The Vineyard

[House Fossoway]

Ser Bernard nodded and popped a grape into his mouth.

"You are of course right, dear sister, but what change could you and I bring? I am but the brother to a lord who doesn't listen to reason? You are the wife of the lord of this island, so you might hold some sway over your husband but would he listen to your council? I know well enough to listen to my wife's council, but most men does not which is a shame, since you can bring new perspective on how to solve a problem."

[Horas]

"He'll listen if he knows what's good for him," Josephine says menacingly. "All we need is for enough lords to come together who are willing to stand together on this issue."

"My husband just came back from Oldtown. Did you know Lord Neville Hightower has some Lannister advisor who tells him what to do, and he's all but given ten of his ships to the West? Hightower, whose city makes Lannisport look like a hovel." She shakes her head, lips pressed together in anger. "He doesn't like it any more than we do, but he feels like he has no choice. He needs to know that there are others like him, who are willing to tell Casterly Rock that enough is enough."

[House Fossoway]

Ser Bernard grinned when she mentioned her husband. He knew his sister well enough to know that her husband would listen to her, or suffer for it and Bernard was pretty sure that was something the lord didn't want.

"I did not know that, but I am not suprised that the Lannisters want to control the two biggest houses in the Reach. With controlling both the Hightowers and Tyrells, they've made sure that us smaller houses don't rise up against their hold on us. I am however suprised that they have not come here and told your husband to give your ships to the West as well. You are the house with most power after the Tyrells and Hightowers."

He rubbed his chin and placed another grape in his mouth.

"Yes, I think you are right, there must be something we can do to let others know that there are people in the Reach that is tired to bowing before the Lannisters. I sometimes wonder why we call the dragons king, it's a Lion that basicially sits on the Iron Throne these days."

[Horas]

"I thought the war was Stag fighting Dragon. But now it seems Lannister duels with Royce, both grabbing everything they can with their greedy little hands. Like little boys who cannot stop filching sweets from the kitchen." She sniffs. "If they were my sons I would slap them both across the nose."

"Royce does not interfere in our lands, at least. His influence could be useful. But I think the support of the Reach Lords is what really matters. My husband has some influence in these parts, and might be able to sway the southern lords to our way of thinking. Could Willem do the same with the lords around Cider Hall?"

[House Fossoway]

Ser Bernard laughed at the picture he got in his head of his sister slapping both Lord Lannister and the Hand, but the seriousness of the discussion was on his face quickly once more.

"I don't think that many of the lords around Cider Hall will listen to Willem at the moment, he basicly lets me or Bransen handle the daily meetings and relations with our neighbouring lords, but I should be able to speak to a few of them, but with the close vicinity to Highgarden it'll be much harder to sway them without bringing unwanted attention to us."

[Horas]

"I suppose that is true. But you must try nonetheless, Bernie. So close to Highgarden, they must know Ser Erik's incompetence first hand. Let the lords of the northern Reach know that they have strong allies in the south." Josephine frowns. "Make sure these lords are alone when you speak to them. The Master of Whisperers is a Lannister man, and they say he has ears everywhere."

[House Fossoway]

Ser Bernard smiled mischievously, and took the last grapes that were left in the bowl.

"Nothing could stop me from trying, life would be dull if you didn't bring some adventure to it sometimes, escpecially as one grows older. I just wish that our brother could see life in the same way, then we might have another ally that we could count on for sure. Now I don't know how much we can trust to tell him, without the paranoia taking to much of a toll on him."

He rubbed the back of his head.

"I wonder if I should involve my nephew in this, or if we should keep it from him until we know more, so that he can't be punished should be found out. I will have my son go to Bitterbridge, I think he has grown close to one of the daughters of the lord there."

[Horas]

"That is your choice, Bernie, whether you want to tell Bransen or not. It would not hurt to keep the circle small at this stage, but he will need to know eventually." Josephine sighs. "Perhaps he could even talk some sense into his father."

[House Fossoway]

Ser Bernard rubbed his chin.

"I will return to Cider Hall quickly and I'll make my decision when I arrive and see how much hold the paranoia has over him. Then I'll send Lancel to Bitterbridge and I'll go and speak to some of the other lords about what we have discussed here. I will keep House Redwyne out of the conversation in case they are in the Tyrell's purse, that way your cause doesn't end if I fall."

[Horas]

"Very well," Josephine says, "Be quiet, but know that we are in the right here. It is Lannister who is acting against the laws of the kingdom, not us."

[House Fossoway]

Ser Bernard nodded.

"I know, sister, I know, but I doubt that Lord Baldwin would agree and it's he that holds the power at the moment, so it wouldn't hurt to be careful. I think that I'll stay the night, if that is not too much for me to ask, since I don't want to force the sailors that took me here to sail tonight. They should be allowed to find some drinks and women for the night and I'll leave in the morning."

[Horas]

Josephine pats her younger brother's hand. "You are always welcome here, for as long as want. My servants will show you to our best guest rooms."

She totters back over to the divan, refills her glass, and lays back once again.