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Post by Amelia Royce on Jul 21, 2015 10:59:23 GMT -5
Prince Benjen made his way to the tent, wishing to speak with his former wife and friend and... her dick husband.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 21, 2015 11:16:24 GMT -5
The Hand to the King of the Goldlands is in a command tent, furiously scribbling at a letter. He is tall and slim and handsome, with raven black hair and piercing blue eyes. A few bottles are scattered on his desk and he looks busy, but when Ben is met by a guard in Crakehall colors the man waves him in. "Didn't expect a visit from you this early, prince Benjen," he said.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Jul 21, 2015 12:50:20 GMT -5
"And yet here I am," Benjen responded as he made his way in. He studied the map table and the bottles for a moment before looking up at the man. "I've heard the news about King Brynden. An unfortunate thing."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 21, 2015 13:10:39 GMT -5
Tomas nods in silent thought, regarding the prince. Assessing what he is seeking. "I have a bottle of some good wine from Zamettar if you're feeling social," he said. "I've heard the grapes there are blue. Very odd." Whether he takes the drinks or not, they are poured. "I hear you've been rather busy."
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Post by Amelia Royce on Jul 21, 2015 13:52:33 GMT -5
"As have you, or so I hear," Benjen responded, very aware of the man changing the subject. "How is Joanna? Well I hope?" He waved away the wine.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 21, 2015 14:06:47 GMT -5
"Busy?" he said. "More..harried. Trying to rule is so...tedious. I wish I could just find something and kill it," he said. "Dayne was more fun than this fucking book-keeping. I cannot wait for His Grace to recover so he can regain his place at the head of the kingdom," he said. "Joanna?" He tapped the desk and drained his glass. "You know how she is, I think, prince Benjen. Getting her to be honest about her feelings is like scaling the Wall with fingerless hands. Unless she is furious, then it is getting her to STOP that becomes the task better suited to the Dragonknight," he said.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Jul 21, 2015 16:42:32 GMT -5
"Find something and kill it then," Benjen remarked. "King Brynden has other advisers, does he not? Take a break, it helps a lot." He studied the map table again, rolling one of the bottles around for a moment. "Joanna can be difficult, yes, but she has a fragility as well."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 21, 2015 16:54:36 GMT -5
"Do you stop when there is work to be done?" he asked. "I'd rather work than be subject to another tantrum, I promise you that goddam much. Fragility..." he makes a slight dismissive motion with his left hand. "I suppose that's one word to use." His speaking cadence is rapid but not hurried. "Now, if you don't mind my asking, why are you here?" He looks about. "Your sister," he guessed himself after a moment. "Right."
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Post by Amelia Royce on Jul 21, 2015 17:28:53 GMT -5
"Yes, my sister," Benjen responded, weighing Tomas up with a look. "I trust her judgement very much, Serrett. I am here because I wanted to see who you were, what sort of person. When my sister feels concern I make sure to see what the cause of it is."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 21, 2015 17:33:57 GMT -5
"It's so hurtful to hear my queen has doubts about me," Tomas says with annoyance he doesn't bother disguising. "I wish the queen well in everything and will serve her to death, but my job is to execute the king's will in the end," he said. "And I am aware I won't make friends doing it. It is much like your father trying to explain away Lord Kalvin's little...genocidal idiosyncrasies."
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Post by Amelia Royce on Jul 21, 2015 18:21:47 GMT -5
Benjen thinks on that for a moment, being reminded a little of himself when responsibility began to creep up on him, weigh him down. "It's hard, I know. I hope you can understand that I just want what is best for my family."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 21, 2015 18:25:12 GMT -5
Tomas shrugs. "And I want what is best for my kingdom. If it's all the same, I'd prefer those interests remain aligned. But just like you'd wage war on me to protect the North," he said, "I'd do the same to protect the Goldlands. But your sister is my queen. She can hate me all she likes, but I still serve her."
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Post by Amelia Royce on Jul 21, 2015 18:33:04 GMT -5
"In the end we'll all be facing the same enemy," Benjen commented, meaning of course Vhagus. "Right now it is in everyone's best interests to retain the peace. If we are in agreement there then there should be no problem." He tapped one of the bottles again and made up his mind. "I think I will have some of that wine."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 21, 2015 18:37:27 GMT -5
"The same enemy?" Tomas asked. "Bryce is dead." Vhagus had never really had dealings of any sort with the Goldlands, save his ships trading in their great ports. "No one wishes war except against those pestilence-plagued Ironborn. We eliminate them and we can all breathe a little easier. I believe Lord Stark and I even agree on that." He pours a glass. "Enjoy." The wine has a tart flavor but it changes as it lingers to a fruity sort of aroma. Delicious, all told. "Have you had to rule, yet, Prince Benjen? not command. Commanding is easy. Ruling is nothing like it. Soldiers cant have opinions, or if they do they can simply be ignored. Citizens...citizens and lords can argue, and debate, and obfuscate. it's infuriating."
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Post by Amelia Royce on Jul 21, 2015 18:42:17 GMT -5
"I have," Benjen responded, eying the wine curiously, enjoying the flavour. "When my father was wounded and fell ill the running of the North fell to me. It isn't fun, you are right. As for soldiers not having opinions? Our views differ there." He took another sip of the wine and set it down.
"Bryce Dayne is dead yes, but Vhagus Blackfyre isn't. The sorcerer, with the big dragon who wishes to rule the world."
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