[Day 2, Early Morning]Straining the Bonds (Closed)

[Daveth Coldbrook]

(OOC note: while this starts in the Pavilions, the bulk will happen in the Godswood, so I'm posting this here.)

Daveth, having gotten up early, had spent some time while it was still quiet investigating a twig, fully aware of the absurdity of his actions in the eyes of others, hence him doing it before most eyes were open.

[url=Yes, I'm really staring at a twig, damnit!][/url]: 4d6 16

More specifically, he was investigating a partially-burnt twig that Yoren had set fire to the previous day, seemingly without an ignition source. By using his Myrish Lens and chemicals from his maester's kit, he was attempting to discover if there was a trick behind the red priest's ability. I am a reasonable man. If an event is observed that seems out of the ordinary, it should be investigated. If an ordinary explanation can be found, then it was a good trick, performed well. If it can't, then one has to accept that one may have to adapt what one accepts as 'ordinary'. Such as a foreign god imparting mystical abilities to his adherents.

After a while, satisfied that he's learned all he can, he hides the stick again, and leaves his tent, picking up his constant shadow, Edwin, as he does so.

Daveth walks through the Coldbrook camp to the women's tent. He's dressed a bit finer than normal, in clothes that definitely only a noble would wear, though still rather understated. My clothes need to say what I will not. He greets the guard standing outside the tent.

"
Good morning to you. I would appreciate it if you could wake Guardswoman Loreia if she is not already. I'm heading out to the Godswood, and would have her as my second guard. Tell her she can bring Badger, I'm sure he'd appreciate the exercise."

[Loreia]

*I'm not sure they have separate quarters for women in the guard, but I do have my own tent. Either way...*

After about two minutes, Loreia can be seen striding out to meet Daveth in the pale morning, eyes heavy. Her dog runs out ahead of her to lick Daveth's hand.

"
Good morning, milord,"
she groans.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth gives a small smile of greeting. "
Good morning, Guardswoman Loreia."
he then bends down, and feeds Badger some scraps from his pocket, while rubbing the dog's head. "
And a good morning to you, too, Badger."


Nodding at both his companions to confirm readiness, the party sets off for the Godswood, arriving without incident.

Daveth walks though the godswood in the dawn light, giving a cheerful gleam to everything. A short way in, Daveth turns to Edwin. "
Please wait here, Edwin, and keep an eye open. I don't want to be surprised by unexpected visitors. Loreia will stay with me and make sure nothing bad happens. We'll stay within sight."
Edwin simply nods, any suspicions he may have unvoiced.

Daveth walks with Loreia a bit further on, until they're clear enough of Edwin that he won't hear their conversation unless they start shouting, and they are, as far as he can tell, alone.

(OOC: I'm assuming Loreia doesn't want to say anything particularly important before this point. If you do, let me know, and I'll edit.)

Giving one last look to ensure privacy, Daveth leans back against one of the trees, and sighs. "
The fuck, Lor? I mean, seriously, the fuck?"
his tone isn't angry, just tired and worn down, using his informal nickname for her to indicate it was friend-Daveth talking, rather than Lord's-son-Daveth. "
I get it. I do. You hate Ironborn, and yes, while I can't emotionally comprehend what you've been through, I can understand why, coming from a place where their raids are more common than the gulls, you hate them so much."


He looks her in the eye, and continues in a calm, level tone. "
But you're not on Bear Island anymore. You're a Coldbrook. And when an Ironborn is freely giving me information that could well have significant impact on our house's political future, you *have* to remember that before you go charging in like it's your first tourney melee. Because your willingness to interrupt will be taken as a show of disrespect to me. And when you openly dismiss my politely attempting to get you to leave, you make me look weak. Because while I may not be the Lord, or even the Heir, I *am* a Coldbrook, and when dealing with an outsider, no matter how trivial the matter, I represent my house. When I look weak, our house looks weak. And we *cannot* afford to look weak, Lor. To *anyone*. Without allies, we're reliant on the perception of our own strength to keep us safe. And when a guardswoman feels free to disrespect and ignore the son of her Lord in front of outsiders, that sends a message loud and clear that we are divided and vulnerable."

[Loreia]

Loreia is aware he is given to verbose and forthright speech uninterrupted, but she is still taken aback by Daveth's sudden reprimand. As his rant comes to a close, she dips her head before responding.

"
You're right. Daveth, I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you look bad, really. I was only concerned 'bout what it'd mean for ours and a house loyal to the Iron Islands to be all smiles."
Her tone takes an inflection counter-intuitive to the meaning of the phrase. "
What's your aim, actin' outright pleasant? We ought not to mingle with them like that."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth inwardly sighs in relief at her acceptance of the criticism. "
My aim was simply to find out information. We can't stick our fingers in our ears and our hands over our eyes and pretend they don't exist. They do. And yesterday morning, around this time, I ran into one of their number, who may in fact be the heir. Leifnarr was about-"
he cuts himself off. Reprimand time is over, Daveth. She apologised. "
Never mind. That potential heir was intelligent, philosophical, and friendly. And a devoted follower of a foreign god. Pretty much the polar opposite of what I'd expect. If he takes over and lives, the threat the ironborn will pose will change significantly. As will the opportunities their existence creates. And the opinion that a senior member of the Longshore family is willing to share with outsiders would be a strong indication as to how likely that is, versus how likely it is that he'll wind up with an axe between the eyes."

