Vex
Lord Paramount
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Posts - 938
Likes - 241
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Vex on Jul 5, 2016 1:05:14 GMT
Dacey looked at him impassively, wondering what had happened to the Edmure she'd once known. The 'man' before her now amounted to no more than a 10-year old child throwing a tantrum. Edmure had been many things, but up until today, Dacey wouldn't have pegged him for a liar. No matter. Jormun wasn't one, and he'd been at the woods with them.
She took a few steps closer to him until they were maybe two feet apart. This was already really embarassing and just maybe, by drawing the distance a little closer, not everyone would have to witness the following.
"I am not accusing you. I am telling it like it is. It is funny you should bring that up, though. After Hoster's men ran, what did you do? You ran right after them."
She paused a beat to let that sink in.
"As for the man, I'm well aware he kept his life. I saw him not two hours ago. I had to pierce both his lungs with my swords after he'd convinced half our men to fight for him. Do you want to know what he had to say about you?" she asked, looking him square in the eye, unable to notice Belric's "melting" stare in the process.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 5, 2016 1:31:05 GMT
Do you want to know what he had to say about you?" she asked, looking him square in the eye, unable to notice Belric's "melting" stare in the process. "I don't give two shits what a traitorous, cowardly, dead man said about me." Edmure hissed. "You know as well as I do what I was doing. You also know as well as I do what I did to slay that bear. I fought a war for four years, in untold skirmishes and assaults, including that of Riverrun. You'd think I'd run from a fucking bear?"
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Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
Posts - 938
Likes - 241
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Vex on Jul 5, 2016 1:50:45 GMT
It was almost as if Edmure didn't even realize half the lives he'd recently accused Dacey of throwing away had also belonged to traitorous and cowardly men. Calling them 'their men' had been a stretch as well, seeing as the majority of them had been Hoster's men. And now, her brother was for some reason listing his past activities? There was only so much bullshit Dacey could tolerate in the span of single day.
"Are you quite done?" she asked.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 5, 2016 2:11:32 GMT
"For the moment." he replied, bearing in mind Belric's words. "Unless you have more tales to tell."
He moved across to Willem, summoning a smile for his cousin.
"Well done by the way. You did what you had to do as well as the circumstances allowed."
His face set. "As you can see and hear, there's quite a bit of shit that needs to be sorted out."
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Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
Posts - 938
Likes - 241
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Vex on Jul 5, 2016 2:16:19 GMT
Without further ado, Dacey left for her quarters to get some rest, none of this having really helped with the unpleasant ache in her head.
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Jul 5, 2016 2:43:33 GMT
"For the moment." he replied. "Unless you have more tales to tell." He moved across to Willem, summoning a smile for his cousin. "Well done by the way. You did what you had to do as well as the circumstances allowed." His face set. "As you can see and hear, there's quite a bit of shit that needs to be sorted out." "Thank you, Ser Edmure." Willem replied, although there was a slight tightness to the reply. There had been to many unsatisfactorily answered allegations leveled against Edmure for Willem to view him in quite the same light. "I am sure that you and Lord Belric will prove more than capable of handling the problems you speak of."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 5, 2016 3:57:49 GMT
Edmure noticed Willem's reticence. He didn't know whether it was because of Dacey's accusations or not, but he thought he should set Willem straight on the matter.
Don't believe everything you hear Willem." he said in a low voice that no one else could hear.
"I sleep quite soundly at night satisfied my honor is intact. I did no more than what any commander would do when he has men fleeing the enemy. You cajole, entreat, threaten and on occasions physically force them to face their foe. When that bear attacked, Hoster's men fled without even attempting to lay a blade on it. It was left to my sister, Jormun and myself to destroy it. You yourself saw my wounds inflicted by the beast when I returned to the inn. As did others. Those who seek to blame me for this, using it as the reason to explain banditry in these parts, do so as a mask for their own shortcomings."
