Maitiu let go Uilliam so quickly, the younger man sat down in self-defense, to keep from falling down. "Well met," he said, in surprise, to Barbara. "Always good to meet a friend of Maitiu's."

"Uilliam knew me back in the day when people just assumed Leannan and I were an item," Maitiu explained nicely.

"Oh?" Barbara said, raising a brow. "So who made a pass at who first?" She looked between them. "Or was Leannan the interested one?"

She looked over Uilliam again. "And just so we're clear, we're more than friends and Maitiu's not interested."

The younger man turned red. "Ah, no. No. That wasn't why. I mean. I'm not."

"Long story short: he was fuckin' Leannan, Leannan went to Refuge, he started fuckin' O'Niall," Maitiu explained helpfully.

Barbara stuck her tongue out. "Christ, that's awful." She said, glancing the man over, appraising him, and apparently finding him short. She kept staring, for longer than necessary. "You do have bad taste." She said finally.

"Did that get you over trying to fuck the biggest dick in the room?" She asked the man.

"I have never seen O'Niall's dick up close and personal but I'm bettin' Leannan's was bigger," Maitiu said.

Uilliam went a darker red. "It was a long time ago. I. I just wanted to say I was sorry. I hadn't heard anything about you, other than that you were ill. It's good to see you're all right."

Barbara seemed satisfied with this. "So what do you do?" She asked. "Do you have holdings or a trade, or?" She asked, interested.

"Hopeless drifter?" Maitiu asked with interest. "Drunken wastrel?"

Uilliam scowled. "Hopeless drifter," he said. "I told you, I was in exile. Titania was hunting for me. I'm surprised she wasn't hunting for you."

Maitiu shrugged. "Well. Titania's dead, being a bard has its privileges. I guess she figgered that Leannan was one of the major fuckees in the Niall business and I wouldn't be involved in any conspiracy that would frame him. Got off scot-free."

"And now we're in the new Queen's graces. Maitiu spent some time tutoring her this summer at Oireachteigh, and I did a favor for her when Countess Niall had some trul problems earlier this summer." She said. "And when we're not doing that, we're sailing with the Sea Witch with Maitiu's handsome, intelligent and wonderful son." Barbara added, sunnily.

Uilliam stared at her. "I. Have no idea if you're being sarcastic or not," he said.

"The lady with the guns has no need for sarcasm," Maitiu replied. "It hasn't been quite that action-packed, but if I were you, I'd start burrowing in with the new Queen as quickly as possible. I don't think the Oisins like you very much either."

Barbara grinned. "He's right. I'm serious. I wouldn't even go near the Oisins. They've all been hostage happy." She explained. "The Queen might like you, except, fair warning, her sense of when she's hearing bullshit is pretty finely tuned." She said with a wink. "Do you like animals? That helps."