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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 16, 2016 3:30:26 GMT
If Edmure was surprised to see Saesha, he didn't show it.
"My lady." he said more formally than perhaps was necessary. However he reasoned that he barely knew his brother's new wife, so perhaps his formal tone was appropriate after all.
He watched with some inward incredulity at Belric's seeming acceptance of his wife's choice of book and page, although once again his expression remained impassive.
Edmure took the cup of ale from his brother and nodded his thanks. He took a draught and set it down, before seating himself in a chair opposite Belric.
"I thought it was time we talked Belric. As your castellan, I need to know more about your plans for this place. I also think it high time that we began examining our surroundings and getting to know our vassals better. I'm hearing disturbing stories of bandits operating in their lands and around the Gods Eye. If we are to bring order to this place, we need to take swift action. There are enough of our family combing through Harrenhal itself, so I've come to offer my services in exploring beyond the castle and dealing with these bandits."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 16, 2016 5:56:54 GMT
The sight of Saesha lifted Belric, if only for a moment. He was taken with his bride, however he was not happy about having to read. She seemed to take to it naturally, falling into a book with easy, the case was not the same for Belric. He glared at the newest book she held in her hand, counting the days of his life he would be losing to words on a page.
"And what is the title of this one?" He asked his wife, glancing over at the page she suggested. She tended to put interesting passages in front of him, making the process a little easier.
Belric listened as his brother spoke, taking a much needed break from reading. It was good to see Edmure's dedication, he had always been one to rise to the challenge. However, like Edmure suggested, it was time they got on the right page. "You wish to go hunting for bandits? Let Jormun or Willis handle that, there are things that require your attention here. We are living in a shell of a castle, full of rotting corpses and empty towers. You are the Castellan are you not? We must make a home out of Harrenhal, turn it into a symbol for the Riverlands. This castle has a thousand problems and we are going to fix them all, starting with that front gate."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 16, 2016 9:18:36 GMT
Belric listened as his brother spoke, taking a much needed break from reading. It was good to see Edmure's dedication, he had always been one to rise to the challenge. However, like Edmure suggested, it was time they got on the right page. "You wish to go hunting for bandits? Let Jormun or Willis handle that, there are things that require your attention here. We are living in a shell of a castle, full of rotting corpses and empty towers. You are the Castellan are you not? We must make a home out of Harrenhal, turn it into a symbol for the Riverlands. This castle has a thousand problems and we are going to fix them all, starting with that front gate." "Not just hunting for bandits." replied Edmure, looking his brother in the eye. "Visiting our vassals, finding out their dispositions towards us, their concerns, their resources, their defences. That is all part of what a Castellan needs to know. And when better to find out these things when Harrenhal's Lord is in residence, dealing in person with the problems here. When you are required elsewhere, I will need to not only impose law and order here at Harrenhal but also impose the law... your law....on our lands and our vassals on your behalf. The more I know the better I can fulfill my duties." Edmure leant back in his seat. "You have servants to deal with many of the problems here. Masons to rebuild the gate and walls. Maidservants to clean rooms. Servants to move and bury corpses. Indeed who knows. Some of the very people we need to fix problems here...." he waved his hand towards the windows, "....may be out there."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 16, 2016 18:44:10 GMT
Belric listened as Edmure spoke, "I do not disagree with any one particular point. You must be well informed to rule in my stead. However, that does not requires you to make the journey personally. I will be instructing our uncle, Jon, to work as an abassador for House Blackfort. He has a way with words and an understanding of nobility that you and I have never fully grasped. I am curious though, which of our vassals do you wish to visit, brother? What would you say on my behalf?"
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Barley
High Lord
Posts - 809
Likes - 166
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Barley on Jun 16, 2016 20:01:41 GMT
"Has my husband not explained what a Castellan is to you? Perhaps he should have before you accepted." She said, with a fake smile of understanding as she stroked her thumb over Belric's back, "your only concern is for the castle when your lord and lady are not present. It is not a job that involves visiting our vassals or checking their defences. If you wish to do your job properly, Edmure,you should concentrate on learning how this castle works. If you wish to put your mind to that end, we have a bath house of child corpses that could do with your attention."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 16, 2016 21:45:47 GMT
Belric did not interrupt Saesha as she scolded Edmure, if it bothered him he did no show it. Belric had no intention of letting his brother galavant himself around as the new face of Harrenhal. There was far too much work that needed to be done in the castle, and Edmure's dismissal of his duties did well to annoy Belric.
