The Vanguard

[The Flint]

"Moat Cailin then. Better to take it from the North at least. Those men gathering at the wall may yet be able to serve," Talyn said. "In truth, our own casualties were atrocious, Lord Bolton."

[The Smith]

Bolton nodded, "You are going to have to find a strong man to get some of those men to attack other men. It has been a long winter, and most are tired. The North is safe now, they will not want to save the rest of the land." He spat into the ground.

[The Flint]

Talyn nodded. "No doubt. Few have the stomach for more war, but we must finish what they began."

[The Smith]

Bolton nodded, "How bad were the casualties? How did the battle go?"

[The Flint]

"It was blood and chaos. There are, perhaps twenty-five hundred of us left. Perhaps a shade more than that. Queen Saella was killed when her dragon was slain from under her, but she smote the Others in dragon fire first, and broke them. Even the the Dragons did not escape unharmed. One is blinded, the other cannot fly."

[The Smith]

Bolton pushed the hair out of his face, "So who rules?"

[The Flint]

"Queen Rhaenys Targaryen. Selwyn and the army has bowed to her, and she commands the dragons. There was some silver-haired Dornish pretender who whined about her 'rights by blood,' but I do not know how many took her seriously." Talyn explains.

[The Smith]

Bolton nodded, "Blood will flow. One way or the other." He studied his black gauntlet, "Who commands the Northmen there?"

[The Flint]

"Karstark. I do not remember his given name, but you will know the one I mean. I will not be giving away anything to say things are in some disorder. But most everyone follows Selwyn, and Selwyn is with the Queen." Talyn replies. "And I know Lord Dawnrose will not be excited to see Lady Oakheart, from the way he said his oath of Fealty, he seemed to think he was next in line to rule the Mander."

[The Smith]

"Well she is the last of her line. Crazy old bitch." Bolton replied, "Maybe your Dawnrose can marry the bird. I met her coming North with a large group of others, yet when we reached the Wall only she and I were willing to go on."

[Sam]

At the last, Bran laughed aloud, and then looked slightly embarrassed a few seconds later. "Dawnrose has about the same ability to rule as a field mouse. He's slightly smarter, but has a bit less backbone so it evens out," he said with a smirk.

[The Flint]

Talyn looked at Brandon dourly, "Weren't you supposed to be fetching Tallbody?" he reminded the knight.

"Well, perhaps you can suggest it to him Lord Bolton." Talyn says.

[Sam]

"Aye, Ser," he said, and turned his horse to go seek the famous "Squire."

[The Smith]

Bolton merely looked at Thatcher from under his cavern of black hair, "Then I will always be known as "Day Late" Bolton." He shook his head, "I suppose there are worse by-names, Ser Talyn."

[The Smith]

May 29, 2009 23:17:09 GMT -5 Sam said:

"Aye, Ser," he said, and turned his horse to go seek the famous "Squire."

Riding his horse into the woods, he does not find Squire, but rides by the warrior and is whistled for after passing. Squire raises an eyebrow questioningly.