[Reader]

The twig yield up no secrets, which in itself is interesting.

Daveth's education means he is familiar with several acts of legerdemain and powders that could achieve such a result.

The tell-tale scenes of these mundane sleights of hand are missing - he could perform similar feats himself with the right tools, training and an inattentive audience.

When all rational explanations have been exhausted, that only leaves...

[Loreia]

Loreia grunts in thought. "
Hmph...I see. But the Ironmen's faith is also foreign, Daveth. You think I spoke with hate yesterday? That's not it, I mean not all of it. What they do, I don't get why the Seven Kingdoms didn't swallow them up when they had the chance and spit their Drowned God back under the waves. I told you, these people are no better than wildlings, and I know. Worse and better in one or two ways, but that's it. If we can get what we want without House Longshore, we don't need to take it further than 'information trade', no further than need be."


The statement is presented as facts for Daveth to process. After pausing for a rejoinder, she mutters something about Westeros and 'their bloody niceties'. "
What about this 'foreign god', foreign from where?"

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth gives a small half-smile. "
Foreign? Is the drowned god worshipped anywhere outside the kingdom? Not to my knowledge, in which case it can hardly be described as 'foreign'. Unless you meant foreign to the North, and we should treat all worshippers of the Seven with similar disdain? Or do you consider it foreign simply because it's the one faith in the kingdom that you *don't* follow?"
his smile indicates he's just tweaking Loreia's nose on the matter.

"
As for 'no further than information trade', well, that's all I was doing yesterday. Believe me,"
he adds, dryly. "
I was not just about to get down on one knee and propose to Leifnarr. Still, as you yourself just said, 'as long as we can get what we want without them'. If we can't, there's significant benefit in having not already burned that bridge should we need it.

"
And as for the maybe-heir's god, he's from Essos. Much less aggressive than the drowned god. If he can pull it off, it could be House Hoare all over again. Which would be interesting. And quite possibly a goal worth pursuing. Certainly your Bear Island would appreciate the reduction in raiding. But we don't know enough to really consider the matter properly for the moment."
his tone is musing, rather than chiding.

[Loreia]

Loreia crinkles her nose as Daveth dances around her bias with wordplay.

"
And as for the maybe-heir's god, he's from Essos. Much less aggressive than the drowned god. If he can pull it off, it could be House Hoare all over again. Which would be interesting. And quite possibly a goal worth pursuing. Certainly your Bear Island would appreciate the reduction in raiding. But we don't know enough to really consider the matter properly for the moment."

"
Fine, let them tear each other apart. That just leaves the wildling thieves."


Her stormy frown softens. "
Daveth, it's good that you dragged me out here, there's been something on my mind. This clash with the Tullisons has to end soon. I met someone with House Marsten who wants to help, but only if your father's willin' to trust him as a neutral middle man. Do you see what I'm sayin'?"

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth frowns. "
House Marsten? What do they stand to gain from ending a feud?"
his eyes go thoughtful. "
There's something we're missing."
his eyes return. "
Anyway, I spoke with Ser Jorah last night, and he indicated that he intended to try and smooth over matters a bit. I think we should see how that goes before we bring in outsiders, with a whole new set of agendas we'd have to deal with."

[Loreia]

"
Then Jorah ought to meet him,"
she petitions, becoming a bit adamant. "
You could too. I wouldn't say he feels strongly about it, but I believe he's on the level. It's as you said, we have no real allies with other houses. This person presents us an opportunity to get in good with the Marstens - if we can at least try to settle things with the Tullisons. We'd still have to convince your father though, gods be good."


"
This friend in House Marsten spoke your name in passin',"
she notes. "
His name's Baelon, he's a Targaryen bastard."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth's eyes open a bit wider briefly. "
Ahhh. That explains it. Yes, he would have a vested interest in helping us. If we don't have to worry about the Tullysons, we can spare more troops. Plus, he's an accomplished knight, but if he can prove his diplomatic abilities, that would be a feather in his cap.

"
I'm not convinced that getting their help would be the best way to 'get in good' with the Marstens, though. And I certainly don't want to imply I have no faith in Ser Jorah's ability."
he ponders a moment. "
I think the best course of action would be if I let Ser Jorah know that this offer is present. If his efforts fail, he then has a backup plan to fall back on. Any effort to persuade my father to accept that plan would work a lot better if it didn't come from me."
Great work, Daveth. You almost managed to keep any bitterness from your tone, there. Almost.

[Loreia]

"
The best course of action,"
she lampoons the airy, lordly accent, "
is that Baelon ought to be your 'backup plan', not the offer itself, if you must see one of them in that light."


