~~~Dunbar, Scotland.~~~

John joined the woman in the fire sat down by the fire and began to warm his hands as he stared into it's warm glow, leaving the bag on the ground where . He paused for a moment and this woman's questions. Alfric's errand was stupid anyway and she was a countryman. Surely it couldn't hurt to tell her about her brother's crazed scheme.

"Crazy is the right word. My brother, Alfric, just became Earl of Ulster. Had a few dissidents show up to his castle swinging swords and now he thinks it's a Scottish conspiracy where they are trying to taint our vital bodily fluids or some other nonsense."

John looked up at the woman and continued.

"As for why I'm here, Alfric wanted someone to go find evidence to support his delusions and I figured that I might as well get a nice sight-seeing trip out of the deal."

John leaned back and glanced around the cave.

"I sailed into Edinburgh early this morning and I have yet to have any idea where to go. I just decided to pick a path and follow it and ended up here. I thought it would be best to avoid the town as Alfric warned me to keep a low profile and is the type to send a spy after his own brother to make sure instructions are followed."

John once more sat up and looked over at the woman.

"And what about you? An Irish lady all the way out here in Scotland by herself? I even saw you kicking up the sand right after I walked in like you were trying to erase something."

After an unnaturally long pause John continued in a slightly quieter tone.

"You can write can't you? Didn't want anyone finding out you might have a rich father, did ya?"