After the duel

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

"Well ... fought," ser Dwayne Ironhammer said to the ruler of the Skagosi, breathing heavily. He had won the fight by shattering the man's weapon, but what a fight it had been. Mag Stane's technique was far from perfect, but he had this brute, overwhelming strenght behind his attacks, as if he truly put his whole body and soul in every blow. Despite his victory ser Dwayne still found himself struggling to catch his breath. "A good ... fight, king of ... of Skagos, what do you ... do you say?"
I am breathless, this man is one great fighter.

[barker520]

Mag said nothing for several moments, but stared fiercely, intensely, at the Ironhammer. Turning to his men, he poured out a torrent of snappy words in the old tongue. One of the men nodded and ran off. The Skagosi said nothing more for a long moment, until the same warrior returned, this time holding with a heavy stone war hammer in his hands. Mag walked over and retrieved the weapon. Walking back over to Ser Dwayne, he held the hammer outstretched for him to take. The rest of the Skagosi behind Mag knelt, watching the process. Mag said solemnly, "The old gods who watch us always deem Ironhammer of Dreadfort to be stoneworthy, and good man. Take this gift from us, Ironhammer of Dreadfort, for we honor you with it." The Skagosi remained kneeling, waiting for the response.

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

Ser Dwayne became very cautious when the Skagosi gave him a fierce look, and spoke to his men in a language he didn't understand. When these men returned with the stone weapon, the Ironhammer was sure the Skagosi would attack him again.
Yet the Skagosi proved to be a better man than that, when he offered him the weapon. This man is a true warrior, with a great sense of honor. Not many men would accept defeat so graciously, in the face of their own men.
Ser Dwayne was greatly honored by this, but didn't know what to offer in return. Would he be pleased if i gave him a steel weapon, or would he be insulted by it?
In the end he decided it didn't matter. Mag Stane was the ruler of the Skagosi, and this was more than just a material gift. With this, he knew that Mag Stane acknowledged his strenght, in front of all his men. Mag Stane had given him honor, he knew, and he would honor the Skagosi in return.
"I shall take the gift of your people," he said, "for i am greatly honored by it." Mag handed the warhammer over, and ser Dwayne had to flex his muscles so the weight wouldn't drag his arm down. Now this here is one damn heavy weapon. To be able to wield it like he has... His strenght must be enormous. He took hold of the weapon, and tried a few swings before turning back to the Mag Stane. "You are a great ruler to your people, while i am but an unimportant man. Few have ever honored me like this."
Then he pointed to the sigil on his chest. The crossed hammers, one smith's hammer and one warhammer.
"This is the sigil of my house," he said, "as the Starks have the direwolf, and as the Boltons have the flayed man, i have this. I was born as the son of a smith, and for that part i have the smith's hammer. But i turned into a warrior, and for that i have the warhammer. Two hammers for two parts of my life. Yet after today, i will change my sigil. There will be a third hammer, a great warhammer made of stone, towering above the two other hammers. Small and unimportant my family may be, but it will always remember the future generations that the Stoneborn are true and worthy men of the north."

[barker520]

Mag regarded the man impassive for several moments. Finally, he smiled. "Ironhammer, you good man." He turned and spoke to the Skagosi in the old tongue, explaining to them what Ser Dwayne had meant about the sigils and all that. Finally, they seemed to understand, and were indeed impressed. Mag turned back to him. "Until next time, Ironhammer. I must go and be with my people now on island of stone. I hope to see you and Lord Eagle soon." He gave a nod of his head, a sign of respect for Skagosi, then turned and lead the Stoneborn out of the yard.