[D5, EA] The Lady, The Lyras, The Longshores (Closed)

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine went to the Longshore pavilion, as agreed the previous day with Yoren, with Ser Kevan Lyras in tow. Knowing what she was going to say did not make it any easier, and she felt conscious of the looks she was getting as they neared their destination.

They know as well as I do that it doesn't look good to be here.

She spoke quietly to Kevan as they approached.

"
I want to try and handle this myself, but if they show aggression, we leave immediately,"
she instructed, though her anxiety was clear.

[Kevan Lyras]

Ser Kevan stayed at Lady Corinne's side and upon Corinne's words gave his sword an assuring touch.

"
Do not worry my Lady, I know Yoren, he would not harm you. As for the others, I am at the ready"
he said with a calm voice.

[Yoren longshore]

A noble lady in an ironborn encampment is like a swan in a murder of crows. Walking into the camp they stick out like a sore thumb. Yoren comes out of his tent to greet the visitors, with an amiable smile, if a little reserved: "
Good day my lady, Ser Kevan"
he nods to the both of them. He motions to the biggest tent in the area: "
We usually entertain our guests in there, we may speak there, if you wish?"
He lets the advantages of privacy go unmentioned.

[Athelstan]

Athelstan comes out of his tent dressed for the Joust taken by surprise with the visitors, not saying a word, as apparently Yoren has engaged them in conversation and it's something he rather not do with her... Taking his place next to Yoren since she has brought a bodyguard laughable his stare unmoving and a nod to greet that which he hastes and loves with equal measure.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Thank you, my lord Yoren,"
Corrine replies, with a similarly reserved smile and a curtsey. She only glances briefly at Athelstan, and it is a wary glance at best.

She follows Yoren into the tent.

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren smiles to Athelstan: "
Ready for your bout are you, who are you meeying this round?"
does not seem to notice Athelstans unease and ushers them all into the tent. It is simple, with stools stacked in a corner and an easily movable table set up. There is also a guard in front of a strongbox sitting on a chair, looking relieved when Yoren asks him to leave.
In addition to the strongbox it is also a few maps lying about, and a group of miniature soldiers and ships, signifying that this room may double as a war room if need be.

"
So to what do I owe this pleasure?"
Yoren asks amiably.

OOCto pace things a little up
If Athelstan decides to join, Yoren will add at the end: "
This is Athelstan by the way, don't worry I trust him to keep his mouth shut."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine takes the seat offered toher, and gestures for Kevan to sit beside her.

"
I am familiar with Athelstan already,"
she replied coolly, folding her hands in her lap. "
I am, of course, here to give you my answer to your proposal that we discussed at the Sept yesterday. I believe in being direct, and so I shall tell you now that I must decline your offer."


Her tone is gentle but firm.

[Athelstan]

Athelstan huff at the answer of course you do, not even the courtesy of negotiating like her beautiful face, tender lips and her eyes... no visible Athelstan inner struggle he decided to engage the other visitor distract me Ser, if you would spare my misery

"
Ser Kevan Lyras I believe? I have seen you joust,and I'm glad I do not have to tilt against you today Ser"

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren nods;
"
And that is fully reasonable of you. However I must ask of sonething;
Your need of the troops has not dissappeared, so why are we fully out of the picture?"

Yoren smiles: "
If the pricing is wrong, could I get a counter offer? How much have our competitors offered? Maybe we can match that offer?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
You do deserve an explanation, as you have been most courteous with me,"
Corrine began. "


Far more than your half-brother, she thought, the memory of that glaring eyeball in the box burned into her mind like a brand.

"
Were it a matter of cost, I would gladly negotiate. However, I am afraid the price is not the key issue. I feel that House Longshore is currently too volatile, its future too uncertain. There is, understandably, ill feeling about your people, and while I do dearly hope that you shall eventually overcome this, I cannot, in good conscience, let House Marsten risk its own good reputation and stability by bringing Ironborn into our fold. I am truly sorry to bear you this news, but you deserve my honesty. I hope you will understand."

[Kevan Lyras]

Kevan turns his attention to the ironborn, while following the negotiation between Jorah and Corinne on one ear.

So, who is the true leader of the Ironborn now? Who has the power to decide? Does Corinne even talk to the right person?

"
Yes, I was quite lucky so far, though I am not sure I will get much further. You rode well too! To be honest I have not yet seen an Ironborn ride so successfully! I guess you are more at home at the melee?"

[Athelstan]

"
We do battle differently to be honest, we hit quick hard and with everything you got. If you fail to break you withdraw and try again from another angle. So jousting is the same for me, I think, just on horseback"
nodding to Ser Kevan "
Maybe I'll end up fighting with you or against you in the melee, you and time will tell but regardless I will be there"
he shrugs "
Today I have Lord Mallister, a great jouster and favorite to win and probably out for my skin to boot"

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren nods to Corrine: "
it is a reasonable "
line of thought, and one that I will bear you no ill will for. You are just dealing in what is the best interest for your house. I understand that."
Yoren then smiles: "
However if you are available this (mid)evening, I would like for you to come to our pavilion. As I believe we have a lot in common I think you will find it very interesting."
Yoren smiles openly to Corrine.

He turns to Athelstan quicly: "
I'm very sorry for my contribution to the bad blood between you, however, as it is in public you have little reason to be scared of him... he can do limited damage without framing himself..."


He then turns back to Corrine explaining: "
Mallister has never liked us Longshores, even before recent events."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine gives a small nod of understanding to the Mallister comment.

"
I thank you for your understanding on our position. Were it that all men could accept such news with dignity."


Unlike that madman next to you.

