[D4, Mid afternoon] Of Mason and Maesters

[Reader]

Grandmaester Orwyle approaches Nathaniel after the debate. He is grandmaester on merit if his chain is any sign - it glistens with innumerable metals, many Nathaniel couldn't even name.

"
Boy, I did not catch your name. This is the second time you've proved your worth - it was your hand that fixed the Queen's wagon, was it not? My eyesight is about all the Seven have seen fit to leave me with at this age."


His tone is that of a kindly grandfather, he's impressed with what he's seen so far.

"
Are you citadel trained boy? Your education suggests so, but I seldom make it back there, my duties keep me in the capital."

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan bows deeply and respectfully to the learned man. "
Nathaniel Mason, Grandmaester. It is a great honor to meet you."


"
You are correct, of course. Your eyes are sharp. You may do the Seven an injustice though. It would seem they also left you with a mind just as sharp, and your debating skills are formidable as well."
Nathan smiles. "
It was indeed I that helped with the carriage on the day the Queen arrived, among others. If I was reticent, it's because the scrutiny of those that fly so high is not always comfortable to those of us who dwell on the ground.

I am not citadel trained. I doubt that I would thrive in such a controlled environment. I admit I am more the bee that moves from flower to flower than the hound that steadfastly hunts his quarry. I grew up in the House of a kindly elderly Lord, who saw certain skills in me and desired they be encouraged. He has passed on now, but I like to think that I have justified his hopes.

Was there something something I could help you with, Grandmaester?"

[Reader]

"
You are an interesting young man, Nathaniel."


"
Your concern for the people speaks well to your character. Further, your ability to marshal and present evidence suggests competence."


"
That would normally be enough to make you a fellow worthy of respect. Better still, few others paid you any heeds at the Queen's arrival. A man who helps, but scurries off rather than clamouring for reward is rare in these times."


"
I suppose you have already helped with my first problem - my insatiable curiosity."


He chuckles.

"
If the queen and I have other problems, if the realm is not at peace, could you aid us with these problems too? They are more complex than a busted wheel or gossiping maesters, but keen eyes and ears can save lives."


He gestures dismissively at the mention of the chattering maesters.

Orwyle speaks sincerely, from the heart.

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan's eyes narrowed in thought. It is obvious he is weighing something heavy in his mind. "
Perhaps there is something I can do for you. Do for all of us."
He motions to the Maester and walks to the nearby window where they can speak more privately.

"
Knowledge is a burden. You are right, Grandmaester, winter is coming... and it comes for House Tully... and it comes tomorrow morning."
He turns to gaze out the window. "
You of course will have realized by this point that there is something wrong in House Tully. With eyes as keen as yours. You will not have been able to miss the glaring signs. I know the disaster comes on a swift horse and it will be here soon. It will be devastating to House Tully and all who swear fealty to them. It may even reach farther. Lord Tully's only salvation my be the Queen but he is too prideful or arrogant to ask her aid."


He pauses for a moment. His next words are obviously uncomfortable for him. "
Normally, I would simply tell you what I know, for the good of the realm, but Lord Tully's actions have placed me in a terrible position. I am afraid I must attach a price to my information. Lord Tully has left me no choice. He desperation has caused him to make increasingly foolish decisions, not the least of which betraying his loyal bannerman Lord Davain Bartheld. If I am to save Lord Tully's neck, he must repair the damage he has done. He must show his support for Lord Davain publicly. I would also need your help and support for Lord Davain. Lord Tully's innuendo has cast suspicion on my Lord's parentage and legitimacy. You are in a unique position to right that injustice."


Nathan waited to hear the Grandmaester's response. The truth was, he would probably tell the man even if he didn't pay his price, it was just that important, but he kept his face smooth.

[Reader]

Orwyle speaks slowly, carefully. He nods in approval as Nathaniel shepherds them to a remote spot.

"
Indeed, Lord Tully will listen to the queen. More than listen, if past form is any guide. Your loyalty to your lord does you credit."


"
I must warn you however, that involving the queen in House Bartheld's... difficulties will inevitably lead the Princess's followers to pitch in on the other side. Politics abhors a vacuum, and Black lies may simply replace Tully falsehoods. Still, many will see this for what it is, and between the Queen and your liege you should enjoy some manner of advantage. If you'll forgive an old man a mixed metaphor, politics may fill the vacuum, but that doesn't mean the scales will be fully balanced."


He smiles at the thought.

"
This is arrangement is agreeable to me. I fear I have guessed what you are to tell me, but will confees I had underestimated the extent of Lord Tully's financial ruin. But have you proof Nathaniel? Lord Tully is in the seat of his power, and a formidable exponent of bombast. It is the foremost of his talents. Proof will ease what must be done."

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan is obviously releived he has not offended the learned man. [Dispostion to Orwyle increases to Friendly]

"
It started innocently enough. Lord Tully endeavored to make his lands more fetile with an irrigation project. He also desired to invest in infrastructure like bridges and guard towers, although the latter was probably more political. It did not go well. The lands were flooded, making them unusable, although they may still be salvageable if used to grow rice. The bridges collapsed and the guard towers sank into the swamp.

To fund these projects, Lord Tully borrowed heavily, first from the Lannisters, and then even more from the Iron Bank;
much more. It has come to the point where Lord Tully is hard pressed to pay the interest on his debts, never mind the principle. It is this reason why he shows moderation in hospitality and makes dubious deals out of desperation for coin. If the water in his swamp were the coin he owes he would be over a foot under the surface and just about to drown.

