"I don't mean t'cause offense, m'lady," Erik said with more an air of explanation that apology, "and I'm happy t'hear ye've no designs on runnin me through."

He took a minute and really looked at his surroundings. He'd been in some of the finest keeps in Scotland and Ireland, and he'd never seen the like. Even the floor beneath his feet felt odd, like someone had put a tapestry on the floor rather than the usual rushes. "I'm a bit out of place and that's not got m'temper on an even keel."