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Post by GMS Freeman on Sept 29, 2020 14:15:24 GMT
[Disguise yourself as soldiers]
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Post by TheAPlegends on Oct 1, 2020 19:13:34 GMT
[Disguise yourself as servants]
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Oct 16, 2020 23:13:39 GMT
[Disguise yourself as servants] And the truth comes out... Regarding the choice, although the soldier disguise offer an immediate advantage, I think it could be more of a hindrance in the end. I assume the whole process of retrieving the armor and marching back to Faronhall is more time-consuming than the servant route, and with Harmund at the doorstep the sooner we're back the better. Besides, dressing up as servants is more inconspicuous, it's weird for soldiers to be randomly wandering around the castle but completely normal for servants. I can reveal it now, my plans for when to do this big reveal changed quite a lot over the course of my writing. Originally, I wanted it to be the big twist in Chapter 2 of Edrick's storyline (though done in a far less dramatic manner), with Chapter 3 having him potentially work alongside Sylvi, but I ultimately decided that I would much rather write a scene where she saves the group from Gawayne and then reveals the truth, which I realized needed a bit more build-up. So, there was quite a bit of a rewrite for Edrick's storyline between the rough draft I made at the start of Book 2 and what you got to read in this part and I hope you enjoyed the option I chose in the end! Aye, it is probably the less suspicious route and most definitely the one that leads back to the castle faster. The only benefit of the soldier route would be that Edrick and his companions could smuggle weapons into the castle with ease, which could come in handy when dealing with Harmund.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Oct 16, 2020 23:22:06 GMT
[Disguise yourself as soldiers] Two hour walk sounds nice. This plan as a whole sounds terrible, but we shall see. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GAWAYNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The man whose name sounds like a sneeze is dead. How can this be? A legendary character, dead. Viveka ain't going to be pleased. Speaking of Viveka, she's...nice? I dunno man. She's something. Gawayne though, he will be missed. Met in the woods, dead in the woods. Sylvi? The Riverborn? I did NOT see that coming. This is juicy. We should have kept strangling Leo because this part needed even more strangling. Rest in peace, Gawayne Admittedly, I had fun writing a character like him, who is a complete and unrepentant dick to everyone around him, but whose main motivation is actually fairly heroic, namely genuine (if somewhat twisted) loyalty to his liege lady. And since he was basically Viveka's most loyal supporter, she will definitely be far from pleased should she learn about this. She's, well, nice might be the wrong word, but she tries to act with honour, which is something that is not usually expected from House Codd (whose words are "Though All Men Do Despise Us"). Killing her loyal second-in-command is most definitely going to piss her off though, even if it happened out of self-defence. We'll get to see her reaction in the next chapter. Man, I am glad that it came as a surprise! There was one moment earlier in this chapter where I was afraid I made it too obvious and that people would catch up to it before this part. Back when Edrick escaped from Faronhall, he and the group met up with Normund at a river boat. Normund acted strange, was about to tell them who the Riverborn was, before he noticed that Gawayne and his hounds were much closer than expected. Then, he suddenly revealed that he is actually the Riverborn and before Gawayne caught up to them, Edrick heard something from the boat, as if something fell off (or, in retrospect, a certain someone jumped off to avoid the approaching Ironborn and then swam away unnoticed). After their capture, when they are brought in front of Viveka, Sylvi appears as well, with wet hair and a fresh dress. Though she claims to have just taken a bath, Viveka mentions she smells like river and I was certain this would be a dead giveaway. Makes me feel confident in my ability to pull off a plot-twist while still foreshadowing the heck out of it, which I always love to do and which will be done for future twists as well I can say, this would not have killed him. Viveka would have granted Edrick a few more moments with the guy who sold him out, before ordering Gawayne to break them apart. What I cannot yet say is the effect this would have had on Leo. Edrick's harsh words definitely affected him, but so would have a brutal assault. Which of these two options is the better of the two will be revealed in the next chapter.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Oct 16, 2020 23:23:46 GMT
[Disguise yourself as soldiers] Seems like a role that would maybe come more naturally for them? Sylvi being the Riverborn was a twist I didn't expect, but it certainly made her a more interesting character. I did have a feeling that Gawayne planned to kill them and that someone would follow them and save them in the last moment, but my best guess was Leo As I said in my reply to InGen, I am glad it came as a surprise ^^ Of course, I knew all along and it is why I had a lot of fun writing Sylvi's scenes, since all of her previous actions and statements can suddenly be seen in a new light. That being said, despite her hatred for the Ironborn and her desire to protect her home from their tyrannic rule, this part marked the first time she deliberately attacked another person, her past resistance has been decidedly non-violent. As for Leo, that was not an option I'm afraid. He has fucked up by selling his group out to the Ironborn and though he is slowly realizing it, he still rationalizes himself as the big hero, the one who saves Alys not just from whatever danger she'll be in when they meet at last, but also from her unwanted betrothal to Dante Karstark. As such, making him realize that he was actually wrong to sell the group out, that will take more time.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Oct 16, 2020 23:57:38 GMT
The Voting is closed
Edrick and his companions are going to disguise themselves as servants A tie, how exciting! Been a while since we had one of those, so first choice wins. Edrick and his companions, now joined by Sylvi, will disguise themselves as servants, which will have its own benefits, but also its own dangers when compared to the soldier route. One big advantage is speed and I can confirm that with Harmund almost at Faronhall, time is of the essence. The next part is coming along nicely and will be out tomorrow. For the first time in a while, it will be a double PoV, wrapping up the Riverlands storyline with parts for Kyra and Garthon. Kyra's part is actually set a bit before Edrick's part and it will show the second half of her recent meeting with the king, which Harmund is attending. Last time we saw her, she just broke up a fight between her loyal second-in-command Gravven Drumm and a soldier named Drevyn Pyke, who serves under Ragnar Smyte, a fellow Ironborn captain. Shortly afterwards, she got a chance to meet this captain in person when she was summoned to a meeting with the king, his sons, as well as captains Stallhart, Smyte and Vessels, Lord Reymand Orkwood and Lord Quellon Codd, Sylvi's father. There, she learned that Petyr Blackwood is apparently considering open rebellion. A spy in Raventree Hall has informed Harrick that the lord has entered negotiations with Elmont Piper behind their back and that a meeting is scheduled, a meeting which you know by now is already happening in Garthon's parts. Unwilling to accept further insurrections like the one he just beat down in Book 1, Harren decides to make an example of House Blackwood and then House Piper. He plans to send Harndon, definitely the least qualified son of his for any sort of bloodless diplomacy, to march on Raventree Hall, supported by roughly two hundred soldiers ammassed from the various captains. Meanwhile, Harmund will be sent to Faronhall to see why Viveka has failed to capture this Riverborn who keeps weakening the Ironborn control in that region of the Riverlands. Furthermore, Kyra learned that Garthon has supposedly been seen in Raventree Hall, so Harren wants to send her alongside Harndon to identify Garthon if possible. Up until then, they have all considered him dead after Rell Vessels' statement. Understandably, Kyra was unhappy about having to march alongside Harndon after an incident in their childhood during which Harndon nearly caused Kyra's death and was in return nearly murdered by Damon. Realizing that she has no choice in this though, she decided against protesting and in favour of simply accepting Harren's demands. Meanwhile, at Raventree Hall, Garthon and his companions met up with Ethan Blackwood and Maurice to decide their next steps. Maurice has brought forth serious accusations against Petyr Blackwood's father-in-law, Torvin Hale, believing him to be the traitor who has leaked information to Harren Hoare. Since Garthon was the most neutral party present, he was sent to talk to Torvin, to potentially confirm Maurice's suspicions. Meanwhile, Maurice would gather his men, ready to apprehend Torvin at Garthon's signal. This conversation was initially pleasant, though Torvin acted a bit strangely, almost confused at times. The tone changed notably once Garthon mentioned that someone has been entering the ravenry to send letters to Harrenhal. Of course Torvin did not admit to anything, though he realized that his keys have been missing more often than not lately. Suspecting a traitor, he offered to support Garthon and Maurice and he even mentioned that he had his own theory about the traitor. Suddenly in a hurry, he tried to leave, claiming the need to do some preparations and expressing a desire to speak to Maurice in private. This was the last straw for Garthon, who reluctantly decided to give the order to apprehend the old knight. The next part will start right where these two storylines left off, before bringing them to an end for this chapter. As I said, it should be out tomorrow and I hope you'll enjoy them
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Oct 19, 2020 3:44:03 GMT
Kyra “This is a bad idea, father”, Harrick growled and briefly, the look in his eyes resembled that of the king. “Putting Harndon and Captain Greyjoy in danger... you should send me. I can negotiate with Blackwood, put down his insurrection without bloodshed. That way, we won't harm our troops, we'll even add our own against the dragonlord” “Who says I want this to end without bloodshed?”, Harren growled. “This river leech thinks me a fool. He thinks our house is weak now that war has come to our borders. More will follow, Tully, Frey and Piper, unless we snuff out any semblance of resistance right now” His expression softened, a change so slim that Kyra only noticed it because she was used to being around him. “You are the brightest and most capable of this sorry lot”, he told him. “But look me in the eye and tell me you could do it. Snatch a babe from its mother's arms and break its neck. Kill a man in front of his family. Burn down a castle that stood since the Age of Heroes” He stared his son right in the eyes, before he shook his head. “You're not that man”, he then said in a calm tone, glancing at Harndon. “You, on the other hand...” Harndon gave him a nod, followed by an enthusiastic grin. “Yes father”, he confirmed and his tone was shivering with excitement. “I'll do whatever you want” “He's not ready”, Harrick spoke, but Harndon chuckled, as he shook his head. “Yes, I am”, he disagreed. “You always get to do the fun things, while I'm left to rot here. Not today” With surprising determination, he slammed his hand onto the table, his mouth sporting a crooked grin. “I will prove my worth!” Harren's smirk was almost amused. “I'm sure you will”, he replied dryly, exchanging a condescending look with Simon Vessels, who shook his head. Harrick caught him doing so and slowly narrowed his eyes. “Prove it then, brother mine”, he spoke, hesitantly, but not without warmth. “I pray it truly needs to be done” He looked from his father to Kyra and the look he gave her was one of true concern. “But... what about Greyjoy?”, he then asked. “Is it wise to send your captain of the guard away when there's a war on the horizon?” “Trying to protect the woman you shag...”, Harmund hissed with a vicious tone. “Can't decide if that's hilarious or just plain pathetic” Reymand Orkwood chuckled audibly. “Both, I dare say”, he replied, which caused Harrick to blush with anger, while Harmund's grin grew downright wicked. “Both indeed...”, he hissed, before he looked at the youngest Hoare prince. “You just letting that stand, little brother?” Harrick was calm, a reasonable man and she loved these qualities about him, but he still carried with him the same pride that was rotting within the rest of his family. While his father just looked on, apathetic and a tiny bit amused, she could clearly see the anger within Harrick's dark eyes. He wouldn't let this slide, not coming from someone such as Reymand Orkwood, who was more cockroach than human. Before he could open his mouth, however, it was Durren Stallhart who rose from his chair. With his massive frame and the deep scars that were visible on his bare arms, he was impressive enough to silence even Harmund. “Show some respect, runt”, he growled towards Reymand, who had grown ghastly pale. Quietly, the dwarf glanced at the crown prince, but Harmund was busy actively ignoring him now. “You're talking to a prince. Don't make me remind you again” Weakly, Reymand managed to give him a nod, but only after it became clear that no one in this room cared enough to step up for him. “Of course...”, he mumbled. “Apologies” Harrick shot him a calm glare, before he turned to Stallhart. “Thank you, captain”, he spoke, while Stallhart lowered his head in respect. “Good to see you're fighting your own battles, boy”, Harren chimed in, his tone cold and cutting. “Back to the matter at hand, shall we? Two riverlords on the verge of open rebellion and my trusty captains bickering like spoiled children” He shook his head, before he glanced at Kyra. “What do you say, Greyjoy?”, he growled. “You ready for that task?” Kyra noticed the brief, but honestly worried look Harrick was giving her, though she did not appreciate his concern. She had been fighting, raiding and killing for half her life and not once had she been afraid. Though she felt a shiver running down her spine whenever she looked at Harndon Hoare and though he deeply unsettled her, she would not start being afraid of him now. And then there was the matter of Garthon... if he was still alive, then she had to confirm it. She had to... it mattered little what she wanted, but she had to know at the very least. And Harrick had only reluctantly parted with his knowledge on the matter. “I'll do it”, she spoke. “I'll support Prince Harndon in this endeavour” Harrick sighed, but Harren gave her a genuinely approving nod. “I expected nothing less, captain”, he told her. “Bring me Blackwood's head. As for Garthon Breaker...” He paused and a subtle smirk formed on his face, though the malevolence within it was clearly not directed at her. “Confirm his identity, then bring him to me, alive and unharmed. I trust you can do that?” She hesitated, before she gave him a slight nod. “It will be done, your grace”, she promised, knowing immediately that she would have no say in this. “Excellent”, Harren snarled. “Breaker has a lot to answer for” As he smirked, the gruesome scar on his cheek shivered, a permanent reminder of Torvin and Garthon's attempt on his life. “His words will decide on more than just his own fate” With this, he glanced at Simon Vessels. “Your son will be imprisoned until Greyjoy returns”, he told him and though Vessels frowned notably, he managed to nod at his king. “If this is your command, then I'll lock him up personally”, he stated. “But I am certain Rell has told you the truth. He would never lie to his king” “And yet he claims Garthon Breaker was killed by Tedyn Bullister, whereas Harrick's spy in Raventree Hall saw him alive and well at Petyr Blackwood's court”, Harren replied. “Sure, Rell might have told me the truth and there's just one of my enemies using Breaker's name to rally the riverlords behind him. But why Garthon then? Torvin was the one behind their little rebellion, he allied himself with Edmyn Tully. For all I know, Garthon was dragged along, against his will at first. Not the type to rally behind” “If it's truly him, I will find him and bring him to you, your grace”, Kyra promised and Harndon straightened his back. “We both will”, he hissed and his grin made her regret agreeing to the king's demands. Harren's thirdborn son was barely able to keep himself from drooling, much less capable of leading a siege, so she knew she'd have to organize the entire march on Raventree Hall by herself. Worse, she had to do it while being technically outranked by a bloodthirsty manchild. Still it could have been worse. It could have been Harmund. “That is all I need to hear”, Harren spoke. “It means we're just about done here. Harmund, Durren Stallhart and Quellon Codd remain to discuss the situation in Faronhall. The rest is dismissed” He waved his hand and as he had ordered, his captains rose form their chairs. In case of Harlan, he struggled to get up with his crutches, but the mere attempt from Harrick to help him was enough for the youngest prince to receive a sour glare. Kyra watched them quietly, before she left the room, the first to follow the king's command. Truth be told, she was glad to leave his presence on this day and even after she left his audience chamber, the chill that went down her spine wouldn't quite leave her. Garthon... up until now, she had been certain he had died at Raylansfair. To hear that he survived, possibly at least, and still ended up on the king's bad side... she was not certain how to feel. A violent mixture of relief, anger and just a hint of concern. And the grim knowledge that she had an oath to uphold, a duty to her king. “Ah, Captain Greyjoy?”, a voice called out for her, forcing her