The Tarly's Chambers in Godsgrace

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Large and well furnished, it easy to see that the man who resides here is one of the more important men staying as a guest.

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After changing clothes once again, Robb waited for his wife to come up from breakfast so that they may talk and prepare for their trip into the villages.

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Lysette came in after a while, regarding him with large dark eyes. "Robb," she said, her voice friendly but brisk. "Tell me what the situation is like there. Do they have adequate healers? I will bring Maester Culyeon and his young apprentice with us. What about food, and water?"

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"Food and water have been provided daily since I have begun my work," Robb said. "But healers? They heal themselves as best they can, as they have done for thousands of years. It is rare to see a castle's maester treat smallfolk, though my father did allow it from time to time." He rose. "We have time to speak of this along the way, and with Loren. I wish to speak with you of a different matter, though. My work here is dear to me, though so is my home and my wife; I have decided to take a month or two months off, to rest and gather more men, before returning to continue the King's Peace. Would you be accompanying me? The choice is yours. There is to be a grand tourney in Duskendale in two weeks time that I will be attending, if you wish to go. I think you would enjoy it, but that is just me." He waited to see what she would say.

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"These are my people," Lysette said. "And I am not feeble like my father, or cold like his father. They've been massacred, our peasant folk. I want Maester Culyeon to treat them, and supervise the healers under him. Every village has one healer, a rough sort usually, who has learned through hard experience, not formal tutoring."

She unwound her silk scarf and shook her heavy black locks loose. "I will accompany you," she said, after a moment. "I suppose I shall eventually have to meet these northerners who are your comrades," she smiled, as she slid sideways into his lap.

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"You call Horn Hill north, though in truth it is no further north than Wyl, Vulture's Roose, or Kingsgrave," Robb said with a smile. He held her close, thinking. He said, "It is a noble thing, wanting to help your people. Though an aged maester and his apprentice is not enough to perform adequately at both the castle and the dozens of villages along the Greenblood." Still thinking, he said, "Tell me what you think of this plan. Today in the village we will ask for the healers, and those that claim to be the most skilled we will bring back to the castle, where they will learn everyday under the master. They will have learned thrice as much as they knew previously within a few months, and then they can spread their knowledge with their fellow villagers. I think in time this could prove most effective. Your people will love you and your House for this, Lysette."

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"Culyeon can teach them on the job," Lysette said, an arm going around his shoulder. "There is no time for them to sit at lessons. And those village medicine men cannot increase their knowledge dramatically up at the castle for a few days. They will be better served by attending to their patients immediately."

She was thoughtful. "For the future, young boys from the village can be tutored, for the future. Though I highly doubt a maester of the Citadel would consent to just teach away his precious knowledge."

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Robb sighed and disentangled himself. "Lysette, we will go with my plan. It is more sound and will pay dividends within the year even, watch and see." He smiled to show his refusal had no malice. He was still doing her a rather big favor by even sending the maester some pupils. "If maesters do not want to share their knowledge, then they are evil, indeed. For what we wish them to teach the smallfolk will save many lives. To deny them would be to disrupt the King's peace, and I will make sure he knows that," Robb said, with a sly grin. "Now, if are you ready, shall we head to the villages? I have much work planned for today."

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There was a stormy look in Lysette's eyes. For a second it looked like she was going to lash out at him.

"A maester does not share his knowledge because knowledge is his trade. Do jewelers give out diamonds for free? There would be no need for maesters if every common man knew what they did. But it is not worth arguing over, as your plan will work well." She tied the scarf in a band of red silk around her head again, to keep it off her face when she rode. "Let's go. I will have the servants bring the grains and foodstuffs to hand out."

As she slipped her boots on, she seemed to relax. "We should take them sunshades," she said lightly. "Something to keep the heat and dust out until their homes can be rebuilt."

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"No need to tell the servants," Robb smiled. "My men are bringing the grain and whatever else the castle can spare. We take no servants with us; just my men and their eagerness to rebuild and aid in whatever way possible." Thinking about her second comment, he smiled again. "Already done, milady. We took them sunshades and whatever else small luxuriex we could grant them many months ago. I haven't just been sitting on my arse during my time in the desert," he said, jesting to show his smile. "Now, if you are ready, let us proceed."

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"Come," Lysette nodded.

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Robb took her gently around the waist and led her out of the room. They had a busy day ahead of them.

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The day had finally come that they would leave for Duskendale. Robb had awoken three hours earlier, sending out orders and preparations, even training in the yard. He let his wife sleep, as he knew she had been working harder lately down in the villages than she had been used to for her whole life.

Robb entered the chambers, ready to leave. "Awake, Lysette. It is time for us to depart when you are ready."

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She was not in the bed, but appeared dressed in her riding clothes. "I'm ready," she said, her hair bound in gold and copper wire.

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Robb looked up at her, pleasantly surprised. "Well, it looks as if you beat me to it today. Well done." He smiled and gave her a kiss, before searching around the chambers. "It looks like we have not forgotten anything important. To Duskendale then, Lysette? I have not competed in a tourney for many years. By the seven, it has been a decade actually. Not since my fifteenth name day."