"
When you want the biggest catch possible, you throw in your whole net, not just part of it 'cause you think it's the strongest. And you should go with Jorah when he does. Your father knows you always have the family's future at heart."
Loreia folds her arms, confident in her words, including the half-relevant fishing metaphor she stumbled through.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

(OOC: As I parse your initial statement, you seem to be agreeing with me?)

Daveth lets a small grin escape at the mocking. Gods, at times like this I- He cuts his own thought off harshly. Focus, Daveth.

"
You are right that if Ser Jorah does go to meet with Ser Baelon, I should go as well, to make introductions if nothing else. If I should go with him to my father though?"
he sighs, and leans back against the tree. "
I honestly don't know, Lor. I really don't."
Here, alone with a friend he can trust, Daveth finally lets his frustration out. "
He's my father, I love him. But to him, I sometimes think I'm nothing more than the worthless invader, attempting to usurp his only real son's inheritance. Despite everything I do and try and do for the house, his eyes are so blinkered on the military side of things that he doesn't see them.

"
You say he knows I have my family's future at heart? I wish I could believe that, Lor. I really do. But I don't."

[Loreia]

*The sentiment is that the offer not be put on the backbackburner or made into plan 'B' to your plan 'A'. Baelon would be useful as a neutral partisan in more ways than the intended original.*

"
Then one of you needs to know one way or the other for certain. Level with him, I don't know. I get it, 'it's not so easy', but nothing ever is."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

(Okay. I still can't parse you saying "
Baelon ought to be your 'backup plan'"
with meaning he should be my plan A, but I'll accept that's what you meant.)

Daveth snorts. "
Level with him? What, you're saying that I'm being somehow secretive about my devotion to my family? The only way I could make it clearer would be if I *stop* doing everything I do, and see how many days it is before the wheels fall off, but I wouldn't do that to them."


Daveth furrows his brow at Loreia. "
You seem very set on Ser Baelon. Does he have a previous success in negotiation you're aware of that means he's well qualified for the role? How well do you know his past? - Does he have any historical ties to the Tullysons, or does he have a strong history with someone who does? Has he indicated what the price would be for his services?"
from Daveth's tone, these are not rhetorical questions, he's genuinely asking if she knows. "
These are all things we should be aware of before we decide to entrust our house's future to his neutrality."

[Loreia]

She only sighs in exasperation while he spurns her advice, hesitant to bring up the absence of her parents as a point for or against her.

"
...These are all things we should be aware of before we decide to entrust our house's future to his neutrality."

"
What, wantin' both houses to help get rid of the mountain clans? Is that not enough?"
She catches an edge in her tone, and softens it. "
He calls himself Waters, so I can only imagine that he may want to be uplifted in the ruling family, but it's not as if we can help him there. He's a good sort, alright? I got a feelin' 'bout him. If he wants somethin' less obvious, it won't be painful for us."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

"
Oh, don't misunderstand, I like the man, too. But if you wanted the person you're speaking with to go with their gut, and trust to luck to bail them out of any trouble that lands them in, you should have spoken with my brother. I'm not going to advance any plan I haven't done the proper research on, *especially* to my father. He's disappointed in me enough as it is, I don't want to imagine how bad it would be if I suggested that idea, and then we found out that actually, Ser Baelon served with the Tullysons for years. That big of a mistake, if no-one else caught it, could *destroy* our house.

"
Having said that, actually *doing* said research should probably be a priority for us. Shouldn't be hard - he's pretty well known. But I'm fully booked up today. Do you have any spare time to look into the matter and report back? I could maybe try and pull some strings about sending you on a 'special assignment' if your duties would get in the way?"

[Loreia]

The implication of the request elicits a ruddy shade from her countenance. "
You really ought to have Farris take care of it, that's more his bread and butter."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth sighs, and rubs his face, looking tired. "
Yeah, you're probably right."
he waves a hand vaguely. "
I'll ask him when we get back. Probably catch him having an early breakfast. And from there, I have to meet with Garret and Ser Jorah about the other thing, cramming that in before the royal gift giving."
he clenches his fists in frustration. "
Gods be good, I do not have *time* for all this!"
he vents. "
I should get me or Garret married off to someone smart, so at least there's a chance I can leave *some* of this stuff to them. Except before we can do that, we've got to wade through all the inheritance bullshit, which is a whole new set of fu-"
he cuts himself off, biting his lip to the point where he almost draws blood.

That's right, Daveth. Get it together. You can't afford to lose it like this. You're the calm, rational one.

Taking a deep breath, Daveth waves a hand dismissively. "
Please ignore what I just said. It's just the stress talking. I'll handle it."
his face returns to its usual polite slight smile. "
Now, I've said what I needed to say about having a little faith in me, you've said what you wanted to about Ser Baelon. Unless there's anything else, I think some time praying would be good."
Praying for the strength to survive this tourney most likely. By the gods, this is only the start of the second day!

[Loreia]

Knowing how deeply the young lordling has been affected by the recent loss in the family, on top of filling the roll of maester at a young age for a house relatively much younger, she places a firm, comforting hand on his shoulder. "
Grin an' bear it, milord. Come, the weirwood's waited long enough."


*/scene*

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