A tavern on the Goldroad

[The Smith]

"Of course.... of course." The man smiled widely, "And there is more I am not telling you. Lots more, but that is not part of our bargain." Lord Walder stood and bowed.

[Quenton Baratheon]

Steffen also stood. "Well Lord Walder, I wait with baited breath to see how things turn out. I hope that this is the beginning of a successful business relationship. Myself and my men will be returning to Lannisport on the morrow. After then, how can I contact you? How can I hold you accountable to the deal we have struck tonight? How can I be sure that you are for real and that I am not being turned around for nothing? Seal the deal, Lord Walder."

[The Smith]

The fat man asked Steffen, "Did you intend to stop at this Inn, or was it a choice of convenience?"

[Quenton Baratheon]

"Convenience. Obviously we knew it was here, and that it was an option should we find ourselves in the area one evening.... but I do not see what that has to do with anything. Why do you ask?"

[The Smith]

"For three days I have been staying at this Inn waiting for you." His frown turned down savagely, "We know the dark of a man's heart, and the dark of the future. Do not think to deceive us."

[Quenton Baratheon]

"It is not my deception I fear. It is yours. I will ask you again - prove to me your sincerety, or give me some method of communication with you, or else how can I take you seriously?"

[The Smith]

The Fat man thought for several seconds. "In Lannisport there is a tavern called Sleep's Nector. A wench who works there is also employed by me. Her name is Miselle. If you need carry word to her."

[Quenton Baratheon]

"Ah yes, Sleep's Nector, I know it well. I'll keep an eye on this Miselle.

Well Lord Walder, you have partly satisfied my curiosity for now. Consider your offer taken. I shall turn back on the morrow."

He looked relieved, but inside he felt incredibly frustrated.

[Deleted]

A man entered the inn, wiping sweat from his forehead. He wore a Lannister tabard, with the golden lion on crimson.

[Quenton Baratheon]

Having wormed his way into potentially buying Harrenhal for practically nothing, Steffen stretched out and relaxed a little, closing his eyes and inwardly smiling.

The sound of the inn door disrupted this moment of peace. Who is this sweaty lion? he thought to himself. Probably some lackspittle of that arse Cedric, or one of his equally intolerable siblings.

The fact that the man was sweating worried him a little. It was freezing outside. What had this lion been up to?

Making eye contact with his men at the bar, Steffen jerks his head in a silent gesture telling them to check the guy out. The man known as Henree, one of Steffen's oldest serving guards nods his acknowledgement and walks over to the newcomer.

"Fellow lion," he says in a warm but suspicious tone, "you have stumbled in here amongst friends. Come drink with us." He puts a directing arm behind the man's back and leads him to the bar where the other men welcome him with nods and mumbled greetings. Henree looks over his shoulder to Steffen, who nods slowly and firmly. Find out who he is, the gesture reads.

[Deleted]

The Lannister man-at-arms looked alarmed at first when he saw an older guard approach, although when he noticed that he also wore the Lannister colors, he calmed down. "Er, thanks," he said, shooting Henree a puzzled look. The guardsman was young, and it was clear that he kept his red cloak and Lannister tabard very carefully, laundering them often. His boots were old and worn, but lovingly polished and maintained.

The young guardsman sat at the bar with Henree and the other men, greeting them quite cheerfully. He shrugged off his cloak and unbuttoned his top collar to give himself some air. "Seven hells, that was a long ride," he said. "What are all of you doing here? Under whose command?"

[Quenton Baratheon]

"Oh we're Ser Steffen's men. We're running an errand for him back from King's Landing," the older guard lied, still keeping Steffen's presence under wraps. "Nothing interesting really I'm afraid. How about you? You been at the wedding?"

[Deleted]

"Ser Steffen is in King's Landing?" the young man asked. "I didn't see him. I'm Everett, I work for Ser Cedric. I was on guard duty at the Lannister party. Damn, that was magnificent. Are you sure Ser Steffen was in the city?" This was asked with suspicious innocence. "I didn't see him at the party." Underneath the veneer of camaraderie, an undercurrent of rivalry had emerged between the two guardsmen. There was no love lost between the Baldwin and Randwin branches of House Lannister, and Steffen and Cedric were no different.

"So much has been happening in King's Landing, it's mind boggling," Everett continued, glugging down more ale. "My lord's engaged to Lady Royce of Duskendale. Happened at the Lannister party. I'm taking a wagon to Casterly Rock right now. We stopped here to have a rest, change horses and get something to eat. It's a shame to have to leave the city though. There's been some excitement with the tourney and the parties and all. I accompanied my lord on the King's hunt too, and our party was attacked by sellswords. I killed two," he said proudly.

[Quenton Baratheon]

On mentioning he works for Cedric, one of the guards sat behind Everett, out of his field of view, pulls a face behind his back. One or two of the other men look away or take sips from their beer as they attempt to stop themselves from laughing.

Henree ignores this foolishness, and maintains a straight face as he continues to converse with Everett. "Oh no, you misunderstand me, Steffen wasn't in King's Landing," he says, perfectly truthfully. He declines to say any more though and moves the conversation on, by making his comments sound throwaway, before gesturing for the other man to continue.

At hearing the second half of Everett's story, Henree looks impressed. "Sounds like you had a good 'un. Sellsword attack eh? Bet that was fun. I'm getting on a bit now, but I yearn sometimes to see my sword get a bit of use," he pats the hilt of the modest sword sheathed at his belt. "Fact is that this bugger's more for show than anything these days. Steffen just don't seem to get in as many scrapes as he used to. I guess he's mellowed with age," he said unsmilingly, a light in his eyes suggesting otherwise.

"Tell me more of this trouble on the King's hunt... I take it Cedric is unscathed. Were there any casualties elsewhere? How many were in the party? No doubt Steffen will want to hear all about it..."

With that, he stands up from his seat and gives Steffen the thumbs-up and beckons him over. Steffen gives him an irritated look, clearly not happy at having one of his servants summon him. He slopes over eventually, frowning.

"Who is he? Why have you called me over?" he snaps.
"One of Cedric's men, ser. He brings news of trouble in King's Landing."

Steffen did not look overly impressed.
"Well come on then, out with it man, what happened?"

[Deleted]

"It was bloody, make no mistake...." Everett began, but then bowed his head politely when Ser Steffen Lannister came over. "Ser. Lord Royce of the Vale died in the battle, along with many gold cloaks and Lannister and Royce soldiers. More than sixty men died there. The sellswords took us by surprise, and set fire to the wood..." he described the battle at length.