attention. It was Ragnar Smyte, who left the room right after her, followed by Durren Stallhart, who gave her a quiet nod. “Captain Smyte”, she greeted him. Though she had seen him before, they were essentially strangers and she treated him with according politeness. “How may I help you?” Smyte's left hand, the one missing a finger, calmly moved through his bushy beard, before he spoke. “I heard there's been a commotion earlier, an issue between my man Drevyn Pyke and your Gravven Drumm”, he told her. “I wanted to get your opinion on the matter, given that I intend to send Drevyn with you to Raventree Hall” Kyra sighed, as she had to think back to the earlier confrontation. With the weight of what she had just learned, it felt as if this quarrel between Gravven and Drevyn had been days ago. “Drevyn accused Gravven of lying. Some raid a few years back, apparently Drumm lied about how many men he killed”, she revealed. “Of course Drumm wouldn't stand for it and they nearly came to blows until I stepped in” “I see...”, Smyte mumbled. “And did he? Lie, I mean” Kyra hesitated, before she gave him a nod. “He may have embellished things a little bit”, she admitted. “Not that he'd like to hear it. Doesn't change that he's my best man” Smyte smirked at her remark. “And Drevyn is mine”, he admitted. “Which is why I would like for them to get along. I have nothing but respect for you, Captain Greyjoy, and I'd like to avoid having our best men at each other's throats” “It was nothing”, Kyra assured him and Smyte sighed. “I am pleased to hear it”, he replied. “Drevyn might be a bit hot-headed, but he is reliable and the best fighter in my crew. If you can bring yourself to trust him, he won't disappoint you” Kyra raised an eyebrow, as she realized what Smyte was trying to achieve. “You want me to give him a chance to prove himself during the siege”, she deduced. Now, the captain's smirk grew wider, into a genuine smile. “You are as clever as they say, Laughing Kraken”, he complimented her. “I feel Drevyn deserves a chance to prove his worth, more than what I can grant him on my modest longship. This siege, it sounds like an opportunity. I wouldn't want your first impression to ruin this for him” “Prince Harndon is in charge of the siege”, Kyra replied and Smyte rolled his eyes. “Come on, don't be like that”, he spoke. “When the siege begins and the long wait, when tensions rise and later then, when the bloodshed begins, whom do you think the men will follow? Harndon might be of royal blood, but you're a born leader” His flattery, though transparent in purpose, seemed honest at least, so she gave him a kind smile. “I'll see what I can do for your man”, she promised. As she looked past him, her smile faded, as she saw Harrick, side by side with Harndon. He caught her gaze and frowned, before he turned to his brother. Speaking a few words with him, they separated and Harrick began to approach her. Smyte followed her glance and straightened his back. “That was all I wanted for now”, he told her. “Take good care of Drevyn and he'll look after you in return” He extended his hand and she shook it firmly. “It's been a pleasure, Captain Smyte”, she spoke and he gave her a nod. “Likewise, Captain Greyjoy”, he replied. “I look forward for working with you in the future” He turned around, briefly saluting in front of Harrick as the prince walked past him. Then, without looking back, he walked down the hallway. “Kyra...”, Harrick spoke and she gave him a sharp glare. “My rooms”, she hissed. “Now” She turned around, knowing he would follow. With clenched fists, she marched onwards, up a flight of stairs, to her modest quarters. The prince followed without saying a word. She was glad he remained quiet, for just a single word would be enough for her to snap at him. Once he entered her quarters, she slammed the door shut, still glaring at him. Harrick knew exactly what was going on and he had the decency to look somewhat guilty. “Kyra, I...”, he began, but she cut him off, as she slammed her closed fist against the door. “How long?”, she hissed. “For how long have you been sitting on that spy report from Raventree?” Harrick sighed. “Four days”, he admitted. He did not back down as she approached him. “Four days...”, she growled. “And it didn't occur to you that you should prepare me for this? That I have a right to know?” The prince raised an eyebrow, before he shook his head. “You don't have this right though”, he corrected her. “It's a confidential report and I alone decide whom to share it with” Now, he actually took a step back as she clenched her fists. “You made me look like a fool in there!”, she spat and his expression softened. “To be fair, I didn't know my father would summon you”, he admitted. “I think he got a kick out of it too. Could he see us now, he'd probably give me one of those vile grins of his” “And?”, she hissed. His resolve faltered at last and he sank down onto her bed, sitting there quietly and with his hands folded in his lap. “And I was hoping I could deal with this quietly”, he mumbled. “I... was worried what you'd do if you learn about Garthon's survival” He paused again and his clear regret did wonders in calming her anger. “Possible survival, at least”, he added. “He always carried a torch for you, that much was clear to see and the way you acted around him... suppose I was concerned the feeling's mutual” Now, she took a step towards him. “So you thought if you remain quiet about it, someone else will deal with Garthon for you and I'll never know”, she spoke, as she stopped in front of him. Reaching down, she placed a hand on his cheek, holding his chin between her fingers and lifting his gaze up to meet hers. “Jealousy doesn't suit you, my prince”, she continued, now in a softer tone. “Nor is it necessary. Garthon is a sweet man and there was a time where he only needed to ask me and I would have been his. Alas, he never did and that time has passed” Harrick sighed and she saw a wild mixture of emotions on his face. There was something here she had never seen before. A hint of fear on his proud, confident face. He cared for her, he truly did and though she was not sure if she cared for him in the same way, this moment was enough for her to realize he was dear to her. “I should have told you”, he mumbled. “Forgive me” “You should have told me”, she confirmed, her tone still not without sharpness. “Things could have been different between me and him. I am with you now and I am happy about it, but I gotta ask myself, do you actually trust me? Or why else would you hide this report from me? No matter his feelings for me, he remains a dear friend” She narrowed her eyes, though she sat down beside him, placing one of her hands in his. “Say it”, she ordered him. “Tell me why you did not tell me” “You know already...”, Harrick mumbled, but she shook her head. “I want to hear it from you”, she hissed. He sighed and was quiet for a moment. “I was afraid things wouldn't be as they were between us”, he admitted. She raised an eyebrow. Truth be told, she was certain he'd accuse her of trying to switch sides, or joining Garthon in his ill-fated rebellion. But he was not lying here. He was Harren's spymaster and she could read him like an open book. “That is... that is not what I expected...”, she admitted and he turned his head to look right at her. “I would never doubt your loyalty to my father”, he assured her. “My concern was for... us” She sighed, before she shook her head. “There is an 'us' now, isn't there?”, she mumbled and to her own surprise, she smiled at him. “And that's why you don't need to be worried about me running off with Garthon or... even just leaving you over this... this bullshit” She placed a hand on his chest and as he leant in for a kiss, she pushed him away. “Doesn't mean I'm not mad at you”, she told him sternly. He sighed, though his confident smirk returned. “You have every right to be”, he replied. “But I'm sorry, okay... I should have told you” She rolled her eyes. “You should have trusted me”, she hissed. “Just make sure this never happens again” Before Harrick could reply, there was a heavy, impatient nod on the door and a moment later, it got pushed open already. “Greyjoy, we need a word”, Simon Vessels spat as he barged in, before he realized whom she was with. “Oh...” Kyra rolled her eyes and jumped up from the bed. A good thing she had pushed Harrick away just now, for what was between them was none of Vessels' business. Instead of leaving at once as she had hoped, the old captain remained in the doorframe for a moment. “Prince Harrick, I didn't know you...”, he began. The prince cut him off with a simple motion of his hand. “Now you do”, he growled. “Means you're dismissed” This time, Vessels actually shook his head. “I'm sorry, my prince, but it's urgent”, he growled. “Greyjoy, we need to talk right now” His tone was sharp and for him to speak to the prince like this was rare. She knew at once what he wanted to discuss. Though their alliance was very much in jeopardy with Rell back at Harrenhal, safe and sound, he knew too much to be ignored. And after today, perhaps he wished to renegotiate the terms he and her brother once agreed upon. “It's alright”, she spoke towards Harrick. “This might be important” The prince narrowed his eyes. “Important enough for me to leave the room?”, he asked and she let out a sigh. Then, she pulled him in for a brief kiss. It would have been longer, more passionate, but she immediately pushed him away again. “Pretty please?”, she asked and the prince chuckled. “Seven hells, woman”, he sighed. “How am I supposed to say 'no' to that?” He shook his head, before he rose from her bed. “See you later then, Kyra” “Later”, Kyra confirmed and she smiled as she watched him leave her room. The expression soured the moment she turned to Simon Vessels. “You couldn't have picked a worse moment!”, she spat and Vessels shrugged. “I'm sure your little fling can wait”, he replied, his voice even sharper than hers. “By the way, did it ever occur to you how much you shagging Harrick complicates things for your brother?” She rolled her eyes. “Don't act as if you care about Damon”, she growled. “You've stopped supporting him the day your son returned from Raylansfair” Simon narrowed his eyes. “I've made it clear from the start that Rell's safety is the only reason I stand by your side”, he clarified. “Now things have changed again. This mess with Garthon Breaker...” “Your son lied to the king, didn't he?”, Kyra hissed. “Now you want to make demands to me and my brother” Unashamed, Vessels gave her a nod. “Out of all of my children, Rell is the least worthless. That's why he's still alive. He is my only living son and I won't father another one in what little time I have left”, he spoke. Briefly, she mustered him more carefully. Much to her chagrin, she had known Simon Vessels for the better part of a decade. The once vibrant, light brown hair was heavily greying. He was thinner than he used to be, with deep lines on his face. His features, once strong and handsome, were now marked by age. “You're ill”, she deduced and Simon replied with a quiet nod, a rare occasion for him. “A growth in my gut... You don't need to know the details, but the maester is certain I won't have much longer. To the end of this year perhaps, if I'm lucky”, he told her. “Which is why I need to ensure Rell's safety. A man is only as good as the legacy he leaves behind” Her expression remained harsh. Simon Vessels was an awful man, his ailing health the only reason for his restraint in recent years. She would shed no tears for him, nor Rell. And yet, she saw it clearly now. He was old and sick and much like Haragard Murphey in his quiet chamber, he wouldn't be around for much longer. “What do you want then?”, she asked. “It's clear Harren doesn't give two shits about Rell”, Simon told her. “Your brother meanwhile... well, he doesn't care for him either, but if he succeeds in his endeavour, then Rell has a chance of getting away from this court. Make a name for himself away from Harmund Hoare” He frowned. “My son... I don't know if he lied to the king or if this all a misunderstanding”, he continued. “What I know is, your brother is actively scheming against our king and if he wants my silence, you gotta do something for me” “I won't be killing any Hoares for you”, Kyra told him at once and he merely shook his head. “Nor do I want you to”, he spat. “Listen carefully, girl, or else I'll speak to your prince and see if he offers me a better deal. You might even like what I have to tell you” She rolled her eyes. “That'd be a first”, she spoke firmly. “It's about Garthon Breaker”, he explained. “Rell told the king that Breaker died in Raylansfair, so for your sake and mine, it's best if that's what happened. The man at Raventree Hall, he's certainly an impostor and he will tragically die during the siege” Kyra narrowed her eyes. “And if it's actually Garthon?”, she asked, to which he gave her a cruel smirk. “You're not as daft as you look”, he told her. “Make sure this Breaker never reaches Harrenhal, no matter if he's the real one or not. Doesn't matter how you do it, doesn't matter if he lives or not, so long as he disappears. Do that and I will take your brother's dirty secret to the grave” [Agree to Vessels' demands] [Refuse Vessels' demands]
Garthon A sigh escaped the Ironborn's throat, as he clenched one fist. “One moment... Torvin”, he spoke and the old knight, already almost past him, stopped. Slowly, Garthon raised the fist. “I'm afraid I can't let you leave”, he said tonelessly. Torvin turned to him, his head turning so that he was barely able to look him in the eye. “What?”, he asked and he sounded genuinely dumbfounded, confused even. “What do you mean by that?” Garthon didn't need to explain, for Maurice didn't let him wait. His men swarmed the sept at once. Though poorly equipped, with only long knives and leather vests to protect themselves against a knight with chainmail and a longsword, they were many. Maurice came behind, with Christian and Hjalgar next to him. The latter two carried longbows with them. Torvin took a step back, bumping into Garthon in the process. “Who...”, he gasped, before he glanced over his shoulder, right at Garthon. There was confusion in his voice and his gaze and he did not yet reach for his sword. “What is going on? Maurice, what is the meaning of this?” Maurice had his eyes narrowed and his arms crossed, as he shot the knight a triumphant grin. “It's over, you old fool”, he spat. “Did you truly think I wouldn't notice? Your nightly trips into the ravenry, all those letters sent...” “What?”, Torvin gasped and now, he actually reached for his sword. Immediately, Hjalgar and Christian raised their longbows, though to their credit, Garthon clearly saw how little they enjoyed threatening an old man, even if said old man was accused of treason. “Nah, I wouldn't do that”, Maurice spoke, his tone calm and confident. “Drop your sword, or this will get ugly” “Ugly... Maurice what is going on?”, Torvin exclaimed, though slowly, he lowered his weapon as asked, before letting go of it. The sword fell onto the ground, a sharp, dissonant noise and immediately, Maurice's men came closer. “Maurice, what are you talking about?” Torvin's eyes were widened and as he tried to back off, he once more bumped into Garthon. “Please, I don't know what this is about!” Maurice chuckled and his left eye began to twitch more violently. “Sounds almost convincing”, he spat. “Shame it has to end this way, but have a lot to answer for” Torvin did not defend himself as two men grabbed him by the shoulder, harshly and with anger in their eyes. They dragged him forwards and the old man looked around aimlessly, his gaze slowly panicking. “I didn't do anything!”, he exclaimed. “Please, Maurice, I don't know what you're talking about!” Garthon narrowed his eyes. “This is enough”, he spoke and the men stopped. Looking from him to Maurice, they hesitated, apparently waiting for further orders. Maurice raised an eyebrow, over his twitching eye, before he shook his head. “Continue”, he told them, as Garthon approached him. “Look at him, he's confused”, he spat. “You truly assume he did this?” Maurice blinked and gave him a long, slightly angry look. “I assume he's a good actor”, he replied sharply. “Beyond that, I don't assume. I know what I saw, what my spies saw. Dear Torvin Hale, wandering into the ravenry, sending letters to an unknown party without telling anyone. As it stands, this is enough to accuse him of treason” He shrugged. “Of course he'll get the chance to prove his innocence”, he promised. “Lord Petyr will want to speak to him” “Petyr...”, Torvin gasped. “Bring me to Petyr, please! Whatever you say I've done, I'm innocent!” The men continued to drag him out of the sept and the knight was visibly shaking by now. It was not dignified and certainly not as quiet as Garthon had hoped. Through the open gates, he could already see servants gathering in the courtyard to see what the commotion was all about. “Shut up now, old fool!”, Maurice spat. “It'll be the dungeons for you until Lord Petyr is ready to talk to you” By now, there were tears streaming down the old man's face and both, Christian and Hjalgar had lowered their weapons entirely, a look of clear guilt on their face. Garthon didn't like this any more, but if Maurice was right, then this was necessary. But what if... what if Maurice was mistaken? The fear in Torvin's voice seemed genuine, as did the confusion. He hurried to follow after Maurice's men into the courtyard with Christian and Hjalgar by his side. “What a mess...”, the latter mumbled and Garthon gave him a quiet nod. By now, the courtyard was crowded and Maurice's men had to push bystanders out of the way. Garthon spotted Raymon and Marian Blackwood, both children with wide, fearful eyes. “Grandfather!”, Marian screamed, but before she could rush towards him, Raymon held her back. Mariya Piper was there, with Lucas Lolliston by her side, though her father was absent. Lucas' expression was one of clear disgust, whereas the young woman was hard to read. She looked on, calm and quiet, though as her gaze met Garthon's, she subtly shook her head, before glaring at Maurice. Lolliston leant closer and she whispered something into his ear. He gave her a firm salute and turned around, hurrying back into the keep, while Mariya herself didn't