The Cells

[Edric Stark]

Located in the Keep's dungeons on four separate levels; first for common criminals, second for highborn captives, third for black cells and fourth for torture.

[Edric Stark]

Edric was sitting on the cot of a narrow windowless cell that he'd been so unceremoniously thrown into.

[The Stranger]

A few hours later Saxon Cave entered and smiled politely. A servant brought in a picnic basket and a bottle of wine.

"Greeting Lord Edric, I'm ever so sorry as to circumstances, not my choice for our first meeting but you Northmen are ever elusive. This was to be a tower cell fitting your station. I'll have it remedied shortly." He unpacked bread and a very nice cheese, before spreading some with a knife and extending it to Edric. "Please" he offered.

[Edric Stark]

Edric looked as if he could not have cared less if he'd been stuffed into another room; to him, a cell was a cell. "Perhaps you ought to keep a closer eye on the men that follow your orders, Lord Cave," he said and stood to tower over the other man, disregarding what he thought to be a petty apology basket. "Do I look hungry to you?"

[The Stranger]

"They were not my orders, you do me credit to think I can have anyone in this kingdom arrested," Saxon chuckled, "and I don't know if you are hungry, but I am hungry, and its rude not to offer."

[Edric Stark]

"Not your orders. Must have been a team effort then." he said, crossing his arms. "On whose authorization, Tyrell's?"

[The Stranger]

"I would say if you are looking for who is responsible for you being in this cell, I should point to Lord Stark first and foremost," Saxon replied, "starting wars tends to have that affect. You're not a criminal, of course, you are merely being held to safe guard the lives of those hostages Lord Stark has taken, and to prevent you from being put into an unfortunate situation of being asked to engage in espionage against the Crown."

[Edric Stark]

"Has Eirek replied to the queen's summons?" Edric asked, cutting the man off in the middle of his sentence.

[The Stranger]

"He instructed you to do so on his behalf," Saxon reminded the boy, "Which is, as you might imagine, insufficient for the Crown's purpose."

[Edric Stark]

"So there has been no word from him after the coronation?" he inquired.

[The Stranger]

Saxon did not answer. "I'd like you to tell me your thoughts on Lord Stark's campaign if you would," he replied.

[Edric Stark]

"And I would like to be back in my room at the Gilded Horse," said Edric. "I already shared my thoughts with Lord Aenys and look how well that worked out for me."

[The Stranger]

"And what did you tell Lord Aenys?" Saxon replied sipping his wine amiably as if he had no where else to be."

[Edric Stark]

Edric frowned a little at the man's attitude; acting as if they were mingling at a party. He sighed. "That I am not my brother," he said finally. There had been endless possibilities of rooting out the Manderlys in the North and Eirek just had to choose the one that was sure to attract unwanted attention from the crown. Perhaps he was as mental about the Old Gods as the people said. Still, with this one decision, he had ruined every single plan Edric had put in motion. "And I do not agree with this."

[The Stranger]

"Well!" said Saxon, with a clap of the hands as though that solved everything, "That is fantastic news. Can you weigh in on your Lord Brother's thoughts? What is it that is motivating him on this strange course?"