A young Frenchman takes a sip from his glass of wine and stands to speak. He is tall and thin, and dressed in clothing that must have once been quite fine but are now rather threadbare, as if he had not others and was forced to wear them daily.

Monsieur Arnaud, I believe that all these threats between the Monarchs of those two kingdoms is only so much bluster, as is common among those peoples on the edge of the civilized world. Most likely the Norwegians will not challenge the Scots over such poor settlements as lie in the northern end of the Island of Britain, and will instead seek softer, more profitable targets, as their history as pirates will incline them to do.