Post by The Stranger on Apr 12, 2008 17:49:08 GMT -5
Maleagant and ser Dwayne where dining together in Maleagant's personal chamber. Like always, Berenger and Beringar where never to far off. Maleagant was already eating some bread when ser Dwayne poured him some wine. Maleagant had Berenger taste the wine first, to the ironhammer's great surprise.
"My lord, i am puzzled," he said, "it is your own wine, why would you expect poisoning?"
"You can never be to careful," Maleagant replied, "though it was my wine, you poured it. A man could easily slip in some poison when the others aren't paying attention. Ha, you would do well to remember my guards always pay attention, but it has become more of a habit. They always taste my drinks before me, always. But come, forget my annoying habits, your report please."
Ser Dwayne took out a long piece of paper, showing it to Maleagant.It was a list of names of the new recruits.
"Not to bad," Maleagant said as he glanced over the list, "what type of men are they?"
"Mostly villagers," ser Dwayne answered, "since you have ordered us to restore their villages, our popularity has increased significantly."
"Tell me about that later,"Maleagant said, "more about the recruits, if you please."
"Yes my lord," said ser Dwayne, "as i said, mostly villagers. Also a few more ex-soldiers of Dominic. Some travellers to, that's it."
"I assume you are making work of their training," Maleagant inquired.
"Ofcourse," the answer sounded.
"Good, now more about the villages,"Maleagant said as he took a sip of the wine.
"Like i said, the villagers are grateful for the help," ser Dwayne said, "i make sure a hundred of my men are always in the villages. I have made sure they treated the peasants like you asked. By your command, two soldiers that stole from the villages where thrown into the dungeons, the victims repaid. The villagers thank you for it, and is has increased my authority with the other men. They dare not violate one of my commands now.
"You are doing a good job," Maleagant said, sloshing the wine around in it's cup.
"Discipline is what we need, so i will look after those two soldiers myself. And if they knew what happens in the dungeons of the Dreadfort, they would never have stolen anything.
But ser, lately there have been some queer rumours, mayhaps you have heard. Some strange tales about a certain red priest. Appearantly Manderly was burned alive, as an offering to their god. Lor, Rhol, something like that, the name sounds so queer i can't even pronounce it properly.
"Unbelieveable,"the ironhammer said with a stern face, "no group of outlaws would be so foolish as to burn a lord."
Maleagant continued to play with his wine as he thought about this.
"Outlaws, no, "he said eventually, "but it's different with these religious madmen. Those types where never known for using their brains."
"What shall we do my lord," asked the ironhammer, "i will be happy to lead the attack myself."
"No, we won't act yet, "Maleagant said, "first we need to make sure these rumours have any truth to them. You have read the raven my wife sent, so we will wait until Roose Stark returns. But i do not want them practising their little magic tricks in our villages, and that's why i called you here. I want whisperers and scouts planted in every village."
"I have groups of soldiers in most villages," ser Dwayne said, "it will be easy to give them these new tasks."
"No, i fear you do not understand", Maleagant said, "soldiers are soldiers, and villagers are villagers. I want some villagers as whisperers, not soldiers. Find me some peasants i can trust, in every village. Offer them rewards for every piece of information they give me. Find men with common jobs, and common faces, men you won't suspect, ok?"
"It shall be done, my lord," ser Dwayne replied.
"Then eat something," Maleagant smiled, "you have hardly touched your food."
Finally, ser Dwayne started to eat.
results:
-ser Dwayne Ironhammer improves to noteworthy leadership
-whisperers are planted in the villages around the Dreadfort
and:
-Maleagant Bolton's popularity increases around the Dreadfort