|
Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 6, 2016 6:19:20 GMT
"Know of the battle with the bandits I assume you mean." replied Edmure, topping up his brother's cup and refilling his own.
"Given that I wasn't there, this is what I know. Hoster, Dacey and their party that you had sent to hunt this gang of bandits ran into our cousin Willem and a couple of scouts that I had provided for him. We had earlier explored the lands around Harrenhal, located the quarry and was set to return to the castle. We had strong reason to believe from the reaction of the small-folk we had encountered that bandits were operating in the area. Willem volunteered to take a couple of our men and make further investigations, which I allowed him to do on the strict proviso that he was not to engage any bandits that he discovered but to identify their location and return to the castle to report what he had found. In the meantime I returned to the castle to report on our discovery of the location of the quarry, which you know."
Edmure took a sip of his wine. "Upon meeting Hoster's group which had discovered a number of bandits holed up in a house in the old claypits, our sister dispatched Willem back to the castle for re-inforcements. It was understood by Willem that they would wait until he returned before engaging these bandits with what would have been an overwhelming force. He argued as such to both Hoster and Dacey before his return. A wise move I would have thought. Upon Willem's return with re-inforcements he found that a battle had already taken place. As I understand it, the battle appears to have been initiated by Dacey, which she herself admitted to me upon her return."
He paused. "You've seen the result."
|
|
|
Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 6, 2016 6:43:37 GMT
Belric tried to wrap his head around what had happened, so many of the details seemed out of place. "Much of this does not make sense to me. When did Dacey assume command of the hunting party? Why would she send away a good sword if she wasn't going to wait for reinforcements?" He drained his cup again, slamming it down slightly harder this time. It was obvious Belric was angry, though even he could not figure who deserved the lashings for all of it. "I have heard that Hoster's own guard turned traitorous."
|
|
|
Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 6, 2016 6:52:58 GMT
"I've suspected from the start that Hoster's men were untrustworthy. They were little better than bandits themselves even when they were working for Hoster and by extension Harrenhal." said Edmure.
"And why was Dacey in command? Who knows? Most likely because Hoster was too wine-sodden to make proper and rational decisions about eradicating the bandits with as little cost to us as was possible"
|
|
|
Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 6, 2016 7:29:46 GMT
"Do not underestimate your uncle. There is not enough wine in this entire castle to get that man drunk enough to spoil a good killing. There is more at work here than that. I must speak with Hoster, Dacey, and Willis once they have been looked after. I need to hear what happened from the mouth of someone who was there. Perhaps one of them can explain what happened in a way I can properly understand."
Belric's expression grew morose. "I need you to answer something for me, brother, and speak truthfully. I have heard that your fight against that bear didn't happen exactly as I was made to believe. Is it true that you tried to feed one of Hoster's men to the beast so you could run?"
|
|
|
Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 6, 2016 8:05:57 GMT
Edmure looked Belric in the eye.
"As you know brother, I fought in what is probably one of the most bloody wars in this realm's history. Some of it alongside yourself. I nearly died at Redgrass Field. I spent two years outside the walls of Riverrun fighting King Daemon's enemies. I fought in skirmishes and pitched battles. I assaulted holdfasts at the head of my men. Do you really think that after all that, I would run in panic from a fucking bear? You saw my wounds from that thing for yourself."
He took a longer draught of his wine.
"You've led men in battle Belric. How many times have you seen men break because of their fear? What do you do when they do? As you know, you cajole, entreat, threaten and on occasions you physically force them to face their fears. I've forced men up siege ladders when they've faltered. I've forced fleeing men into the ranks of the enemy. I did what I needed to do to help win that war and help set Daemon Blackfyre upon the Iron Throne. I make no apology for forcing one of Hoster's goons to face that bear. If Dacey misconstrued what I was doing then that is a position borne of ignorance. She may be a more than competent fighter, but when has she ever commanded men? When did she go through the training required of a Knight? I was trained by one of the best - our uncle Richard of the Kingsguard."
He set his cup down on the table firmly. "I won't deny that my instincts both as a knight and commander took over, when that beast surprised us. No different if it had been a band of Targaryen loyalists. If that was the wrong decision to make then I'll live with the consequences. But you should know better than anybody in this castle, brother, exactly what I'm talking about!"
|
|
|
Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 7, 2016 0:08:00 GMT
Belric found Edmure's words hollow, his brother skirting the truth as much as possible. Belric had been looking for honesty, not excuses. If Edmure was to rule in Belric's stead, he needed reassurance his brother would follow his orders and not just his instincts.
