Bronzegate

[Queen Joanna Lannister]

Previously belonging to House Buckler, now the seat of Lord Cedric Toyne.

[Queen Joanna Lannister]

Lord Cedric arrived to assume lordship of his castle with his squad of three hundred, keeping his eyes open and ears pricked for any tomfoolery.

[The Forgotten God]

The castle is gloomy, Cedric having heard its lord and his two sons having all died at Storm's End, and the gates sit open. Bronzegate is set in rolling hills, good land, in a forest but surrounded by orchards. A lone knight comes to greet them, in mourning clothes. "My lord," the old man said. "I'm Ser Henry, garrison commander," he said. "Lady Amelie and her daughters are inside. The weather is unsuitable for a lady," he explained.

[Queen Joanna Lannister]

Cedric raised an eyebrow and bit back a "What the fuck's that supposed to mean?" in favour of a witty "They ain't made of sugar, are they?".

He looked around, measuring the place, and found it to his liking. He'd grown up in a place much like this, after all. "Very well, let's meet them then. After you," he told the old man.

[The Forgotten God]

The elderly knight enters the hall, and the dining area is well decorated and warm and dry, a far cry from the crappy and unending rain that plagues the Kingswood. A woman of thirty five or so, not that much older than Cedric and, in truth, not bad looking, is seated next to the chair at the head of the table, while two young women are on either side of the seats. The elder is long and lithe, brunette, with a slim body and catlike eyes, while the younger is black haired and shorter, more full of figure. They stand up. The Lady speaks. "My..lord, I am Ella Buckler, and these...are my daughters, Reyna and Delena." The elder is Reyna and the younger Delena, judging by curtsies. "We are at...your command, my lord."

[Queen Joanna Lannister]

Cedric gave them a polite bow, the black winged heart of his house visible on his black and gold doublet. He looked fairly handsome despite his sandy hair being slightly tousled, his black cape soggy from the rain, and his cheeks slightly rosy from the wind. "Cedric Toyne," he greeted. It hadn't occurred to him on the trip here, but this had to be one of the most awkward situations he'd ever been. "I am sorry for your loss," he told them evenly. It would probably not have done any good to try to assure them that he had indeed not killed Lord Buckler nor his sons. He was pretty sure, anyway.

[The Forgotten God]

The Ironborn had, for they were on the enemy right wing. Ella sits and nods. "Thank you, my lord," she said. "We...had dinner made for your arrival. Do you drink wine or ale or something stronger?" she asked nervously. Cedric's men are looking about the place. It seems wealthy enough.

[Queen Joanna Lannister]

"Kind of you," he replied, studying the trio for a while. "But we don't have to have that dinner. You're mourning and I fought for the opposition."

[The Forgotten God]

The younger daughter jumps up and runs out the hall, needing no excuse to stay. Ella goes after her, leaving the quiet taller girl to look about. She is silent a moment. "Even the opposition needs to eat," she said quietly.

[Queen Joanna Lannister]

Cedric found the fleeing daughter somewhat amusing, but managed to keep a straight face. "Oh, I'll eat," he promised. "Just giving you and your family an out." He stepped forward, looking for this fabulous dinner table.

[The Forgotten God]

The dinner is rather fab, actually, and Lord Cedric has goose and duck and pork in abundance. There are drinks of all sorts, and the quiet daughter nibbles at the food and watches the new arrivals nervously. "So...where..where are you from, my lord?"

[Queen Joanna Lannister]

And Cedric had heard the Stormlands had been struggling with resources for a while. "These are not your entire stores, are they?" he asked somewhat humorously, though the doubt was real. He scratched the thin scar on his chin that left a visible line in his stubble. "Grandview, 'suppose. The Toynes lost their keep a while back. Don't know when exactly," he said between bites, having never particularly cared enough to find out either. He had the name and the sigil, and that was about all he liked about his heritage. "The words are.. Fly high, fly far," he said, and waved a bread around briefly, thinking, "or something like that." He bit into the bread and washed it down with ale. "Ironic."

[The Forgotten God]

"Of course not," she said, a trifle defensively. "My father knew how to keep account of his granaries. Didn't they get disinherited when they slew the Dragonknight?" she asked. "Must have been a fight of legend."

[Queen Joanna Lannister]

Slightly amused, Cedric forked a piece of chicken and ate it. "Now that would have been a feat. The Dragonknight killed them, I believe," he said, having of course heard the story a couple of times, even if it didn't affect him much. "They wanted vengeance for their brother. The Fat Aegon had him dismembered for having an affair with his mistress." He smiled at the girl, wryly. "How dared he."

[The Forgotten God]

She looked nervous. "He was rather foolish," she agreed. "But maybe the punishment didn't fit the crime. What...did you do before you came here?" she asked.