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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 24, 2016 6:11:10 GMT
Upon his return to Harrenhal, Edmure made his way to the Kingspyre Tower, together with Qhorin to report to his brother.
They climbed the many steps to Belric's solar where Edmure informed the guard of their arrival.
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 24, 2016 6:19:04 GMT
The guard informed Belric of his brother's return. After receiving his lord's orders to let Edmure in, the guard returned to the door to allow him entry.
"Edmure," said Belric, setting down a map he had been reviewing. "You are back early." There was a concerned look on his face, Belric assuming the worst. "Is everyone alright?"
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 24, 2016 6:33:50 GMT
"We're all fine and we accomplished what we set out to do." said Edmure. "I think we definitely have a bandit problem and it's my view they are terrorising the small folk. The other is we found the quarry from which Harrenhal's stone was originally quarried. I thought it important we get back here quickly and take steps to get the quarry re-opened as soon as possible. Qhorin here thinks we can get it going again in about six weeks if we act now."
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 24, 2016 12:24:41 GMT
The mason nods and keeps his head down. This was the lord eh? He'd seen him before, but assumed he was a knight from how he dressed. In his experience, lords dressed a bit richer. But that was the Lannisters after all.
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Post by Jon Blackfort on Jun 24, 2016 17:08:10 GMT
The guard announced the entry of the steward Jon Blackfort, who had received an official summons from the Castellan. Ever the busy man, he carried a ledger under his arm. "My lord." He bowed. "Ser Edmure." He nodded. A silent and curt nod was enough for the third man.
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 24, 2016 21:15:48 GMT
"Well done, Edmure. You have my permission to get the quarry operational. Rebuilding our walls is our first priority. I want to fortify this castle before we begin repairs on the towers." He put a hand on his brothers good shoulder. "The bandits must also be taken into immediate consideration. I will not have my people tormented and our laws broken."
Belric moved onto the mason, eyeing him over once before speaking. "You must be the Master Mason my brother has told me of. I am Belric Blackfort. There is a smith in this town whom I would like you to meet."
"Uncle," Belric said when Jon entered the room. "You have very good timing."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 24, 2016 22:05:11 GMT
"I asked our uncle to attend." said Edmure. "He needs to hear this. Our master mason here has calculated what will be needed to re-open the quarry."
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 24, 2016 23:02:53 GMT
Qhorin bows to the Lord of Harrenhal, the Ravensbane. "Of course milord" he said "At your direction. The quarry will take 1,600 gold coins for materials we can't make or harvest, and around a month and a half of work." This was the swearing time, with lords and stewards and who knows what else staring at him. Just be the mouse, stick to the ground and don't draw attention.
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 24, 2016 23:44:57 GMT
Belric brought his hand to his chin, 1,600 gold was a sizable fortune. "That is a lot of money, mason. Perhaps if we can negotiate financing from one of our neighboring houses it would be more feasible. This is a major priority, but we have to be smart about how we expend our treasury."
He turned to Jon and his ledger, "I would like you to start thinking about finding us a fair loan. If we can offset paying to rebuild the quarry, we can keep the gold in our treasury while also gaining the resources to rebuild our walls."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 25, 2016 0:19:21 GMT
Edmure looked doubtful at the talk of a loan.
"How much is in the treasury?" he asked. "Less than 1,600 gold dragons?"
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 25, 2016 1:21:24 GMT
"We have several times that in the treasury, I would not take a loan I couldn't repay. However it will be wise to save as much coin as we can to survive the winter. A loan is also a good way for us to build trust with another Lordship. With the quarry up and running, it will work to pay itself off while we utilize the resources it generates. We do not need the immediate income, it is the stone that's important. In the meantime, we should begin production on a sea port. There are viable trade routs we could be exploiting, the gods eye seems as fit a place as any for a harbor."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 25, 2016 1:39:05 GMT
Edmure still looked doubtful. He couldn't see the point of going into debt, just to foster good relations with other lordships.
He shrugged. "It's your decision of course,brother, but if we have the funds many times over I don't see the point. The time to take a loan is when the treasury is low and funds are needed."
He looked around at the group. "However the priority is re-opening the quarry. It's my advice that our mason here be given whatever funds he needs to open the quarry the earliest he can and that he be appointed the overseer of the day to day operations of the quarry"
"Subject to the will of yourself of course." he added as a qualification.
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 25, 2016 1:52:25 GMT
"Lumber be good too" mutters the mason "cut down on future building costs"
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 25, 2016 2:13:38 GMT
Belric studied Edmure, "I did not say 'many,' brother. Rebuilding the quarry would take nearly a third of our wealth. We are already low on funds, and in need of aid. However, aid isn't coming, and we have to build an economy from nothing. A port and a quarry are intricate parts of that infrastructure, and if we can build both at once, while offsetting some of the expenses, we will make out in the long run. Winter may be long, and we have to be prepared." Belric considered stopping there, but felt the need to add one more point. "It is not easy to get a loan when the money is already gone, brother."
Belric looked to the mason, who's name was still a mystery. "You won't be receiving the funds today, mason. But start making preparations, we will find you the gold you need."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 25, 2016 2:27:31 GMT
"There are overland routes we can use to trade and we can sell some excess stone as well." replied Edmure. "But that is your decision to make."
He turned to the mason. "Still, it sounds like you have the go-ahead Qhorin. If my brother says he will get you the gold, then he will be as good as his word."
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