The Inn of the Kneeling Man

[The Gambler]

"I have," Bracken replied, tapping the carnelian in his signet ring on the trestle table. "I can only assume he had those who needed to swear or reswear their oaths come staggered. I can hardly fault him for this. Best not to have five traitors and their retinues housed in your keep at one time."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"What can you tell me of the state in which you found Riverrun and Lord Tully?" Harys had Belric's fully attention, if the tavern were to catch flame he would hardly be the first to notice.

[The Gambler]

"Riverrun stands battered, but proud, little different from its master," Harys replied, meeting Belric's gaze. "The old fish is stubborn, formidable, a good lord but a petty man. Yet even he knows there is little to be gained in swimming against the current now."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Belric nodded, Lord Bracken's description of Medgar rang true to memory. "What of his family? Lord Tully may see reason in bending the knee, but that doesn't mean everyone will follow suit."

[The Gambler]

"That brother of his hardly pleased, but I can hardly fault him for that," Harys remarked, seeming to weigh the matter in his mind. "After warring for this long, some men don't know how to leave the battlefield behind. Still, Tully keeps his house in order. One doesn't hold out in a siege for as long as he did without being able to make that claim."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"I have been soldiering since I was young, I understand what it is like to know little else." There was nothing sentimental about his statement, he spoke frankly. "Do you have any advice for me? I'd like to handle this swiftly, so the Lady and I get back to work."

[The Gambler]

"My advice would be to do just that," Bracken counseled. "Do not mince words, do not tell the man what he already knows. Tully had no patience for either. Other than that, I can not tell you what to expect. Despite being enemies during the war, Medgar and I always shared a grudging respect for one another. You lack the same inroads. I would go in expecting the worst and pray you are pleasantly surprised."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"Thank you Lord Harys, I intend to do just that." Belric nodded appreciatively, signaling a bar maiden to fetch the table a round of ale. "How are things within your borders now that the war is over? My bastard brother has been singing praise of your horses. I would be remiss to not take advantage of our chance meeting to discuss breeding rights with you."

[Tim of Raventree]

Violet was about to send Tya to fetch her a meal when she was suddenly aware that it would not be at all appropriate for her to dine alone. Yet she shrank from intruding upon Lord Harys, after all, she was not acquainted with him in the slightest. And yet her status as Belric's sister ought to be enough to justify her presence at the table, little though she liked the prospect of intruding. She glanced at her maid with a little sigh.

"Come Tya, it's time we took refreshment. Would you be good enough to order me a meal, and one for yourself?"

With that she stepped forward and smiled at Belric and Saesha, wishing desperately that her hair were not damp, though she had rubbed out as much of the water as she could manage.

"This is quite the finest inn I have ever been able to visit," she said quietly to the group. "Please, may I join you? I don't want to sit by myself."

[The Gambler]

"Seeing as my borders have recently expanded, they are excellent," Bracken replied, looking quite pleased at the thought. It was well known that Battle Valley and the village of Blackbuckle, hotly contested for centuries between the Brackens and Blackwoods, had been granted to the former for their service in the war. "Though I doubt my neighbors will stay silent for long. They never do." It did not take a great leap of logic to surmise which neighbor he was speaking of.

"Then your brother has some sense. Everyone knows we breed the finest steeds on the continent," he said with pride. "Are you looking to breed destriers or coursers?"

When Violet interrupted, Harys gruffly motioned for another one of his retinue to depart the table and make space for the lady.

[Benjen Blackfort]

Benjen wrapped his cloak tighter around himself, a modest barrier to the pouring rain. "Well fuck if the god's aren't just pissing all over us today," Ben commented to whatever poor bastard he had pulled onto this duty with him. He looked ahead and saw nothing but more rain. He wished he was inside with the uncommonly good ale. But at least Ben had taken the precaution, as always, of keeping some moderately shitty wine in his wineskin. He took a drink of it and passed it to the guardsman next to him. "Sorry about the shit duty," Ben said in commiseration. "Ain't think I've got a chance to know you yet. What's your story?"

[Charm: 50]

[Tim of Raventree]

Violet seated herself at the table, offering a smile to the man who had been obliged to give up his seat. She settled down to listen to the conversation.

[Barley]

As Harys and her husband talked about Horses, a topic she couldn't care less about, she engaged the man to his side. "How have the roads felt?" She asked, "did you come across much trouble on the way to or from Riverrun?"

[The Gambler]

"River Road was clear enough" one of Bracken's knights, presumably the captain of his guard, replied. "Always washed out around the bend of the Red Fork in heavy storms. Probably why the inn was built here, despite its lofty claims. As for their safety, path from here to Riverrun was clear as we saw it. If there's one thing Lords Bracken and Medgar have in common, it's that they both know where the sturdiest hanging trees grow. Anyone notorious or foolish enough to risk attacking a party as large as yours is swinging by now, least in these parts."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"My brother knows his horses," replied Belric. "Destriers are the obvious breeding choice, not only for my personal cavalry, but for the financial boon as well."

Belric turned to his sister as she took a seat at the table, "Lord Bracken, allow me to introduce my sister, Violet Blackfort."