The Irish Odyssey

[Jokern]

Baron Thomas Howard, together with his band of retainers and his ward Henry FitzRoy, left Dublin and the Pale behind them as they ventured out on their current task. John Talbot, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, had instructed Howard to negotiate with some of the major Irish clans to try to keep the peace after Stanley had tried to conquer new territory on his own. Fear of a diplomatic disaster was brewing among the English lords, fear of the clans uniting once more and marching on the Pale. It was up to Thomas to blunt as much of that force as possible.

Lord Kildare had prepared a list of clans to talk to, which had been expanded once a messenger had arrived with additional names. O'Reilly, O'Brien and the numerous O'Neills had to be contended with. There were also the need to contact Baron de Ros and Baron FitzMaurice, his neighbors in Munster, concerning any Irish movements or raids in the south.

His first stop on the way was Breifne O'Reilly, just west of the Pale. A kingdom that had been plagued by wars of succession for nearly a hundred years, most of them with support on both sides from outside forces, had finally stabilized after Richard of York returned to England in 1449. Now they were ruled by King Toirdhealbhaigh, son of Sean an Einigh who had fought against a English-backed pretender, Fearghal, 30 years past. However, the O'Reillys had from time to time served as mediators between the English and the Irish of Ulster. Hopefully their king could be made to see reason.

[Mary The Quene]

Eventually Henry comes to seek out the Lord Howard and and speaks to him, head down.

''Is it true what i hear then, my sister is gone, is it true she married?'' Inquired Henry, he had heard rumors from servants, even the commoners were talking about it, now he supposed he was at risk.

[Jokern]

Eventually Henry comes to seek out the Lord Howard and and speaks to him, head down.

''Is it true what i hear then, my sister is gone, is it true she married?'' Inquired Henry, he had heard rumors from servants, even the commoners were talking about it, now he supposed he was at risk.

"I don't know, Henry. It seems she has disappeared and the Queen Regent is looking for her, but everything else would be speculation on my part. I'm sure she's fine though."

Howard smiled wearily. News from England were few and far between, for better or worse, but the disappearance of Eleanor Fitzroy had reached them well enough. Thomas dearly hoped this would not stir up tensions more than they already were.

At a later point in time, when Howard and Fitzroy had made it to O'Reilly's seat at Tullymongan, near Cavan (and presumably long after they have concluded their conversation), they are both shown in to the main hall of King Toirdhealbhaigh mac Sean. This Irish petty-king was better dressed than the man that (unbeknownst to any present) had been encountered by Stanley, a tall and thin man who wore an English-style hat and seemed to possess proper courtly manners.

"Baron Howard. I did not think we'd see each other again, so soon after the last great war." Toirdhealbhaigh leaned back in the chair and steepled his hands. "What brings you to Tullymongan?"

Thomas Howard made a proper courteous bow to the Irish king before speaking.

"May God bless you and your kin, your Grace. My duty to the realm and the desire for peace brings me here today. You have certainly heard of the transgressions perpetrated by Sir Stanley in Killarney? It is my hope that his actions not lead to another fruitless war between the Irish kings and England. Your Grace's kingdom has acted as mediator in times past, and I humbly request your aid in this endeavor."

[Barry Goldwater]

Thomas Howard made a proper courteous bow to the Irish king before speaking.

"May God bless you and your kin, your Grace. My duty to the realm and the desire for peace brings me here today. You have certainly heard of the transgressions perpetrated by Sir Stanley in Killarney? It is my hope that his actions not lead to another fruitless war between the Irish kings and England. Your Grace's kingdom has acted as mediator in times past, and I humbly request your aid in this endeavor."

"I have heard, yes. I have also heard that MacCarthy has defeated Stanley and clapped him in chains for his unwelcome intrusion." O'Reilly replied smoothly. "So long as we are not given cause to think you may be coming for us next, as your Duke of Clarence did a few years ago, we O'Reillys care little for MacCarthy's quarrels with thee, and I certainly won't be sending any O'Reilly boys to die for their sake. I am willing to help mediate in any further disputes you may have with my neighbors, as well, though MacCarthy is no neighbor and hardly known to me."