break eye contact with Garthon. And then, at last, Petyr Blackwood, with Lady Evelyne by his side. Ethan followed behind and as the only member of his family, he seemed pleased with this turn of events. “What is the meaning of this?”, Evelyne spat, her voice cutting across the courtyard. Trembling with rage, she approached the men, who stopped at once. Some even saluted and the two that held Torvin nervously looked from Maurice to their lady. “Unhand my father at once!”, Evelyne roared. “Fiends and thugs, what has gotten into you? This is your captain of the guard!” She glared at Maurice, who met her gaze without shame nor fear. “Mylady”, he greeted her and for a moment, Garthon was certain she would slap him. Maurice seemed to have come to the same conclusion and he took a step back, but Evelyne managed to calm herself. Even in her rage, she seemed dignified. “This time you have taken things too far, Mad-Eye!”, she told him loudly. “Harassing my father, this is brazen even for you” “Brazen maybe, but also necessary”, Maurice assured her. “If you wish to discuss this out here in the open, your father stands accused of treason!” Evelyne flinched and glanced over her shoulder to her husband, who stared at the scene with wide eyes. Right now, Petyr seemed more like he used to be when Garthon first met him, sullen, almost apathetic and certainly overwhelmed with the situation. The careful seeds of hope the recent arrivals to Raventree Hall had built in him were nowhere to be seen just now. His own son held him back as he tried to approach his wife, whispering something into his ears. Petyr's eyes widened at Ethan's quiet words and he gave him a nod. “Treason... treason!”, Evelyne gasped, her cheeks red with fury. “Preposterous! You vile man dare to drag my father's name into the mud like this? Unhand him at once!” She waited and when the men did not follow her order, she approached them, coming close enough for them to actually back off. “Unhand him!”, she yelled. “Mylord?”, Maurice asked, giving Petyr a long, questioning stare. The Lord of Raventree Hall sighed, before he looked around. He seemed uncomfortable with this attention, overwhelmed with the situation and visibly unsure how to proceed. “What...”, he began, before he cleared his throat. “What are you accusing him of? Treason... that is ridiculous” “Is it though?”, Maurice asked. “I have reports hidden away, from several of my spies, paired with what I've seen with my own two eyes. Ser Torvin Hale entered the ravenry five times over the course of the last two months, always at night and never before consulting you or the maester first” He straightened his back, clearly enjoying the shocked gazes this scenery received. “He sent letters, one each time he was up there. I don't know whom he wrote to, but I have a pretty strong guess. Suppose we all have that” Evelyne's eyes widened. “Have you grown mad!”, she barked. “My father has lived here for as long as I have, he has built a life for himself here, he loves this land and his family! He would never betray us like this!” Maurice shrugged. “I can only tell you what I've seen”, he replied. “And what I've seen speaks against him quite vehemently” He narrowed his eyes. “If you're so innocent, Ser Torvin, then who entered the ravenry? You have a key, don't you? Supposed to be on your person at all times” Torvin gulped, his mouth opening and closing in clear confusion. “What... my... my key...”, he mumbled and his eyes widened, as he reached for his belt. “I... I have lost my key. Misplaced it, I'm afraid... Anyone could have taken it. Anyone could have...” Maurice cut him off right there. “It's as if you're not even trying!”, he roared. “Lost the key? How stupid do you think we are, old man?” “Enough!”, Evelyne spat. “You've gone too far this time, Maurice. This will have consequences, for you and each of your cronies” She glared from him to Garthon, her expression showing clear disappointment, enough for him to lower his gaze. Maurice however was thoroughly unimpressed by her anger. “All I do, I do to keep House Blackwood safe”, he claimed. “This is no difference. I know it is hard to believe, but I have evidence against your father, which I will gladly share at once” Evelyne shook her head, before she looked back at Garthon. “And you... Ironborn, you have helped him with this?”, she hissed. Garthon gulped, but before he could answer, Ethan Blackwood spoke up in his stead. “He helped me with this, mother”, he spoke, his voice shivering slightly, as the mask of confidence the young man had tried to build up thoroughly cracked now that he had to face his mother's fury. Instead of reacting with anger, Evelyne's eyes widened and tears welled up in her eyes. “Ethan...?”, she gasped. “Ethan, this is your grandfather. How could you...?” Ethan sighed and tried to approach her, though he stopped once his mother backed off. “It had to be done”, he told her. “I trust Maurice and his evidence and you should do the same” Finally, the Lord of Raventree Hall broke free from his shocked apathy. “Enough...”, he mumbled. “Enough!” His voice, weak at first, quickly echoed over the entire courtyard, drowning out the nervous murmuring from the numerous bystanders. “Maurice, you should have come to me with this!” Maurice sighed, before he shook his head. “I had reason to believe Ser Torvin would flee or destroy evidence”, he told him. “As such, it was crucial to get a hold of him first. Apologies for causing a scene, mylord” “This... this is too much...”, Petyr replied. “Bring my father-in-law... Bring Ser Torvin to his room. He will remain guarded until I meet with him. And the rest of you... get back to work. Stop gawking and leave us!” His voice, though still nervous, actually showed a hint of the strength Garthon had seen in him during their earlier meeting with Elmont Piper. And his order was followed immediately, with the bystanders not daring to risk his wrath by lingering any longer. “Petyr... Petyr, please!”, Torvin yelled and by now, he was crying. “Whatever he's saying, I didn't do it! Please, somebody, help me! Evelyne... Evie!” As he screamed for help, the men continued to drag him towards the keep. His daughter remained standing there, with tears in her eyes. “Gods...”, Petyr sighed. “What a mess... Maurice, you will show me your evidence immediately. And... never again will you do something like this without consulting me first!” Obediently, the other man saluted in front of his lord. “Of course, mylord”, he replied. “I am sorry it had to come to this. Please, go ahead to my quarters, I need to have a word with Breaker but I'll be right behind you” Petyr gave him a nod, before turning to his wife. “Evie...”, he said, but she turned away from him. “Don't!”, she barked. “My father is innocent and you know it. Be assured that I will not rest until you see reason” With these words, she marched away, past Ethan without even looking at him, only to embrace her youngest children. Quietly sobbing, she led them away, after their grandfather into the keep. Maurice remained for a while longer and he turned to Garthon, a shamelessly triumphant grin on his face. “Well, what do you say!”, he exclaimed. “We did it, Breaker!” He extended a hand, but Garthon did not shake it. After an awkward moment, the other man lowered his arm again and his smile faded. “What?”, he growled. “You gave the signal. You were so convinced of this old fool's guilt and now I'm the bad guy here?” Garthon shook his head. “This... fuck, this is too much”, he told him. “I thought you were going to do it quietly. Not humiliate an old man in front of his grandchildren and the entire castle” Maurice shrugged. “He should have stayed quiet then. Fucker had it coming”, he told him. “He's been spying for Harren Hoare, so the way I see it, he deserved what was coming to him” Garthon raised an eyebrow. “Was he though?”, he asked. “Seemed mighty convincing to me. Any chance you made a mistake?” As soon as he finished this sentence, Maurice jumped towards him, one fingers raised, stopping just inches away from his face. “You shut your trap!”, he spat. “I don't make mistakes when it comes to this. Torvin might seem like a senile old idiot to you, but I am certain he entered the ravenry. And to whom else would he send these ravens?” “I didn't manage to ask him”, Garthon admitted and Maurice rolled his eyes. “He won't lie to Lord Petyr”, he growled. “I have no problem with throwing him into the dungeon is he doesn't come clean. For the sake of Lady Evelyne, I hope this is all a misunderstanding, but I will not apologize for the way things went down today” He lowered his finger again and patted Garthon onto the shoulder. “No matter your feelings, you did a damn fine job”, he complimented him and his voice was oozing contempt. “I couldn't have done it without you, so perhaps I'm not the only one you should be mad about” A sneer formed on his ugly face. “Proved your worth today, Breaker. With this mess out of the way, perhaps Raventree Hall is finally safe. Then, nothing will stand in our way. We can finally end the tyrant”, he added, before he turned away. “Now excuse me, I have a traitor to talk to” He left them there and with a sigh, Garthon turned to his companions. “That guy is a piece of work”, Christian spoke and Garthon gave him a quiet nod. “I didn't want things to end like this”, he spoke. “What if we were mistaken?” Hjalgar bit down onto his lower lip. “I don't think he did it”, he admitted. “Well, I thought it until I saw him. He seems like a harmless old man. And his fear seemed genuine” “Men can be afraid when they have something to hide”, Christian brought up. Just in this moment, Garthon noticed movement in the corner of his eye and as he looked to his right, he saw Gavin the Tall approaching them. “Where have you been?”, he asked and Gavin shrugged. “Tried to keep my distance from this mess”, he admitted. “I knew things would go down the moment I saw Maurice and his dozen men. Even if Torvin ends up guilty, Lady Evelyne won't forget about this. I'm afraid you made a new enemy today” Garthon sighed. “Right...”, he mumbled, as Gavin reached them. Quietly, the massive man leant closer, until he could comfortably whisper. “This will have consequences”, he spoke. “Call it a gut feeling, but this is not over” Garthon raised an eyebrow. “You think Torvin's innocent as well?”, he asked and Gavin shook his head. “Got no opinion on that, nah”, he admitted. “But I got a hunch that this will force a reaction from Harrenhal” Garthon thought about his words for a moment, before his eyes widened. “Fuck...”, he then spat. “If we just caught the spy, then Harren will learn about it the moment the letters stop coming. Maurice's public display didn't help with keeping this quiet. Without his spy, Harren has to take more drastic measures” Gavin gave him a nod. “And if we got the wrong man, then it won't be long until Harren sends the troops either”, he warned him. “Lord Blackwood can raise a sizeable army, but not this quickly” “We'll need more men then”, Garthon realized and Gavin smirked. “Lucky for you, there's a small army not too far from here”, he told him. “Trained soldiers, able to stand their ground against Harren's Ironborn” He straightened his back and Garthon sighed. “The Sons of the Trident”, he realized. “You sure it's a good idea to involve your men even more?” Gavin chuckled. “Why shouldn't it be?”, he asked. “Edric sent you here to begin with, didn't he? We were supposed to negotiate an alliance, so what better time than now? I can send word to my men and Edric will be here within a fortnight, ready to defend Raventree Hall from whatever Black Harren sends against us” “And then?”, Christian asked. “Excuse me for arguing against this, but now's really not the time to bring a band of outlaws into the picture. This whole mess, it already affects your standing with Lord Petyr and especially with his wife. How will they react if you bring Edric Rivers and the rest of his band to these lands” Gavin shrugged. “He'll kiss our bloody feet once we drive off the Ironborn”, he claimed, but Christian narrowed his eyes. “And what if there's no Ironborn coming? Or not enough to pose a threat to Raventree Hall? What if you bring the Sons here without need... they remain outlaws and vagrants. What sort of message will this send to the Riverlords we yet seek to convince?” “It'll show that we stand united!”, Gavin roared. “From the lowest peasant to the highest lord, all of the Riverlands against Harren and his black brood!” With growing frustration, he turned to Garthon. “Come on, you're not listening to this Reach shite, will you?”, he barked. “Edric will be needed here, I feel it. Just... just say the word and I will contact them” [Tell him to send word to the Sons of the Trident] [Tell him to leave the Sons out of this]
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Post by drdestroyer18 on Oct 19, 2020 11:59:31 GMT
[Agree to Vessels' demands] [Tell him to send word to the Sons of the Trident]
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Post by GMS Freeman on Oct 19, 2020 17:24:18 GMT
[Agree to Vessels' demands]
[Tell him to send word to the Sons of the Trident]
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Post by diversegnu on Oct 20, 2020 5:53:14 GMT
[Refuse Vessels' demands] Honestly fuck Damon, I'm not going to kill Garthon to save Damon's ass.
[Tell him to send word to the Sons of the Trident] Yikes, Maurice is certainly living up to his nickname, can't help but feel like we've made a huge mistake.
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Post by InGenNateKenny on Oct 21, 2020 5:10:22 GMT
[Refuse Vessels' demands] Tempting to kill Garthon, very tempting. But nah.
[Tell him to leave the Sons out of this] What? House Hoare send an army to Raventree Hall? Why that's preposterous; never coming to happen /s. No bandits should come; bandits suck in battles (see Raylansfair). Plus, I bet they wouldn't come in time or something and it would be a mess.
Been a while since we've had two votes in the same part. Nice to have it back. Also nice to arrest an old man, we like that.
The biggest badass around shuts that dwarf down. Nice.
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Post by TheAPlegends on Oct 23, 2020 19:51:21 GMT
[Agree to Vessels' demands]
[Tell him to send word to the Sons of the Trident]
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Oct 28, 2020 23:33:09 GMT
[Refuse Vessels' demands] Honestly fuck Damon, I'm not going to kill Garthon to save Damon's ass. [Tell him to send word to the Sons of the Trident] Yikes, Maurice is certainly living up to his nickname, can't help but feel like we've made a huge mistake. Hm, I need to clear this up, Simon doesn't actually care if Kyra kills Garthon or not. He wants Garthon to stop being involved in this growing rebellion, so that Harren never finds out Rell lied to him about Garthon's death, but that doesn't mean he needs to die. This is what he meant when he said that Kyra might like his offer, because the only reason why she feels conflicted about moving against Raventree Hall is that she doesn't want Garthon to die during the siege. She doesn't want to kill Garthon and his death isn't exactly mandatory to fullfil Simon's request, so this option doesn't necessarily mean she ends up killing him. Oh yes, Maurice earned his nickname! He might be a reasonable advisor and his sense of loyalty and friendship might count as a redeeming quality, but that doesn't change the fact that he is cruel, vindictive and enjoys humiliating those he perceives as a threat. He and Deywn the Fiddler from the Sons of the Trident are pretty good examples for Riverlanders who are not much better than the Ironborn they are fighting. And Garthon certainly shares your opinion, after this scene he doesn't exactly feel confident about Torvin's guilt anymore and there will be consequences coming from this. Of course, if Maurice was right after all, then they managed to remove a critical threat to House Blackwood, but if they were wrong, this could end up a terrible mistake.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Oct 28, 2020 23:45:37 GMT
[Refuse Vessels' demands] Tempting to kill Garthon, very tempting. But nah. [Tell him to leave the Sons out of this] What? House Hoare send an army to Raventree Hall? Why that's preposterous; never coming to happen /s. No bandits should come; bandits suck in battles (see Raylansfair). Plus, I bet they wouldn't come in time or something and it would be a mess. Been a while since we've had two votes in the same part. Nice to have it back. Also nice to arrest an old man, we like that. The biggest badass around shuts that dwarf down. Nice. Bear's bandits really didn't show their worth during the raid on Raylansfair, didn't they? All it took to hold them off for a significant amount of time was one ageing, traumatized war veteran and when they finally arrived, the battle was as good as over. But there is no Lord of Bridges around right now and these bandits prefer the term 'freedom fighters', so maybe they are actually better at, you know, fighting and stuff. I missed this too, it felt really great to give you two parts at once, especially two with a storyline as heavily connected as Garthon's and Kyra's. There simply hasn't been an opportunity for me to do this, but I'll try to do it more often in the future from now on. Though the part itself was way longer as a result, I believe this also helps with progressing the story at a faster pace. Not like Orkwood didn't have it coming. He wasn't featured very often so far, but the next few chapters should flesh him out tremendously in a new storyline. Also, I liked this image of Durren, the biggest, baddest raider of them all, who is so accomplished that even Harmund Hoare doesn't talk back at him (which is something even Harren doesn't manage to do consistently) shutting up Reymand Orkwood instead of Harren or Ragnar Smyte (both options I was also toying with while writing this part).
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Post by WildlingKing on Oct 29, 2020 22:05:32 GMT
[Agree to Vessels' demands] Doesn't mean she can't go back on her word later, I hope.
[Tell him to send word to the Sons of the Trident] United front for the liberation of Riverlands, let's go!
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Nov 4, 2020 1:10:10 GMT
The Voting is closed!
