Horas and Piers, ROUND 2

[The Smith]

"I trust Nehmen with the lives of my children." Piers replies confidently.

[Horas]

"Why?" Horas asks.

[The Smith]

Piers looks at Horas for a long time, "Because he and Lord Baldwin made a pact fifteen years ago to save Westeros from themselves no matter the cause. And we are still working towards that goal today."

[Horas]

"I was not aware of that," Horas says. He seems to consider for some time. "I knew Nehmen a long time ago. Measure your trust carefully. Nehmen knows things... he should not." Horas does not elaborate, and when he speaks again he changes the subject.

"There is little we can do here so snowed in. But ravens can still fly. Are there any messages we need to send?"

[The Smith]

"Horas, there is nothing Nehmen knows, that I do not." Piers replies, "You send yours, and I will have Roland start to mobilize the Vale. I do not have any one I trust in the North. And maybe we can get the Westerlords on our side, but they will want a decision first. We should post guards on the Rookery."

[Horas]

"I doubt that very much," Horas says, referring to Nehmen.

"At the very least we can offer another Northern bannerlord the title of regent. The Boltons will likely side with Andry -- the Dustins are likely the only house with the support to stand up to them. And we can always offer Harlaw and his ships free reign to murder anyone flying the flayed man. No doubt they would enjoy that."

[The Smith]

"We should be careful. If the Ironborn land in the North as our ally, that will unify a divided North against us." Piers eyed him intently, "You should know that especially."

[Horas]

"True," Horas says. "We will need to step carefully, though Northerners do not have quite the same deep rooted emnity for the Ironborn Riverlanders do. From what I have heard, Dustin is a politically minded man. He can work with Harlaw, so long as Harlaw does nothing too rash."

[The Smith]

"It is always delicate. The Ironborn's reputation is poo every where. Especially the west coast. Maybe if they sail around to the other shore." Piers cursed, "Not with the Braavos though."

[Horas]

"True," Horas says. "Let us decide the matter of the West, then. Who do you favor?"

[The Smith]

Piers scrunches his face.... "Banefort. I do not see another option."

[Horas]

"He will have to do... as long as he will support us against Andry. I do not know much of Banefort. Are you certain he will back us?"

[The Smith]

Piers frowned and shook his head, "No, but is there any better choice?"

[Horas]

Horas thinks for a moment before finally conceding. "No, there is not."

A few seconds later the Eyrie's maester knocks on the door and hands a letter to the Hand. Blackwood reads it, and after a moment, the faintest hint of a smile creeps onto his face.

"There may be a way to end Andry and take back King's Landing in one blow."

[The Smith]

"And that is?" Piers replies raising an eyebrow.