Ship Isle

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

"And here I thought an Ironborn could take on any number of Greenlanders?" he said with a chuckle, stepping onto the gangplank and making his way onto the ship.

[Viea Greyjoy]

"We can if there is a number of Ironborn and not one on their own." Jen said when he was closer. She was tanned and tall he could see now that they were close.

"This is simply good judgement from one that prefers her head where it is and not beside her on the floor."

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

"So you Ironborn must outnumber your foe?" he prodded, admiring the view of Blackwater Bay despite the stench. "A Stormland knight must be worth ten of his foes."

[Viea Greyjoy]

"It depends on the fighter." Jen said. "I however have never been a great fighter. Unlike others that wouldn't even bother saying hello."

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

"A sociable Ironborn then?" he prodded, as if discovering a rare artifact. "How fortunate of me to come upon one."

[Viea Greyjoy]

"Fortunate indeed." Jen agreed. "If we are all closed to the world then nothing gets done."

She shot her brothers ship a dark look.

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

"Isolation is hardly the worst of policies, but it certainly has its faults." the Baratheon heir said, eyes following the woman's gaze to another ship.

[Viea Greyjoy]

"Somebody should tell that to my son." She said mildly, glancing back to him. "But I have to apologise, for we must seem so boring despite the tales of us. My younger brother always said that I was too soft for where I am from."

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

"Perhaps someone should. Not I though." Oswyn surmised, leaning beside her on the gunnel. "Do not sell yourself short, my lady. I have heard the Iron Islands make hard men, but will hardly be disappointed if the same does not ring true for their women."

"I believe you said something about a drink?" he reminded her, with a grin.

[Viea Greyjoy]

She gave a small smile and nodded.

"Inside." She said. "I tend to try and keep my crew from seeing me drink, something to do with the way they treat you." She waved her hand as if dismissing the thought before going to the door to her quarters. "Join if you will."

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

Oswyn raised an eyebrow, learning more about Ironborn by the moment.

"My knights seem overjoyed when I share a drink in their midst. Is it not the same with Ironborn captain, or just because you are a woman?"

He entered where the door had been left ajar, eyes focusing now that he was out of the sun and cautiously taking in his surroundings.

[Viea Greyjoy]

It was a dark room, lit by a few well placed candles and a small window.

"It is because I am a captain and a woman." She answered. "We only follow the strong, if I am seen to fall then I know that at least half my crew would desert me, the other half would pause to rape me then follow. Maybe one would stay but just to make sure that I was dead and my ship could be taken."

She found some dark ale and poured them both a mug.

"Your knights are like to be overjoyed because though you command them you are a man and can afford to fall maybe once. After all you are only as they are, are you not? Just in a more privileged place as you have grown up with wealth that you can display. What you see in this room is my wealth. It is taken by myself, where all of my crew can watch."

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

"I find a drink with my knights helps to temper bonds forged in battle, but my grasp on them does not appear as tenuous as your own on your crew." he mused, blue eyes taking in the trophies she had won displayed in the room. "I had heard each captain was king aboard their own ship, but it appears that is only as long as your voice and arm can continue holding sway."

"The trick seems to be never to fall." he added, drinking deep from the offered mug. "What will they think of a greenlander if your quarters?"

[Viea Greyjoy]

"You are male." Jen said simply, sitting and crossing her legs.

"Each captain is but Kings can fall or be overthrown can they not?" She studied him. "It seems to take alot less for a woman to fall then a man in the eyes of most, even in your lands a woman is left to raise the brats and embroider you a token of her love is she not?"

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

Oswyn chuckled heartily at Jen's summary of the role of women on the mainland.

"You have the right of it, I cannot argue there." he said lightly, enjoying the dark ale. "Do you not envy such a picturesque life?"