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Post by The Smith on Apr 30, 2008 14:41:08 GMT -5
Seeing his son's frown Aellion decided to cheer his boy up. Lifting the head from the table, he slipped his hand into the red mass that was the neck. Then he grab the head's chin in two fingers. Moving the head's jaw so it looked vaguely of speaking, he said, "Are you sad little boy? Why not give Lord Head a kiss on the lips?" Then he started making smacking kisses noises.
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Post by mark on Apr 30, 2008 14:43:31 GMT -5
Barris watched, silently, but with a rather amused smirk.
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Post by mark on Apr 30, 2008 15:21:13 GMT -5
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As the dinner commenced, Barris remained standing after the others had left. He called back Daemon, too. "You have great promise in you and I trust you," he said, explaining why he had called for him. He sat down beside Aellion.
"My prince, I thank you for the honor you gave me tonight by sitting to your right hand. I know I have killed one man who wished to kill you, the vile Ser Beric Dayne, but I fear that he may not be the only one. The Stags in King Landing are ever afraid of your House's return, and I have heard rumors that they have many assassins in their control. If you do not already have someone, my prince, please, for the loyalty I have shown your royal House, let me serve as your eyes and ears during your time in the east. I am decent with the sword and shield, but not outstanding; I have honed my whole life at being clever, witty, and shrewd. I believe I can help your cause, my prince. I will not disappoint you, I promise." Barris knelt at the end of his speech, and bowed his head in reverence before rising and taking his seat again. He waited for Aellion's response.
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Post by The Smith on Apr 30, 2008 15:50:16 GMT -5
Aellion looked at him closely, "If you answer these three questions correctly, I will give you the position. One, who is the greatest threat as an individual to me in Westeros. Two, How large, and how many swords do the armies of WEsteros carry? ANd three, what color is my favorite, today? My eyes and ears must know these things." He position's Berics head so its eyes met the eyes of Barris.
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Post by Sam on Apr 30, 2008 15:51:26 GMT -5
"What did you do with the Sword of Morning? The greatsword, I had hoped you would bring it with his head," Daemon asked, again.
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Post by mark on Apr 30, 2008 16:16:52 GMT -5
Aellion looked at him closely, "If you answer these three questions correctly, I will give you the position. One, who is the greatest threat as an individual to me in Westeros. Two, How large, and how many swords do the armies of WEsteros carry? ANd three, what color is my favorite, today? My eyes and ears must know these things." He position's Berics head so its eyes met the eyes of Barris. Barris thought for a moment. "The greatest threat to you as an individual in Westeros is easy. That would be Lord Alexander Irwyn. The man is the greatest general in Westeros, a great axeman, and loyal to a fault to the Baratheons. Irwyn will need to be defeated on the battlefield in order for us to gain a foothold. If you defeat this single man in battle or slay him, all of Westeros will know nothing can withstand the righteous cause of House Targaryen." He paused, not waiting to see if he Aellion agreed with him. "At full strength, Westeros can muster around 400,000 men; the Mander can muster 60,000, the West 50,000, the Dornish, Vale, Riverlands and North 45,000 men, the Reach 40,000 men, the Stormlands 30,000, the Ironborn 20,000 men and the Crownlands around King's Landing 20,000 men." "Your favorite color today is red. It symbolizes the blood that your enemy Ser Beric Dayne has bled out, as well as being one of your royal House's colors, and the color of both of the words in the motto- Fire and Blood." Barris, for the first time, looked up to see what his prince had thought. His answers made perfect sense to himself, but he was not at all confident of what others thought. Barris looked at Aellion straight in his eyes to let him know he was telling it true. |
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Post by The Smith on Apr 30, 2008 17:30:29 GMT -5
Aellion nodded, and then looked to Lord Head and asked seriously, "What do you think."
For many long moments, Lord Head stared at Barris, then slowly, grudgingly he nodded.
Aellion turned back to Barris, "two out of three is not bad. You get the job."
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Post by mark on Apr 30, 2008 17:34:00 GMT -5
Barris smiled and then visibly shook his head, and wiped his hand across his face, removing the grin. "No, I will not smile yet. Not until I have proved your faith to be well placed. I thank you, my prince." He inwardly wondered if the one he had missed had been the his favorite color of the day. Aellion had been saying something about some divine greens, earlier.
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Post by The Smith on Apr 30, 2008 17:44:35 GMT -5
"Barris tell me and my Lord Chancellor," He motions to the head, "More about this Lord Irwyn."
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Post by mark on Apr 30, 2008 17:48:39 GMT -5
Barris nods. "I have met him a few times, though just in passing. His lands are not too far from mine. His House, the Irwyns, were only a knightly House, in the service of House Varner. I have forgotten the details, but either Alex or his father did some kind of work deemed honorable by the crown and was given Uplands keep as their new stronghold, and Alexander was raised to Lord. He is still relatively young, perhaps twenty five. He has defeated every one he has faced in battle as a general, and at the end of the Dornish War, just before my arrival here in Braavos, it was said by all that Irwyn defeated the legendary Lord Folwer of Dorne in one on one combat. Irwyn was the main reason Horas Blackwood was ousted from power, as he defied him, wanting to be seen as "honorable". Blackwood killed his wife, and since Irwyn burnt the entire city of Sunspear in Dorne, butchering the people there. They call him "Bloody Alex" now in Westeros."
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Post by The Smith on Apr 30, 2008 17:52:23 GMT -5
Aellion repeated, "Bloody Alex." He looks to the head, then pulls it close and whispers into its rotten ear, after several moment all four eyes turn to Barris, "This man must be mine. Go and recruit him for me, Now."
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Post by mark on Apr 30, 2008 17:55:01 GMT -5
Barris looked surprised and got up and began to walk out, instantly obeying the man, before stopping. "My prince?" He hesitated. "Of course, if this is your will, I am doing it. When I first met you, I told you I will always speak the truth." He exhaled, then continued. "The reason I labeled this man as your greatest threat, is because I know he is the single most powerful man that will certainly, without a doubt, never turn against the Baratheon cowards. This is the one man with power and skill who will defy you, immune to recruitment or pursuasion. He has been loyal to them his whole life, and is set in his ways. That is all I have to say, milord." He lowered his head out of respect and then waited the response. He was not sure how this advice would be taken; he only hoped a man could respect the truth.
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Post by The Smith on Apr 30, 2008 17:57:33 GMT -5
"OF course. But I am a Dragon." was Aellion's reply.
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Post by mark on Apr 30, 2008 17:58:52 GMT -5
Barris was not sure what it meant. "You are a dragon," he repeated to Aellion, as if agreeing with him. He stood by the doorway. "So do you wish for me leave now, then?"
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Post by The Smith on Apr 30, 2008 18:03:08 GMT -5
"You may stay if you wish. I am going to have Lord Head serenade me." He smiled at Barris
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Hope you all are well and happy.