The Vineyard

[Horas]

"Dorne?" The Lady Josephine asks, raising one eyebrow. "A strange choice, with richer lands so much closer to your home."

[Sam]

"Lannisport is a more dangerous target these days, since Lannister has the strength and coin of the crown supporting him," Gruffydd replied. "The Reach has its riches too," he added, "but the Thane would rather see them realized through good relations with its Arbor Fleet, rather than plunder taken from its smallfolk."

[Horas]

Josephine sniffs. "I am not going to tell you what to do. You should know that you will not be able to shelter in Reach harbors. The other lords would never agree to it, but they are under the protection of Redwyne nonetheless. I will see about spreading the news that you are not the enemy, but that will take time. You cannot shelter at the Arbor, either. I will not have some limp-wristed Dornishman come over here and wail about us harboring raiders. I simply could not abide it."

Josephine sips on her strongwine. "But so long as you do not attack Reach ships or Reach lands, you will have free passage to do whatever it is you wish, and we will not attack your ships."

[Sam]

Gruffydd nodded. "That is acceptable, my lady," he replied courteously. "No Harlaw ship will raid the Reach nor any of its people. Your wisdom is commendable, for the good sailors of Harlaw and the Arbor acting in concert have no equal upon the seas. I am glad we have been able to come to an accord."

[Horas]

"Of course my wisdom is commendable," Josephine says, rolling her eyes. "Try not to state the obvious, dear."

She coughs, and wets her throat with more strongwine. "When you do return to your islands, let your Lord Greyjoy know that we would not be opposed to a similar deal with him. And also let him know that if any of his ships attack the Reach, they will be treated no different from common pirates."

[Sam]

"Lord Greyjoy will be aware of the repercussions, should any of his captains act against the Reach, and I shall have your words conveyed to him, bearing the offer of cooperation," he replied with a courteous smile.

[Horas]

"Good," Josephine says. She waves her arm, and the servants, who had been standing near the edges of the hall, bustle about to serve the food and bring more wine. The main course is a crisp roast pig, and Gruffyd has the choice of at least six different vintages of wine, all from the Arbor.

Ser Ranulf Redwyne leans back in his oaken chair, lazily savoring his food and drink. "Tell me, Ser Ironborn, who is the fiercest fighter on your islands?"

[Sam]

"That depends on who you ask, Ser, for most men would say himself. Since you asked me, however, I would say that Rodrik the Bloody ranks among the best fighters. There's a man from Old Wyk who's said to have never known defeat in battle, but I know not his name," Gruffydd replied. "My cousin Balor is no slouch with an axe either."

"And who, may I ask, is the most skilled warrior in the Reach?"

[Horas]

Ranulf smiles in a confident, careless way. "You're looking at him," he says.

His younger brother Ser Ryon snorts. "Not unless your name is Kit Kidwell, he's not."

[Sam]

"He's the one who killed the old Stag King," Gruffydd replied knowingly. "A famous fighter, to be sure," he added, taking a sip of wine. "A fine vintage as well, Ser. Your vinyards surely live up to their reputation."

[Horas]

"Not many vineyards on your islands, I imagine," Ranulf comments, cutting off a slice of pork with his dagger. "But iron... iron is good too."

[Sam]

"No vinyards," he agreed, taking another sip. "But many mines, and it is true that iron is a valuable resource in much demand. The Knights of Westeros would be far more poorly equipped with weapons and armor, if not for our iron mines."

[Horas]

"Perhaps I will see them for myself some time," Ranulf says. "We hear such strange rumors about you Ironborn in the Reach. Is it true that your priests spit seawater in each others' mouths, and will stab out their own eyes if they are ever taken out of sight of the sea?"

[Sam]

"I am not the most learned in the practices of those who serve the Drowned God, but I have never witnessed such. Although on the Islands, one would have to work very hard indeed, to get out of sight of the sea," Gruffydd replied.

[Horas]

"I suppose that must be true," Ranulf tilts his head back, draining his cup. "How was it that one of your sort became a knight?" Ranulf asks, "Septons must be as plentiful as vineyards on your islands."