Interludes and Examinations

[Daveth Coldbrook]

It was the day before Ser Jorah was to leave for the Kingsguard, and he and Daveth were out for a ride, at Daveth's request. They were also alone, with Daveth having no other bodyguard. While he was doing his best to control himself, someone who knew him as well as Ser Jorah did could easily tell he was very nervous about something. And, in truth, he was wrestling with himself over if he had the courage to follow through on his intentions.

All too soon, they arrived at the location he'd scouted out earlier. A rise that not only gave them a commanding view of the countryside, but also provided absolutely no cover for a good distance around them. Here, they could talk freely with absolutely no risk of being overheard.

Daveth ties Hoskagon to a rock, and leads Ser Jorah up the rise. He gives a full scan of the area to ensure they are definitely alone before turning to the knight. "
Ser Jorah. Before you leave on the morrow, there are things I would like to discuss with you, since our chances after this will likely be slim, at best."


He breathes out through his mouth, then gives a definite bow to Ser Jorah. "
Firstly, thank you. You were sort of like a father to me when I didn't really feel like I had one. I needed that support. If it weren't for you, I doubt we'd be in the situation we are now, as a house. So, thank you."

[Ser Jorah Holt]

Ser Jorah was surprised when Daveth asked him to join him for a ride. Not that Daveth was a terrible rider, but he was so busy with all the work going on Coldbrook lands and generally Daveth had felt any attempt at getting him to go riding was another lesson in combat, considering how Lord Coldbrook tended to treat it.

Daveth ties Hoskagon to a rock, and leads Ser Jorah up the rise. He gives a full scan of the area to ensure they are definitely alone before turning to the knight. "
Ser Jorah. Before you leave on the morrow, there are things I would like to discuss with you, since our chances after this will likely be slim, at best."


He breathes out through his mouth, then gives a definite bow to Ser Jorah. "
Firstly, thank you. You were sort of like a father to me when I didn't really feel like I had one. I needed that support. If it weren't for you, I doubt we'd be in the situation we are now, as a house. So, thank you."

Ser Jorah blinked at that. He'd never tried to be a father figure, but they had fallen into that relationship without realising it.

"
Uhm, you are welcome."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

There's a momentary pause. "
I ... I wanted to discuss morality with you, before you went. Since you are undoubtedly a moral man.

"
Boiled down, one of a knight's key tasks is to kill one guilty person to protect a hundred innocents from their depredations.

"
But I wish to ask of a hypothetical situation. If the *only* way for you to save the lives of one thousand innocents would be for you personally to slay one innocent, would you? Imagine for the sake of this argument that you've exhausted all alternatives. The thousand innocents will undoubtedly die if you do nothing, but not by your hand, nor by your will.

"
In this hypothetical situation, what would *you* do?"

[Ser Jorah Holt]

Ser Jorah considered Daveth's question, leaning back against a rock while he thought.

"
This hypothetical situation is too vague;
am I killing an infant, adult or somebody at the end of their life? Why would this save people? Would my oaths constrain me, especially if the person I am to kill is a woman? Am I killing this person to prevent somebody else from doing so that would cause these deaths if they were to carry out this act?"


Jorah fixed Daveth with a look

"
You had a specific situation in mind when you asked this question, but you wanted to know if I was broadly in favour of this action before you went into details. What weighs on your mind so heavily that we need to be hidden out here in the hills to have this conversation?"

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth looks a bit evasive. "
That will be clear in time, I think. I beg your indulgence a little further before I clarify.

"
The person you would have to kill would be an adult, but of uncertain age and gender, so yes, it may well violate your oath. In fact, let's say it definitely and unquestioningly does. If you don't, they may or may not be among the fallen, there's no way to be sure.

"
But let's ease the parameters a bit. The adult you have to kill is not an innocent, but nor can they really be said to be guilty. And they certainly are undeserving of death, even as politicised as our system is sometimes. And let's increase the number of potential dead to ten thousand, with plenty of maidens and children among them. Some dying quick, some dying slow.

"
A grim fate. None will condemn you for failing to avert it. Save perhaps yourself. But to do so..."
he trails off, and simply shakes his head.

[Ser Jorah Holt]

"
To do so, I would have to break my oaths,"
Jorah completed his sentence, "
in order to also uphold my vows. It is a situation that any true knight dreads. I might have to do it as much as it might stain my soul."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth nods, and quietly replies. "
Yes, you might. The place where I helped send you ... basic black-and-white morality doesn't exist there. It may destroy you.

"
Before you went, I wanted to say two things: firstly, if the position does destroy you, I'm sorry for my part in placing you there.

"
Secondly, whatever you do, I believe in you."
his tone is very serious. "
Understand me: *whatever* you do. No matter what. I will believe that it is just. It may be a mere candle in the darkness, but the darkness can never put it out."

[Ser Jorah Holt]

"
There are good people in Kings Landing, but it is a den of Serpents. I do not go there blind to what I might face. Thank you Daveth though, I know I have friends here no matter what."


There are things I may have to do to protect people that might place me at odds with both factions. I will keep you safe from that though

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth nods. "
You do."
a momentary pause. "
But should the time come that you have to answer my earlier question, don't worry about us. I'll figure a way for the house to survive whatever comes, so don't let worry over us delay your answer for even an instant. Just give the answer that is right and necessary for the sake of the realm and the people therein."


Daveth takes a step forwards and briefly hugs Ser Jorah. "
For what it's worth, I hope you never have to answer the question. The realm needs more men and women of your quality."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth is in a sombre mood as they travel back.

So, it's done. So long as we weren't talking at complete cross-purposes, I have thrown the biggest stone I can manage into the gears of war. Yet I do not know if it is the greatest thing I have done, or the worst. He looks across at Ser Jorah for a moment. Gods forgive me. There truly is nothing I won't do for the sake of peace.

[OOC: Reader, please move this to the public Downtime forum now, I just wanted the conversation to be private while it was happening.]

[Reader]

[OOC: done, and happy to take similar requests from others. Sharing story is fun!]

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