers and fathers, too startled to do things properly and help to the best of their abilities.

"Crows. So, either the Almighty One or The Morrigan. Neither of them have any interest in causing us harm, so--I'd say you'll need to figure out which of the two it was."

Cu Chulainn shut his mouth immediately, helping Conchobor into his seat. Usually quick to chirp back, he looked as if everything he had to say would just be a jumbled, meaningless mess.

[goneonenight]

It looks like her hosts are only a little less confused than Yoruichi is, so there's no sense in asking for more information when it's clearly not there to give. So she turns aside, helping one of the servants to his feet. He looks alarmed, and she belatedly realizes he must be one of the people who can't see her. Another person whispers in his ear, and he sketches a bow and mumbles thanks in Yoruichi's direction.

One toddler vainly pats his mother's arm, his face crumpling as she struggles to get up. Mentally shrugging, Yoruichi goes to help, hoping she doesn't alarm the woman too much. To her relief, the woman nods her thanks as she's helped back into her seat. The baby is distracted by Yoruichi's arrival, and the silly face she makes at him causes him to laugh. She scoops him up and hands him to his mother, giving them both a grin before heading back to her seat.

Helping in even such a small way helps her feel a little more in control of things, as though she's not completely at the mercy of random chance.

[red_branch]

"Lady Yoruichi," Cu Chulainn raised his voice, unsure of what to do. As he tried pressing a rune of healing to Conchobor's chest, he could see it had no effect. The king shoved him away for good, interrupting him before he could continue. When Conchobor slumped into his seat, Cu Chulainn lowered his head and then strode to Yoruichi. In the background, Cathbad was tapping chairs with his staff, summoning phantoms that began scooping people up into good seating positions so they could breathe and feel less tension. Ghostly forms began circulating to the kitchen for water and some looked for herbs to be given for pain.

"--Lady Yoruichi, I don't like to ask others for help when they aren't involved but I'm..." Struggling for a better word, he looked across the hall. All the men and women he usually relied upon were collapsed with fatigue and pain. Quite literally, he felt like the last one standing in the army. "...Pretty damn alone, here. Every single one of our commanders is down and I need to secure the borders in case this was an orchestrated attack and not just some random grudge."

The people who were suffering were difficult to look at--not for a lack of compassion but because he immediately knew he didn't have any techniques that could help them.

Before he could feel anger and disgust, he felt helplessness. Daire, despite herself, nudged him with her knuckles as she hunched in her chair and spat, "What, were you just a puppy after all? Go do your job, you dumb mutt!"

He was stunned.

[goneonenight]

It would take a harder heart than Yoruichi's to be able to look around the hall and deny them her help. Even though she still wants to find a way home, these people are in immediate need, and if she can be of any help, she will.

She blinks at Daire's outburst, but decides not to address it. She wonders if calling Cu Chulainn a dog is some sort of nickname--it's not the first time she's heard him referred to in those terms.

Instead, she stands up and nods at him. "I don't mind helping." She turns to the king, giving him a slightly deeper incline of her head. "You've welcomed me into your home, I'd be honored to help defend it."

From a practical standpoint, it's hard to know how much ground the two of them will feasibly be able to secure. But it's better than staying in the castle and being caught off guard by another attack.

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn breathed a sigh of relief at Yoruichi's formal response. There was still a mountain of problems to deal with but a second set of legs could patrol the outside grounds even faster than one set.

"Thanks," He bowed at the waist to her and then hurried to the walls, finding a soldier hunched weakly on a bench. "Can't do all this in sandals--I'll need to borrow something."

Conchobor gave Yoruichi a nod of his head and placed his hands on his sword to steady himself. When a servant came by to tend to him--he pushed the young man aside and gestured with effort toward a young couple who had been working to get people back in their seats with the specters. Cathbad took a seat again, gripping his wife's hand.

"Hurry now," The normally crazed old man warned her and urged Yoruichi to the door with a glance of his eyes. Even if he were the sort of person who preferred mischief over all else, it was apparent that a loved one's pain dragged him out of his flaws quickly enough. "The god is gone but men are coming to replace them."

There was a pause. Cu Chulainn was already in the middle of borrowing a warrior's boots when Cathbad silenced the room in an instant for a prophecy, "The bull stags will vanish. The hound will surrender them."

Cu Chulainn flashed the old man a heated look. Without saying a word to anyone else, he fled the dining hall, rushing toward the stables. At the same time, a bellowing roar shook the castle walls. Coming to a halt--he was faced by two rampaging bulls, drawn by chains and ropes at the hands of a grinning older man with narrowed eyes holding a rainbow sword. The bulls, big enough to look nothing like ordinary bulls anymore, struggled against the strength of the older man despite him only keeping them tethered with one hand.

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi gives Cathbad a quick nod, and is right at Cu Chulainn's heels as he dashes outside. Her eyes widen at the sight of the enormous animals; she can almost feel their bellow in her bones.