Kyra is going to agree to Vessels' demands
Garthon is going to tell Gavin to send word to the Sons of the Trident Little surprise with the second vote, but the first one was fairly close and I was curious how you will decide. Just to be clear, this does not mean that Kyra has to kill Garthon if she can find another way to honour her deal with Vessels. Wildling is also absolutely right here, she can always go back on her word at a later point, that is guaranteed to piss Vessels off, but there's not much he can do besides what he already threatened to do. The next part is hopefully going to be out tomorrow. I have been busy this last week with university stuff, so I got less time to write than usual, but the part is coming along nicely and I'll try my best to finish it before heading to bed tomorrow. It'll be a Samantha part, the first for her in over a year and the last in this chapter. So, a larger recap is probably necessary. Last time we saw her, she was on the island of Southshield, where she seeks to find an ally against Maron Mullendore, namely Vali's employer Chrass Serry, the Lord of Southshield. Little is known about Chrass yet aside from him being a staunch supporter of Mern Gardener, a member of the Order of the Green Hand and apparently someone who had a negative experience with Mullendore in the past, leading him to send Vali to Raylansfair to investigate. When Samantha and Sasha arrived, however, they quickly realized that Ironborn had invaded the island and fortified the castle, with Chrass Serry and his wife escaping to . They met up with a certain Robert Beesbury, a knight in service of Devrin Oakheart (a known co-conspirator of Maron and Petyr), who had been sent there to help out the lords of the Shield Islands with their Ironborn problem. He managed to identify the leader of the Ironborn as Holgar the Red, a fearsome raider of some renown and father of Garthon's companion Hjalgar. Robert's mission was to secure Heleri Hewett, a ward of the Serry family and niece to his employer Hoster Hewett, as well as to open the gates of the castle to allow a nearby Shield Island army to drive out the Ironborn. Samantha and Sasha took on the former task, infiltrating the castle through an old escape tunnel. Dressed as servants, they managed to locate Heleri's room, where Holgar the Red had brought her and a few other hostages. Turns out, Holgar is there for some sort of treasure and he believes Heleri knows more about it. As such, Samantha and Sasha just arrived as he was systematically executing the other hostages to get her to talk. Very briefly during his sick game, Sasha got a possible opportunity to attack and possibly kill him from behind while he was killing an older servant, waiting for Samantha's order. However, Samantha decided that it would be too risky to attack him and instead, she will hope for a better opportunity. The next part will start right there and will bring her storyline for this chapter to an end. It'll also introduce a new character, one I have been very excited to write about for quite a long time now
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Nov 8, 2020 16:54:39 GMT
Samantha Subtly, Samantha shook her head. They had only one chance and this was not it. Holgar was strong, quite likely stronger than she and Sasha together and probably even worse, he was fast for a man of his build. It pained her to leave the old man to die, but he was not her responsibility. All that mattered right now was to get Sasha and Heleri out of this castle alive. As such, all she could do was stare at the horrific scene in front of her and pray that Robert would launch his attack soon. Slowly, Holgar continued to press his hands around the old man's neck and Samantha could see the moment the life faded from his victim's eyes. “See?”, he growled, as he let go of the man, glaring at Heleri, who was sobbing in pure fear. “This is what happens if you don't open your fucking mouth and tell me what I want to know!” “I don't know!”, the girl then replied, tears running down her cheeks. She was terrified of this man, rightly so and given enough time, he would break her. At the same time, Samantha believed her. She genuinely had no idea what the Ironborn captain wanted from her. “Don't you dare lying to me!”, Holgar barked, his suddenly raised voice being enough to make Heleri flinch. “The treasure. The only reason why I came to this godforsaken island!” Heleri shook her head. “If... if Lord and Lady Hewett hid some gold away, then I don't know where they took it”, she claimed and Holgar rolled his eyes. “Some gold, she says...”, he mumbled. “You really don't know? I'm here not for their hidden coin, but for my bloody treasure! The one Serry took from me five years ago” “Your... your...”, Heleri stuttered, barely able to take her eyes off the dead servant. She let out a shriek, as Holgar lunged at her. Grabbing her by the shoulder, he shot her a terrifying glare. “My treasure indeed!”, he barked. “I want to know what Chrass fucking Serry did with my treasure. Has he spent it, hidden it, given it to his pansy of a king, surely he told you about it. The day Serry and his knights stood against Holgar the Red and won” With two fingers, he pointed at the knotty scar on his cheek. “That was Serry. First time I ever tasted Valyrian Steel. Didn't even get a good hit on him in return” Briefly, he grinned, showing broken front teeth where the sword had hit him. “Unless you want a similar mark on your oh-so-pretty face I suggest you start thinking. It was a battle for the ages and I don't say that lightly. Surely Serry told tales about it!” Heleri's eyes widened, as Holgar reached for her chin. “No...”, the girl gasped, though his iron grip around her shoulder was enough to fight off what little struggle she put up. “Please... please, he... he never talks about his battles. I know he fought against Ironborn a few years ago, but I didn't even know it was you!” “Not good enough, girl”, Holgar growled and with one hand, he pulled out one of the knives on his belt. “You gotta think harder than that, because if you truly don't know, then there's absolutely no reason for me to keep you or anyone else in this room alive” The knife moved closer to her face and Heleri closed her eyes, shivering uncontrollably. “I'll kill you first if you don't open your bloody mouth” “The old lighthouse”, Samantha interjected and Holgar immediately let go of the girl. While she staggered back onto her bed, staring at the captain in horror, Holgar's massive frame turned around to Samantha. Slowly, one of the most ugly grins she had ever seen formed on his face. “Finally!”, he barked. “Someone with some common fucking sense. Lighthouse, eh?” His grin grew wider, as he came closer. “You wanna tell me how the treasure can be there when my people looted that place two days ago?” Behind her, Heleri flinched, but Samantha remained calm. Holgar was probably not a dumb brute, but she saw the greed in his eyes. He hadn't called her bluff, not yet. “It's beneath the floor in the basement”, she continued, lying through her teeth in the hopes of gaining some time. “Lord Serry had us dig a hole for it. Made us vow not to tell anyone. Guess he wanted to keep this a secret” Holgar mustered her for a moment, uncomfortably careful, before he narrowed her eyes. “If you're lying to me, I'll make you choke on your own entrails before you die”, he spoke and his calm voice made her believe every word of it. “If I'm telling the truth?”, she asked and Holgar raised an eyebrow. Then, he let out a loud, bellowing laugh. “If you're telling me the truth, you'll be rewarded”, he promised. “You're easy enough on the eyes and I'm in the mood for a new salt wife. Do what I say and you'll be looked after” Now, she had to suppress a disgusted glare. Forcing herself to look at him, terrified and with a sliver of hope, she gave him a nod. “I just don't want to die”, she whispered. Holgar shrugged, as he rose from his position. “Then I hope for your sake you told me the truth”, he snarled. Before he fully turned to her, he suddenly, quickly, reached down and grabbed Heleri Hewett by the ankle. The girl shrieked in terror as he pulled her closer. Without any effort, the Ironborn lifted her up and a wicked grin appeared on his face as she weakly slammed her fists against his back. “You try anything funny, this one will die first”, he growled, as he looked at Samantha. “Now go ahead. You lead the way” Samantha took a deep breath and behind Holgar, she glanced at Sasha, who subtly shook her head. She sighed and sent a silent prayer to the Seven that Robert would open the gates soon. Then, she began to approach the door, with Holgar following her closely. She hadn't even reached the end of the room, when the door got pushed open. A young man charged in, almost still a boy, with puffy cheeks and wide, blue eyes. He was a member of Holgar's crew, as indicated by his light leather and the axe by his side. “Captain Holgar!”, he yelled, before stopping to catch some breath. “The... the... gate!” He was breathing heavily and staring at his captain with the fearful eyes of a boy who had never seen a proper fight in his life. “Spit it out, Rickon!”, he barked and the boy nearly flinched. “Someone opened the gate!”, he then exclaimed and Samantha saw Holgar's expression souring. “What...?”, he asked in a dangerously low snarl. “Someone opened the gate!”, the boy repeated. “He killed Lorne and Dagon and barricaded himself in the gatehouse. There's... there's men coming from the shore. We don't know how many, but...” He jumped back just as Holgar took a swing towards him with one closed fist. “Fuck!”, the Ironborn captain roared at the top of his lungs. “Just as I finally got a lead on my treasure, this has to happen, eh?” “What... captain, what are your orders?”, Rickon stammered. “The men have gathered in the courtyard. They're waiting for your...” Holgar did not let him continue. “I'll talk to them, alright”, he growled. “You stay here. Don't need your sorry ass dragging all of us down if it comes to a fight” He narrowed his eyes, as he lowered Heleri down onto the ground, almost gently. “They're hostages, so don't let them escape or so help me, you'll never see Pyke again” The boy straightened his back and though he still seemed soft and too young to participate in a raid like this, it gave him a slightly mature edge, as he saluted in front of his captain. “I will not disappoint you!”, he promised, though Holgar barely acknowledged him. “Looks like I'll need to get dressed after all”, he growled, slamming one closed fist against his bare chest. “And I'll need my axe” With these words, his grim expression made way for a bloodthirsty smile. “But if it ends with me splitting Greenlander skulls and getting my coin back, by the Drowned God, it'll be a day to remember!” With these words, he left the room and slammed the door shut behind him. Rickon was notably tense as he turned back to the hostages, a nervous smile on his face. “So, ya'll behave, I hope...”, he mumbled. “Please don't make this any harder than it has to be” He seemed almost as frightened as some of the hostages in the room and Samantha sighed, as she knew this was indeed the chance she had been waiting for. “We won't”, she assured him, as she glanced at Sasha. Her friend had caught up on what she meant and to her credit, she seemed conflicted for a fragment of a second. Then, the pragmatist within her won the struggle and she began to approach the boy. No, a young man. Samantha had already been a tested sellsword in his age. Still, he seemed oblivious and, for an Ironborn, almost innocent. “What...”, he asked, as he looked at Sasha. His hand moved down, closer to his axe, but he was too slow. “Please, stay where you are”, he ordered her. “I don't want to hurt you, but I have my orders. Stay here, it's for your own best” Sasha actually stopped and though Rickon couldn't see it behind her back, Samantha caught a glimpse of the knife in her hand. “Please, Ser...”, she stuttered and the contrast between her feigned fear and her usual self was so severe that it was almost jarring. “I'm afraid... you said there's men attacking the castle. What if there's fighting here in the halls, what if they are not here to free us...” Rickon gulped and moved both of his hands up in a calming gesture, away from his axe. It was the opening Sasha needed. With one swift move, she pulled the knife out from behind her and before the young man could react, she had planted the blade in his throat. Rickon's eyes widened and immediately, blood poured out of his mouth. Gasping for air, he reached for her forearm, staring at her in the same horror Heleri had shown towards Holgar earlier. Sasha glared at him, as she slowly let go of him. The Ironborn collapsed against the door, dead before he reached the ground. Heleri just barely suppressed a gasp, startled and surprised, but not scared this time, while Sasha turned around, slowly cleaning her blade on the servant garb she was wearing. “That Holgar is really not too bright, isn't he?”, she growled. “Giving us a guard like this, it's as if he wants us to escape” “What...”, Heleri finally managed to utter. “Who... who are you?” For a girl scared out of her mind, he regained her composure remarkably, suspiciously quickly. “You're not from around here” Sasha raised an eyebrow. “Obviously”, she replied. “Kinda surprised your captor didn't notice” Heleri rolled her eyes. “He is not too bright indeed”, she agreed. “But don't make me ask again, who are you and who sent you?” “I'm Samantha, this is Sasha”, Samantha introduced them quickly. “We're here to speak to Chrass Serry. Came to find the island taken over by Ironborn, but out in the village, we met a man who vowed to change just that. Ser Robert Beesbury, the one who opened the gate” Heleri raised an eyebrow. “I never heard of that man”, she replied. “It's rare for a Beesbury to come here. He sent you?” “The name 'Saltmouth' mean anything to you?”, Sasha asked before Samantha could reply and briefly, Heleri's distrustful expression faltered. “Vali!”, she exclaimed, before her mouth tightened. “You're working for Vali?” Samantha chuckled thinly. “For him might be a stretch”, she replied. “We're working with him, regretfully. You know him?” Heleri gave her a slight nod. “He's family”, she spoke and her tone was momentarily warmer. “If you're working with him I suppose I can trust you” Samantha raised an eyebrow. “And us just saving your hide wasn't enough to convince you?”, she asked, to which Heleri shrugged. “Surely you don't trust everyone who ever did a good thing for you, eh?”, she replied. “Doesn't mean I'm not grateful. You saved my life and I won't forget it” “Glad to hear it”, Sasha replied dryly and Heleri let out a sigh as she glanced at the dead servants. “This bloody animal”, she muttered. “My mother told me it's wrong to wish for a man's death but so help me, I hope someone will put a sword through Holgar's gut” Samantha could only nod. “If we're lucky, Robert and his forces take his head just now”, she spoke. Indeed, as she finished her sentence, she could hear the muffled sound of a fight beyond their walls. “So, what are you working on with Vali?”, Heleri asked and Samantha gave her a small smirk. “I could tell you”, she admitted. “But truth be told, I don't know if I trust you enough for that” Heleri seemed surprised by her reply, though the young woman gave her a calm nod. “Smart”, she complimented her. “I'll find out in due time” While Sasha cut the rest of the servants loose, Samantha mustered Heleri Hewett closely. Just a moment ago, she had been afraid, mortally so, but now she seemed calm and composed, mustering her back with as much caution as she herself showed. Perhaps she was quick to calm herself, or perhaps she was just a damn good actress. Either way, there was more to her than what she first saw. They sat there in silence, waiting, listening and though Samantha armed herself with the dead guard's axe, all they could do was to pray that Robert and his men would win the battle outside. Joining it would be madness and not what she was here for. And yet, should Holgar come back it was all she could do. Jump at him the moment he'd walk through the door, hoping to get the drop on him. Then, she and Sasha against an entire castle of Ironborn. She liked the thought, but the odds not so much. Then, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, footsteps. Immediately, Samantha tensed up and as the steps came closer, she took position behind the door. Grabbing the axe with both hands, she waited, preparing herself for the fight that might follow. When the door got pushed open, she was ready to attack whomever would enter from behind. Thankfully, she waited just enough to recognize the tabard and the broad frame of the man who entered, so instead of striking, she lowered her weapon. “Took you long enough”, she spoke and Robert almost flinched as she noticed her behind him. “Seven Hells!”, he exclaimed. “Last thing I need is a damn heartattack after surviving this battle” He narrowed his eyes, before he glanced through the room. “You managed to secure Lady Heleri, I see”, he spoke. “Excellent work” He took a slight bow in front of Heleri, who looked at him in surprise. “You're save now, mylady”, he spoke and she raised an eyebrow. “You wear my uncle's colours, but I don't recognize you”, she told him and Robert placed a hand on his chest. “Robert Beesbury”, he spoke and Heleri gave him a brief, suspicious look. “I'm vaguely familiar with that house”, she admitted. “The only Robert I know of in that family is no Beesbury though. Robert Flowers, if I'm not mistaken” Robert's slight smile faded entirely, replaced by a brief, but intense look of anger. “You are quite mistaken, mylady”, he growled. “But that doesn't matter now. You're save and we're here to escort you off the island” Heleri hesitated for a moment, before she gave him a nod. “So be it”, she sighed. “Lead the way, Ser. But treat these people well” She looked at each of the servants they managed to save, her gaze lingering a bit longer on the man Holgar had choked to death. “They've been through hell. Make sure they'll be looked after” Robert straightened his back. “I'll make the arrangements”, he promised. “Come with me now. We drove the Ironborn off for the time being, but your family is adamant in getting you off this island” He turned around, before glancing at Samantha. “You two as well. That was some damn fine work today. Couldn't have done it without knowing you'll look after Lady Heleri”, he complimented her. “Guess it's time for me to help you out in return. Lord and Lady Serry are guests at Oakenshield. I'll make the necessary introductions and you can speak with them in private” He began to walk and Samantha followed at once. “I appreciate it”, she told him, as they made their way down the hall, with Sasha and Heleri behind them. “So... I gotta ask. Is it Flowers or Beesbury?” Robert narrowed his eyes. “You really want to go there?”, he growled and his obvious anger took her off guard. “Genuine curiosity”, she assured him. “We worked well together today. I'd like to know more about whom I helped out” Robert sighed, before he gave her a nod. “Fair enough. I got the feeling your time on the Shield Islands is not over yet and you're bound to find out sooner or later”, he admitted. “Flowers is what my father calls me, but it doesn't make me less a Beesbury, his trueborn son and rightful heir” His expression was almost a bit sullen here and he let out a sigh. “My father, if you have to know, is a cunt. A fourthborn son, never prepared nor intended to take over. His only claim to fame is outliving all of his siblings and becoming Lord of Honeyholt” “I know my fair share of people like that, yeah”, Samantha confirmed, though Robert shook his head. “Not like this. Not like him”, he disagreed. “See, when my uncles died fighting against Argilac the Arrogant, my father was married already, to my mother. She came from House Ball, a lesser daughter of a smaller house, surely worthy of a fourthborn, but not a suitable match for one of Manfred Hightower's primary bannermen. And when he became lord, my father came up with a truly devious plan. Accuse my mother of having an affair, ruining her reputation and bribing a Septon to annul the marriage, so he could marry a more suitable bride, one of Lord Hightower's granddaughters” “And he claimed you were the product of said affair...”, Samantha realized and Robert made a pained grimace. “It's not a good plan, but it somehow worked”, he muttered. “So, you may call me Robert, you may call me Beesbury, but Flowers? Don't call me that unless you have a deathwish” Samantha raised an eyebrow. “Don't tell me what to do... Beesbury”, she replied in a friendly tone. Now, Robert's expression grew calmer again and he gave her a thankful nod. “Soon, it won't matter anymore”, he told her. “Lord Oakheart has promised me help to clear my name. I'll push my birthright yet and I can only hope my father will be there to witness it. The only thing I want from that lowlife is that look on his face when he sees that his schemes have caught up to him” “And Oakheart can help you with that?”, she asked, to which he gave her a quiet nod. “Lord Devrin has powerful friends”, he told her. “Such a man can easily get the ear of the king himself. I believe he will, quite soon” He did not elaborate on this ominous remark and before Samantha could ask, they entered the courtyard. There were signs of the recent battle there, but remarkably few corpses, a handful of Ironborn and Shield Island soldiers. “What about Holgar the Red?”, she asked and Robert shook his head. “Once he saw how many men we brought, he retreated. Fought his way through our lines and fled deeper into