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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 7, 2016 23:45:02 GMT
Edmure grimaced as Ser Malcolm broke Violet's finger. He ground his teeth trying to rein in his rising temper.
"That was unworthy of you Ser." he said to Malcolm between gritted teeth.
He turned to the hooded man. "Perhaps before I give you my thanks, you should explain who you are, how you know me, why you ambushed us and what your intentions for us are. Seeing that we're all friends here and all."
He forced a insolent smile as he glanced around at their surroundings. "I hope that's not too many questions for you all at once. And may I also suggest you treat the lady here more gently. She obviously isn't aware of your particular rules, here in the Kingdom of the Cave."
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 8, 2016 2:06:44 GMT
Ser Malcolm replied by breaking Edmure's nose with a plate fist, as clearly the first lesson that only the robed figure was to be addressed had not been heeded.
"I don't believe you are in any position to take the moral high ground here, not after I watched a man hand you a sword and you display your gratitude by shoving the point in his gut," the robed figure replied, making it sound more commendation than condemnation. "But that is why you are here and not dead with the rest."
"As for your questions. I am a man who can help you, if you are smart enough to know to accept it. I do not know you truthfully, but my brother does in a sense, and I hope to get to know you better. What you call an ambush, I call a liberation, one carried out because a man with your talents would be wasted at the Wall. As for Lady Violet, I do not plan to harm another hair on her pretty head, but that is up to you."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 8, 2016 3:42:15 GMT
Two. Edmure silently resolved at some point to take Malcolm's own nose and shove it firmly up his ass, with or without it still attached to his head. Malcolm's pinky finger could join it. With or without being attached to his hand.
"He handed me my sword not to aid me, but in order to help save his own life." he replied. "I owed him nothing. He in turn would have killed me at a moment's notice, with as little pity as I showed him, had I resisted going to the Wall. The Wall is nothing more than a prolonged living death. I showed him more mercy by giving him a quick death, than he would have shown me."
He looked across at Violet...probably the one living family member who he still cared for. His cousin Willem he considered a friend, but he served his brother. His uncle Richard, one of the few men he admired, was far away in Kings Landing.
"You can help me?" he said sceptically, wondering who this brother the hooded man spoke of was. "How? All I see is some bandits hiding in a cave."
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 8, 2016 4:40:54 GMT
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, ser," the young robed man replied. "You could have killed him because you did not care for his haircut for all I care."
"If all you see is bandits hiding in a cave, then you are just another fool and I have no use for you," he chided. "Are castle-forged steel, plate armor, and barded destriers typical accouterments of bandits, or even hedge knights for that matter? Any dullard could reason that we have a patron, one that could see you risen to where you truly belong and given you what you deserve."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 8, 2016 5:56:57 GMT
"Well armed and supplied bandits." he said in reply, surmising that probably they were far more than that. He even had a faint suspicion of what they were about.
"Acting no doubt on behalf of someone who wishes harm to Harrenhal and its lord." he continued. "I'm sure the queue for wanting that, is long."
Edmure began to think that what the man was going to say should not be for the ears of Violet. The less she knew the safer she might be. He glanced across to his sister, who still seemed to be in shock from her sudden and unexpected injury. She didn't appear to be concentrating on him, so when he was sure she wasn't, he surreptitiously indicated to the hooded man through his head and eyeroll that one of them should be moved out of earshot of the other.
"My sister needs some medical attention for her finger." he suddenly announced to the hooded man. "I'd appreciate it greatly, my lord, if you could get someone to see it to it." The hooded man appeared intelligent, so Edmure hoped he would get the hint. Then they could talk openly.
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 8, 2016 6:18:16 GMT
(You will get a private board when I decide you need it. Still a while before we get to that point, if we get to that point.)
From the sheen of bright white teeth beneath the hood, it was clear he knew exactly what Edmure wanted. He just didn't care.
"A queue I assumed you would want to cut to the front of," the man mused, pacing the length of the cavern before the pair. "After he beat you within an inch of your life and cast you out for only doing your duty, after you avoided a war. A lord who does not appreciate leal service does not deserve the title. Do you not agree?"
