The North attacks the faith

[The Smith]

Lord Aenys summons his councilors to discuss the North.

[The Smith]

Lord Bertrem and Lord Aenys arrive together.

[Horas]

Lord Bayard Royce arrives.

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

Lord Oswyn Baratheon arrives.

[The Smith]

Aenys slams his fist down on the ground, "The fucking Starks are fucking the North up."

[Horas]

"It was ill advised, I'll grant you," Bayard says with considerably more calm, "But it is the High Septon who made the more dangerous move here. A Lord has the right to rule his lands; the Faith lost its authority to call to arms hundreds of years ago."

[The Smith]

Aenys said, "I do not like Lords removing others for their faith. I guess I should just remove Stark as is my fucking right."

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

"The North also lost it's right to religious oppression when it swore fealty to a crown willing to accept all faiths." Oswyn interjected. "The forced conversion of those faithful to the Seven in one Lord Paramount's domain will only bring bloodshed to the rest. Lord Stark threatens the stability of the realm with his intolerance."

[Horas]

"It was an intemperate action," Bayard continues calmly, "But igniting a holy war is not like to solve the problem. Make this into a war of faith, and the Crown will still be stamping out zealots fifty years from now. The root of Stark's discontent is political. I believe I could convince him to rescind his edict with the right form of persuasion."

[The Smith]

"What is the right form of persuasion?" Aenys asked.

[Horas]

"He wants the sword," Bayard says, "Ice. He is a true believer, no doubt, but the root of this current foolishness is his greed for that sword. Give it to him, and I believe he can be persuaded to back down, perhaps pay reparations or issue an apology."

[The Smith]

Bertrem said quietly, "When a child throws a tantrum and you give him a biscuit you only guarantee another tantrum."

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

"That may be so, but are we to bend to all that threaten the good of the realm for some petty quibble?" Oswyn inquired diplomatically. "If tomorrow Lord Tully begins burning weirwoods over some squabble with Blackwood, is the Crown to cow to appease him? Where does it end? If we entertain appeasement now, we open the door for more in the future. I do not want war, but a precedent must be set and an example made."

[Horas]

"Biscuits are cheap, Lord Tyrell," Bayard shrugs. "Better to give him his shiny bauble than drive his army into the arms of the wayward Prince. And it would be conditional, of course; he receives nothing without recanting his edict and providing some sort of reparation."

[The Smith]

"Biscuits are, but Valyrian Steel swords are not." Bertrem replied, "If you can not.... ummm separate your loyalty with the facts of this situation perhaps you should excuse yourself."