"I have had to force men to fight, you are not wrong. However, I've never thrown a man at my enemy so that I could retreat safely." Belric eyed Edmure, wondering what justifications his brother would come up with next. "I have taken arrows for my men. I've run at the head of every charge I've ever ordered. One cannot command from the rear, nor with their back to the enemy as they flee. Your sister is adamant that you ran first, only grabbing Hoster's man when he tried to pass you. You were wearing plate, it would have been impossible for you to catch him had he taken off first. Assuming she is telling the truth and you are not, it would lead to reason why Hoster's men turned on them at the clay pits. Had you, Jormun, or your sister been honest with me, this is something I could have foreseen. Now, my men are dead, the captain of my guard is out of commission, and your own sister was nearly sliced in two. All because of the three of you are too stupid to recognize the consequences of your actions."
Belric, overcome by anger, threw his goblet across the room and into the wall. The wine, resembling blood, splashed against the stone and stained the floor.
"Not only that, but you have disregarded my orders again and again. I gave you two weeks to scout the countryside, yet instead you did exactly as you saw fit. You found the quarry I couldn't give two shits about, leaving an unknown relative in command of two of my men to finish the duty I had given to you. Then, I find out you tried to order twenty men to reinforce Hoster without ever asking permission. Do you not think that is something worthy of my attention?"
|
|
|
Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 7, 2016 0:51:55 GMT
"Did you appoint me castellan or not?" said Edmure, his own voice rising.
"Your wife claims I have no authority in the castle - that I am in effect as low as the lowest guardsmen in this place. Is that true Belric? You appoint me to an office that I assumed was the Lord's equivalent of what the Kings Hand does , only to have no authority at all? Do you want me to come to you for permission every time I want to parade the men or change the guard or create the guard rosters? I made command decisions in regards to our surveying.
"And not follow orders? I followed exactly your orders. I reported to you the results of what we found when I returned. You said nothing then about what I should have done instead. It was "well done Edmure". Our cousin volunteered to stay and see if he could scout the location of a possible bandit gang after we had reason to believe they might have been in the area. He was under my command. I made a commander's decision with strict conditions. Did you want me to return all the way to Harrenhal to ask you simply for permission for Willem to stay out a little longer? When he returned with our sister's request for more men, did you want me to waste further precious time trying to find you in this cavernous fortress to ask your permission? I exercised my position of command - that you yourself had appointed me to do and I made a decision as castellan - charged with keeping law and order in this castle and its' lands I thought - only to have my decision about what to send countermanded by your wife, who as far as I know has precious little experience of command. In fact does she have any experience of command at all?"
He glared at Belric. "I ask you again. Given that all we have been through, why would I run in fear from a fucking bear? It was a fucking bear Belric! How many times did we go hunting for game when we were younger? Dacey can't or won't answer that and neither apparently will you. The other question is why do you believe Dacey instead of me?"
|
|
|
Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 7, 2016 1:46:58 GMT
"Let me make something undeniably clear to you, Edmure. I have said this once already, but apparently you weren't listening. You are Castellan, charged with the safety of my people and this castle only in my absence." Belric emphasized his words excessively. "If one of my subjects needs soldiers, you better fucking believe I want to know about it! What if I had other plans for the men you intended to send, or if the enemy required more than simple manpower to defeat? You asked no question, and pulled the number of men form thin air. How can you know I didn't intend to oversee this personally, or send you to assume command? Your decision to reinforce Willem was not the wrong one, but your disregard for my command was. You never would have acted like this at war." The disappointment was clear on Belric's face. "Do not compare sending men into battle with changing the guard or practicing formations. You know the fucking difference! If you dont, tell me now and I will find a new Castellan who does!"
"As for the bear, and your rumored disgrace, I do not know who to believe. But I will find the truth eventually. I have yet to speak with Jormun but perhaps he can set the record straight." Belric stared back at Edmure, trying to decided if he could trust his brother's word. Edmure had always been reliable, never giving Belric reason to call him a coward. However fighting a bear was not the same as hunting game. Belric did not doubt that men would run in the face of such a beast, Edmure included if he thought his life was in danger.
|
|
|
Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 7, 2016 5:41:59 GMT
"So what you are in fact saying is three things." replied Edmure, his Blackfort temper rising to meet Belric's.
He counted them off on his fingers while glaring at his brother, his eyes never wavering from Belric's face
"One. You don't trust my judgement on military matters, despite appointing me as Castellan and charging me..what was it again in your own words? Oh yes. 'To staff this fortress, fortify our defenses, and protect my subjects.' Is that how it went? I dare say Belric, that in some respects my experience and skills in certain aspects of war are as good as, if not greater than your own. Yet you choose to forget or conveniently ignore that experience. It also appears that you allow your wife who, as far as I know, has little to no experience in such matters, to countermand my orders, in favor of her own 'expert' judgement. Tell me Belric....you claim that I disregarded your orders again and again. What were those orders exactly? Because this is the first I've heard of it."