the island. There's hidden bays to the north where an experienced crew can hide a longship with ease. One of our ships is trying to find them, but once they are out on the open sea, we won't be able to catch up to them” Samantha frowned. “So he escaped”, she mumbled and Robert gave her a regretful nod. “But should he return, we will be ready. If not for the recent raid on Raylansfair, Southshield would have been in far better position to repel Holgar and his crew”, he promised her. As he led them past a pile of dead Ironborn, her attention fell upon two men who approached them, knights in full armour. “Of course, neither you nor me deserve all the praise for today”, Robert told her, as he pointed at the first man. Tall and imposing, he had a brutish frame and wide facial features, with sharp, grey eyes and brown hair, cut short in the fashion of a true soldier. The man who walked by his side was slightly shorter, with fair hair and green eyes. He wore a thick moustache, covering most of his mouth and only allowing for a hint of his pleased smile to be seen. “Here we have Ser Gerold Grimm, who led the charge against the Ironborn”, Robert spoke and the first man gave him a quiet nod. “And Ser Garibald Chester here is responsible for the logistics of our hastily assembled army. Without his ships, we wouldn't have reached Southshield this swiftly” The man with the moustache took a polite bow in front of the women. “A small contribution, really”, he disagreed in a warm tone. “And I'll feel terribly useless if my ships fail to capture the fleeing Ironborn after all” His expression grew warmer as he spotted Heleri. “Ah, but Lady Heleri is safe, I see”, he exclaimed. “Mylady, it is a pleasure to see you alive and well” Heleri did a stiff curtsy in front of him. “Greetings, Ser Garibald”, she replied in a pleased tone. “I'm glad to see some familiar faces at last. What about Lord Serry?” Garibald's smile grew slightly thinner. “Chrass got injured during his escape. It's nothing serious, I assure you, but he requires some rest for the time being”, he informed her. “He and Lady Margo send their regards. They hope to see you soon in Oakenshield” He glanced at Robert. “She's waiting out in the bay”, he informed him and Robert gave him a brief nod. “Then we should hurry and meet her. I trust you and your ships will give chase to the Ironborn” “And my men will secure the keep”, Gerold Grimm confirmed and his voice was deep and gravelly, as impressive as the man himself. Without saying another word, he left them standing and began to approach the keep, while Garibald straightened his back. “My rather taciturn friend is right”, he spoke. “Before we can rest and celebrate, there's more work to be done. I'll get to mine right away and I suggest you do the same” He and Robert exchanged a nod, before he followed after Gerold Grimm. Robert briefly looked after the two knights, before he continued to lead Samantha, Sasha and Heleri out of the keep. Though morning couldn't be far by now, it was still dark and in these early hours, fog had crept up from the shore, engulfing this part of the island in a dense grey. They followed the path down the hills and long before she could see it, Samantha heard and smelled the open sea. There was a small pier there, probably a private landing for House Serry, though right now, most of the boats undoubtedly belonged to the army that had just landed here. Out on the bay, Samantha saw tall, dark shadows, half a dozen skiffs on the water. “After you”, Robert spoke, as he pointed at one of the rowing boats. “The lady is waiting for us” Almost immediately, Heleri stopped dead in her tracks. “Lady?”, she asked. “You mean... my aunt is here?” Her tone was surprised, startled, perhaps even a slight bit afraid and as Robert gave her a nod, her expression darkened. “I was hoping my uncle would lead our men”, she mumbled, to which the knight shook his head. “Your uncle is not feeling well, once again. Lady Arianna has accompanied the Hewett soldiers to Southshield, though of course she remained at a respectable distance from the actual battle” “So this Lady Arianna is the one we have to speak to when it comes to an audience with Lord Serry?”, Samantha asked. Robert gave her a nod. “Though she's a Hewett by marriage, I have found her to be the true power on Oakenshield. Her husband, Lord Hoster Hewett, is sickly and often ailing, but luckily for his house, his wife is most capable”, he explained, before he followed Samantha and Sasha onto the rowing boat. “In fact, Lady Heleri, you have to thank your aunt for your rescue”, he continued, as he helped Heleri into the boat. “Lord Grimm is responsible for the troops and Lord Chester is responsible for the ships, but it was Lady Hewett who made such a swift response possible. She brought the Shield Lords together and made it clear that they have to stand together against this foe” “She knows how to make an entrance at least, I give her that...”, Sasha mumbled, as she stared at the large shadows in the distance. Quietly, Robert began to row towards them and as they came closer, Samantha noticed how sleek these ships were. Elegant and quiet, as well as entirely dark, they were barely visible in the fog. It was no surprise that Holgar didn't see them coming. “So, you're actually working for Lady Hewett, eh?”, Samantha asked and Robert shook his head. “My lord will always remain Devrin Oakheart”, he told her. “But I am here because of her. Some arrangement between Oakheart and her brother, Lord Selwyn. I am here as long as she has use for me, then I will return to my lord's side” As they came closer to the dark ships, Samantha saw a tiny light aboard, from a storm lantern. “Halt!”, a harsh voice called out to them and the shadow belonging to it was barely visible through the fog. “Identify yourself at once!” Robert raised his hands, as the lantern shined into their direction. “Robert Beesbury!”, he yelled. “I bring Lady Heleri with me” A second shadow appeared on deck, quietly whispering to the first, before the man with the storm lantern spoke up again. “Glad to hear it”, he yelled and a second later, a ladder was lowered to their boat. “Come up here, quickly” With Robert's help, Heleri was the first to climb up. The girl was pale and remarkably quiet after her earlier mouthiness and the sudden change in her attitude was as surprising as it was concerning. Samantha knew preciously little about the woman she was about to meet aside from what Robert told her, but if there was reason to be concerned, then Heleri, as her niece, surely knew all about it. She followed after the young woman, with Sasha closely behind her and finally, Robert climbed up as well. The ship was large and quiet, with only a few men on the top deck, quiet and grim people who barely looked at them as they did their work. The whole ship was eerily quiet in general, as well as dark. Only the two men in front of her paid the newcomers any attention. The one with the storm lantern wore a dark, high-collared coat and a wide-brimmed hat, concealing most of his features, while the other man was dressed less darkly and without a hat. He had the sturdy build of a warrior, with short, dark hair and pale skin. His facial features, though not ugly by any means, barely stood out and he had one of those faces that were perpetually hard to remember or describe. Average by any means, the type to easily blend in. The type to be wary of, as she had learned in the past. Perhaps the most notable thing about him was that beneath his dark coat, he wore a red tabard with a bull's skull on it. Though she knew little of the heraldry of the Reach, she could tell from the flags that were seen on the ship that, similar to Robert, this man was not of House Hewett either. “Three women, eh?”, he remarked as Robert climbed up at last. “That's more than you were ordered to bring back, Robert” Then, a surprisingly warm smile formed on his face, as he and the knight exchanged a friendly handshake. “Glad to see you made it back in one piece”, the man said and Robert gave him a nod. “Glad to be back, aye”, he confirmed. “That is Lady Heleri right there. The other two are Samantha and Sasha. They helped me out and seek an audience with Lord Serry” The other man raised an eyebrow. “Hm, they gotta go past Lady Arianna to do that”, he spoke. “She'll be pleased of our success here on Southshield. Should be enough to arrange a meeting with her” He gave Samantha and Sasha a swift nod. “The name's Marcus. Marcus Whitehead”, he introduced himself. “Like Beesbury here, I'm here as a favour for Lady Arianna. Robert was in charge of the situation on land, I'm in charge of everything happening on this ship. So, you got a problem or a complaint, you come to me, understood?” His expression was one of superficial kindness, but there was a cautious, distrustful look in his dark eyes. “Understood”, she replied. “When can we meet the lady?” Marcus and Robert exchanged a look, before the former spoke again. “Shouldn't take long”, he assured her. “If Robert brought you here, this must be important. Lady Arianna is up, of course, but I will inform her of your request first. Should take but a second” As he and Robert turned to the stairs that led down to the lower decks, Samantha felt a tuck on her sleeve. As she glanced over her shoulder, she spotted Heleri Hewett there, stone-faced and with a grim glare in her eyes. “Don't trust her”, she whispered. “My aunt hates Vali like no other. Her husband's bastard, of course she hates him... you're working with Vali, so you cannot trust her. Whatever she will offer you, keep in mind that she is always playing her own game” Before she could elaborate, the two men returned already, faster than she had expected. “As I said, didn't took long”, he spoke. “Lady Arianna will speak to you now” Samantha approached him, but as Sasha tried to follow, Marcus raised a finger. “One of you”, he told her and Samantha stopped immediately, as she and Sasha exchanged a slightly concerned glance. “Bullshit she is”, Sasha spat. “Sammy's not going anywhere without me” Samantha gave her a mild smile, before she shook her head. “Eh, it's alright”, she assured her friend. “I got this” Sasha raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “I don't like the sound of it”, she growled. “We were sent to speak to Chrass Serry. This is all getting too complicated for my taste” Samantha placed a hand on her upper arm, noticing how tense Sasha was right now. It wasn't even hard to guess why, considering how uncomfortable she had been last time they were on a ship together. “Try to relax a bit”, she spoke. “I got this. You find some place to rest, I'll join you later” Slowly, Sasha gave her a nod, but she still seemed on the edge. “If you say so...”, she mumbled. She and Heleri remained behind as Samantha followed after Marcus. Robert remained on the top deck as well and she exchanged a nod with the knight as she walked past him. “You're not a Hewett man-at-arms either, are you?”, she spoke up. Marcus chuckled briefly, before he shook his head. “I'm no one's man-at-arms”, he clarified. “Guess you could call me a sellsword, but instead of working for everyone, I choose my clients carefully. Usually, it's the lords of the southern Reach. Hightower, Vyrwel, Beesbury. The tabard is a gift from Lord Bulwer, if you were wondering” One of these names actually gained her curiosity. “You served Lord Vyrwel?”, she asked and Marcus raised an eyebrow. “What's it to you?”, he asked and she shot him a brief, apologetic smile. “Just being curious”, she claimed. “I don't know many high lords, but I've been in Raylansfair when Petyr Vyrwel took over” “Yeah, I heard he's been moving up in the world”, Marcus confirmed and his distrustful glare grew slightly warmer. “But I've never served under Petyr, no. Last time I've been in Darkdell, his father still ruled over it. Lord Leo was a fine man, but I can't say I know his son all too good” This came as a relief, for the last thing Samantha wanted was to be alone with a man who served Petyr Vyrwel. She was glad to avoid this connection at the very least. They stopped in front of a large, dark door near the rear end of the ship and Marcus knocked heavily. “Come in, Whitehead”, a woman called out. Her voice was firm and dry, demanding and oozing authority. “Bring me this woman Robert spoke of” Marcus glanced at Samantha and gave her a nod, before he opened the door. The room behind was larger than Samantha had expected. It was an office, with a large desk in its centre and two chairs in front. There were large cupboards on both sides of the desk and a small sideboard to the right. Behind the desk, a generous glass window allowed for a view that had to be pleasant on most days. Right now, all she saw there was the foggy twilight of this new day. A single lantern on the table was enough to illuminate the centre of the room, but the corners were swallowed by darkness. Between desk and window, on a chair that was almost a throne in its opulence, sat a woman. She was tall and thin and pale, with a lavish dress, coloured black and red, as well as a grey scarf that covered most of her neck. Though obviously a lot older than Samantha, her face showed only a few wrinkles and her blonde hair only began to grey. It was short, but voluminous, with no strand below her ears. Sitting there, her back impeccably straightened, she looked at Samantha out of pale blue eyes, her expression calm and calculating. “Come inside and close the door”, she spoke, as she placed both of her hands on the table, fingers crossed. “Take a seat” Samantha gulped, before did as she was told. “Marcus, two glasses”, the woman continued. “Arbor Red. Success deserves a proper reward” While she spoke, she did not look away from Samantha and her expression was inscrutable. “I have no doubt Robert told you about me already, but a lady should always introduce herself”, she spoke and placed her long, thin fingers on her chest. “I am Arianna Hewett, Lady of Oakenshield. You are on my ship and, as I have been told, you have saved my niece from a grisly fate” “Correct, mylady”, Samantha confirmed. “I am Samantha Ducard, uh, a sellsword” Arianna raised an eyebrow. “A woman sellsword, how quaint”, she remarked. “I hope my niece has treated you kindly for saving her life. Heleri can be fairly confrontational, I doubt that has changed much since last I saw her” “It's been okay”, Samantha spoke, almost flinching as Marcus placed the cup on the table in front of her, momentarily breaking eye contact between her and the older woman. “Mylady” Arianna waited for a moment, only picking up her cup once Samantha had done the same and only taking a sip from it after Samantha had dared to taste the red liquid. The wine was sweet, refreshingly so, quite likely the best she had ever tasted. “Robert said you worked well with him”, Arianna continued. “Coming from him, that's a rare praise. From his brief statement, I take you have kept Heleri save from this Ironborn lowlife, yes?” Samantha gave her a nod. “Yes, though I'm afraid the Ironborn got away”, she told her. Arianna raised an eyebrow, before she took another sip from her glass. “Irrelevant”, she then said. “What matters is that Heleri survived the day. I won't feign affection for the girl, but she is family and an important part of our alliance with House Serry. For that, you have earned my gratitude and my curiosity” Her tone was still sharp and Samantha tensed up at her words. “Curiosity, mylady?”, she asked and Arianna gave her a warm, but cutting smile. “Robert informed me you wish to speak to Chrass Serry. The Lord of Southshield is my guest, as you are well aware, and it is within my power to arrange for such a meeting”, she revealed. “Before I do that though, I want to know who I am talking to. What message could a sellsword like you have for one of the Reach's finest knights?” There, just for a moment, she revealed a part of her intentions. Samantha wouldn't dare to beat this woman at her own game, but she had to be a fool not to realize that Arianna was trying to get as much information as possible out of this. Leaving her with nothing would be unwise, but at the same time, she had to be cautious whom to confide in. “I'm coming from Raylansfair”, she began and her hopes of getting any sort of reaction from Arianna were thwarted when the older woman did not move a single muscle on her face. “I am quite familiar with the city”, she confirmed. “Lord Robert Raylan was a friend of my husband. Perhaps the new lord can become a friend of the family too, if he and my brother can find common ground” “Your brother?”, Samantha asked and Arianna gave her a thin, but genuine smile. “Lord Selwyn”, she revealed. “I understand he arrived with half of his court in attendance, surely you must have noticed?” Samantha gave her a nod, though she hadn't been there for his arrival. Shortly before she left though, the town had spoken of little else than the lord who was about to arrive with half his court in attendance. “Now, I prefer a more simplistic way of travelling”, Arianna continued, as she glanced around the modestly furnished room. “And I prefer for my questions to be answered swiftly and completely. Don't be tongue-tied, dear, I will not bite” She took another sip from her cup, before putting it down on the table. The wine left a small red stain on the corner of her mouth, a drop of crimson slowly rolling down her chin. “Most precisely, I am interested in why that bastard would send you here” Samantha froze at the sudden sharpness in her voice and for a second, Arianna showed almost something comparable to anger, before taking a deep breath. “Oh yes, I am fully aware of who sent you to Southshield”, the lady then revealed and all of a sudden, Samantha became painfully aware of the fact that she was alone and unarmed, while Marcus Whitehead carried a longsword by his side. Arianna must have noticed her gaze, because she immediately rolled her eyes. “Marcus, would you leave us for a moment?”, she requested and the sellsword saluted in front of her. “I'll wait in front of the door, mylady”, he confirmed, before he swiftly left the room. Only once he was gone did Samantha allow herself to relax. The Lady of Oakenshield had a calm, intelligent smile on her face now. “You know Vali sent me?”, Samantha asked, still baffled as to how Arianna could have known. The older woman gave her a nod. “Just like he has his spies across the Reach, I have mine. And I was informed that Vali has sent two women from Raylansfair to Southshield to speak to Chrass Serry. It wasn't hard to put two and two together”, she explained. “Your niece mentioned you hate Vali”, Samantha spoke and Arianna's smile faded entirely. “For good reason”, she clarified. “Even if he wouldn't be living, breathing proof of my husband's infidelity, he remains an insufferable loudmouth, lacking even basic principles such as respect and dignity” As she spoke, she narrowed her eyes. “It doesn't mean I fail to see his intelligence. While not exactly smart, Vali can be cunning and he certainly had his reasons for sending you here”, she admitted. “Which makes me only more wary, in any way. Chrass Serry is a crucial ally and before I let you see him, I want to know why Vali has sent you here. What is the little bastard working on this time?” Samantha was still uncomfortable staring into these pale blue eyes. It seemed Heleri was right with one thing, for Arianna was undoubtedly a dangerous woman. “And how do I know I can trust you?”, she asked, to which Arianna actually smirked at her. “I may hate Vali with a passion, but I pride myself in being a rational woman, so I will not dismiss a scheme of his just because it comes from him”, she explained. “I owe you a favour for saving Heleri, so perhaps I can offer you something better than just a meeting with Chrass Serry” “And what would that be, mylady?”, Samantha asked. Arianna's smile widened, the look in her eyes dangerously disarming. “I know Vali generally works for the good of the Reach. I have simpler desires, for I care more about what is good for my family, but usually, these two goals align quite well”, she told her. “Now Vali is in Raylansfair, as is my dear brother. So, I have to presume that Donnel and his children might be affected by whatever scheme Saltmouth is pursuing there. I want to know what it is, why he sent you to Lord Serry and how I should stand towards it” Once more, she reached for the cup of wine. “And if I like what you have to say, perhaps you can return to Raylansfair with more than just Chrass Serry's support. Though I will never openly work with my husband's bastard, my support behind the scenes can be substantial” Her tone, while not without warmth, was as inscrutable as her expression. Right now, Samantha could not tell if she was being honest or if she was playing her own game. She knew Lord Selwyn was a guest of Petyr Vyrwel right now and she could only guess what connection there was between the two. Perhaps they were allies already, which would make this woman a potential enemy at the worst. But she was sharp-minded and Samantha had doubts if she could actually lie to this woman. [Tell her why you wish to speak to Lord Serry] [Refuse to tell her] [Try to lie to her]
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Post by drdestroyer18 on Nov 8, 2020 18:24:26 GMT
[Tell her why you wish to speak to Lord Serry]
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Post by GMS Freeman on Nov 8, 2020 18:37:17 GMT
[Tell her why you wish to speak to Lord Serry]
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Post by diversegnu on Nov 9, 2020 10:31:49 GMT
[Tell her why you wish to speak to Lord Serry] I honestly don't think Samantha's all that good at lying, this seems like the safest option for her.
