Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Sept 16, 2016 11:07:13 GMT
Edmure remained unperturbed at the maester's advice and the manner in which it was delivered.
"Is that what you like, Percival? Being beaten into a bloody mess?" he said, a small but distinct tone of coldness beginning to creep into his voice.
"If I truly feared you, your 'insults' such as they are, wouldn't go unanswered. But I see no need for it, unless I felt it was absolutely necessary. I have the power to confine you to your rooms or incarcerate you in the dungeons, or even have you locked in the public stocks in the courtyard at any time I see fit. I merely have to issue the order, while barely lifting a finger, much less my fists. Perhaps my brother fears you. He's good with his fists isn't he? Isn't that everything you supposedly despise? Similarly, it appears, the same as your father?"
He set the mostly full wine cup on the table.
"And 'precedent'? I don't think so. I have agreed to a battle of champions, because at the moment it suits us to do so. For one, you assume we will lose. And a win settles this issue once and for all for the risk, as you say, a knight. And two, in deciding our response to the next challenge to our rule, we may not be so accommodating. Fighting a duel in this matter, does not mean that every dispute in the future will be settled as in this one. If you assumed that it would be, then you assumed incorrectly."
He sighed, as if wearying of the conversation. Or perhaps it was just tiredness from the rigors of the last few days.
"A pity Percival. I had wondered if you were worth persevering with. A Maester who has the interests of his Lord and his Lord's family at heart can, through his sage and loyal advice, prove to be very influential in matters. However someone who despises both his Lord and his Lord's heir, as you clearly do, cannot be relied upon to give advice that would necessarily in their clear interests. My uncle Jon is indisposed and I had hoped that someone with something of the level of his vast knowledge and acumen, as well as loyalty, might take his place for a period of time. You seemed to be the logical candidate, but your loyalty to us, at the very least, appears to be suspect. Unfortunately you appear to allow your apparent embitterment at your circumstances overpower your judgement. "
He shrugged.
"Very well then. The second reason I came to you is for medical attention. I took a couple of wounds protecting a 14 year old girl from rape by two brigands. I'd appreciate it if you could do what you can to treat them. There's at least one broken rib and two broken fingers. I need to head back to Armistead's Crossing and I would like to do that in relatively good health."
"Is that what you like, Percival? Being beaten into a bloody mess?" he said, a small but distinct tone of coldness beginning to creep into his voice.
"If I truly feared you, your 'insults' such as they are, wouldn't go unanswered. But I see no need for it, unless I felt it was absolutely necessary. I have the power to confine you to your rooms or incarcerate you in the dungeons, or even have you locked in the public stocks in the courtyard at any time I see fit. I merely have to issue the order, while barely lifting a finger, much less my fists. Perhaps my brother fears you. He's good with his fists isn't he? Isn't that everything you supposedly despise? Similarly, it appears, the same as your father?"
He set the mostly full wine cup on the table.
"And 'precedent'? I don't think so. I have agreed to a battle of champions, because at the moment it suits us to do so. For one, you assume we will lose. And a win settles this issue once and for all for the risk, as you say, a knight. And two, in deciding our response to the next challenge to our rule, we may not be so accommodating. Fighting a duel in this matter, does not mean that every dispute in the future will be settled as in this one. If you assumed that it would be, then you assumed incorrectly."
He sighed, as if wearying of the conversation. Or perhaps it was just tiredness from the rigors of the last few days.
"A pity Percival. I had wondered if you were worth persevering with. A Maester who has the interests of his Lord and his Lord's family at heart can, through his sage and loyal advice, prove to be very influential in matters. However someone who despises both his Lord and his Lord's heir, as you clearly do, cannot be relied upon to give advice that would necessarily in their clear interests. My uncle Jon is indisposed and I had hoped that someone with something of the level of his vast knowledge and acumen, as well as loyalty, might take his place for a period of time. You seemed to be the logical candidate, but your loyalty to us, at the very least, appears to be suspect. Unfortunately you appear to allow your apparent embitterment at your circumstances overpower your judgement. "
He shrugged.
"Very well then. The second reason I came to you is for medical attention. I took a couple of wounds protecting a 14 year old girl from rape by two brigands. I'd appreciate it if you could do what you can to treat them. There's at least one broken rib and two broken fingers. I need to head back to Armistead's Crossing and I would like to do that in relatively good health."