Despite the many shapes zanpakutou can take, Yoruichi's never seen one like this sword. The waves of power coming from it are obvious even from across the courtyard, swirling from the blade in unnervingly beautiful colors. She notes the fact that he's controlling the animals with just one hand, a feat well beyond any normal human's ability. She wonders, not for the first time, what kind of place she's come to.

She's not dumb enough to take her eyes off of the new arrival, but she's also alert for anyone coming from a different direction. It's be smart of someone to use him as the distraction while bringing more troops around the other side.

"It's your house," she murmurs. "I'll follow your lead."

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn's hurried rush outside slowed to a crawl. It may have seemed strange that he let Yoruichi take the lead at the last second but he visibly stopped in his tracks when he saw who was bringing the beasts to a halt in the middle of the emptied courtyard. Cu Chulainn was pale and sweating, unable to breathe.

"Fergus--" Almost laboring to speak, Cu Chulainn opened his hands and dropped his spear to the ground. The moment his weapon left his hand, he seemed to relax and the exhaustion left his body. "What the hell are you doing!?"

With a sneering grin, Fergus turned his sword up and reigned in the massive stags with a curt yank of the other hand and the ropes he had tethered to them.

"I'm no petty thief. This is a declaration of conquest and Medb says that the matter'll be settled if she gets what she wants. Once she has that--she'll drop the curse."

The grim scowl on Cu Chulainn deepened. Whoever the man was, Cu Chulainn wore a sense of betrayal in his expression. He replied softly to Yoruichi--

"There's nothing to worry about. He's just leaving."

Fergus bellowed out a laugh--his hand relaxing on the stags. He turned to Yoruichi to speak, "No harsh feelings, boy! Now, then, more importantly. Young lady, would you like to--"

Fergus vanished when Cu Chulainn reached down to press his hand flat to the ground. The older man had been visibly distracted by Yoruichi, letting out a less-than-impressive cry as he was hurled out of the courtyard and into the air, flying north towards the mountains. The stags relaxed, both their heads raising to watch the rainbow trail that followed.

"Tcch. Getting distracted like that? He really must not have been serious."

Cu Chulainn picked up his spear after lifting his hand--a runic sentence written into the stones. A trail of fire followed to the spot where Fergus had been standing. The confrontation had been brief but Cu Chulainn clearly had little sense for mercy or hesitation. Whoever that man was--the young man spared no concern for whether or he just killed him, despite knowing him.

More importantly, Cu Chulainn focused on Yoruichi.

"I can't do that more than once an hour. If he's not dead, he'll be coming back and ticked off. Think you could keep him distracted?"

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi shoots Cu Chulainn a look of alarm as he falters, and she makes sure to keep both men in her line of sight. She relaxes somewhat when he seems to recover, but continues to watch Fergus for any sign of attack.

Instead of attacking, Fergus hits her with a bright, faintly familiar smile, ignoring Cu Chulainn completely. She barely has time to get exasperated before he's thrown from the courtyard, flying out of sight in seconds.

"Yeah, but are you all right? What happened just now?" Belatedly, she realizes why the name Fergus is so familiar. "And was that your uncle? The one you told me about?"

If so, that would explain why Cu Chulainn seemed so taken aback by the man's involvement in the attack.

[red_branch]

"Yeah, that's the other uncle--Fergus. 'Course, he's always kept politics out of his grudges so I didn't think this kind of thing would ever happen," Yoruichi's question answered, Cu Chulainn stiffened up before taking a deep breath to try and tighten his lungs up. He had to strengthen himself up before Fergus got his footing. Off in the distance, there was a flash of light in a number of colors and, shortly after, the sound of a thunderclap off coming from the direction Fergus when flying. Maybe Fergus survived by blasting the ground to slow himself down but it didn't matter. He could tell that Fergus went far enough that they had time to compensate. That said, he didn't know everything Yoruichi could do. She was clearly physically strong and fast but whether or not she could handle the rainbow sword in close quarters was something he felt didn't need to be tested if it could be helped.

"My uncles got into a fight at one point and they both tried to get me to settle it by killing the other. Conchobor was my king, so I was obligated to obey him but... I resisted. As for Fergus--not only is he my uncle but he's still a king in his own right. I vowed I'd never harm him so long as he carried the sword of an Ulster king," As carefully as he chose his words to get the meaning across as clearly as possible, Cu Chulainn didn't realize that soul reapers wouldn't have any idea what a geas was. The idea of making completely magical vows likely wouldn't cross Yoruichi's mind.

Still, he stampeded right past the ridiculous nature of what he said and assumed Yoruichi was on board. Cu Chulainn felt his body strengthening up again before he looked back to her. Inwardly, he was curious about whether or not Fergus insulted her just then--but outright saying it seemed like it would be even worse than walking right past the topic.

"I can't fight him directly. That move was, at best, me releasing one of the wards Cathbad placed that kept air spirits from stealing from our crops. I can't do that a second time unless I have the time to reset it."