House Avalon

[Erik]

"I think I've heard something like this before. Wasn't there a Mortimer Pyke involved?"

[Deleted]

Dacey glanced around him. "Aye. Him of the Black Bastards. He and Mally used to rule this city from shadowy thrones. But then it all went away."

She gave a practiced smile. "Not that it matters anymore. Mortimer's men rebuilt this place for us, and we're all happy, or as happy as you can get, I suppose. Enough about me. Tell me about you. Coldiron...a very Iron Islander name."

[Erik]

"Well thank you, that was the intention when I came up with it." Erik tells her with his usual smirk, "Not a whole lot to tell. Bastard son to a Greyjoy who was the cousin of lords. Making me Mortimer's equally illegitimate cousin, I might add. Sailed on my father's ship until I could afford my own. Supported my good cousin when he made his bid for the Seastone Chair. Sailed to Braavos and Pentos at Lord Harlaw's command. And now the new Lord Harlaw's decided to give me Bear Island, as reward for my faithful service. I'll probably have to head north before too long and see my new fief."

[swammeyjoe]

Randal passes some gold to the barmaid and departs.

[Deleted]

Lettie takes the gold with a smile and puts it in the hidden box where profits are kept.

/////

"What would you do if I said Mortimer Pyke bedded me?" Dacey chuckled. "And here I am in the lap of his less charming cousin." She grinned.

"Lord of Bear Island, eh? It sounds grand. What are you going to do when you get there? Mosey around and gaze forlornly out to the sea?"

[Erik]

"I'd likely shrug my shoulders and continue having you in my lap."

"Build a fleet, I imagine. Quell the inevitable uprisings that come when someone who isn't a native becomes leader of a place. Go out and reave the Stony Shore when I get bored. Maybe sail west across the sea and find a city made of gold populated entirely by beautiful women, ripe for the taking. It's good to be a lord." He says with a laugh.

[Deleted]

"The Lord of Bear Island, a reaver. The northmen won't like that. I've seen lots and lots of northmen. They've got honor stuffed up their asses - well, at least some of them. Like that Lord Stark." Dacey scowled.

[Erik]

"Lord Stark's dead and gone. Just a kid in his place now, and I doubt the Boltons'll even let him 'reign' for long. Nasty bunch, them flayed men. People tell bad stories about us, but the worst Greyjoy's nothing to the best Bolton. 'Course, we Ironmen have plenty of honor - just a different sort from the Northmen. They'll come around once I drown a few rabble-rousers and find some Northerner bitch to marry."

[Deleted]

"Lord Stark went to the Wall, I thought. And aye, those Boltons - I heard about the Bolton Bloodbath. Or the Red Parlay, as some call it. My lord might do well to marry a Bolton." She smiled.

[Erik]

"Dead, at the Wall, what's the difference? Gone, at any rate. As for marrying a Bolton..." Erik gives a bit of a shudder, "I hear their women are as bad as their men. And I hear Lord Lyas isn't very happy about Bear Island being given to the likes of us."

[Deleted]

"Pah. All women are as bad as their men. Maybe my lord should try wooing the Queen, if he really wants to see how scary women can be."

[Erik]

"If I wanted to be a cuckold, I'd take the straightforward route and marry a cheap whore. A nice thought, though. Erik the Bastard, King Consort of the Seven Kingdoms. I like the ring of it."

[Deleted]

That made Dacey laugh. "Don't buy your horse before you ride it, my lord. I'm sure the Queen wouldn't mind giving you a trial."

She flushed a bit and covered her mouth. "I'm usually not this indiscreet."

[Erik]

"Says the girl sitting on my lap."

[Deleted]

"That's not so indiscreet," Dacey cooed. "It would be funny, though, if I kissed you."

She grinned and hopped off his lap.