Instead, Belric put his hand on Saesha's leg. A simple gesture to let Edmure know where he stood on the issue.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 17, 2016 2:48:14 GMT
Belric listened as Edmure spoke, "I do not disagree with any one particular point. You must be well informed to rule in my stead. However, that does not requires you to make the journey personally. I will be instructing our uncle, Jon, to work as an abassador for House Blackfort. He has a way with words and an understanding of nobility that you and I have never fully grasped. I am curious though, which of our vassals do you wish to visit, brother? What would you say on my behalf?" "I would visit all of our vassals. Although Lord Butterwell is in Kings Landing acting in his capacity as Master of Coin." replied Edmure. "Jon, of course would be a good choice, but I am not without my own powers of persuasion. Send him with me. And why should I go? Because you are here, setting Harrenhal to rights." Edmure looked towards Saesha. "I know what a castellan does my lady. You're right. My only concern is for the castle when the lord and lady are not present. But you are present. As such, I had concluded that either you or my brother would have already given the order to have the bathhouse cleansed. If that was my task, then that shall happen the moment I leave here. So far I have taken stock of the granary and the treasury and wish to know further how best we may fill both. That involves some knowledge of what happens on our lands and knowledge of threats that may slow or stop that." He picked up his cup and swirled the contents thoughtfully. "Added to that, we also need to locate and re-open the quarries. I don't need to tell you that the castle is in a state of disrepair. While we have plenty of rubble, the mason tells me we do not have enough stone to make the repairs that are needed. As castellan, this concerns me and I believe we would be in accord in seeing this addressed as soon as possible. He sat back and looked from one to the other. "Another reason for me to explore and find out about our new lands."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 17, 2016 6:29:14 GMT
"No." Belric said directly, remaining calm while he spoke. "It is your duty to look after this castle. Every day. Regardless of wether I am present or not. Staff this fortress, fortify our defenses, and protect my subjects. When I travel next, I will decided if you are ready to assuming my rule in my absence." He sat forward in his chair, one elbow propped up on the desk. "And let me tell you Edmure, insisting you traipse through the lordships of the Riverlands while exploring is not the right way to convince me. What do you think is going to happen? These men, nobility who've supported Targaryen rule for generations, are going to be thankful to recieve the brother of Harrenhal's new riverrat lord? Do you not think they would be insulted I didn't go myself, or that they were not instead invited here?"
Belric gave Edmure a knowing look, glaring at him through squinted eyes. "I know you have your connections Edmure, your... whisperers. Use them to find the answers to your questions. Learn where our vassal's loyalties lie, but do it from within our lands."
He looked like he had said all he wanted too, but then added, "You do however have my permision to do a survey of our countryside. Take an appropriate guard, and any of our family that wishes to accompany you." Belric caught himself. "...Anyone except for Violet or Hoster."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 17, 2016 7:26:18 GMT
Edmure sat impassive for a moment. "Very well brother." he said finally. He shrugged his shoulders, knowing that he had got what he essentially wanted. He rose, knowing that there was little more to discuss.
"By the way I wasn't insisting Belric. I'm asking." he said after draining the rest of his cup. "If you had intended to invite our vassals to Harrenhal to meet with them yourself, then I was unaware of such plans. It is a prudent action. In any case, my first task is to find a source of stone to use so that we can begin to make significant repairs to the walls and gates."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 17, 2016 16:36:43 GMT
"In time, we will make a show of what we have done here. A tournament in honor of the King will do well to establish our name, and give us the chance to politic from our home instead of living by the grace of another Lord. However much needs to be done before then, and we must build up the economy to support such an event. Right now Harrentown is populated by bitter men and the elderly. We must work towards increasing our population and turn this castle into a city."
"Return to Harrenhal in two weeks time." Belric waved a hand dismissively, "And send the mason to find the stone, surveying for rock is hardly a task suited for the lord's brother.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 17, 2016 22:39:37 GMT
"Two weeks will be plenty." said Edmure. "A dozen men should be enough including myself. Willem Rivers will be another."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 17, 2016 23:27:55 GMT
"See if you can't convince your sister to go with you as well." Belric didn't feel the need to reference which of his sisters would be better suited for a wilderness scout. Getting up from his chair, Belric walked the perimeter of his desk and stood next to Edmure. "Be safe, brother."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 17, 2016 23:35:26 GMT
Edmure clapped his brother on the shoulder. "A low key reconnaissance mission of the lands around here. What could go wrong?"
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 17, 2016 23:38:40 GMT
"I don't need to mention there are bears, do I?"
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 18, 2016 0:13:42 GMT
"Bears?" replied Edmure in a jovial tone. "Some bearskins will be adorning the floors of my chambers when I return in that case."
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