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Post by InGenNateKenny on Nov 12, 2020 5:28:38 GMT
[Try to lie to her] Are we really going to sell out Vali? No! I admit, when you said there was a character you were going to introduce that you were really excited to introduce, I suspected I knew who. And I was right! Arianna Hewett, my finest creation! But what was shocking is that she was not the only character of mine introduced! They were submitted years ago! And they fit so nicely into the world we made. I am quite excited! Also, it's been a YEAR since we've seen Samantha! Hot damn! Missed her a lot. Glad to see her again . Sasha too! Holgar the Red is cool. Treasure hunting is good. A treasure in a lighthouse though? Yeah, because that worked out so well in Book 1. That reminds me, that ass Clayton is somewhere around. THAT's going to leave a mark. I have a bad feeling about this. One more thought: - Hot damn, there's all these sellswords, spies, alliances up in this joint. Surely these connections will not climax in some dramatic way...
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Post by TheAPlegends on Nov 14, 2020 19:33:59 GMT
[Tell her why you wish to speak to Lord Serry]
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Nov 27, 2020 18:02:21 GMT
[Try to lie to her] Are we really going to sell out Vali? No! I admit, when you said there was a character you were going to introduce that you were really excited to introduce, I suspected I knew who. And I was right! Arianna Hewett, my finest creation! But what was shocking is that she was not the only character of mine introduced! They were submitted years ago! And they fit so nicely into the world we made. I am quite excited! Also, it's been a YEAR since we've seen Samantha! Hot damn! Missed her a lot. Glad to see her again . Sasha too! Holgar the Red is cool. Treasure hunting is good. A treasure in a lighthouse though? Yeah, because that worked out so well in Book 1. That reminds me, that ass Clayton is somewhere around. THAT's going to leave a mark. I have a bad feeling about this. One more thought: - Hot damn, there's all these sellswords, spies, alliances up in this joint. Surely these connections will not climax in some dramatic way...
Yeah, I teased Arianna quite a lot so far, so I knew you wouldn't be surprised by her appearing right here ^^ That's why I decided to introduce another character right here. Ever since you submitted Arianna, I knew I wanted Marcus to first appear at her court (previously, my plans for his introduction have changed several times), though I was not sure if introducing him now would be the best idea, or if I should focus entirely on Arianna.In the end, I think it worked out well, giving her the lion's share of the spotlight here, but also giving a brief introduction to Marcus. I don't think anyone remembers where he was mentioned before, but once that connection is established once more, his role in the story should become quite an important one. Also, I am glad you enjoyed them! It's true, Arianna's introduction is probably one of the scenes I was most looking forward for when writing this chapter and it gave me quite some frustration that it took me so long to get to this point, but I am glad it was worth the wait. Aye, a full year, way longer than I feel comfortable with. It was actually not easy getting back into her storyline, but this one is entirely on me. That makes it only more important to take some time at the end of the chapter to plan ahead, not just for the storyline itself (which is planned out fairly solidly, in my opinion), but also for the order of PoV's, which is what I've done a lot more with the Dark Eye. While I have strong hopes to increase my output of parts again, I'm absolutely confident that no matter what, I should be able to prevent such long breaks between the parts for each PoV. Glad you enjoy Holgar as well! He will reappear in some time and I got plans for him, though it should be a few chapters until we see him again. He was dealt a bit of a defeat here, but he still wants his treasure and most certainly won't give up. At least this time, it is reasonable to assume the treasure does not consist of wildfire. Also, you are right, Clayton's fate is not confirmed right now, so it is possible he's still around. Not for Sasha, she has no problem with killing someone in cold blood, even if that someone is barely an adult. He was the enemy, he was in their way, now he's dead, that's the amount of thought she has spared for him. Though this highlights an important difference between her and many other characters. Even Samantha would have just knocked him out, but Sasha has no patience for that. She's not a bad person, but she can be downright ruthless if she considers it necessary. And we haven't even gotten to the full picture, there is more going on behind the scenes, more key players to be revealed and hidden agendas to be uncovered. Right now, the alliance between Maron, Petyr and Devrin Oakheart is the key part of the Reach storyline. They conspire against their king, but there's some tension between them as well. Vali is working against them on behalf of Mern Gardener, Saerya is working against them on behalf of Aegon Targaryen, neither trusts the other and their alliance is temporary at best. Vali cares for the Reach's best interests, Saerya is all but guaranteed to work against those in the future. Then there's Vali's supposed ally Chrass Serry, whom Samantha was supposed to meet, but instead she met Arianna, who claims that she works for the good of her family, part of which consists of Donnel Selwyn, whom Petyr currently tries to involve in his schemes. Robert Flowers, who currently works for Arianna, is sworn to Devrin Oakheart and only serves her temporarily as part of a deal between Devrin and Donnel. It gets only more complicated when one takes the personal friendships and rivalries between the characters into account. I don't know much about this stuff, but perhaps I could try my hand at making a character diagram that could help shed some light on what has grown into a surprisingly complex network of characters.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Nov 27, 2020 19:14:50 GMT
The Voting is closed!
Samantha is going to tell Arianna why she wishes to speak to Lord Serry I was curious how you would vote here, as the options basically boil down to either trying to lie to a skilled negotiator and schemer, or to tell her the truth without having any way of knowing if she can be trusted. Originally, I was also going to offer you the option to refuse an answer, but Arianna would have never accepted silence here. If she can be trusted, she is surely going to be a powerful ally, but then again, she could just as easily be an enemy, either now or in the future. I am excited to have her in the story at last, I hope you'll enjoy what she is going to add to Samantha's storyline in the parts to come. The next part is hopefully going to be out today or tomorrow at latest. It will finish Kersea's storyline and, for the first time in way over a year, it will mark the return of Sadie, who has been getting the short end of the screentime in this chapter, unfortunately. She's quite probably the biggest casualty of my writer's block in this chapter, as the scene I want her chapter to end with required some knowledge from another PoV's final part before that, so this led to the massive break between her parts. So, last time we saw Kersea, she and Leonard were marching through the most beautiful part of Oldtown, the sewers. There, they were looking for the thief Roach, who had stolen a brooch from Vitihho, a black market merchant and former acquaintance of Alysanne, who is quite possibly the most reliable ally Kersea and Leonard could get in Oldtown. They found Roach quickly, though as expected, the thief tried to fight back, biting Leonard in the process and earning himself quite a beating from Kersea in return. In the end, she was left with the decision to continue beating the injured thief up, as Vitihho had wanted from her, or to let him go with a few bruises and a stern warning. You chose for the latter and that's where her part will start. Meanwhile, Sadie hasn't been seen in quite a while. Last time we saw her, she was talking to Nilanne, formerly one of the women forced into prostitution by Gyles Gomblinger, alongside Sadie's sister Melanie. Ever since they were freed by Leo in the aftermath of the raid on Maybros, Nilanne had been looking out for Melanie, who was going through a difficult and painful withdrawal from the drugs Gyles had given her to keep her subservient. Now, Nilanne came forward with the revelation that Gyles had been meeting with one of his suppliers, who lives near Castamere. They both share the concern that Gyles could try to get Melanie hooked again, to get his revenge on Sadie for ruining his lucrative operation in Maybros. Before Sadie could decide on what to do about this, she was approached by Edward Lancaster and Rhogarn Snow, two of Leo's lieutenants and perhaps the closest thing Sadie has to friends in her current situation. She was hesitant to tell them about this new development, as she would prefer to avoid dragging Leo into this situation, but eventually decided to confide in them. Her next part will start slightly after that conversation and it will establish a possibly unexpected connection between her storyline and another. At the same time, the long break between her parts is giving me a bit of a hard time, so I have to be extra careful not to mess this up. Believe it or not, there were minor continuity errors between some of the most disconnected parts in this chapter and even though I removed all I came across, it is still shameful to me that this happened at all. So, for the sake of quality, this one will need extra care. I'm making good progress though, so I'll see you when it's done
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Dec 3, 2020 2:44:35 GMT
Kersea As she stared down at Roach, Kersea felt something unusual. A glimmer of pity for this pathetic man. No, not pathetic, but pitiful. Truly pitiful. She didn't even want to imagine what drove him to such a miserable life. It was just a sliver of pity, but it was enough for her grip to loosen. Immediately, Roach backed off, his eyes widened with fear, crawling away from her on all fours like a wounded animal. “Remember this”, Kersea warned him. “You'll get off easy, but you better not show your face around Vitihho anymore. And someone else might be even less merciful” Roach narrowed his eyes and briefly, she saw this vicious anger again, an expression hateful enough to send a chill down her spine. He was pitiful, yes, but she could emphasize with the anger on his face all too well. “Oh, I will remember”, he hissed, before he slithered away into the darkness. There was a genuine threat in his tone, but Kersea was confident he could do nothing to harm her. He was pitiful and half-mad, but he was not dangerous by any means. No, he did not deserve death and she felt a slight discomfort at the thought of how close she had been to kill him. “Well... that's settled”, she mumbled, as she turned around to Leonard. The knight glared into the darkness, before he gave her a slight nod. “Nasty little creature”, he growled. “But you did the right thing in letting him go” Kersea raised an eyebrow. “Did you just approved of something I did, Leonard?”, she asked and the knight chuckled. “Something like it”, he told her, as he pointed down the way they came from. “Let's get out of here, shall we?” She gave him a nod and together, they made their way through the dark, stinking tunnels that were Oldtown's sewers. As they walked, Kersea realized how fortunate they were, for even though the stench was barely bearable, she was certain it would have been worse in other parts of this subterranean maze. “You know, between you sparing Roach and that Elias guy earlier...”, Leonard began, before he cut himself off. Kersea glanced over her shoulder at the knight, who seemed surprisingly conflicted, for perhaps the first time since she met him. There was still the mild contempt with which he treated her, probably rightfully so, but there was also something else. A hint of... respect? Some common ground perhaps, at long last. “And Richard...”, she mumbled, thinking back how all of this started. The first time she defied Clayton's order. Her expression darkened, as she clenched her fists. “Bloody good it did him” Leonard sighed. “Richard's death is not your fault”, he told her. “You got a lot to blame yourself for, but not when it comes to him. That one's on Mullendore and don't you dare blame yourself for his crimes” She opened her mouth to reply something, but cut herself off immediately as she noticed the grim expression on the knight's face. “You spared Richard. You spared Elias, when even I would have killed him. And now that sewer ghoul...”, he growled, before he shook his head. “What I'm trying to say is... you want a chance to prove yourself, yes? To those you care for, to yourself, that you're Mullendore's weapon no more” Slowly, Kersea gave him a nod and she was glad that he couldn't see the pained expression on her face. “After today, I'll grant you that much”, Leonard then said and his straightforwardness caught her off guard. “Nothing more, but nothing less either. A fair chance” Now, she managed a thin smile. “Thank you”, she spoke. “I'll... try to live up to it” She straightened her back and forced herself to look him straight in the eye. “But I expect you to tell me when I don't live up to your expectations” Leonard gave her a nod, followed by a chuckle. “You rarely do, don't flatter yourself”, he told her. “But every once in a while, you prove you're not that bad either. Once this is over, I want you to be able to look your little sister in the eye” Kersea gulped, her smile fading. She and Briar had lost so much time together and the thought of her being so far away once more, it broke her heart. But at the same time, the knight was right about this. As it stood, she could not look her little sister in the eye and go on with her life in good faith. Not until all of this was over. “Why do you care?”, she asked and half expected him to shrug it off. He surprised her by fastening his steps to walk right next to her. “Your sister is innocent, a child. Yet another victim of Maron Mullendore”, he spoke. “Of course I care for her well-being. And you...” He sighed, before he shook his head. “You've made mistakes. More than anyone I know” “More than you yourself, huh?”, Kersea deduced. The regret was visible on Leonard's face, in the corner of his eyes, by the way he carried himself, by his actions even. She knew men who fought for vengeance and while it was definitely part of his motivation, he was nothing like them. She knew barely half of why he was a part of this, but it was clear that he was carrying a burden with him. Quietly, the knight gave her a nod. “I want to believe that you can come back from this”, he mumbled. “If there's hope even for someone such as you...” Once more, he cut himself off. “So yeah, you bet I'm going to tell you when you're doing wrong”, he promised with a thin smile. “Like that situation with Vitihho?”, Kersea asked in return. Leonard was quiet for a moment, visibly conflicted, before he shook his head. “I'm not sure about that one”, he admitted. “I don't trust the man, but I had some time to think. You consider him reliable at least and unlike virtually any other possible support we can get in this city, he's got no stake in this fight. There's no goals that could conflict” His expression soured. “Last time I've been in this rotten city, we... I trusted Mullendore”, he admitted and she immediately understood where his guilt came from. “He seemed like a good option at the time, but now I see that it had been a fool's decision even back then. Even without the whole Butterfly persona, he was involved in this. He had his own goals for Raylansfair and Oldtown. At best, he would have been a temporary ally, one we were bound to clash with at some point” “Now you believe Vitihho is different?”, Kersea asked and Leonard gave him a nod. “He works for favours and coin, not for higher goals or ideals. I don't like his type, but he's predictable”, he spoke. “As long as he owes us, yes, I believe he won't turn on us. But that also means we shouldn't overstay our welcome. I won't trust him with my life, but that's exactly what's on the line here” Kersea sighed in genuine relief. She was glad they came to some form of an agreement at last, even if it took them marching through a reeking sewer for hours. Truth be told, Leonard was quite likely the most formidable ally she had in this city, if only they could agree on something for once. Together, they continued their march through the sewers in silence, both trying not to throw up at the stench. A hot bath and a fresh set of clothes, that was all she desired in this moment, both of which Vitihho could hopefully help her with. She barely dared to breathe as long as they were still in this reeking place, with only Leonard's dying torch giving them a modicum of light. This place... this entire place, beyond the stench and the darkness, was a nightmarish maze and it only now sunk in how truly