Lady Dacey's Court

[Ethan Flatrivers]

While the Lady rules Harrenhal she takes petitions here.

[Ethan Flatrivers]

///

Ethan arrives at the great hall. He is very sorry the lady is mourning her brother or lover or he already forgot who the kid was. He bows. "My lady," he said. "I am Ethan Flatriver, once of Maidenpool, late of Lord Bittersteel's Enforcers. I have come to offer my...assistance to your cause. Word has reached my ears that trouble from your neighbors has arisen, and I think I can help." He offers a letter from the Hand's office affirming his service.

[Vex]

[OOC: When is this? It'd have to be after Nyles' funeral.]

Seated on the lord's chair in Belric's absence, Dacey was indeed wearing black. Then again, she usually was. She studied the man briefly and extended a hand for the document. "You've come as a sellsword?" she inquired, reading the letter and trying to determine whether it was legitimate.

[42 Observation]

[Ethan Flatrivers]

3rd month, 5th day.

Sellsword, he thought to himself with horror. What a..."not exactly, my lady," he said agreeably. "If I do my work properly, the need for garrisons and the like are much less essential to the proper security of the region." Women seldom appreciated his work, which he understood; terror is in general a distinctly masculine art. "I fought Lord Tully and his goons for many years and I don't think the old stodger will suddenly be all friendly." He shrugged. "I do bad things for a good reason," he paraphrased.

[The Raven]

(Success.)
The writ appears very legitimate. Dacey is hardly a close companion of the King's Hand and would have no idea what his handwriting looks like, but it has much in common with the same writ naming her family masters of Harrenhal.

[Vex]

Dacey understood very well the necessity and advantages spies and saboteurs offered. She just didn't like beating around the bush.

"Don't we all," she said, handing back the letter. "I assume you mean to swear fealty to my brother, then?"

[Ethan Flatrivers]

"Was my plan," he agreed. "Unless you prefer I swear to you, m'lady," he offered. "I have heard stories o'you, I think. The one who fought all over with the king. Always figured you were a myth." He shrugged. "Nice to see pleasant surprises now and again."

[Vex]

"Lots of people fought with the king," she said. "As I'm sure you've noticed, my brother is not present, but we always have room for skilled people. You can swear it to me as a proxy or wait for his return. Your call."

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Ethan nodded and knelt. "My lady, I swear fealty to House Blackfort for as long as it has use of me." His freshly shaved face itched. He hoped she wasn't too big on ceremony.

[Vex]

Dacey made note of the guards and the sparse courtiers in the hall as they would all be witnesses.

"Do you swear it by the Old Gods and the New?" she asked him.

[Ethan Flatrivers]

"The Old Gods and the new," he agreed. "By ice and fire and earth and sky." As a mercenary he had never sworn a vow for longer than a few years. Fealty was not so much in his nature.

[Vex]

Dacey was quiet for a few moments, her expression unreadable. "As the people in this hall bear witness, House Blackfort accepts your pledge of fealty and offers to treat you accordingly. Now... did you have anything particular in mind for the Smallwood problem?" she asked.

[Ethan Flatrivers]

"I'm not overly familiar with the situation," he said. "I heard about it thirty minutes ago. I came here expecting something of the sort to occur, though. And my solutions are not for public places," he said quietly. "But I think If the situation warrants it some solutions can be found."

[Vex]

"Fair enough. If you believe you can help, I suggest you make your way down to Armistead's Crossing and present your ideas to my brother Edmure," she said, giving him the chance to prove himself to their family. "Tell him you've sworn fealty to our house. Showing him Aegor Rivers' letter might not hurt."

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Ethan smiled a bit and nodded. "Of course, Ser Edmure," he said, repeating the name. He puts his letter back in its leather case. "I shall be along presently." He bows one last time and makes his way out.