Brightwater Keep

[Quenton Baratheon]

Brightwater Keep, ancestral home of noble House Florent who claim descent from the long-dead Kings of the Reach. Brightwater lies in the western part of the Reach, due north of Oldtown. The keep is accessible via the river Honeywine which has its source in Florent lands and flows down through Oldtown into the Whispering Sound - which opens out onto the Arbor.

The Florent lands are beautiful - small, green, undulating hills criss-crossed by sleepy peasant agriculture, pockets of trees gathering in the dips. The Keep itself is large and grand - ornate towers rising high and offering impressive views for guests.

[Horas]

A chartered barge lazily makes its way up the Honeywine river, docking just below Brightwater Keep. Lord Hugo Redwyne steps off the barge, followed by a dozen guardsmen, another dozen servants, his two young grandsons, and his squire, Steffan Florent. Lastly a number of wine casks are rolled onto the dock.

Hugo looks around to get his bearings.

[Quenton Baratheon]

A man approaches the party slowly and inquisitively as the casks are unloaded. His eyes run across the assembled men until they run across the young Steffan Florent.

He bows to the lad. "Welcome home."

Steffan returns the courtesy.

"I thank you Ser. We're on our way back to the keep. Might you be able to send word ahead? Tell them Lord Redwyne has arrived with his family."

The dock official smiles and nods. "I shall see that it is done." He bows to Lord Hugo and offers a tip of his cap to his grandsons.

[Horas]

Lord Hugo breathes in deeply. "Wonderful air, this part of the Reach," Hugo beams. "I suppose you know the way, lad? Go on, lead us onwards."

[Quenton Baratheon]

"There's no place better," Steffan replies, clearly delighted to be home. He leads the entourage up to the Keep. It is not a great distance away. The guards on the gate wave the party through.

The wine is wheeled off to some distant part of the castle whilst the main party are led into the Great Hall - a large echoing chamber with clean wooden floorboards. Two male servants are twisting blue and gold ribbons around the tops of the pillars at the room's borders.

The stillness of the room is broken from a deep cry at the other end of it. "Lord Hugo!"

Lord Alphonse Florent quickly paces his way down the middle of the hall to where the party stands. He embraces Lord Redwyne heartily. He turns to his son and does likewise. "Welcome home," he says with a smile.

"Welcome, all, to Brightwater Keep. For the duration of your stay, what's mine is yours. Within reason, of course."

Lady Sybil Florent also approaches the party, all smiles. She greets each man in turn, including the guards, with a smile and curtsey. She makes a fuss of Lord Redwyne's grandchildren.

[Horas]

Lord Hugo returns the embrace. "Alphonse," he says with a grin, "It's been far too long. Let me introduce my grandsons, Ryam and Dickon. Ranulf's boys."

The two boys look to be about a year apart and resemble each other strongly, each with dark unkempt hair and a sprinkle of freckles. They stop shoving each other long enough to give a set of uncoordinated bows, then squirm under Lady Florent's attention.

"Your health is good?" Hugo asks Alphonse.

[Quenton Baratheon]

"Never felt better," Alphonse replies. He grins. "I am in my prime."

"The boy been giving you any trouble?" he looks at Steffan with stern eyes. Steffan deflects his glance away.

There is a squeak of laughter from Lady Florent at the boys' continued antics. "How adorable," she sighs.

[Horas]

"He's a good lad, your Steffan," Lord Redwyne asserts. "Sees to all his duties well. You should be proud."

He turns to the Lady Florent. "My wife asked me to send her regards to you and your daughter, Lady Sybil," Hugo nods. "She doesn't travel much these days, I'm afraid."

[Quenton Baratheon]

Alphonse beams at Redwyne's assessment of his son and ruffles his hair.

"Understandable," Lady Florent replies. "I do hope you will return my best regards when you arrive back at the Arbor. Tell Lady Josephine that we shall come to pay her a visit ere the year is through."

A small girl with long black hair enters the hall and walks up to the party sheepishly.

"Here she is!" Alphonse cries. "Special Lady Dacey! Come and greet Lord Redwyne."

The girl approaches Hugo and offers a dainty curtsey. "Greetings, Lord Redwyne," she squeaks.

[Horas]

Hugo shifts all of his formidable bulk to kneel down closer to eye level with the young girl. "This can't be right," his smile is wide and warm, the smile of a man who is accustomed to and enjoys speaking with small children. "This is your daughter, Alphonse? Surely a girl this pretty must be a Princess of the Seven Kingdoms!"

[Quenton Baratheon]

The girl gasps and giggles. Lord Alphonse simply grins.

"This concerns me also. I have consulted Lady Florent on the issue but she assures me Dacey is my daughter."

He winks at Sybil, who gives him a disapproving look in return.

Alphonse claps his hands once, loudly. "My Lord! Let us get you settled into your quarters!"


The party are shown to rooms in the East Tower, rooms that are relatively small but very comfortably furnished.

[Horas]

Hugo chuckles at Alphonse's reply, stands back up, and follows to the East Tower. "Am I the first one here?" he asks.

[Quenton Baratheon]

"Yes, Hugo, the first. It would appear you are rather the eager beaver."

[Horas]

"Ha! Better early than late, I say. For me, anyway. I guess you'll have to deal with me eating you out of house and home for longer." Hugo grins broadly. "Who else is coming?"

[Quenton Baratheon]

"A party from Cider Hall - Ser Bernard is to grace us with his presence. I believe he is bringing Lord Willem's son along with him," he pauses for a moment, face scrunching up in thought.

"He is your nephew?" he asks.