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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 31, 2016 1:08:32 GMT
Edmure glanced at his companions.
"Very well Sers. As you will not shift on your terms, I shall need to consult further with Lord Roger on this matter. This is his village and he should have a say in what happens to it. You shall have your answer within the hour."
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Aug 31, 2016 1:37:31 GMT
"Don't need an hour," Vance spoke up. "Leave it to the gods. Of the three options it's the only one that gets me my village back."
Smallwood seemed to finally notice Willem.
"Rivers?" he asked, mix of curious and affable . "That you lad? What the blazes are you doing here...and on that side of the bridge?"
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Aug 31, 2016 6:00:48 GMT
"It is, my Lord." Willem replied, allowing what he hoped would be taken as a friendly smile. "Although I wish our paths were crossing in better circumstances. I meant no disrespect to you in leaving, but I thought I ought to join my kin after the war ended."
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Sept 2, 2016 14:50:42 GMT
"Your family?" Smallwood inquired, baffled, before chucking to himself. "Forgive me, but that is terribly poor fortune. Well, if this comes to blood lad, remember you can't choose your family but you can choose your friends."
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Sept 2, 2016 21:30:48 GMT
"Your family?" Smallwood inquired, baffled, before chucking to himself. "Forgive me, but that is terribly poor fortune. Well, if this comes to blood lad, remember you can't choose your family but you can choose your friends." Willem thought it would be quite a terrible thing to not only make matters worse for Edmure but then switch sides leaving the Castellan to face the consequences of his actions alone. But he couldn't well say that. "My lord, when you made me a knight, you charged me in the name of the mother and the maiden to defend the young and innocent and to protect women." Willem replied his caution making him appear to lack confidence. "I bear you no ill will, my lord, and know you to be a good man. Yet when we arrived here we found knights in your service abusing the smallfolk and raping their children. I hope you will understand why I would not wish to count those who serve you amongst my friends."
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Sept 4, 2016 17:14:53 GMT
"That is troubling news, Ser," Smallwood replied, thoughtfully, as he waited for Harrenhal's castellan to make a decision. "But you were there in Riverrun with us, with many of the men in that very tavern. You know better than most that the oath is an ideal, the enamel of our armor, and war chips it away in even the best of men."
"You have my word that I will see justice carried out on my lands. In Armistead's Crossing, that is the responsibility of the Vances and their masters in Harrenhal no longer."
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Sept 4, 2016 22:13:03 GMT
"True enough, my lord." Willem replied. "But I saw no war in that village. Only knights abusing the innocent. I do not doubt you speak truthfully when you promise justice, but whether house Blackfort accepts your claim to these lands is not my decision to make." Saying that, he looked to Edmure, wondering what the man would opt for.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Sept 5, 2016 14:30:18 GMT
"It is clear Lord Vance does not accept Lord Smallwood's claim to this village." Edmure shrugged. "But at the same time he appears to want to accept the Gods' judgement in this matter. Then let it be so."
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Post by The Gambler on Sept 5, 2016 14:45:19 GMT
"After 5 years of war, old habits die hard and innocents become as rare as knights worthy of song," Smallwood replied to Willem, idealism giving way to realism.
"Very well," Piper answered Edmure. "Choose your champion and I will choose mine. Let the matter be decided at midday on this very bridge."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Sept 5, 2016 23:42:21 GMT
Edmure nodded his agreement.
He wheeled his horse, indicating that Willem and Vance should follow him back to their own side of the bridge to where their men waited on the river bank.
Once there he summoned Willis to their small gathering "A champion." he said, looking around at Willem, Lord Vance and Willis. "Unless you have any other suitable candidates I'm unaware of, it cannot be any other than one of the four of us."
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Sept 6, 2016 0:30:26 GMT
Willem favoured Smallwood with a brief nod as they parted, before he wheeled his mount after Edmure.
"I will fight, if you deem me the best choice." Willem replied solemly after Edmure said his piece. "But I do not favour myself, in the state I'm in."
He moved his shield to the side as he said so, so those who had not had the chance to look at his damaged armor and the broken ribs that obviously lay beneath it might have the chance to do so.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Sept 6, 2016 2:40:47 GMT
It had been four days since the fight in the peasant's hut and while it would have been a satisfactory outcome if Willem could have fought to make up for the killing of the Piper knight, Edmure could see that Willem fighting hurt would do little to increase their chances of victory. He therefore accepted Willem's assessment of his current state.
Edmure's gaze turned to Willis and Lord Vance looking each squarely in the eye. It was they who had either pushed for a fight or pushed for a swift resolution to the dispute, other than through negotiation or strategic retreat as he himself had favored. He wondered if their actions would match their words.
"Well Sers?"
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Sept 6, 2016 15:19:58 GMT
"It would not be the first time or even the dozenth time I have fought and bled for these lands," Vance replied, evenly, "But I guarantee your Piper and Smallwood will not be taking the field themselves. Pragmatically, it makes little sense to risk a lord against a knight, and it would send a stronger message to your vassals for the Blackforts to establish they are willing to fight and bleed for their banners." He gave Edmure a pointed look.
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Post by Ser Willis Blackfort on Sept 6, 2016 20:06:48 GMT
"Edmure, you want me to fight, I'll fight," Willis answered, "But I still got holes in me from them bandits that ain't healed yet." By way of demonstration, he extended his right arm, wincing well before it was fully stretched out. "I can kill rabble from horseback right now, sure. That's the most I was expecting when I came along. As I said, I'll do it if you want. But the boy here," He nodded toward Willem, "He's likely your best odds."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Sept 7, 2016 11:44:44 GMT
"It would not be the first time or even the dozenth time I have fought and bled for these lands," Vance replied, evenly, "But I guarantee your Piper and Smallwood will not be taking the field themselves. Pragmatically, it makes little sense to risk a lord against a knight, and it would send a stronger message to your vassals for the Blackforts to establish they are willing to fight and bleed for their banners." He gave Edmure a pointed look. Edmure would have laughed out loud at Vance's words, were the situation not so serious. His eyes, blazing with a barely disguised fury met Roger's. "So you say you wish to leave it to the Gods, but will not champion your own cause. Despite you being the least hindered of the four of us. And I believe it is your duty for fight and bleed for our banners, not the other way around." he said between clenched teeth. "And you dare to call me craven. To me, it would seem most suitable option that the Lords Smallwood and Vance should fight for the village. They both have a claim, the dispute is between them, they both want the duel." He thought for a moment. His own injuries were worse than both Willis' and Willem's, otherwise he would have fought himself. "If Lord Roger will not agree to meet Lord Smallwood this day, then have no choice, given the state of our other potential champions present, including myself, but to ask for a delay to summon a suitable champion from Harrenhal to meet Lord Piper's champion. Or alternatively I myself will fight Lord Piper's heir on the bridge at an agreed time, when my own wounds are healed. What say you Sers?"
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