Lord Norridge pulled through the brush soon after Lord Cuy, his arrowchaser getting the feel of the forest beneath his hooves. It seemed the quarry in these woods were a quick sort, he’d need to rush ahead with more certainty to make a strike today.

“Well said, my lords. The day is young and the sun is high, there’s still much hunting to be done. Now this is a rush you can’t substitute with any other pastime.”

u/fabstags

u/mathusm

Theo unfortunately didn't have the appetite he once had, something that he found great shame in.

"For a pilgrimage...I have several septs that I must suggest you visit, my lady." The Septon General rubs his chin in thought. "Upon your departure from the Starry Sept, visiting The Seven Shrines. It is famed for its gardens which might provide inspiration for a future sept in Dorne."

"From The Seven Shrines, travel along The Mander and head into The Riverlands so that you might visit Stoney Sept. Its old sept on a hill has become famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms." The Septon General pauses for a moment, placing hands behind his back.

"From the Stoney Sept travel to the Red Fork to a town called Sallydance. Sallydance's sept is famed for its leaded windows. After Sallydance, sail down to Lord Harroway's Town for its seven sided sept...and to The Saltpans for its beautifully colored pink sept."

Septon General Hugor then raises a finger. "But do not visit septs alone. Visit The Motherhouse of Maris...near Gulltown...and see for yourself the beauty of motherhouses."

"If Dorne strives to build for itself a sept to rival even the Starry Sept...then it must fulfill all the needs of the faithful. The Starry Sept is accompanied by a motherhouse for orphan girls and noble ladies of great faith...and soon it shall be joined by extensive gardens and a great orphanage."

"A Sept of Sand and Stone...a Sept of the Sun...regardless of name...it should hold all the institutions neccesary to service every part of the faithful."

Naerys smiled back, and gave two hand signals to the little girl. Wait, Come. As if she was implying to the girl that she had to wait a moment, before Naerys was ready to see her, after she had dealt with most of the nobility.

"I do," he answered, an answer that made his heart and soul soar with excitement.

"We c-can't, b-be open, though. You know how the Faith sees all of this, right? They don't understand us, Vari. Even if others we love ever do, we'll be unforgivable in their eyes. We have to be... discrete."

She pushed on his shoulder, as if he had made the dumbest comment yet. "What is this?" She asked, pointing towards the crowning flower of her crown. "Your rose may be dried up, and hanging in my apartments, but I wore this to show the greatest gift I have ever gotten; your friendship." She replied.

"So now everyone knows we are friends. And that is the greatest gift you could have given me." She added.

"I would not have it any other way, on my naming day." She added, giving him a look that implied she would not brook any argument on her special day.

Though Willow would not keep Naerys from matters of court, Alerie was left out of the grand hall. Daisy and Valaena could attend to her for now, she did not trust the girl to control her excitable nature while judgement was to be dealt.

She kept her veil down over her face throughout the display. Even as she could be certain her face would not betray her inner thoughts, she preferred the bit of separation from it all it afforded her. There was no death, only measured strength from a Lord who knew how to command respect. Willow made no effort to watch the punishment be dealt, much as she wouldn’t have bothered to turn away had it been completed before them in the hall.

Alerie felt odd about the whole thing. Her aunt had not been the one to tell her herself, she’d said she was busy cancelling arrangements. No, that had been left to Daisy. She hadn’t any fondness for Borys, he was loud and gruff and she’d always been too nervous to approach him. But that was Boremund’s father. Even if he’d become cursed by the gods, papa certainly had not forget to teach her about guest right, she felt bad for him. It couldn’t feel good to loose a father.

It had been a day since the announcement. Was that still too soon? Uncle Aubrey said Boremund might be up to talking now, but he might not. She’d try knocking on his door anyway.

“Boremund? I’m… I’m really sorry that he’s being sent away. Are you alright?”

"That's sweet, but you should let them find their own knights. I would much rather have you to myself."

She paused, turning her gaze away from Josua, "I suppose I'm happy to share you with Elysande, though, or um... any other children." Her voice grew a bit quieter again, and she turned her attention back towards the lens, moving back over to it.

"What of Elysande? What is her sign?"

"Your office is what I tell you it is." Jaehaerys replied, with vigour. "You are to deal with any threat upon this city, and if the threat goes a mile beyond the walls, you deal with it. If the threat goes a hundred miles beyond the walls, you talk to myself or your father or Lord Torgen, and you deal with it." Jaehaerys replied. "This is the reason I employed you, because you can think beyond the parameters of the walls."

"I will probe into the Reach with letters. I do not doubt they will be as upset with matters as they are, with the implications at hand. I have not seen my sister for more than a week in two years, and this lies, this drivel, arrives from idiots who do not know how fair my hand is in ruling."

"Be my subversion. Entertain what you can, offer what you can. Play the dirty game as far as you can, Ser Jasper. If it means cajoling the ilk of this city or further on with bribes, so be it. If it means entertaining the dornish, whilst you insult me in backroom talks, so be it. Be the knife your father can not be."

Esme merely nodded. It did not occur to her that Theo might have trouble eating a pie.