Before Belric could interrupt, he tapped his second finger.
"And two. Your comments confirm for me that it is as your wife says... I have no authority in this castle or this lands, despite your charge to staff this fortress, fortify our defenses, and protect my subjects. If as you say, you had other intentions for your men, then apparently you saw fit to convey those to your wife, but not to your brother and supposedly your castellan. I acted on the information I had and used my own judgement to issue the orders that I did."
"And lastly." he ticked off a third finger, incredulous and indeed somewhat bitter, that Belric could consider him a coward, after all that they had experienced in the last few years of war.
"You don't want a 'cowardly' knight in your service. If, after the years I fought loyally beside your side, you would even consider the possibility that I could have left my sister and brother to be savaged by a bear to save my own skin, say it right now to my face and let's be done with it all."
|
|
|
Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 7, 2016 20:21:41 GMT
"Do not whine to me like some child. It is your own fault that we are having this conversation, and it is your own actions that have led the people to call you a coward. I think you are a good man, Edmure. But you are hot headed and stubborn. Your resiliance here has proven those facts. How can you not see your poor judgement for what it is? If you do not respect my wishes when I am present, how am I to trust you when I am away?"
Belric only continued to get more heated. "Do not disrespect the merits of my wife again, it doesn't do well to increase my view of you. If my memory suits me, she was in charge of a successful siege, while you were not. Now, again, I am forced to clean up your mess and head to Riverrun."
He took several long breaths, trying to compose him self, though he only found slight success. "I do not think I was wrong in choosing you as my Castellan, but do not make me regret it. I am leaving you and Jon to handle my affairs while I am gone, you are to respect our uncle's judgment. You are also to mind your sister, I am tired of the pettiness, time to grow up."
|
|
|
Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 7, 2016 23:17:01 GMT
By his refusal to answer his last question it was clear Belric believed he was a coward. Not only that, he was gabbling on about some orders he had supposedly not followed, or wishes he had not respected. Edmure still had no idea what they were. Belric clearly was inventing claims about Edmure's supposed behavior in order to justify his own anger, which obviously he wasn't prepared to go into detail about. Then there was the matter of his wife interfering in a decision Edmure had made at the gate, that he obviously had to make quickly because of the time that would have been wasted in locating Belric. Now it appeared that Belric didn't trust him enough to handle the Lord's affairs in his absence without the help of his uncle, Jon, who incidentally Edmure had always liked and respected.
He sighed inwardly as his white-hot anger faded as rapidly as it had arrived, to be replaced by something like cold detachment. Edmure was tired of explaining his position. Belric clearly wasn't going to listen or address any of his concerns. The fact that his brother thought he was a coward was the last straw, not to mention that he was also apparently disobedient and lacked good judgement. He knew what he had to do.
"Very well Belric." he said coldly, his face set. "You say my actions caused the people to call me a coward. Clearly you believe I am just that. You imply my 'cowardly actions' contributed to the carnage at the clay pits, despite the fact I was not present and had no say in the operations there. You leave me no choice but to resign as your Castellan. Give the post to Jon, or your wife. Let them lead the troops and govern your lands in your absence."
|
|
|
Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 8, 2016 6:12:02 GMT
"Don't be a fool," Belric said, his expression a mixture of shock and anger. "You would abandon me now, before I leave for Riverrun? Doing so would just prove everyone right about you." He sat back in his chair, hardly able to look at his brother. "I scold you because you are my little brother, and I know you can be better. You are the only one fit for the position, even our business savvy uncle does not know how to command men. But you must work together, and trust his advice as I have."
He forced himself to meet Edmure's eyes, "Do not fail this family, Edmure. You are no quitter."
|
|
|
Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 8, 2016 6:25:56 GMT
"A fool now. Another charge to add to my list of misdemeanors it appears."
Edmure shook his head in disbelief.
"No Belric. Even now you refuse to admit that you think I am a coward. You say I am also disobedient and I also lack judgement in your eyes. There is no point continuing as Castellan if you think those things."
|
|
|
Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 8, 2016 6:33:13 GMT
"You are only a fool if you resign, and you are only a coward if you run from your responsibilities. I think you are neither, but perhaps I am wrong."
|
|
|
Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 8, 2016 6:55:06 GMT
"I can't undertake my responsibilities as Castellan without your support. And I simply don't have it." retorted Edmure.
His eyes met Belric's.
"Go on. If you truly think I'm not a coward in regards to that fucking bear, say it now. Say it publicly. You implied my 'cowardly actions' contributed to the carnage at the clay pits. Does it? And give me a specific list of those orders I've disobeyed and those wishes I've disregarded."
|
|