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Post by The Flint on Jun 2, 2009 14:49:24 GMT -5
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Talyn Thatcher rides in the center of an Vanguard of seven-hundred fifty men with Lord Bolton at his side. The Traitors' Sons form the bulk of the force at three-hundred twenty heavy infantry, with Baratheon men, Tarly men, and Bolton men forming the remainder. Ahead of them, Tallbody's scouts are ranging, reporting back from time to time.
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Post by The Smith on Jun 2, 2009 14:55:30 GMT -5
Lord Bolton savagely ate an apple, his dirty black clothing still loose on his lean form.
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Post by The Flint on Jun 2, 2009 14:56:34 GMT -5
"How did you find Castle Black milord? Was the Army of Ever-Night as heroic as you'd hoped it might be?" The Sellsword's statement was pregnant with sarcasm.
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Post by The Smith on Jun 2, 2009 15:01:56 GMT -5
Bolton shrugged, "About what you would expect. A war this hard, and long only the strong have survived. The weak winnowed away like weevils. And being strong has nothing to do with heroics." He bit the apple, and juices squirted into his beard.
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Post by The Flint on Jun 2, 2009 15:16:51 GMT -5
"True words. I'm glad to get away from it. I find the bickering oppressive." Talyn says.
"Queenscrown should be a good position. We can watch the approaches from the south, and also set up patrols to catch any one sneaking down the road without permission. Might help keep some of our movements from reaching the Cult's ears sooner than we'd prefer, but I wouldn't count on it. Still, going through the motions keeps us busy and practiced. Better than getting stupid on that piss water the Night's Watch was calling wine."
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Post by The Smith on Jun 2, 2009 15:19:29 GMT -5
Bolton looked at him and shook his head, "You are worried about spies? Your first act upon reaching the Keep was to recruit three hundred strangers. I would think any one who wanted an agent in your organization would have it."
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Post by The Flint on Jun 2, 2009 15:22:36 GMT -5
Talyn laughed in spite of himself. "I know, you are right. I screened as best I could, but there will be no real test until battle, and perhaps not even then. But then, knowing something is inevitable is not an excuse not to take precautions against it... is it?"
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Post by Sam on Jun 2, 2009 15:24:46 GMT -5
Ser Brandon Tarly rode up to the front of the column, having left Ser Danwell Costayen in command of the Reach contingent. He exchanged a friendly greeting with a few of Thatcher's men that he recognized, and saluted the commander seriously. "To Queenscrown, Ser?" he asked curiously.
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Post by The Smith on Jun 2, 2009 15:24:55 GMT -5
Bolton studied his apple again, "I suppose not." He threw the apple away with only two or three bites out of it. "How long before we ride to Winterfell?"
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Post by The Flint on Jun 2, 2009 15:28:41 GMT -5
Talyn nodded to Brandon as he approached. "To Queenscrown to set up a forward post from which to correspond with Tallbody's scouts<" he says, before turning back to Bolton, "as for advancing to Winterfell, I doubt Selwyn will make a decision until he hears the reports on what the road south looks like. If it were my decision, we'd advance forward as fast as practical. No sense giving them more time to make preparations, assuming it is held by the enemy. And if its not, it puts more of the North to our back, and gives us a larger safe area to operate from, gather supplies and recruits, the like."
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Post by The Smith on Jun 2, 2009 15:30:27 GMT -5
Bolton said, "I can tell you the way to Winterfell is clear, I think. Except for those marching to Castle Black."
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Post by The Flint on Jun 2, 2009 15:39:13 GMT -5
Talyn nodded, "I've relayed to the Lord Hand what you told me of activity in the North, but he still prefers Tallbody's eyes and ears on the problem. Let's just hope the man hurries back quickly with word on what he finds there."
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Post by The Smith on Jun 2, 2009 15:41:32 GMT -5
Bolton nodded, "It is a long distance. It will take some time."
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Post by The Flint on Jun 2, 2009 15:45:02 GMT -5
Thatcher nodded. "Just so. The damnable North," he turns with a wry smile, "no offense... is as long as the rest of Westeros combined. I've ridden from one end of this Kingdom to the other, and its the North that takes the longest to get anywhere. When we get to Queenscrown, we'll want to establish a ditch and palisade for security. Doubt we'd need it, but good form, but I'll want your men to be ranging about and patroling. I trust a Northmen to know his country and when things don't look right."
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Post by The Smith on Jun 2, 2009 15:47:28 GMT -5
Bolton nodded, "I brought ten locals with my horse. They know the ground. When I agreed to come with you, did I volunteer to fight all the way to King's Landing?"
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Hope you all are well and happy.