I do not need to tell you how devastating it would be if any of it were to be made public. He would lose his lordship, perhaps to his son, perhaps to the Freys. Given the political climate, I am unsure which would be worse but neither would be good for the crown;
and either way, the bannermen and common people of the Riverlands would suffer greatly.

Tomorrow morning a man named Stefio Florenz from the Iron Bank is due to arrive to present a public demand for payment. Not only cannot Lord Tully pay this man, it may be he cannot even pay the prizes due in the tourney. Once Lord Tully's follies are publicly known, the damage will be done and irreparable. The only way out I can see is if the Queen can somehow satisfy this man to some degree and use her influence to quash any scandal.

If you seek proof, it is there for all to see in his Seneschal's records, if not in the flooded farms, broken bridges and sunken towers. However, I doubt proof will be of much import when the Braavosi walks into Lord Tully's Hall tomorrow morning and demands his due. By then it will be too late for everyone."


Finishing, Nathan waits patiently for the Grandmaester to absorb the full import of everything he has said.

[Reader]

Grandmaester Orwyle was sharp and well informed, but even he had only guessed a tenth of the scale of the problem.

He briefly stood dumbfounded, before regaining his composure.

"
Splendid work Nathaniel. I knew he had tapped the Lannisters, but the Bank's involvement is significant. Lord have defaulted before and lived to tell the tale, but that would be too narrow a conception. This is bigger than just House Tully. The queen's supporters losing access to the Iron Bank, and the Bank redirecting their surplus funds towards the Blacks would have had far reaching consequences."


"
If our new friend Stefio does not arrive until the morning, we have time yet to rescue the situation."


"
You mind intrigues me - tell, me, what would you do in this situation, as a loyal supporter of peace and stability? Who is to blame here - Lord Tully? Lord Tully's administraitors? The Bank? Can any advantage be salvaged."


He waits patiently, curious as to Nathaniel's response.

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan ponders the question for a very long time, and finally walks over to a nearby chessboard.

He picks up a white rook and places it in the center of the board. Orwyle can almost see the wheels turning. "
Certainly Lord Tully bears much of the blame. It was he that chose to borrow the money and keep borrowing. It was he that chose to hide it from his family in the beginning and later the Crown that would also be sorely affected. It was he that chose to start all these projects simultaneously without giving any thought that it could run beyond his means. It was he that chose to hold this Tourney, perhaps hoping to draw in needed coin by bargain, extortion or perhaps even cheating."


Nathan picks up a black knight and puts it beside the rook. "
The Iron Bank also bears much blame. They are in the business of lending, of course, but to keep lending money? They are not fools, so why do so? Why not call the loan ages ago, and why pick now to do so, and in public. Perhaps they have a political agenda of their own. Perhaps they seek something from Lord Tully. Perhaps they are confident one of the two sides will bale him out. Whatever the reasons, they have continued to feed Lord Tully's addiction, knowing full well he has gone past his means."


Nathan picks up the white Queen and sets it beside the rook. "
The Queen, of course, has the power to make this all go away. Or does she? Perhaps this is a test by the Iron Bank to see who comes to Lord Tully's aid or has the means to come to Lord Tully's aid. They are not worried about their money. They will get it one way or another. If the Crown, for example, were unable or unwilling to render aid, that will tell them much. I do not think they counted on how stubborn and prideful Lord Tully is."


Nathan picks up the black Queen and sets it opposite to the white. "
Perhaps they wish to test the mettle of the other side. If the Princess were to bail Lord Tully out, it is likely he would be set aside in favour of his younger and much more sympathetic son. For the Queen to lose the Riverlands to the Blacks would be devastating and might end a war before it began. If that is their motive, it is a clever one. Economic warfare instead of military. The Iron Bank wants stability and peace as well, but I doubt they care two coppers which side wins."


He turns to the Grandmaester. "
As far as advantage, I am afraid you have very little I can see over the Iron Bank given the situation. If the political situation were stable, you could bury them in lending fees, Braavosi import taxes, moneylending laws. Aegon the Conqueror probably would have sent the head of the Braavosi arriving tomorrow back to them in a box with a gold dragon between his teeth. Unfortunately, with the Crown split, I am afraid that less intimidating means will be required.

My advice would be to pay the man and send him on his way as quickly and quietly as possible. This battle is already lost. The only course of action now is to keep the damage to a minimum. I doubt the Iron Bank will want to cause a fuss, especially if they don't want to make an enemy of the Crown."


Nathan knocks over the rook. "
That is how I see it anyway. Can you see any flaws in my assessment?"

[Reader]

Grandmaester Orwyle listens, first politely and then nodding in affirmation. A very able pupil.

"
Good, good, a keen mind to go with quiet feet."


"
At first I feared you were simply to blame the lender, but you saw the deeper games here."


"
A fine analysis. One omission, rather than a flaw - you select high value pieces and give full analysis, but sometimes a humble piece can have a roll."


He picks up a black pawn and a white pawn.

"
This was a slight surprise to me, considering your own rise on merit. Although the pawn may do you a disservice?"


He gestures at Nathaniel, placing the white pawn beside the queen.

"
Or perhaps a scapegoat can be found?"


He topples the black pawn.

"
Come, any final words before we inform the queen? Unless you wish to be kept out of matters. And the treasury, although they'll grumble..."

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
I would dearly like to be kept out of it."
said Nathan with a wry smile. "
But why should the Queen credit my words if I am unwilling to stand behind them?"


The young man smiled and motioned for the Grandmaester to lead on, but that smile took a slightly sickened cast when Orwyle turned his back.

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[Reader]

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