lost she would be if she wouldn't find her way back. How many had suffered such a fate in the centuries since the sewers had been constructed? Of course, though neither of them was talking, it was by no means quiet down here. Somewhere in the distance, water was constantly running, at least she hoped it was water. There was noise all around them, rats hurrying away from them, their tiny claws scraping over dirt-stained stone. Something larger, a cat or perhaps a stray dog, was running in the distance, though it didn't seem to come closer. And thinking back to Roach and the sheer anger in his eyes, she suddenly felt watched. That was another thing she was glad for, having an armed knight rather guarding her back than putting a sword through it. The tension did not quite leave her even as she finally spotted a hint of sunlight in the distance, falling through the old iron gate that was supposed to block off the sewers from the general populace. Like most things in this city, it had fallen into disrepair long ago, with someone having smashed the lock open. The air here was almost free of the foul stench of the deeper sewers, though Kersea could only assume it would remain within her nose for some time longer. “Seven Hells...”, Leonard mumbled, as soon as he had climbed the narrow set of stairs behind her, stepping out into the small, shady alleyway. “I need a bath. Probably a stiff drink to forget that stench” He shuddered, before glancing at her. “You...”, he mumbled, before pointing at his cheek. “You got something there...” Kersea's eyes widened, as she immediately reached for her cheek. “What, how, is it...”, she began, rubbing at her cheek, before realizing the cocky smirk on Leonard's face. Immediately, she shot him a glare. “Anyone ever told you that you're an asshole?”, she hissed and he chuckled. “Yeah, it's brought up from time to time”, he replied in a gleeful tone. “Come now, that stench makes me sick. The farther away we get from those sewers, the better” They continued their way through the city and perhaps it was just due to the contrast between the lively streets and the rat-infested sewers, but in the light of the setting sun, Oldtown was almost bearable. There was no beauty to this part of the city, but it seemed peaceful here, a lot calmer than how she remembered it. And for the first time since their hasty escape from Raylansfair, Kersea felt confident, hopeful even. With her and Leonard and hopefully Vitihho as well, they could do this. It was a massive city after all and no man, not even one as capable as Maron Mullendore, could hide all the marks his many crimes had left upon these stones. Finding them was all that mattered. The way back to Vitihho's house passed quickly and the sun was still shining by the time they entered the backyard of Vitihho's house. With a firm step, she approached the door, but she didn't even need to knock, as it got opened the moment she reached it. In the dim light here in the back alley, she recognized the dark skin and the bearded face of Vitihho. “You're back”, he spoke, before he raised an eyebrow. “Got what I sent you for?” Kersea narrowed her eyes. “We wouldn't be here otherwise, would we?”, she asked and Vitihho shrugged. “Could have gotten lost down there”, he replied, before he looked from her to Leonard. Kersea glanced at the knight, just as Leonard walked up to her. “Yeah, we got your precious brooch”, he told him and briefly, she saw a hint of relief on Vitihho's otherwise emotionless face. “And that thief won't sleep well for quite some time. He'll live, but Kersea roughed him up bad enough” The merchant extended a hand, but Leonard shook his head. “First, I want to know what exactly you could do for us”, he spoke and the relief faded from Vitihho's face entirely. Though he looked as calm as ever, he mustered the knight carefully and not without anger. “I'll do what I can to help you in your mission”, he promised. “I give you my word for that” They stared at each other for a moment and Kersea gave the knight a slight nudge with her elbow. “Leonard...”, she hissed and he didn't even glance at her. At last, Vitihho let out a sigh. “Butterfly may be gone, but his rot remains”, he told him. “Others came to fill his void, to take his power for themselves. All of them feared him, hated him. They thrive now, in a city free from Butterfly and the Burned Man” He straightened his back and once more, he extended his hand. “The brooch”, he then spoke in a low tone. “I will not ask again” Leonard clenched his teeth and Kersea placed a hand on his upper arm. Though she was confident he would not start a fight with their only possible ally, he was a proud man, this much she knew by now. Not dull either, for he finally let out a sigh and gave in. “Fine”, he spat. “Take it. I'll take you by your word in return” He extended a hand, dropping the iron brooch into Vitihho's outstretched palm. Immediately, the merchant closed his fist, pressing the brooch against his heart, a gasp of relief leaving his mouth. For just a second, the facade of the cold, quiet veteran crumbled, revealing a hint of grief within his dull, dark eyes. “Thank you”, he mumbled and there was genuine gratitude in his voice. “Come. We talk inside” He turned around, leaving the door open for them to follow, but he waited and closed it as soon as Leonard and Kersea had entered. Like last time, he led them through the dark, dusty hallway and into his well-furnished meeting room. “Sit”, he spoke, as he pointed at the set of comfortable armchairs, though as Kersea walked past him, he frowned. “You need a bath”, he growled. “Both of you. “I'll arrange something after we talked. Have to arrange more than that, it seems” As he spoke, he glanced at the brooch in his hands and his expression softened, as did his tone. “A bath will be much welcome”, Leonard told him. “So, spit it out. You're in contact with the new crimelords of Oldtown, did I get that right?” Vitihho gave him a nod. “Successors to Butterfly and the Burned Man, that's what they want to be. Rats, fighting for scraps, that's what they are”, he explained. “One of them is better than the rest. Smarter, richer, more influential. A harsh man, but not a monster. He's no Butterfly and it's in his best interest that these dark days never return. I'm one of his suppliers. Can get you an audience” “Name?”, Leonard asked and Vitihho leant forward in his chair. “Robert Tavner”, he told him. “Lesser nobility. Owns an acre of land an hour to the north, but he spends all of his time here in the city these days. Never satisfied with what he got, but as I said, he's no Butterfly. He's reasonable” Leonard rolled his eyes. “An upstart crimelord...”, he mumbled. “Bloody wonderful” “His right-hand man is a Northerner, like you”, Vitihho continued as he glanced at Kersea. “Efram Forrester. He's a decent man, but not too decent for a life like ours. I consider him a friend and I can get him to help you. He and Tavner have their ears down in the gutter, where the Solvers now dwell. If anyone can find proof of Mullendore's crimes, it's them” “A criminal to catch a criminal...”, Leonard mumbled. “I'm not surprised. What else do you got?” Vitihho shot him a cold smirk beneath his beard. “That not enough?”, he asked, before he shrugged. “I promised you help with Archmaester Quent, didn't I? Usually I'd make you choose, but you brought me my w...” He paused and frowned. “My brooch”, he then spoke calmly. “And you gave Roach a well-deserved lesson, so just this once, let me do both for you” “So you'll get us an audience with Tavner and Quent”, Kersea stated and he gave her a nod. “Aye, both of them”, he confirmed. “Won't be easy. They're busy men and I'll need time for that. While you speak to the first, I'll arrange a meeting with the other” He gave Kersea a long, careful look, followed by a brief smile. “You helped me out, m'lady”, he then stated. “You get to choose whom you want to visit first. Tavner and his lackeys, or Archmaester Quent up in the citadel?” [Meet Robert Tavner first] [Meet Archmaester Quent first]
Sadie The taproom was loud and crowded, the air heavy with sweat and ale. Laughter, a bawdy song, a frustrated groan, the sound of tankards slammed together, all of this noise was enough to make Sadie's head spin. In the past, she used to enjoy these gatherings and she still tried her best to have a good time, but right now, she found herself yearning for the small, quiet chamber she and Melanie had been given in the guest barracks back at Castamere. It wasn't exactly the place itself, but more so the fact that there were so many new faces around. Edward had told her it was the most popular tavern on Lord Reyne's land, though out of all the people she knew from Maybros, only he, Rhogarn and Blane were sitting here with her. Of course, they were not here to enjoy themselves, but it still made her uncomfortable to sit with her back turned to so many strangers. “You're looking particularly dour tonight”, Edward spoke and she rolled her eyes. “Thank you”, she hissed. “You could have warned me though. It's so crowded here” Edward shrugged. “I told you it's the most popular tavern around”, he replied. “Besides, I didn't think it'd be a problem for you. You said you served in the Storm King's army” “And I knew almost everyone I served with”, she spoke. “It's not... listen, we know Gyles has ties to the people around. What if he's watching us like we're watching his merchant friend?” Rhogarn placed down his tankard and glanced around. “Trying to watch his merchant friend”, he mumbled. “Anyone still got an eye on him?” Almost casually, Edward gave him a nod. “Of course, of course”, he replied in an almost impatient tone. “He's sitting over there, with those odd-looking guardsmen of his” Sadie glanced over her shoulder, carefully enough not to alert any attention, glancing into the direction Edward pointed at and through the crowd, she could get glimpses of the three men he was talking about. Yusuf Hillsider, the merchant, was younger than she expected a man of his profession to be. His face was smooth, with full, dark hair and a stubble beard, partially hiding a full, strong face with a big nose and a wide mouth, currently opened into a pearly white grin. He was flanked by two men who could indeed be described as odd and given their weaponry, they were quite clearly his personal guards. One of them had the darkest skin she had ever seen, a shade of ebony blacker than what she was used to from even the darkest dornishmen. A Summer Islander, he had to be, truly a rare sight in these lands. He had short, curly hair, as well as a handsome, if unshaven face, with a charming smile. His clothes were similarly strange, as he wore a wide cape made of foreign feathers, shimmering in red, green and a bright yellow. The loud colours seemed almost out of place above his common, well-worn leather armour and the unsheathed sword that dangled from his belt. The other man was a Westerosi, with long, blonde hair and a strong build. He wore unusually green leathers, a colour that matched his cold, piercing eyes. Whereas the Summer Islander was laughing widely, he kept his mouth quiet, only grinning once, an expression devoid of any actual joy, revealing two missing front teeth. He was the one to be wary of, she realized it at once. “He has more guards in his estate, couple dozen at least”, Edward revealed. “I've served minor lords with less manpower behind them, though that protection has to cost him a fortune” Sadie gave him a nod, as she looked away from their target. “We know anything about them?”, she asked and Edward shrugged. “The Summer Islander is a nobleman himself, the cloak gives it away. Seems to have fallen on hard times, why else would he leave his home?”, he told her. “I don't know that man in the green leathers, but he's been counting coin for most of the evening. Quartermaster, I bet” He leant back in his chair and raised his tankard towards Rhogarn. “See?”, he spoke. “I got an eye on them” The older sellsword gave him a hesitant nod, taking a sip from his tankard in the process, while Blane leant closer towards Sadie, who instinctively leant back. “It's okay if you want to leave”, he told her in a warm tone. “We got this. It's not like...” She cut him off with a mild glare. “Not like I can help you much as it is, huh?”, she hissed and Blane immediately backed off. “I was going to say it's not like we have to do much tonight”, he defended himself. “If you're uncomfortable, you don't have to stick around” Sadie frowned, before she shook her head. “I'm staying”, she growled. “This concerns me and my sister more than it does any of you” She narrowed her eyes as she spoke and Blane's smile faded slowly. “So I'm not going to leave and you won't imply that ever again” He gave her an apologetic nod. “I did not mean to insult you, Sadie”, he was quick to defend himself. “But you know what, understand it however you like. See if I care” “Lads, be nice”, Rhogarn spoke up. “No use in fighting among ourselves” He narrowed his eyes as he spoke. “And just like that... keep it quiet now, we got company” Sadie tensed up at his tone and she barely dared to glance over her shoulder, where she spotted two men entering the taproom from outside and she frowned as she spotted the one walking on the left. Gyles Gomblinger was wearing his finest clothes, a gilded vest above a stainless white shirt, his thinning hair freshly dyed and combed over the bald spots on his head. With his high, narrow collar, he looked almost comically like a toad, but Sadie was unable to even do just as much as grin at the man who ruined her sister's life. He hadn't seen them yet, which was a blessing, but she knew that it was only a matter of time. “Who's the other guy?”, she asked, as she carefully eyed the man who was walking next to Gyles. He was younger than him and notably more handsome, but neither accomplishment was hard to pull off. He was tall and well-built, with black hair falling down to his shoulders and a short beard, with the tips of the moustache pointing upwards. If there was any stain to his good looks, it had to be the scar on his left cheek, a comparably fresh injury, the pale scar tissue contrasting with his healthy tan. He worse a long dark cloak over a red shirt and she saw a rapier by his side, a rare weapon on this side of the Narrow Sea. “Never seen him in my life”, Edward admitted, though Rhogarn narrowed his eyes. “Looks familiar”, he mumbled. “But I can't place him” They watched as Gyles and his guest walked over to Yusuf's table. The merchant rose and by the amicable hug he gave Gyles, it was clear the two men were on friendly terms. Though she could not understand a word of what they were saying, Gyles was clearly introducing his guest and briefly, Yusuf's smile faded, before he took a slight bow in front of the stranger. “Must be someone important”, she mumbled, but Blane shook his head. “We'd know him if he was important”, he told her. “Doesn't look like a lord to me. Not even a Westerosi” While he spoke, Rhogarn still studied the stranger. “I say it again, he looks bloody familiar...”, he mumbled. “If only we could get closer, I need to get a better look at him” It was in this moment that one of Yusuf's bodyguards, the man in the green leathers, looked up, his gaze meeting Sadie's. She immediately looked away, but she still saw the frown on his face. Immediately, he turned to his master, whispering something into his ear. Yusuf narrowed his eyes, only reluctantly turning away from his conversation with Gyles and the stranger, before glancing at Sadie's table. Thankfully though, Gyles barely paid attention to what they were saying. The man in green rose from his seat and slowly, almost casually, he began to walk over. “Shit...”, Sadie mumbled. “What are we going to do now?” Edward gulped, before he leant closer. “Keep calm, Sadie”, he told her. “We're just four sellswords out to enjoy our evening. Ain't nothing wrong with that. Don't freak out and we're good” By now, the man had almost reached them. His expression was by no means friendly, but neither was it immediately hostile. Instead, he gazed upon each of them with the cold look of a professional and his smile was thin and not the slightest bit genuine. “Good evening, mates”, he greeted them and without asking, he sat down on a free chair between Sadie and Rhogarn. His smile widened, revealing his missing front teeth and he folded his hands on the table. “Evening”, Edward greeting him. “You need anything from us... mate?” The man shrugged, before he glanced over his shoulder. By now, the Summer Islander had noticed them as well and so had Gyles' guest, though the latter was only giving them a single, cautious glance before focussing entirely on his conversation again. “Depends”, the man in green replied. “I'm Marcyl. A sellsword, just like you judging by your looks. You belong to Leo Hill's men?” He glanced at them from head to toe, his gaze briefly lingering on Sadie, as she gave him a nod. “Even you?”, he asked and she narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”, she hissed and his smile faded entirely. “Can't help but notice you find my current employer might interesting”, he told them. “Now, he's the one paying me, so I need to make sure you're no threat to him, we understand