Post by The Smith on Jul 9, 2009 12:50:24 GMT -5
Ser Aaron Royce sat atop his courser, a black mare that he had ridden from the Vale to Sun House, beside Lord Davydd Redwyne, who sat astride his own steed, a smaller but faster Dornish stallion. Both men wear wearing heavy leather gloves to the elbow on their right arms, as well as light surcoats and chainmail in the summer sun. A keening screech rang out from the sky, and a brown blur dropped down from high above. The falcon disappeared in the long grass, and then emerged a moment later flapping unsteadily with a large rabbit squealing in its talons.
Lord Redwyne whistled sharply and the bird dropped its catch at his horse’s feet before alighting on his arm. He fed the bird a small piece of meat, and stroked it’s head for a moment.
“I have to say, I’ve met few men who right appreciate falconry as I do, but your birds are beautiful my lord,” The Valeman said earnestly. “There’s more sport to it, and training a falcon proper is an art, to be sure.”
“Aye, on that I’ll agree, Ser.”
Redwyne had dismounted to pick up the dead rabbit from the grass; it was fat and sleek looking, and the he added it to the brace on his horse’s saddle where two other equally fat rabbits were strung. Another screech rang out from above and both men looked up to see a reddish blur shooting into the tall grass.
A horrible squeal filled the air, and the raptor was screeching equally loud. The grass was shaking as if a small earthquake were taking place, and Aaron and Davydd both stared at the spot, mouths agape.
The tall strands of grass settled, and the two men ran over to find the red-tailed hawk that Redwyne had lent to his guest for this outing standing over the corpse of a rabbit that was almost two feet long and a foot wide. Its hide was covered in a score of bloody slashes, some of them long claw scratches and others were messier gashes from the bird’s beak.
“Good Gods,” Aaron whispered.
The bird stood defiantly over its kill, and when Aaron finally whistled, it did not move, but for turning its head to stare him in the eye. He locked eyes with the fierce brown orbs of the hawk and the pair stared each other down for a long minute before the bird looked away.
Aaron smiled, and whistled again. The hawk flapped several times rising into the air, and then was on his arm in a flash, its talons clutching just a shade more tightly than previously. He fed it three large pieces of meat from the small pouch at his waist, and added the rabbit to the brace on his own horse’s saddle. Aaron only had two rabbits but his second was easily twice the size of a normal rabbit.
“I want your master to measure this thing, before we eat it. This is the biggest damned rabbit I’ve ever seen and it might be the biggest ever,” he said with a smile.
“Definitely,” Redwyne replied with a laugh. “Call it a day and head back to the castle. I have the Tully delegate to meet with again, it seems as though Lady Hightower will be marrying him.”
Aaron frowned at that information, but it seemed as though it would be beyond his control. The pair turned their horses toward the Sunhouse Castle and began to walk toward the stone structure.
“What of yourself, my lord, have you a mind to take a bride? I had a proposal to make, if you’ll hear it.”
Redwyne eyed the man with a raised eyebrow, the unsaid question hanging heavily in the air. Aaron took a breath and continued quickly, before the man could object.
“The Vale and the Reach were allies in the past and I would renew that alliance through marriage. You are the most powerful lord in the Reach, other than Oswell Tully,” he added with a slight sneer,
“I would offer you the hand of my sister, Anya. My father had thought to offer her hand to Lord Robert Hightower after his wife died in childbirth,” he said bowing his head. “And then we were at war. Now we are at peace, however, and I would like to keep it that way. Strong ties will ensure stability and that is my goal.”
Redwyne had been frowning, but his expression grew more and more thoughtful as Aaron spoke. “Be candid, Ser, we’re almost there.”
Aaron smiled, and nodded. “Very well. I ask for the hand of Lady Eleanor Tarly, and I would also offer your brother Petyr, whom I fought beside on the campaign along with the late Lord Simon and his brother, the hand of my cousin, Lady Aranya Royce, of Runestone. She fought for part of the way up north with us, but took a wound and returned to the Vale. Her brothers all died leaving her the last of her branch of our House.”
The two men walked in silence after that, as Redwyne thought silently. Aaron knew enough not to push, and they were passing through the gates when Redwyne finally spoke. “I accept your offer, Ser. I will speak to Lady Eleanor, but I do not see why she will not be agreeable. My brother is still with the main army in the crownlands, but I can send word to him.”
“Mine is as well; half-brother, anyway,” Aaron replied as they both dismounted. “I suppose we shall be brothers then as well, eh?”
“Aye, to be sure. Let’s get up to the maester’s tower to measure that monster, so we can eat it; I’m right famished,” Redwyne said, as he started to walk up toward the castle. Aaron grinned and followed the Reachman, his own stomach rumbling slightly.
