The Magistrate's Office

[The Raven]

Petyr arrived bearing a bottle of Arbor red, which Ser Valarr promptly claimed. "Thank you, Petyr. See that there are no more guests for the next hour."

The knight poured into a pair of silver goblets, and handed the first to his liege before beginning his oral biography. "I was born forty seven years ago to Lord Ned Frey and the daughter of one of his knights. My father's first wife was still alive at the time, but she had long been bedridden and my half brother was already a strong, clever lad. My birth was a surprise to no one but the septon, and I was scarcely a threat to the future line of Freys." He moved to sit in a massive chair that was clearly designed for him.

"This will astonish you, but when I was nineteen, I completely devastated your father in the melee at my father's tourney. This terrifying avalanche of fat before you was once toned muscle, carefully refined for a life of combat. I could have been the next Dragonknight if I hadn't been so well seduced by by the bottle and larder. But that day is later..."

He sipped the wine he had just professed his love for. "My father eventually remarried. Three fresh whelps from the Mandrake girl who was young enough to be my elder brother's own child. Auric was disgusted and alarmed." Another sip.

"And yes, Alynna was always a frightful bitch."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Belric could not help but grin at the mention of his father. To learn he had lost a tourney to the man that sat before him was enough to bring forth a laugh. "Bruce Blackfort was a fair soldier, but a tourney champion he was not. You will have to tell me of that bout, my memory of him is fleeting." Belric took a sip of his wine, "I fail to see the part of that story that negates your ability to be my Castellan, however." He gave Valarr a curious look, wondering if there was more to the story.

[The Raven]

"When Father finally passed, Auric made me his Castellan. I served that role for... Oh, fifteen years or so. I don't know if you've ever seen the Twins, but it's the sort of place where a knight's sword arm can comfortably grow slow. By the time Alynna had reached womanhood, I had long retired my tourney days, however glorious they were." Sip.

"Auric decided it was time to prune the family tree, and started selling off our sibling's hands for favors. Daena to a Blackwood, Orland to a Volantene girl. They went willingly enough, songs and poetry in their heart. But Alynna... She and Auric loathed each other almost from birth. So Auric arranged for her to wed Jon Grafton."

The name was somewhat familiar to Belric. Jon had supposedly beaten his first wife to death and attempted to conceal it with gold and promises, before eventually 'volunteering' for the Night's Watch approximately fifteen years ago. It was a popular tale when people still thought the Vale would be a serious contender in the war.

"I never liked my sister. She is spiteful, cruel, and possessed of an obsessive nature. All old sins are fresh for her. But to knowingly wed her to such a monster... I told Auric it was kinslaying as much as if her blood were on our own fists. Meanwhile, Alynna and her mother gathered their own followers, preparing to take power the moment our brother let down his guard. You must understand my predicament. If we had sent her to Gulltown, we were knowingly sending her into hell, in one sense or another. If she had remained, she would have revolted, in which case Auric, my lord, would have had her executed without hesitation. It was a horrible situation. So... I lowered the bridge and allowed her to flee with a follower or two. I had no reason to believe she would ride directly to Riverrun to seduce the bloody heir..."

He set the empty goblet down. "Auric stripped me of my position and had me banished from the Crossing. He could have sent me to the Wall, but I was his closest friend, and truly his sole kin. If he had survived the war, I imagine I might one day have been summoned back home. Instead, the Crossing is ruled by a young man who likely only remembers a fat old knight who served a brother who might have killed his sister. But some of the other houses, like the Lothstons, were still fond enough to host me for a few months at at time."

He stood up with a heavy breath. He stood before Belric like a soldier being inspected by his superior. "And now you know your magistrate is a known traitor, unfit to mingle with his own family."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Belric looked over Ser Valarr, exchanging an expression of peculiarity. It was hard to see any relation between the man that stood before him and Medgar's cold wife. "When was the last time that you spoke to your sister? I only spent a short while in here company during my stay in Riverrun, but I can assure you she still maintains a similar disposition."

Belric waved his hand at Valarr, encouraging him to sit. "It is regretful that you have delt with such troubles. To be estranged from ones family is a terrible thing. Though to have betrayed your sister would have been equally as difficult." Belric finished his wine, and folded his arms across his chest. "I refuse to judge you by such terms, without your loyalties Harrenhal may still be lordless. And if I may speak honestly, I have few other options. My brother has abdicated his position for a second time, leaving me without a Castellan at a time when I need one most. We are to host a grand tournament, and there is much work to be done. Leave the past where it belongs, Ser Valarr, and help me build Harrenhal into the greatest city in Westeros."