"He's working with his cousins, Saorla and Damien. They're cousins, who are fucking each other, and no one in the family likes it. Saorla's an opener, she can open a door to anywhere from anywhere. That's why you never caught them in the woods." She held up her fingers, tapping them as she made a point. "Saorla was the old baroness' lady in waiting, who kicked her out for sleeping with Damien. I think. And they control the Direwolves. They were running about with them, at least."

"Well, we did have Damien here," Marcello pointed out. "Hm. And you think they're working together to stage a coup...against his own sister?" he asked, rubbing his chin.

She spread her hands. "Somethings going to happen there. Lady Oisin is cruel and an idiot. I saw that much. Matt and Aisling thought he might try a land grab, but no one could tell me how that's different from a war. And the only person with an army big enough to do it is the Countess." She sighed. "You have to make sure she keeps dithering, Marcello."

Marcello took a deep breath. "I'll talk to Niabheara about it," he assured her. "What...do you think it would be all bad?" he asked. "If this Dierdre is horrible?"

"Do you think Duncan would be better?" She replied, watching him closely. "Aquitaine could be coming, too. That's what I'm worried about. They have a machine that deposited me in the middle of the Countess's woods, Marcello. What happens if they come to invade and you're all busy making some idiot king of a shit pile?"

Marcello sighed. "You don't need to tell me that," he pointed out. "As of right now, it's not a problem. We'll try to keep it from being one."

Barbara studied him for a moment. "I feel that you're not surprised by this." She said, carefully. "But I don't care, as long as you know. She frowned and looked guilty. "I need to tell you some things that I told the Oisin cousins while I was their hostage."

Marcello shook his head. "Not surprised," he replied. "But this is different information than what I had before. What?" he asked. He glanced down the hall. "Do we need to go somewhere?"

She raised her brows. "Maybe. But it's likely nothing that the people here don't know. I told them about which wall came down when the trul came here. And I taught the girl, Saorla, how to use a gun, and let their smith look at it." She sighed. "I had to gain their trust. I'm sorry."

Marcello shook his head. "Lang, you know that's all right," he assured her. How many guns could they possibly make? And now we'll be prepared that they might have one. The trouble here is that if they do have one, they might put iron in the bullets, and it could poison someone, even if the shot isn't very grave."