Padraig MacLeod

Padraig MacLeod of Clan MacLeod, a wandering nobleman, knight and warrior-poet, youngest son of the chief of Clan MacLeod. Unlikely to inherit his father's lands and title, he bade his farewells and struck out for adventure and land of his own. Taking with him his squire, the morose and gloomy William Rufus, his frequently bewildered manservant Ruraidh, and his long-suffering steward and teacher, the elderly but garrulous 'Uncle' Iain, he has travelled far and wide across the mainland. In his travels he befriended a strange man from far to the west, who bequeathed him land "the like of which you have never seen, upon which the soil is fertile and the people are good". MacLeod has since been travelling west slowly but surely, to find this land and claim it as his own.

MacLeod has come to Hygard to meet old family friends and to attempt to arrange passage or transport that will enable him and his retainers to travel faster than their feet will carry them. In so doing however, he has made a decision that may alter his life forever...

A Story of Padraig MacLeod:

"My lord, we are lost." "Iain, we're not lost. We're just... unsure of our present location." "Lord... that means we're lost." "Look, Iain, you can be as pessimistic as you like, but we're in Hygard, we're nice and high up, and all we have to do is ask around. I'm sure someone will know something about my cousin." "Lord, it's getting late, there's a war brewing, and we've still not found Lady Elise or her House." "Well, fine. Look, there's a temple. Why don't we pop in there and ask one of the priests if they've heard of Elise and then we can go and find a nice coaching inn for the night if they don't know where she is." "Tch. You're in charge, my lord." "Well, that's settled. Right, come on then - William, Ruraidh - let's go."

Off into the jaws of hell... unwittingly and unprepared!