The Hand's Quarters in Runestone

[loremaster]

There's a door and a bed and window and probably some other stuff, but really, let's not kid ourselves... you're only here because Horas Blackwood is staying here.

[loremaster]

Lord Walder Frey stands in front of a pair of hardfaced Royce soldiers, ready to kill anyone who might be a Faceless Man aiming to assassinate the Hand.

Goldfinger whistles "The Rains of Castamere" while waiting to be let in.

[Horas]

Ser Brandon Rivers, Horas Blackwood's guard captain, escorts Lord Frey into the room.

"Lord Walder," Horas acknowledges the Frey with a nod, "What brings you here today?"

[loremaster]

"The last thing you would expect, Horas..." He brought forth the trade documents. "Politics."

[Horas]

"Indeed?" Horas reads the documents, "What exactly is it you want of me?"

[loremaster]

In carefully measured breath, he recited his proposition. "What you have. A place on the council, specifically the empty one where Jerard Manderly would be if he wasn't either dead or a possible traitor. Right now, you're wondering how you're going to afford and feed the troops necessary to defeat Andry and his Braavosi masters, especially when they're already sitting on King's Landing and the Stormlands. Now I can sort out the details, plot out the supply routes, pay the cooks and knights without making them jealous when Andry can pay them more. And after this is over, I can start establishing a more effective trade policy that will keep another invasion like this from happening. I already have Pentos and eventually I'll have the other Free Cities, perhaps even the Qartheen or Ghis oneday. I know the Seven Kingdoms are quite content thinking that as long as the status quo remains and lords are lords and land is yours and not his, Westeros will be fine and dandy. But unfortunately, that sort of attitude is what got us here in the first place. If we don't learn to negotiate, then we'll only invite the next foreign power in line to take a whack at us for being so snooty. Even Manderly survives without disgrace, he'll still be a possible traitor as long as the Dreadfort holds his leash and why should you tolerate that? In short, cousin, I am probably the best choice this regime has for survival when it comes to coins, and you know I say that with only a hint of arrogance."

Then he sat back with a patient look and waited for Horas' response.

[Horas]

"Quite a speech, Lord Frey," Horas says, his tone giving no clues as to his opinion of it. He scrutinizes Walder for several moments.

"As it happens, funding would be welcome. But I do not think I will be stripping anyone of titles just yet. Though I will not deny you the chance to prove yourself -- the position, should, of course, go to the best man. I will name you Treasurer of the Army, with possibility for advancement. With Lord Manderly trapped in King's Landing, your duties shall be nearly identical to his anyways. Is that acceptable to you, Lord Walder?"

[loremaster]

He nodded, a smile slowly forming on his lips. "Quite acceptable, Lord Horas. I will begin my duties as soon as possible, once I am aware of what is planned and what is needed for it. Until then, I will focus on coordinating a more constant line of communication between Runestone and Raventree Hall. In the Riverlands, they wait impatiently for some hint of when and where to march."

[Horas]

"Very well," Horas says, "I will let you get about your business. Keep the Lord Regent and I updated on your progress."

[loremaster]

"I shall have a report delivered by the end of the day." Then the Treasurer of the Army turned and left.