Flint's Room

[The Flint]

"Ain't many accuse us Flints of that," Brandon replied. "Goat-fucking, they accuse us of. Falsely. But accused. Clever.. not so often." He smiled. "Forgive me lord, I ramble."

[The Smith]

Lord Stark turned away from Flint, and moved away.

[The Flint]

"See you this even'n milord," Brandon said politely, and then returned to his room.

[House Dustin]

Mors and Owen Dustin play the Flints a visit.

[The Flint]

Danny Flint opened the door, and invited them in. Brandon Flint and his two sons, and Lord Benjen and his brother Jojen were passing around a jug and sipping from it and talking quietly.

"Ho there," Ryam said, "How fare you Dustins? Enjoying the Stark hospitality."

[House Dustin]

Mors smiled. "Making an effort to," he replied. "As it is, our suspicions that all is not right were not unfounded."

[The Flint]

"Hows that?" Lord Benjen asked.

[House Dustin]

Despite the private setting Mors' voice took on a conspiratorial tone, "I took an opportunity to meet with Lord Stark in private to discuss a trade venture I'd like to pursue. During the conversation he informed me that Sebastion Greyjoy and Melinda Stark were marrying out of pure love developed at some prior meeting. That does not follow what you told me before."

[The Flint]

"Certainly untrue," Ryam says, "Danny clearly overheard the Melinda girl lamenting being married to a Reaver."

[House Dustin]

"I know not what to make of it." Lord Dustin rubbed at his whiskers. "I have no talent in such things, but Lord Stark seemed sincere to me. When I discussed offering my own daughters in marriage to Ironborn to strengthen any ties the North has with them... Well he reacted with what seemed like genuine concern for their well-being and the same trepidation that all of us have at how the Ironborn might treat our women."

[The Flint]

"I spoke with Lady Anya," Ryam added, "She all but admitted to supporting the Ironborn marriage. She said they were hard men, and that was to be appreciated." Ryam said, curling his mouth with distaste. "and Gods forgive me, but she's a whore of the worst stripe. Made several efforts at seducing me with bawdy talk." Ryam shuddered.

[House Dustin]

Mors grimaced. Owen sniggered, "Mayhap the rumors are true then." Mors shot him a reproachful look.

[The Flint]

Brandon spat, "She's an unnatural one. A woods witch, we'd have called her in the old days. She's the young Lord Stark ensorceled for certes. "

[House Dustin]

Mors considered that. "Could be that he really does believe they're in love."

[The Flint]

"Do you not think that Melinda or his wife would have taken objections to him at some point?" Benjen asked, "It seems unlikely that he's not aware at all of his sister's distaste for her marriage arrangements."