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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 6, 2016 5:18:00 GMT
Belric sends a servant to retrieve Jormun Rivers. Belric awaits his bastard brother's arrival patiently, occupied by the maps of Riverrun in his solar.
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Jormun Rivers
Guardsman
He's probably with Dacey.
Posts - 303
Likes - 126
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Jormun Rivers on Jul 8, 2016 20:42:40 GMT
Jormun arrives after only a few minutes, having been wandering outside of the tower as he decided what to do with his day. Well dressed in his ranging outfit, Jormun enters the solar and bows to the Lord. "You have need of me, Lord Belric?"
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 9, 2016 0:30:32 GMT
"Jormun," Belric said while walking over to meet his brother. "You made good time."
"I wanted to talk to you, some new things have come to light recently and you may be the only one who can set me right." Belric offered Jormun a seat before walking over to his own chair. "Tell me what happened on the last hunt, when you were wounded by that bear."
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Jormun Rivers
Guardsman
He's probably with Dacey.
Posts - 303
Likes - 126
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Jormun Rivers on Jul 9, 2016 4:44:27 GMT
Jormun grinned at his brother, although it faltered as he took the offered seat and listened. "We were making good time on our hunt and heading out of the woods when a bear cub came up and brushed against Edmure's leg, and the group paused. As we began to move away again, we heard a roar and Olaf came full charge from the trees. One of Hoster's men panicked and shouted to run, and Edmure grabbed one of them by the shoulder and threw him in front of himself, towards the bear, before running. Edmure yelled for us to scatter, but Dacey and I drew our bows and fired at the bear. I only had time to glance back twice while I was reloading, but Hoster's boys beat Edmure to the horses, stealing two and killing the third." Jormun grumbled quietly under his breath, slowly shaking his head. "Bastards."
"By the time Edmure turned to fight, Dacey and I were already in close combat with the bear. Normal hunts, especially bear hunts, use hounds to corral and distract the bear, but I chose to be the focus instead. Needless to say, I wasn't always fast enough. First time, it caught my side with it's claws. Tore through my chain like warm butter. Second time, it caught my leg in it's mouth. Dacey is the only reason any of us are alive. I still haven't had the time to thank her for that."
Pausing his recounting of the story, Jormun looks his brother in the eyes with another shake of his head. "I don't know what Edmure's plan was, but when that bear showed up, two of us stood and fought. Two. Out of five. I got to lay in a bed for weeks because they ran, whatever their reasons."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 9, 2016 5:10:45 GMT
Belric listened to Jormun's story intently. There had been so much going on when they first came to Harrenhal, Belric was disappointed he had not followed up further with his siblings. When Jormun reached the part regarding Edmure's attempted escape, Belric had trouble finding a way to blame his true born brother. His story had been corroborated, Edmure having thrown Hoster's man when he tried to run.
"You are a brave man, a true Blackfort in everything but name. That was a hell of a beating you took to save our family. I do not want to insult you by questioning what happened, but is it possible that Edmure ordered you to scatter figuring you would follow? Why would he turn back to fight the bear if he intended to leave you there?"
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Jormun Rivers
Guardsman
He's probably with Dacey.
Posts - 303
Likes - 126
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Jormun Rivers on Jul 9, 2016 5:25:30 GMT
"It is possible that he wanted all of us to run, but that is not the Blackfort way. When you found yourself face to face with Bloodraven, you did not cower and flee, so Dacey and I would not dishonor our family by backing down from a bear, no matter how large. He did not turn until the horses were no longer an option- maybe he saw us fighting and changed his mind. Maybe he didn't want to walk back alone to Harrenhal unharmed and find out that Dacey and I had killed it, or died trying. As I said, I do not know what his plan was, but he did help us fight the bear in the end. We might not be here otherwise."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 9, 2016 6:00:44 GMT
"You are right, we do not run. However, I cannot fault Edmure for having to find his courage, for whatever reason. If he deserted you, that would be one thing. Yet both you and Dacey tell me you could be dead had it not been for his help." Belric rubbed at his chin, finding the situation more complicated than he would have liked. "Thank you for telling me this."
