Taking pity upon her sisters discomfort, she smiles at the three gentlemen. "Keep in mind that this joke was told to me by a scotsman if you will!"


Sitting back and taking a sip of her ale, she tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and effects a scottish broque for her joke.


A Scottish old-timer in Scotland, in a bar, talking to a young man.


"Lad, look out there to the field. Do ya see that fence? Look how well it's built. I built that fence stone by stone with me own two hands. Piled it for months. But do they call me 'McGregor, The Fence Builder'? Nooo.."


Then the old man gestured at the bar.


"Look here at the bar. Do ya see how smooth and just it is? I planed that surface down by me own achin' back. I carved that wood with me own hard labor, for eight days. But do they call me 'McGregor, The Bar Builder'? Nooo..."


Then the old man points out the window.


"Eh, Laddy, look out to sea. Do ya see that pier that stretches out as far as the eye can see? I built that pier with the sweat off me back. I nailed it board by board. But do they call me 'McGregor, The Pier Builder'? Nooo..."


Then the old man looks around nervously, trying to make sure no one is paying attention.


"But ya git amorous wit' ane wee goat . . . "

"Nerul Bursts into a fit of laughter"

Carys blinks realizing once again she just missed something.


She smiles at her sister Kyt and sits quietly hoping NO one will know she didnt understand the joke.


She takes a sip of her warm honyed mead and quietly watches the reaction to all the table while she studies in her mind what it meant.

Tobyas and Crispian both collapsed into gales of laughter.

 

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Her cheeks pinkening becomingly, she tugs her sister close and whispers an explanation into her ear, chuckling when Carys's eyes grow wide and round.


"I hope ye take no offense to my joke, m'lords."

Leaning back against Toby, wiping tears from his eyes, Crispian finally gained his breath back. "Oh, sweet Lord, you just described the highland attitude so perfectly, even if I don't know any with affections for a sheep! Oh indeed!" He gasped deep breaths in as he got control of himself.

 

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Carys chokes on her drink and tries hard not to laugh.


As she continues to laugh and choke the tears well up in her eyes, her face flushed with a rosey hue.


Trying hard to get under control


"By the powers Kyt!" she finaly blurts out

" A GOAT ! ? "


She fails in her attempt and starts to laugh with everyone else.

After finally regaining his composure and wiping away the tears from his eyes Nerul manages to drop some gold on the table and says "So? What card game you got us playin here kyt?"

Grinning wickedly to her sister, "Aye well, when ye are stuck out in the heather with yer clansmen around ye...and no women as far as the eye can see...well, what is a lad to do, aye?"


Winking at at her companions and chuckling, she turns to Nerul. "ou keep searching the place as though you are waiting for someone. You wouldn't by chance be waiting for the Chaos Twin, Arideregh now would you?"


Eyeing her cards up, she says "I was thinking of Hibernian Hold' em...that okay?"

A conspiratorial glance exchanged between Tobyas and Crispian as they both chuckled again.


"Chaos twin? I think that was him and his brother," Tobyas remarked, sit up and taking his tankard again.

 

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