<br/>Éua folded her arms and looked over Gisella with a warm smile watching her as she enjoyed the mead.<em>"No problem Gisella, you eat up I've plenty for myself and my apprentice and enjoy its my pleasure to offer my hospitality to you." </em>She moved over sitting in the sturdy wooden chair the other side of the table.<br/><em><br/>"I think if you told me apprentice rats contained ale he probably would do just that." She chuckled slightly. "</em>But careful lass you don't want to wake the oaf he smells as foul as the city slums this eve don't look much better either. Don't worry you won't have to sleep anywhere near his stench, if that was so id find it far kinder to trust you to the streets instead."<br/><br/>She went slightly silent at the mention of faith and the smile dwindled slightly as she composed herself and seamed to take on a more serious tone her words seamed stronger and almost powerful as if there where a deep conviction and will behind them.<em>"My faith..ah well I suppose you could not help but notice I am descendant of the highlands, Aye I am a descendant of the painted people though my faith like many of kin is in the Lord and his kingdom.  That's what brought me here you see I traveled with the camps lending me service and skills, I not forget all of the old tales or ways though not forget my heritage words and symbols that ill carry with me for my days."<br/></em><br/>She smiled and nodded at Gisella's word smiling it was some time since she had told a tale and it was indeed part of her heritage.<em>"Aye a tale would be a fine thing to end the night with, long has it been since Ive had anyone worthy of listening to such.  Wulfhere he only take interest in tales about ale and women, to much of the Norsemen in him I think an none of it the good kind, he ain't even fierce useless he is."<br/></em><br/>She stood up and headed over to some of her shelves rooting around she found a candle and set it in a small dish lighting it and bringing it over to sit upon the table where its flickering light added to the atmosphere and created shades all about them.  She leaned in close and begun to tell the tale speaking with a different tone to her voice her accent seaming to become thicker she shadows almost appeared to cast swirling parterns across her skin as she spoke.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://bennettcelticart.com/pictures-of-scotland/standing-stones/maiden-stone-1lg.jpg)</div><em>"This here tale lass is the tale of the Maiden Stone it be true and a warning to all, listen well now. This here is the tale of a young lass much like yourself in some respect perhaps in the area she lived she was known far and wide for her beauty and was generally called the Maid of Drumdorno, which was the name of her Father's farm. She had been wooed by many a local lad and had at it had come to pass that she agreed to marry one of her suitors. That afternoon before the doomed wedding she was alone in the farmhouse, busy baking bannocks and cakes for the following day - and all the while daydreaming about her wedding which was never to be. Suddenly she became aware that she was being watched. She looked up and there at the window was a tall, dark and handsome stranger. She gave a little cry oh shock and the  handsome stranger he spoke. He told her she was doing her work well and looked good with it but maybe she was just a bit slow. She retorted that she was as quick as any one else in the village but, flattered by the attentions of the handsome stranger exchanged a few words with him. She was quite clear about letting him know she was getting married the next day. He just laughed and said that  was all very well but she would have to be a bit quicker at the baking to make a good wife. She took objection to this and told him so. Again he laughed and said he bet that he could build a road to the very top of Bennachie before she could finish her baking.  He added that if she took the bet and he won, she would have to marry him instead of her intended. This was such a daft an silly bet, she jokingly agreed and told the stranger to be off on his way. Tipping his hat to her with a smile, he moved off.<br/><br/>She returned to her labours and soon all thought off that there handsome mysterious stranger had flown from her head. However a few hours later, just as the daylight was beginning to fade she had just got the last batch of bannocks ready to bake when she looked out of the window. There in the fading light she could clearly see a brand new road, leading all the way to the very top of Bennachie. She gasped and at that moment the stranger came into view. She now realised what she had done. She had entered a pact with the Devil! Panicking, she ran from the farm towards the Pitroddie woods. Non one was about and she could hear running footsteps behind her and feel the devil closing at her back his hot rancid breath on her skin, see looming shadows and spectre all about her the dogs of hell she knew she was doomed she did. She struggled to say a prayer but no words would come fear and the devil he stole em from her. The footsteps got louder and still she could not say the Lord's name. Just as the fiend caught up with her and grasped her waist in his clammy long clawed fingers, the prayer she had been unable to utter was answered, after a fashion. The Devil instead of clutching a warm and vibrant lass was holding onto stone! In his hand was a piece of that stone which had broken off as he grabbed. He had been thwarted in his desires at the very last minute she had be spared by the Lords work an she still stands to this day, perhaps if your ever traveling that way you will stop and lend her a prayer and give her a moment of yer time." </em><br/><br/>She blew out the candle and smiled in the darkend light of the room at Gisella<em>"Well Lass what do you think then ?"</em>