Ser Aaron Royce improves to Master Intrigue
Ser Aaron Royce improves to Apprentice Falconry
Ser Aaron Royce is betrothed to Lady Eleanor Tarly
Ser Petyr Redywne is betrothed to Lady Aranya Royce
Lord Davydd Redwyne is betrothed to Anya Royce
Lord Redwyne whistled sharply and the bird dropped its catch at his horse’s feet before alighting on his arm. He fed the bird a small piece of meat, and stroked it’s head for a moment.
“I have to say, I’ve met few men who right appreciate falconry as I do, but your birds are beautiful my lord,” The Valeman said earnestly. “There’s more sport to it, and training a falcon proper is an art, to be sure.”
“Aye, on that I’ll agree, Ser.”
Redwyne had dismounted to pick up the dead rabbit from the grass; it was fat and sleek looking, and the he added it to the brace on his horse’s saddle where two other equally fat rabbits were strung. Another screech rang out from above and both men looked up to see a reddish blur shooting into the tall grass.
A horrible squeal filled the air, and the raptor was screeching equally loud. The grass was shaking as if a small earthquake were taking place, and Aaron and Davydd both stared at the spot, mouths agape.
The tall strands of grass settled, and the two men ran over to find the red-tailed hawk that Redwyne had lent to his guest for this outing standing over the corpse of a rabbit that was almost two feet long and a foot wide. Its hide was covered in a score of bloody slashes, some of them long claw scratches and others were messier gashes from the bird’s beak.
“Good Gods,” Aaron whispered.
The bird stood defiantly over its kill, and when Aaron finally whistled, it did not move, but for turning its head to stare him in the eye. He locked eyes with the fierce brown orbs of the hawk and the pair stared each other down for a long minute before the bird looked away.
Aaron smiled, and whistled again. The hawk flapped several times rising into the air, and then was on his arm in a flash, its talons clutching just a shade more tightly than previously. He fed it three large pieces of meat from the small pouch at his waist, and added the rabbit to the brace on his own horse’s saddle. Aaron only had two rabbits but his second was easily twice the size of a normal rabbit.
“I want your master to measure this thing, before we eat it. This is the biggest damned rabbit I’ve ever seen and it might be the biggest ever,” he said with a smile.
“Definitely,” Redwyne replied with a laugh. “Call it a day and head back to the castle. I have the Tully delegate to meet with again, it seems as though Lady Hightower will be marrying him.”
Aaron frowned at that information, but it seemed as though it would be beyond his control. The pair turned their horses toward the Sunhouse Castle and began to walk toward the stone structure.
“What of yourself, my lord, have you a mind to take a bride? I had a proposal to make, if you’ll hear it.”
Redwyne eyed the man with a raised eyebrow, the unsaid question hanging heavily in the air. Aaron took a breath and continued quickly, before the man could object.
“The Vale and the Reach were allies in the past and I would renew that alliance through marriage. You are the most powerful lord in the Reach, other than Oswell Tully,” he added with a slight sneer,
“I would offer you the hand of my sister, Anya. My father had thought to offer her hand to Lord Robert Hightower after his wife died in childbirth,” he said bowing his head. “And then we were at war. Now we are at peace, however, and I would like to keep it that way. Strong ties will ensure stability and that is my goal.”
Redwyne had been frowning, but his expression grew more and more thoughtful as Aaron spoke. “Be candid, Ser, we’re almost there.”
Aaron smiled, and nodded. “Very well. I ask for the hand of Lady Eleanor Tarly, and I would also offer your brother Petyr, whom I fought beside on the campaign along with the late Lord Simon and his brother, the hand of my cousin, Lady Aranya Royce, of Runestone. She fought for part of the way up north with us, but took a wound and returned to the Vale. Her brothers all died leaving her the last of her branch of our House.”
The two men walked in silence after that, as Redwyne thought silently. Aaron knew enough not to push, and they were passing through the gates when Redwyne finally spoke. “I accept your offer, Ser. I will speak to Lady Eleanor, but I do not see why she will not be agreeable. My brother is still with the main army in the crownlands, but I can send word to him.”
“Mine is as well; half-brother, anyway,” Aaron replied as they both dismounted. “I suppose we shall be brothers then as well, eh?”
“Aye, to be sure. Let’s get up to the maester’s tower to measure that monster, so we can eat it; I’m right famished,” Redwyne said, as he started to walk up toward the castle. Aaron grinned and followed the Reachman, his own stomach rumbling slightly.
Ser Aaron Royce improves to Master Intrigue
Ser Aaron Royce improves to Apprentice Falconry
Ser Aaron Royce is betrothed to Lady Eleanor Tarly
Ser Petyr Redywne is betrothed to Lady Aranya Royce
Lord Davydd Redwyne is betrothed to Anya Royce