The Dun Fort

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The gates of the Dun Fort swing open to admit the glittering company as they ride through, sunlight reflecting on the armor and lighting up the fluttering banners. Escorting the lords, knights and Lady Aranya and Lady Aerie are 300 soldiers, while other soldiers fan through the city to get it under control.

It only takes moments for the castefolk to come out, and then Aranya is briskly issuing orders. The wagons with the children and their luggage trundle into the keep as well.

"My friends, I would be honored to host all of you and your chief captains in the Dun Fort tonight and tomorrow, and feast you. Come in with me."

[Deleted]

When Mace Goodbrother rides up to the gates of the Dun Fort, the guard inspects his letter and he is let through, and directed to the main hall.

[Ollie]

Mace, thankful to be rid of his temperamental horse, allows himself to be lead to the main hall. Pulling down his hood, the ironborn tightens his hold on great stack of ancient looking tomes and texts, bound together with a strap of leather, under his budging arm. After arriving in the hall, the shipwright bends slightly at his waist. “Lady Royce,” he intones deeply.

[Deleted]

Lady Aranya Royce still wore the gown she had worn to the feast, but now most of her guests had gone to bed and she came down from her high seat and sat at a table. "Well met, Master Shipwright. Come and sit. Will you have some wine? You have travelled a long way."

[Ollie]

Mace nods brusquely and accepts the wine readily. He had come to acquire a great thirst in his travels that had gone unquenched. “Just from King’s Landing, but much to my displeasure, by land,” he says with a grimace of distaste at the notion. Taking his wine in gulps rather than sips, the Goodbrother sits on the chair offered. “From where did you hear my name, Lady Royce?”

[Deleted]

There was a great deal of food left from the feast that had ended an hour or so ago, and so the table laid with stuffed roast capon, a wheel of sharp white cheese, and bread. "I know how tediously slow land travel can be," Aranya said. "I must thank you for coming at such short notice. Please partake of this food, it's the least I can do. And as for your name, I have heard it mentioned several times in King's Landing while men discussed the war. You have a reputation for building good ships, and among the ironborn, that must be an honor indeed."

[Ollie]

With the lean look of a man who was wont to indulge in opportunity, Mace reached for the capon and wrenched off a crispy looking leg. “The honor goes to the reaver, or the captain. My knowledge is valued, my lady, but not honored,” he says, neatly rendering the bone clean. Setting it aside, he reached for a heel of bread and tore it in half. “The terms you laid down in your letter were generous, my lady. My captain nor I have much want for gold, but as for use of your harbor... What sort of agreement are you looking to come to?”

[Deleted]

"Here it is then," Aranya said in brisk tones. "I have no need to build many trading vessels - there are all manner of cogs in the harbor, some owned by me, others owned by merchants in this city, or by merchants who come here to trade. But I will never again have this city as defenseless as it once was when I left east. Duskendale is on the bay, and it's water-facing flank must needs be protected. I need you to build me a fleet of war galleys, built with security and speed in mind, with strong hulls and high sails, and many oarsmen. I am thinking of a fleet of six.

"In return, I will provide you with the timber and every other facility you need to build your own ships, should you desire them. You will have free rein in my harbor."

[The Smith]

Petra Bettley walked up behind Aranya Royce and hugged her from behind.

[Deleted]

Aranya started and reached for her dagger, but when she turned around her shock turned to astonishment, and then delight. "Petra," she said, looking at the girl up and down. "Is it really you?" The girl must be sixteen years old now, Aranya thought. She glanced back at the shipwright. "I am busy now, but go and wait in my solar. My steward will see to your needs and prepare rooms for you."

[Ollie]

Mace furrowed his brow in confusion. Just as he was about to open his mouth to respond, the Lady Royce became preoccupied with the girl. Bitting his tongue, the shipwright nibbled on his bread and followed it with a sip of wine as he waited for her to depart. "You wish for a fleet," he said when she had left, "of only six?" The use of such a small fleet by a greenlander baffled him. Usually what they lacked in skill on the sea they made up with numbers.

"If that is all you request, I can meet your needs in about three months time. How long after will you permit me to use your harbor, tools, and workmen?" The Goodbrother reflected back on his captain's guidance before they parted company in King's Landing. "Captain Ulfrik aims for me to construct a fleet of no less than sixteen ships," he explained openly, "If this is acceptable, I will only begin construction on his ships after your quota has been met. He also expects that they shall remain berthed at Duskendale until arrives her to christen them with salt and iron, and with men to crew them."

Mace Goodbrother eyed her evenly. He was a man of comparatively learned in words among the Ironborn, but found no interest in dancing about with them. What he meant to say was said. "Are we still in agreement, my Lady Royce?"

[Deleted]

Aranya eyed him. "Make it a fleet of twelve, then. Perhaps you're right, I do need more. Especially with the land in the state it is. Will it take you six months to make a fleet of twelve? Well, no matter. Take as much time as you need to make the ships as you see fit, and I will give you leave to spend however much time is adequate to build your Captain Ulfrik's ships."

She paused at his next words. "Sixteen other ships will crowd my docks, but perhaps I can make room for them. I will build a couple more piers, I think. But yes, Master Goodbrother, you have your terms."

[Ollie]

Mace Goodbrother nods in agreement. "You shall have two virgin ships every month for the next twelve months then, my Lady Royce," he says before finishing crust of bread and swallowing the last of his wine. "I understand the lateness of the hour, and that you have someone that is without your company. I shall see myself away, and shall start construction tomorrow."

[Deleted]

"I advise the Seven Swords inn on the main street, by the seaside," Aranya said with a smile. "The food is clean and they change the sheets."

[Percy Rivers]

A guard knocked on the door. "Lady Royce. There's someone in the courtyard to see you. He says he's some lordling from the North."