eachdraidh | [Video - Both courts]

[Elmie has told him that the lockets are being watched but Dave can't help it, he wants some information, and locking the post to only one court would reduce the amount potential informants. If he makes it sound just like some history lesson he can't get in trouble for it, right? Right.

He still uses video instead of just audio to avoid any nasally voice confusion again - if this really bites him in the ass later, better leave it clear it's all on him. He's in his room at the castle, not a commoner's for anyone who doesn't know about his magic yet, and he's surrounded by books he borrowed from the library, which shouldn't be surprising. At all.]

Many of you have been here for a long while, right? Like... a "whole year" while, give it or take. [Get ready for the hand gestures, everyone.] Any chance you know more about the history behind this war they want us to fight? The books say the-- ah, maybe "a"? A jabberwock attacked during-- [He glances at a book to get the term right.] --Blàr Geur and some-- entity? called "the Mother" healed the land afterward.

[Sighing, he runs his fingers through his hair. It's so frustrating for this nerd not to be able to find what he wants by researching.]

They connect her to something called "sigils" too but that's all I got. And there isn't much more I can do with the state of the castle's library... [Plus the fact it isn't objective doesn't help, but he isn't going to say that.] So maybe anyone can tell me where to find--

[He interrupts himself when what it looks like a wooden bird lands on his head, using his hair as a nest. Two more fly by a second later, the wind made by their flight turning the pages of his books and shuffling his notes. Dave facepalms and closes his locket - it seems his spell still needs a few adjustments.]

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[There's a small sigh before slowly;]

Bl-àr Ge-ur.

[When the video starts again, the birds are nesting on an open book and Dave has given up on them for now. So much for fixing the spell.]

Ah... Bl-àr Ge-ur? [No perfect but he's trying, ok.]

Close. At least you make an effort.

[More than she can say for some people.]

Trust me, effort isn't something I'm lacking now. [He sighs.] You don't know anything about sigils in celtic stories, do you?

[And that's when she switches to private because gods above and below it's probably kept quiet for a good reason, Dave.]

Can't say I do. Unless you mean somethin' like runes. [And here she traces a pattern in the air, no magic behind it, but she does concentrate a bit of flame to make it easier to follow.] Some of my people find protection in knots made for a specific purpose.

[Of course it's kept quiet, that's why he's asking for more!]

Waitwaitwaitwait- not so fast!

[He moves the book with the birds out of the way (they don't seem disturbed by that) to grab more paper and a pen (yes, he can't let go of those) to take notes, trying to copy the rune Merida traced in the air.]

Knots and runes... those are the, ah, "sigils" of your people? So they're like-- magic guards?

[She traces it again for him, with the same method, before she shrugs.]

Well, runes are more of a viking thing, an' I guess. Th' shape of th' knot usually indicates th' meanin'. Spirals, for instance, [circling her finger around in the air] form a link to th' Otherworld.

[He copies it again, more accurate this time, and stares at it before turning to Merida again.]

The Otherworld as in... this place? Or something more god-related? [Oh boy, please don't let it be a religious thing. He still writes down the whole spiral thing.] So it's all about symbols... I don't know why but I was expecting more, ah, entities?

I won't deny, I though this place was th' Otherworld when I first arrived since we know it as th' land of the fae. It's where heroes an' gods reside, accordin' to th' stories at least.

[The flame disappears from the air now that she's done with it, tilting her head.]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by entity?

Heroes and gods. Right. [He isn't sure how many people here can really classify as that. Many words have lost their meaning here, he thinks.] Entity as in... ok, not people, but-- yeah, some kind of being? Spirits or something like the White Hart.

Oh! Well, yes. Th' Black Shuck said to me last year that he knew of my home, so I have no doubt that he's th' one I've heard stories about since I was a wee lass. Th' White Hart's likely th' same.

[Merida waves her hand a little.]

An' of course there's things like Cù Sìths an' I heard up north there's somethin' they call Niseag in a loch.

[But what about the sigils, Dave wants to know. He's distracted, though, by Merida's next examples. He writes down " Cù Sìths" (with wrong spelling) looking quite amused.]

In a-- you mean the Loch Ness Monster in the Highlands?

Is that what they're callin' her in th' future?

[She sounds highly amused though, knowing quite well he's probably got the wrong spelling down there.]

[He likes learning, Merida, please correct him! Also this is one ironic conversation after Johnny's question.]

So Nessie is a "she"! [Concentrating on the important details here.] I didn't know her legend was so old.

Well I wouldn't know. For all I know she could be a 'he'.

[She inclines her head.]

Every legend has a bit of truth behind it. Like th' tale of th' four princes back home.

Yeeeah, I-- I know that. [He's the living proof that legends have truth behind them. He fidgets, remembering Merida was the one who told him about Morgana. Talk about awkward.] So what do you guys know about Nessie in your time?

In my time? Much about th' same as what you'd know I'd imagine. [She waves a hand nonchalantly.] I never got to get out of th' castle much, but travelers always came. Most of what I know is from word of mouth.

Oh. That's kinda disappointing. I thought people back then were more connected to... magical stuff. [And people complain about modern times. Tsk.]

Beasts keep to themselves. I've only seen will o th' wisps two or three times in my lifetime, to be quite honest.

[Merida tilts her head.]

I did accidentally turn my mum into a bear once though.

Thaaat is way better than no times at--

[Pause. Staring.]

...you turned your mom into a what?

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