each other?” Edward gave him a nod. “We're no threat to him, alright”, he assured him. “Just the four of us trying to have a nice evening” As soon as he said that, Marcyl's smile returned and this time, it seemed almost genuine. “Good”, he spoke. “Don't let me stop you then. I wish you a pleasant night, truly I do, as long as you remember one iron rule” With these words, he pointed over his shoulder at his table. “What is happening over there, that ain't of interest to any of you”, he warned them. “You keep that in mind and I'll drink to your health tonight” “Sorry, mate”, Edward told him. “We'll try not to stare. It's just... rare to see a Summer Islander here. Been wondering where I could get cloak like that” Marcyl chuckled at that. “You need to be born into the right family for that”, he told him. “Xha over there, he's a nobleman, or he was until his own family kicked him out for being an insufferable prick. Now that cloak's the only noble thing left about him” He raised an eyebrow. “You know what, you're welcome to join us next time we're off duty”, he told them. “But right now, it's my job to make sure that Yusuf's meeting isn't interrupted” He glanced over his shoulder and his smile faded. As Sadie followed his glance, she saw Gyles staring right back at her, having finally noticed the four sellswords across the room. His expression soured immediately and he jumped up from his table. Before Yusuf and the Summer Islander could follow, he was storming towards them. “Now, that's just fucking preposterous!”, he barked in a nasally, but clearly aggravated tone. “You're here to spy on me, aren't you? Wasn't it enough that Leo Hill ruined my business, now he sends his curs after me!” Though his words were cutting through the stale air, he was keeping his voice down so that the other tables wouldn't be alerted to their conversation. His gaze met Sadie's and defiantly, she raised an eyebrow towards him. “You...!”, he hissed. “All of that is your damn fault! You turned Hill against me, now you can't even let me pick up the pieces of my life as I rightly should” He clenched his fists and leant closer, enough. “A shame the Ironborn didn't take your head” Sadie narrowed her eyes as she jumped up in sudden anger. Edward did not hold her back, instead he rose with her, staring daggers at Gyles. Marcyl looked at them somewhat bemused, then glancing to the side, where his employer was, Yusuf Hillsider had followed, with his Summer Islander guardsman close behind. Only the stranger remained, but by now, he had turned to them entirely, looking at the four sellswords with visible interest. “Gyles, is there a problem?”, the merchant asked, running one hand through his finely trimmed beard. “You bet there is”, Gyles growled. “They are spies, sent by Leo Hill” Yusuf raised an eyebrow. “Your sellsword?”, he asked and Gyles shook his head. “He dropped out of the contract”, the fat man replied coldly. “In no small parts thanks to that cripple over here” In this moment, Sadie was almost glad she had come unarmed, otherwise she would have killed him right there. “Does he know?”, she spoke, glancing from Gyles to Yusuf, then back to Gyles. “What you did to my sister?” Gyles placed a hand on his chest. “What I have done?”, he hissed. “Girl, your sister came to me, a broken, starving mess of a person. Without me, she would have died in a fortnight. I gave her a roof over her head, regular meals and a way to make a living” Yusuf gave him a nod, though he seemed less openly hostile than Gyles at least. “It is a shame what happened in Maybros”, he spoke and his tone showed only a hint of his Braavosi accent. “But I'm afraid I cannot stand for hostilities between you and my good friend Gyles. So, I have to ask, are you actually spying on him?” “They weren't watching him, Yusuf”, Marcyl growled. “Got the impression they were watching you” Yusuf raised an eyebrow, before he gave the sellswords his most charming smile. “And what could you fine people want from me?”, he asked. “I'm always open for business with your leader, but I prefer to deal directly with the ones in charge, not intermediaries. If he has a request or a problem with me, I would like for him to tell me directly” “It's not you, Yusuf”, Gyles told him sternly. “They ruined my business, forced me to kick out all of these poor women who depended on me to care for them and now, when I want to build a new establishment here in Castamere, they try to ruin that too” He shook his head. “Truly, have you no shame? Forcing my ailing mother to move out of her home, now you try to prevent me from ever making a living again?” Yusuf's smile faded slowly. “Is that true?”, he asked, looking from Sadie to Edward. Rhogarn barely paid him any attention, as he was still staring at the stranger a few tables away from them, still quietly trying to figure out where he had seen him. “I don't know the truth about what happened between you and Gyles and neither do I care, but he is a respected business partner and I won't see him needlessly ruined due to a feud with some sellswords” “Oh, but the lass is not much of a sellsword anymore, is she?”, Gyles spoke, his voice oozing venom. “Damaged goods, as useful as a broken sword” In this moment, Sadie saw nothing else but him and his smug grin and she cared for little but the desire to wipe it off his face. With a growl, she tried to hurl herself at him, only for Xha, the Summer Islander, to block her way. Gyles still staggered back, momentarily startled by her anger. “No violence, not today”, the Summer Islander spoke and though he got the pronunciation right, his accent was thick. He gave her a smile and it was genuinely friendly. “Please”, he added “Compose yourself” He slowly let go of Sadie, who took a deep breath, followed by a nod into his direction. She averted her eyes a bit too late to avoid seeing Gyles' smug smirk returning. “Found a sore spot there, did I?”, he hissed in a mocking tone. “You try to spy on my business partners, try to ruin me? Well, I'd say I ruin you in return, but truth be told, the Ironborn beat me to it” He made a mocking wave with his right hand. “Beat you as well, I dare say” In the past, Sadie would have killed him for this. She would have jumped at him and would have smashed his head against the table until he would move no more. But right now she wasn't even sure if she could still do it and more than that... his words got to her. She tensed up, staring into those small, vile eyes of his, trying her best just to remain composed, to deny him this triumph at least. Her companions remained less calm, thankfully. Edward slammed one hand onto the table and it was only the calming presence of Rhogarn Snow that held him back, but Blane was close enough to take a swing at the fat man and for a second, it seemed as if he would, even though Xha and Marcyl both had their hands on their weapons. Instead of Blane, another figure appeared behind Gyles, having stepped into her narrowed field of view from the side. It took her a moment to recognize him as the well-dressed stranger who had arrived with the fat man. With his open palm, he gave Gyles a mild slap against the neck, not hard enough to hurt him, but enough to make him notice. Immediately, Gyles' expression soured, as he spun around. “Who dares...!”, he exclaimed, only to gasp as he saw his companion. “Behave yourself, Gyles”, the man spoke and though his voice was cold, it was downright compelling at the same time. “No matter your quarrel with that woman, a man of your ambition should stand above such childish mockery” Gyles gulped and his eyes showed open displeasure with a hint of fear. “I... I mean... she...”, he stuttered, before his companions let out a sigh. “I don't care, Gyles”, he replied. “You should hold yourself to a higher standard. In the future, I expect you will” Hastily, Gyles Gomblinger gave him a nod. “Of course!”, he exclaimed. “I...” He gulped again, before he turned to Sadie. “As long as you stay away from me and my business partners, we won't have a problem. Don't get in my way and I won't destroy what little you have left in your life” The man rolled his eyes. “Give us a moment now Gyles, will you?”, he spoke, in the same way one would speak to a particularly disobedient dog. Gyles immediately gave him a nod and wordlessly turned back to his table, while the stranger looked at the merchant. “You too please, Yusuf. I am looking forward for our cooperation, but this is a matter I have to attend to right now” Yusuf Hillsider straightened his back and his charming smile returned to his face. “Of course, mylord”, he told him, before he reached into the pocket of his coat. Sadie saw a hint of silver between his fingers, before he placed a small coin on the table, right in front of Sadie. “I apologize for Gyles”, he spoke. “Have a drink on me. And don't forget to tell your captain that he can visit me in person if he wants to talk business. Anytime” He turned away, as did his bodyguard Xha. Marcyl slowly rose from his seat. “Lucky you, the boss is in a good mood today”, he told them. “Hope our next meeting will go as smoothly as this one. See ya around, mates” With these words, he followed after Yusuf and Xha, leaving only the stranger at their table. Without waiting for an invitation, the man walked around Sadie, taking the free seat between her and Rhogarn. He immediately noticed the odd look the latter was giving him and quietly raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me, but do we know each other?”, he asked, his elegant smile getting thinner just for a moment, before Rhogarn shook his head. “I'm trying to figure out where...”, he mumbled. He tilted his head, getting a little bit closer to the stranger, before his eyes widened. “One head taller, the beard a bit wilder. Broken nose and dull eyes...”, he then exclaimed. “By the gods... You look like Nain Anturion” The man's smile returned, genuinely pleased and charming. “Ah, you know my brother!”, he exclaimed and Rhogarn gave him a grim nod. “Served under him for three months before I deserted”, he admitted. “The most shameful three months of my life” Now, the man gave him an understanding nod. “Yes, Nain tends to have that effect on a certain type of men”, he agreed. “But worry not, I won't think less of you for not serving my brother anymore” He placed a hand on his chest. “My name is Edward Anturion” “Another one!”, Edward exclaimed. “Name's Edward Lancaster. Mind if I call you Anturion? Or do you prefer a title? If your brother is the god-king, does that make you a god-prince?” Anturion shook his head, but not without chuckling softly. “By all means, Anturion is alright”, he told him. “I always found Nain's title fairly tacky. Misleading too. He's certainly no god and these days, it seems like any man can call himself a king, doesn't it?” He straightened his back and his smile faded as quick as it had come. “But he is an Anturion and as far as I am concerned that is worth more than any title he could ever give himself” “My companions are Rhogarn Snow and Blane Banefort”, Edward introduced them. “And this is Sadie Wade” Anturion gave each of them a nod and even took the hint of a bow in front of Sadie. “Mylady”, he greeted her. “Sincerest apologies for Gyles' cruel words. He's a fool, I think we both know that much and I don't condone what he said to you” Sadie narrowed her eyes. Though Anturion's words were kind, as was his voice, she knew people like him well enough by now. Outwardly friendly, but with a smile that never reached their eyes. “What is your deal with Gyles?”, she hissed and Anturion shrugged. “I have business to attend to here in Castamere”, he told her. “Gyles is a distant acquaintance, one of the few I have in this part of Westeros, so I called on him when my dealings led me to this kingdom. Not many here are interested in the goods Nain has to offer, but Gyles has always been a refreshing exception” “Slaves”, Sadie growled at once and Anturion did not deny it. “A variety of goods that are uncommon here in Westeros”, he clarified. “But this is not why I have met with him today. As I said, I have business to attend to in Castamere and Gyles is a useful lackey until I have achieved it” Now, his smile returned, still not entirely reaching his eyes, but he still managed to give her a warm look. “And he already proved himself useful, I dare say”, he then spoke. “He introduced me to you, after all” “Me?”, Sadie asked and Anturion chuckled. “You”, he confirmed. “All of you. I couldn't help but overhear when he mentioned your leader. Leonard Hill, am I not mistaken? The Bastard of Lannisport” Now, Blane interjected, his usually friendly tone replaced by a cold and understandable distrust. “You know Leo?”, he asked. “Not personally, no”, Anturion explained. “But I have heard of him. A brute of a man, probably stronger than the best fighter under my command. Loyal to his employer, but with a code of honour and a fierce hatred towards highborn lords and ladies. That Leonard Hill... he's your leader, isn't he?” The following silence gave him all the confirmation he needed and visibly pleased, he clapped his hands, just once. “Excellent!”, he exclaimed. “Between Gyles' merchant friend and your sellsword leader, it seems I have all I need” Sadie leant closer as she gave him a distrustful glare. “You want something from us?”, she asked and Anturion gave her a nod. “As I said, I have business here in Castamere”, he told her. “A personal matter, one where I could use a man of Leo Hill's reputation. In short, I would be delighted if you could make things easier for me by introducing me to your leader” “And why should we do that?”, Sadie growled. “I don't see why we should help a friend of Gyles Gomblinger” Rhogarn gave her a nod. “Or a brother of Nain Anturion”, he interjected. Anturion listened to their replies calmly, before he sighed. “I can only tell you, dear Rhogarn, I am not my brother”, he claimed. “Nain... well, some would call him a brutal madman and they would have a point. But I am not my brother. No one deserves to be judged by what their family did, don't you agree?” Before Rhogarn could reply, Anturion turned to Sadie. “And I would not describe myself as a friend of Gyles”, he told her. “He is a leech. A useful leech, yes, but definitely not a friend. I don't know anything of your hatred towards him, but consider this... I am a very influential man and as long as I need him, he will stand under my protection. The more you help me, the sooner he stops being useful to me. By then, I'd be in your debt and that is worth quite a lot. I am a man of my word” Sadie rolled her eyes, though she glanced at her companions, unsure how they would react. Rhogarn was still hesitant to trust him, it was clear to see. “Nothing good has ever come from working with an Anturion”, he growled. “I don't think we should do this. Leo will see it the same way” Edward raised an eyebrow. “Well, perhaps we should let Leo decide”, he brought up. “He can smell a good contract from a mile away” “And a good contract it will be”, Anturion promised. “If Leo accepts my offer, he will be paid in silver, more than you have ever seen in your life” He looked from Edward to Sadie, giving the latter a kind smile. She could not bring herself to smile back or to even lower her guard around him. No, she had met too many people like him. Even Gyles had this superficial charm back when she first met him, so she knew better than to trust this Anturion. “What do you say, mylady?”, he asked her. “All you have to do is to introduce me to your leader. A simple request, don't you agree?” [Agree to introduce him to Leo] [Refuse to introduce him to Leo]
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Post by drdestroyer18 on Dec 3, 2020 19:57:37 GMT
[Meet Roland Tavner first] [Agree to introduce him to Leo]
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Post by GMS Freeman on Dec 4, 2020 16:01:52 GMT
[Meet Roland Tavner first]
[Agree to introduce him to Leo]
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Post by InGenNateKenny on Dec 4, 2020 18:28:48 GMT
[Meet Archmaester Quent first] We haven't seen Quent in like forever! Sorry to the other characters, but this is interesting.
[Agree to introduce him to Leo] Oh no, not Edward Anturion. At the same time...I can't resist a good crossover of storylines, especially ones with a character who I'm pretty sure is having a soon-to-be-homicidal mental breakdown (cough Anturion cough)
I have a bad feeling about Roach. Better watch out. I loved the conversation between Leonard and Kersea; the use of darkness as a way to induce ambiguity was quite effective. Xha seems pretty cool, as does Marcyl; meanwhile, Gyles maintains his status as one of the worst people in the story. Really, he's a despicable character.
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Post by TheAPlegends on Dec 6, 2020 11:28:58 GMT
[Meet Archmaester Quent first]
[Agree to introduce him to Leo]
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Post by diversegnu on Dec 6, 2020 17:32:51 GMT
[Meet Archmaester Quent first]
[Refuse to introduce him to Leo]
A character from the summer islands, now that's cool. I'd rather get to know more about him than to get roped into another one of Anturion's schemes.
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