Corton

[Lord Howland Royce]

A village near Heart's Home

[Lord Howland Royce]

Brandon rides into the village and finds the inn. He walks inside and orders an ale.

[The Drowned God]

A heavy-set barmaid lays a foamy tankard of ale down beside Brandon. She smiled at him through yellow teeth. "And where'll you be from, then?"she asked.

[Lord Howland Royce]

Brandon smiles back, "I recently arrived from Runeston. Have you lived here a long time?"

[The Drowned God]

"Runestone, is it? That's a way off. Does that make you a Royce, or just one of their men?

"Aye, all me life I've lived in Corton," she responded proudly.

[Lord Howland Royce]

"From a junior branch of the Royces actually, my father was Lord Odhar Royce's cousin. Corton seems like a nice place. I met Lord Corbray once or twice, a decent man," Brandon said after drinking some of the ale.

[The Drowned God]

The barmaid tsk-ed at the mention of Lord Corbray. "Poor young lad, his lordship. Lost his parents when he was only young, and his grandparents soon after, didn't have no one left to care for him. And now his sister gone, only family he's left is his cousin Ser Hellman if she don't turn up again."

[Lord Howland Royce]

Brandon nods somberly, "Aye, that's why I decided to try and find the sister. I was told Corton was the place to start."

[The Drowned God]

"Trying to find her, are you? Well bless your heart, but I don't think you'll find nothing here. Corbray men been all over the village, questioning everyone, no one'd seen any sight of her. Terrible shame." She said sadly.

[Lord Howland Royce]

Brandon sigh, "Did she come to the village often?"

[The Drowned God]

The barmaid nodded and a fond smile crept up on her face. "Oh yes, every few months she came round the village. The older she got the more often we saw her."

[Lord Howland Royce]

"Was there anyone she took a liking to, or some friends she got?"

[The Drowned God]

Brandon heard the sound of someone leaving the inn shortly aftered he asked the question.

"Oh yes, I always seen her playing with Jard's boy whenever she was around. Usually seen them causing mischief down by the creek."

"Jard's over there," she said, pointing to a man who was standing and looking around himself. "And I thought I'd seen his boy with him, must have been mistaken."

[Lord Howland Royce]

Brandon nods, "I think I will have a talk with him then. Could you get us some ale?" Brandon said and ordered two additional giving her a few silver more than the actual price.

[The Drowned God]

The barmaid nodded, and went to fill up two more tankards from a tapped barrel.