The Mask of Diplomacy
The Mask of Diplomacy was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description[edit | edit source]
Eivor returned to Clogher to report Eogan's treachery to High King Flann Sinna.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Eivor entered Flann's tent to talk with him and Ciara.
- Flann: Eivor, you did well at Aileach. We march in the morning. I'd think it no small thing for you to lead my honour guard.
- Eivor: Did you not get Bárid's message, lord? You must pull back, not move forward. This ruse is part of a larger trap not yet sprung.
- Flann: Bárid believes to know the minds of these kings, but the Church has taken root and flourished since my uncle's day.
- Eivor: The Church is behind the plot against you. Did the message say nothing of Abbot Eogan?
- Flann: King Niall and King Domnall were doubtless seeking to cast blame elsewhere. The Church is a convenient scapegoat.
- Ciara: What if there's some truth to Bárid's suspicions?
- Flann: Eogan is the Abbot of Armagh, God's Appointed in Ireland. I cannot doubt him on the word of a ... friend.
- Eivor: You mean a pagan.
Bárid walked into the tent meeting.
- Bárid: Why are you all still here? Did my message not get through?
- Eivor: It did, but King Flann is not convinced.
- Bárid: You must pull out of Clogher now, my king. Before we are surrounded by Eogan's army.
- Flann: You do not command me, Bárid mac Ímair. If there was an army, my scouts—
- Bárid: Your scouts are dead! Baldur's blood, Flann! How many must die before you learn to trust?
- Flann: You forget yourself, Bárid! Do not invoke your false gods in my presence!
- Bárid: Listen! What's that?
A war horn was blown in the distance.
- Bárid: Eogan's wolves have arrived. I didn't come this far to die in a tent, my king.
Flann made a grimace towards Bárid.
- Irish Soldier 1: We're under attack!
- Eivor: Come on!
Eivor, Bárid, Flann, and Ciara join in to fight Eogan's army.
- Bárid: Drive them from the heart of the village! I'll take more heads than you, cousin!
- Eivor: Do not wager on it!
As the Southern Army fought the ambushers, Flann yelled to his men.
- Flann: If we hold off this assault, we will save the day!
More of Eogan's army kept coming.
- Eivor: They are all around us!
- Bárid: The archers have fire!
- Eivor: They come from the fields!
- Bárid: Blunt those archers' barbs! Leave none alive!
Eivor and her allies attacked the archers.
- Eivor: The ravens will have your eyes!
- Bárid: Seek out Flann and Ciara at the barricades. I'll gather the men and meet you back here.
- Eivor: Until then, cousin.
Eivor met with Ciara and Flann near the barricades.
- Ciara: We could use your help, Eivor!
- Eivor: Come with me! I will be your shield.
Eivor fought alongside the High King and his poetess.
- Eivor: They're on the ropes.
- Ciara: They have no honor. Show them no mercy!
Eogan's men started to retreat.
- Eivor: They retreat.
- Ciara: You've saved us.
Eivor, Flann, and Ciara survived, but with the loss and injuries of most of their army alongside the Clogher camp's near-destruction.
- Flann: We held them off. At a great cost.
- Ciara: Eivor? Where is Bárid?
Ciara and Eivor went to look for Bárid.
- Eivor: Bárid, can you hear me? Bárid mac Ímair!
Ciara and Eivor came across an injured soldier.
- Eivor: Have you seen King Bárid?
- Irish Soldier 2: Aye, he was headed towards the farm on the edge of the village.
Eivor headed in the soldier's direction.
- Eivor: A cold grips my heart.
Eivor caught sight of Bárid on the ground, motionless.
- Eivor: Bárid!
Eivor headed to Bárid, who was bleeding and coughing on the ground.
- Eivor: Bárid?
- Bárid: Eivor...
- Eivor: I'm here.
- Bárid: A glorious end, don't you think? Worthy of a saga, maybe ... And you thought I'd gone soft...
- Eivor: No one knew your true measure.
- Bárid: Not even you, cousin... You had your doubts... Good thing I was too stupid to give up...
Eivor put an axe to his body to get Bárid ready for Valhalla.
- Eivor: Your bravery will be remembered, Bárid. I'll see to it.
Eivor put Bárid's hands on the axe.
- Eivor: Hold your weapon well, cousin. I will see you in Valhalla.
- Bárid: Sichfrith is my Valhalla, Eivor. Valhalla need not be a place... It can be... a legacy... Flann must back him. Have him swear by his God. There's nothing more the Christians fear more than their Almighty's wrath.
Bárid died in front of Eivor as she stood up.
- Eivor: It will be done.
Time passed as Bárid was laid to rest outside Dublin, at Gortknaw.
- Flann: A hero's funeral. Bárid has become a greater man in death than he was in life.
- Eivor: Or maybe we were too small to see his full size.
- Flann: A harsh truth, but fair. He saw more clearly than I, and I ignored his council. Eogan will pay for his death.
- Eivor: What then? When the abbot is gone and you've tamed the North, what of Sichfrith? Will you give him your royal support?
- Flann: When he has proven himself. It would not be good politics at this time—
- Eivor: Trolls take your politics! Bárid gave his life in your service. If this is how you repay loyalty, you'll be in short supply.
- Flann: Twice you've stung me with truth. I'll return the favor. Sichfrith isn't ready ... but he could be with proper teaching.
- Eivor: Good. He'll benefit with your wisdom.
- Flann: And my support. But neither throne will be secure while Eogan lives.
Ciara walked into the middle of Flann and Eivor's conversation.
- Flann: We'll throttle that snake. And afterward, the fate of this land will be in your hands. Yours and Sichfrith's.
- Ciara: The horses are being made ready, my king. Sure you don't want to rest your bones and leave by dawn's light?
- Flann: My thoughts ride too rough for sleep. I've an army and reputation to reclaim. The second may prove harder than the first.
Flann left while Ciara stayed to pay her respects.
- Ciara: My mother used to tell me that The Morrigan used to feed on the death of heroes, then fill men's heads with thoughts of war. I imagined using the Tara stone to drown out their song, the way Bishop Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland.
- Eivor: There's no power strong enough to do what you say. Not even the gods can change fate. The world is destined to end in war.
- Ciara: ′Twas naught but the fantasy of a young girl, so.
- Eivor: Tell Flann I'll come to him after I've arranged things with Sichfrith.
- Ciara: Tell him yourself, I'm not leaving yet.
Outcome[edit | edit source]
Eivor, Bárid, Ciara and Flann Sinna came under attack by Eogan's men at Clogher. From this betrayal, Flann lost most of his army and Bárid died from the onslaught.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Flann Sinna and Ciara receiving Eivor -
Eivor urging Flann to pull off his attack -
Bárid returning -
Bárid and Eivor off to defend the attack -
Eivor and Flann fending off Eogan's men -
Ciara, Eivor and Flann after the attack -
Flann's army regrouping -
Clogher damaged during the attack -
Eivor finding a mortally wounded Bárid -
Bárid's death -
Eivor and Flann at Bárid's grave -
Flann expressing his regret for not trusting Bárid -
Ciara visiting Bárid's grave
