The Dun Fort

[Fel]

Felryn looked at her as if she was stupid. "I am not going to argue something so ridiculous. If you're so foolish as to think your men are more skilled than mine than what of a race? If the Iron Price sails faster than whatever boat you put against it than you come with me, otherwise I will go with you."

[Deleted]

"I am not going to race you," Aranya said scornfully. She paused. Aranya wasn't interested in encountering pirates on the way to Braavos, and her sailors really weren't ready to handle such a threat...

"All right," she snapped. "I will go on your lousy ship. On the condition that you see to the training of my men later, and that you do not interfere with my discussions with the Sealord."

[Fel]

Felryn barked out a laugh, "it will be a cold day in Dorne when I care about the training of your own men. I won't join the discussion with the Sealord, but I expect to be fully informed of it's outcome afterwards," he said with a hard stare.

[Deleted]

"Fuck you," Aranya said. "It is not my information to give. What goes on in that palace is for the King's ears alone."

[Fel]

Felryn snarled and wheeled around, walking from the room.

He intended to tell her to fuck off then, he intended to leave her to her own damned secret meetings. But something inside made him shout out, "we leave at sunrise tomorrow," as he stormed out without turning to look back at her.

[Deleted]

Aranya couldn't understand the feeling of triumph inside her, and turned away hurriedly. The sight of him made her both angry and lustful.

[maesterjulien]

Gray clouds marched like a phalanx across a slightly less leaden sky, threatening to spill even more snow on the party of four – two men, both in gray matching the sky, and two donkeys. Julien stops his mount at the crest of the hill and look upwards towards the fortified structure above the town. They had made it to the Dun Fort from Hightower at last. The Maester studies the ramparts and the banners snapping in the wind above them until his son joins him at the top. Turning his head, he smiles at the young man beside him and intones solemnly, “The Dun Fort – our future.”

Allen smirks darkly in response, his thick lips chapped from the cold, “This old ass is as tired as mine. Let’s save the poetry and optimism for later – after we have had the chance to warm ourselves beside the fire.”

Julien studies his son shrewdly and urges the donkey forward with a gentle nudge, knowing that a verbal reprimand would serve no purpose here. Silence and patience were more successful against the acerbic cynicism of youth than boisterous opposition. If you cannot defeat the army in the field, force them into submission through starvation instead. The day drags itself an inch at a time through the afternoon and into the early evening as the pair watch the walls of the city, harbor, and fort grow as they close distance and look for a guardsmen or someone from the keep to introduce themselves to.

[Deleted]

The guards led the new maester into the entrance hall of the castle after glancing over his papers. A moment later, the second steward, Varly, hurried out with the tall, spare septa, Emphyria.

"Welcome to the Dun Fort, maester," the septa said. She was a tall, angular, sharp-eyed and dignified elderly woman, who had been a governess to the last Rykker girl before House Royce had taken Duskendale.

"We hope you had a safe journey?" Varly asked, introducing both of themselves.

[maesterjulien]

Julien wears his sagely, paternal smile as comfortably as the gray robes of his order as he is brought into the keep to meet the steward and septa. Allen follows mutely on his heels, his dark blue eyes studying their surroundings with natural curiosity. The Maester nods to the steward’s inquiry and says, “You both have my sincere thanks for the warm reception. Our journey went as well as could be expected with the weather as it is. But now that we are here, we are eager to meet with the Lady. But first, let me introduce you to my assistant, Allen Flowers.”

[Deleted]

Varly nodded to Allen. "An assistant is always useful, and always welcome," he smiled. "How old are you?"

"The Lady is not...at home, we regret to say," Septa Emphyria said. "She is in Braavos, in a rather sticky situation. Her brother is travelling, but we are here to see to your adjustment. Come, let us show you to your rooms."

They began to walk to the maester's tower.

[maesterjulien]

Allen falls in with the entourage, walking at a respectful distance behind the adults. He smiles politely and replies to the steward, “Fourteen, my lord.”

Maester Julien arches one eyebrow coolly as he follows them towards his new tower. “I would love to hear an elaboration on what constitutes a sticky situation in Braavos.”

[Deleted]

"You will have companions then," Varly smiled at Allen. "Rhae Rykker, the betrothed of the little Lord of Duskendale, is also fourteen. And Marianne Wyl, another ward, is eleven years of age. The other children are smaller, but they are good children. I regret Brynden Royce and Daeron Blackwood are not here. Brynden Royce is ten, and is squiring to the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, so he is in King's Landing. And Daeron..." he shook his head.

"Daeron Blackwood is a nine-year old devil-child," Septa Emphyria snapped. "He took his horse and rode off to King's Landing in the middle of the night, to have an adventure, no doubt."

At Maester Julien's question, she pursed her lips and then said, "Well, as a member of Lady Aranya's household, you should know. She is King Rickon's Mistress of Laws and went to Braavos on a diplomatic mission to barter for Tristeza Martell, a wanted rebel and murderer who is seeking refuge with the Sealord of Braavos.

"While in Braavos, Lady Aranya and Lord Harlaw heard that a Targaryen exile was making claims to the Iron Throne, and Lady Royce and Lord Harlaw tried to seize him. Their men were killed and Lady Royce was taken prisoner by the Sealord, who shelters this mad Targaryen pretender. Lord Harlaw escaped, and offered to be Lady Royce's champion in a trial by combat, betting his Valyrian sword, Nightfall, against Lady Royce's freedom. He fought for her and lost. We received a raven that he was dead and that Lady Royce is pregnant with his child." Septa Emphyria shook her head wearily. "It is a most troubling situation. Now the Iron Throne is in negotiations with Braavos to get Lady Royce back."

[maesterjulien]

Allen starts to respond with some platitude to the steward until the Septa picks up where he left off and tells her tale of Daeron. The young man snickers under his breath and cannot keep a sly smile from his face.

Julien listens to both conversations with an air of gravity which slowly sours into consternation, “I had heard rumors along the way from Oldtown, but nothing this sordid and dire.” He pauses to take a breath and asks quietly, “What are the chances of negotiating for Lady Royce’s freedom?”

[Deleted]

"I think she has a chance," Septa Emphyria said, as they began climbing the twisting stairs to the maester's tower, two abreast. Emphyria walked with Julien, and Varly with Allen. "I am not privy to the negotiations, but I believe that in exchange for Lady Royce's freedom, the Sealord wants King Rickon to pardon Tristeza Martell, and allow her to live in Braavos in peace." Emphyria's tone was disapproving.

[maesterjulien]

Julien nods thoughtfully and says, “That is not an unacceptable deal – though His Grace will likely be wise enough to make Tristeza swear never to raise her standard in rebellion and never to set foot on Westeros again.”