The Shady Tree

[Viea Greyjoy]

She laughed.

"Well thats good. I would have been upset if I was any other." She frowned as if to prove a point.

[The Smith]

Tybolt laughed, "I am joking wife. I only have eyes for you and I can swear that there was no other woman I love."

[Viea Greyjoy]

Marianne laughed.

"Wife... It sounds good." She bent her head to kiss him lightly. "I love you too."

[The Smith]

Tybolt smiled, "We will have to change our names. Any favorites."

[Viea Greyjoy]

Marianne shook her head.

"I cannot think of any that would suit myself, or you."

[Darryn Redding]

----------------------

Percy Norridge enters the inn and gives a loud sniff. "Hey Darryn, I've found one that doesn't stink of sweat, piss and sick!" he bellows loudly outside and walks up to the barkeep.
"Hello, my fine man. Two mugs or ale please. You would not believe the trouble it's been to find a tavern in Kings Landing that doesn't look as if it's been burnt down, reeks of cheap ale and piss or has a common room full of thugs and murderers" he states incredulously.
"Either that or stuffed with noble lords and ladies with their underclothes on so tight they sing instead of speaking" he winked. "This looks more like my sort of place, though your sign outside could do with a lick of paint..." he frowns and looks at the empty space in front of him.
"I did say two mugs of ale didn't I?" he asks quizzically.

"Ah, what Percy means is that we like your establishment, fine ser" Darryn says as he hurries up to the bar. "He's merely in good spirits now that he has money to spend" he continues with emphasis. "Would you have any rooms available, by any chance? We're newly arrived in the city" he asks the innkeeper.

[Darryn Redding]

After the barkeep hands their drinks over in silence, they head to a nearby table to sup them.
"Talkative sort, aren't they?" Percy chuckles to Darryn.
"Compared to you, the jabbering monkey's of the Summer Islands are mutes" Darryn grunted sarcastically and takes a sip, wincing at the brackish & bitter taste of the black ale.

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

Beric saunters into the tavern/inn with a big pouch and a condition to spend much of his earnings he had made abroad. He untied the pouch and poured out some coins, "Lets get the drinks flowing. To the King!" He leaned on the bar easily with one shoulder and gazed around meeting people's looks.

[Darryn Redding]

Percy comes up and claps the man on the shoulder "I'd drink to the Others if someone else was buying" he chuckles. "It looks like you've had rich pickings. I always told my friend there, Kings Landing is the land of opportunity...and Kings!!" he guffaws loudly, pointing at Darryn who watches them both with a bemused look on his face.

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

"Yes it sure can be." Upon closer inspection, Beric's skin can be seen to be darkened by the sun. "But if you want more money then the free cities is where it's at. If you can stomach the sun and their languages." He looked at the bartender and ordered more drinks for the other people that were there for drink.

[Darryn Redding]

Percy's face brightened for a moment and he rubbed a scar on his chin.
"Free Cities eh? I hear the whores in Braavos can make a man think he's a King for a night!" he grinned widely and moved his hands in the air in an exaggerated hourglass shape. Obviously, all thoughts of the 'wonders' of Kings Landing were swiftly forgotten.

"Lots of money to be made in the mercenary companies too, I've heard? Is that where you are from?" he asked the swarthy gent.

Darryn came up and grabbed Percy's arm and hissed "We already have a job, remember?"
"Pfft!" Percy pfft'd at him. "Guarding warehouse's from rats and mildew. I want real excitement and women, not the pox-ridden crones I've seen so far in this dump!" he said dismissively. "Tell me more of the Free Cities, Ser...?" he asked as Darryn looked on helplessly.

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

Beric stood up to offer his hand, "Ser Beric Dayne, their whores are a lot more uppity, bit with reason. Sex is damn well an art form over there and taken seriously. Here you'll spend some coin and the girl will just lay there, but in the cities the bitches at least have some pride about their work. And yes, I served with some Braavosi for a friend of my father's."

Her regarded the newcomer but did not pay what he said much attention, "Yeah, if it's excitement you're looking for then it's definitely the place to be at the moment. I've been in Braavos extensively, so I could go on about that but I'll just say that's it's bigger and more rife with opportunities than King's Landing will ever be for a long while more."

[Darryn Redding]

Percy slapped his hand firmly into Beric's and shook it briskly.
He pointed at his chest with the callused thumb of his other hand and grinned broadly.
"A Dornishman, huh? Guess I should be worried then. I'm from the Far Reach. My name's Percy Norridge and this is my friend Darryn Redding. I don't think we're important enough to kill though and he's too much of a bookworm to have burnt any of yer castle's to the ground, though he could probably tell you all about it if you ask him. So long as you have a few hours to waste!" he laughed loudly again.

"Braavos, eh?" he asked with a gleam in his eye. "Why don't you tell us about some of your adventures and see if we can convince this stick in the mud that a night with a braavosi girl might take that stick out of his arse!" he laughed loudly again as Darryn blushed furiously.

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

Beric drank some more so as to warm the inner workings of his brain to recollection. "I found those Myrish priests to be quite interesting, with their queer belief in fire. But my favourite religion has to be of those whore priestesses in Lys who basically worship the cock like it's the coming of one of the Seven. Of course there was all sorts of men that I could not count as human with what they can do to their body, it just isn't right. Must be some sort of drink that makes people impervious to pain."

[Darryn Redding]

Percy pretty much ignores most of Beric's words that don't involve "whore priestesses" as he eyes up the rump of a passing serving girl.
"Uh-huh. Sounds like some crazy stuff alright" he drains his drink in one long gulp and heads off after the tavern wench with a mischevious look in his eye.

"I'm sorry about my friend" Darryn says apologetically "He means well, he just has a very simple beliefs, mostly involving himself, ale and half-naked women. And it sounds dangerous over there, but probably no more so than here. It's so much more...violent than I expected it to be" he frets, nervously playing with his empty mug, twirling it back and forth between his hands.

"So what took you to the Free Cities?" he asks Beric. Before he can answer a loud squeal is heard followed by a slap to the face of Percy by the serving wench.