[Mary The Quene]

"I don't know, Henry. It seems she has disappeared and the Queen Regent is looking for her, but everything else would be speculation on my part. I'm sure she's fine though."

Howard smiled wearily. News from England were few and far between, for better or worse, but the disappearance of Eleanor Fitzroy had reached them well enough. Thomas dearly hoped this would not stir up tensions more than they already were.

''But what if it is true, what will happen then?''

Asked Henry curious, unsure why her sister would do so such a thing and not fully grasping the meaning yet, why would she marry the son of her grandfather's murderer?

[Jokern]

''But what if it is true, what will happen then?''

Asked Henry curious, unsure why her sister would do so such a thing and not fully grasping the meaning yet, why would she marry the son of her grandfather's murderer?

Howard stayed silent for a moment while he put together his thoughts. What if it were true, indeed. The return of Lancaster, perhaps. His family had been part of their Mowbray cousins' household and therefore been drawn into the Yorkist faction during the conflict between the two factions, but the Howards had been staunch loyalists since. Their baronial title, their lands and their connections were all thanks to York. But if the Lancastrians were successful, his future brother-in-law beside him would be the Duke of York, whose sister would be queen. Thomas turned back to Henry and shrugged.

"If it is true, then we have a choice to make that will affect the very foundation of the kingdom. The conflict between York and Lancaster has been raging for over three decades, and it seems that now is the time that Lancaster will be making their move. Were we to support them and win, you will be recognized as your father's true heir and be made Duke of York, while your sister becomes Queen of England. Lose, and we all lose our heads. Support your half-brother and win, then that may be the end for your sister, lose and we lose our heads. I do not know yet what to do, Henry, and I would like to hear your own opinion on it."

[Mary The Quene]

Howard stayed silent for a moment while he put together his thoughts. What if it were true, indeed. The return of Lancaster, perhaps. His family had been part of their Mowbray cousins' household and therefore been drawn into the Yorkist faction during the conflict between the two factions, but the Howards had been staunch loyalists since. Their baronial title, their lands and their connections were all thanks to York. But if the Lancastrians were successful, his future brother-in-law beside him would be the Duke of York, whose sister would be queen. Thomas turned back to Henry and shrugged.

"If it is true, then we have a choice to make that will affect the very foundation of the kingdom. The conflict between York and Lancaster has been raging for over three decades, and it seems that now is the time that Lancaster will be making their move. Were we to support them and win, you will be recognized as your father's true heir and be made Duke of York, while your sister becomes Queen of England. Lose, and we all lose our heads. Support your half-brother and win, then that may be the end for your sister, lose and we lose our heads. I do not know yet what to do, Henry, and I would like to hear your own opinion on it."

''I really don't know myself.''

Said Henry with a frown, it was very unfortunate it has gotten to this point, choosing between his sister and his half brother the king.

''I need to think about this, i need time'' Said Henry, it was not something you would decide here and now, time was needed.

[Barry Goldwater]

At a later point in time, when Howard and Fitzroy had made it to O'Reilly's seat at Tullymongan, near Cavan (and presumably long after they have concluded their conversation), they are both shown in to the main hall of King Toirdhealbhaigh mac Sean. This Irish petty-king was better dressed than the man that (unbeknownst to any present) had been encountered by Stanley, a tall and thin man who wore an English-style hat and seemed to possess proper courtly manners.

"Baron Howard. I did not think we'd see each other again, so soon after the last great war." Toirdhealbhaigh leaned back in the chair and steepled his hands. "What brings you to Tullymongan?"

[Jokern]

Howard nodded. It was understandable since the boy was still young, despite appearances.

"That is good, we will all need to think about the future. You are wise for your age if you don't run head first into problems."

[Mary The Quene]

''There is one more thing i'd like to ask''

Said Henry, he felt he was ready for this, to step in that bond

''I'd like to marry Katherine when we are back in England'' Said Henry, he liked her and he was not a child either anymore.

[Jokern]

"If you are old enough to marry when we return to England, then you have my blessing. Not before though, and you'll need some lands of your own to take care of your own family. A lot of work, but it should work out in the end. For now though, we have to take care of the Irish."

Thomas liked Edward, though he sometimes resembled his royal father by wanting to act without thinking things through first. In other ways, Fitzroy had a calm to him to temper his flames.