"
Might I ask what the nature of the gathering will be? Coming here will now will fuel gossip. As much as I find you an agreeable man to speak with, it would not be appropriate for me to make further social calls without good reason."

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren furrow his brows suddenly: "
I got an idea, you may of course not pay us to join your campaign, but what if we were to suddenly appear and help you, would you loose standing for that too, or would that be acceptable, as you technically did not ask for support."
Yoren looks a little guilty for a moment: "
I do not mean to press the issue, and hope that i do not appear to do so. A no is a no, but I just wanted to ask you if that was a possibility."


Yoren brightens as he talks about the next issue. "
I will hold a speech, on more eastern History and Philosophy, please do attend. I will not speak to only you, I hope for a big gathering..."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Well, I am interested in History and Philosophy. I will endeavour to attend,"
she answered politely.

"
As for this suggestion of yours, I must ask what you would be expecting in exchange for 'just happening to show up', and how you would justify such a thing, to both your men and to outsiders?"

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren smiles, "
I'll look forward to seing you there"


He then shrugs his shoulders: "
We will get gratitude, which may help us, and will make the other nobles see that we all have a common enemy. More importantly we may give our soldiers a little field training, which will be useful to say the least. To our men justification would be simple, these bandits needs a bashing is really all that is needed to set them off. To outsiders, we have two means of defence. One is the simple fact that no one in their right minds would simply go up and ask ironborn such a thing. They think we are monsters!"
He says that last bit bitterly. "
If someone is to ask, then I would tell them that there is rumours of gold, or any other explanation they seem to be satisfied with. As long as I play on prejudice, no one will care to much."
Yoren then procures a key from his robes, opens the strongbox with it and finds a few documents: "
If you have the rough draft of your assisting houses dossiers on you, i may see what comanders and what units will be most fit right now."
Yoren says with his nose still in the strongbox.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I'm afraid not. Since I came to decline the proposal, I did not anticipate that they would be required."


Corrine kept her tone polite, though she eyed both Yoren and Athelstan with a small measure of suspicion at this new offer.

"
I am not sure how to take your suggestion, my lord Yoren. I find it hard to believe your men would work for free, out of the goodness of their hearts, especially after your initial request for a significant amount of coin. Do you understand why that seems odd?"

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren smiles: "
Yes I do. However, given that you would have an awesome host gathered and we would not even have five hundred men, I don't think we could have done too much harm before you bore your knights down upon us, killing us all."

He looks a little wounded: "
You believe us to be animals not able to think longer than our nosetips, then fine, our deal is off, and you will not be bothered by barbarians like me wanting to help."
Yoren rises: "
I hope I will see you this evening, but I will advice you to until then to reconsider your view on ironborn, because if not you will not learn anything, as people are not able to learn from people they consider animals."
Yoren claps Kevan on the back stating: "
sorry this did not work out."
Before turning back to Corrine with a forced smile: "
I will be around if you change your mind, or just want to talk. After you are done here, Athelstan may guide you out."
Yoren bows to Corrine before leaving the tent.

[Athelstan]

"
I understand we have a problem, but you cannot judge a whole House for the actions of one man"
smiling "
There wouldn't be a single House that couldn't be called an animal for some ancestor that did something wrong. Just remember one mistake does not make an entire person, nor does his House"
looking at Ser Kevan "
Let me know if you want to fight with me or against me, either way it should probe to be entertaining"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
You are mistaken, that is not what I am saying,"
Corrine began, but stopped protesting when she saw he was not willing to allow her to explain. She sighed in exasperation, then stood.

"
And I am not judging anyone by the actions of one man, except that one man. We will see ourselves out,"
she said hotly to Athelstan, and hurried out, trying to catch Yoren.

"
My lord Yoren! If you would just wait! We were not concluded!"
she calls out after him.

[Athelstan]

Watching Corrine go and not quite sure if she is just reacting to him or what, but now knowing what went wrong "
I swear..."
he trails of not saying more and shrugging his shoulders 'Did I said something wrong? I didn't thought I was out of place, guess I was..."

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren stops, then he breathes once before turning: "
beg you all pardon, it's been a rough few days..."
Yoren returns to his seat. "
None of you said anything wrong, it is just that I'm a little out of it."
Yoren looks a little embarassed: "
how about that we find some wine, to settle our nerves a little?"
Before anyone may answer he is already fishing out a small barrel from one of the boxes: "
The quality is not too good, but it is strong."
He says with a smile.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She sighs with relief, and rejoins him in the tent.

"
Some wine would be appreciated. I understand that you have been under a great deal of pressure since you arrived. I am sorry to have caused offence. That was truly not my intention. I do have an interest in helping you improve the standing of your House with your neighbours, and, perhaps, with time, the Realm. I was only being cautious, as I have a responsibility to my House."

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren smiles: "
Of course you were not, I simply over reacted. Now I do see your point of us just coming to invade you. So we may stay completely out of it."

Yoren looks over the small figures meant to represent soldiers: "
We shold really painy beer bellies on them, as they get so little action. At least consider taking with you a single unit. Whatever troops you lack, we have some, unless you ask for cavalry when we must deny."
Yoren casts a sidelong glance at his brother: "
although maybe not for long, if we keep up our progress. All ironborn would jump any chance to beat a mallister."

He catches himself before he starts rambling and says, "
if you bring a summary of the troops that will gather to your banner after my speech tonight, I will promise you a that we will write up the unit that you need the most, and provide that unit. They will not be pretty, but they will be good fighters. They will also follow commands, although hygiene is not their strong suit. in fact if you put them upwind from the bandits, they will most likely flee as soon as they catch a whiff of them."
Yoren smiles before he fills four glasses of wine:
"
So, do you have any plans for the day? After this I mean?"
He asks in a conversationally tone.

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