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Jul 5, 2016 4:36:31 GMT
Edmure noticed Willem's reticence. He didn't know whether it was because of Dacey's accusations or not, but he thought he should set Willem straight on the matter. Don't believe everything you hear Willem." he said in a low voice that no one else could hear. "I sleep quite soundly at night satisfied my honor is intact. I did no more than what any commander would do when he has men fleeing the enemy. You cajole, entreat, threaten and on occasions physically force them to face their foe. When that bear attacked, Hoster's men fled without even attempting to lay a blade on it. It was left to my sister, Jormun and myself to destroy it. You yourself saw my wounds inflicted by the beast when I returned to the inn. As did others. Those who seek to blame me for this, using it as the reason to explain banditry in these parts, do so as a mask for their own shortcomings." "I see." Willem replied, matching Edmure's quiet tone. He spoke with slightly less hesitance, although he resolved to speak with Dacey about it later to hear her account again, to contrast it with what Edmure said. "In that case this public destruction of your reputation was most unfortunate. You have my sympathies that your own sister would do such a thing to you." Willem thought for a moment more. It did make sense that Hoster's men would flee at the first signs of danger. They had turned on their allies at the clay pits after all. And presumably those attracted to Hoster's service would not be of upstanding character. Adding to that fact the reality that Dacey had recently lied to him in sending him away before the fight, whereas to the best of his knowledge Edmure had told him no untruths that he knew of, Willem supposed it made sense to allow Edmure the benefit of the doubt for the time being. "It is true that Hoster's men have a reputation of unreliability and betrayal. I suppose anyone would have been forced to do the same if put in the position you say you were."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 5, 2016 8:11:13 GMT
"It is true that Hoster's men have a reputation of unreliability and betrayal. I suppose anyone would have been forced to do the same if put in the position you say you were." It was clear Willem still had some doubt. "Hoster was almost proud of their reputation as opportunistic, stand-over men." replied Edmure. "I didn't trust them at all and certainly didn't regard them as friends. But unfortunately at the time that's all we had." He shrugged in apparent resignation. "I can say no more. My sister apparently needs regular reminding that I fought for four years in the war between Targaryen and Blackfyre. I commanded men in battle. I led assaults on holdfasts. I fought before the walls of Riverrun. If she chooses to misconstrue my actions on that hunt for her own purposes, then let her. I had no reason to fear that bear any more than any of the other enemies of King Daemon I have fought over the last few years. No one died on that hunt as a result of what I did or didn't do. And as you saw for yourself, I took my share of damage inflicted by the beast."
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Jul 5, 2016 17:48:39 GMT
It was clear Willem still had some doubt. "Hoster was almost proud of their reputation as opportunistic, stand-over men." replied Edmure. "I didn't trust them at all and certainly didn't regard them as friends. But unfortunately at the time that's all we had." He shrugged in apparent resignation. "I can say no more. My sister apparently needs regular reminding that I fought for four years in the war between Targaryen and Blackfyre. I commanded men in battle. I led assaults on holdfasts. I fought before the walls of Riverrun. If she chooses to misconstrue my actions on that hunt for her own purposes, then let her. I had no reason to fear that bear any more than any of the other enemies of King Daemon I have fought over the last few years. No one died on that hunt as a result of what I did or didn't do. And as you saw for yourself, I took my share of damage inflicted by the beast." Willem nodded. What Edmure was saying seemed right. How could a man rise to command from as lowly a house as the Blackforts had been if he were a coward? It didn't make sense. And he had seen Edmure's injuries, it had certainly looked like the man had fought a bear. "You have my trust, Edmure." Willem replied. "Although I fear a good many others appeared more convinced than I by Dacey's theatrics."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 5, 2016 23:15:41 GMT
"Dacey was ever the telltale, way back from when we children." he replied "Whenever she was in trouble, she sought to blame others."
Edmure shrugged again. "And as for what others think, let them think what they like. People believe what they want to believe. My warrior brother struck and imprisoned an unarmed Maester, who's probably never held a sword in his life, supposedly because of his attitude. Hoster, a perpetual drunk, murdered an old man in cold blood, when we arrived here. No doubt he was wine-sodden on the bandit hunt also. My sister's rashness and pride led to the deaths of more men than was necessary, despite the fact she knew that extra men were on the way to help her."
He paused...a look of exasperation briefly crossing his features. "Yet I am the villain."
