Post by The Smith on Mar 25, 2008 16:39:57 GMT -5
Lewys shifted uncomfortably after taking a seat across from the Lord of Deepwood Motte in the man's solar. He had a bad feeling about the sudden meeting. Glover usually kept to himself, letting Lewys run the camp and quarters of the army. Lewys waited for him to speak, trying to look polite and dignified.
Lord Glover stared coldly at Lewys. "Three months, Lydden. In winter, even," he said, shaking his head. "Your men are eating up all the food. You cannot stay here any longer," Glover said bluntly.
"Two weeks, Lord. A fortnight," Lewys pleaded. "No longer. The ships from Seagard will have arrived by then, and we can commence the attack immediately. Bear Island will no longer threaten you. The raiders will no longer burn your villages or rape your women. Bear Island will be returned to the north, where it belongs," he promised. "With my brother as Lord, as you promised," he added hastily.
Glover threw his hands up in the air, shaking his head. "I won't have it, Lewys," he said, determined. "I won't have to worry about the wretched ironborn raping my women anymore. They will all be dead, because your men will have ate everything within one hundred miles of here. Tell me how to deal with that problem, and I'll consider one more fortnight," he finished, reclining in his chair, and waited. He doesn't really want me to leave, he realized. He wants something. And I'll likely have to give it to him.
The details took hours to hammer out, as the two men traded suggestions, barbs, swore at each other, laughed with each other, and occasionally at each other. In the end, Lewys agreed to replace his squire, young Mychel Heatherspoon, with Glover's fourteen year old newphew. Glover also wanted to keep one of the ships that Lewys had built, but Lewys knew that the navy in Lannisport needed every ship possible. Instead, Lewys was forced to agree that Glover would be paid in gold by House Lannister for the cost of the ship. We did build them with his wood, Lewys reminded himself when he found himself growing irritated at the man's demands. Lord Maurin won't be happy with me writing a debt on his behalf, Lewys reckoned, but it is said that a Lannister always pays their debts. Let them prove it.
Lewys retired with mixed feelings after the meeting, but knowing that he had done the right thing for himself, his men, the West, and the King. Speaking of the King, where is he? Lewys thought, concerned. Although up in the far north, he had heard disturbing rumors that the King was missing. Let's hope this new regent knows what he's doing. Lewys had met Lord Commander Benfry Smith twice in tournaments, and both liked and respected the man. He's most likely dead, Lewys thought gloomily.
Lewys strolled down to the beach, his wind blowing in the cold wind. The night was dark and silent. Men on watch saluted as he walked by, and spoke to him warmly. Even the northmen had come to like him. However, as he walked up behind a pair of sentries, huddling close to a dying fire, he heard them speaking quietly. Their voices were low but Lewys could here. "That damn Lydden... keepin' us out here in the cold." "Bugger the Badger lord. I miss my home. I miss my wife." They continued talking for another several minutes before Lewys cleared his throat, sending them both to their feet, sword ready.
"Gentlemen, how do you fare tonight?" Lewys asked calmly.
"L-lord Lydden," the first man stammered. "What are you doin out here?" he asked, bewildered.
The second man, braver, sneered. "Shouldn't you be back in your castle, m'lord? You don't wanna be out here with the likes of us, oh no, we're not castle material," the man said, his face hot with anger.
"You're right," Lewys replied. The men looked confused. "I want you to return to the castle and seek quarters with my brother Jon's men. Tell them Lord Lydden ordered hot food and drink to be prepared for you. You deserve it."
The men, shocked, smiled and nodded their thanks, smiling greedily, and departed, half-running and half-walking, towards the main gate of Deepwood Motte. Lewys heard the second man, the angry one, mutter something about the "Badger Lord being a good man." Lewys smiled. He couldn't make all of his men happy, but he could sure try. He owed them that much. Sighing, he sat down on an old log by the small fire, and took the watch himself. Three hours later he awoke the next man and notified him that it was his turn at watch.
Results:
Lewys gains expert in leadership.
Lewys gains novice in politics.
Lord Glover stared coldly at Lewys. "Three months, Lydden. In winter, even," he said, shaking his head. "Your men are eating up all the food. You cannot stay here any longer," Glover said bluntly.
"Two weeks, Lord. A fortnight," Lewys pleaded. "No longer. The ships from Seagard will have arrived by then, and we can commence the attack immediately. Bear Island will no longer threaten you. The raiders will no longer burn your villages or rape your women. Bear Island will be returned to the north, where it belongs," he promised. "With my brother as Lord, as you promised," he added hastily.
Glover threw his hands up in the air, shaking his head. "I won't have it, Lewys," he said, determined. "I won't have to worry about the wretched ironborn raping my women anymore. They will all be dead, because your men will have ate everything within one hundred miles of here. Tell me how to deal with that problem, and I'll consider one more fortnight," he finished, reclining in his chair, and waited. He doesn't really want me to leave, he realized. He wants something. And I'll likely have to give it to him.
The details took hours to hammer out, as the two men traded suggestions, barbs, swore at each other, laughed with each other, and occasionally at each other. In the end, Lewys agreed to replace his squire, young Mychel Heatherspoon, with Glover's fourteen year old newphew. Glover also wanted to keep one of the ships that Lewys had built, but Lewys knew that the navy in Lannisport needed every ship possible. Instead, Lewys was forced to agree that Glover would be paid in gold by House Lannister for the cost of the ship. We did build them with his wood, Lewys reminded himself when he found himself growing irritated at the man's demands. Lord Maurin won't be happy with me writing a debt on his behalf, Lewys reckoned, but it is said that a Lannister always pays their debts. Let them prove it.
Lewys retired with mixed feelings after the meeting, but knowing that he had done the right thing for himself, his men, the West, and the King. Speaking of the King, where is he? Lewys thought, concerned. Although up in the far north, he had heard disturbing rumors that the King was missing. Let's hope this new regent knows what he's doing. Lewys had met Lord Commander Benfry Smith twice in tournaments, and both liked and respected the man. He's most likely dead, Lewys thought gloomily.
Lewys strolled down to the beach, his wind blowing in the cold wind. The night was dark and silent. Men on watch saluted as he walked by, and spoke to him warmly. Even the northmen had come to like him. However, as he walked up behind a pair of sentries, huddling close to a dying fire, he heard them speaking quietly. Their voices were low but Lewys could here. "That damn Lydden... keepin' us out here in the cold." "Bugger the Badger lord. I miss my home. I miss my wife." They continued talking for another several minutes before Lewys cleared his throat, sending them both to their feet, sword ready.
"Gentlemen, how do you fare tonight?" Lewys asked calmly.
"L-lord Lydden," the first man stammered. "What are you doin out here?" he asked, bewildered.
The second man, braver, sneered. "Shouldn't you be back in your castle, m'lord? You don't wanna be out here with the likes of us, oh no, we're not castle material," the man said, his face hot with anger.
"You're right," Lewys replied. The men looked confused. "I want you to return to the castle and seek quarters with my brother Jon's men. Tell them Lord Lydden ordered hot food and drink to be prepared for you. You deserve it."
The men, shocked, smiled and nodded their thanks, smiling greedily, and departed, half-running and half-walking, towards the main gate of Deepwood Motte. Lewys heard the second man, the angry one, mutter something about the "Badger Lord being a good man." Lewys smiled. He couldn't make all of his men happy, but he could sure try. He owed them that much. Sighing, he sat down on an old log by the small fire, and took the watch himself. Three hours later he awoke the next man and notified him that it was his turn at watch.
Results:
Lewys gains expert in leadership.
Lewys gains novice in politics.