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 8, 2016 8:07:16 GMT
(You will get a private board when I decide you need it. Still a while before we get to that point, if we get to that point.) From the sheen of bright white teeth beneath the hood, it was clear he knew exactly what Edmure wanted. He just didn't care. "A queue I assumed you would want to cut to the front of," the man mused, pacing the length of the cavern before the pair. "After he beat you within an inch of your life and cast you out for only doing your duty, after you avoided a war. A lord who does not appreciate leal service does not deserve the title. Do you not agree?" "Your informants serve you well." said Edmure carefully. "It is true I am unlikely to forgive the Lord of Harrenhal for sentencing me to the Wall not to mention his beating. I mean to make him regret both those decisions - one way or the other." (OOC: I meant IC, not a private board. IC Violet can obviously at the moment hear everything I say, unless she is moved out of earshot).
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Nov 8, 2016 18:52:21 GMT
Violet had been sobbing as she cradled her injured finger. Her cries died down as she listened to the men talking, though she was still in extreme pain, having never broken any bones as a child. She knew now that they were in a dangerous position, possibly, judging by the bandit leader's hints, a situation even more dangerous than the Wall. Yet in her eyes exile to the Wall was a terrible fate and there might be a chance for Edmure, now.
"My lord," she said to the hooded man. "I would like to say something. When Edmure told me what our brother had done to him, I was shocked and sickened. I didn't know, until then, how little I truly know Belric."
She paused to gather her thoughts for a moment.
"Belric doesn't care about Edmure, but I do. If you are planning to offer him an alternative to the Wall, I think he should take it. A chance to make something of himself is better than dying among strangers in the frozen North."
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 8, 2016 19:41:51 GMT
"Well that just warms my heart," the hooded man remarked, placing a hand on his own chest. "Did you hear that Ser Edmure? Did you hear what a supportive sister you have? She wants you to take this chance, to be who you were meant to be. You know, it is so valuable to have family that supports the important decisions in your life. I envy you, ser."
"And fortunately I mean to give you the opportunity to make Lord Belric regret not being there for you. I hear he had a tourney coming up. I had intended to do the dirty work myself, but I am required elsewhere and these poor sods need a leader, a guiding hand. So you see, it was serendipitous of us to have you delivered here in our time of need."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 8, 2016 19:47:40 GMT
"He had a tourney coming up." replied Edmure, emphasising the 'had'. The tourney required a wedding and....", he glanced across to Violet, "....the bride happens to be in front of you. But I'll wager you knew that already."
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 8, 2016 20:25:02 GMT
"You would have lost that wager. That is troubling news," he feigned ignorance, sounding truly concerned. "We will have to get her back in time for her big day. When is she suspected back?"
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Nov 8, 2016 20:36:19 GMT
"I had no time to tell Belric I was going with Edmure, because we left in a rush," Violet admitted. " My plan was to bid farewell to Edmure at Harroway's Town, my lord. And please, is there nobody to tend to my finger?"
Her broken finger hurt quite a lot and she was disturbed by the way it looked. She looked imploringly at their captor.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 8, 2016 20:42:37 GMT
Edmure threw the hooded man a sceptical look, but he shrugged.
"I was on my to The Wall." he said sardonically. "I didn't enquire of Belric what time he wanted his sister back home for her big day. Not that I really cared either. I have a sneaking suspicion I wasn't going to be invited."
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 8, 2016 21:01:56 GMT
"Then it seems like he would not expect you back from the Wall for two months," the hooded man replied to Violet, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "That was terribly inconsiderate, what with your brother likely toiling away preparing for your big day, getting your dowry together. These events should bring a family together, yet you did not even take the time to tell him when to expect your return. If Lord Blackfort was not an obstacle in need of removal, I would be terribly disappointed with you, Violet." He pointedly ignored her request for medical treatment.
"Even so, a dutiful brother would see to it that his sister returns home and conveniently we have a message to send Belric that she will be perfect to deliver," he drew a fine dagger from his robes and tossed it down in front of Edmure, its the distinctive rippled patterns on its blade marking it as Valyrian steel. "Would you mind writing it for me? My penmanship is atrocious."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 8, 2016 21:12:48 GMT
"I don't really write with a dagger very well." replied Edmure, that all too recently familiar wave of stubbornness engendered by anger at the man's evasiveness beginning to rise in him.
"I find it rips the parchment a tad. Makes it hard to read you see. You sure you don't have ink here in this cave? Ink as I'm sure you know is generally black. The contrast between that and the lightness of the parchment is quite wonderful in effectively communicating the written word. I highly recommend it."
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