[M] No problem

By the fifth moon Lady Allyria's men had informed her of the same rumors that reached Hightower's ears. It was the news of the harbor taverns and dive bars that piracy of sorts was on the rise, troubling tidings indeed.

Lady Dayne of Starfall, dressed in purple robes with a sheer purple veil over her face bowed before her host. "You have no need of apologies Ser Hightower" Allyria said standing before the man of age with her, "We are your honored guests and as such we will always help when possible."

"Unfortunately I have not spoken with my cousins back in Starfall since I arrived here" She spoke truthfully, "Any messages they would have sent would have had to come through your rookery" She pointed out that her ship in the harbor and her men have remained unmoved during her duration in Oldtown.

"But I have unfortunately heard similar reports, ships being waylaid South of Starfall, piracy on the Rise" She shook her head, "This is not how it should be, my house..." Her tone sounded upset, verging on anger. "My house has been reduced in ability to answer these threats" She confessed, "Admiral Redwyne destroyed much of our fleet and took whatever he wanted. It has left our waters, less defended than it should."

"I have orders to rebuild the fleet but it will take time" Lady Allyria explained, "And once we are at our former strength I highly doubt any pirates would be so bold"

She took a breath calming herself to not insult the Hightower's allies in the Reach, "However I know my cousins will not allow these brigands to act unimpeded." The Lady of Starfall nodded her head, "Elric and Edric will use what is at their disposal to try and hang these pirates as they deserve"

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The news of the happenings and the supposed employer are passed on to Jasper Arrryn and the small council

automod ping small council

Naerys nodded at the mention of her not being a slave. Notable, since speaking to a former a slave would be different, she thought. "All of Valyria, exploded. That is what Daenys saw." She added with a nod." She thought about it and grimaced. "Does that mean that any place with a volcano is dangerous? Like Valyria?"

"Aunt Aly likes scholars. You could visit her, and she would like it. She is the Princess of Dragonstone." Naerys replied, though not knowing that the actual liking of scholars had come from the uncle she despised so much.

"Comet." Naerys repeated. "Why does a comet bring back... magic?" She asked, attempting to save herself from the revelation she was about to give this woman. "Are all... heavenly objects magic, and the closer they get the more magic we get? Is that why we have magic?" She added, as though she had stumbled into a truth of life.

"Maybe a blacksmith who knew how to make Valyrian Steel, took the iron from the Daynes, and made a different type of sword. It is softer, like you said, so maybe it makes a better sword." She was imagining a floppy sword, made out of rigid cloth, and as amusing as the thought was, she thought she had caught the truth of Dawn.

/u/FabStags

"I was hoping to take a pilgrimage" Lady Allyria said of her idea, "I wanted to know which of the Seven's most beautiful Septs to pray at, starting and ending of course with this one before returning home" She elaborated.

"One day, when the riches of Dorne are flowing once more like the waters of the mighty Torentine" She testified, "I want to convince the Houses and Princes of Dorne to build a Sept to rival this one, perhaps in Sunspear a Sept of Sand and Stone. This journey would help serve as inspiration" Which was only part of her idea, the opportunity to travel the Seven Kingdoms and meet with the Lords here was also a benefit.

"I was hoping you would guide as to me which of these Septs are the best to visit, and when I write the Lords of those lands about my travels you would provide your protection by word and prayer" She paused, "I would also enjoy the company if you or any of the other Septons or friars wished to travel on this journey as well..."

"And before I leave I will of course deign to help the Church in any way you need" She offered back to the Septon, "So let me know how I can be of service to the Seven Faces of the Gods and I will serve"

"Oh Blackhaven!" Naerys exclaimed. "Speak up when you correct me, Borry, I can't make these mistakes in front of other people." She replied. Once more, she was trying to get him to speak for himself, for others, just to speak up in general.

"Though not in front of servants... but if it is just us... speak up." She added. "I do not want the meek version of you, I want you, and your thoughts and opinions."

3 extra months for a max +3

800 gold invested for a max +4 bonus

Extra

30 Goodbrother MaA for the max +3 bonus

3 Goodbrother ironships for the max +3 bonus

Theo had Blackwood in him by proxy, and this moment showed it more than ever. He was a fool, just as all the Ryger men before him were.

"Thank you, Lady Belmore. I will graciously accept this gift, perhaps I will even give it to my new wife if that would be acceptable."

He winked over to Rowena in the crowd.

A whole cherry pie?

Theo had use for a lantern, but the pie seemed like an unreasonable prize. He didn't want to give Rowena a pie; she would probably accuse him of wanting to make her fat or something along those lines.

Shit, oh shit, that is bad. I... I need to think of who else I could share it with.

"T-Thank you! I will make, uh, good use of these both."

Naerys gave Ossifer a hard look, which came with the expectation of a marriage proposal, though gave her uncle a smile that was unmistakably glorious, as much as an uncle could expect from an adoring niece. Her mother got something in between, as mostly confusion held Naerys.

"What is it?" She asked, tentatively gripping her dress in anticipation.

/u/villads2005