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Jormun Rivers
Guardsman
He's probably with Dacey.
Posts - 303
Likes - 126
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Jormun Rivers on Jul 9, 2016 17:35:53 GMT
"Find his courage? He fought in the war like us, and likely in worse conditions than I did. If a big bear is enough to send him into a panic, I do not want him by my side in a real battle. I am sorry, brother, but that is my honest thought on the matter. He cannot be trusted by either of us, now. I hope that I am wrong."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 9, 2016 19:27:38 GMT
"I will take what you have said into consideration. Be mindful however, Edmure is castellan and will be ruling Harrenhal in me stead while Lady Saesha and I are in Riverrun." Belric felt like there was a piece to the puzzle missing, though he could not figure out what exactly. "Do you have some other reasons for why you don't trust Edmure that you aren't sharing with me? I was not there in the woods with you, and have to reserve my judgement. He swears he was attempting to stop the bandits from fleeing. From what you told me there is nothing to falsify Edmure's story."
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Jormun Rivers
Guardsman
He's probably with Dacey.
Posts - 303
Likes - 126
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Jormun Rivers on Jul 10, 2016 4:38:32 GMT
"Fortunately, my work preparing the bear pit will have me out of Harrenhal while you are gone, then. Edmure claimed that he was running for his horse, as his knightly training taught him. I can't trust him because when two of us fought, he- in complete plate armor- ran for the horses. He had to have known that it would be upon us by the time he could mount, ready, and charge, making it almost entirely pointless. He should have turned to fight with us as soon as he saw it closing in, not when the horses were dead and he had no other option." Jormun ran his hands through his hair, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Unfortunately, what you have is the word of two against the word of one. I do not envy your position, brother."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 10, 2016 6:11:02 GMT
"I do not disagree with you. If there was one man who should have faced that bear without fear it was Edmure." Belric got up and poured a chalice full of wine for each of them. "However, it is as you say. I cannot punish him based on intention. He turned back and helped slay the beast, that is the only truth I am certain of."
Belric took a large gulp of the sweet wine, "What will you be needing for the hunt?"
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Jormun Rivers
Guardsman
He's probably with Dacey.
Posts - 303
Likes - 126
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Jormun Rivers on Jul 10, 2016 18:15:20 GMT
Jormun drank the wine slowly, staring into the dark liquid for a moment as he thought. "Hounds, the best that we have. Half a dozen experienced men, a dozen if we're not sure about them. Horses for all of us, although two will be on foot. And Dacey needs to be there, as well."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 11, 2016 4:21:06 GMT
"I do not think we have a kennel master yet, but if you can find the hounds, be my guest. The men are yours, though I cannot promise Dacey will join you. Better ask her yourself." Belric finished his wine, refilling his glass without skipping a beat. He had been drinking for a while now, and was begging to feel the effects.
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Jormun Rivers
Guardsman
He's probably with Dacey.
Posts - 303
Likes - 126
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Jormun Rivers on Jul 11, 2016 7:22:26 GMT
"Thank you, my Lord. I'll be speaking with Dacey once we're done, so I will ask her then. I would pay close attention to her, brother. Our sister faced that bear down without a second's hesitation. Even fired before I did." Jormun scratched where his beard would be, chuckling. "Woman's after my job, eh?"
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 11, 2016 7:30:20 GMT
"I don't think I've ever seen her run away from something, only forward." Belric shrugged. "If she had been born a man she would have made the fieriest of knights. I fear for her husband, where ever that poor soul may be." Belric raised his glass in a mock salute for the unnamed gentleman who would be forced to take Dacey's hand. He laughed, from deep within his belly, a smile running from ear to ear.
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