Stoney Sept

[Ollie]

Stoney Sept is a large town less than a fortnight from Acorn Hall, near the Blackwater Rush. It is greater than the castletown of Harrenhal, and is walled for its protection. Its sept stands upon a hill, with a stout holdfast of grey stone below it that seems too small for such a large town.

At the heart of Stoney Sept is its market square. A fountain stands there, shaped to look like a leaping trout spouting water into a shallow pool. On the east side there's a modest inn and brothel with whitewashed walls, a wooden shingle above the door painted with its namesake, a peach with a bite taken out of it.

[Ollie]

Entering through the southern gates just off the Blackwater Rush, Ser Lewys Waxley tightens his knees around his mount and nudges her into the town. It is a pleasant mid-day, and despite the shining sun, the Vale knight is dressed in a suit of entirely black riding leathers.

Rather than heading directly for the inn, Ser Lewys takes ample opportunity to meander through the market square, dismounting when required and guiding his mare by the reigns. After an hour of gentle exploring through the town, he makes for the heart of the market where the fountain lies, watering his horse as he munches on a crisp brown pear bought in the market.

[Horas]

His all-black getup attracts some stares, but otherwise life continues as usual in the small town.

[Ollie]

Ser Lewys plucks off his black leather riding gloves after finishing his pear and tucks them into his black leather belt. A bead of sweat trickles across his forehead and he wipes it away, running a hand through his flat, flaxen hair. When his mare had taken its fill of fountain water, the knight-in-black lead her away to the east. With a few coins, he stabled his mount for the time being.

Though it was a long walk to the squat keep below the sept, but the shade cast by the surrounding buildings made the trek tolerable. Arriving, Ser Lewys sought out the landed knight at the head of Stoney Sept within his holdfast.

[Horas]

Lewys is welcomed in to the modest holdfast. Its master, Ser Axel, greets him. "A brother of the Night's Watch? It must have been years since one of your order came to our town."

[Ollie]

Ser Lewys smiles, sketching a low bow. "Times've been dangerous for the Watch, Ser. But what with the war over and them tree-fucking rebels in check, been easier for us to fly south," the knight explained before he introduced himself. " The name's York. Ser York Hill."

[Horas]

"Aye, rebels everywhere," Ser Axel shakes his head. "You'll be wanting to have a look at our prisoners, then? A nasty bunch."

[Ollie]

"That'd be excellent. The Watch don't mind nasty -- a few days into the north'll freeze it out of them," he responded.

[Horas]

Ser Axel makes a hrrumphing sound as he leads 'York' down to the dungeons. "There's one fellow you'd be better off leaving with us. I don't think nothing can help him but a good hanging," Axel says. He takes out a large key and opens the door at the bottom of the stairs. "Here we are. Have a look at 'em."

There are three cells in the small dungeon. Two of them have three prisoners each, and the third holds just one man. "Looters and broken men, most of 'em, looking for an easy target during the war."

[Ollie]

Lewys peruses the first two crowded cells leisurely, getting a good look at the men within before he proceeds to the lone man. "This one's the trouble?" he asked Ser Axel, gesturing to the final cell. "What was his crime?"

[Horas]

"Aye," Ser Axel says, "There's something wrong with that one. Strolled right into town, bold as you please, and stabbed William Innkeep right in broad daylight, not a word spoken. No one could quite believe it. He killed two men who tried to stop him after, before they brought him down. And he killed his cellmate -- that's why he's all by himself there." Axel shakes his head. "Like I said, you don't want this one. He'll hang on the morrow."

The man in question is plain faced and rather average looking. He regards Lewys through his cell bars with some curiosity.

[Ollie]

Ser Lewys turned back to the solitary man and returned the look of interest. "Why'd you kill 'em?" he asked, plainly.

[Horas]

The man looks at Lewys for a moment, then shrugs and gives a bashful grin like a child caught stealing pastries from the kitchen.

"He doesn't speak, so far as we can tell," Axel says.

[Ollie]

"You kill 'em 'cause you were looking to hang?" he suggested, ignoring Ser Axel. "No shame in that, a man wants to die and can't do it himself." He paused for a moment to gauge the man's reactions. "Or ain't you wanting to ditch the noose? There'll always be a place for a man if he can serve, you know that?"

[Horas]

The man's eyes twinkle at the second part of Lewys' statement. He points to himself. "Clarke," he says. Then he rises from the ground and approaches the bars and sticks one arm through, hand extended to shake.