He slapped Willem on the shoulder and smiled. "Enough of this. You and the men deserve a drink. I think I ought to visit Harrentown to see if I can find the family of the guardsmen who accompanied you on your scouting mission. Unfortunately it appears both were killed. Brothers, I seem to recall."
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Jul 5, 2016 23:41:59 GMT
"Dacey was ever the telltale, way back from when we children." he replied "Whenever she was in trouble, she sought to blame others." Edmure shrugged again. "And as for what others think, let them think what they like. People believe what they want to believe. Hoster murdered an old man in cold blood, when we arrived here. My warrior brother struck and imprisoned a unarmed Maester, who's probably never held a sword in his life, supposedly because of his attitude. My sister's rashness and pride led to the deaths of more men than was necessary, despite the fact she knew that extra men were on the way to help her." He paused...a look of exasperation briefly crossing his features. "Yet I am the villain." He slapped Willem on the shoulder and smiled. "Enough of this. You and the men deserve a drink. I need to visit Harrentown to see if I can find the family of the guardsmen who accompanied you on your scouting mission. Unfortunately it appears both were killed. Brothers, I seem to recall." "Lord Belric struck the Maester?" Willem replied incredulously. This was the first he had heard of that, although it certainly explained the disfiguration of the man's face. "The man is certainly unlikeable, but...well that simply isn't done, is it?" It seemed that Belric was a menace to the health of those around him. First Willem's poor toes, now this far less likeable man's face. Willem made note to ensure there was decent distance between himself and harrenhal's volatile lord the next time he became angry. "I suppose a drink would not be a poor idea. But I should come with you to find the family of the brothers first. I left them in Dacey's charge, which clearly was a mistake."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 5, 2016 23:58:52 GMT
Edmure nodded. "It seemed poor form from my brother, but you are right, the maester is an unlikeable fellow. It seems that we Blackforts are beneath his notice. Belric probably snapped at something he said or did that degraded my brother's position as Lord. What it was, I don't know exactly. Knowing what I do of the Maester, I can almost sympathize with Belric."
He began to walk towards the stables. "You're welcome to accompany me to Harrentown. Perhaps between the two of us we can offer suitable condolences. I have in mind offering some compensation as well." He suddenly turned as another more disturbing thought struck him. "Willem, was Hoster drunk at the bandit camp? He was supposed to be in command. I find it difficult to understand why my sister was giving the orders."
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Jul 6, 2016 0:16:09 GMT
Edmure nodded. "It seemed poor form from my brother, but you are right, the maester is an unlikeable fellow. It seems that we Blackforts are beneath his notice. Belric probably snapped at something he said or did that degraded my brother's position as Lord. What it was, I don't know exactly. Knowing what I do of the Maester, I can almost sympathize with Belric." He began to walk towards the stables. "You're welcome to accompany me to Harrentown. Perhaps between the two of us we can offer suitable condolences. I have in mind offering some compensation as well." He suddenly turned as another more disturbing thought struck him. "Willem, was Hoster drunk at the bandit camp? He was supposed to be in command. I find it difficult to understand why my sister was giving the orders." "The man is a pretentious fool." Willem replied. "But I would hesitate to beat the man charged it healing me. But I know not what lord Belric's reasons were, and as you have said they may have been good." "Thank know you for the opportunity to join you." Willem added. "I feel that it is only right that I come as they were under my command shortly before their death." "I was with Hoster only briefly." Willem said, beginning his destruction of Hoster's future of command carefully. "But from what I saw he was very much drunk, and very much not in command. Had Dacey not sent me away before the fight for no good reason, I would have told you it was a good thing she took charge. All that Hoster was doing was drinking and provoking disagreement between his own allies."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jul 6, 2016 0:45:22 GMT
Edmure rolled his eyes at Willem's information. "None of that surprises me." he remarked. "My uncle is a fool. I would have preferred to deal with the bandit situation myself, but my brother and his wife saw it differently and placed Hoster in command of the situation. That is their prerogative, but probably not the wisest course. Now we live with the consequences."
He began walking towards the stables again. "Let's get to Harrentown before dark. The townsfolk have enough reasons to have a dislike of Blackforts and we're about to give them another one. It might be prudent to take three or four men with us as back-up."
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